The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

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1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an… then to proceed to the river Guacasualco, form a settlementin the harbour there, and then subdue the province of Panuco. Rodrigo Rangel and Pedro de Ircio were ordered off to Vera Cruz; the younger Juan Velasquez to Colima and Villa Fuerte, in the provinceof Zacatula; Christobal de Oli, who about this time married a Portuguese lady, named Doña Filipa de Araujo, was sent to Mechoacan;and Francisco de Horozco was commissioned with the colonization ofOaxaca. The inhabitants of the provinces I have just mentioned would not atfirst credit that Mexico had fallen; but when they found it to be a fact, the kings and caziques of those distant provinces sent ambassadors tocongratulate Cortes on his victory, and to declare themselves vassals of our emperor; as also to convince themselves with their own eyes that we had really levelled that terrible city to the ground. Each of theseambassadors brought with them valuable presents in gold, and manyhad their young sons with them, to whom they pointed out the ruins of Mexico, just as we would show our children the spot where Troy once stood. I will now answer a question which the curious reader will surely askhimself, namely, why we, the true Conquistadores of New Spain, andof the strong city of Mexico, did not settle down there, but selectedother provinces by preference? The reason is, that we had learnt fromMotecusuma's rent-rolls where those districts lay from which he derivedthe greatest quantity of gold, cacao, and cotton stuffs. All our thoughtsand desires were bent upon those provinces whence the monarch obtainedthe largest tribute in gold, and when we found that even Sandoval, one of our chief officers, and a particular friend of Cortes, likewise left Mexico for the provinces, we no longer hesitated to follow his example;the more so, as there were no gold mines in the neighbourhood of Mexico, nor did it produce cotton or cacao, but merely maguey andmaise, from the former of which the inhabitants prepare their wine.We therefore considered the country surrounding the metropolis very poor, and we consequently settled in other provinces, though we were greatly disappointed in our expectations! This Cortes had well foreseen,and I still remember that he said to me, when I requested his permission to accompany Sandoval: "Upon my conscience, brother Bernal Diaz del Castillo, you are making a great mistake. I shouldfeel delighted if you would stay with me in Mexico; but if you havemade up your mind to accompany your friend Sandoval, I will notoppose your wishes, and may God be with you. You may rely upon itI will take every opportunity to promote your welfare; but I am sureyou will soon regret having left me." [Pg 122] Before we commenced our march each man received an account ofhis share of the booty, when it was found that all our shares of thegold were due to the officers of the crown, in payment for the slaveswe had bought at the auctions. I will not here trouble the reader by enumerating what number of horse, crossbow-men, musketeers, or other soldiers left for the provinces,nor will I give the date of the month, but merely inform himthat the first troops left a few days after the capture of Quauhtemoctzin, and the second expedition two months later. I must now relate the important news which arrived about this timefrom Vera Cruz. CHAPTER CLVIII. How a certain Christobal de Tapia arrived in Vera Cruz, with theappointment of governor of New Spain. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 86/282
1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an… After Cortes had despatched these several detachments to bringthe provinces into complete subjection, and leave settlements in them, a certain Christobal de Tapia, who had been veedor at St. Domingo, arrived at Vera Cruz, with the appointment of governor of New Spain,which had been procured him by Fonseca, bishop of Burgos. He likewisebrought with him several letters from the bishop for Cortes, andmany others of the conquistadores, as also for the officers of Narvaez'scorps, by which they were desired to support Tapia in the government.Besides this appointment, which was drawn up in due form by thebishop, Tapia had several other blank papers with him, which weremerely signed, so that he was at liberty to fill them up as he mightthink proper, by which means he would obtain unlimited power in NewSpain. He was ordered to make us vast promises if we assisted himin his government, but to threaten us with severe punishment if werefused to obey him. As soon as Tapia arrived at Vera Cruz, he showed his appointmentto Gonzalo de Alvarado, who was then commandant of that place, asRodrigo Rangel, who had previously filled that office, had recently beendeprived of it by Cortes, but for what reason I cannot say. Alvarado perused these papers with the most respectful veneration, as containing the commands of his emperor and master; but as to actingup to their contents, he told Tapia he must previously consult with thealcaldes and regidors of the town, to take the matter into mature consideration, and investigate as to how he had obtained the appointment, as he (Tapia) could not expect that they should exactly place implicitbelief in what he said, and they should also like to convince themselves whether his imperial majesty was really cognizant of the drawing up ofthis appointment. As Tapia was by no means satisfied with this answer, they advisedhim to repair to Mexico, where he would find Cortes, with all his officers and troops, who would, no doubt, on perusing his papers, pay himthe respect which was due to his appointment. [Pg 123] Upon this Tapia wrote to Cortes, and acquainted him in what capacityhe had come to New Spain. Now as Cortes was remarkable for hisgreat tact, he answered this man in much more courteous terms thanthe former had used in his letter to him, saying the most obliging and pleasant things; at the same time he despatched several of our principal officers to visit Tapia at Vera Cruz. These were Alvarado, Sandoval,Diego de Soto, Andreas de Tapia, and a certain Valdenebro, to all ofwhom Cortes sent couriers with orders for their immediate return from the provinces, and to repair to Vera Cruz. He likewise requested father Melgarejo to hasten thither, in order to be present at the meeting; but Tapia had already started for Mexico, to wait upon Cortes himself,and was met on his road by our officers, who paid him the greatest respect, and proposed that he should turn off with them to Sempoalla.When arrived there they requested him to produce his papers, that theymight convince themselves whether or not he was really sent by hisimperial majesty, and whether his appointment bore the royal signature.If he could convince them of this, continued our officers, they wouldimmediately promise obedience to him, in the name of Cortes and the whole of New Spain. [Pg 124] Tapia then produced his papers, and all the officers acknowledged, with respectful veneration, that, to all appearances, his appointmentcame direct from his majesty; but that it was impossible the emperorcould be cognizant of all the particulars, nor of how matters stood ingeneral, and they were determined to petition his majesty against hisappointment. They assured him he was not fit for the important officeof governor of New Spain; that the bishop of Burgos, the avowed enemy of the Conquistadores, the faithful servants of his majesty, hadprocured this appointment without first acquainting his majesty withthe real state of affairs, merely to favour the governor of Cuba, andhim (Tapia), to whom he had promised one of his own nieces in marriage,a certain Doña Fonseca. When Tapia found that all his eloquence, papers, letters, promises,and threats availed him nothing, he fell ill from downright vexation. Our officers then wrote Cortes word of https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 87/282
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The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

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