Suggested Chapters: I; XVIII-XX; XXII; XXIII; XXVII; XXIX; XXXVI; XXXVII; LXXXVII; LXXXVIII.
Link to suggested edition: Here
Characteristics mentioned in Imbert notes: personal perspective, false modestly, idea of chivalry, impassioned chronicle.
Notes from Wiki:
-presents an alternative to critical writings of Bartolomé de las Casas (who emphasized cruelty to Indians) and hagiographic biographers of Hernán Cortés.
-"We went there to serve God, and also to get rich." (yet he doesn't earn [steal] a huge amount of money)
Notes from Cabañas intro:
-easy, fluid, simple narration, but also complex and also digresses.
-first ed. 1632, Madrid. Finished writing in 1568.
b. 1492 (?). Departed for New World 1517.
-Cortés became the richest conquistador.
Chapter 1:
-Acknowledges himself as one of the first descubridores/conquistadores de la Nueva España
-many books have been written about this, things that have happened: riesgos de muerte y heridas y mil cuentos de miserias
-because of the great mercy of God, we won Nueva España and Tenoxtitlan and other provinces.
-from the beginning, it's been necessary for a cronista to write this down who "tuviera elocuencia y retórica en el decir, que estas mis palabras tan mal" rhetoric
-with the help of God I'll write the truth. Thanks God for his protection.
-Siempre fui adelante y no me quedé rezagado en los muchos vicios de había en la isla de Cuba.
-Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, who was rich and had a "pueblo de indios" in Cuba was our capitan "para ir a nuestra ventua a buscar y descubrir tierras nuevas." So we bought 3 ships (using indios as payment)
-Diego Velásquez said this is not just, no lo manda Dios ni el rey que hiciésemos a los libres esclavos.
Chapter 18:
De los borrones y cosas que escriben los coronistas (sic) Gómar e Illescas acerca de las cosas de la Nueva España
-I read the stories of G and I. and they're not factual. It means the same to them to write 80.000 as 8.000. E.g. the matanzas they said we did as a group of 450 men...we didn't kill as many as they said.
-Another worse thing they say is that Cortés ordered to scuttle the boats, but that's not true. ¿Y para qué yo meto tanto la pluma en contar cada cosa por sí, que es gastar papel y tinta? Yo lo mal digo, puesto que lleve buen estilo.
-How can they take so much liberty in what they say? They know that's not the truth.
-He suggested they might have embellished to win favor from the king.
Chapter 19:
Cómo vinimos con otra armada a las tierras nuevas descubiertas, y por capitán de la armada el valeroso y esforzado Don Hernando Cortés, que después del tiempo andando fue Marqués del Valle y de las contrariedades que tuvo para estorbarle que no fuese capitán.
Juan de Grijalva comes to Cuba where Diego Velásquez is governor and sees tierras ricas. Catalina Suárez, sister of Juan S. married Hernando Cortés. Basically, things were (sneakily?) arranged for Cortés to become captain because Velásquez came to "rescatar" (e.g. sack) and not "poblar", even though he said he was coming to populate. This chapter is a criticism of people using others to subir en la sociedad and sacar provecho. Diego becomes a big deal, everyone says "You're the man!".
Chapter 20: Cómo Cortés se apercibió y entendió en las cosas que convenían para despacharse con la armada
Cortés was now a general, began to search for weapons. Dressed very fancy, though he shouldn't have because "en aquella sazón estaba muy adeudado y pobre". Even though he had a gold mind, he spent money like a fool. Real hypocrite because he ordered a huge gold sign to be made "sigamos la señal de la Santa Cruz con fe verdadera, que con ella venceremos."
Mentions their preparations for their departure on the boat, the many things they took with them - 'hubiese de llevar bastimentos y regalos que [las mujeres] suelen hacer para tan largo viaje para sus maridos."
"Y aquí en esta relación verán las contrariedades que tuvo Cortés y las palabras que dice Gómara en su historia, cómo son todas contrarias de lo que pasó."
Chapter 22
Cómo el gobernador Diego Velásquez envió en posta dos criados a la villa de la Trinidad con poderes y mandmientos para revocar a Cortés el poder y no dejar pasar la armada y lo prendiesen y le enviasen a Santiago.
After we left Santiago with the boats, Velásquez had some choice words for Cortés "porque le acusaban a que iba alzado"
The astrólogo warns Velásquez that Cortés will take vengeance on him and you should solve this issue now. Cortés negotiates with Ordáz and Verdugo and convinces them to act on his behalf.
(Basically, how he was a little weasel).
Chapter 23
How Captain Cortés embarked with all of the soldiers to go to the southern banda of Habana and sent another ship por la banda del norte and the other things that happened.
They're on their ships, rounding up some soldiers. For 5 days, Cortés ship wasn't seen, thought it might be lost in los Jardines, so they sent 3 ships to look for him. The ship had got stuck in some shallow areas. Names some of the men they were with. Lists some of the things on the ship and oh, btw, there was a lot of cotton in Cuba so we made some comfortable cushions. Lists the horses on the boat (they all have human names). One of them gave birth on the boat. Very valuable because there was a lack of horses.
Chapter 27:
How Cortés found out about two Spaniards that were in the hands of Indians in the punta de Cotoche and what he did about it.
Francisco Hernández de Córdoba thinks it would be a good idea to ask some caciques from Cozumel if they have any news. Cacique tells Cortés they've been taken as slaves (oh, the irony...) So they sent two ships and sit on the coast for 8 days. They sent a letter and two indios y rescates. The cacique let him go, but he wasn't interested in leaving. One of the captured men was very ashamed by his appearance and said he was married and had children (integrated into society) and was a captain when they had wars. And he was still a Christian. Cortés was furious that he didn't want to come back. Then, talks about Indian priests and idols. Cortés orders for the idols to be destroyed and they make an altar to Nuestra Señora.
Chapter 29
How the Spaniard in the hands of the indios named Jerónimo knew that we had arrive in Cozumel and how he came to us and what happened.
6 indians paddling a boat very quickly. When they see Spaniards, they are scared, but Jerónimo told them in their language not to worry. The Spaniards could hardly tell he was Spanish because he was dressed like the Indians and pronounces words poorly, says he's from Ecija and had been their 8 years. Jerónimo acts as an ambassador and helps there to be good relations for a while ('no les hiciesen agravios')
Chapter 36
Cómo vinieron todos los caciques y calachonis del río de Grijalva y trajeron un presente y lo que sobre ello pasó
March 15, 1519, many caciques y principales de Tabasco came and brought us gold, diademas, lagartijas, etc. They brought las mantas que hacían "que son muy bastas". AND 20 women! Cortés was pleased with the gifts. They should poblar aquel pueblo con su gente y mujeres e hijos so that there could be peace. The caciques told them to leave their idols and sacrifices for the Christian God. SO they made an altar and a cruz. The Spaniards ask them where they get their gold and the Indians say "where the sun goes down. Mexico and Culua" (but the Spaniards don't understand what that means. They said mass, called the town Santa María de La Victoria and everything was hunky dory.
And these were the first vassals in New Spain that obeyed his majesty. Ends chapter by saying this is how it happened, not like what Gómara said.
Chapter 37
Cómo Doña Marina era cacica e hija de grandes señores, y señora de pueblos y vasallos, y de la manera que fué traída a Tabasco.
"Antes que más meta la man en lo del gran Montezuma y su gran México...quiero decir lo de doña Marina..." (seems like this could be attention-holding rhetoric of some sort). Basically, she came from a family of local leaders. Her parents had a son and wanted him to take over, so in the middle of the night, they gave Marina to some indios who gave her to some other indios who gave her to Cortés. around the year 1523. She was a good woman and excelente lengua. She got married to Juan Jaramillo and moves up in the world. At a talk that was given about the santa doctrina, Martina's mom and brother showed up and recognized her. They were scared because they thought they were there so she could take revenge and kill them. But, Martina was super benevolent and forgiving and even sent them away with gifts. Ends up that there are bilingual people around and "fue gran principio para nuestra conquista, y así se nos hacían todas las cosa, loado sea Dios, muy prósperamente,"
Chapter 87:
Cómo el gran Montezuma nos envió otros embajadores con un presente de oro y mantas y lo que dijeron a Cortés y lo que les respondió
We were on way to Mexico. Montezuma had sent cuatro mexicanos principales ante Cortés. They brought a present for Malinche for the effort she'd made to come see him. Please don't come any further and return to where you came from and we'll send you back with gold and silver. Cortés hugged the messengers. Montezuma continually send gold to them. And Cortés se maravillaba de Montezuma. And then, they start to think "One way or another, we have to enter that city.They threaten to enter or cause war, so they let them enter (and then the indios "nos podrá matar") And because we're men [mortals] and fear death, we advanced slowly and prayed a LOT. The indians come again to Cortés with more riches than even, everything very beautiful and elaborate, and we left them along. These things and villages seemed like something out of Amadís -(like a fairy tale all of the towers, etc) Their palaces: grandes y bien labrados. Beautiful! There was never anything as beautiful as this. "Ahora todo está por el suelo, perdido, que no hay cosa."
Chapter 88:
Del grande y solemne recibimiento que nos hizo el gran Montezuma a Cortés y a todos nosotros en la entrada de la gran ciudad de México.
They were on the road, full of people. Indians jamás habían visto caballos ni hombres como nosotros. There were only 400 Spaniards...a little cautious because they know they could be killed if they go into Mexico City. We were crazy, but we went for it. Montezuma received them with a symbol of peace. Montez. was dressed up. Cortés takes out a necklace made with "piedras de vidrio" and some stuff to make it smell good. When Cortés moved in to hug Monty, Monty's men wouldn't allow it "porque lo tenían por menosprecio." Díaz notes how many people are out watching all of this. Description of the house/palace where they are. (Martina is Malinche, I think...she acts as their interpreter). Montezuma tells them mi casa, su casa and offers them a delicious meal. This was 8 november 1519
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