SPAN 242 Hispanic Literature in Translation Professor María Dolores Costa - Winter 2014

�1SPAN 242 - COSTA

Part 1

Index Title Author Pages

The Chronicle of the Cid Anonymous 1-22

Relates What Happened to a

Moorish King of Cordova

Juan Manuel 23-24

Treats What Happened to

Lorenzo Suarez Gallinato and

Garciperez of Vargas, and

Another Knight

Juan Manuel 25-27

Amadis of Gaul Vasco Lobeira 28-45

Cronica Mexicana Fernando Alvarado Tezozomoc 46

Codex Florentino Bernardino de Sahagun 47-53

Historia de Tlaxcala Diego Muñoz Camargo 53-56

The Discovery and Conquest of

Mexico

Bernal Diaz del Castillo 57-72

The Life and Adventures of

Guzman D'Alfarache

Mateo Aleman 73-182

Don Juan Tenorio Jose Zorrilla 183-306

Dona Perfecta Benito Perez Galdos 307-318

I Am Not Making This Up Emilia Pardo Bazan 319-326

Anachronopete Enrique Gaspar 327-345

The Feather Pillow Horacio Quiroga 346-350

The New Spectacle of Wonders Rafael Dieste 351-363

The Dead Man Jorge Luis Borges 364-376

The Lottery in Babylon Jorge Luis Borges 377-385

The Key Ramon J. Sender 386-403

Don Payasito Ana Maria Matute 404-408

The Dry Branch Ana Maria Matute 409-414

Phone Calls Roberto Bolaño 415-419

The Cross and the Face Juan Goytisolo 420-426

him to Cabezon, and there the Abbot Don Ferrando came to him, anhonourable man, and many other honourable men of his realms, and theCid Ruydiez, whom the King commended to the Infante Don Sancho, hisson. And after he had put all his affairs in order he remained threedays lamenting in pain, and on the fourth, being the day of St. Johnthe Evangelist, he called for the Cardinal Abbot, and commended Spainand his other sons to him, and gave him his blessing, and then at thehour of sexts he rendered up his soul without stain to God, being fullof years. So they carried him to Leon and buried him near his father,in the Church of St. Isidro, which he had built. Thirty and one yearsdid King Don Ferrando the Great who was peer with the Emperor, Reignover Castille. The Queen his wife lived two years after him, leading aholy life; a good Queen had she been and of good understanding, andright loving to her husband: alway had she counselled him well, beingin truth the mirror of his kingdoms, and the friend of the widows andorphans. Her end was a good end, like that of the King her husband: Godgive them Paradise for their reward. Amen.

BOOK II

I. The history relates how after the death of King Don Ferrando, thethree Kings his sons reigned each in his kingdom, according to thedivision made by their father, who had divided that which should all byright have descended to the King Don Sancho. Now the Kings of Spainwere of the blood of the Goths, which was a fierce blood, for it hadmany times come to pass among the Gothic Kings, that brother had slain,brother upon this quarrel; from this blood was King Don Sanchodescended, and he thought that it would be a reproach unto him if hedid not join together the three kingdoms under his own dominion, for hewas not pleased with what his father had given him, holding that thewhole ought to have been his. And he went through the land setting itin order, and what thing soever his people asked at his hand that didhe grant them freely, to the end that he might win their hearts.

II. Now when King Don Sancho of Navarre saw that there was a new Kingin Castille, he thought to recover the lands of Bureva and of OldCastille as far as Laredo, which had been lost when the King his fatherwas defeated and slain at Atapuerca in the mountains of Oca. And nowseeing that the kingdom of Ferrando was divided, he asked help of hisuncle Don Ramiro, King of Aragon; and the men of Aragon and of Navarreentered Castille together. But King Don Sancho gathered together hishost, and put the Cid at their head; and such account did he give ofhis enemies, that he of Navarre was glad to enjoy Rioja in peace, andlay no farther claim to what his father had lost. Now the King ofCastille was wroth against the King of Aragon, that he should thus havejoined against him without cause; and in despite of him he marchedagainst the Moors of Zaragoza, and laying waste their country with fireand sword, he came before their city, and gave orders to assault it,and began to set up his engines. When the King of Zaragoza saw thegreat will which the King had to do evil unto him, and that there was

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CHRONICLE OF THE CID

Translated from the

Spanish

BY ROBERT SOUTHEY

1

none to help him, he thought it best to come to his mercy, payingtribute, or serving him, or in any manner whatsoever. And he sentinterpreters to King Don Sancho saying, that he would give him muchgold and silver, and many gifts, and be his vassal, and pay him tributeyearly. The King received them right honourably, and when he had heardtheir bidding he answered resolutely, being of a great heart, All thiswhich the King of Zaragoza sends to say unto me is well, but he hathanother thing in his heart. He sends to bid me break up the siege anddepart from his land, and as soon as I should have departed, he wouldmake friends unto himself among Christians and among Moors, and fail mein all which he covenants. Nevertheless I will do this thing which yourKing requires of me; but if in the end he lie, I will come back uponhim and destroy him, trusting in God that he cannot defend himselfagainst me. And when the interpreters heard this they were greatlydismayed, and they returned and told their King all that he had said.And the Moors seeing that they could not help themselves, made suchterms with him as it pleased him to grant, and gave him hostages thatthey might not be able to prove false. And they gave him gold andsilver and precious stones in abundance, so that with great riches andfull honourably did he and all his men depart from the siege.

III. Greatly was the King of Aragon displeased at this which King DonSancho had done, thinking that it was to his great injury andabasement, for Zaragoza he held to be within his conquest. And he cameout with all his power to cut off the King’s return, and tookpossession of the way, and said unto him that he should not pass tillhe had made amends for the great dishonour which he had wrought him, incoming into his conquest and against his vassals: the amends which herequired was, that he should yield unto him all the spoil, and allwhich the King of Zaragoza had given him, else should he not passwithout battle. When King Don Sancho heard this, being a man of greatheart, he made answer, that he was the head of the kingdoms of Castilleand Leon, and all the conquests in Spain were his, for the Kings ofAragon had no conquests appertaining unto them, being by right histributaries, and bound to appear at his Cortes. Wherefore he counselledhim to waive this demand, and let him pass in peace. But the King ofAragon drew up his host for battle, and the onset was made, and heavyblows were dealt on both sides, and many horses were left without amaster. And while the battle was yet upon the chance, King Don Sanchoriding light bravely through the battle, began to call out Castille!Castille! and charged the main body so fiercely that by fine force hebroke them; and when they were thus broken, the Castillians begancruelly to slay them, so that King Don Sancho had pity thereof, andcalled out unto his people not to kill them, for they were Christians.Then King Don Ramiro being discomfited, retired to a mountain, and KingDon Sancho beset the mountain round about, and made a covenant with himthat he should depart, and that the King of Zaragoza should remaintributary to Castille; and but for this covenant the King of Aragonwould then have been slain, or made prisoner. This was the battlewhereof the Black Book of Santiago speaketh, saying, that in this year,

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on the day of the Conversion of St. Paul, was the great slaughter ofthe Christians in Porca. In all these wars did my Cid demean himselfafter his wonted manner; and because of the great feats which heperformed the King loved him well, and made him his Alferez; so that inthe whole army he was second only to the King. And because when thehost was in the field it was his office to chuse the place forencampment, therefore was my Cid called the Campeador.

IV. While King Don Sancho was busied in these wars, King Don Garcıa ofGalicia took by force from Dona Urraca his sister a great part of thelands which the King their father had given her. And when she heardthis she began to lament aloud, saying, Ah King Don Ferrando, in anevil hour didst thou divide thy kingdom, for thereby will all the landbe brought to destruction. And now also will be accomplished that whichmy fosterer Arias Gonzalo said, for now that King Don Garcıa who is myyounger brother, hath dispossessed me and broken the oath which he madeunto my father, what will not the elder do, who made the vow bycompulsion, and alway made protestation against the division! God sendthat as thou hast disherited me, thou mayest speedily thyself in likemanner be disherited, Amen! But when King Don Sancho heard what hisbrother had done he was well pleased thereat, thinking that he mightnow bring to pass that which he so greatly desired; and he assembledtogether his Ricos-omes and his knights, and said unto them, The Kingmy father divided the kingdoms which should have been mine, and thereinhe did unjustly; now King Don Garcia my brother hath broken the oathand disherited Dona Urraca my sister; I beseech ye therefore counsel mewhat I shall do, and in what manner to proceed against him, for I willtake his kingdom away from him. Upon this Count Don Garcia Ordonezarose and said, There is not a man in the world, Sir, who would counselyou to break the command of your father, and the vow which you madeunto him. And the King was greatly incensed at him and said, Go frombefore me, for I shall never receive good counsel from thee. The Kingthen took the Cid by the hand and led him apart, and said unto him,Thou well knowest my Cid, that when the King my father commended theeunto me, he charged me upon pain of his curse that I should take youfor my adviser, and whatever I did that I should do it with yourcounsel, and I have done so even until this day; and thou hast alwaycounselled me for the best, and for this I have given thee a county inmy kingdom, holding it well bestowed. Now then I beseech you advise mehow best to recover these kingdoms, for if I have not counsel from youI do not expect to have it from any man in the world.

V. Greatly troubled at this was the Cid, and he answered and said, Ill,Sir, would it behove me to counsel you that you should go against thewill of your father. You well know that when I went to Cabezon untohim, after he had divided his kingdoms, how he made me swear to himthat I would alway counsel his sons the best I could, and never givethem ill counsel; and while I can, thus must I continue to do. But theKing answered, My Cid, I do not hold that in this I am breaking theoath made to my father, for I ever said that the partition should not

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be, and the oath which I made was forced upon me. Now King Don Garcıamy brother hath broken the oath, and all these kingdoms by right aremine: and therefore I will that you counsel me how I may unite them,for from so doing there is nothing in this world which shall preventme, except it be death. Then when the Cid saw that he could by no meansturn him from that course, he advised him to obtain the love of hisbrother King Don Alfonso, that he might grant him passage through hiskingdom to go against Don Garcıa: and if this should be refused hecounselled him not to make the attempt. And the King saw that hiscounsel was good, and sent his letters to King Don Alfonso beseechinghim to meet him at Sahagun. When King Don Alfonso received the lettershe marvelled to what end this might be: howbeit he sent to say that hewould meet him. And the two kings met in Sahagun. And King Don Sanchosaid, Brother, you well know that King Don Garcia our brother hathbroken the oath made unto our father, and disherited our sister DonaUrraca: for this I will take his kingdom away from him, and I beseechyou join with me. But Don Alfonso answered that he would not go againstthe will of his father, and the oath which he had sworn. Then King DonSancho said, that if he would let him pass through his kingdom he wouldgive him part of what he should gain: and King Don Alfonso agreed tothis. And upon this matter they fixed another day to meet; and thenforty knights were named, twenty for Castille and twenty for Leon, asvouchers that this which they covenanted should be faithfully fulfilledon both sides.

VI. Then King Don Sancho gathered together a great host, Castilliansand Leonese, and they of Navarre and Biscay, Asturians, and men ofAragon and of the border. And he sent Alvar Fanez, the cousin of theCid, to King Don Garcia, to bid him yield up his kingdom, and if herefused to do this to defy him on his part. Alvar Fanez, albeitunwillingly, was bound to obey the bidding of his Lord, and he went toKing Don Garcia and delivered his bidding. When King Don Garcia heardit he was greatly troubled, and he cried out in his trouble and said,Lord Jesus Christ, thou rememberest the oath which we made to ourfather! for my sins I have been the first to break it, and havedisherited my sister. And he said to Alvar Fanez, Say to my brotherthat I beseech him not to break the oath which he made to our father;but if he will persist to do this thing I must defend myself as I can.And with this answer Alvar Fanez returned. Then King Don Garcia calledunto him a knight of Asturias, whose name was Ruy Ximenez, and bade himgo to his brother King Don Alfonso and tell him what had past, and howKing Don Sancho would take away his kingdom from him; and to beseechhim as a brother that he would not let him pass through his dominions.And King Don Alfonso replied, Say to my brother that I will neitherhelp King Don Sancho, nor oppose him; and tell him that if he candefend himself I shall be well pleased. And with this answer, RuyXimenez returned, and bade the King look to himself for defence, for hewould find no help in his brother.

VII. Now Don Garcia was not beloved in his kingdom of Galicia, neither

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in Portugal, for as much as he showed little favour to the hidalgos,both Galegos and Portugueze, and vexed the people with tributes whichhe had newly imposed. The cause of all this was a favourite, by nameVerna, to whom the King gave so much authority, that he displeased allthe chief persons in his dominions, and hearkened unto him in allthings; and by his advice it was that he had despoiled his sister DonaUrraca of her lands, and his sister Dona Elvira also, and had doneother things, whereby Portugal and Galicia were now in danger to belost. And the knights and hidalgos took counsel together how they mightremedy these evils, and they agreed that the King should in the name ofthem all be advised how ill he was served, and intreated to put awayhis favourite. Don Rodrigo Frojaz was the one named to speak unto theKing; for being a man of approved valour, and the Lord of many lands,it was thought that the King would listen more to him than to anyother. But it fell out otherwise than they had devised, for Verna hadsuch power over the mind of the King, that the remonstrance was illreceived, and Don Rodrigo and the other hidalgos were contumeliouslytreated in public by the King. Don Rodrigo would not bear this, being aright loyal and valiant man; and he went one day into the palace, andfinding Verna busied in affairs of state, he drew forth his sword andslew him; then leaving the palace, for none cared to lay hands on him,he left Portugal, and took the road toward France; many of his vassalsand kinsmen and friends following him, to seek their fortunes in acountry where valour would be esteemed, for they were weary of the badGovernment of King Don Garcıa.

VIII. But when King Don Garcia knew of the league which his brethrenhad made to divide his kingdom between them, it was a greater troubleto him than the death of Verna, and he called his chief captainstogether and consulted with them; and they advised him that he shouldsend to recall Don Rodrigo Frojaz, for having him the realm would besecure, and without him it was in danger to be lost. So two hidalgoswere sent after him, and they found him in Navarre, on the eve ofpassing into France. But when he saw the King’s letters, and knew theperil in which he then stood, setting aside the remembrance of his ownwrongs, like a good and true Portugueze, he turned back, and went tothe King at Coimbra. In good time did he arrive, for the captains ofKing Don Sancho had now gained many lands in Galicia and in theprovince of Beira, finding none to resist them, and the Count Don Nunode Lara, and the Count of Monzon, and Don Garcia de Cabra, were drawingnigh unto Coimbra. When Don Rodrigo heard this and knew that theCastillians were approaching, and who they were, he promised the Kingeither to maintain his cause, or die for it; and he besought him not togo into the battle himself, having so many vassals and so good; for itwas not fitting that he should expose himself when there was no Kingcoming against him. And it came to pass that when the scouts gavenotice that the Castillians were at hand, he ordered the trumpets to besounded, and the Portugueze sallied, and a little below the city, atthe place which is now called Agoa de Mayas, the two squadrons met.Then was the saying of Arias Gonzalo fulfilled, that kinsmen should

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kill kinsmen, and brother fall by his brother’s hand. But thePortugueze fought so well, and especially Don Rodrigo, and his brothersDon Pedro and Don Vermui Frojaz, that at length they discomfited theCastillians, killing of them five hundred and forty, of whom threehundred were knights, and winning their pennons and banners. Howbeitthis victory was not obtained without great loss to themselves: for twohundred and twenty of their people were left upon the field, and manywere sorely wounded, among whom, even to the great peril of his life,was Don Rodrigo Frojaz, being wounded with many and grievous wounds. Inthis battle was slain the Count Don Fafes Sarracem de Lanhoso, withmany of his vassals, he from whom the Godinhos are descended: he was aright good knight.

IX. A sorrowful defeat was that for King Don Sancho, more for thequality of the slain than for their number; and he put himself at thehead of his army, and hastened through the midst of Portugal, to goagainst his brother. And King Don Garcia hearing of his approach,called together his knights and hidalgos, and said unto them, Friends,we have no land whereunto to fly from the King Don Sancho my brother,let us therefore meet him in battle, and either conquer him or die; forbetter is it to die an honourable death than to suffer this spoiling inour country. And to the Portugueze he said, Friends, ye are right nobleand haughty knights, and it is your custom to have among you few lordsand good ones; now therefore make me a good one, which will be to yourown great honour and profit; and if I come out of this struggle well, Ishall guerdon ye well, so that ye shall understand the will I have todo good towards ye. And they made answer and said that they would standby him to the last, and that he should not be put down by theirdefault. Then spake he to the Galegos and said. Friends, ye are rightgood and true knights, and never was it yet said that lord was forsakenby you in the field. I put myself in your hands, being assured that yewill well and loyally advise me, and help me to the utmost of yourpower. Ye see how King Don Sancho my brother presses upon us, and wehave nothing left us but to die or to conquer; but if ye know any othercounsel. I beseech ye tell it now. And the Galegos answered, that theywould serve and defend him loyally, and that they held it best tofight. Nevertheless they were too few in number to stand against theKing Don Sancho: so they retired before him. And Don Garcia took withhim three hundred horsemen, and went to the Moors, and besought them tolend him aid against his brother, saying that he would give them thekingdom of Leon. And the Moors made answer, O King, thou canst notdefend thyself; how then canst thou give unto us the kingdom of Leon?Howbeit they did him honour and gave him great gifts, and he returnedto his people and recovered many of the castles which he had lost.

X. Then King Don Sancho came against his brother, to besiege him inSantarem. And the Portugueze and Galegos took counsel together whatthey should do; for some were of advice that it was better to defendthe cities and fortresses which they held, and so lengthen out the war;others that they should harass the army of the Castillians with

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frequent skirmishes and assaults, and never give them battle power topower, thinking that in this manner they might baffle them till thewinter came on. Don Rodrigo Frojaz was at this time recovering of thewounds which he had received at Agoa de Mayas, and he said unto theKing that it behoved him above all things to put his kingdom upon thehazard of a battle; for his brother being a greater lord of lands thanhe, and richer in money and more powerful in vassals, could maintainthe war longer than he could do, who peradventure would find itdifficult another year to gather together so good an army as he had nowready. For this cause he advised him to put his trust in God first, andthen in the hidalgos who were with him, and without fear give battle tothe King his brother, over whom God and his good cause would give himglorious victory. And to show his own good will to the King, hebesought of him the leading of the van for himself and the Counts DonPedro and Don Vermui Frojaz his brethren, and his two nephews. Greatlywas the King Don Garcia encouraged by his gallant cheer, and he badehis host make ready to give battle to King Don Sancho, as soon as heshould arrive; and he marched out from the city, and took his standnear unto it in a field where afterwards were the vineyards of thetown. And when the banners of the Castillians were seen advancing, theGalegos and Portugueze drew up in battle array, Don Rodrigo and hisbrethren having the van, as he had requested, and a body of chosenknights with them.

XI. Count Don Garcia came in the front of King Don Sancho’s army, andin the one wing was the Count de Monzon and Count Don Nuno de Lara; andthe Count Don Fruela of Asturias in the other; and the King was in therear, with Don Diego de Osma, who carried his banner: and in thismanner were they arrayed on the one side and on the other, being readyfor the onset. And King Don Garcia bravely encouraged his men, saying,Vassals and friends, ye see the great wrong which the King my brotherdoth unto me, taking from me my kingdom; I beseech ye help me now todefend it; for ye well know that all which I had therein I dividedamong ye, keeping ye for a season like this. And they answered, Greatbenefits have we received at your hands, and we will serve you to theutmost of our power. Now when the two hosts were ready to join battle,Alvar Fanez came to King Don Sancho and said to him, Sir, I have playedaway my horse and arms; I beseech you give me others for this battle,and I will be a right good one for you this day; if I do not for youthe service of six knights, hold me for a traitor. And the Count DonGarcia, who heard this, said to the King, Give him, Sir, what heasketh; and the King ordered that horse and arms should be given him.So the armies joined battle bravely on both sides, and it was a sharponset; many were the heavy blows which were given on both sides, andmany were the horses that were slain at that encounter, and many themen. Now my Cid had not yet come up into the field.

XII. Now Don Rodrigo Frojaz and his brethren and the knights who werewith them had resolved to make straight for the banner of the King ofCastille. And they broke through the ranks of the Castillians, and made

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their way into the middle of the enemy’s host, doing marvellous featsof arms. Then was the fight at the hottest, for they did their best towin the banner, and the others to defend it; the remembrance of whatthey had formerly done, and the hope of gaining more honours, heartenedthem; and with the Castillians there was their King, giving them braveexample as well as brave words. The press of the battle was here; heredied Gonzalo de Sies, a right valiant Portugueze, on the part of DonGarcıa; but on Don Sancho’s part the Count Don Nuno was sorely woundedand thrown from his horse; and Count Don Garcıa Ordonez was madeprisoner, and the banner of King Don Sancho was beaten down, and theKing himself also. The first who encountered him was Don GomesEchiguis, he from whom the old Sousas of Portugal derived theirdescent; he was the first who set his lance against King Don Sancho,and the other one was Don Moninho Hermigis, and Don Rodrigo made waythrough the press and laid hands on him and took him. But in thestruggle his old wounds burst open, and having received many new oneshe lost much blood, and perceiving that his strength was failing, hesent to call the King Don Garcıa with all speed. And as the King came,the Count Don Pedro Frojaz met him and said, An honourable gift, Sir,hath my brother Don Rodrigo to give you, but you lose him in gainingit. And tears fell from the eyes of the King, and he made answer andsaid, It may indeed be that Don Rodrigo may lose his life in servingme, but the good name which he hath gained, and the honour which beleaveth to his descendants, death cannot take away. Saying this, hecame to the place where Don Rodrigo was, and Don Rodrigo gave into hishands the King Don Sancho his brother, and asked him three times if hewas discharged of his prisoner; and when the King had answered Yes, DonRodrigo said, For me, Sir, the joy which I have in your victory isenough; give the rewards to these good Portugueze, who with so good awill have put their lives upon the hazard to serve you, and in allthings follow their counsel, and you will not err therein. Having saidthis he kissed the King’s hand, and lying upon his shield, for he felthis breath fail him, with his helmet for a pillow, he kissed the crossof his sword in remembrance of that on which the incarnate Son of Godhad died for him, and rendered up his soul into the hands of hisCreator. This was the death of one of the worthy knights of the world,Don Rodrigo Frojaz. In all the conquests which King Don Ferrando hadmade from the Moors of Portugal, great part had he borne, insomuch thatthat King was wont to say that other Princes might have more dominionsthan he, but two such knights as his two Rodrigos, meaning my Cid andthis good knight, there was none but himself who had for vassals.

XIII. Then King Don Garcia being desirous to be in the pursuit himself,delivered his brother into the hands of six knights that they shouldguard him, which be ought not to have done. And when he was gone KingDon Sancho said unto the knights, Let me go and I will depart out ofyour country and never enter it again; and I will reward ye well aslong as ye live; but they answered him, that for no reward would theycommit such disloyalty, but would guard him well, not offering him anyinjury, till they had delivered him to his brother the King Don Garcia.

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While they were parleying Alvar Fanez Minaya came up, he to whom theKing had given horse and arms before the battle; and he seeing the Kingheld prisoner, cried out with a loud voice, Let loose my Lord the King:and he spurred his horse and made at them; and before his lance wasbroken he overthrew two of them, and so bestirred himself that he putthe others to flight; and he took the horses of the two whom he hadsmote down, and gave one to the King, and mounted upon the otherhimself, for his own was hurt in the rescue; and they went together toa little rising ground where there was yet a small body of the knightsof their party, and Alvar Fanez cried out to them aloud, Ye see herethe King our Lord, who is free; now then remember the good name of theCastillians, and let us not lose it this day. And about four hundredknights gathered about him. And while they stood there they saw the CidRuydiez coming up with three hundred knights, for he had not been inthe battle, and they knew his green pennon. And when King Don Sanchobeheld it his heart rejoiced, and he said, Now let us descend into theplain, for he of good fortune cometh: and he said, Be of good heart,for it is the will of God that I should recover my kingdom, for I haveescaped from captivity, and seen the death of Don Rodrigo Frojaz whotook me, and Ruydiez the fortunate one cometh. And the King went downto him and welcomed him right joyfully, saying, In happy time are youcome, my fortunate Cid; never vassal succoured his Lord in such seasonas you now succour me, for the King my brother had overcome me. And theCid answered, Sir, be sure that you shall recover the day, or I willdie; for wheresoever you go, either you shall be victorious or I willmeet my death.

XIV. By this time King Don Garcıa returned from the pursuit, singing ashe came full joyfully, for he thought that the King his brother was aprisoner, and his great power overthrown. But there came one and toldhim that Don Sancho was rescued and in the field again, ready to givehim battle a second time. Bravely was that second battle fought on bothsides; and if it had not been for the great prowess of the Cid, the endwould not have been as it was: in the end the Galegos and Portuguezewere discomfited, and the King Don Garcıa taken in his turn. And inthat battle the two brethren of Don Rodrigo Frojaz, Don Pedro and DonVermui, were slain, and the two sons of Don Pedro, so that five of thatfamily died that day. And the King Don Sancho put his brother in betterward than his brother three hours before had put him, for he put him inchains and sent him to the strong castle of Luna.

XV. When King Don Sancho had done this he took unto himself the king-domof Galicia and of Portugal, and without delay sent to his brother KingDon Alfonso, commanding him to yield up to him the kingdom of Leon, forit was his by right. At this was the King of Leon troubled at heart;howbeit he answered that he would not yield up his kingdom, but do hisutmost to defend it. Then King Don Sancho entered Leon, slaying andlaying waste before him, as an army of infidels would have done; andKing Don Alfonso sent to him to bid him cease from this, for it was

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inhuman work to kill and plunder the innocent: and he defied him to apitched battle, saying that to whichsoever God should give the victory,to him also would he give the kingdom of Leon: and the King of Castilleaccepted the defiance, and a day was fixed for the battle, and theplace was to be Lantada, which is near unto Carrion. The chiefcounsellor of King Don Alfonso was Don Pero Ansures, a notable andvaliant knight, of the old and famous stock of the Ansures, Lords ofMonzon, which is nigh unto Palencia; the same who in process of timewas Count of Carrion and of Saldana and Liebana, and Lord ofValladolid, a city which was by him greatly increased. This good knightcommanded the army of his King Don Alfonso, and on the part of King DonSancho came Ruydiez the Cid. Both Kings were in the field that day, andfull hardily was the battle contested, and great was the mortality oneither side, for the hatred which used to be between Moors andChristians was then between brethren. And that day also was the sayingof Arias Gonzalo fulfilled. But in the end the skill and courage of myCid prevailed, and King Don Alfonso was fain to avail himself of hishorse’s feet to save himself.

XVI. Nevertheless the power of King Don Alfonso was not yet destroyed,and he would not yield up his kingdom: and he sent to his brother asecond time to bid him battle, saying that whosoever conquered shouldthen certainly remain King of Leon; and the place appointed was atVulpegera, beside the river Carrion. And the two armies met and joinedbattle, and they of Leon had the victory, for my Cid was not in thefield. And King Don Alfonso had pity upon the Castillians because theywere Christians, and gave orders not to slay them; and his brother KingDon Sancho fled. Now as he was flying, my Cid came up with his greenpennon; and when he saw that the King his Lord had been conquered itgrieved him sorely: howbeit he encouraged him saying, This is nothing,Sir! to fail or to prosper is as God pleases. But do you gathertogether your people who are discomfited, and bid them take heart. TheLeonese and Galegos are with the King your brother, secure as theythink themselves in their lodging, and taking no thought of you; for itis their custom to extol themselves when their fortune is fair, and tomock at others, and in this boastfulness will they spend the night, sothat we shall find them sleeping at break of day, and will fall uponthem. And it came to pass as he had said. The Leonese lodged themselvesin Vulpegera, taking no thought of their enemies, and setting no watch;and Ruydiez arose betimes in the morning and fell upon them, andsubdued them before they could take their arms. King Don Alfonso fledto the town of Carrion, which was three leagues distant, and would havefortified himself there in the Church of St. Mary, but he wassurrounded and constrained to yield.

XVII. Now the knights of Leon gathered together in their flight, andwhen they could not find their King they were greatly ashamed, and theyturned back and smote the Castillians; and as it befell, theyencountered King Don Sancho and took him prisoner, not having those inhis company whom he should have had, for his people considered the

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victory as their own, and all was in confusion. And thirteen knightstook him in their ward and were leading him away,–but my Cid beheldthem and galloped after them: he was alone, and had no lance, havingbroken his in the battle. And he came up to them and said, Knights,give me my Lord and I will give unto you yours. They knew him by hisarms, and they made answer, Ruydiez, return in peace and seek not tocontend with us, otherwise we will carry you away prisoner with him.And he waxed wroth and said, Give me but a lance and I will, single asI am, rescue my Lord from all of ye: by God’s help I will do it. Andthey held him as nothing because he was but one, and gave him a lance.But he attacked them therewith so bravely that he slew eleven of thethirteen, leaving two only alive, on whom he had mercy; and thus did herescue the King. And the Castillians rejoiced greatly at the King’sdeliverance: and King Don Sancho went to Burgos, and took with him hisbrother prisoner.

XVIII. Great was the love which the Infanta Dona Urraca bore to herbrother King Don Alfonso, and when she heard that he was made prisoner,she feared least he should be put to death: and she took with her theCount Don Peransures, and went to Burgos. And they spake with the Cid,and besought him that he would join with them and intercede with theKing that he should release his brother from prison, and let him becomea Monk at Sahagun. Full willing was the Cid to serve in any thing theInfanta Dona Urraca, and he went with her before the King. And sheknelt down before the King her brother, and besought mercy for DonAlfonso, his brother and hers. And the King took her by the hand andraised her from her knees, and made her sit beside him, and said untoher, Now then, my sister, say what you would have. And she besought himthat he would let their brother Don Alfonso take the habit of St.Benedict, in the royal Monastery of Sahagun, and my Cid, and CountPeransures and the other chief persons who were there present, besoughthim in like manner. And the King took my Cid aside, and asked counselof him what he should do; and the Cid said, that if Don Alfonso werewilling to become a Monk, he would do well to set him free upon thatcondition, and he besought him so to do. Then King Don Sancho, at myCid’s request, granted to Dona Urraca what she had asked. And hereleased King Don Alfonso from prison, and Don Alfonso became a Monk inthe Monastery at Sahagun, more by force than of free will. And being inthe Monastery he spake with Don Peransures, and took counsel with him,and fled away by night from the Monks, and went among the Moors to KingAlimaymon of Toledo. And the Moorish King welcomed him with a goodwill, and did great honour to him, and gave him great possessions andmany gifts.

XIX. When Dona Urraca knew that her brother King Don Alfonso had fledto Toledo, she sent to him three good men of the kingdom of Leon, thatthey should be his counsellors, for she loved him well. These were DonPero Ansures, and Don Ferran Ansures, and Don Gonzalo Ansures, allthree brethren: and they went with King Don Sancho’s permission, for itwas God’s pleasure. Now Alimaymon rejoiced in the King Don Alfonzo, and

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loved him as if he had been his own son. And Don Alfonso made acovenant with him to love him and defend him and serve him alway, solong as he should remain with him, and not to depart from him withouthis leave; and the King covenanted on his side to love him and honourhim, and defend him to the utmost of his power. And Alimaymon orderedfair palaces to be edified for him, by the wall of the Alcazar, on theouter part, that the Moors of the city might do no displeasure neitherto him nor to his companions: and they were hard by a garden of theKing’s, that he might go out and disport himself therein whensoever itpleased him. And for these things King Don Alfonso loved to serve KingAlimaymon. Nevertheless when he saw the great honour of the King ofToledo, and how powerful he was, and that he was the Lord of so greatchivalry, and of the noblest city which had belonged unto the GothicKings, from whom he himself was descended, it grieved him in his heartto see that city in the hands of the Moors: and he said within hisheart, Lord God and Father Jesus Christ, it is wholly in thy power togive and to take away, and right it is that thy will should be done,even as thou hast done it to me, to whom thou gavest a kingdom, and itwas thy will to take it away from me, and thou hast made me come hitherto serve the enemies who were at the service of the King my father.Lord, I put my hope in thee that thou wilt deliver me from thisservitude, and give me a land and kingdom to command, and that thouwilt show unto me such favour that this land and this city shall by mebe won, that thy holy body may be sacrificed in it to the honour ofChristendom. This prayer he made with great devotion and with manytears; and the Lord God heard him, as hereafter you shall hear in thishistory. In those days King Alimaymon was at war with other MoorishKings his enemies, and King Don Alfonso fought against them on hisside, and did such good service that he quelled their power, and theydurst no longer offend him. And in time of peace Don Alfonso and hiscompanions went fowling along the banks of the Tagus, for in those daysthere was much game there, and venison of all kinds; and they killedvenison among the mountains. And as he was thus spoiling he came to aplace which is now called Brihuega, and it pleased him well, for it wasa fair place to dwell in, and abounded with game, and there was adismantled castle there, and he thought that he would ask the King forthis place. And he returned to Toledo and asked it of the King, andKing Alimaymon gave it him, and he placed there his huntsmen and hisfowlers who were Christians, and fortified the place as his own. Andthe lineage of these people continued there till Don Juan, the thirdarchbishop of Toledo, enlarged it, and peopled the parish of St. Pedro.

XX. It came to pass after this that both the Kings one day came out ofToledo, and past over the bridge of Alcantara, and went into the royalgarden to disport themselves therein and take their pleasure. And atevening Don Alfonso lay down upon a bed to sleep, and King Alimaymonfell in talk with his favourites concerning his city of Toledo, howstrong it was and how well provided with all things, and that he fearedneither war of Moor nor Christian against it; and he asked them if itcould, by any, means be lost in war. Then one of them answered and

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said, Sir, if you would not hold it ill, I would tell you how it mightbe lost, and by no other manner in the world could it be so. And theKing bade him say on. And the favourite then said, If this city werebeset for seven years, and the bread and the wine and the fruits shouldbe cut down year by year, it would be lost for lack of food. All thisKing Don Alfonso heard, for he was not sleeping, and he took good heedof it. Now the Moors knew not that he was lying there. And when theyhad thus spoken, Alimaymon arose to walk in the palace, and he saw KingDon Alfonso lying there as if he were sleeping: and it troubled him,and he said to his favourites, We did not heed Alfonso who is lyingthere, and has heard all that we have said. And the favourites madeanswer, Kill him, Sir. But the King said, How shall I go against mytrue promise? moreover he sleepeth, and peradventure hath heardnothing. And they said to him, Would you know whether or not hesleepeth? and he answered, Yea: and they said, Go then and wake him,and if he have drivelled he hath slept, but if not he hath been awakeand hath heard us. Then King Don Alfonso immediately wetted the pillow,and feigned himself hard to be awakened, so that Alimaymon thought heslept.

XXI. And when the Easter of the Sheep was come, which the Moorscelebrate, the King of Toledo went out of the city to kill the sheep atthe place accustomed, as he was wont to do, and King Don Alfonso wentwith him. Now Don Alfonso was a goodly personage and of fair demeanour,so that the Moors liked him well. And as he was going by the side ofthe King, two honourable Moors followed them, and the one said unto theother, How fair a knight is this Christian, and of what good customs!well doth he deserve to be the lord of some great land. And the othermade answer, I dreamed a dream last night, that this Alfonso enteredthe city riding upon a huge boar, and many swine after him, who rootedup all Toledo with their snouts, and even the Mosques therein: Certes,he will one day become King of Toledo. And while they were thuscommuning every hair upon King Don Alfonso’s head stood up erect, andAlimaymon laid his hand upon them to press them down, but so soon ashis hand was taken off they rose again; and the two Moors held it for agreat token, and spake with each other concerning it, and one of KingAlimaymon’s favourites heard all which they said. And after the sheephad been sacrificed they returned into the city, and the favourite toldthe King what he had heard the two Moors say; and the King sent forthem forthwith, and questioned them, and they repeated to him what theyhad said, even as ye have heard. And King Alimaymon said unto them,What then shall I do? and they made answer, that he should put DonAlfonso to death; but the King replied, that this he would not do, norgo against the true promise which he had given him, but that he wouldso deal that no evil should ever come towards himself from Alfonso. Sohe sent for Don Alfonso and bade him swear that he would never comeagainst him, nor against his sons, and that no evil should come againstthem from him; and King Don Alfonso did as Alimaymon required, and didhim homage to this effect. And thenceforth was the King of Toledo moresecure of him, and held him even in greater favour than before. All

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this while did King Don Alfonso govern himself by the advice of CountPeransures, who alway advised him discreetly and well.

XXII. But when King Don Sancho heard how his brother had fled from theMonastery, he drew out his host and went against the city of Leon. TheLeonese would fain have maintained the city against him, but they couldnot, and he took the city of Leon, and all the towns and castles whichhad been under the dominion of his brother King Don Alfonso. And thenhe put the crown upon his head, and called himself King of the threekingdoms. He was a fair knight and of marvellous courage, so that bothMoors and Christians were dismayed at what they saw him do, for theysaw that nothing which he willed to take by force could stand againsthim. And when the Infanta Dona Urraca, and the men of Zamora, saw thathe had quiet possession of both his brother’s kingdoms, they fearedthat he would come against them and disherit his sister also. And forthis reason they took Don Arias Gonzalo to be their chief captain, DonaUrraca’s foster-father, that by his means they might protectthemselves, if need should be. And it came to pass as they had feared,for King Don Sancho knew that his sisters greatly loved Don Alfonso,and he thought that by their counsel he had fled from the Monastery,especially by Dona Urraca’s, because Don Alfonso guided himself in allthings by her counsel, holding her in place of a mother, for she was alady of great understanding. And he went forth with his army, and tookfrom the Infanta Dona Elvira the half of the Infantazgo which shepossessed, and also from Dona Urraca the other half. And he wentagainst Toro, the city of Dona Elvira, and took it; and then he went toZamora to Dona Urraca, bidding her yield him up the city, and sayingthat he would give her lands as much as she required in the plaincountry. But she returned for answer, that she would in no manner yieldunto him that which the King her father had given her; and she besoughthim that he would suffer her to continue to dwell peaceably therein,saying that no disservice should ever be done against him on her part.

XXIII. Then King Don Sancho went to Burgos, because it was not theseason for besieging a town, being winter. And he sent his lettersthrough all the land, calling upon his vassals to assemble togetherupon the first day of March in Sahagun, upon pain of forfeiting hisfavour. Now though the King was yet but a young man, whose beard wasbut just coming, he was of so great courage that the people feared him,and dared not do otherwise than as he commanded. And they assembledtogether in Sahagun on the day appointed; and when the King heard inwhat readiness they were, it gladdened him, and he lifted up his handsto God and said, Blessed be thy name, O Lord, because thou hast givenme all the kingdoms of my father. And when he had said this he orderedproclamation to be made through the streets of Burgos, that all shouldgo forth to protect the host and the body of the King their Lord. Andthe day in which they left Burgos they took up their lodging atFromesta; and the next day they came to Canion, but the King would notlodge there, and he went on to Sahagun, where the army awaited him, andtook up his lodging without the town; and on the following morning he

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bade the host advance, and they made such speed that in three days theyarrived before Zamora, and pitched their tents upon the banks of theDouro; and he ordered proclamation to be made throughout the host thatno harm should be done until he had commanded it. And he mounted onhorseback with his hidalgos and rode round the town, and beheld howstrongly it was situated upon a rock, with strong walls, and many andstrong towers, and the river Douro running at the foot thereof; and hesaid unto his knights, Ye see how strong it is, neither Moor norChristian can prevail against it; if I could have it from my sistereither for money or exchange, I should be Lord of Spain.

XXIV. Then the King returned to his tents, and incontinently he sentfor the Cid, and said unto him, Cid, you well know how manifoldly youare bound unto me, both by nature, and by reason of the breeding whichthe King my father gave you; and when he died he commended you to me,and I have ever shown favour unto you, and you have ever served me asthe loyalest vassal that ever did service to his Lord; and I have foryour good deserts given unto you more than there is in a great county,and have made you the chief of all my household. Now therefore Ibeseech you as my friend and true vassal, that you go to Zamora to mysister Dona Urraca, and say unto her again, that I beseech her to giveme the town either for a price, or in exchange, and I will give to herMedina de Rio-seco, with the whole Infantazgo, from Villalpando toValladolid, and Tiedra also, which is a good Castle; and I will swearunto her, with twelve knights of my vassals, never to break thiscovenant between us; but if she refuseth to do this I will take awaythe town from her by force. And my Cid kissed the hand of the King andsaid unto him, This bidding, Sir, should be for other messenger, for itis a heavy thing for me to deliver it; for I was brought up in Zamoraby your father’s command, in the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, with DonaUrraca and with his sons, and it is not fitting that I should be thebearer of such bidding. And the King persisted in requiring of him thathe should go, insomuch that he was constrained to obey his will. And hetook with him fifteen of his knights and rode towards Zamora, and whenhe drew nigh he called unto those who kept guard in the towers not toshoot their arrows at him, for he was Ruydiez of Bivar, who came toDona Urraca with the bidding of her brother King Don Sancho. With thatthere came down a knight who was nephew to Arias Gonzalo, and had thekeeping of the gate, and he bade the Cid enter, saying that he wouldorder him to be well lodged while he went to Dona Urraca to know if shewould be pleased to see him. So the Cid went in, and the knight went tothe Infanta, and told her that Ruydiez of Bivar was come with a messagefrom King Don Sancho; and it pleased her well that he should be themessenger, and she bade him come before that she might know what washis bidding; and she sent Arias Gonzalo and the other knights of herparty to meet him and accompany him. And when the Cid entered thepalace Dona Urraca advanced to meet him, and greeted him full well, andthey seated themselves both upon the Estrado. And Dona Urraca said untohim, Cid, you well know that you were brought up with me here inZamora, in the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, and when my father was at

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the point of death he charged you that you should alway counsel hissons the best you could. Now therefore tell me I beseech you what is itwhich my brother goes about to do, now that he has called up all Spainin arms, and to what lands he thinks to go, whether against Moors orChristians. Then the Cid answered and said, Lady, to messenger and aletter no wrong should be done; give me safe assurance and I will tellunto you that which the King your brother hath sent me to say. And shesaid she would do as Don Arias Gonzalo should advise her. And Don Ariasanswered that it was well to hear what the King her brother had sent tosay: Peradventure, said he, he goeth against the Moors, and requiresaid of you, which it would be right to give; and for such service I andmy sons would go with him, and I would give fifteen of my people wellmounted and armed, and supply them with food for ten years, if heneeded them. Dona Urraca then said to the Cid, that he might speak hisbidding safely. Then said my Cid, The King your brother sends to greetyou, and beseeches you to give him this town of Zamora, either for aprice or in exchange; and he will give to you Medina de Rio-seco, withthe whole Infantazgo, from Villalpando to Valladolid, and the goodcastle of Tiedra, and he will swear unto you, with twelve knights hisvassals, never to do you hurt or harm; but if you will not give him thetown, he will take it against your will.

XXV. When Dona Urraca heard this she was sorely grieved, and in hergreat sorrow she lamented aloud, saying, Wretch that I am, many are theevil messages which I have heard since my father’s death! He hathdisherited my brother King Don Garcia of his kingdom, and taken him,and now holds him in irons as if he were a thief or a Moor; and he hathtaken his lands from my brother King Don Alfonso, and forced him to goamong the Moors, and live there exiled, as if he had been a traitor;and would let none go with him except Don Peransures and his brethren,whom I sent; and he hath taken her lands from my sister Dona Elviraagainst her will, and now would he take Zamora from me also! Now thenlet the earth open and swallow me, that I may not see so many troubles!And with that, in her strong anger against her brother King Don Sancho,she said, I am a woman, and well know that I cannot strive with him inbattle; but I will have him slain either secretly or openly. Then DonArias Gonzalo stood up and said, Lady Dona Urraca, in thus complainingand making lamentation you do inconsiderately; for in time of troubleit befits us to take thought of what best is to be done, and so must wedo. Now then, Lady, give order that all the men of Zamora assemble inSt. Salvador’s and know of them whether they will hold with you, seeingthat your father gave them to you to be your vassals. And if they willhold with you, then give not you up the town, neither for a price, norin exchange; but if they will not, let us then go to Toledo among theMoors, where your brother King Don Alfonso abideth. And she did as herfoster-father had advised, and it was proclaimed through the streetsthat the men of Zamora should meet in council at St. Salvador’s. Andwhen they were all assembled, Dona Urraca arose and said, Friends andvassals, ye have seen how my brother King Don Sancho hath disheritedall his brethren, against the oath which he made to the King my father,

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and now he would disherit me also. He hath sent to bid me give himZamora, either for a price or in exchange. Now concerning this I wouldknow whereunto ye advise me, and if you will hold with me as goodvassals and true, for he saith that he will take it from me whether Iwill or no; but if ye will keep my career I think to defend it by God’smercy and with your help. Then by command of the council there rose upa knight who was called Don Nuno, a man of worth, aged, and of fairspeech; and he said, God reward you, Lady, this favour which you haveshown us in thinking good to come to our council, for we are yourvassals, and should do what you command. And we beseech you give not upZamora, neither for price nor for exchange, for he who besieges youupon the rock would soon drive you from the plain. The council ofZamora will do your bidding, and will not desert you neither fortrouble nor for danger which may befall them, even unto death. Sooner,Lady, will we expend all our possessions, and eat our mules and horses,yea sooner feed upon our children and our wives, than give up Zamora,unless by your command. And they all with one accord confirmed what DonNuno had said. When the Infanta Dona Urraca heard this she was wellpleased, and praised them greatly; and she turned to the Cid and saidunto him, You were bred up with me in this town of Zamora, where DonArias Gonzalo fostered you by command of the King my father, andthrough your help it was that the King my father gave it unto me to bemy inheritance. I beseech you help me now against my brother, andintreat him that he will not seek to disherit me; but if he will go onwith what he hath begun, say to him that I will rather die with the menof Zamora, and they with me, than give him up the town, either forprice or exchange. And with this answer did the Cid return unto theKing.

XXVI. When King Don Sancho heard what the Cid said, his anger kindledagainst him, and he said, You have given this counsel to my sisterbecause you were bred up with her. And my Cid answered and said,Faithfully have I discharged your bidding, and as a true vassal.Howbeit, O King, I will not bear arms against the Infanta your sister,nor against Zamora, because of the days which are passed;–and Ibeseech you do not persist in doing this wrong. But then King DonSancho was more greatly incensed, and he said unto him, If it were notthat my father left you commended to me, I would order you this instantto be hanged. But for this which you have said I command you to quit mykingdom within nine days. And the Cid went to his tent in anger, andcalled for his kinsmen and his friends, and bade them make ready on theinstant to depart with him. And he set forth with all the knights andesquires of his table, and with all their retainers horse and foot,twelve hundred persons, all men of approved worth, a goodly company;–and they took the road to Toledo, meaning to join King Don Alfonsoamong the Moors. And that night they slept at Castro Nuno. But when theCounts and Ricos-omes, and the other good men of the host saw this,they understood the great evil and disservice which might arise to theKing, and to the land, from the departure of the Cid, who went away inwrath. And they went to the King and said unto him, Sir, wherefore

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would you lose so good a vassal, who has done you such great service?If he should go unto your brother Don Alfonso among the Moors, he wouldnot let you besiege this city thus in peace. And the King perceivedthat they spake rightly, and he called for Don Diego Ordonez, the sonof Count Don Bermudo, who was the son of the Infante Don Ordono ofLeon, and bade him follow the Cid, and beseech him in his name toreturn; and whatever covenant he should make it should be confirmedunto him; and of this he ordered his letters of credence to be madeout. And Don Diego Ordonez went to horse, and rode after the Cid, andovertook him between Castro Nuno and Medina del Campo. And when it wastold unto the Cid that Don Diego Ordonez was coming, he turned to meethim, and greeted him well, and asked him wherefore he was come. And hedelivered the King’s bidding, and showed unto him his letters ofcredence, and said unto him that the King besought him not to bear inmind the words which he had spoken unto him, being in anger. Then theCid called together his kinsmen and friends, and asked them what theyshould do. And they counselled him that he should return to the King,for it was better to remain in his land and serve God, than to go amongthe Moors. And he held their counsel good, and called for Don Diego,and said unto him that he would do the will of the King: and Don Diegosent to the King to tell him how he had sped. And when the Cid drewnigh unto the host, the King went out with five hundred knights to meethim, and received him gladly, and did him great honour. And the Cidkissed his hand and asked him if he confirmed what Don Diego had said;and the King confirmed it before all the knights who were therepresent, promising to give him great possessions. And when they came tothe army great was the joy because of the Cid’s return, and great werethe rejoicings which were made: but as great was the sorrow in Zamora,for they who were in the town held that the siege was broken up by hisdeparture. Nevertheless my Cid would not bear arms against the Infanta,nor against the town of Zamora, because of the days which were past.

XXVII. And the King ordered proclamation to be made throughout the hostthat the people should make ready to attack the town. And they foughtagainst it three days and three nights so bravely that all the ditcheswere filled up, and the barbicans thrown down, and they who were withinfought sword in hand with those without, and the waters of the Douro,as they past below the town, were all discoloured with blood. And whenCount Don Garcıa de Cabra saw the great loss which they were suffering,it grieved him; and he went unto the King and told him that many menwere slain, and advised him to call off the host that they should nolonger fight against the town, but hold it besieged, for by famine itmight soon be taken. Then the King ordered them to draw back, and hesent to each camp to know how many men had died in the attack, and thenumber was found to be a thousand and thirty. And when the King knewthis he was greatly troubled for the great loss which he had received,and he ordered the town to be beleagered round about, and in thismanner he begirt it, that none could enter into it, neither go outtherefrom; and there was a great famine within the town. And when DonArias Gonzalo saw the misery, and the hunger, and the mortality which

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were there, he said to the Infanta Dona Urraca, You see, Lady, thegreat wretchedness which the people of Zamora have suffered, and doevery day suffer to maintain their loyalty; now then call together theCouncil, and thank them truly for what they have done for you, and bidthem give up the town within nine days to the King your brother. Andwe, Lady, will go to Toledo to your brother King Don Alfonso, for wecannot defend Zamora; King Don Sancho is of so great heart and soresolute, that he will never break up the siege, and I do not hold itgood, that you should abide here longer. And Dona Urraca gave ordersthat the good men of Zamora should meet together in Council; and shesaid unto them, Friends, ye well see the resoluteness of King DonSancho my brother; and already have ye suffered much evil and muchwretchedness for doing right and loyally, losing kinsmen and friends inmy service. Ye have done enough, and I do not hold it good that yeshould perish; I command ye therefore give up the town to him withinnine days, and I will go to Toledo to my brother King Don Alfonso. Themen of Zamora when they heard this had great sorrow, because they hadendured the siege so long, and must now give up the town at last; andthey determined all to go with the Infanta, and not remain in the town.

XXVIII. When Vellido Dolfos heard this, he went to Dona Urraca andsaid, Lady, I came here to Zamora to do you service with thirtyknights, all well accoutred, as you know; and I have served you longtime, and never have I had from you guerdon for my service, though Ihave demanded it: but now if you will grant my demand I will relieveZamora, and make King Don Sancho break up the siege. Then said DonaUrraca, Vellido, I shall repeat to thee the saying of the wise man, Aman bargains well with the slothful and with him who is in need; andthus you would deal with me. I do not bid thee commit any evil thing,if such thou hast in thy thought; but I say unto you, that there is nota man in the world to whom if he should relieve Zamora, and make theKing my brother raise the siege, I would not grant whatsoever he mightrequire. And when Vellido heard this he kissed her hand, and went to aporter who kept one of the gates of the town, and spake with him,saying, that he should open the gate unto him when he saw him flyingtoward it, and he gave him his cloak. Then went he to his lodging andarmed himself, and mounted his horse, and rode to the house of DonArias Gonzalo, and cried with a loud voice, We all know the reason, DonArias Gonzalo, why you will not let Dona Urraca exchange Zamora withher brother; it is because you deal with her as a harlot, like an oldtraitor. When Arias Gonzalo heard this, it grieved him to the heart,and he said, In an evil day was I born, that so shameful a falsehood asthis should be said to me in mine old age, and there should be none torevenge me! Then his sons arose and armed themselves hastily, and wentafter Vellido, who fled before them toward the gate of the town. Theporter when he saw him coming opened the gate, and he rode out andgalloped into the camp of the King Don Sancho, and the others followedhim till they were nigh the camp, but farther they did not venture. AndVellido went to the King and kissed his hand, and said unto him thesefalse words with a lying tongue: Sir, because I said to the Council of

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Zamora that they should yield the town unto you, the sons of AriasGonzalo would have slain me, even as you have seen. And therefore comeI to you, Sir, and will be your vassal, if I may find favour at yourhands. And I will show you how in a few days you may have Zamora, ifGod pleases; and if I do not as I have said, then let me be slain. Andthe King believed all that he said, and received him for his vassal,and did him great honour. And all that night they talked together ofhis secrets, and he made the King believe that he knew a postern bymeans of which he would put Zamora into his hands.

XXIX. On the morrow in the morning, one of the knights who were in thetown went upon the wall, and cried out with a loud voice, so that thegreater part of the host heard him, King Don Sancho, give ear to what Isay; I am a knight and hidalgo, a native of the land of Santiago; andthey from whom I spring were true men and delighted in their loyalty,and I also will live and die in my truth. Give ear, for I wouldundeceive you, and tell you the truth, if you will believe me, I sayunto you, that from this town of Zamora there is gone forth a traitorto kill you; his name is Vellido Dolfos; he is the son of Adolfo, whoslew Don Nuno like a traitor, and the grandson of Laino, anothertraitor, who killed his gossip and threw him into the river; and thisis as great a traitor as the rest of his race; look to yourselftherefore and take heed of him. I say this to you, that if peradventureevil should befall you by this traitor, it may not be said in Spainthat you were not warned against him. Now the name of this knight wasBernal Dianez de Ocampo. And the men of Zamora sent also to the King tobid him beware of Vellido, and the king took their warning in goodpart, and sent to say unto them, that when he had the town he woulddeal bountifully with them, for this which they had done; neverthelesshe gave no heed to the warning. And Vellido, when he heard this went tothe King, and said, Sir, the old Arias Gonzalo is full crafty, and hathsent to say this unto you, because he knows that by my means you wouldhave won the town. And he called for his horse, feigning that he woulddepart because of what had been said. But the King took him by the handand said, Friend and vassal, take no thought for this; I say unto you,that if I may have Zamora, I will make you chief therein, even as AriasGonzalo is now. Then Vellido kissed his hand and said, God grant youlife, Sir, for many and happy years, and let you fulfil what youdesire. But the traitor had other thoughts in his heart.

XXX. After this Vellido took the King apart and said to him, If itplease you, Sir, let us ride out together alone; we will go roundZamora, and see the trenches which you have ordered to be made; and Iwill show unto you the postern which is called the Queen’s, by which wemay enter the town, for it is never closed. When it is night you shallgive me a hundred knights who are hidalgos, well armed, and we will goon foot, and the Zamorans because they are weak with famine and misery,will let us conquer them, and we will enter and open the gate, and keepit open till all your host shall have entered in; and thus shall we winthe town of Zamora. The King believed what he said, and they took horse

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and went riding round the town, and the King looked at the trenches,and that traitor snowed him the postern whereof he had spoken. Andafter they had ridden round the town the King had need to alight uponthe side of the Douro and go apart; now he carried in his hand a lighthunting spear which was gilded over, even such as the Kings from whomhe was descended were wont to bear; and he gave this to Vellido to holdit while he went aside, to cover his feet. And Vellido Dolfos, when hesaw him in that guise, took the hunting spear and thrust it between hisshoulders, so that it went through him and came out at his breast. Andwhen he had stricken him he turned the reins and rode as fast as hecould toward the postern; this was not the first treason which he hadcommitted, for he had killed the Count Don Nuno treacherously. Now itchanced that the Cid saw him riding thus, and asked him wherefore hefled, and he would not answer; and then the Cid understood that he haddone some treason, and his heart misgave him that he had slain theKing; and he called in haste for his horse, but while they werebringing it, Vellido had ridden far away; and the Cid being eager tofollow him, took only his lance and did not wait to have his spursbuckled on. And he followed him to the postern and had well nighovertaken him, but Vellido got in; and then the Cid said in his anger,Cursed be the knight who ever gets on horseback without his spurs. Nowin all the feats of the Cid never was fault found in him save only inthis, that he did not enter after Vellido into the town; but he did notfail to do this for cowardice, neither for fear of death, or ofimprisonment; but because he thought that peradventure this was adevice between him and the King, and that he fled by the King’scommand; for certes, if he had known that the King was slain, there wasnothing which would have prevented him from entering the town, andslaying the traitor in the streets, thereright.

XXXI. Now the history saith, that when Vellido Dolfos had got withinthe postern, he was in such fear both of those who were in the town andof those who were without, that he went and placed himself under themantle of the Infanta Dona Urraca. And when Don Arias Gonzalo knew thishe went unto the Infanta and said, Lady, I beseech you that you give upthis traitor to the Castillians, otherwise be sure that it will be toyour own harm; for the Castillians will impeach all who are in Zamora,and that will be greater dishonour for you and for us. And Dona Urracamade answer, Counsel me then so that he may not die for this which hehath done. Don Arias Gonzalo then answered, Give him unto me, and Iwill keep him in custody for three days, and if the Castillians impeachus we will deliver him into their hands; and if they do not impeach uswithin that time, we will thrust him out of the town so that he shallnot be seen among us. And Don Arias Gonzalo took him from thence, andsecured him with double fetters, and guarded him well.

XXXII. Meantime the Castillians went to seek their King, and they foundhim by the side of the Douro, where he lay sorely wounded, even untodeath; but he had not yet lost his speech, and the hunting spear was inhis body, through and through, and they did not dare to take it out

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least he should die immediately. And a master of Burgos came up who waswell skilled in these things, and he sawed off the ends of the spear,that he might not lose his speech, and said that he should beconfessed, for he had death within him. Then Count Don Garcıa de Cabra,the curley-haired one of Granon, said unto him, Sir, think of yoursoul, for you have a desperate wound. And the King made answer, Blessedbe you, Count, who thus counsel me, for I perceive that I am slain; thetraitor Vellido has killed me, and I well know that this was for mysins, because I broke the oath which I made unto the King my father.And as the King was saying this the Cid came up and knelt before himand said, I, Sir, remain more desolate than any other of your vassals,for for your sake have I made your brethren mine enemies, and all inthe world who were against you, and against whom it pleased you to go.The King your father commended me to them as well as to you, when hedivided his kingdoms, and I have lost their love for your sake, havingdone them great evil. And now neither can I go before King Don Alfonso,your brother, nor remain among the Christians before Dona Urraca yoursister, because they hold that whatsoever you have done against them wasby my counsel. Now then, Sir, remember me before you depart. The Kingthen commanded that they should raise him up in the bed, and the Countsand Ricos-omes stood round about him, and the Bishops and Archbishopswho had come thither to make accord between him and his sister DonaUrraca, and they heard what the Cid said, and knew that he said truly;for whatever good speed King Don Sancho had had in his doings was allby means of my Cid. And the King said unto them, I beseech all ye whoare here present, Counts and Ricos-omes, and all my other vassals, thatif my brother King Don Alfonso should come from the land of the Moors,ye beseech him to show favour unto you, my Cid, and that he always bebountiful unto you, and receive you to be his vassal; and if he alwaydoth this and listen unto you, he will not be badly advised. Then theCid arose and kissed his Wand, and all the chief persons who were therepresent did the like. And after this the King said unto them, I beseechye intreat my brother King Don Alfonso to forgive me whatever wrong Ihave done him, and to pray to God to have mercy upon my soul. And whenhe had said this he asked for the candle, and presently his souldeparted. And all who were there present made great lamentation for theKing.

BOOK III.

I. Now when the King was dead, the townsmen who were in the campforsook their tents and fled, and much did they lose in their flight;but the noble Castillians, thinking rather of what they were bound todo as men who had always preserved their loyalty, like their ancestorsbefore them, would not depart from Zamora, nor break up the siegethereof, but remained bravely before it, though they had lost theirLord. And they summoned all the Bishops, and took the body of the Kingand sent it full honourably to the Monastery of Ona, and buried himthere as beseemed a King: and while one part of the chief men of thehost accompanied the body, the rest remained in the camp before Zamora.

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CHAPTER I.

Relates to what happened to a Moorish king of Cordova.

ONE day Count Lucanor spoke to Patronio his friend after this manner: --

"Patronio, you know that I am a great hunter, and that I have invented many new devices in hunting which noother man ever thought of; and you know also that I have made improvements in the hoods and leashes, suchas were never made before; nevertheless the people speak ill of me, and ridicule me; and when they praise theCid Ruy Diaz, or Count Ferdinand Gonzalez, for the many things which they did, or the holy and happy KingFerdinand for the many conquests which he gained, they say of me, with ironical praise, that I also have donemany great things, alluding to the hoods and leashes. Now I feel this irony very painful to me, and injurious tomy character; therefore, I pray you, advise me what to do, so as to avoid being ridiculed, for the good things Ido. "

"My lord," said Patronio, "in order that you may know what it behooves you to do in this case, I will, withyour permission, relate what happened to a Moorish king of Cordova." The Count assented, and Patronioproceeded: --

"There was in Cordova a Moorish king, named Alhaquima, who governed his kingdom well: he studied to actwith honor to himself and justice to others; indeed, he did all that was required of good kings; not only inguarding their kingdoms, but in augmenting their territories, with the view that they might receive the praisesof their people; and after death be remembered for their good deeds. Yet this king gave himself up to a life ofluxury and enjoyment; vice and disorder reigning in his palace. Now it happened as they played before him onan instrument which the Moors liked very much, and which they called Albogon, that the king perceived thatit did not sound as well as it ought, so he took the instrument and made a hole at the lower part of it, but in thesame direction as the other holes; and since that time the Albogon has given a much better sound than before.

"Now although this cannot be considered but as an improvement, yet it was not an act suited to the dignity ofa king -- and so thought the people -- for when they heard that the improvement was made by the king, theyexclaimed in a ridiculing manner in Arabic, 'Vahedezut Alhaquima,' which signifies, 'This is the work of KingAlhaquima.' This exclamation became so common all over the country that it at last reached the ears of theking, who begged to know why the people always used this saying; but his attendants were anxious to avoidanswering his question. He however insisted on being told the truth, and the signification of the expression; sothey were compelled to tell him. When he heard it he was very much grieved; but instead of punishing thosewho related the origin of the saying, he resolved to do some worthy deed, in order that the people might becompelled to praise him deservedly.

"At this time the mosque of Cordova not being yet finished, King Alhaquima did all that was necessary for itscompletion, and in this way it became one of the most beautiful mosques the Moors had in Spain, -- glory toGod! it is now a church, called 'Saint Mary of Cordova.' -- It was dedicated, by the 'good King Ferdinand,' toSaint Mary after he had taken Cordova from the Moors.

"Now when the Moorish king had done so good a work as that of finishing the mosque he said to himself, thepeople have hitherto ridiculed me for the addition I made to the Albogon, (one of which instruments he thenheld before him,) but now they have reason for praising me, for have I not completed the mosque of Cordova?From this time the Moors ceased to speak in ridicule of him; and to this day, when they wish to exalt a goodact, say, 'It is as the work of King Alhaquima.'

"And you, my lord, if you feel displeased and unhappy because you are ridiculed for the improvements youhave made in hoods and leathers and other things relating to the chase, study to do some noble and worthydeed suitable to your station."

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Count Lucanor found this to be good advice, and acted accordingly, the result being that the people spoke wellof him.

Don Juan, considering this to be a good example, caused it to be written in this book, and made these verses,which say: --

If any good thou doest, how small soever,

Let it be nobly done, for good deeds live for ever.

NOTES.

It would appear that in this narrative the author refers to Al Hakem II, who reigned in Cordova from 961 to976. He was a man of peace and a cultivator of the Arts, like his noble father Abd' el Nahman III, who builtthe beautiful city of Medina al Zarah, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, if he did not finish, at any rate heappears to have done much towards a mosque which occupied more than one hundred years in its completion.

King Ferdinand III, mentioned in the text, was enthusiastic in obtaining from the Moors their splendidmosques, with the view of converting them into Christian Churches; it was thus in 1236, that he conqueredCordova, and replacing the crescent with the cross on the tower of the mosque, with grand processions,benedictions, and prayers, purified and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary.

It is an interesting fact that to this day, the saying, "It is as the work of King Alhaquima," is a "householdword," in Spain, when praise is to be bestowed for any work or achievement.

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Don Juan Manuel. Count Lucanor: The Fifty Pleasant Stories of

Patronio. Translation by James York. London: Gibbings &

Company, 1899.

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CHAPTER II.

Treats of that which happened to Lorenzo Suarez Gallinato, and Garciperez of Vargas, and another knight.

ONE day Count Lucanor was conversing with his counsellor Patronio, he said: -- "Patronio, it happens that Ihave a powerful king for an enemy; our quarrel has lasted so long that we have now resolved, for our futurewelfare, to terminate the war. Now, although we have thus agreed, nevertheless we are suspicious one of theother, and I am always on my guard; for, not only his people, but mine also, have been assassinated; and theysend me, without ceasing, secret messengers informing me that my own life is in danger. Now, as I wish to beat peace, I entreat you to advise me how to act under these circumstances."

"Count Lucanor," replied Patronio, "the advice which I have to give you demands your serious attention, andfor many reasons."

"Firstly: -- Any man wishing to quarrel with you will be under the necessity of making great preparations,while he will endeavour to lead you, at the same time, to understand that he only desires to serve you, andwhile appearing to regret the injuries you have sustained, will doubtless let fall some remark such as will raiseyour suspicion, of which you must avail yourself by making the required preparations, although this very actnot improbably may lead to the rupture.

"He, however, who advises you to take no precaution, believe me, is not your friend; but he who would say,'Strengthen the walls of your fortress,' gives you a reason to believe that he does not desire to enjoy yourpossessions; he again who would say to you, 'You have too many friends and attendants, and you expend toomuch money in maintaining them,' gives you reason to believe that he does not like your honourable andsecure position. So you see, you are in great danger if you take no measure of precaution, while again, if youdo, you are very likely to bring about a conflict. But since you wish me to advise you how to act in this case, Iwill recount to you what happened to a certain very brave knight.

"The holy and good King Ferdinand, having besieged Seville, had amongst his followers three knights, whowere considered the best and bravest in the world. One was Lorenzo Suarez Gallinato, another was Garciperezde Vargas, but the name of the other I have forgotten. These three knights had, one day, a dispute amongthemselves as to who was the most daring and valiant; and, since they could not agree in any other manner,they each determined to reach the gate of Seville, and to strike it with their lances. The following morningthey armed, and rode towards the city. Now when the Moors who were on the bastions and towers saw onlythree knights, they thought they came as envoys, so allowed them to pass the moat, and parapet, and arrive atthe city gate. On reaching the gate, each knight struck it with his lance, and having done so, turned his horse'shead towards the camp. When the Moors saw the knights returning without leaving any message, theyconcluded that they had come only to offer an insult, and so determined to pursue them. On opening the gatethe Moors found that the knights had already gone some distance; nevertheless they followed them withfifteen thousand horse, and more than twenty thousand foot. Now when the three knights saw the Moorsapproaching, they turned their horses and waited their arrival; but, on their coming nearer, the knight, whosename I have forgotten, was the first to charge them, whilst Lorenzo Suarez and Garciperez remained quiet;but, on the Moors coming still nearer, Garciperez charged them also, Lorenzo Suarez still remainingstationary until the Moors forced him to the attack; when he threw himself among them and performedwonderful acts of valour. When the royal army saw their knights surrounded by the Moors, they hastened totheir assistance, as they saw them in great danger; but, by the mercy of God, none of these knights weremortally (although severely) wounded. The conflict, however, between the Moors and Christians became sogeneral that king Ferdinand was obliged to approach in person; and on that day the Christians displayed greatvalour.

"When the king returned to the camp, he ordered these three knights to be brought before him, telling themthat they deserved death for having acted so foolishly, by having without his orders brought on a general

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engagement; thereby causing the loss of many brave soldiers. The chiefs of the army, however, intercededwith the king for them, and they were liberated in consequence.

"Soon after, the king, hearing that the knights had acted from spirit of emulation, ordered them to attendagain, and assembled all the most valiant men of his army; so that they might decide which was the bravest.The debate was animated, each bringing forth good reason for praising his own party -- some maintaining thathe who first attacked the Moors displayed the greatest courage; -- others giving preference to the second; thedecision, however, was given thus: --

"If the Moors who approached had not been so numerous, and could skill and courage have conquered, thenthe knight who first charged them only began that which he might have completed; but, since this was not thecase, he must have approached, not to conquer, but, through shame of flight, and an inability to resist theinfluence of fear, therefore it was that he made the attack. The second had better hopes than the first, becausehe resisted acting in an hopeless cause and bore longer the emotions consequent upon his perilous position.But, Lorenzo Suarez Gallinato, who waited until the Moors attacked him, was judged to be the most valiant.

"And you, my lord, although you are kept in the state of alarm and suspicion of which you now complain, yetengage not in a struggle the end of which you cannot foresee

, continue to exercise you good sense, and do not suffer yourself to be led away by false reports. Yourdefences are good, so that, even from a sudden attack, you cannot receive much damage.

"I advise you now, my lord, to be of good cheer, since you cannot be seriously injured. Wait before you act,for perhaps you will see that the reports which annoy you are not true. Those who create these alarms seekonly their own interest; and believe me, whether they be of your own or your enemy's people, they areindifferent whether it be war or peace; their object being only that they may be favoured with an opportunityduring the commotion to gratify their wicked passions -- so that, during the conflict between you and yourenemy, they may possess themselves, not only of that belonging to yourself, but of that which belongs toothers, without fear of punishment.

"So that you are secured against any sudden attack, it is much better to wait until the wrong comes from theother side. Be patient -- all may yet end well -- God will be with you, which in such a cause is no smallmatter. Again, all people will know that you act only for your own preservation; nor can your enemy declarehimself aggrieved. Thus may you preserve peace, which is agreeable to the will of God and all good men."

Don Juan, finding this to be a good example, wrote the following lines, which say: --

When danger comes, haste not to meet it,

Quietly wait, yet boldly treat it.

NOTES.

Of these three knights of the thirteenth century we have little on record. Don Lorenzo Suarez Gallinato, has,however, been mentioned in another example, the forty-ninth CHAPTER of this work, by Don Manuel, wherehe appears, although a Christian, to have occupied the distinguished post of Chief of the body-guard to theKing of Granada.

Of Garcio Perez Vargas the genealogy has been carefully traced by Argote de Molina, in his Nobleza deAndalucia, fol. 96-122, where he is mentioned as one of the nobles of Count Don Pedro. The most brilliantpart of his career was at the siege of Seville, and at the battle of Zeres, where he was knighted by the hand ofDon Alvar Perez de Castro, for having killed the King of Ganzules. His name is perpetuated by an inscription

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still existing over the gate of Zeres at Seville, of which the following is a translation: --

"Hercules built me,

Julius Cæsar surrounded me with walls and lofty towers,

A Gothic King lost me,

The holy King won me,

Assisted by Garcio Perez de Vargas."

The brother of this hero, Diego Perez de Vargas, is mentioned by Cervantes as a man of great prowess andvalour.

Fighting bravely one day at the siege of Seville, against the Moors, he broke his sword, when seizing a heavybranch or trunk of an oak tree, he, with his terrible weapon, caused such destruction among his enemies thathe was nicknamed "El Machaco (the Pounder,)" from the Spanish word Machacar, to pound. Since then thefamily have assumed the name and have been known as Vargas y Machacar (Don Quixote, cap. 8).

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Attack of the Spanish on the Mixtón town of Nochist-lan, 1541, in Diego Muñoz Camargo, Historia de Tlaxcala, ca. 1581-1584

MEXICA (AZTEC) &

TLAXCALA

ACCOUNTS OF THE

SPANISH

CONQUEST, 1500s

1519*

Motecuhzoma summoned the chief officials of all the villages. He told them to search their villages for

magicians and to bring him any they found. The officials returned with a number of these wizards, who

were announced and then brought into the king’s presence. They knelt before him, and with one knee to

the floor, and did him the greatest reverence. He asked them: “Have you not seen strange omens in the

sky or on the earth? In the cases under the earth, or in the lakes and streams? A weeping woman, or

strange men? Visions, or phantasms, or other such things?” But the magicians had not seen any of the

omens that Motecuhzoma sought to understand, and therefore could not advise him. . . .

“What can we say? The future has already been determined and decreed in heaven, and

Motecuhzoma will behold and suffer a great mystery which must come to pass in his land. If our king

wishes to know more about it, he will know soon enough, for it comes swiftly. This is what we predict,

since he demands that we speak, and since it must surely take place, he can only wait for it.” . . .

A few days later a macehual [common man] came to the city from Mictlancuauhtla. No one had

sent him, none of the officials; he came of his own accord. he went directly to the palace of Motecuhzoma

and said to him: “Our lord and king, forgive my boldness. I am from Mictlancuauhtla. When I went to the

shore of the great sea, there was a mountain range or small mountain floating in the midst of the water,

and moving here and there without touching the shore. My lord, we have never seen the like of this,

although we guard the coast and are always on watch.” . . .

* Excerpted, and images and asterisked footnotes added, by the National Humanities Center, 2006: www.nhc.rtp.nc.us/pds/pds.htm. In Miguel León- Portilla, ed., The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico (translated from the Nahuatl into Spanish by Angel Maria Garibay K.; English translation by Lysander Kemp), Beacon Press, 1962, pp. 14-16, 22-31, 33-34, 38-49. Reproduced by permission. Originally published in Spanish as Visión de los Vencidos: Relaciones indígenas de la Conquista [Vision of the Vanquished: Indigenous Accounts of the Conquest], Universi-dad Nacional Autónoma de México, 1959. Complete image credits at www.nhc.rtp.nc.us/pds/amerbegin/imagecredits.htm.

Adapted from the Cronica Mexicana, accounts compiled by Fernando Alvarado Tezozomoc, the grandson of Motecuhzoma, ca. 1578

Miguel León-Portilla, a Mexican anthropologist, compiled native accounts of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, publishing them in Visión de los Vencidos (Vision of the Vanquished, 1959) to present a chronological account from the perspective of the Indians of Mexico, including the Mexica (Aztec) and the Tlaxcala.

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Museo del Templo Mayor, Mexico

Quetzalcoatl, the “Feathered Serpent,” Aztec creator god, from the Codex Barbonicus, ca. 1507

Motecuhzoma then gave orders to Pinotl of Cuetlaxtlan and to other officials. He said to them: “Give out

this order: a watch is to be kept along all the shores at Nauhtla, Tuztlan, Mictlancauhtla, wherever the

strangers appear.” The officials left at once and gave orders for the watch to be kept. . . .

The year 13-Rabbit now approached its end. And when it was about to end, they appeared, they

were seen again. The report of their coming was brought to Motecuhzoma, who immediately sent out

messengers. It was as if he thought the new arrival was our prince Quetzalcoatl.*

This is what he felt in his heart: He has appeared! He has come back! He will come here, to the

place ofthis throne and canopy, for that is what he

promised when he departed!

Motecuhzoma sent five messengers to greet the

strangers and to bring them gifts. . . He said to them:

“Come forward, my Jaguar Knights, come forward. It is

said that our lord has returned to this land. Go to meet

him. Go to hear him. Listen well to what he tells you;

listen and remember.”

Motecuhzoma also said to the messengers: “Here is

what you are to bring our lord. This is the treasure of

Quetzalcoatl.” This treasure was the god’s finery: a

serpent mask inlaid with turquoise, a decoration for the

breast made of quetzal feathers [tropical bird], a collar

woven in the petatillo style with a gold disk in the center,

and a shield decorated with gold and mother-of-pearl and

bordered with quetzal feathers with a pendant of the same

feathers. . . .

Motecuhzoma also gave them the finery of

Tezcatlipoca [chief god of the pantheon]. This finery

was: a helmet in the shape of a cone, yellow with gold

and set with many stars, a number of earrings adorned

with little gold bells, a fringed and painted vest with

feathers as delicate as foam and a blue cloak known as

“the ringing bell,” which reached to the ears and was fastened with a knot. . . .

[The list of items to be presented to the returned Quetzalcoatl continues. It includes jewelry and symbols of royalty symbols such as a feather head-dress, golden shield, a turquoise-inlaid wand, and a stone-decorated staff.]

These were the many kinds of adornments that were known as “divine adornments.” They were

placed in the possession of the messengers to be taken as gifts of welcome along with many other objects,

such as a golden snail shell and a golden diadem. All these objects were packed into great baskets; they

were loaded into panniers for the long journey.

Then Motecuhzoma gave the messengers his final orders. He said to them: “Go now, without delay.

Do reverence to our lord the god. Say to him: ‘Your deputy, Motecuhzoma, has sent us to you. Here are

the presents with which he welcomes you home to Mexico.’”

* Quetzalcoatl: the Aztec creator god.

Adapted from the Codex Florentino, accounts compiled by the Benedectine priest Bernardino de Sahagún, with drawings by Indian and mestizo artists, compiled ca. 1555, publ. 1585

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Mexica (Aztec) pendant in the shape of a warrior holding a serpent-headed spearthrower, a shield, darts, and a banner, cast gold-silver-copper alloy,

ca. 1450-1500

When they arrived at the shore of the sea, they were taken in canoes to Xicalanco. They placed the

baskets in the same canoes in which they rode, in order to keep them under their personal vigilance. From

Xizalanco they followed the coast until they sighted the ships of the strangers.

When they came up to the ships, the strangers asked them: “Who are you? Where are you from?”

“We have come from the City of Mexico.”1

The strangers said: “You may have come from there, or you may not have. Perhaps you are only

inventing it. Perhaps you are mocking us.” But their hearts were convinced; they were satisfied in their

hearts. They lowered a hook from the bow of the ship, and then a ladder, and the messengers came

aboard.

One by one they did reverence to Cortés by touching

the ground before him with their lips. They said to him: “If

the god will deign to hear us, your deputy Motecuhzoma

has sent us to render you homage. He has the City of

Mexico in his care. He says: ‘The god is weary.’”

Then they arrayed the Captain in the finery they had

brought him as presents. With great care they fastened the

turquoise mask in place, the mask of the god with its

crossband of quetzal feathers. A golden earring hung down

on either side of this mask. They dressed him in the

decorated vest and the collar woven in the petatillo style �

the collar of chalchihuites, with a disk of gold in the

center. . . . Finally they set before him the pair of black

sandals. As for the other objects of divine finery, they only

laid them out for him to see.

The Captain asked them: “And is this all? Is this

your gift of welcome? Is this how you greet people?”

They replied: “This is all, our lord. This is what we

have brought you.”

Then the Captain gave orders, and the messengers

were chained by the feet and by the neck. When this had

been done, the great cannon was fired off. The messengers

lost their senses and fainted away. They fell down side by

side and lay where they had fallen. But the Spaniards quickly revived them: they lifted them up, gave

them wine to drink and then offered them food.

The Captain said to them: “I have heard that the Mexicans are very great warriors, very brave and

terrible. If a Mexican is fighting alone, he knows how to retreat, turn back, rush forward and conquer,

even if his opponents are ten or even twenty. But my heart is not convinced. I want to see it for myself. I

want to find out if you are truly that strong and brave.”

Then he gave them swords, spears and leather shields. He said: “It will take place very early, at

daybreak. We are going to fight each other in pairs, and in this way we will learn the truth. We will see

who falls to the ground!”

1 “The Spaniards and the messengers could communicate because Cortés had brought with him La Malinche and Jeronimo de Aguilar. La Malinche

was a native of the Gulf coast who spoke both Nahuatl and Mayan. She joined the Spaniards (who called her Doña Marina) of her own free will and served them faithfully as interpreter throughout the Conquest. Aguilar was a Spaniard who had been shipwrecked in Yucatan in 1511 during a voyage from Darien [isthmus of Panama] to Hispaniola. By the time Cortés ransomed him from the natives eight years later, he spoke Mayan fluently. La Malinche translated the Nahuatl of the messengers into Mayan for Aguilar, who then translated it into Spanish for the conquistadors.” [León-Portillo, The Broken Spears, 1962, p. 31]

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Mexica (Aztec) priest performing the sacrificial offering of a living human's heart to the war god Huitzilo-pochtli, illustration in Codex Magliabecchi, ca. 1529

They said to the Captain: “Our lord, we were not sent here for this by your deputy Motecuhzoma!

We have come on an exclusive mission, to offer you rest and repose and to bring you presents. What the

lord desires is not within our warrant. If we were to do this, it might anger Motecuhzoma, and he would

surely put us to death.”

The Captain replied: “No, it must take place. I want to see for myself, because even in Castile they

say you are famous as brave

warriors. Therefore, eat an early

meal. I will eat too. Good cheer!”

With these words he sent

them away from the ship. They

were scarcely into their canoes

when they began to paddle

furiously. Some of them even

paddled with their hands, so fierce

was the anxiety burning in their

souls. They said to each other:

“My captains, paddle with all your

might! Faster, faster! Nothing must

happen to us here! Nothing must

happen . . . !” [ellipsis in original]

They arrived in great haste at

Xicalanco, took a hurried meal

there, and then pressed on until

they came to Tecpantlayacac.

From there they rushed ahead and

arrived in Cuetlaxtlan. As on the previous journey, they stopped there to rest. When they were about to

depart, the village official said to them: “Rest for at least a day! At least catch your breath!”

They said: “No, we must keep on! We must report to our king, Motecuhzoma. We will tell him

what we have seen, and it is a terrifying thing. Nothing like it has even been seen before!” Then they left

in great haste and continued to the City of Mexico. They entered the city at night, in the middle of the

night. . . .

The messengers went to the House of the Serpent, and Motecuhzoma arrived. The two captives

[ordered by Motecuhzoma to be brought from the prison] were then sacrificed before his eyes: their

breasts were torn open, and the messengers were sprinkled with their blood. This was done because the

messengers had completed a difficult mission: they had seen the gods, their eyes had looked on their

faces. They had even conversed with the gods!

When the sacrifice was finished, the messengers reported to the king. They told him how they had

made the journey, and what they had seen, and what food the strangers ate. Motecuhzoma was astonished

and terrified by their report, and the description of the strangers’ food astonished him above all else.

[below]

He was also terrified to learn how the cannon roared, how its noise resounded, how it caused one to

faint and grow deaf. The messengers told him: “A thing like a ball of stone comes out of its entrails: it

comes out shooting sparks and raining fire. The smoke that comes out with it has a pestilent odor, like

that of rotten mud. This odor penetrates even to the brain and causes the greatest discomfort. If the cannon

is aimed against a mountain, the mountain splits and cracks open. If it is aimed against a tree, it shatters

the tree into splinters. This is a most unnatural sight, as if the tree had exploded from within.”

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City of Mexico (detail), engraving by Sebastian Münster, Von den newen Inseln . . . , in Cosmographia Universalis, 1597

The messengers also said: “Their trappings and arms are all made of iron. They dress in iron and

wear iron casques on their heads. Their swords are iron; their bows are iron; their shields are iron; their

spears are iron. Their deer carry them on their backs wherever they wish to go. These deer, our lord, are

as tall as the roof of a house.

“The strangers’ bodies are completely covered, so that only their faces can be seen. Their skin is

white, as if it were made of lime. They have yellow hair, though some of them have black. Their beards

are long and yellow, and their moustaches are also yellow. Their hair is curly, with very fine stands.

“As for their food, it is like human food. It is large and white, and not heavy. It is something like

straw, but with the taste of a cornstalk, of the pith of a cornstalk. It is a little sweet, as if it were flavored

with honey; it tastes of honey, it is sweet-tasting food.

“Their dogs are enormous, with flat ears and long, dangling tongues. The color of their eyes is a

burning yellow; their eyes flash fire and shoot off sparks. Their bellies are hollow, their flanks long and

narrow. They are tireless and very powerful. They bound here and there, panting, with their tongues

hanging out. And they are spotted like an ocelot.”

When Motecuhzoma heard this report, he was filled with terror. It was as if his heart had fainted, as

it if had shriveled. It was as if he were conquered by despair. . . .

It was at this time that

Motecuhzoma sent out a deputation.

He sent out his most gifted men, his

prophets and wizards, as many as he

could gather. He also sent out his

noblest and bravest warriors. They

had to take their provisions with

them on the journey: live hens [small

native fowl] and hens’ eggs and

tortillas. They also took whatever the

strangers might request, or whatever

might please them.

Motecuhzoma also sent

captives to be sacrificed, because the

strangers might wish to drink their

blood. The envoys sacrificed these

captives in the presence of the

strangers, but when the white men

saw this done, they were filled with

disgust and loathing. They spat on

the ground, or wiped away their

tears, or closed their eyes and shook

their heads in abhorrence. They

refused to eat the food that was

sprinkled with blood, because it reeked of it; it sickened them, as if the blood had rotted.

Motecuhzoma ordered the sacrifice because he took the Spaniards to be gods; he believed in them

and worshiped them as deities. That is why they were called “Gods who have come from heaven.” As for

the Negroes [who attended the Spaniards], they were called “soiled gods.”

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Meeting of Cortés and the Tlaxcaltecas, in Diego Muñoz Camargo, Historia de Tlaxcala, ca. 1581-1584

Then the strangers ate the tortillas, the eggs and the hens, and fruit of every variety: guavas,

avocados, prickly pears and the many other kinds that grow here. There was food for the “deer” also: reed

shoots and green grasses.

Motecuhzoma had sent the magicians to learn what sort of people the strangers might be, but they

were also to see if they could work some charm against them, or do them some mischief. They might be

able to direct a harmful wind against them, or cause them to break out in sores, or injure them in some

way. Or they might be able to repeat some enchanted word, over and over, that would cause them to fall

sick, or die, or return to their own land.

The magicians carried out their mission against the Spaniards, but they failed completely. They

could not harm them in any way whatever.

Therefore they hastened back to the city, to tell Motecuhzoma what the strangers were like and how

invulnerable they were. They said to him: “Our lord, we are no match for them: we are mere nothings!”

Motecuhzoma at once gave out orders: he commanded the officials and all the chiefs and captains, under

the threat of death, to take the utmost pains to learn what the strangers needed and to provide it.

When the Spaniards left their ships and began to march here and were at last on the way, they were

served and attended as they came and great honors were done them. They marched forward under

protection, and everything possible was done to please them. . . .

At last they came. At last they began to march towards us.

A man from Cempoala, who was known as the Tlacochcalcatl [Chief of the House of Arrows], was

the first official to welcome them as they entered our lands and cities. This man spoke Nahuatl. He

showed them the best routes and the shortest

ways; he guided and advised them, traveling at

the head of the party.

When they came to Tecoac, in the land of

the Tlaxcaltecas, they found it was inhabited by

Otomies.2 The Otomies came out to meet them

in battle array; they greeted the strangers with

their shields.

But the strangers conquered the Otomies

of Tecoac; they utterly destroyed them. They

divided their ranks, fired the cannons at them,

attacked them with their swords and shot them

with their crossbows. Not just a few, but all of

them, perished in the battle.

And when the Tecoac had been defeated,

the Tlaxcaltecas soon heard the news; they

learned what had taken place there. They felt

premonitions of death: terror overwhelmed

them, and they were filled with foreboding.

Therefore the chiefs assembled; the

captains met together in a council. They talked

about what had happened, and said: “What shall

we do? Shall we go out to meet them? The Otomi is a brave warrior, but he was helpless against them:

they scorned him as a mere nothing! They destroyed the poor macehual with a look, with a glance of their

2 “One of the tribes that had settled in the Valley of Mexico (and elsewhere) long before the arrival of the Aztecs.” [León-Portillo, p. 49]

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Meeting of Cortés and Xicotencatl, leader of Tlaxcala, in El Lienzo de Tlaxcala, ca. 1550 (a separate text from Historia de Tlaxcala by Camargo)

eyes! We should go over to their side: we should make friends with them and be their allies. If not, they

will destroy us too . . . .” [ellipsis in original]

Therefore the lords of Tlaxcala went out to meet them, bringing many things to eat: hens and hens’

eggs and the finest tortillas. They said to the strangers: “Our lords, you are weary.”

The strangers replied: “Where do you live?” Where are you from?”

They said: “We are from Tlaxcala. You have come here, you have entered our land. We are from

Tlaxcala; our city is the City of the Eagle, Tlaxcala.” (For in ancient times it was called Texcala, and its

people were known as Texcaltecas.3)

Then they guided them to the city; they brought them there and invited them to enter. They paid

them great honors, attended to their every want, joined with them as allies and even gave them their

daughters.

The Spaniards asked: “Where is the City of Mexico? Is it far from here?”

They said: “No, it is not far, it is only a three-day march. And it is a great city. The Aztecs are very

brave. They are great warriors and conquerors and have defeated their neighbors on every side.”

At this time the Tlaxcaltecas were enemies of Cholula. They feared the Cholultecas; they envied

and cursed them; their souls burned with hatred for the people of Cholula. This is why they bought certain

rumors to Cortés, so that he would destroy them. They said to him: “Cholula is our enemy. It is an evil

city. The people are as brave as the Aztecs and they are the Aztecs’ friends.”

When the Spaniards heard this, they marched against Cholula. They were guided and accompanied

by the Tlaxcaltecas and the chiefs from Cempoala, and they all marched in battle array.4

When they arrived, the Tlaxcaltecas and the men

of Cholula called to each other and shouted greetings.

An assembly was held in the courtyard of the god, but

when they had all gathered together, the entrances were

closed, so that there was no way of escaping.

Then the sudden slaughter began: knife strokes,

and sword strokes, and death. The people of Cholula

had not foreseen it, had not suspected it. They faced the

Spaniards without weapons, without their swords or

their shields. The cause of the slaughter was treachery.

They died blindly, without knowing why, because of

the lies of the Tlaxcaltecas.

And when this had taken place, word of it was

brought to Motecuhzoma. The messengers came and

departed, journeying back and forth between

Tenochtitlán and Cholula. The common people were

terrified by the news; they could do nothing but tremble

with fright. It was as if the earth trembled beneath them,

or as if the world were spinning before their eyes, as it

spins during a fit of vertigo . . . . [ellipsis in original]

When the massacre at Cholula was complete, the

strangers set out again toward the City of Mexico. They

came in battle array, as conquerors, and the dust rose in

3 “Texcala: “’Where there are many rocks.’” The Aztecs explained the origin of the word Tlaxcala in this way, but to the Tlaxcaltecas it means ‘where

there were corn tortillas.’” [León-Portillo, p. 49] 4 “This was customary and therefore roused no suspicion among the Cholultecas.” [León-Portillo, p. 49]

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Mexica Indians confront Spanish soldiers at Tenochtitlán, in Fr. Diego Durán, La Historia antigua de la Nueva España, ca. 1585

whirlwinds on the roads. Their spears glinted in the sun, and their pennons [pointed banners] fluttered like

bats. They made a loud clamor as they marched, for their coats of mail and their weapons clashed and

rattled. Some of them were dressed in glistening iron from head to foot; they terrified everyone who saw

them.

Their dogs came with them, running ahead of the column. They raised their muzzles high; they

lifted their muzzles to the wind. They raced on before with saliva dripping from their jaws.

From this time forward, the Spaniards had no other purpose than to raise soldiers against the

Culhuas Mexicanos [Aztecs]. They did this within a very short time, so as to give them no opportunity to

form an alliance with the Tlaxcaltecas. And to avoid bad thoughts, as well as other new incidents and

proposals, Cortés saw to it that his new friends and confederates did not leave his side, using his wits as

always, as an astute leader, to take advantage of a favorable situation.

When the ranks were formed, the Spanish troops and the Tlaxcaltecas marched out in good military

order, with many important and famous captains, all skilled in warfare according to their ancient customs

and practices. These captains were Piltecuhtli, Acxoxecatl, Tecpanecatl, Cahuecahua, Cocomitecuhtli,

Quauhtotohua, Textlipitl and many others; but because they were so many, with such a variety of names,

the others are not set down here, only the most outstanding, who were always loyal to Cortés until the end

of his conquest.

The first invasion took place at Cholula, which was governed and ruled by two lords, Tlaquiach and

Tlalchiac (for the lords who succeeded to that command were always known by those names, which mean

“Lord of what is above” and “Lord of what is below”).

Once they entered the province of Cholula, the Spaniards quickly destroyed that city because of the

great provocations given by its inhabitants. So many Cholultecas were killed in this invasion that the

news raced through the land as far as the City of Mexico. There it caused the most horrible fright and

consternation, for it was

also known that the

Tlaxcaltecas had allied

themselves with the

“gods” (as the Spaniards

were called in all parts of

this New World, for want

of another name).

The Cholultecas had

placed such confidence in

their idol Quetzalcoatl that

they believed no human

power could defeat or

harm them. They thought

they would be able to

vanquish us in a very short

time � first, because the Spaniards were so few, and second, because the Tlaxcaltecas had brought them

against Cholula by deceit. Their faith in the idol was so complete that they believed it would ravage their

enemies with the fire and thunder of heaven, and drown them in a vast flood of water.

Adapted from Historia de Tlaxcala, accounts compiled by Diego Muñoz Camargo, 1585

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Memorial service in honor of a dead chieftain, in Codex Magliabecchi, ca. 1530

This is what they believed, and they proclaimed it in loud voices: “Let the strangers come! We will

see if they are so powerful! Our god Quetzalcoatl is here with us, and they can never defeat him. Let them

come, the weaklings: we are waiting to see them, and we laugh at their stupid delusions. They are fools or

madmen if they trust in these sodomites from Tlaxcala, who are nothing but their women. And let the

hirelings come, too: they have sold themselves in their terror. Look at the scum of Tlaxcala, the cowards

of Tlaxcala, the guilty ones! They were conquered by the City of Mexico, and now they bring strangers to

defend them! How could you change so soon? How could you put yourselves into the hands of these

foreign savages? Oh, you frightened beggars, you have lost the immortal glory that was won by your

heroes, who sprang from the pure blood of the ancient Teochichimecas, the founders of your nation. What

will become of you, you traitors? We are waiting, and you will see how our god Quetzalcoatl punishes his

foes!”

They shouted these and other similar insults, because they believed that the enemy would surely be

consumed by bolts of fire which would fall from heaven, and that great rivers of water would pour from

the temples of their idols to drown both the Tlaxcaltecas and the Spanish soldiers. This caused the

Tlaxcasltecas no little fear and concern, for they believed that all would happen as the Cholultecas

predicted, and the priests of the temple of Quetzalcoatl proclaimed it at the top of their voices.

But when the Tlaxcaltecas heard the Spaniards call out to St. James, and saw them burn the temples

and hurl the idols to the ground, profaning them with great zeal and determination, and when they also

saw that the idols were powerless, that no flames fell and no rivers poured out � then they understood the

deception and knew it was all falsehoods and lies.

Thus encouraged, they grew so brave that the slaughter and havoc increased beyond imagining. Our

friends also became well aware of the Spaniards’ courage; they never again plotted any crimes, but were

guided by the divine order, which was to serve Our Lord by conquering this land and rescuing it from the

power of the devil.

Before the battle began, the

city of Tlaxcala sent messengers

and ambassadors to Cholula to

ask for peace and to say that they

were marching not against the

Cholutecas but against the

Culhuas, or Culhuacanenses

Mexicanos. (They were called

Culhuas, it is said, because they

had come from the region of

Culhuacan in the West; and

Mexicanos, because the city

which they founded and made

supreme was called Mexico.) The

envoys told the Cholultecas that

they were marching under the

command of Cortés and that they

came desiring peace. They said that the people of Cholula should fear no harm from the bearded

strangers, for these were a very great and noble people who only sought their friendship. Thus they

begged the Cholultecas as friends to receive the strangers in peace, because they would be well used by

them and suffer no ill treatment, but they also warned them not to anger the white men, for they were a

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very warlike, daring and valiant people, who carried superior weapons made of white metal. They said

this because there was no iron among the natives, only copper.

They also said that the strangers brought arms which could shoot fire, and wild animals on leashes;

that they were dressed and shod in iron, and had powerful crossbows, and lions and ounces so ferocious

that they ate people (meaning the fierce greyhounds and mastiffs which the Spaniards had brought with

them); and that against this might the Cholultecas could not prevail, or even defend themselves, if they

angered the “gods” and did not surrender peacefully, as they should do to avoid greater harm. And they

counseled them as friends to act in this manner.

But the Cholultecas paid no attention to these words, preferring to die rather than surrender.

Rejecting the good counsel of the Tlaxcaltecas, they flayed the face of Pahlahuatzin, the ambassador, a

man of great repute and valor. They did the same to his arms. which they flayed to the elbows, and they

cut his hands at the wrists so that they dangled. In this cruel fashion, they sent him away, saying: “Go

back, and tell the Tlaxcaltecas and those other beggars, or gods, or whatever they are, that this is how we

invite them to come. This is the answer we send them.”

The ambassador returned in great agony, victim of an outrage that caused much horror and grief in

the republic, because he was one of the worthiest and most handsome men of this land. He died in the

service of his homeland and republic, where his fame is eternal among his people, who keep his memory

alive in their songs and sayings.

The Tlaxcaltecas were enraged at this inhuman treatment of Patlahuatzin. They took such

unthinkable cruelty as a great affront, since all ambassadors were traditionally respected and honored by

foreign kings and lords, to whom they reported the treaties, wars and other events that took place in these

provinces and kingdoms. Therefore they said to Cortés: “Most valiant lord, we wish to accompany you, in

order to seek vengeance against Cholula for its insolent wickedness, and to conquer and destroy that city

and its province. A people so obstinate and vicious, so evil and tyrannous, should not remain alive. And if

there were no other cause than this, they would deserve eternal punishment, for they have not thanked us

for our good counsel, but have scorned and despised us because of our love for you.”

The valiant Cortés answered them with a stern face: “Have no fear. I promise you revenge.” And he

kept this promise, waging a cruel war in which vast multitudes were slaughtered, as is recorded in the

chronicles.

The Cholultecas said that their foes would all be drowned by their idol Quetzalcoatl. This was the

most venerated idol among the many that were worshipped in this land, and its temple at Cholula was

considered a shrine of the gods. They said that when the crust was scraped from a portion of the limed

surface of the temple, water gushed out. To save themselves from drowning, they sacrificed children of

two or three years of age and mixed their blood with lime to make a kind of cement with which to stop up

the springs and founts. They said that they if they were ever in danger during a war with the white gods

and the Tlaxcaltecas, they would break open all the mortared surfaces, from which a flood of water would

pour forth to drown their enemies. And when they saw how hard pressed they were, they set to work.

But none of their expectations was fulfilled, and they lost all hope. Of those who died in the battle

of Cholula, the greater number hurled themselves from the temple pyramid in their despair and they also

hurled the idol of Quetzalcoatl headfirst from the pyramid, for this form of suicide had always been a

custom among them. They were as rebellious and contemptuous as any stiff-necked, ungovernable

people, and it was their custom to die in a manner contrary to that of other nations � that is, to die

headlong. In the end, the greater part of them died in despair, by killing themselves.

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Quetzalcoatl

Codex Magliabecchi, ca. 1530

Ritual human sacrifice

When the battle of Cholula was finished,

the Cholultecas understood and believed that

the God of the white men, who were His most

powerful sons, was more potent than their

own. Our friends the Tlaxcaltecas, seeing

themselves in the very thick of that battle and

massacre, called upon St. James the Apostle,

shouting his name in loud voices: “Santiago!”

And from that day to this, when they are in

some difficulty or danger, the Tlaxcaltecas

invoke the saint. . . .

When Cholula had been stormed and

destroyed, and a great host of people killed

and plundered, our armies marched forward

again, causing terror wherever they went, until

the news of the destruction spread through the

whole land. The people were astonished to

hear such strange reports, and to learn how the

Cholultecas were defeated and slain in so short

a time, and how their idol Quetzalcoatl had not

served them in any way.

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