Читать книгу The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne - López de Gómara Francisco - Страница 6

Men tangled in foolish loue

Fraunces Hernandes de Cordoua did first discouer Xucatan, going with thrée Shyps for Indians, or else to barter. These Shippes were sette forthe by Christopher Morante, and Lope Ochoa de Saizedo, in Anno .1517. And although he broughte home nothing at that time but stripes, yet he broughte perfect relation, how the Countrey was rich of gold and siluer, and the people of the countrey clothed. Then Iames Velasques Gouernoure of the Iland of Cuba, sent the next yeare following his kinsman, called Iohn de Grijalua, with two hundred Spanyardes in foure Shippes, thinking to obtayne much gold and siluer for his Merchandise at those places, which Fraunces Hernandez had enformed him: So that Iohn de Grijalua wente to Xucatan, and there foughte with the Indians of Champoton, and was hurt. From thēce he entred the riuer of Tauasco, which Grijalua hadde so named, in the whiche place he bartered for things of small value. He had in exchaunge golde, cloth of cotten wooll, and other curious things wrought of feathers. He was also at Saint Iohn de Vlhua, and tooke possession for the King, in the name of Iames Velasques, and there also exchanged his Haberdashe wares, for Golde, and Couerlets of cotten, and feathers: and if he hadde considered his good fortune, he would haue planted habitation in so rich a land, as his company did earnestly request him, and if he had so done, then had he bin as Cortez was. But suche wealth was not for him which knew it not, although he excused himselfe, saying, he went not to inhabite, but to barter onely in traffike of his Marchandise, and to discouer whether that land of Xucatan were an Ilande, or no. And finding it a mayne land, and populous, he left off for very feare. Likewise, some of his company were desirous to returne to Cuba, among whome, was one Pedro de Aluado, who was farre in loue with a woman of that countrey. So they determined to returne, with relation to the Gouernoure of suche things as hadde happened till that day, and sayled homewardes along the coast to Panuco, and so came to Cuba, to the greate griefe of many of hys company. Yea some of them wept, with sorrowe that hée would not abide in that rich countrey. He was fiue monethes vpon his voyage homewarde from land to lande, and eyght monethes till his returne to the Citie. But when he came home, the Gouernoure hauing hearde of his procéedings, would not looke vppon him, whiche was hys iust reward.