Complete Works of Edmund Burke

by Edmund Burke

  CHAP. IX.

  AN ancient painter drew a satyrical picture of Cimon the Athenian. He represented this commander asleep, and Fortune drawing a net over cities to put them into his possession. There never were princes to whom this representation could be applied with more justice, than to king Ferdinand and his successor the emperor Charles. Without forming any plan in the cabinet, without issuing a penny out of their treasury, without sending a regiment from their troops, private adventurers amongst their subjects put them into possession of a greater, and a more wealthy territory, than ever the most celebrated conquerors had acquired by their valour, or their wisdom. Nor was this conquest more extraordinary for the trivial means by which it was accomplished, than for the shortnefs of the time in which it was effected; for from the departure of Columbus, which was in the year 1492, to the entire reduction of Chili, which was in 1541, seven great kingdoms, inhabited by a vast number of warlike and wealthy nations, were made to bow under the Spanish yoke. For after the discoveries of Columbus had enlarged the sphere of industry to active minds, such a spirit of enterprize went abroad that not only those persons whose indigence might have driven them from their native country, but persons of the first rank went over to settle in America. Gold was the spur to all those adventurers of whatever rank; and this with a romantic spirit of chivalry, made the greatest hazards appear but common matters in their eyes. And indeed in a country wholly uncivilized, under the burning zone, and in many places extremely unhealthy, the temperance of the Spaniards, their hardiness under fatigue, and the patience and perseverance which make the most shining part of their character, enabled them to engage in enterprizes, and to surmount difficulties, to which any other people had certainly been unequal.

  Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a man of a graceful presence, a liberal education, an hardy constitution, and had that kind of popular bravery, which recommends a man who engages in desperate expeditions, where he must have more authority from his person than his place. This man first surrounded Cuba, conquered, and left it. He did not there find the treasures which he expected. He therefore relinquished the gleanings of this field to those who had a more moderate ambition, and a more saving industry. He sought new ground, he followed the tracks of Columbus to Darien, gained the friendship of some of the Caziques, and conquered others. He was the first who discovered the South-Sea; and being as ready to discern the advantages of a country as to discover the country itself, he established a colony upon that coast, and built the city of Panama. But according to the fate of all the first adventurers in this new world, indeed according to the fate of most who engage in new undertakings, he never lived to reap the fruit of his labours. He found himself suspended by one who had only discernment enough of his merit to raise his jealousy and envy, and who could make no other use of the discoveries of this great man, than to increase his own private fortune. This man was a politician and a courtier, and having in several instances basely injured Balboa, he was too wise to stop there, but under a pretended form of justice cut off his head, and confiscated his estate.

  Some time after the settlement of Cuba, Don James Velasquez obtained the government; a man of good sense in common affairs, but so much mistaken, as to imagine he could act a great part by deputy; and that too in circumstances, wherein a man who had but little capacity could do him but little service, and he that could do much would certainly do it for himself. The continent of America was now very well known, and the fame of the greatness and wealth of the Mexican empire spread every where. This inspired Velasquez with a scheme of reducing some part of this opulent country under his obedience. He pitched upon Hernando Cortes to command in this expedition, in which he certainly made a very right judgment. There was no man amongst the Spaniards, who to an adventurous disposition then common to them all, knew so well to join a cool and steady conduct, to gain love whilst he preserved respect; not to shift his schemes according to occasions, but persisting uniformly in a well-judged design, to make every inferior action and event subservient to it; to urge still forward; to extricate himself out of difficulties into which he was brought by bold actions, not by mean subterfuges, but by actions yet bolder. This was the character of the man already in high reputation, whom Velasquez chose to conquer for him.

  The embarkment was made at St. Jago de Cuba, and Cortes was to take in some reinforcements at the Havanna. But he was hardly departed for this purpose, when Velasquez grew jealous of him; and without considering that Cortes was of that heroic disposition, in which a blind obedience is rarely a principal ingredient, he took the ill-judged step of removing him from the command of an army, which in some sort might be considered as his own, since he had much influence on the soldiers, and that a considerable part of the expence of the armament had been supplied by himself. When this order, which was to deprive him of his command, arrived to Cortes, he was not long before he came to a resolution. He explained the whole matter to his soldiers; he shewed them how uncertain the intentions of Velasquez were, and how much all their hopes were like to be frustrated by the inconstancy of his disposition. The event was prepared. The soldiers declared to a man, that they were subjects only to the king of Spain, and knew no commander but Cortes. The army and the general, thus bound to one another by their mutual disobedience, sailed for Mexico.

  The empire of Mexico was at that time governed by a prince called Montezuma, the eleventh who reigned from the first monarch who had conquered the country. The empire was elective, and the merit of Montezuma had procured him the election. A prince of capacity and courage, but artful, hypocritical, and cruel. This empire, founded on conquest, was increased by his victories. By himself, or by his generals, he had absolutely subdued several kingdoms and provinces; several were made tributary, and others, which were not absolutely subdued, were influenced by his power to an entire obedience to his will. His armies were the best in that part of the world, and prodigiously numerous. In this situation, and so headed was the empire of the Mexicans, when Cortes came to prove it’s strength, with an army of no more than five hundred foot, and not quite sixty horse. He did not come a stranger into the country, to encounter a force which he dared to engage only because he was ignorant of it. He had long made every possible enquiry from the Spaniards and Indians into every circumstance of its internal weakness or power; it’s allies, it’s enemies, and the interests which determined them to be allies or enemies. Weighing all these, and knowing, that along with great hopes, great dangers likewise lay before him, he made his retreat yet more dangerous by his disobedience to the governor of Cuba; and when he landed on the continent, he made it impossible, for he burned his ships. But though he had made a retreat impossible, he had something else to encourage him to go forward, than the impossibility of retiring. He had great hopes that many of these states, who were kept in a forced subjection, or a slavish dread of Montezuma, would gladly turn this new and alarming appearance from themselves against him, and under the banner of these formidable strangers, arm themselves to shake off the ancient tyranny, which always appears the worst, without foreseeing consequences, to which more civilized nations have frequently been as blind as they. It happened according to his expectations.

  The Zempoallans, a nation tributary to Montezuma, as soon as they had sufficient proofs of the power of the Spaniards, at the expence of several of their neighbours, who attempted to oppose their progress, threw off the Mexican yoke, gladly put themselves under the protection of Cortes, and earned it by the large reinforcements which they added to his army. Montezuma was soon made acquainted with these measures. For according to the custom of that well-regulated kingdom, he had posts so stationed, that in a little time he had notice of whatever happened in the remote parts of his empire. The dispatches which were sent him, were painted cloaths, exactly representing every circumstance of the business of which he was to be informed; the figures were interspersed with characters to explain what must necessarily be wanting in the picture. So far, but no farther, had this people advanced in the art o
f writing. As well informed as the emperor was of every particular of this invasion, and of the defection of his tributaries, he acted not at all conformably to the greatness of his former exploits. He took the worst method which a great prince ever did upon such an occasion, which was, to temporize. He let the Spaniards see, by some trifling arts which he used to oppose them, that he did not look upon them as his friends, and at the same time neglected to act against them as so formidable an enemy required; by which means they made daily advances in the country. His enemies were encouraged, his tributaries made insolent, and his subjects and allies utterly dispirited; whilst the Spaniards, in a variety of engagements, which they had with the petty princes of the country, raised their reputation by a train of victories, and began to be considered as invincible. Cortes, like the great commander he was, took advantage of this irresolute disposition in Montezuma, and used every possible means to cherish it. He always sent back what prisoners of Montezuma’s subjects his new allies had taken, with presents, and every profession of esteem and regard to their master, and with the strongest assurances of a desire of preserving peace; requesting to see Montezuma, and to confer with him upon some matters he said he had in charge to declare to him from his master the emperor of the Romans.

  There was at that time a celebrated republic on the coast of Mexico, towards the gulph, called Tlascala. This people were said to be so powerful, as to be able to arm four hundred thousand men. Powerful as they were, tho’ not subdued, they were yet awed by the greatness of the Mexicans. This awe, or perhaps a better policy, induced them to give a check to the Spaniards. But in the manner of Montezuma’s proceedings they would not oppose them publicly, and therefore could not oppose them effectually. Some nations, on whom they had prevailed to fall upon the Spaniards, were over and over again defeated, together with those troops the Tlascalans had sent clandestinely to their assistance. At last, by degrees, declaring themselves more openly, as the danger pressed them, they drew a large army into the field, which was routed by the troops of Cortes; few indeed in number, but infinitely superior in arms, and now grown familiar with victory. The consequence of this battle was the alliance of the Tlascalans with their conqueror, which they entered into with the less difficulty, as they were to serve against the Mexicans, and might now hope to serve with success. Cortes, however, did not chuse to trust this untried and forced alliance too far, nor at the same time to deprive himself entirely of the succour it produced. He therefore took a middle course, and accepting three thousand of their men, he held on his rout to Mexico.

  CHAP. X.

  BEFORE Cortes began his expedition to Mexico, he had built a strong fortress at the principal port on the coast, to open a passage for succours, when his success should make interest enough to procure them. This he called La Vera Cruz, and it has since become a city, remarkable for the great traffick since carried on between these opulent countries and Old Spain. During the Tlascalan war, in which the Spaniards suffered something, and had every thing to apprehend, Montezuma took no steps, but lay by watching the event, in hopes that the Tlascalans might defeat the troops of Cortes at their own expence; or if the Spaniards proved victorious, he might then have the merit of not having used hostilities against them. He lost both parties by this double conduct; such an insidious neutrality betrays nothing but the weak policy of him who uses it. However, as a fair correspondence still subsisted between them, he used every means he could to dissuade Cortes from his proposed journey to Mexico. At last he took a step, worse judged than all the bad ones he had hitherto taken. He sent to the Spaniards a very large and magnificent present, of every thing his dominions afforded valuable, but principally a vast quantity of gold and precious stones; offering at the same time yet more, and persuading them to return to their own country. If any person in the army was unwilling before this to proceed, he now changed his mind. All were convinced that they ought to advance with speed to possess the fountain of that wealth, of which this rich donation was but an inconsiderable rivulet.

  Montezuma, baffled in all his schemes to keep the Spaniards at a distance, having used himself to shifting measures, until they were in a degree grown habitual, found Cortes at the gates of Mexico before he was resolved how he should receive him. He was now almost too late for force. He therefore dissembled his concern with the best grace he could, and received him with all the honours a monarch can bestow, when he would display his own magnificence, and shew his sense of extraordinary merit. Cortes was lodged in a palace spacious and grand, after the manner of the country. All his Spaniards were lodged with him, but he took care to place a train of artillery at his gate.

  Thus ported without a blow in the heart of this great city, the capital of the new world, he was for a while at a loss what measures to pursue, for securing himself in a conquest of this importance. Having received more than he could reasonably have asked, there was no cause of complaint, and consequently no advantage to be colourably taken. He had only to wait for some of those critical incidents, upon whose use all great matters depend, and without which the greatest genius must be at a stand. It was not long before one of these occurred.

  Two Tlascalans arrived in disguise at Mexico, who brought him an account that a general of Montezuma had attacked some of his confederate Indians; that the garrison of Vera Cruz had gone out to their defence; and that though the Mexicans were repulsed with loss, the Spaniards were greatly endangered, many wounded, and one killed, whose head, by the order of Montezuma, was carried through all the cities and villages of their country, to destroy the reverence in which they held the Spaniards, and undeceive them in a notion they had conceived, that these strangers were immortal. This intelligence alarmed Cortes. He knew that opinion was one of the strongest supporters of his little force; that things of this kind never stop at their beginnings; that Montezuma, while he caressed him in his city, was disjoining his allies, and distressing his garrison abroad; and that no time was to be lost in dilatory counsels; and that he must keep alive the memory of his former exploits. He therefore took a resolution worthy of a brave man, in a difficulty made for his capacity. He armed himself in the best manner, and with five of the most faithful and best resolved of his officers, went directly to the palace of Montezuma. Thirty of his men attended at some distance. Guards of Spaniards were placed at the principal avenues to the palace.

  It was usual for Montezuma’s guards to withdraw, out of respect, when he had any conference with Cortes. On this occasion, as soon as he was admitted to audience, he charged the emperor with the outrages committed by his orders, in terms of great resentment. The emperor disowns it. But Cortes, after having paid him the compliment of not supposing him capable of so mean a dissimulation, assured him, that he was himself entirely satisfied of his innocence, but that others had fears which were not so easily removed; but to satisfy the Spaniards, he must give some solid proof of his confidence in them; which he could effectually do no otherwise than by his removing without delay to their quarters. A request of this nature startled Montezuma, who never was used to any voice but that of the humblest submission. However, he saw plainly that Cortes did not make so extraordinary a request, but with a resolution of making it be complied with. He saw the necessity, and he yielded to it.

  Thus was the capital of a vast and powerful empire, inhabited by an innumerable multitude of warlike people, entered without resistance by an handful of men, who came to overturn it’s liberty. And thus was one of the greatest princes on earth, renowned for his wisdom and valour, seized in his palace, in the midst of this city, at noon-day, and carried prisoner without noise or violence, by six persons, to be disposed of at their pleasure.

  The people, confounded and enraged to find one whom they always used to reverence as a god, treated in this unworthy manner, surrounded the quarters of the Spaniards to punish this sacrilege, and rescue their captive prince. But Cortes, who well understood the consequence of the steps he had taken, was not alarmed. He knew that he had now in his hands an engine, whi
ch was capable of doing any thing. Montezuma went out to appease the people, assured them that he was there of choice, and (which was true) that the Spaniards were wanting in no instance of respect due to his character and dignity.

  This appeased and dispersed the people. But Montezuma, whose unfortunate circumstances obliged him to act as an instrument to his own captivity, could enjoy no rest, though allowed the attendance of the principal officers of his court, and indulged by the Spaniards in every thing but his liberty. Long revolving, he at last contrived a scheme, which he judged, without his appearing to concur with them, might alarm his subjects with a sense of their danger, or oblige the Spaniards to depart by the reasonableness of his proposals. He had always liberty of going abroad with a guard of Spaniards, under pretence of doing him honour. He now desired to hold a council of the states of his empire, that in concurrence they might satisfy Cortes and his associates in the amplest manner. This council was convened, in which Montezema, in a premeditated speech, set forth the origin of his nation; the prophecies extant among them, that a people of the same race should arrive, to whom this empire should be subject; that the people were now arrived who were the object of those prophecies, and sprung from this origin, to whom the gods had destined universal empire, and who, by their great accomplishments and surprizing bravery, merited their high destination: then he solemnly declared himself tributary to the emperor of the Romans; he exhorted them on their part to a due obedience; and ended by telling them, that as he had himself prepared a present from his treasures worthy of this great emperor, he expected that every one of them, in proportion to his ability, would testify his loyalty to this new master, and his regard to the merit of his general, and those brave men that attended him, that they might be enabled to depart speedily to their own country, with that opinion of their brethren the Mexicans, which their affection to them, and their obedience to their common master, deserved.