Description
Book SynopsisThe journals of the foot soldier Bernal Díaz (14921584) are the fullest surviving eyewitness account of the Mexican conquest led by Hernán Cortés. This volume focuses on the relationship between the Spaniards and the Aztec emperor Montezuma, and contains a key to the maps on the accompanying website.
Table of ContentsBook V. The March to Mexico: 82. How we went to the city of Cholula; 83. How, at the orders of Montezume, they had planned to kill us in the city of Cholula; 84. About certain messages and messengers we sent to the Great Montezuma; 85. How the Great Montezuma sent a present of gold; 86. How we began our march to the city of Mexico; 87. How the Great Montezuma again sent other ambassadors to us; 88. About the great and solemn reception which the Great Montezuma gave Cortés; Book VI. The Stay in Mexico: 89. How the Great Montezuma came to our quarters; 90. How on the following day our Captain Cortés went to see the Great Montezuma; 91. Of the manner and appearance of the Great Montezuma; 92. How our captain went out to see the city of Mexico and Tlaltelolco; 93. How we made our church and altar; 94. How the Mexican captains fought a battle against Juan de Escalante; 95. Of the seizure of Montezuma; 96. How our Cortés sent a gentleman as his lieutenant to Villa Rica; 97. How when the great Montezuma was a prisoner, Cortés entertained him; 98. How Cortés ordered two sloops to be built; 99. How we launched the two sloops; 100. How the nephews of the great Montezuma went about assembling the other great lords and persuading them to come to Mexico and free the great Montezuma; 101. How the great Montezuma and many Caciques and chieftains gave fealty to His Majesty; 103. How the captains returned whom our Cortés had sent to examine the mines; 104. How Cortés told the great Montezuma to pay tribute; 105. How the gold which we had obtained was divided; 106. How Juan Velásquez de Leon and the Treasurer, Gonzalo Mejía, had words about the gold that was missing; 107. How the Great Montezuma told Cortés that he wished to give him one of his daughters in marriage; 108. How the great Montezume told our captain Cortés to leave Mexico; Book VII. The Expedition Against Narvaez: 109. How Diego Velásquez the Governor of Cuba hastened to send his Armada against us; 110. How Pánfilo de Narvaez arrived at the port of San Juan de Ulúa; 111. How Pánfilo de Narvaez sent five persons from his fleet to demand of Gonzalo de Sandoval that he should surrender himself; 112. How Cortés wrote to the Captain and to his other friends; 113. How the Captain Pánfilo de Narvaez had words with the Oidor Lucas Vásquez de Ayllon; 114. How Narvaez went with all his forces to Cempoala; 115. How the great Montezuma asked Cortés why he wished to go against Narvaez; 116. How Cortés agreed with all us soldiers that the Fraile de la Merced should be again sent to the camp of Narvaez; 117. How the Fraile de la Merced went to Cempoala; 118. How in our camp we held a muster of the soldiers; 119. How there came to our camp Andrés de Duero; 120. How Juan Velásquez de Leon and Cortés's orderly named Juan del Rio, arrived at the camp of Narvaez; 121. About the plan and commands that were issued in our camp; 122. How after the defeat of Narvaez there arrived the Indians of Chinantla; 123. How Cortés sent Captain Francisco de Lugo to the port; Book VIII. The Flight From Mexico: 124. How they went by forced marches; 125. How they made war on us in Mexico; 126. When Montezume was dead Cortés decided to tell the news to his captains and chieftain; 127. How we determined to flee from Mexico; 128. How we went to the capital and largest town in Tlaxcala; Book IX. The Halt at Tepeaca: 129. How we went to the province of Tepeaca; 130. How a ship came from Cuba; 131. How the Indians of Guacachula came to beg help from Cortés; 132. How they arrived at the rock and port which is near Villa Rica, a ship; 133. How Cortés sent Gonzalo de Sandoval to bring to peace the towns of Xalaçinco and Çacatami; 134. How all the men and women slaves were collected to be branded in the name of His Majesty; 135. How the captains and principal persons who had come in the company of Narvaez asked leave to r
