Conquest of Mexico
Page 261 (1).—So says Bernal Diaz; who at the same time, by the epithets, los muertos, los cuerpos, plainly contradicts his previous boast that only one Christian fell in the fight. (Hist. de la Conquista, cap 65.) Cortés has not the grace to acknowledge that one.
Page 261 (2).—Oviedo, Hist. de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 3.—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap Lorenzana, p. 52.—Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 2, lib. 6, cap. 6.—Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap 83.—Gomara, Crónica, cap. 46.—Torquemada, Monarch. Ind., lib. 4, cap. 32.—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 65, 66. The warm and chivalrous glow of feeling, which colours the rude composition of the last chronicler, makes him a better painter than his more correct and classical rivals. And, if there is somewhat too much of the self-complacent tone of the quorum pars magna fui in his writing, it may be pardoned in the hero of more than a hundred battles, and almost as many wounds.
Page 261 (3).—The Anonymous Conqueror bears emphatic testimony to the valour of the Indians, specifying instances in which he had seen a single warrior defend himself for a long time against two, three, and even four Spaniards. "There are among them men of great valour, who in their daring seek a death of glory. I have seen one of these making a valiant defence against two light horsemen, and another against three, and even four."—Rel. d'un gent., ap. Ramusio, tom. iii. fol. 305.
Page 262 (1).—The appalling effect of the cavalry on the natives reminds one of the confusion into which the Roman legions were thrown by the strange appearance of the elephants in their first engagements with Pyrrhus, as told by Plutarch in his life of that prince.
Page 267 (1).—The effect of the medicine—though rather a severe dose, according to the precise Diaz—was suspended during the general's active exertions. Gomara, however, does not consider this a miracle. (Crónica, cap. 49.) Father Sandoval does. (Hist. de Carlos Quinto, tom. i. p. 127.) Solis, after a conscientious inquiry into this perplexing matter, decides—strange as it may seem—against the father!—Conquista, lib. 2, cap. 20.
Page 267 (2).—"Dios es sombre natura."—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, p. 54.
Page 267 (3).—Hist, de la Conquista, cap. 64. Not so Cortés, who says boldly, "I burnt more than ten towns." (Ibid., p. 52.) His reverend commentator specifies the localities of the Indian towns destroyed by him, in his forays.—Viaje, ap. Lorenzana, pp. ix.-xi.
Page 267 (4).—The famous banner of the Conqueror, with the Cross emblazoned on it, has been preserved in Mexico to our day.
Page 270 (1).—This conference is reported, with some variety, indeed, by nearly every historian. (Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, p. 55.—Oviedo, Hist. de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 3.— Gomara, Crónica, cap. 51, 52.—Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap. 80.—Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 2, lib. 6, cap. 9. —P. Martyr, De Orbe Novo, dec. 5, cap. 2.) I have abridged the account given by Bernal Diaz, one of the audience, though not one of the parties to the dialogue,—for that reason, the better authority.
Page 277 (1).—He dwells on it in his letter to the Emperor. "Seeing their mutual discord and misunderstanding, I was no little pleased, since it appeared to me to work greatly to my advantage, and to provide me with the means of subjugating them. Moreover, I recalled a passage in Scripture which says, 'A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.' So I played one against the other, sending each in secret my thanks for their information, and pretending to each a greater friendship than towards the others."—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, p. 61.
Page 277 (2).—Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 2, lib. 6, cap. 10.—Oviedo, Hist. de las Ind. MS., lib. 33, cap. 4.—Gomara, Crónica, cap. 54.—Martyr, De Orbe Novo, dec. 5, cap. 2.—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 72-74.—Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap. 83.
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