Conquest of Mexico
Page 159 (1).—"See," exclaims the Bishop of Chiapa, in his caustic vein, "the reasonableness of this 'requisition,' or, to speak more correctly, the folly and insensibility of the Royal Council who could find in the refusal of the Indians to receive it, a good pretext for war." (Hist. de las Indias, MS., lib. 3, cap. 118.) In another place, he pronounces an animated invective against the iniquity of those who covered up hostilities under this empty form of words, the import of which was utterly incomprehensible to the barbarians. (Ibid., lib. 3, cap. 57.) The famous formula, used by the Spanish Conquerors on this occasion, was drawn up by Dr. Palacios Reubios, a man of letters, and a member of the King's council. "But I laugh at him and his letters," exclaims Oviedo, "if he thought a word of it could be comprehended by the untutored Indians!" (Hist, de las Ind., MS., lib. 29, cap. 7.) The regular Manifesto, requirimiento, may be found translated in the concluding pages of Irving's Voyages of the Companions of Columbus."
Page 160 (1).—Peter Martyr gives a glowing picture of this Indian capital. "Near the river bank, so runs the account, stretches the town, the size of which I should not venture to define. A mile and a half in extent, states the captain Alaminos, and composed of 25,000 dwellings. Other recorders are more conservative, but all admit that it is very large and populous. Gardens separate the houses, which are admirably built of stone and lime owing to the consummate diligence and skill of their architects."—(De Insulis, p. 349.) With his usual inquisitive spirit, he gleaned all the particulars from the old pilot Alaminos, and from two of the officers of Cortés who revisited Spain in the course of that year. Tabasco was in the neighbourhood of those ruined cities of Yucatan, which have lately been the theme of so much speculation. The encomiums of Martyr are not so remarkable as the apathy of other contemporary chroniclers.
Page 161 (1).—According to Solis, who quotes the address of Cortés on the occasion, he summoned a council of his captains to advise him as to the course he should pursue. (Conquista, cap. 19.) It is possible, but I find no warrant for it anywhere.
Page 163 (1).—Las Casas, Hist. de las Indias, MS., lib. 3, cap. 119.—Gomara, Crónica, cap. 19, 20.—Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 2, lib. 4, cap. 11.—Martyr De Insulis, p. 350.—Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap. 79.—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 33, 36.—Carta de Vera Cruz, MS.
Page 163 (2).—Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap. 79. "Cortés supposed it was his own tutelar saint, St. Peter," says Pizarro y Orellana; "but the common and indubitable opinion is, that it was our glorious apostle St. James, the bulwark and safeguard of our nation." (Varones Ilustres, p. 73.) "Sinner that I am!" exclaims honest Bernal Diaz, in a more sceptical vein, "it was not permitted to me to see either the one or the other of the Apostles on this occasion." —Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 34.
Page 164 (1).—It was the order—as the reader may remember—given by Cæsar to his followers in his battle with Pompey: "And bids them strike with the steel at the faces of the foe."—Lucan, Pharsalia, lib. 7, v. 575.
Page 164 (2).—Clavigero, Stor. del Messico, tom. iii. p. 11.
Page 165 (1).—"Your Royal Highnesses may well believe that this battle was won more by the blessing of God than by our own strength, because against 40,000 adversaries our 400 formed but a small defence."—(Carta de Vera Cruz, MS.—Gomara, Crónica, cap. 20.—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 35.) It is Las Casas, who, regulating his mathematics, as usual, by his feelings, rates the Indian loss at the exorbitant amount cited in the text. "This," he concludes dryly, "was the first preaching of the Gospel by Cortés in New Spain! "—Hist. de las Indias, MS., lib. 3, cap. 119.
Page 168 (1).—"Behold France, Montesinos; behold the City of Paris, behold the waters of the Duero, running to the sea." They are the words of the popular old ballad, first published,454
