University of Virginia Library

1. CHAPTER I.

Before sunrise on the following morning, many
a feathered band of allies from distant tribes was
pouring into Tezcuco; for this was the day on
which the Captain-General had appointed to review
his whole force, assign the several divisions to the
command of his favourite officers, and expound the
system of warfare, by which he expected to reduce
the doomed Tenochtitlan. The multitudes that
were collected by midday would be beyond our
belief, did we not know that the royal valley, and
every neighbouring nook of Anahuac capable of
cultivation, were covered by a population almost
as dense as that which makes an ant-heap of the
`Celestial Empire,' at this day.

While they were thus congregating together,
marshalled under their native chiefs, emulously expressing
their attachment to the Spaniard, and their
enthusiasm in his cause, by the horrible clamour of
drums and conches, Cortes was receiving, in the
great Hall of Audience, the compliments and reverence
of those cavaliers, distinguished soldiers, and
valiant infidel princes, whom he had invited to the
feast, with which he marked the close of his mighty
preparations and the beginning of his not less arduous
campaign.

A table crossed the room immediately in front of
the platform, on which the noblest and most honoured
guests had already taken their stations.
Two others, running from pillar to pillar, extended
the whole length of the apartment, leaving in the
intermediate space, as well as betwixt them and the
walls, sufficient room for the passage of revellers
and attendants, of which latter there were many
present, bustling to and fro, in the persons of Indian
boys and girls, all branded with the scarry
badge of servitude. The walls, pillars, and ceiling,
were ornamented with green branches of trees and
viny festoons, among which breathed and glittered
a multitude of the gayest and most odoriferous
flowers; and besides these, there were deposited
and suspended, in many places, Indian banners and
standards, as well as spears, bucklers, and battle-axes,
the trophies of many a field of victory. The
tables were covered with brilliant cotton-cloths, and
loaded not only with all the dainties of Mexico, but
with some of the luxuries of Europe, among which
were conspicuous divers flagons of wine, on which
many a veteran gazed with looks of anxious and
affectionate expectation.

The peculiarity of the scene, animated as it was
by a densely moving throng of guests in their most
gallant attire, was greatly heightened by a circumstance,
for which but few were able to account. Although
full noon-day, the light of heaven was carefully
excluded, and the apartment illuminated only
by torches and lamps. This, though it gave picturesqueness
to every object in view, was, to say
the least, remarkable; and those who were most
interested to watch the workings of the commander's
mind, beheld in it a subject for many disturbing
reflections. But, to such persons, there was
another phenomenon still more unsatisfactory, in
the spectacle of a line of veteran soldiers, original

followers of Cortes, extending round the whole
apartment, who stood against the walls, each with
a spear in his hand and a machete,—a heavy,
straight sword,—on his thigh, surveying the revellers
more with the air of sentinels than companions
in festivity.

While the inferior guests stood or lounged about,
speculating on these curious particulars, and expecting
the signal to begin the feast, which seemed
to be delayed by the absence of some important
guest, Cortes occupied himself conversing with Alvarado,
De Olid, Guzman, De Ircio, and other hidalgos,
who stood with him on the platform, occasionally
extending his notice to the young king of
Tezcuco, his brother Suchel, the Tlascalan chief
Chichimecatl, and other noble barbarians, who made
part of the distinguished group. Many curious,
and not a few anxious, eyes were turned upon them
from different parts of the hall; and it was soon
observed, and remarked with whispers, that Sandoval,
the valiant and beloved, and Xicotencal, the
gloomy, were absent from the party.

By and by, however, conjectures were put to
rest by the sudden appearance of the cavalier in
question, who entered with his garments in some
disorder, his countenance heated and troubled, and
his whole appearance that of a man just released
from some exciting and laborious duty.

As soon as Cortes perceived him approaching, he
commanded room to be made for him on the platform,
welcomed him with a smiling face and a cordial
grasp of hand, and then signed to the guests to
take their places at the tables.

In the bustle of festivity that followed the command,
the revellers forgot to wonder at the torch-light
around them and the presence of the armed
guards. If a few still bent their eyes uneasily on
the commander-in-chief, striving to catch the low

accents with which he conversed with his immediate
friends, and particularly with Sandoval, their
efforts were unnoticed by the others; and, in a
short time, the hum of whispers waxed into murmurs
of joyous hilarity, so that the conversation
on the platform could only be guessed at by the
expressive visages and gestures of the cavaliers.

By and by, the feast became still more unrestrained
and noisy. Wine was poured and drunk,
jests were uttered, songs almost sung, and care
banished from all but a few, who still turned their
looks to the platform, exchanged glances occasionally
with each other, and at every bustle attending
the entrance of any one at the great door, cast their
eyes in that direction with much meaning anxiety.

Still, however, the feast went on, and enjoyment
was becoming revelry, when the voice of Cortes
was suddenly heard. The murmurs of all were
instantly hushed, and all turning their eyes to the
platform, they beheld the Captain-General standing
erect, and eyeing them with extreme gravity of
countenance, holding, at the same time, in his hand,
a golden bowl of wine.

“My brothers and fellow-soldiers,” he said, as
soon as all were composed, “it becomes us, as
true and loyal Castilians, to remember our duty
to the king our master, whom God preserve for a
thousand years! We are here afar from his sight,
but not beyond the reach of his authority, nor the
constraint of our true allegiance. Let it not be
thought that the cavaliers of Madrid will drink his
health with more zeal and humility at the palace-door,
than we, his true subjects, in the deserts of
Mexico. A bowl, then, to his majesty our master,
Don Carlos of Spain, Austria, and this New
World!”

As he spoke, he knelt upon one knee, and all
present, even the barbaric king at his side, doing

the same thing, allegiance was pledged in the cup,
—which is undoubtedly the best way to make it
agreeable.

From this exhibition of humility, all rose up,
shouting lusty vivas.

“It gratifies me,” said Cortes, when this customary
ebullition of loyalty was over, “to perceive
that I have about me men so truly faithful to
my very noble and loyal master. For in this, I
perceive I shall be no more afflicted with the painful
necessity of exerting those powers with which
his majesty has so bountifully endowed me, even
to the shedding of blood and the taking of life.”

A sudden damper fell upon the spirits of many
present, and all who were not apprized of the secret
of Villafana's fate, looked upon Cortes with surprise.

“Know, my truly faithful and loyal friends,” he
went on, speaking with an appearance of solemn
indignation, “that we have had among us a
TRAITOR,—a Christian man and a Spaniard, yet
a traitor to the king our master! Yet, in the band
of the holy apostles, there was one Judas; and it
does not become us to believe that we, sinful creatures
as we are, and much more numerous, should
be without our Iscariot, who would have sold our
lives for silver, and sunk into perdition the interest
of his majesty in this opulent kingdom. It rejoices
me to know that we have had but one. The
pain with which I have been filled to discover there
were other knaves for his accomplices, is assuaged
by the knowledge that they were not Castilians,
but infidel Indians; to whom perfidy is so natural,
that it is wholly superfluous to lament its occurrence.
Know therefore, my friends, and grieve not
to know it, for the evil is past, that Xicotencal,
General-in-chief of the Tlascalan forces, besides
secretly treating with our foes, his own enemies,

the men of Tenochtitlan, did, last night, traitorously
abandon our standard, and set out, to throw himself,
as I doubt not, into the arms of the Mexicans.”

“A villain! a very vile traitor! death to the dog
of an unbeliever!” were the expressions with
which the revellers protested their indignation.

“Think not,” said the Captain-General, in continuation,
“that the villain who doth seriously pursue
a scheme of disloyalty, shall escape a just retribution.
The toils and sufferings which we have
endured in this land, in his majesty's service, are
such that I can readily excuse the murmurs with
which some have occasionally indulged a peevish
discontent. I will never account it much against a
brave soldier that he has sometimes grumbled a
little; but he who meditates, or practises, a treason,
shall die. I have said, that among us all there was
but one villain. Perhaps there were two; but of
that we will inquire hereafter. He of whom I
speak, was one to whom I had forgiven much semblance
of discontent, and whom I had raised into
no little favour. Yet did he conceive a foul conspiracy,
having for its object no less a thing than
the destruction of this enterprise against a rich
pagan kingdom, and the murder of all those who
would not become the enemies of Spain. The man
of whom I speak you know. It was—”

“Villafana!” muttered many, with eager, yet
fearful voices; while those who had hitherto betrayed
anxiety at the ominous lights and guards, turned
pale in secret.

“It was indeed the Alguazil, Villafana,” said
Cortes, sternly; “and you shall know his villany.
First, the Mexican ambassadors, last night committed
to his charge, he permitted to escape, that they
might be no hinderance to the ambushed infidels,
then lying on the lake, ready to burn my brigantines.
Secondly, being the captain of the prison,

he permitted the same to be approached and sacked
by other infidels, whereby a prisoner, convicted of
a heavy crime and condemned to die, was snatched
out of our hands, and given into those of the enemy,
whom he will doubtless aid and abet in all the
sanguinary resistance which they are inclined to
make. Thirdly, by his persuasions, Xicotencal
was induced to throw off his allegiance, at the very
moment when the fleet and the prison were beset,
and desert from the post. And fourthly, the consummation
of the whole villany was to be effected
at this very hour, and on this very floor, in the blood
of myself, my officers, and as I may say of yourselves
also; since none were to be spared who
were not his sworn colleagues; and, certainly,
there are none here so base and criminal?”

The answer to this address mingled a thousand
protestations of loyalty with as many fierce calls
for punishment on the traitor. In the midst of the
tumult, Cortes gave a sign to two Indian slaves,
who stood behind the platform; and the heavy
curtain being rapidly pulled aside, the lustre of the
noontide sun streamed through the pellucid wall,
until lamp and torch seemed to smoulder into
darkness, under the diviner ray; and the revellers
looking up, beheld the ghastly spectacle of Villafana's
body, hanging motionless and stiff in the
midst of the light.

At this unexpected sight, the guests, inflamed as
they were with wine, anger, and enthusiasm, were
struck with horror; and if traitors were among
them, as none but Cortes and themselves could
say, it was not possible to detect them by their
countenances, all being equally pale and affrighted.

“Thus perish all who plot treason against the
king and the king's officers!” cried the Captain-General,
with a loud voice. “The rebel Xicotencal
swings upon an oak-tree, on the wayside as

you go to Chalco; the mutineer Lerma hath fled
to the pagans, to become a renegade and perhaps
apostate; and Villafana, the traitor, hangs as you
see, upon the window of our banqueting-room, to
teach all who may have meditated a like villany,
the fate that shall most certainly await them.—
Hide the carrion!” he exclaimed to the slaves, and
in an instant the frightful spectacle was excluded,
along with the cheerful light of day. The return
to that of the torches was like a lapse into darkness,
and for a few moments, it was scarce possible
for the guests to distinguish the features of those
nearest to them. In the gloom, however, the voice
of the Captain-General was heard, concluding his
oration:

“Let no one of this true and loyal company be
in fear,” he said, with his accustomed craft. “The
paper, on which the villain had recorded the names
of such madmen as would have joined him in his
crime, he was artful enough to destroy. But let
the disaffected tremble. There has been one dog
among us, and there may others prove so, hereafter.
But I am now awake; and the treason that
may be planted, shall be discovered, and nipped before
it come to the budding.—God save his majesty!
Another bowl to his greatness! And let all fall to
feasting again; for, by and by, the signal gun will
be fired for the review, and this is the last feast ye
must think of sharing together, till ye can spread it
again in the halls of Montezuma.”

Whatever relief might have been carried by these
words to the bosoms of the guilty, the spectacle of
their murdered associate had sunk too deeply in
their spirits, to allow any festive exertions. The
innocent were equally shocked, and gloom and uneasiness
oppressed the hearts of all.

It was felt therefore as a relief, when the signal
for breaking up the feast was given by the sound of

a gun from the temple-top; and all rushed out, to
forget in the bustle of parade, the sickening event
which had marred their enjoyment.

On this day, the whole army of Cortes, of which
the thousand Christians made scarcely the three-hundredth
part, was marched out upon the meadows
of Tezcuco, and there, with ceremonies of
great state and ostentation, was reviewed, divided,
and each division appointed to its respective
duties.

The first division was assigned to the command
of Sandoval, and was ordered to march southward
to the city of Iztapalapan, which commanded the
principal causeway, or approach to Mexico. The
second was given to the ferocious De Olid, whose
destination was to Cojohuacan, a city southwest of
Mexico, the dike from which led to that betwixt the
metropolis and Iztapalapan. The third was appointed
to the Capitan del Salto, or Alvarado, who
was to take possession of Tacuba, which commanded
the shortest of the causeways. The two
last divisions were ordered to proceed in company,
around the northern borders of the lake, destroying
the towns on the route, and separating at Tacuba.

The fleet Cortes reserved in his own hands, intending,
besides commanding the whole lake, so
to act with it, as to give assistance to each division,
as it might be needed. The royal city of Tezcuco
was to be entrusted to the government of the young
king Ixtlilxochitl, the cavalier Don Francisco de
Guzman remaining, though somewhat reluctantly,
to guide and control his actions, under the appearance
of adding to his state and security.

These preliminaries arranged, the remainder of
the day was devoted to festivities. The great
work of conquest was to begin on the morrow.