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

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…
Cortes now also began to make the necessary regulations for therebuilding of the great and
celebrated city of Mexico; he marked outthe ground for the churches, monasteries, private
dwellings, public squares, and assigned a particular quarter of the town for the Mexican
population. This city was rebuilt with so much splendour, that, inthe opinion of those who
have travelled through the greater part ofChristendom, Mexico, after its restoration, was a
larger and a morepopulous city than any they had seen, and the architectural style ofthe
houses more magnificent.
While Cortes was busily engaged with these matters, he received intelligence that the
province of Panuco had revolted, and the whole ofits numerous and warlike population had
risen up in arms. Many ofthe Spanish settlers had been murdered by the inhabitants, and the
few who had escaped begged for immediate assistance.
As soon as our general heard this bad news, he determined to marchthither in person, as all
our chief officers were absent, with their respective detachments, in the provinces. He
therefore collected all the cavalry, crossbow-men, musketeers, and other troops he could;
and it fortunately happened that considerable recruits arrived in Mexico about this time
from those who came in the suite of Tapia, and of the troopsof Vazquez de Aillon, whose
expedition to Florida terminated somiserably; besides that, numbers had arrived from the
Caribbee andother islands.
Cortes left a strong garrison in Mexico, under the command of DiegoSoto, and set out on
his march with no more than 250 Spanish troops,including the musketeers, crossbow-men,
and 130 horse; but to thissmall body he added 10,000 Mexican auxiliaries.
Before Cortes left, Christobal de Oli returned from the province ofMechoacan, which he
had completely subdued, and was accompanied by many caziques, as also by the son of
Consi, the great cazique ofthe province. He likewise brought with him a large quantity of
gold,but of very inferior quality, being considerably mixed with copper andsilver.
This expedition to the province of Panuco cost our general a largesum of money, which he
subsequently requested the emperor to reimbursehim; but the board of finance refused this,
and told him heought to bear all the expenses himself, as he had subdued that provinceto
suit his own private views, and to anticipate Garay, who was fitting out an extensive
armament in Jamaica for the same purpose.
[Pg 126]
Cortes found the whole province of Panuco in a terrible state ofrebellion. He several times
offered the inhabitants peace, but to nopurpose, and the consequence was a series of battles,
of which ten werevery severe, three Spaniards and four horses being killed, besides one
hundred of the Mexican auxiliaries. In these battles the enemy hadbrought 60,000 men into
the field; yet Cortes defeated them with considerable loss, and they never after felt any
inclination to fight againsthim.
[Pg 127]
Cortes, finding that the district he was in contained abundance of provisions, staid eight
days in a township near the field of battle, and,ardently desirous of restoring peace to the
country, he sent fatherOlmedo and ten distinguished caziques he had taken prisoners in the
last battles, with Doña Marina and Aguilar, to the enemy. FatherOlmedo then addressed the
several chiefs in a suitable speech, and asked them, among other things, how they could
have entertained ahope of maintaining their independence, as they well knew that thecity
of Mexico, which had been defended by so many brave warriors,was obliged to surrender
to our emperor. They ought, therefore, tosue for peace, and he promised them that Cortes
would pardon theirpast behaviour. By these and other representations which the excellent
father made to them, mixed up with a few threats, they were broughtto their senses, and
began to reflect on the large body of men they hadlost, and the number of towns which had
been sacked and burnt tothe ground; so that, at length, they agreed to send a message of
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