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My maisters, I would do and fulfill youre request, if it were a thing méete and conueniente for you, for there is not one alone of you, how much more all in generall, for whome I shoulde not willingly aduenture my goodes and life, if he shuld néede the same: for why? your deedes haue bin such, that I stand bound neuer to forget thē, or else to shewe my selfe an ingratefull man. And thinke you not good friendes, although I do not fulfill the thing whiche you so earnestly desire, that therefore I estéeme not youre authoritie: but in not graunting to the same, I do exalt and estéeme you in greater reputation: for why? in oure departing nowe from hence, oure honor is blotted and stayned for euermore, and in abiding héere, we shall like valiant menne preserue the same. What nation is there, that had rule, dominon, and Empire in this world, that hath not bin ouercome at some time? What famous Captayne returned home to his house, for the losse of one battayle? none truly, for he that dothe not perseuer, shall neuer triumph with Lady Victory: he that retyreth, sheweth that he flyeth, and remayneth a mockingstocke for all men: but hée that sheweth nobly his face, dothe vtter the courage of his heart, yea and is both feared, and also beloued.
If we now should depart from hence, these our friēds would accept and iudge vs for cowardes, and refuse perpetually our friendship. Likewise oure enimies woulde iudge the same, and neuer héereafter stande in feare of vs, which shoulde be a greate shame vnto oure estimation. Is there any amōg vs, that would not holde himselfe affrented, if it shoulde be sayde, that he turned his backe and fledde, how much more would it be a dishonor for vs all to haue the same report?
I doe much maruell at the greatenesse of your inuincible heartes in battell: you were wont to be desirous of warres, and nowe that suche iust and laudable warre doth offer it selfe, you doe feare and refuse the same: sure it is a thing cleane contrary to oure nature. What is hée that will prate of harnes, and neuer ware none? It was neuer yet séene in all thisIndiaand new world, that any of our nation retired with feare. And woulde you nowe that it should be said, thatCortesand his company fledde, being in securitie, and without perill or daunger? I beséech God not to permitte any suche thing. The warres doe muche consist in fame: why then? what better thyng would you desire, than to be héere inTlaxcallanin despite of all youre enimies, yea proclayming open warres againste them, and they not dare to annoy vs? Therefore you may well consider, that héere you are more sure than if you were from hence, so that héere inTlaxcallanyou are honored with securitie and strength, and besides this, you haue al things necessary for phisick and medicine to cure youre woundes and obteyne your health: yea, and I am bolde to saye, that if you were in youre owne naturall Coūtrey, you should not haue the like, nor yet be so much made off.
I do nowe meane to send for our men that are inCoazacoalcoandAlmeria, and so we shall haue a reasonable army: yea and although they come not, wée are sufficient, for we were fewer in number when first we entred into thys Countrey, hauyng no friendes: and likewise you knowe well, it is not the number that doth fighte, but the couragious hearte and minde. I haue séene one of you discomfyte a whole army, asIonathasdid, yea and many among you haue had victory against a thousand, yea ten thousandIndians, as KingDauidhad againste thePhilistines. I looke dayly for Horses from the Ilandes, and other armoure and artillerie we shall haue fromVera Crux. And as for vittayles, take you no care, for I wyll prouide you abundantly, for they are thinges that alwayes followe the Conqueroures: and as for these Citizens ofTlaxcallan, I binde my selfe that you shall finde them trustie, loyall, and perpetuall friendes, for so they haue promised me vppon their solemne othes, yea, and if they had meante otherwise, what better opportunitie of time could they haue wished, thā these latter dayes, where as we lay sicke in their owne beddes and houses, yea some of vs lame, wounded, and in manner rotten, and they like louing friendes haue not only holpen you, but also serued you with diligence of seruantes, for they woulde rather choose to be your slaues, than subiectes to theMexicans: theyr hatred is suche to them, and their loue so great to you. And bycause you shall sée the troth, I will now proue them and you, againste these ofTepeacac, who slewe of late dayes twelue Spanyardes. And if this iourney happen euill, then will I followe youre request, and if it please God that it happen well, then wyll I entreate and pray you to follow my counsell.
The Souldyers hearing this comfortable speeche, began to lay aside their desire to goe from thence toVera Crux. They aunswered generally, that they woulde obey his commaundemente, it shoulde séeme with the promise made, touching the successe of the victory inTepeacac, and lightly seldome it happeneth, that a Spanyard saith no, when he is required to goe on warfare, for it is holden for a dishonor and shame.
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Cortezfound himselfe at hearts ease with this answere, for it was a thing ythad much troubled him: & vndoubtedly if he had followed his fellowes demand, he shoulde neuer haue recoueredMexicoagayne, & they likewise had bin slayne in the way towardsVera Crux, for they hadde manye perilous places to passe. Eache one of them waxed whole of his wounds, sauing some which dyed for wāt of loking to in time, leauing their wounds filthy & vnbound, as Surgiōs doe affirme, with also their great trauell & weakenesse. And likewise other some remayned lame and halt, which was no small griefe and losse: but the most parte recouered healthe, as I haue declared. After twenty dayes fully past, whiche they had abode inTlaxcallan,Cortesdetermined to make warre with theIndiansofTepeacac, which is a greate Towne, and not farre from thence, for they hadde slayne twelue Spanyards, whiche came fromVera CruxtowardesMexico. Likewise they were of the league ofCulhua, and therfore were holpen by theMexicans, and did many times great hurt to the inhabitantes ofTlaxcallan, asXicotencatldid testifye.Cortesdesired hys louing friendeMaxixca, and diuers other Gentlemen, to goe with him, who forthwith entred into counsell wyth the states and comunaltie of the Citie, and there determined with generall consente to gyue vnto him fortie thousand fighting men, besides manyTamemoz, who are foote carriers, to beare the baggage, victuall, and other things. With this number ofTlaxcaltecas, his owne men and horses, he wente toTepeacac, requiring them in satisfaction of the death of yetwelue Christiās that they shuld now yéelde themselues to the obedience of the Emperor, and that héereafter neuer more to receiue anyMexicaninto theyr towne or houses, neyther yet any of the prouince ofCulhua.
TheTepeacacsanswered, that they had slaine the Spaniardes for good and iuste cause, whiche was, that being tyme of warre they presumed to passe through their countrey by force, without their will and licence. And also that theMexicansandCulhuacanswere their friendes and Lordes, whom alwayes they would friendly entertayne within their towne and houses, refusing vtterly their offer and request, protesting to giue no obedience to whom they knew not, wishyng them therefore, to returne incontinent toTlaxcallan, excepte they had desire to ende their werie dayes.
Cortesinnuited them diuers times with peace, and seing it preuailed not, he begā his warres in earnest. Their enimies lykewise with the fauour of theCulhuacanswere braue and lustie, and began to stoppe and defend their pretended entraunce. And they beyng many in number, with diuers valiant men among them, began to skirmishe sundry times, but at the end, they were ouerthrowen, and many slayne, without killing any Spaniarde, although manyTlaxcaltecaswere killed that day.
The Lordes and principall persons ofTepeacacseyng theyr ouerthrow, and that their strength coulde not preuayle, yéelded themselues vntoCortesfor vassalles of the Emperour, with condition to banish for euer their allied friendes ofCulhua. And that he should punishe and correct at his will and pleasure, all those whiche were occasion of the death of the twelue Spaniardes. For which causes and obstinacie, at the firsteCortesiudged by his sentence, that all the townes whiche had bene priuie to the murder, should for euer remaine captiues and slaues: others affirme that he ouercame them without any condition, and corrected them for their disobedience, being Sodomites, idolaters and eaters of mans flesh, and chiefly for exāple of all others. And in conclusion, they were condemned for slaues, and within twenty daies that these warres lasted, he pacified all that prouince, which is very great: he draue from thēce theCulhuacans: he threw downe the idols, and the chiefest persons obeyed him. And for more assuraunce he builte there a towne, naming itSegura de la Frontera: he appoynted all officers for the purpose, being a towne situated in the high way fromVera CruxtoMexico, whereby the Christians and straungers mighte passe without daunger. In these warres serued lyke faithfull friendes theIndiansofTlaxcallan,HuexocincoandCholalla, promysing the lyke seruice and succour agaynstMexico, yea and rather better than worse. With this victory the Spaniardes recouered great fame, for they were thought to haue bene slayne.
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After all these things were finished,Cortescōmaunded & gaue licence to al theIndianfriēds, to returne home vnto their houses, except his assured friends ofTlaxcallan, whō he kept in his company for the warres ofMexico: he nowe dispatched a poste toVera Crux, commaundyng that foure of the shippes whichNaruaezhad brought, should be sent with al spéede to yeIland ofSanto Domingo, for men, horses, armour, pouder & other munition, also for wollen cloth, linnen, shooes, and many other things: and wrote his letters for the same to the licenciatRodrigo de Figueroa, and to the whole magistrates of Chancery, certifying them of all their procéedings in that countrey; beséechyng them of helpe and succour, and that forthwith to be sent by the messenger.
This done, he sente twentie horsemen, twoo hundred Spaniardes, and manyIndiansvntoZacatamiandXalaxinco, whiche were townes subiect to theMexicans, and placed in the high way toVera Crux, who had slayne certaine Spaniardes passyng that way. This company wente thither, with their accustomed protestations, whiche preuayled not, wherevpon followed fire and spoyle: many Gentlemen and other principall persons came to yéelde themselues toCortes, more for feare than for good will, crauyng pardon for theyr offence, promising also not to offende agayne, nor yet at any tyme to take armour agaynst the Spaniardes.Cortespardoned them, & then hys armie returned, with determination to kéepe his Christmasse inTlaxcallan, whiche was within twelue dayes followyng. He left a Captaine with thrée score Spaniards in the newe towne ofSegura, to kéepe that passage, and also to put in feare theComarcansthat dwelled thereabout: he sente before him his whole armie, and he himself went with twentie horsemen from thence toColimanto lodge there that night, being a cittie of his allied friendes, and there to ordaine and make by hys auctoritie, bothe Noble men and Captaynes in lue of them whiche died with the disease of small pockes. He aboade there thrée dayes, in the whiche the newe Lordes were ordeyned, who afterwardes remayned his especiall friendes. The nexte day hée cameTlaxcallan, beyng sixe leagues distant from thence, where he was triumphantly receyued. And truely at that time he made a iourney most worthie of renowne and glory.
At this season his déere friendeMaxixcawas departed this transitorie lyfe, for whome he mourned clothed in blacke, after the Spanishe fashion: he lefte behinde him certaine sonnes, of whom the eldest was .xij. yéeres of age, whomeCortesnamed and appoynted for Lorde of his fathers estate, and the commons did certifie it to appertaine vnto him. This was no small glory forCortesto giue estates, and also to take them away at his pleasure, yea and that thoseIndiansshould haue him in suche feare and respect, that none durste doe any thyng in acceptyng the inheritaunce of their fathers without his good will and licence.
NowCortesprocured that euery man shoulde make his harneys, weapons and prouision readie and in good order: he made also great haste in building Vergantines, for his timber was already cutte and seasoned: he sente vntoVera Cruxfor sayles, tacle, nayles, roapes and other necessarie things, whereof there was store remaynyng of the furniture of the shippes that were sunke. And hauyng wante of pitche, for in that countrey theIndiansknewe not what it meant, he commaunded certayne of his Mariners to make the same in the highe Mountaynes where was store of Pine trées, and not farre from the cittie.
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The fame of prosperitie whicheCortesenioyed, was wonderfully blowen abroade with the newes of the imprisonment ofMutezuma, and the victory againstPamfilo de Naruaez, wherevppon there came many Spaniardes by twenty and twentie in a company fromCuba,Santo Domingo, and other Ilandes. Although that iourney coste some their liues, for in the way they were murdered by those ofTepeacacandXalacinco, as is before declared, yet notwithstanding there came many toTlaxcallan, whereby his hoste was muche encreased, beséechyng him to make haste towarde the warres.
It was not possible forCortesto haue espies inMexico, for theTlaxcaltecaswere knowen by their lippes, eares, and other tokens, and also they had inMexicogarde and greate enquirie for that purpose, by reason wherof he could not certainely knowe what passed in those parties, accordyng as he desired, for to haue prouided himself of things néedefull: yet a Captayne whiche was taken prysoner inHuacacholla, certified thatCuetlauacLorde ofIztacpalapan, Neuewe toMutezuma, was elected Emperour after his Vncles death, who was a wise and valiant man, and hée it was that had dryuenCortesout ofMexico, who now had fortifiedMexicowith many bulworkes and caues, and with many and sundry sortes of weapon, but chiefly very long Lances, yea and planted them in the grounde to resiste and molest the horsemen. He proclaymed pardon and frée libertie, without paying any tribute for the space of one whole yéere, yea and further as long as the warres should laste, he promysed also great rewardes to all them that shoulde kill any Christian, or expulse them from that countrey. This was a policie whereby he gatte muche credite among his vassals, yea and gaue them greate courage to play the valiant men. All this newes was founde to be true, sauyng onelyCuetlauacwas dead. And thatQuahutimoccin, Neuew also, as some doe say, ofMutezuma, raygned at that tyme, who was a valiant man and a good warrier, as hereafter shalbe declared, who sente his messengers through out his Empyre, proclaymyng as great rewardes asCuetlauachad done before, declaryng vnto them that it was more reason to serue him than straungers, and also to defende theyr olde auncient Religion, and not to credite suche Christians as woulde make themselues Lordes of other mens goodes, yea and make them slaues and captiues as they had done in other places.Quahutimocencouraged muche his subiectes, and kindled with his talke their wrath agaynst the Spaniards: yet there were some prouinces that gaue no eare to his information, but rather leaned to our side, or else medled with neyther side.Cortesseyng the effect of the matter, determined forthwith to beginne the warres: he mustered his men on Sainct Steuens day, and founde fourtie horsemen, and fiue hundreth & fourtie footemen, wherof foure score were Hargabushiers, and crossebow men, niene péeces of ordinaunce, and little powder: his horsemen he diuided into foure squares, and his footemen into nine: he named & appointed captaynes, and other officers for the host, vnto whom in general he spake as followeth.
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My louyng brethren, I gyue moste hartie thankes vnto Iesu Christ, to sée you now whole of your woundes and frée from diseases: likewise I muche reioyce to sée you in good order trimly armed, yea and with suche desire to sette agayne vponMexico, to reuenge the death of our fellowes, and to winne that greate Citie, the whiche I truste in God shalbe brought to passe in shorte time, hauing the friendship ofTlaxcallanand other prouinces, who haue as great desire to sée the ouerthrowe of theMexicans, as we our selues, for therein they gette both honour, libertie & safegarde of life. Also it is to be considered, that if the victory should not be ours, they poore soules should be destroyed and remaine in perpetuall captiuitie. Also theCulhuacansdo abhorre them worse than vs, for receyuing vs into their houses and countrey: therefore sure I am that they will sticke vnto vs vnfaynedly. I muste néedes confesse their vnfayned friendship, for presente workes doe testifie the same. They will not onely be a meane to bryng others their neyghbours to our seruice, but also haue now in readinesse .100000. mē of warre, to sende with vs, besides a great nūber ofTamemezor carriers to carrie al our prouision. Ye also, are now the same which alwaies heretofore ye haue bene, for I as witnesse beying your captayne, haue had the victory of many battayles fighting with a .100. yea & 200000. enimies: we got also by strength of arme many strōg cities, yea & brought in subiection many prouinces, not beyng so many in number as we are nowe, for when we came firste into this countrey we were not so many as now presently we are. Agayne inMexicothey feare our cōing: it should also be a blot vnto our honour thatQuahutimocshould inherite yekingdome that cost our friēdMutezumahis life. Likewise I esteme al that we haue done is nothing, if we winne notMexico, our victories shoulde also be sorowfull if we reuenge not the death of our déere fellowes. The chiefe and principall cause of our cōming into this countrey, was to set forth the faith of Iesu Christ, & therwithal doth folow honour & profite which seldome times do dwell togither. In those fewe dayes that we were inMexico, we put downe the idols, we caused sacrifice and eatying of mans fleshe to bée layde aside, and also in those dayes wée beganne to conuerte some to the fayth. It is not therefore nowe reason to leaue of so laudable an enterpryse, so well begonne. Lette vs now goe whither holy fayth doth call vs, and where the sinnes of our enimies deserueth so great a punishment, and if yée well remember, the Citizens of that citie were not cōtent to murder such an infinite number of men, women & children before the idols, in their filthy sacrifice, for honour of their Diuelishe Goddes, but also to eate their fleshe, a thyng inhumayne, and much abhorred of God, and al good men doth procure, and especially Christians, to defende and punishe suche odious customes.
Besides all this, they committe that horrible sinne for the whiche the fiue cities withSodomwere burned by fire from heauen: Why then what greater occasion should any man wishe for in earth, than to abolish such wickednesse, and to plant among these bloudy tirants the fayth of Iesu Christ, publishing his holy gospel? Therfore now, with ioyfull hartes lette vs procéede to serue God, honour our nation, to enlarge our Princes dominions, and to enriche our selues with the goodly pray ofMexico, to morrow God willyng we will beginne the same.
All his men answeared with chéerefull countenaunce, that they were ready to departe when it pleased him, promising their faithful seruice vnto him. It should séeme the rather with the desire of that pleasure and greate treasure whiche they had eyght moneths enioyed before.
Cortescommaunded to proclayme throughout his army, certaine ordinaunces of warre for the good gouernement of his hoste, whiche he had written among others: and were these that followeth:
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The nexte daye following,Cortescalled before him all the Lordes, Captaynes, and principall persons ofTlaxcallan,Huexocinco,Chololla,Chalco, and of other townes, who were there presente at that time, saying as followeth. My Lords and friendes, you know the iourney which I haue nowe in hande, to morrowe God willing I will departe to the warre and siege ofMexico, and enter into the land of youre enimies and mine: And the thing that now I do require, and also pray, is, that you remayne faithfull and constant in your promise made, as hithervnto you haue done, and so I trust you will continue. And bycause I can not bring so soone my purpose to passe according to youre desire and mine, without theVergantineswhich are now a making, and to be placed in the lake ofMexico, therefore I praye you to fauoure these workemen whiche I leaue héere, with suche loue and friendship, as héeretofore you haue done and to giue them all things necessary for their prouision, and I do faithfully promise to take away the yoke of bondage, which the inhabitantes ofCulhuahaue layde vpon you, and also will obteyne of the Emperoure great libertie and priuiledges for you.
All theIndiansshewed countenance of obedience, and the chiefest Gentlemen aunswered in few words, saying, we will not onely fulfyll youre request, but also when your vessels are finished, we will bring them toMexico, and we all in generall will goe with you, and truly serue you in your warres.
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Cortezdeparted fromTlaxcallanwyth hys Souldyers in good order, whyche was a goodly sight to beholde, for at that time he had eyghtie thousand men in his host, and the most of them armed after their manner, which made a gallant shew: butCortesfor diuers causes would not haue them all with him, vntill theVergantineswere finished, andMexicobeséeged, fearing wante of vittayle for so greate an armye: yet notwithstanding hée tooke twentie thousand of them, besides the Carriers, and that night came toTezmoluca, which stādeth sixe leagues fromTlaxcallan, and is a Village apperteyning toHuexocinco, where he was by the principall of the Towne wel receyued. The next day he iourneyed foure leagues, into the territorie ofMexico, and there was lodged on the side of a hill, where many had perished with colde, had it not bin for the store of woodde which they found there. In the morning he ascended vpwards on this hill, and sente hys scoute of foure footemen and foure horsemen to discouer, who found the way stopped with great trées newly cutte downe, and placed crossewise in the way: but they thynking that yet forwards it was not so, procéeded forthe as well as they might, till at length the let with great hugie trées was such, that they could passe no further, and with this newes were forced to returne, certifyingCortesthat the Horsemenne coulde not passe that way in any wyse.Cortesdemaunded of them, whether they hadde séene anye people, they aunswered no, wherevppon he procéeded forwarde with all the Horsemen, and a thousande footemen, commaundyng all the residue of hys armye to followe hym wyth as muche spéede as myghte bée, so that wyth that companye whyche he carried with him, he made waye, takyng away the trées that were cutte downe to disturbe his passage: and in this order, in short time passed his host, without any hurt or daunger, but with great payne and trauell, for certaynely if the enimies had bin there to defende that passage, oure menne hadde not passed, for it was a verye euill way, and the enimies also thoughte the same to be sure with the trées whiche were crossed the way, wherevppon they were carelesse of that place, and attended their comming in playne grounde: for fromTlaxcallantoMexicoare thrée wayes, of the whicheCorteschose the worst, ymagining the thing that afterwards fell out, or else some hadde aduised him howe that way was cléere from the enimies. And béeing past this crooked passage, they espyed the lake ofMexico, and gaue vnto God moste hartie thankes for the same, and there made a solemne vowe and promise, not to returne, vntill they had wonneMexico, or lost their liues. They abode there and rested themselues, till all the whole armye were come togither, to descende downe into the playne, for nowe they myghte descrye the fires and beacons of theyr enimies in sundrye places, and all those whyche hadde attended theyr commyng by the other two wayes, were now gathered togyther, thynkyng to sette vppon them betwixte certayne bridges, where a greate company aboade, exspecting theyr commying: butCortessente twenty Horsemen, who made way among them, and then followed the whole armye, who slewe manye of them, wythoute receyuyng anye hurte. And in thys order they came toQuahutipec, whiche is of the iurisdiction ofTezcuco, where they abode that nyghte, and in that place founde neyther manne nor Woman: but not farre off was pytched the Campe of theIndiansofCulhua, which myght be néere a hundred thousand men of warre, who were sent by the Seniors ofMexico, andTezcuco, to encounter oure armye, in consideration whereof,Corteskept good watch with tenne Horsemen, and all his Souldyers were warned to be in readynesse at a call, if néede should happen.
The next day in the morning he departed from thence towardeTezcuco, whiche standeth thrée leagues distante, and procéeding on their iourney, foure principal persons, inhabitantes ofTezcuco, mette with them, bearing a rod of golde, with a little flagge, in token of peace, saying, thatCoacuacoyozintheir Lord had sent them to desire him not to make any spoyle in his Countrey, and likewise, to offer his friendship, praying also, that it might please him with his whole army to take his lodging in the Towne ofTezcuco, where he shoulde be well receyued.Cortesreioyced with this message, although he suspected that it was a fayned matter, but one of them he knewe verye well, whome he saluted, saying: My comming is not to offend any, but rather to do you good. I will also receyue and hold your Lord for a friende, with condition, that hée doe make vnto me restitution of the treasure whyche hée tooke from fiue and fortie Spanyards, and thrée hundredTlaxcaltecas, all the which were by his commaundements also slayne of late dayes. They aunswered thatMutezumacaused them to be murthered, who had likewise taken the spoyle, and that the Citizens ofTezcucowere not culpable in that fact, and with this aunswere they returned.
Corteswent forward on his way, and came toQuahutichanandHuaxuta, which are suburbes ofTezcuco, where he and all his host were plenteously prouided of al things necessary, and threw downe the Idolles. This done, hée entred into the Citie, where his lodging was prepared in a great house, sufficient for him and all the Spanyardes, with many other theIndianfriends. And bycause that at his first entry, he sawe neyther women nor children, hee suspected some treason, and forthwith proclaymed, vpon payne of death, that none of his men should go out. The Spaniards began to triumph in their lodgings and chābers, placing euery thing in good order. In the euening they went vp into theZotiesand galleries, to beholde the Citie, which is as bigge asMexico, and there they sawe the greate number of Citizens that fledde from thence with their stuffe, some towardes the mountaines, and others to the water side to take boate, a thing straunge, to sée the great hast and stirre to prouide for themselues, at the least ther were twentie thousand litle boates (calledConoas) occupyed, in carying houshold stuffe and passengers.Corteswould fayne haue remedied it, but that night was so nygh at hand, that he coulde not. He would gladly also haue apprehended the Lord, but he was one of the first that fledde vntoMexico.Cortescaused many of the Citizens, to be called before him, and hauing in hys company a yong gentleman of a noble house in that coūtrey, who was also last christened, & had to nameHernādo,Cortesbeing his godfather, who loued him well, sayde vnto the citizens, that this new Christian lord,Don Hernādo, was sonne vntoNezaualpincintlitheir louing Lord, wherfore he required them to make him their king, considering thatCoacnacoyocin, was fled vnto the enimies, laying also before them his wicked fact in killing ofCacuzahis own brother, only to put him from his inheritance & kingdome, through the enticemente ofQuahutimoccin, a mortal enimie to the Spaniards. In this sort wasDon Hernandoelected king, and the fame therof being blowen abroade, manye citizens repayred home againe to visite their newe Prince, so that in short space the citie was as wel replenished with people, as it was before, and being also well vsed at the Spaniardes handes, they serued them dilygentlye in all thyngs that they were commaunded. AndDon Hernandoaboade euer after a faithfull friende vnto the Spaniardes, and in short tyme learned the Spanishe tongue: and soone after came the inhabitants ofQuahutichan,HuaxutaandAuntenco, to submytte them selues, crauing pardon, if in any thyng they had offended.Cortezpardoned them, and gaue them licence to departe home vnto their houses.
Quahutimoc,Coacnacoijoand other magistrates ofCulhuasente to rayle vppon those townes, for yéeldyng themselues to the Christians, but they layde hold vpon the messengers, and brought them vntoCortes, of whome he enformed himselfe of the state ofMexico, and sent them backe againe, requiring their Lords of peace and friendshippe: but it preuayled not, for they were fully armed for the warre.
A good correction.
At this instante certaine friendes ofIames Velasquezwent vp and downe the Campe, procuring secretly a mutenie among the souldiers, to haue them to returne toCuba, and vtterly to destroyCorteshis procéedings. This thing was not so secretly wrought, but thatCorteshad knowledge, wherevppon he apprehended the doers thereof, and by their confessions the matter did plainely appeare, whervpon he condemned to death oneAntonio de Villafania, who was natural ofSamora, and forthwith executed the sentence, wherwith the punishment and Mutinie was ended, and ceassed.
TOC
Dayly increasedCortesin strength and reputation, and many townes as wel of the partes ofCulhuaas others came vnto his friendship and obedience. Within two days thatDon Hernandowas made king, came certayne gentlemen ofHuaxutaandQuahutichan, to certify vnto him, how al the power of theMexicanswas comming towardes them, and to knowe if it were his pleasure, that they should carry their wiues, children, and other goods into the Mountaines, or els to bring them where he was, theyr feare was so great.Cortesmade vnto thē this answere, saying: be ye of good courage, and feare ye not. Also I pray you to cōmaunde your wiues & families to make no alteratiō, but rather quietly to abide in your houses. And cōcerning the enimies, I am glad of their comming, for ye shal sée how I will deale with them. But the enimies wente not toHuaxuta, as it was thought: neuerthelesseCorteshauing intelligence where they were, wente out to encounter them, with two pieces of Ordinaunce, twelue horsemen and two hundred Spaniardes, with manyIndiansofTlaxcallā. He fought with the enemie, and slew but few, for they fledde to the water. He burnt certaine townes where theMexicanswere wonte to succour themselues. The next day came the chiefest men of thrée townes to craue pardon, and to beséech him not to destroy thē, promising neuer to harbour nor succour, any ofCulhua.
TheMexicanshearing what these townes men pretended, with greate yre made a foule correction among them, as dyd appeare by many of them, which came vntoCorteswith broken heads, desiring reuengement.
The inhabitaunts ofChalcosent also vnto him for succour, declaring that theMexicansmade greate spoyle among them. ButCortesbeing ready to send for his Vergantines, could not relieue them all, and especially wyth Spaniardes: wherefore he remitted them to the helpe of theTlaxcaltecas, and vnto thē ofHuexocinco,Chololla,Huacachollaand other friends, promising that shortly he would come himselfe. But this answere pleased him not, yet for the present néede they required his letters to be written vnto those townes. And being in this communication, there came messengers fromTlaxcallan, with news, that the Vergantines were ready, and to knowe if he stoode in néede of any succour, for of late, (quoth they) we haue séene many beacons, and fiers, which are greater tokens of warre, than heretofore hath bene séene.
There came at that time, a Spaniard also fromVera Crux, with certaine newes, that there had arriued a ship, whiche had brought thirtie Souldiers besides the mariners of the shippe, with eight horses, great store of pouder, shotte, crossebowes, and Harquebushes. The plesent newes reioyced much our men, wherevponCortessente forthwith toTlaxcallanfor the Vergantines,Gonzalo de Sandoual, with two hundered Spaniards, and fiftéene horsemen, and commaunded that in their way they shold burne and destroy the towne where the fourty fiue Spaniardes, and thrée hunderedTlaxcaltecaswere slayn, with fiue horses moe, whenMexicowas last besieged: and ytvillage is in yeiurisdiction ofTezcuco, and bordereth vpon the territorie ofTlaxcallan, yea, and for that purpose hée would gladly haue corrected and punished the dwellers ofTezcuco, but time then permitted not yesame, although they had deserued more punishment than the others. For why? in their town they were sacrifised and eaten, yea & the walles painted with their bloud, shewing moreouer perfit tokens, how it was spaniards bloud. They pluckt off also the horses skinnes & tanned thē in the heare, and afterwards hung them vppe, with the horseshoes in their great temple, & next vnto them, the spaniards garmētes, for a perpetual memory.
Sandoualwent vnto that place with determinate entēt to follow his cōmission, & also before he came to yeplace, he found writtē in a house wta cole, these words: here in this house was a prisoner yevnfortunateIohn Iust, who was a gentleman, and one of the fiue horsemen that wer taken. But the people of that towne, being many, fledde when they saw the Spaniardes approch neare vnto thē. ButSandoualfollowed them, and slewe many of them: he toke also prisoners, manye women and children, who yelded themselues vnto his mercie, and their bodies for slaues. He séeing so little resistance, and beholding the pitiful mone of the wiues for their husbandes, and the children for their fathers, had compassiō on them, and wold not destroye their towne, but rather caused the dwellers to come again, and pardoned them, with othe, that hereafter they shoulde serue them truely, and be vnto them loyal friends. In this sorte was the death of the Christians reuenged, yetSandoualasked them howe they slewe so manye Christians without resistaunce, marye (quoth they) we made an ambush in an euil and narrow way, ascending vp a hill, and there as they went vppe by one and one we spoyled them, for there, neyther horses nor other weapon could defend or help thē, so ytwe tooke them prisoners and sente them toTezcuco, where, as is before declared, they were sacrificed in the reuengement of the imprisonment ofCalama.
TOC
Nowe when the enemies which murdered the Spaniardes, were reduced and chastened,Sandoualprocéeded forwarde towardeTlaxcallan, and at the border of that prouince, he mette with the Vergātines whiche were broughte in pieces, as tables, planches, and nayles, with all other furniture, the whyche eight thousand men caryed vpon their backes.
There came also for their safeconduicte twentie thousande men of warre, and a thousandeTamemez, who were the carriers of victuals, and seruantes. Thē the Spanishe Carpenters sayde vntoSandoual, that for as muche as they were nowe come into the countrey of enimies, it might please him to haue regarde thervnto, for daungers that myght happen: he allowed wel theyr iudgement.
NoweChichimecatetl, being a principal man and a valiant also, was captaine of a thousande men & desired to haue the vantguard with the Tymber, and hauing had the same charge hithervnto, it should be an affrent for him, to be put from it, and gaue manye reasons in hys behalfe. But notwithstanding his request, he was entreated to take the reregarde. And thatTutipilandTeutecatlcaptaines, very principal gentlemen, should haue the vantgard, with ten thousand men. In the myddest were placed theTamemez, and those that carryed the foyst, with all the apparell of the Vergantines. Before those two captaynes, went a hundered Spaniardes, and eight horsemen, and behind and last cameSandoualwith all the residue, and seuen horsemen. But now althoughChichimecatetlwas offended, touching his firste charge, now much more bycause the Spaniardes were not in his company, saying (quoth he) ye take me not for valiant, or else not faithful. That matter being pacified, and euery thing in good order, they toke their way towardeTezcuco, with a marueylous noyse, crying, Christians, Christians,Tlaxcallan,Tlaxcallan, and Spayne.
On the fourth day they entred intoTezcuco, in verye good order, with the sounde of drummes, snayle-shelles, and other like instrumentes of Musicke, and againste their entry into the Citie, they put on al their brauerye of clothes, and bushes of feathers, whiche truely was a gallant sight: they were sixe houres, in entryng into the towne, keping their array.
Cortezcame forth to receyue them, and gaue greate thankes vnto the gentlemen, and all the company, and prouided them of good lodgings and entertaynement.
TOC
Manye prouinces ofIndia, came to submitte and offer their seruice vntoCortes, some for feare of destruction, and others for the hatred whyche they bare to theMexicans: so that noweCorteswas strong both with Spaniardes andIndians. Also the Spanishe Captaine ofSegura, sent a letter toCortez, the which letter he had receyued of another spaniard, the effect therof was as foloweth. Noble gentlemen, diuerse times I haue written vnto you, but as yet I neuer receiued answere, nor yet now doe I. I thynke otherwise, notwithstanding yee shall vnderstande, that theCulhuacanshaue done much hurte in thys countrey, but we remayne with victorie. This prouince desireth to see and knowe CaptaineCortez, for to render themselues vnto him, and nowe they stande in neede of our nation, wherfore it may please you to sende vnto vs thirtie Spaniardes.
Cortezaunswered the letter in suche sort, that he then presently coulde not sende the thing desired, for that he was readye to the siege ofMexico: notwythstanding hée gaue them great thankes, with hope shortlye to sée thē. He that writte the former letter, was one of the Spaniardes thatCortezhadde sente to the prouince ofChinanta, a yeare paste, to enquire of the secretes of that place, and to séeke for golde and other commodities. And if it so happened, that the Lorde of that place made that Spaniarde a Captayne, agaynste theCulhuacanstheyr enemyes, forMutezumamade them warre béeyng farre fromMexico, bycause they had entertayned the Spaniardes. But through the industrie of that Christian, the Lorde aboade alwayes with victorye, and hauing vnderstanding that some of hys nation were inTepeacac, he wrote so often as the letter declareth, but none of them came to their handes, but only this last letter: our men reioyced muche to heare that the Spaniardes were aliue, and also the Lorde ofChinantato be their friende: likewise they marueyled much howe they had escaped, for at the time that they fledde fromMexico, all other Spaniardes that were abidyng in the Mynes and other Lordshippes, were slaine by theIndians.
Cortesmade his preparation for the séege ofMexicowith all hast, and furnished hym with scalling ladders, and other necessaryes, fitte for such a purpose. HisVergantinesbeing nayled, and throughly ended, he made a sluise or trench of halfe a league of length, twelue foote broad & more, and two fadome in depth. This worke was fiftie dayes a doyng, although there were foure hundred thousand mē dayly working, truly a famous worke and worthy of memory.