Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/383

 

August 27, 1529, Fray Juan de Zumarraga, bishop of Mexico, addressed a lengthy report to Charles V., recapitulating the events of the conquest, and exposing the actual condition of the country, notably the official anarchy prevailing in the capital during the absence of Cortes in Honduras. The bishop's impartiality in all that concerns the conduct of Cortes and that of his enemies gives great value to his testimony, and I have thought well to translate that part of his letter which deals particularly with the state of things in Mexico up to the time of Cortes's visit to Spain. Read in connection with the narrative of the Fifth Letter, these passages will be seen to confirm the latter's statements in his various letters to the Emperor, many of which they also complete and elucidate.

I know of no English translation of this important document, but in the valuable collection of Voyages, Relations, et Mémoires of Ternaux-Compans an excellent French translation of the entire letter may be found.

The grace, the peace, and the mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Majesty, and may Your Majesty read attentively this letter, which is written with the sincere and loyal intention of serving God and Your Majesty. I write dispassionately, and to make myself useful to the inhabitants of this country, both Spaniards and natives, and for the discharge of my conscience and the fulfilment of the duties of my office, which I have accepted as a cross and a martyrdom. I shall state the truth, even should it cost me my life, which is said to be menaced by the hatred of my enemies. He who shall judge us all will take account of the persecutions I suffer for His cause.

Immediately upon my arrival in this country, and after consulting the most serious religious men, as well as the conquerors and the oldest inhabitants, I addressed to Your Majesty a report on the condition in which I found it. But now that I have acquired more experience and have been able to inform myself by conversing with the natives, I am able to make known the Spaniards' manner of viewing things and all that has happened since the arrival of the royal Audiencia with which I came, and it is in God's name that I entreat Your Majesty to graciously correct the abuses.