Al these things wer more beautiful than rich although the whéeles were very rich the workmanshippe of al the rest was more worth than the thing it selfe The colours of the cloth of cotten wool was excéeding fine and the fethers natural The pounced worke in gold and siluer did excéed our goldsmithes of whiche things we wil write in an other place They ioyned with this present certaine Indian bookes of figures which serue to their vse for letters these bookes are solden like vnto clothes and written on both sides Some of these bookes were made of cotten glewe and others were made of leaues of a certaine trée called Melt whyche serue for theyr paper a thyng straunge to behold At that time the Indiās of Zempoallan had many prisoners to sacrifice Cortez demaunded them to send vnto the Emperour but the Indians desired him to pardon them for if we so do quoth they we shall offend our gods who will take awaye our corne and children from vs yea and also our liues in so doing Yet notwithstanding Cortez tooke foure of them and two women which were al yong and lustie But it was very strange to sée those that shold be sacrificed how they wer trimmed and deckt with feathers and went dauncing through the Cittie asking almes for their sacrifice death It was also strange to sée the offerings that were giuen thē They had at their eares hanging rings of gold beset with turkie stones likewise other rings at their lippes whiche shewed their téeth bare a griesely sight to sée but yet estéemed among them a thing beautifull Letters from the army and magistrates of the new towne directed to the Emperour WHen this present and fift part was layde aside for the king Cortez required the magistrats to name and appoint two atturnyes to carry the Emperors portion vnto Spayne And that he for his part wold giue vnto them his full power and letter of attourneye with also one of his beste Shippes for that voyage The Counsell of the newe towne chose Alounso Fernandez Portocarero and Francisco de Monteio for that iourneye whereof Cortez was verye glad and gaue them Antonio de Alominos for their pilot with golde and plate sufficiente for tourne and retourne of the voyage Cortez gaue them instructions what they shoulde doe particularlye for hym in the Courte of Spaine as also in Ciuil and the towne where he was borne Hee sente to his Father and Mother certaine money with newes of his prosperitye hee sente also with them the ordinaunces and actes instituted and wrote by them a large letter to the Emperour in the whiche hee gaue full aduertisemente of all things whyche hadde passed from the time of his departure from the Ilande of Cuba vntil that day and of the discord betwéene bym and Iames Valasques and of their greate traueyle and paynes with the greate good will whiche they all bare vnto hys royall seruice hee certified likewise of the riches of that countreye with the maiestie and power of Mutezuma Hee offered to bring in subiection vnto his royall Crown and state of Castil al that Empire to winne also the greate Citie of Mexico and to bring that mightie king Mutezuma to his handes quicke or deade Beséeching the Emperours maiestie to haue hym in remembraunce when offices and prouisions shoulde bee sente vnto that newe Spayne latelye discouered at hys great costes and in recompence of hys paines and trauell The Counsell and magistrates of Vera Crux wrote also two letters to the Emperour the one was touching the successe of their procéedings in his royall seruice In that letter went onely the Aldermens firmes and Iudges The other letter was firmed by the generalitye and chiefest of the army the contentes whereof was in substance that they would holde and kepe that towne and countrey wonne in his royall name or ende theyr lyues in the quarrel if his maiestie did not otherwise determyne They also moste humblye besought him that the gouernement thereof and of al that hereafter shoulde bee conquered might be giuen to Hernādo Cortez their guide generall captaine and chiefe Iustice by them electe and chosen saying that wel he had deserued the same for that he alone spent more than the whole army vpon that iourney And that it might please his maiesty to confirm that which they generally of fréewill had done for theyr owne safegard and securitye in the name of his royall maiestie And if by chaunce his maiestie had already giuen the sayde office of gouernement to any other person that it might please him to reuoke it For so should it be expedient for his seruice and quietnesse of the countrey And thereby might be excused rumours slanders perils and slaughters that myght ensue if any other should gouerne and rule as captaine general And moreouer they besoughte hys maiestie to graunte them aunswere with breuity and good dispatch of theyr attourneys who departed from the porte of Aguiahuistlan in a reasonable shippe the twenty sixe day of Iuly Anno. 1519. They touched by the way at Marien a port of Cuba declaring that they went to Hauana they passed through the chanell of Bahama without disturbaunce and sayled with a prosperous winde till they arriued in Spayne The cause why the generaltye had written these letters was suspecting Iames Velasques who had frends and great fauour in the Court and counsel of Indias and also some secrete friendes in Cortez his campe For Francisco Salzeda brought newes that Iames Velasques had already obteyned a graunt of the Emperor for the gouernment of that land by the meanes of one Bonito Martinez going into Spayne And although they knew not the certainty thereof yet it was most true as shal appeare in another place An vproāre among the souldiers against Cortez and the punishment for the same THere wer some in the host the murmured against the election of Cortez for thereby was excluded Iames Valasques vnto whō they bare good wil. Some were Valasques friends and other some his kinesfolkes who letted not to say openly that Cortez by flattery sutteltie and giftes had gotten and obtayned his purpose And that the dissymulation in makyng hym selfe to bee entreated and prayed to accepte that charge and office was a thing ceastily fayned whereby suche election coulde not bee of anye value and chieflye without any such authority of the Ierome Friers dam who ruled and gouerned the Indians as chiefe presidents how muche more they hadde newes that Iames Velasques had already obteyned the gouernement of that land and Yucatan Then Cortez began to vnderstande in those matters and made informatiō who had raysed vp this rumoure and béeing knowen he apprehended the chiefest and sent them prisoners aboorde his Ship and to molifye their wrath he shortly releassed them agayne the which afterwards was cause of more mischief for these his enimies woulde haue fledde with a Vergantine and killed the maister pretending to flye vnto the Ilande of Cuba for to aduertise
fortitude and weakenesse of youre power I like it not It may please you to make enquirie whether they be espyes or no. Cortez hauing heard hys tale gaue him hartie thankes for his good aduice yea and maruelled that neyther he himselfe nor none of his Spanyardes had noted the thing the Indians hauing so many dayes come vnto them after this sort yea and that only Indian of Zempoallan had considered it Nowe the originall cause was not bycause Teuch was more wise than the Christians but by reason that hée had séene and heard those Indians commune with the subiectes of Iztacmixilitan to féele their mindes and wyth craft and subtiltie to obteyne their desire whereby Cortez vnderstoode that those fellowes came not to any good purpose he apprehended that Indian whiche stoode nexte vnto him and hauing him alone from his fellowes by his interpreters examined him effectually who incontinent confessed that he was a spye and that his comming thither was to view the way how to enter their Campe for to spoyle and burne their Tentes and for so much as they hadde proued fortune all the houres of the day and all happened contrary to their desire against their auncient fame and glory which they hadde obteyned by noble exploytes in warres they now meant to proue their successe by nighte hoping of better fortune and also bycause their souldiers shoulde not feare the Horses with the darkenesse of the nighte nor the blowes or stripes of the bright swordes nor yet the fire and terrible noyse of the Ordinance and that Captayne Xicoteucatl was alreadye appoynted for that enterprise with prouision of manye thousand souldiers which lay in ambush in a vale behind certayne hilles right ouer against their Campe. After this confession taken Cortes full prudently commaunded to take also the seuerall confessions of other foure or fyue who likewise confessed that they were all espies vppon whose confessions they were al fiftie taken prisoners and iudgemente giuen that their one hande should be cut off which was forthwith executed and then were returned to their Camp signifying vnto them that the like iustice should be executed vpon as many espyes as they might take And also they were charged to shew vnto their Generall who had sente them that both daye and night he would be ready for them When the Tlaxcaltecas sawe their espyes come in thys pickle they were in a maruellous feare and it séemed a newe world vnto them they also beléeued that oure men hadde some familiar spirites that did instructe them of their thoughtes and with feare of cutting off hāds there went no moe espies with victuals An embassage that Mutezuma sente to Hernando Cortez WHen those espyes were gone oure men espyed out of our Campe a great multitude of men goe crossing ouer a hill and it séemed that they were those that the Captayne Xicotencatl hadde in ambush and although it was néere night Cortes determined to followe them and not to abide their comming fearing that at the first brunt they mighte set fire among his cotages as was pretended among them whiche pretence hauing taken effecte myght haue bin the destruction of all his men eyther by the fier or otherwise wherefore he put all his men in good order and commaunded the Horsemenne to decke the brest plates of hys Horses with belles and then procéeded towards their enimies who durst not abide their comming hauing intelligence of the cutting of their espyes hands and likewise hearing the new noyse of belles yet oure men fóllowed them tyll two houres within night through many sowen fieldes of Centli and sléw many of thē and then returned with victorie to the Campe. At that season were come sixe noble men from Mexico who brought two hundred seruing men to wayt vpon them They brought vnto Cortes a present whiche was a hundred garments of cotten and some of feathers and a thousand péeces of golde These ambassadors on the behalfe of Mutezuma declared that their Lord would be friende with the Emperoure and also with him and his company requestyng to knowe what tribute he woulde yearely demaunde in golde plate pearles slaues or garments or of any other thing that was within his kingdome and the same tribute he woulde well and truly pay withoute delay wyth such condition that neyther he nor his company shoulde come vnto Mexico And this request quoth they is not only bycause you should bée disturbed to come into hys countrey but chiefly bycause the waye is euill barren and full of euill rockes whyche lette dothe gréeue Mutezuma that suche valiant menne as ye be shoulde suffer in his Countrey lying not in hys power to remedie it Cortez dyd thankefully receyue the present and gentle offer for the Emperoure King of Castile but quoth hée my earnest desire is that you depart not til ye sée the end of these warres whyche I haue nowe in hande bycause yée shall carrie newes thereof to Mexico what I pretende to doe againste these mortall enimies of Mutezuma Then Cortez fel into an ague for which cause he went not out to skyrmish as he was wonte to do but only prouided to make his Camp strong against certaine flockes of Indians whiche came dayly to skirmishe for that was as ordinarie as the meate that was wont to be broughte to thē but yet these skirmishes nor furie of y Indiās were not like to their fierce beginning Cortez now meaneth to take a purgation for his ague tooke certayne pilles whiche he broughte with hym from Cuba at suche houre of the nighte as is vsed for purgations It happened that the nexte daye following before hys purge had wrought came thrée great companies of Indians to besiege his Camp. It should séeme that those Indians had some intelligence of his sicknesse or else thinking with feare that he durst not come abroade as he was wont to doe Cortes being aduertised of this newes withoute anye more respect to his purgation taken tooke his horse and with his menne came to the encounter and foughte with his enimies all day till it was nighte and draue them a good way off to their great hurt and then returned to his Camp and the next day following he purged as fresh as though it had bin newly taken I doe not rehearse thys for a miracle but to declare what he passed for Hernando Cortez was a greate sufferer of trauell and paynes and one of the firste that alway was at any assay or brunt of enimies and he was not onely a good man of his handes but also graue in counsell And hauing thus purged hym selfe and taken rest those dayes he watched euery night that fell to his lotte as well as any other souldier and so continually he vsed to do He was not for this the lesse estéemed but rather muche the more beloued among hys men Hovv Cortez vvan a great Citie called Zimpanzinco IN an euening Cortes went vp to the toppe of his Tower and looking rounde aboute hym
him a student at lawe whiche is a facultie both riche and worshipfull consideryng their sonne to be of a good witte and abilitie Yet he caused muche strife in his Fathers house for he was a very vnhappy ladde high minded and a louer of chiualrie for which cause he determined with himselfe to wander abroad to séeke aduentures And at that instant happened two iorneys fit for his purpose inclination The one of them was to Naples wyth Gonsalo Hernandez of the Citie of Cordoua who was a worthy man named the great captaine And the other iourney was to the Weast India with the Lorde Nicholas de Ouando a knight of the order of Larez who was then appointed for gouernour of those parties And musing with himselfe which waye to take determined to passe into India chiefly bycause the gouernour was of his acquaintance and such a one as would haue care of him And likewise the great desire of gold made him to couet that voyage more than the Iorney vnto Naples Now in the meane while that the fleet was preparing for India it chaunced Hernando Cartez pretended to go vnto a certaine house in the night season to talke with a woman and clyming ouer a Wall whyche was of weake foundation both he and the Wal fell togither So that with the noyse of hys fall and ratling of his armoure which he ware came out a man newly married and findyng him fallen at hys dore would haue slayne hym suspecting somewhat of his newe married wife but that a certaine olde woman being his mother in lawe wyth great perswasions stayed him from that fact Yet with the fall he fell into a grieuous Ague and continued sicke for a long season so that he could not procéede vppon his voyage with the gouernour Ouando And when he had obtained and fullye recouered his health he mynded to passe into Italy And so toke hys way towarde Valentia wandering here and there almoste a whole yeare wyth much necessitye and penurie and then returned home againe to Medellyn with determination to procéed vppon his pretended voyage of India Wherevppon hys father and mother waying their sonnes estate desired God to blesse hym and gaue him money in his purse for his iorney The age of Cortez vvhen he passed into India HErnando Cortez was of the age of nintéene yeares in the yeare of Christ 1504. and then he went toward India and agréed for his passage and victual with Alonso Quintezo who went in companie of other four shippes laden with merchandise whiche nauie departed from saint Lucas de Barramedo with prosperous nauigation vntyll they arriued at the Iland of Gomera one of the Cauarie Ilands where they did prouide themselues of all things necessarie for so long a voyage as they then had in hand Alounso Quintezo being greedie of his voyage and desirous to come to the Ilande of Sainte Domingo before his fellowes hoping to sel his commoditie the better departed from Gomera in the night season without knowledge giuing vnto his company But incontinent after he had hoysed vp his sayles arose vp so great a winde and tempest that his maine mast brake whereby hee was forced to reâ—ourne backe againe to the Ilande of Gomera And he made earnest requeste to them of the other shyppes to staye for him vntyl hee hadde mended his Mast who friendlye and neyghbourlye graunted hys desire and departed altogither sayling in sight the one of the other certayne dayes yet the sayde Quintero seyng the weather stedfast and harpyng vpon gaynes flewe from his fellowes agayne And where as Frances Ninio de Guelua his pilote was not experte in that Nauigation they knew not where they were at length the Mariners did giue sundry Iudgements the Pilote was in great perplexitie and sadnesse their passengers lamented and bewayled their vnfortunate successe the Master of the shippe layde the faulte to the Pilote and the Pilote likewise charged the Master for it did appeare that they were fallen out before In this meane time their victuall wared skant and their freshe water wanted so that they prepared themselues to die Some cursed theyr fortune others asked mercie at Gods hande lookyng for death and to be eaten of the Cariues And in this tyme of tribulation came a Doue flying to the shippe beyng on good Friday at Sunne sette and satte him on the shippe toppe whereat they were all comforted and tooke it for a myracle and good token and some wept with ioy some sayd that God had sente the Doue to comforte them others sayde that lande was neare and all gaue hartie thankes vnto God directing their course that way that the Doue flew and when the Doue was out of sighte they sorrowed againe but yet remayned with hope to sée shortlye lande and on Easterday they discouered the Ilande of Santo Domingo whiche was firste discried by Christopher Zâ—rso who cryed lande lande a chéerefull voyce to the saylers The Pilote looked out and knewe that it was the poynt or cape of Semana and within foure dayes after they arriued in the porte of Santo Domingo whiche was long wished for and there they founde the other shippes of their company arriued many dayes before The time that Cortez abode in Santo Domingo SOone after that the Gouernoure Ouando was in his regimente and office Cortez arriued at Santo Domingo and the Gouernoures Secretarie called Medina receyued and lodged him and also enformed him of the estate of the Iland and aduised hym what was néedefull to doe wishing that hée would be a dweller there and that he should haue a plot to build vpon with certaine ground for husbandry But Cortez his thought was cleane contrary for hée iudged that as soone as he came thither he should lade with gold whereby hée did little estéeme his friend Medina his couÌ„sell saying that he had rather goe to gather gold than to trauell in husbandrie Medina yet perswaded him that he shoulde take better aduisement for to finde golde was doubtfull and very troubesome This talke ended Cortez went to kisse the Gouernours handes and to declare the cause of his comming with other newes from Estremadure the Gouernours CouÌ„trey The Gouernour friendly welcommed him and also perswaded him to abide there the which councell he accepted and shortlye after wente to the warres whereof was Captayne Iaymes Velasques in the prouince of Anigua Iaqua and Guaca Iarima and other Lordships whiche were not as yet pacifyed wyth the late rebellion of Anacoana widdowe who was a gentlewoman of great liuing Ouando gaue vnto Cortez certayne Indyans in the Countrey of Daiguae and also the office of publike notarie in Azua a towne whyche the Gouernour had builded and there dwelt Cortez fyue or syxe yeares and began to play the good husband Now in this meane season he woulde haue gone to Veragua which was reported to bee maruellous riche with the Captayn Iaymes de Nicuesa but bycause of an empostume that he had vnder his righte knée he went not
and as it happened he was therein fortunate for that thereby hée escaped great perils and troubles whiche happened to them that went on that voyage and iourney Things that happened to Cortez in the Ilande of Cuba THe Lorde Iames Colori being Admirall and chiefe Gouernour of the new India sent one Iaymes Velasques to conquer the Ilande of Cuba in the yeare 1511. And gaue vnto him men Armour and other thinges necessarie And then Hernando Cortez wente to that conquest as a Clearke to the Treasorer called Michaell de Passamontes for to kéepe the accompts of the Kings fiftes and reuenewes being so intreated and required by the same Iaymes Velasques bycause he was holden for a man both able and diligente And it followed that in the repartition of the lands conquered Iaymes Velasques gaue vnto Cortez the Indians of Manicora◠in coniunct company with his brother in lawe called Iuan Xuarez wherevpon Cortez did inhabite in Saint Iames de Barucoa whiche was the first place of habitation in that Ilande whereas he bredde and broughte vp Kine Shéepe and Mares and was the first that hadde there any heard or flocke and with his Indians he gathered great quantitie of golde so that in short time he wared riche and ioyned in company with one Andres de Duero a Merchaunt and put in two thousande Castlins for his stocke He was also highly estéemed with Iaymes Velasques and put in authoritie to dispatch businesse and to giue order for edifices In his tyme be caused a money house to be built also an Hospital At that time one Iuan Xuarez naturall of the Citie of Granada carried to the I le of Cuba his mother and thrée sisters whiche came to the Iland of Santo Domingo with that vicequéene the Lady Mary of Toledo in Anno. 1509. hoping to marrie them there with rich men for they were very poore And the one of them named Cathelina was wont to say That she shoulde be a greate Gentlewoman it was eyther hyr dreames and fantasies or else some Astronomer hadde made hir beléeue so but hir mother was reported to bée very cunning The maydens were beautifull for which cause and also being there but fewe Spanishe women they were muche made of and often feasted But Cortez was woer to the saide Cathelina and at the ende married with hir Although at the first there was some strife about the matter and Cortez put in prison bycause he refused hir for his wife but she demaunded him as hir husband by faith and troth of hand wherein Iaymes Velasques did stande hir friende by reason of an other sister of hyrs which he had but of an euil name It so fell out that one Baltazar Bermudez Iuan Xuares and the two Anthony Velasques with one Villegas accused Cortez that he ought to marrie with Cathelina yet those witnesses spake of euill will many things as touching the affaires cōmitted to his charge alleadging that he vsed secret dealing with certaine persons The which causes although they were not true yet they carried great colour therof For why many wēt secretly to Cortez his house complayning of Iaymes Velasques Some bycause they had not iust repertitiō of the cōquered Indiās and other some not according to deserte Contrariwyse Iames Velasques gaue credit to his talebearers bicause Cortez refused to marrie with Cathelina Xuarez vsed vncourteous words vnto him in the presēce of many that stoode by and also commaunded him to warde And when Cortez sawe himselfe in the stockes he feared some proces of false witnesse as many times dothe happen in those parties At time conueniente he brake the locke off the stockes and layde hand vpon the Sword and Target of the kéeper and brake vp a windowe escaping thereby into the stréete and tooke the Church for Sanctuary But when Iaymes Velasques had notice thereof he was greatlye offended with Christopher Lagos the Iayler saying that for money he had losed him wherefore he procured by al meanes to plucke him out of the Sanctuary But Cortez hauing intelligence of his dealing did resiste and withstand his force Yet notwithstanding one daye Cortez walking before the Churche dore and being carelesse of his businesse was caught by the backe with a Serieant called Iohn Esquier and others and then was put aboorde a Shyppe vnder hatches Cortez was welbeloued among his neighboures who did well consider the euill will that the Gouernour bare vnto him But nowe Cortez séeing himselfe vnder hatches despaired of his libertie and did verily thinke that he shoulde be sent prisoner to the Chancerie of Santo Domingo or else to Spayne who being in this extremitie soughte all meanes to get hys foote out of the chayne and at length he gote it out and the same nighte he changed his apparell with a ladde that serued him and by the Pump of the Shippe he gote out not heard of any his kéepers climbing softly along the Shippe syde he entred the Skiffe and went hys way therewith and bycause they shoulde not pursue after him he losed the Boate of another Shippe that roade by them The Currant of Macaguanigua a riuer of Barucoa was so fierce that he could not gette in with his Skiffe bicause he had no help to row was also very werie fearing to be drowned if he should put himselfe to the land wherefore he stripped himselfe naked and tyed a nyghtkerchiefe aboute hys head with certayne wrytings apperteyning to his office of Notarie and Clearkshippe to the Treasourer and other things that were agaynst the Gouernoure Iames Velasques and in this sorte swamme to lande and wente home to hys owne house and spake with Iohn Xuarez hys brother in law and tooke Sanctuarie agayne with Armour Then the Gouernoure Iames Velasques sente hym worde that all matters shoulde bee forgotten and that they shoulde remayne friendes as in tyme past they hadde bin and to goe with hym to the Warres agaynste certayne Indians that hadde rebelled Cortez made hym no aunswere but incontinent married with mistresse Catalina Xuarez according to his promise and to lyue in peace Iames Velasques procéeded on hys iourney wyth a greate companye agaynste the Rebelles Then sayde Cortez to hys brother in lawe Iohn Xuares bryng me quoth he my Launce and my Crosbowe to the Townes ende And so in that euening hée wente out of Sanctuarie and taking hys Crosse bowe in hande hée wente with his brother in lawe to a certayne Farme where Iames Velasques was alone with his householde seruauntes for hys armye was lodged in a Village thereby and came thither somewhat late and at suche tyme as the Gouernoure was perusing hys Booke of charges and knocked at his dore which stoode open saying Héere is Cortez that woulde speake with the Gouernoure and so wente in When Iames Velasques sawe hym armed and at such an houre he was maruellously afrayde desiring hym to rest hymselfe and also to accepte hys Supper No Sir quoth he my onely comming is but to knowe the complayntes you
Many other couerlets of cotten course Two kerchiefs of good cotten Many perfumes of sweete odor much of that countrey fruits They also brought a gentlewoman that was giuen theÌ„ and other prisoner Indians And for one of them was offered hys weight in golde but Grijalua woulde not take it They also brought newes that there were Amazons women of warre in certaine Ilandes and manye gaue credit being amazed at the things that they had brought bartered for things of a vile price as here-vnder appeareth the Merchandise that they gaue for al the aforesaid Iewels The Inuentorie of the Spanish Merchandise SIxe course shirts Thrée paire of Maryners breeches of lynnen Fiue paire of womens shoes Fiue broad leatherne girdels wrought with coloured thréed with their purses Manye purses of shéepes skinne Sixe glasses a little gilt Foure brouches of glasse Two thousand beadstones of glasse greene A hundred paire of beades of diuerse colours Twenty woodden combes Sixe paire of Sissers Fiftéene kniues great and small A thousand taylers nedels Two thousand pinnes of sorts Eight paire of corded shoes A paire of pinsers and a hammer Seauen red night cappes Thrée coates of colours A freese coate with a cap of the same An old gréene veluet coats An olde veluet cappe The determination of Cortez to prepare a Nauie for discouerie BYcause Iohn de Grijalua was absent a loÌ„ger season than was Francisco Hernandez de Cordona before his returne or giuing aduise of his procéedings the gouernoure Valasques prepared a Caruel and therein sent one Christofer de Olid for to séeke Grijalua with succor if néed wer and gaue Olid great charge that he should returne with newes from Grijalua with all spéede But this messenger taried but a small while vpon his voyage and saw but little of Yucatan and not fynding Grijalua he returned backe againe to Cuba which returne happed not wel for the gouernour nor yet for Grijalua For if he had procéeded for the on his way to Saint Iohn de Vlhua hee had then mette with whom he sought for and likewise caused him to haue inhabited there But he excused him self alleaging that he had lost his ankers and was therfore forced of necessitie to returne And as soone as Olid was departed on that voyage Pedro de Aluarado returned to Cuba wyth full relation of the discouerie brought many things with hym wrought in gold with strange coloured feathers and cotton wool The gouernour Iames Valasques reioyced much to behold those principles And all the Spaniardes of Cuba wondered therat and likewise to heare the whole relatioÌ„ of the iourney Yet the gouernour feared the returne of his kinsman bycause some of his companye that came sicke and diseased from those parties saide that Grijalua meaned not to inhabite there and that the people and land was great and also how the same people were warlike likewise the gouernour feared the wisedome and courage of his kinsman Wherevppon he determined to send thyther certaine shippes with souldiers and armor and other trifling things thinking chiefly to enrich himself by barter and also to inhabite by force He requested one Baltazer Vermudez to take that voyage in hand who accepted the offer but he demaunded thrée thousand duckets for his furniture and prouision Their gouernour hearing this demaund answered that in suche sorte the charges would be more than the profite And so for that tyme lefte off the matter bycause he was couetous and loth to spend thinking to prouide an army at other meÌ„s cost as he had done before when Grijalua went firste on that voyage for at that time one Francisco de Montezo did furnish one shippe And also certaine gentlemen called Alaunso FernaÌ„dez Porto Carero Alaunso de Auila Iames de Ordas with manye others wente with Grijalua at theyr proper costes and charges It followed that the gouernour brake the matter to Cortez required that the voyage shoulde be set forth betwixte them knowing that Cortez had two thousand Castlyns of gold in the power of one Andres de Duero a merchaunt and also that Cortez was a man diligent wise and of stoute courage Cortez being of haughtye stomacke accepted both the voyage and the charges thinking the cost would not be much c. So that the voyage and agréemente was concluded whervpon they sent one Iohn de Sanzedo to the kings couÌ„sel and chauncery resident in the Iland of Santo Domingo who were then religyous persons to haue and obtain of them licence fréelye to goe and traffike into those parties of â— newe discouerie and also to séeke for Iohn de Grijalua for they imagyned that wythout hym small trafficke woulde bee hadde whyche was to exchaunge trifles of Haberdashe for golde and syluer The chiefe rulers of gouernemente at that tyme in the kings counsell there were these following Sogniour AlouÌ„so de SaÌ„to Domingo Segniour Luys de Figuerâ—a Segniour Barnardo de Munsanedâ— who graunted the licence and appointed Hernando Cortez for captaine Generall of the voyage and setter forth in company of Iames Velasques They also appointed a Treasurer and Surueyour to procure for the kings portion or parte whych was according to custome one fifte parte In thys meane season Cortez prepared hymselfe for the Iourney and communed wyth hys especiall friendes to sée who woulde beare hym companye And hee founde thrée hundred men that agréed to his request He then bought a Caruell and Vergantine and another Caruell that Pedro de Aluarado brought home An other Vergantine he had of Iames Valesques he prouided for them armour artillery and other Munition hee brought also wyne Oyle Beanes Pease and other victuals necessarye he toke vp also vppon hys credite of one Iames Sauzedâ— muche Haberdashe to the value of seauen hundred Castlyns in golde The gouernour Velasques deliuered vnto hym a thousande Castlyns whyche he possessed of the goods of one Pamfilâ— de Naruaiz in hys absence alleaging that he had no other money of hys owne proper And beeyng in thys manner agréed the Articles and Conenauntes were drawen and set downe in wryting before a Notary called Alounso de Escalantes the thrée and twenty day of October Anno. 1518. In this meane time arriued at Cuba Iohn de Grijalua vpon whose arriuall the gouernour chaunged his purpose and pretence for hee refused to disburse any more money nor yet would consent that Cortez should furnish his Nauie For the onely cause was that he ment to dispatch backe againe his kinseman and his army But to behold the stoute courage of Cortez his charges and liberalitie in expences it was straunge and to sée how hee was deceiued And also to coÌ„sider the flatterie and deceite of his aduersarie yea what complaints were made to the Lord Admiral saying that Cortez was subtil high minded and a louer of honor which were tokeÌ„s that he wold rebel being in place conuenient and that he woulde reuenge olde griefes Also it grieued Vermudez that he had not accepted the voyage vnto whoÌ„ it was once offered
malice and stubbornesse and to treate of peace and friendship warning and aduising them that if they came not wythin the time appointed hee woulde enter into his countrey burning and spoyling with slaughter both great smal armed and vnarmed with which message the messengers departed and Cortez returned to the towne to cure his wounded men The next day came fiftie anncient Indians to craue pardon for their offence and also licence to bury the dead with likewise safeconduct that their rulers and principal persons myght safely come vnto the towne Cortez graunted their request warning them to make any lyes or yet to conspire againe and also if their lords came not personally he would not heare any more embassadors with this rigorous coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t protestation they departed These Indians feeling their strength woulde not preuaile thinking the christians to be inuincible their Lords and chiefest persons did determine to goe and visite the christians and their captaine And according to the time appointed the Lorde of that town and other foure Lords his neyghbours came vnto Cortez with a good trayne of their vessals and seruitours and presented vnto him bread turkie hennes fruites with other like prouision for his host with four hundred pieces of gold of the value of 400. double duckets with other small iewels and crrtaine turkie stones of small value And twentie women slaues to serue to make breade and dresse meate for the whole army He craued and beseeched Cortez to pardon his former offence And to accept and receiue them into hys friendshippe And in token of his obedience hee and his fellowes dyd willinglye deliuer their bodies landes and goods into his handes and power Cortez did louingly receiue them and gaue vnto them certaine trifles of his wares whiche they estéemed much And those Indians hearing the horses and mares ney they maruelled at their neying thinking that the horses could speake demaunded of the Christians what they sayd mary quoth they these horses are sore offended with you bycause ye foâ—â—ht with them wold haue you corrected and chastened for your so doing The simple IndiaÌ„s hearing this presented roses and Gynea Hens vnto the horses desiring them to eate and to pardon theÌ„ Certaine questions that Cortez demaunded of the Cacike Tauasco MAny things passed betweene our men the Indians for where the Indians vnderstood theÌ„ not their behauiour was much to laugh at And vsing conuersation with our men seeing they receiued no hurts of them they brought to the towne their wiues and children which were no smal number And among many matters that Cortez communed with Tauasco by the mouth of Ieronimo de Aguila his enterpreter The first question was Whether there wer mynes of gold or siluer in that countrey and from wheÌ„ce they had that small quantitye that they hadde broughte vnto them The secoÌ„d question was Why they denyed him their friendshippe more than the other captaine that had bin there the yeare before The third was Why they being so many in nuÌ„ber fled from them being so fewe The fourth was To giue theÌ„ to vnderstaÌ„d the mightie power of the king of Castill And last of all to giue them knowledge of the faith of Iesu Christ As touching Sir quoth he the Mynes of gold and siluer in our country we séeke for none for we séeke not after treasure and riches but we procure and desire a quiet life And that golde whiche we haue was founde by chaunce for we know not what Mynes do mean. Yet notwithstanding further within the lande whereas the sunne doth hide himselfe ther the people do finde muche gold and are giuen to séeke the same And as touching the captaine that was here of late we seeing the men and shippes to be such as we had neuer before seene spake vnto them and demaunded what they would haue they sayde that their comming was to chaunge their merchandice for gold and nothyng else wherefore we graunted to their request But now séeing greater vessels and moe in number wee feared least ye came to take our substance And I knowing my selfe nothing inferiour to any of my neyghbours would not permit any iniurie to be offered me and that he and his subiectes did estéeme themselues the most valiant of men of warre in all these parties and that none durste take away their goods women and children to be sacrificed by force wherevpon he thought to withstande those fewe Christians but quoth he I founde my selfe deceiued seeyng we could not kill any of your companye And likewise the brightnesse of youre weapons dyd blynde vs and the woundes you made were incurable But the noyse and lightning of your ordinance dyd more amase vs than either thunder-clappes or tempest and also the great spoyle that you made among vs therwith likewise your straunge horses made vs greatly to wonder to behold their open mouthes wee feared to be swallowed And then to consider their swiftnesse in running we knew no creature could escape them But the first horse that fought with vs put vs in marueylous feare being but one but when we espyed many then all oure helpe was past for we belieued that the horse and man was al one incorporate Hovv the Indians of Potonchan brake downe their Idols and worshipped Christ crucified WIth the relation of Tauasco Cortez sawe that the countrey was not for Spaniardes nor yet he toke it a thing conueniente to settle themselues where no golde nor siluer was or other riches And so pretended to passe forwardes to discouer westward the lande endewed with golde But before his departure he declared to those new conquered Indians that the Lord in whose name he and hys company had taken that iourney was king of Spayne and Emperour of Christians and the greatest Prince in the worlde vnto whom many kings and Princes dyd homage and obey And that hys rule and gouernemente in iustice proceeded from God beeing iust holy peaceable and sweete and also the Monarchie of the vniuersall did appertaine vnto him And for these causes he required them to yelde themselues as his subiectes And it they would doe so there shoulde ensue vnto them great profite lawes and pollicie And as touching their religion he declared their blindnesse greate abuses which they vsed in worshipping many Gods and in making sacrifice vnto them with mans blood yea thinking that those images and Idols did or coulde doe good or euill vnto them being duÌ„be without life or soule yea and the worke of their owne hands He certifyed them of one god maker of heauen and earth and all creatures whom the Christians did worshippe and serue and that all creatures ought to doe the same In conclusion with thys doctryne they brake downe their Idols and receyued the crosse Cortez hauing first declared vnto them the great miseries that the son of God suffered on the Crosse for mankynde And in the greatest temple of Potonchan set vp a Crosse in remeÌ„brance of the death of Christ
attired is a Lady of Vassals and my brothers daughter I doe presente hyr vnto you meaning that Cortes shoulde marrie with hyr and the others you may bestow vpon the Gentelmen in your company in a token of perpetuall loue and friendship Cortes receyued the presente with thankes bycause he woulde not offende the giuer thereof And so departed with their women ridyng behinde them with many Indian women to wayte vpon them and many Indian men to beare them company and to puruey all things necessarie Things that happened to Cortez in Chiauiztlan THe same day that they departed frō Zempoallan they came to Chiauiztlan and yet the shippes were not arriued Cortes marueyled at their long tarying in so shorte a iourney there was a village within shotte of a hargabushe from the rocke called Chiauiztlan standyng vpon a litle hill Cortes hauing little to do went thither with his men and the Indians of Zempoallan who certified Cortes that the village was appertayning to a Lorde oppressed by Mutezuma They came to the foote of the hill without sighte of any man of the towne excepte twoo that Marina vnderstoode not and going vp the hill the horsemen to fauour their horses would alight bicause the ascending was cragged and euill way Cortes commaunded that they shoulde not alight bycause the Indians shoulde thinke that there was no place highe nor lowe but that these horses shoulde and coulde come vnto it So by litle and litle they came into the towne and finding no creature there they feared some deceyte yet approchyng further they mette with twelue auncient men whiche brought with them an interpreter who vnderstoode the languague of Culhua and the speache of that place whiche is the language of the Totonaquez or inhabitauntes of the Mountaynes These auncient menne declared that the cause of theyr goyng out of the towne was bycause that they had neuer séene anye such men as the Spaniardes were nor yet heard that any such had passed that way wherefore with feare they had fledde from thence But quoth they when the Lord of Zempoallan aduertised vs how you did hurt no bodye but rather being a people good and peaceable then wee were well assured who ye were when we saw you come toward vs And wee are nowe comen vnto you on the behalfe of the Lorde to bring you to your lodging Cortez gaue them thankes and went with them to a certaine place where the Lord was abydyng their comming wel accompanyed he shewed vnto the Christians great good wil and maruelled to see those straungers with their long beardes The Lord toke a little chafyngdishe in his hande and cast into it a certaine gumme whych sauoured in swéet smel much like vnto frankinscence Ind with a sencer he smoked Cortez with this ceremony they vse their salutations to theyr gods and nobilitie This done they set them down and Cortez enformed him of the cause of their comming into that countrey as he had done in all other places where he had bin The Casike certifyed Cortez euen as the Lord of Zempoallan had done but he stood in great feare least Mutezuma should be offended for receyuing and lodging him within that towne without his commaundement and being in thys communication sodenly appeared twentye men entring where they sate with certain wāds like cudgels in their hāds which did signify that they were rent gatherers in ech other hand a fly flap of feathers the Cacike hys company were soare afrayde Cortez demaunded wherefore he so altered himself he answered bicause those twēty Indians were collecters of Mutezuma and that he feared that they would complayne of him hauing founde those Christians there he feared likewise cruell punishment for the same Cortes comforted him saying that Mutezuma was his friende and that he would so vse the matter that he shoulde receyue no blame at all but rather that Mutezuma shoulde giue him thankes for that whiche he had done And if Mutezuma did not or would not so accept it that then he would defend both him and his subiects for quoth he euery one of my mē is sufficient for a thousand Mexicans as Mutezuma himselfe was well enformed by the late warres at Potonchan Yet for and notwithstanding all this talke the Lorde and all his folke were in great feare and meante to arise and to lodge the receyuers Cortes woulde not suffer him and bycause quoth he thou shalte sée what and my men can doe commaund thy seruaunts to apprehend and take prysoners these receyuers of Mexico and I wil abide here with thée in such sorte that Mutezuma with all his power shall not offende thée With the courage that he receyued at these wordes he commaunded to lay hande vpon the Mexicans and bycause they defended themselues they were sore beaten and layde euery one in a seuerall prison and bounde them to a great poste whereat they were tied by the throate féete and handes and beyng in this sorte imprysoned they asked of Cortes whether they should kill them Cortes requested that they should not be slaine but that they might remayne as they were with good watch that they might not escape Then they were brought into a hall in the Spaniardes lodging and were placed rounde aboute a good fire but yet bounde hande and foote with garde of watchmen Cortes also appoynted certaine of his men to watch the hall dore and then went to his lodging to supper where he and his company was well prouided at the Caziks furniture The messages sent by Cortez vnto Mutezuma THe nighte beyng farre spent and the Indians that kepte the watch being asleepe Cortes sente vnto the Spanyardes that watched at the hall dore where the prysoners were and commaunded them to let goe twoo of the prysoners as secretly as they might and to bring them vnto him The Spaniardes handled the matter so well that they fulfilled his desire and brought twoo of them to Cortes his chamber who looked vppon them as though he had not knowen them and willed Aguillar and Maryna to demaunde who they were and what they would haue and why they had bene in pryson They answered that they were vassals of Mutezuma and that they had the charge to receyue certayne tributes that those of that towne prouince payde vnto their Lorde And also quoth they we know not for what cause we are nowe imprysoned and so euelly vsed We rather wōder to sée this new custome and madnesse for in time past these men were wont to méete vs and receiue vs with great honour curtesie shewing all seruice and pleasure Therefore we thinke that the cause of this alteration is through the fauour of you and your cōpany who beare the name of immortalitie We also feare least our felowes which are in prison shal be slaine before Mutezuma haue knowlege therof Also said they these barbarous people dwelling in the Mountaynes would be glad to rebel if they foūd any succour or ayde only to put their Prince to
an other hil and vpon the toppe therof to their iudgement they founde a thousande carte loade of wood ready cut neare to a little tower of idolles they named that place the porte of wood hauing passed twoo leagues from the porte of wood they founde the countrey barren and poore but soone after the army came to a place whiche they named white Castell bicause the Lordes house was of stone very white and newe and the beste that they had séene in all that countrey and so curiously wrought that they meruayled thereat that towne in their language is called Zaclotan and the valley neare vnto it is named Zacatami and the Lordes name is Olintlec who receyued Cortes honorably and prouided for him and his company abundantly being so commaunded by Mutezuma as hée reported afterwarde And in token that he had receyued that coÌ„mission from his Lorde he commaunded fiftie men to be sacrificed for ioy whose bloud they sawe newe and freshe The townes men of that towne caried the Spanyardes on their shoulders on suche beares as we carry dead men to Churche Cortes enformed them by his enterpreters of the cause of his comming into that countrey as he had vsed in other places demaunded whether he the Lorde of this towne were tributary to Mutezuma This Cazike being amazed at his question answered saying What is he that is not eyther slaue or vassall to the great Mutezuma Then Cortes certified him who and what the Emperour king of Spayne was willing him to be his friend and seruitour further enquired if he had any golde to sende him some This Cazike answered that he would do nothing without the commaundement of his Lorde nor yet sende his king any golde although he had inough Cortes dissimuled the matter and helde his peace yet by and by he desired to knowe the Maiestie and mightie power of Mutezuma the Cazike answered that Mutezuma was Lorde of the whole worlde and that he had thirtie Vassals who were able to make a. 100000. men of warre eche one of them he also certified that he sacrificed 20000. men yerely to his Goddes And also his dwellyng was in the most beautyfullest and strongest cittie of al that euer was enhabited likewise quoth he his house and courte is moste greate noble and replenished with Gentlemen his riches incredible and his charges excessiue And truely therein he sayde the very troth excepte in the sacrifice wherein he something enlarged although the slaughter of men for sacrifice in euery temple was very great yea and some hold opinion that some yéeres were sacrificed aboue 50000. men Being in this conuersation came two Gentlemen of that valley to sée the Spanyardes and eche of them presented vnto Cortes foure women slaues certayne collers of golde of small price Olintlec although he was vassall to Mutezuma was a greate Lorde and had 20000. vassals and thirtie wiues altogither in his house beside a bundreth other women that attended vpon them And had for his garde and houshold 2000. persons his towne was great had 13. temples in it eche temple many idolles of stone of diuers fashioÌ„s before whom they sacrificed men doues quayles other things with persumes great veneratioÌ„ In this place and territorie Mutezuma had 5000. souldiers in garrison and ordinarie postes from thence to Mexico Vntill this tune Cortez had not so amply vnderstoode the mighte and power of Mutezuma yea and though many inconuemences difficulties feare and such like did represent it selfe vnto him in his â—ourney to Mexico whiche perhaps would haue amazed some valiaÌ„t persons yet he shewed not one iote of cowaroise hauâ—ng hearde suche a reporte of that mightie Prince but rather his desire was so much the more to sée hym Considering now that he shoulde passe through Taxcallan to goe to Mexico Taxcallan being a greate sirong Citie and warlike people he dispatched four Zeampoalianezes to the Lordes and Captaynes of that Citie on the behalfe of Zempoallan and his owne offering vnto them his friendship and fauour giuing them to vnderstande that those few Christians woulde come vnto their Citie to serue theÌ„ desiring theÌ„ to accept the same thinking assuredly that those of Taxcallan would haue done with him as the Zempoallanezes had done which were both good and faithful who had always vsed trouth with him cueÌ„ so he thought that now he moughte credite them for they had enformed him that the Tlaxcaltecas were their friendes and so would be his considering that they were vtter enimies to Mutezuma and willingly would goe with him to the siege of Mexico with desire of libertie and to reuenge olde iniuries and griefes whiche they had susteyned many yeares before of the people of Culhua Cortez refreshed himselfe in Zaclotan fiue dayes where is a fresh riuer and quiet folke pulling downe the Idolles and placed a remembrance of Christ crucifyed as he hadde done in all the Townes that he had passed He toke his leaue of Olintlec leauing him wel pleased went to a town two leagues froÌ„ theÌ„ce along the riuer side whereof was Lorde Iztaemixtlitan one of the Gentlemen who had giuen him the slaues and collers of golde This towne standeth in a playne grounde of two leagues compasse which is replenished with so many houses as doth séeme to touche one another in that way that our army passed and the towne it selfe doth contayne fiue thousande householdes standing on a hill and on the one side thereof is the Lordes house with a strong forte being the beste yet séene in those parties walled with good stone with barbucan and déepe ditche There Cortes rested himselfe thrée dayes abiding the foure messengers whiche he sent from Zacloton to knowe the answere that should be brought The first encounter that Cortez had with the men of Tlaxcallan COrtes seyng the long tarying of the messengers he departed from Zaclotan without any intelligence from Tlaxcallan Our caÌ„p had not marched much after their departure from that place but they came to a great circuite of stone made without lyme or morter being of a sadom and a half high and twentie foote brode with loupe holes to shoote at that wall crossed ouer all the valley from one mountayne to another and but one onely entraunce or gate in the whiche the one wall doubled against the other and the way there was fourtie paces brode in such sort that it was an euill and perilous passage if any had bene there to defend it Cortes demaunded the cause of that circuite and who had buylte it Iztacmixtlitan that wente to beare him company tolde him that it was but a deuision from their countrey and Tlaxcallan and that their antecessors had made the same to disturbe the entrance of the Tlaxcaltecas in time of warre who came to robbe and murther them bycause of the friendship betwixte them and Mutezuma whose vassals they were That strange and costly wall séemed a thing of greate maiestie to our Spanyardes and more superfluous than
he espyed aboute foure leagues distant in the Mountaynes among rockes and procéeding out of a wodde dyuers smokes whereby he ymagined people to be there he opened not his minde to anye man but commaunded two hundred of his men to followe hym and some Indians hys friendes and within thrée or foure houres of the nyghte he toke hys iourney towarde the Mountaynes béeing very darke He had not fully gone a league when suddaynely appeared the lykenesse of a great Bull whiche ouerthrewe them that they could not stirre The firste Horseman béeing fallen they aduysed Cortez thereof who aunswered that he shoulde returne wyth hys Horse to the Campe and incontinente fell another Cortez commaunded hym the lyke and when thrée or foure were fallen his company retyred saying it was an euill token desiring him to returne and abyde the morning that they myghte sée whether they wente He aunswered saying yée oughte to gyue no credite to witchcraftes or fantasies for God whose cause we take in hande is aboue all nature wherefore I will not leaue my pretended iourney for I doe ymagine that of thys nyghtes trauell shall come greate ease and pleasure saying that the Deuill hathe in this forme of a Bull appeared to disturbe vs He hadde no sooner ended his talke when hys Horse fell likewise then counsell was taken what was best to be done It was determined that the Horses which were fallē should be returned to the Campe and that of the residue eache Horseman shoulde leade hys Horse by the bridle and so procéede on theyr way and shortly after the Horses were well agayne but they neuer knewe of what motion they hadde fallen wyth the darkenesse of the nyghte they lost theyr way to the Mountaynes and chanced into a cragged rockie waye that they thoughte neuer to haue come out thereof And after a whyle that they had gone this euill waye wyth their heare standing with very feare they espyed a little lyghte and tooke the way thyther where they founde a little house wherein were two Women and those Women with other two women that afterwards they mette conducted them to the Wildernesse where they had espyed the smoke and before day they sette vppon certayne Villages and slewe many yet they burned not those Villages bycause they should not be perceyued through the lyght thereof They receyued there aduyse that néere at hand were great populations and soone after he came to Zimpanzinco a towne of twenty thousand houses as after dyd appeare by the visitation of Cortes These inhabitantes béeyng vnaduised of this suddayne happe were taken in their beddes and came out all naked through the stréetes to knowe what the great mourning and lamentation meante at the first entrance many were slayne but bycause they made no resistance Cortez commaunded to ceasse from killyng nor yet to take any of theyr goodes or women The feare of these poore inhabitantes was so greate that they fledde without respect of the father to the child or husbande to the Wyfe or yet eyther of house or goodes Cortes commaunded sygnes of peace to be made vnto them and with that they stayed and before the Sunne rising the Towne was pacifyed Cortez went vp into a Tower to descry the Countrey and there espyed a moste greate population he then demaunded what it was aunswere was made that it was called Tlaxcallan and the Townes therevnto apperteynyng Then he called hys Spanyardes and sayd vnto them beholde what woulde it haue preuayled vs to kyll these poore soules hauyng yonder so manye enimies and wythoute doyng anye more hurte in that Towne hée wente to a fayre Fountayne there at hande and thyther came the Rulers of that Towne and other foure hundred menne withoute weapon and broughte wyth them muche victuall most humbly they besought Cortes to doe them no more hurte gyuing hym likewise greate thankes that hée hadde so fauourablye vsed them offering both to serue and obey hym and from that daye forwarde they woulde not onely kéepe hys friendshippe but also trauell wyth the Lordes of Tlaxcallan and others that they shoulde doe the same Cortez replyed that sure he was howe they had foughte agaynste hym before that time although that nowe they broughte hym meate yet notwithstandyng hée pardoned them and also receyued them into hys seruice and friendshippe to the vse of the Emperoure Wyth thys communication he departed from them and returned to the Campe verye ioyfull wyth so good successe hauyng suche a daungerous beginning wyth the suddayne fall of theyr Horses wherein the Prouerbe is fulfylled whyche sayeth Speake not euill of the daye till it be at an ende They hadde also a greate hope that those newe friendes woulde bée a meane to cause the Tlaxcaltecas to leaue from Warre and to become theyr friendes From that day forward he commaunded that none of hys Campe shoulde doe any hurte to any Indian and certifyed his men that the same daye his warres were at an ende with that prouince The desire that some of the Spanyardes had to leaue the warres WHen Cortez was returned so ioyfull to his Camp he founde some of his men discouraged with the suddayne mishappe of the Horses fearing that likewise some misfortune hadde happened to Cortes but when they sawe him come well and with victorie their ioy was great although true it is that manye of his men were not well pleased but desired muche to leaue the warres and to returne to the coast as they had often requested but nowe chiefly séeyng such a great Countrey and full of people who woulde not permitte theyr abiding there and they béeyng so fewe in number in the middest among them withoute hope of succoure certaynely things to be feared With this murmuration they thought it good to talke with Cortes also to require him to procéede no further but returne backe agayne to Vera Crux from whence by little and little they mighte haue intelligence with the Indians and therevppon procéede according to tyme and that he mighte prouide more Horses and men whiche was the chiefest prouision of the warre And although some secretely enformed Cortes of thy◠matter yet he gaue no eare to their talke but an a night as hée came out of hys Tower to ouerlooke the watche hée hearde a loude talke out of one of the Cotages and beganne to hearken what theyr communication was and the matter was that certaine souldiers sayde these wordes If our Captayne be madde and go where he may be slayne let him goe alone what néede we to follow him Cortez hearyng this talke called twoo of his friendes for witnesse willyng them to harken his souldiers talke for he that durst speake suche wordes would be ready to doe it Also he hearde others say what shall our iourney be as Pedro Carbonerotes was who went into Barbaria to take Mores and he and all his were there slayne wherefore sayde they let vs not follow him but turne in time It grieued Cortez muche to heare this talke
and life of the ChristiaÌ„s with their lawes and customs and as for warlike feates they were satisfyed had séene suche tryall that they helde them for men inuincible in that poynte and that their God did help them Cortes promised them that shortlye he woulde bring them suche men as shoulde instruct and teache them and then they should sée which way was best with the greate ioy and fruite that they shoulde féele They accepting that councell which he like a friende had giuen them and for as much as presently it could not be brought to passe by reason of his iourney to Mexico he desired them that the Temple wherein he was lodged shoulde be made a church for him and his company and if it pleased them they mighte also come to sée and heare their diuine seruice The Indians graunted to his request and dayly came among them all the time of their abode there and some came and dwelte with the Spanyardes but the chiefest friende was Captayne Maxixca who neuer went from Cortez The discord betvveene the Mexicans and Tlaxcaltecas COrtez being throughly satisfyed of theyr hartie good wylles he demaunded of them the estate and riches of Mutezuma They exalted him greately as men that had proued his force And as they affyrmed it was néere a hundred yeares that they mainteyned warre with him and his father Axaiaca and others his Vnckles and Grandfathers And saide also that the golde and treasure of Mutezuma was without number and his power and dominion ouer all the lande and hys people innumerable for quoth they he ioyneth sometime two hundreth thousand men yea and thrée hundred thousande for one battayle And if it pleased hym he woulde make as manye men double and thereof they were good witnesse bycause they had manye times sought with theÌ„ Maxixca desired that Cortes should not aduenture himselfe into the power of the men of Culhua wherat some of the Spanyardes feared and suspected euill of the matter Cortes tolde him that notwithstanding all those things whiche they had tolde him he was fully minded to goe to Mexico to visit Mutezuma wishing him to aduise hym what he mought do or bring to paâ—se for them with Mutezuma for he woulde willingly do it for the curtesie shewed vnto him and that he beleeued Mutezuma woulde graunt him any lawfull request Then they besought him to procure for them a licence to haue cotten wooll and salte out of his Countrey for sayd they in time of the warres we stoode in great néede thereof and that they had none but suche as they boughte by stealthe of the Comercans verye deere in change of golde for Mutezuma had made a straight lawe whereby all suche as carried anye of those commodities to them shoulde be slayne Then Cortez enquired the cause of their disorder and euill neyborhood They aunswered that their griefes were olde and cause of libertie but as the Ambassadors did affyrme and Mutâ—zuma afterward declare it was not so but for other matter farre differente So that eache partye alleadging their causes theyr reasons were that the yong menne of Mexico and Culhua dyd exercise and bryng them vppe in warlike feates néere vnto them and vnder theyr noses to theyr greate annoyance whereas they moughte haue gone to Panuco and Teocantepec hys frontiers a farre off Lykewyse theyr pretence was to haue warre wyth them béeyng theyr neyghbors onely to haue of them to sacrifice to their Gods so that when they would make any solemne feast then would they send to Tlaxcallan for men to sacrifice with such a great army that they might take as many as they néeded for that yeare for it is most certayne if Mutezuma woulde in one daye hée moughte haue broughte them in subiection and slayne them all ioyning his whole power in effectâ— but his purpose was to kéepe them for a pray to hunt withall for men to be sacrificed to his Goddes and to eate so that hée woulde neuer sende but a small armye againste them whereby it did chance that sometimes those of Tlaxcallan did ouercome Cortez receyued great pleasure to heare these discordes betwixt his newe friendes and Mutezuma whiche was a thing fitte for his purpose for by that meanes he hoped to bring them all vnder subiection and therefore hée vsed the one and the other secretely to build his pretence vpon a good foundation At all this communication there stoode by certayne Indians of Vexozincâ— whiche had bin against our men in the late warres the which Towne is a Citie as Tlaxcallan and ioyned with them in league of friendship against Mutezuma who oppressed them in like effect of slaughter for their Temples of Mexico and they also yéelded themselues to Cortes for vassals to the Emperoure The solemne receyuing of the Spanyardes into Chololla THe Ambassedors of Cortes séeyng the determination of Cortes to procéede on his iourney towarde Mexico they besoughte him to goe by Chololla whiche stoode fiue leagues from thence certifying that Chololla was a Citie in their friendship and that there he might at his pleasure abide the resolution of their Lord Mutezuma whether it were his pleasure that he should enter into Mexico or no. This request was onely to haue him from thence for truly it gréeueâ— much Mutezuma of theyr new friendshippe and league fearyng that thereof woulde some great displeasure happen towardes him and therefore procured all that was possible to haue him from thence sending him alwayes presents to allure him to come froÌ„ thence the sooner But when the Tlaxcaltecas saw that he would goe to Chololla it grieued them muche saying vnto Cortes that Mutezuma was a liar and fraudelent person and that Chololla was a cittie his friende but not constant and it mighte happen that they would displease him hauyng him within their Cittie wishyng him to looke wel to himself And if néedes he would goâ— thither yet they woulde prouide 20000. men to kéepe him company The women that were giuen to the Spaniardes at their firste entraunce had vnderstandyng of a snare that was layde to murder them at their commyng to Chololla by meanes of one of the foure Captaynes who had a sister which discouered the thing to Pedrâ— de Aluarado who kepte hir Cortes incontinent called that Captayne out of his house and caused him to be choked and so was the matter kepte close that his death was neuer knowen whereby the snare was vndone without any rumour It was a wonder that all Tlaxcallan had not made an vprore seyng one of their greatest Captaynes dead There was inquirie made of that snare and the truth being knowen it was approued that Mutezuma had prepared 30000. Souldiers who where in campe for that purpose within twoo leagues of the Citie and that the streates in Chololla were stopped vp with timber and rayles and the toppes of their houses prouided with stones whiche houses are made with playne rooffes or sotties and the highe way stopped vp other false bywayes made with déepe holes
wherevpon they all abode in greate feare He made the knot of friendship betwéene them and the Tlaxcaltecas which in time past had bin betwixt them for Mutezuma and his auncetors made them enimies with fayre promises words and also feare The Citizens hauing their generall flayne chose an other with licence of Cortes The Sanctuary or holy place among the Indians was Chololla CHololla is a city as Tlaxcallan and hathe but one person who is gouernour and general Captayne chosen by the consente of all the Citizens It is a Citie of twentie thousande householdes within the walles and in the suburbes as muche more It sheweth outwardes verye beautifull and full of towers for there are as manye temples as dayes in the yeare euery temple hath his tower Our men counted foure hundred towers The men and womeÌ„ are of good disposition well fauoured and very wittie The women are Goldsmithes and also Caruers the men are warriers and light fellowes and good maisters for any purpose they goe better apparelled than anye other IndiaÌ„s yet séene They weare for their vtter garmeÌ„t clokes like vnto Moriscos but after an other sort Al the Countrey rounde aboute them is fruitefull and eareable grounde well watered and so full of people that there is no wast grounde in respect whereof there are some poore whiche begge from dore to dore The Spanyardes hadde not séene any beggers in that CouÌ„trey before they came thither Chololla is a Citie of most deuotion and Religion in all India it is called the Sanctuary or holy place among the Indians and thither they trauelled from many places farre distante on pilgrimage and for this cause there were so many temples Their Cathedrall Temple was the best and hyghest of all the new Spayne with a hundred and twenty steppes vppe vnto it The greatest Idoll of all their Gods was called Quezalcouately God of the ayre who was say they the founder of their Citie being a Virgin of holy lyfe and great penance He instituted fasting and drawing of bloud out of their eares and tongs and lefte a precepte that they shoulde sacrifice but onely Quayles Doues and other foule He neuer ware but one garmente of Cotten whyche was white narrow and long and vpon that a mantle besette with certayneredde crosses They haue certayne gréene stones whiche were hys and those they kéepe for relikes One of them is lyke an Apes head Héere they abode twentye dayes and in thys meane whyle there came so manye to buy and sell that it was a wonder to sée And one of the things that was to bée séene in those fayres was the earthen vessell which was excéeding curious and fine The hill called Popocatepec THere is a hill eyght leagues from Chololla called Popocatepec whiche is to say a hill of smoke for manye tymes it â—asteth oute smoke and fier Cortez 〈◊〉 thither tenne Spanyardes with manye Indians to carrie their victuall and to guâ—â—e them in the way The ascending vp was very troublesome and full of craggie rockes They approched so nigh the toppe that they heard such a terrible noyse which procéeded froÌ„ thence that they durst not goe vnto it for the ground dyd tremble and shake and great quantitie of Ashes whyche disturbed the way but yet two of them who séemed to be most hardie and desirous to sée straunge things went vp to the toppe bicause they would not returne with a sleuelesse aunswere and that they myghte not be accompted cowardes leauing their fellowes behinde them procéeded forwards The Indians sayd what meane these men for as yet neuer mortall man tooke suche a iourney in hande These two valiaÌ„t fellowes passed through the desert of Ashes and at length came vnder a greate smoke verye thicke and standing there a while the darkenesse vanished partly away and then appeared she vulâ—an and concauetie which was about halfe a league in compasse out of the whiche the ayre came rebâ—unding with a greate noyse very shrill and whistling in sort that the whole hil did tremble It was to be compared vnto an ouen where glasse is made The smoke and heate was so greate that they coulde not abide it and of force were constreyned to returne by the way that they had ascended but they 〈◊〉 not gone farre wheÌ„ the vulcan began to lash out flames of fier ashes and imbers yea and at the last stones of burning fire and if they had not chanced to finde a rocke where vnder they shadowed themselues vndoubtedlye they had there bin burned When with good tokens they were returned where they left their fellowes the other Indians kissed their garments as an honor due vnto Gods. They presented vnto them such things as they had and wondred much at their facte Those simple Indians thoughte that that place was an infernall place where all suche as gouerned not well or vsed tyrannie in their offices were punished when they dyed and also beléeued that after their purgation they passed into glory This vulcan is like vnto the vulcan of Cicilia it is high and round and neuer wanteth Snowe about it and is séene a farre off in the nighte it lasheth out flames of fire There is néere aboute this hyl many Cities and Huexozinco is one of the nighest In tenne yeares space this straunge hill of workyng dyd expell no vapoure or smoke but in the yeare 1540. it beganne agayne to burne and with the horrible noyse thereof the neyghbours that dwelte foure leagues from thence were terrifyed for the especiall straunge smokes that then were séene the like to their predecessors hadde not bin séene The ashes that procéeded from thence came to Huexozinco Quelaxcopan Tepiacac Quauhquecholla Chololla and Tlaxcallan whiche standeth tenne leagues from thence yea some say it extended fiftéene leagues distant and burned their hearbes in their gardens their fieldes of corne trées and clothes that lay a drying The consultation that Mutezuma had concerning the comming of Cortez into Mexico COrtez pretended not to fall out with Mutezuma before his comming to Mexico and yet he vnderstoode all Mutezuma hys pretence wherevppon he complayneth to the Ambassadors saying that he muche maruelled that suche a mightie Prince who by so manye Gentlemen had assured his friendship vnto him shoulde nowe procure his totall destruction in not kéeping hys promise and fidelitie In consideration whereof where he meant to visit him as a friend that now he would goe to his Courte as an enimie The Ambassadors excused their maisters cause besieching him to withdrawe hys furie and to giue licence to one of them to goe to Mexico who woulde bryng aunswere from thence with all spéede Cortes graunted vnto the request the one of them went and returned agayne within sixe dayes in company of another messenger that hadde gone thither before who broughte tenne platters of golde and a thousande fiue hundred mantels of cotten with much victuall and Cacao whiche is a kinde of fruite that serueth for currant money among them Likewise they brought a certaine kind
two princes Cuetlauac and Cacama his neuewes did leade him by eache arme all thrée were riche appareled al of one fashion except Mutezuma whiche had a payre of shoes of golde besette with pretious stones and the soles were tied to the vpper part with latchets as is painted of the Antikes His Gentlemen wente by two and two laying downe and taking vp mantels and couerlets vpon the ground bicause his féete should not touche the same then followed him as in procession 200. noble men barefooted with garments of a richer liuery than the first thrée thousand Mutezuma came in the middest of the streate and the others came behinde him as nigh the wal as they mought their faces towards the grounde for it was a great offence to looke him in the face Cortes alighted from his horse and according to our vse went to embrace him but the Princes who led him by the armes would not suffer him to come so nigh for they held it for sin to touch him but yet saluted ech one the other Cortes put about Mutezuma his necke a coller of Margarites Diamondes other stones al of glasse Mutezuma receyued it thankfully wente before with one of the princes his Neuewes cōmaunded the other to lead Cortes by the hand next after him in the middest of the streat and procéeding forwarde in this order then came the Gētlemen in the richest liuery to welcome him one by one touchyng the ground with their handes after returned to their standyng And if the Citizens had come as they requested all that day would not haue serued for salutatiōs The coller of glasse pleased well Mutezuma and bycause he woulde not take without giuyng a better thing as a great prince he commaunded to be brought twoo collers of redde prawnes which there are muche estéemed and at euery one of them hanged eight shrimpes of gold of excellent workemanship of a finger length euery one he put these collers with his owne hands about Cortes his necke the which was estéemed a most great fauour yea and the Indians marueled at it At this time they were come to the streate ende whiche was almost a mile long broade straight and very fayre and full of houses on eche side in whose dores windowes and tops was such a multitude of Indians to beholde the strangers that I knowe not who wondered most our men to sée such a number of them or else they to sée our men their ordinance horses a thing so straunge vnto them They were brought vnto a great court or house of idols which was the lodging of Axaiaca at the dore whereof Mutezuma tooke Cortes by the hande and brought him into a fayre hall and placed him vpon a riche carpet saying vnto him Sir nowe are you in your owne house eate and take your rest pleasure for I wil shortly come and visite you againe Such as you heare was the receiuing of Hernando Cortes by Mutezuma a most mightie King into his great and famous Citie of Mexico the eight day of Nouember 1519. The Oration of Mutezuma to the Spanyardes THe house where the Spaniardes were lodged was great and large with many fayre chambers sufficient for them all it was nete cleane matted and hanged with cloth of Cotten and feathers of many colours pleasant to behold When Mutezuma was departed frō Cortes he began to sette his house in order and placed the ordinaunce at his dore and hauing all his things in good sorte he went to a sumptuous dinner that was prepared for him As soone as Mutezuma had made an ende of his dinner hearyng that the straungers were rysen from the table and reposed a while then came he to Cortes salutyng him and satte downe by him He gaue vnto him diuers iewels of gold plate feathers and many garmēts of Cotten both riche well wouen wrought of straunge colours a thing truely that did manifest his greatnesse and also cōfirme their imagination This gifte was deliuered honorably and then began his talke as foloweth Lorde and Gentlemen I doe much reioyce to haue in my house such valiant men as ye are for to vse you with curtesie and entreate you with honour according to your descrte and my estate And where heretofore I desired that you shoulde not come hither the onely cause was my people had a greate feare to sée you for your gesture grimme beards did terrifie them yea they reported that yée had such beastes as swallowed men and that your cōming was frō heauen bringing with you lightning thunder thūderbolts wherwith you made the earth to trēble to shake and that yée slew therewith whom ye pleased But now I do sée know that you are mortall mē that ye are quiet hurt no man also I haue séene your horses which are but your seruauntes and youre Gunnes lyke vnto shootyng Trunkes I do now hold all for fables and lyes which hath bin reported of you and I do also accept you for my néere kinsmen My father tolde me that hée had heard his forefathers say of whome I doe descende that they helde opinion howe they were not naturals of thys lande but come hither by chance in companye of a mighty Lorde who after a while that they hadde abode héere they returned to their natiue soyle After manye yeares expyred they came agayne for those whome they had left héere behind them but they would not goe wyth them bycause they had héere inhabited and hadde wyues and children and great gouernement in the land Nowe these myghtie Lords séeyng that they were so stubborne and woulde not returne with them departed from them sore displeased saying that he woulde sende his children that should both rule and gouerne them in iustice peace and auntient Religion and for this consideration wée haue alwayes expected and beléeued that suche a people should come to rule and gouerne vs and cōsidering from whence you come I doe thinke that you are they whome we looked for and the notice which the greate Emperour Charles had of vs who hath now sent you hither Therefore Lorde and Captayne be well assured that we wyll obey you if therebe no fayned or deceytefull matter in your dealings and will also deuide wyth you and youres all that we haue And although this which I haue sayde were not only for youre vertue fame and déedes of valiant Gentlemen I would yet do it for your worthinesse in the battayles of Tauasco Teocazinco and Chololla béeyng so few to ouercome so many Now agayne if ye ymagine that I am a God and the walles and roufes of my houses and all my vessell of seruice to be of pure golde as the men of Zempoallan Tlaxcallan and Huexozinco haue enformed you it is not so and I iudge you to be so wise that you giue no credit to such fables You shall also note that through your commyng hither manye of my subiectes haue rebelled and are become my mortall enimies but yet
wounde it so festereth that it is almost incurable Theyr swordes are of woodde and the edge thereof is flint stone inclosed or ioyned into a staffe with a certaine kynde of glew whiche is made of a roote called Zacolt and Teuxalli whiche is a kinde of strong sande whereof they make a mixture and after kneade it with bloud of Battes or Rearemice and other foule which doth glewe maruelous strong and lightly neuer vncleaueth of this stuffe they make nayles pearcers ogars wherwith they bore timber stone with theyr swordes they cut speares yea and a horse necke at a blowe and make dentes into iron whiche séemeth a thing vnpossible and incredible In the Citie no man may weare weapon but onely in warres huntyng and among the kings Guarde The Gardens of Mutezuma BEsides the foresayde houses hée had many others for hys onely recreation and passetyme with excellent fayre gardens of medicinall hearbes swéete floures and trées of delectable sauour whiche were many and a thing to gyue prayse to God the maker and creator of all In that Garden were a thousande personages made and wrought artificially of leaues and flowers Mutezuma woulde not permitte that in this Garden shoulde be any kynde of potte Hearbes or thyngs to be solde saying that it dyd not appertayne to Kings to haue thyngs of profite among theyr delytes and pleasures for suche thyngs sayde hée dyd appertayne to Merchants Yet notwithstanding he had Orchards with many and sundry fruites but they stoode farre from the Cittie and whyther seldome times hee wente he had likewise out of Mexico pleasaunte houses in wooddes and forrestes of greate compasse enuyroned with water in the which he hadde fountaynes riuers pondes with fishe warrantes of Conneys rockes couert where were Harts Buckes Hares Foxes Wolues and such like with wildernesse for euery sort To these places the Lords of Mexico vsed to goe and sporte themselues suche and so manye were the houses of Mutezuma wherein fewe Kings were equall with him The court and Guarde of Mutezuma HE had dayly attending vppon hym in hys priuye garde sixe hundred noble men and gentlemen and eche of them thrée or foure seruants and some hadde twenty seruaunts or moe according to his estate and in this maner he had thrée thousand men attendant in his court and some affirm more al the which were fed in his house of the meate that came from his table The seruing men alwayes abode belowe in the court all the daye and wente not from thence tyll after Supper It is to be thought that his Guard was the greater bycause the straungers were there although in effecte of troth it is most certayne that all the Lords that are vnder the Mexicall Empire as they say are thirtie persons of high estate who are able to make each of them a hundred thousand men There are thrée thousand Lordes of Townes who haue many vassals These noble menne did abide in Mexico certayne tyme of the yeare in the Court of Mutezuma and could not departe from thence without especiall licence of the Emperoure leauing each of them a sonne or brother behinde them for securitie of Rebellion and for this cause they had generally houses in the Citie such and so great was the court of Mutezuma The great subiection of the Indians to their King. THere is not in all the dominions of Mutezuma any subiect that payeth not tribute vnto him The noblemen paye theyr tribute in personall seruice The husbādmen called Maceualtin with body goodes In this sort they are eyther tenauntes or else heyres to their possessions Those which are heyres do pay one third part of all their fruite and commoditie that they doe reape or bring vp as Dogges Hennes Foule Conyes Gold Siluer Stones Salt Waxe Honey Mantels Feathers Cotten and a certayne fruite called Cacao that serueth for money and also to eate Also all kinde of grayne and garden Herbes and fruites whereof they do maynteyne themselues The Tenantes doe paye monethly or yearely as they can agrée and bycause their tribute is greate they are called slaues for when they maye haue licence to eate egges they thinke it a greate fauour It was reported that they were taxed what they shoulde eate and all the residue was taken from them They went very poorely clothed yea and the most of their treasure was an earthē potte wherein they boyled theyr herbes a couple of Milstones to grinde their Corne and a matte to lye vppon They did not onely pay this rente and tribute but also serued with their bodyes at all times when the great King should commaunde They were in such great subiectiō to their prince that they durst not speake one word although their daughters shoulde be taken from them to be vsed at their pleasure It was reported that of euerye thrée sonnes they deliuered one to be sacrifised but the report was false for if it had bin true the Townes had not bin so replenishēd with people as they were and also the noble men did not eate mans flesh but only of those whiche were sacrifised and they were slaues or prisoners taken in the warres Assuredly they were cruell butchers and slewe yearely for that bloudy sacrifice many menne and some children but not so many as was reported All the aforesayde rentes they brought to Mexico vpon theyr backes and in boates I meane so much as was necessary for the prouision of the house and Courte of Mutezuma all the residue was spente among souldyers and bartred for golde plate precious stones and other riche Iewels estéemed of Princes all the whiche was broughte to the treasory In Mexico was large and greate barnes and houses to receyue and keepe the Corne for prouision of the Citie with officers and vnderofficers who did receyue the same and kepte accompte thereof in bookes of paynted figures Also in euerye Towne was a receyuer who bare in his hand a rodde or a bushe of feathers and those gaue vp their accomptes in Mexico If any such had bin taken with deceypt and falsehoode death was his reward yea and his kinred punished with penalties as of a lignage of a Traytor to his Prince The Husbandmenne if they payd not well their tribute were apprehended for the same and if they were founde to bée poore through sicknesse and infirmitie then they were borne withall but if they were found to be lazie and slouthfull they should be vsed accordingly but in conclusion if they payde it not at a daye appoynted then they shoulde bée solde for slaues to pay their dette or else be sacrificed There were many other prouinces whiche paid a certayne portion and reknowledged seruice but this tribute was more of honor than profite In this sort Mutezuma had more than sufficiente to prouide his house warres and to heape vp great store in his treasory Moreouer he spente nothing in the buildings of his houses for of long time he had certayne townes that payd no other tribute but only to worke and
Idoll called Mexitli who was in as greate veneration as Vitzilopuchtli God of the warre Mexico is enuironed with swéete water and hathe thrée wayes to come vnto it by calsey the one is from the West and that calsey is a mile and a halfe long Another from the North and conteyneth thrée myles in length Eastwarde the Citie hathe no entrye But Southwarde the Calsey is syxe myles long whyche was the waye that Cortez entred into the Citie The lake that Mexico is planted in although it séemeth one yet it is two for the one is of water saltishe bitter and pestiferous and no kinde of fyshe lyueth in it And the other water is wholesome good and swéete and bringeth forth small fishe The salte water ebbeth and floweth accordyng to the winde that bloweth The swéete water standeth higher so that the good water falleth into the euill and reuerteth not backward as some hold opinion The salt lake conteyneth fiftéene miles in breadth and fifteene in length and more than fiue and fortie in circuite and the lake of sweete water conteyneth euen as muche in such sort that the whole lake conteyneth more than thirtie leagues and hath about fiftie townes scituated round about it many of whyche Townes doe conteyne fiue thousand housholdes and some tenne thousande yea and one Towne called Tezcuco is as bigge as Mexico Al this lake of water springeth out of a Mountayne that standeth within sight of Mexico The cause that the one part of the lake is brackishe or saltish is that the bottome or ground is all salte and of that water greate quantitie of salt is dayly made In this greate lake are aboue two hundred thousande little boates which the Indians call Acalles and the Spanyardes call them Canoas according to the spéeche of Cuba and Santo Domingo wrought like a kneding trough some are bigger than other some according to the greatenesse of the body of the trée whereof they are made And where I number two hūdred thousand of these boates I speake of the least for Mexico alone hathe aboue fiftie thousande ordinarily to carrie and bring vnto the Citie victuall prouision and passengers so that on the market day all the stréetes of water are full of them The Market place of Mexico THe Market is called in the Indian tong Tlanquiztli euery parish hath his Market place to buy and sel in but Mexico and Tlatelulco only which are that chiefest cities haue great fayres and places fitte for the same and especiallye Mexico hath one place where most dayes in the yeare is buying and selling but euery fourth day is the greate Market ordinaryly and the like custome is vsed throughout the dominions of Mutezuma This place is wide and large compassed round about with dores and is so great that a hundered thousand persons come thither to choppe and change as a Cittie most principall in all that region Wherefore the resort is frō farre parties vnto that place Euery occupatiō and kinde of Marchādise hath his proper place appointed which no other may by any means occupy or disturbe Likewise pesterous wares haue their place accordinglye that is to say stone timber lyme bricke and all kinde of stuffe vnwrought being necessarie to buylde withall Also mattes both fine and course of sundry workemanship also coles woodde and all sorts of Earthen vessell glazed and painted very curiously Deare skinnes both rawe and tanned in haire and without haire of many colours for shoomakers for bucklers Targets Ierkins and lyning of woodden Corselets also skinnes of other beastes and foule in feathers ready dressed of all sortes the colours and straungnesse thereof was a thing to behold The richest Marchandise was salte and mantels of Cotten wolle of diuers colours both great and small some for beddes others for garments and clothing other for Tapissarie to hang houses other cotten clothe for linnen breaches shirtes table clothes towels napkins and suche like things There were also Mantels made of the leaues of the trée called Metl and of Palme trée Connie heare which are wel estéemed being very warm but the couerlets made of feathers are the best they sell thréede made of Connie heare péeces of linnen clothe made of cotten wolle also skaynes of thréede of all colours also it is straunge to sée the great store of poultrie that is brought to that market and although they eate the fleshe of the foule yet the feathers serue for clothing mixyng one sorte with another There are of these foule so many sortes and seuerall colours that I can not number them some wilde some tame some water foule and other some of rapine All the brauery of the market is the place where golde and feathers ioyntly wrought is solde for any thyng that is in request is there liuely wrought in golde and feathers and gallant colours The Indians are so expert and perfite in this science that they will worke or make a Butter flie any wilde beaste trées roses floures hearbes rootes or any other thyng so liuely that it is a thyng maruelous to behold It hapneth many tymes that one of these workemen in a whole day will eate nothyng onely to place one feather in his dew perfection turnyng and tossing the feather to the lighte of the Sunne into the shade or darke place to sée where is his moste naturall perfection and till his worke be finished he will neyther eate nor drinke There are few nations of so muche fleame or sufferance The Arte or Science of Goldsmiths among them is the moste curious and very good workemanship engrauen with toles made of flinte or in moulde They will caste a platter in moulde with eight corners and euery corner of seuerall mettall that is to say the one of golde and the other of siluer without any kinde of sowder they will also founde or cast a litle caudren with lose handles hangyng thereat as we vse to caste a Bell they will also caste in mould a fish of mettal with one scale of siluer on his back and another of gold they will make a Parret or Popingay of mettall that his tongue shall shake and his head moue his wings flutter they wil caste an Ape in mold that both hands féete shall stirre holde a spindle in his hande séeming to spinne yea and an apple in his hande as though he would eate it Our Spaniardes were not a litle amazed at the sight of these things for our Goldsmithes are not to be compared vnto them They haue skil also of Amell worke and to sette any pretious stone But now as touchyng the markette there is to sell Golde Siluer Copper Leadde Latton and Tinne although there is but little of the thrée laste mettals mentioned There are Pearles Pretious stones diuers and sundry sortes of Shelles and Bones Sponges and other pedlers ware whiche certainely are many and straunge sortes yea and a thing to laughe at their Haberdashe toyes and trifles There are also many kinde of hearbes rootes and séedes as
well to be eaten as for Medicine for bothe men wemen and chyldren haue great knowledge in hearbes for through pouertie and necessitie they séeke them for theyr sustenaunce and helpe of theyr infirmities and diseases They spende little among Phisitions although there are some of that Arte and many Poticaries who doe bryng into the markette oyntments Siroppes waters and other drugges fitte for sicke Persons they cure all diseases almost with hearbes yea as muche as for to kill lyse they haue a proper hearbe for the purpose The seuerall kyndes of meates to be solde is without number as Snakes without head tayle little Dogges gelte Moules Rattes Long wormes Lyse yea and a kinde of earth for at one season in the yiere they haue Nettes of mayle with the which they rake vp a certayne duste that is bredde vpon the water of the lake of Mexico and that is knéeded togither like vnto oas of the sea they gather much of this victuall kéepe it in heapes make therof cakes like vnto brickebats they sell not only this ware in the market but also send it abroad to other fayres markets a far of they eat this meate with as good stomake as we eate chéese yea and they holde opinion that this skuÌ„me or fatnesse of the water is the cause that such great number of foule coÌ„meth to the lake which in the winter season is infinite They sel in this market venison by quarters or whole as Does Hares Connies and Dogges and many other beastes whiche they bring vp for the purpose and take in huntyng There are a great number of shoppes that sell all kinde of orfall and tripes It is a wonder to sée how so much meate ready dressed coulde be spent There is also fleshe and fishe rosted boyled and baked Pies and Eustardes made of diuers sortes of egges the great quantitie of bread is without number Also corne of all sortes threshed and vnthreshed The greate store of sundry kyndes of fruytes is maruellous whiche are there solde bothe gréene and ripe there is one sorte as bigge as Almondes called Cacao whiche is bothe meate and curxant money There are diuers kind of colours to be solde whiche they make of Roses floures fruites barkes of trées and other things very excellent they sell there Honie of sundry kindes oyle of Chian made of a séede like vnto mustarde séede and oynting any paynted clothe therewith the water can not hurte it they also dresse ther with their meate although they haue both butter and larde Theyr sundry sortes of wines shal be declared in an other plate it woulde be a prolirious thing to rehearse all the things that are to be solde in that markette There are in this fayre many Artificers as Packers Barbars Cutlers many others although it was thought that among these Indians were none such All the things recited and many others which I speake not of are solde in euery market of Mexico all the sollers paye a certaine summe for theyr shops or staÌ„dings to the King as a custome they to be preserued and defended from théeues and for that cause there goe certayne Sergeants or officers vp downe the market to espie out malefactours In the middest of the market standeth a house whiche may be seene-throughout the fayre there sitteth twelue auncâ—ent men for iudges to dispatch lawe matters their buying and selling is to chaunge one ware for another as thus one giueth a hen for a bundell of Maiz other giue mantels for salte or money whiche is Cacao and this is theyr order to choppe and chaunge they haue measure and strike for all kynde of corne and other earthen measures for Hony and Wine and if any measure be falsified they punish the offenders and breake their measures The great Temple of Mexico THe Temple is called Teucalli that is to say Gods house Teutl signifieth God Calli is a house a vowell very fitte if that house had bene of the true god The Spaniards that vndersâ—aÌ„d not the language do pronounce and call those Temples Cues and the God Vitzilopuchtli Vchilobâ—s There are in Mexico many parishe churches with towres wherein are chappels and Altares where the images idols do stande those chappels do serue for burial places of their founders and the Parishioners are buried in the Churchyarde All their teÌ„ples are of one fashion therefore it shal be nowe sufficient to speake of the cathedral church And euen as those teÌ„ples are al in generall of one making in that citie Idoe beleue that the lyke was neuer séene nor harde off This temple is square doth containe euery way as much ground as a crossebow can reach leuell it is made of stone with foure dores that abutteth vpon the thrée calseys and vpon an other parte of the Cittie that hath no calsey but a fayre streate In the middest of this Quadern standeth a mount of earth and stone square lykewise and fiftie fadom long euery way buylte vpward like vnto a pyramide of Egipt sauyng the toppe is not sharpe but playne and flatte and ten fadom square vpon the weast side are steppes vp to the toppe and were in number and huÌ„dreth and fourtene whiche beyng so many high and made of good stone dyd séeme a beautifull thing It was a straunge sight to beholde the Priestes some goyng vp and some downe with ceremonies or with men to be sacrificed Vpon the toppe of this Temple are two great Alters a good space distant the one from the other and so nigh the edge or brimme of the wall that scarcely a man mought go behind them at pleasure The one Alter standeth on the â—ight hande the other on the left they were but of fiue foote highe eche of them had the hacke part made of stone paynted with moÌ„strous and foule figures the Chappell was fayre well wrought of Masons worke timber euery Chappell had thrée loftes one aboue another susteyned vpon pillers with the height thereof it shewed like vnto a fayre tower and beautified the Cittie a farre of from thence a man mought sée all the eittie and townes rounde aboute the lake whiche was vndoubtedly a goodly prospect And bycause Cortes his company should sée the beautie thereof Mutezuma brought him thither and shewed hym all the order of the Temple euen from the foote to the toppe There was a certaine plot or space for the idoll priests to celebrate their seruice without disturbance of any Their general prayers were made toward the rising of the sunne Vpon ech alter standeth a great idoll Beside this tower that standeth vpoÌ„ the pyramide there are fourtie towers great small belonging to other little teÌ„ples which stand in the same circuite the which although they were of the same making yet theyr prospect was not westwarde but otherwayes bicause there should be a difference betwirte the great temple them Some of these Temples were bigger than others and euery one of a seuerall God among
appoynted that when one skull falleth to set vp another in his place so that the number may neuer want Hovv Cortez tooke Mutezuma prisoner HErnando Cortez and his companye were sixe dayes in beholding and perusing the scituatien of the Citie and secretes of the same with the notable thinges before rehearsed they were often visited by Mutezuma the Gentlemen of hys Courte and abundantly prouided of things necessarye for his vse and the Indians of his company Likewise his Horses were cherished and serued with gréene barley and grasse whereof there is plentie all the yeare Likewise of corne meale roses and of all thynges that their owners would request in so much that beddes of floures were made for them in place of litter But yet notwithstanding although they were in this sorte cherished and also lodged in so riche a Countrey where they mighte fyll their purses they were not yet all contente and merrie but rather with great feare and care especially Cortes who hadde the onely care as head and chiefe Captayne for the defence of hys fellowes hée I saye was pensiue noting the scituation of the Citie the infinite number of people the state and maiestie of Mexico yea and some disquietnesse of hys owne companye who woulde come and laye vnto hys charge the snare and nette that they were in thynkyng it a thyng vnpossible that anye of them coulde escape if Mutezuma were therevnto determined or else with the least muteny in the worlde that mought be raysed in the Citie although that euery inhabitant shoulde throw but one stone at them or else to breake vp the drawbridges or withdrawing their victuals things verye easie to bée done With this greate care that he had of the preseruation of his fellowes and to remedie the perill and daunger that he stoode in he determined to appreheÌ„d Mutezuma and to builte foure Foystes to haue the lake in subiection which he hadde tofore ymagined and without the apprehension of the King he coulde not come by the Kingdome he would very gladly haue buylt the Foystes out of hand but he left off that pretence only bycause he would not delay the emprisonment of Mutezuma wherein consisted the effect of all his businesse so that forthwith he minded to put in execution his intent without gyuing any of his company to vnderstand thereof The quarrell wherewith he had armed himselfe for that purpose was that the Lorde Qualpopoca hadde slayne nine Spanyardes likewise encouraged him the greate presumption of his letters written to the Emperour Charles his king wherein he wrote that he would take Mutezuma prisoner and dispossesse him of his Empyre These causes considered he tooke the letters of Pedro Hircis wherein was written howe Qualpopoca was the cause of the death of nine Spanyardes and put those letters into his pocket and walking vp and downe his lodging tossyng too and fro these ymaginations in his brayne full of care of the great enterprise that he had in hande yea he hymselfe iudging the matter doubtfull and his head béeyng in this sort occupyed he chanced to espye one wall more whiter than the rest and beholding the same he sawe that it was a dore lately dammed vp callyng vnto him two of his seruaunts for all the residue were asléepe bycause it was late in the nighte he opened that dore and went in and there found sundry halles some with Idols some with gallant feathers Iewels precious stones plate yea and such an infinite quantitie of golde that the sight thereof amazed him and other gallant things that made him to maruell He shutte thys dore agayne as well as he moughte withoute touching any part of that treasure bycause he woulde not make any vprore therabout nor yet to delay the emprisonment of Mutezuma for that treasure was alwayes there to be had The nexte daye in the morning came certayne Spanyardes vnto hym and manye Indians of Tlaxcallon saying that the Citizens did goe about to conspire their deathe and to breake downe the bridges of the calseys to bryng their purpose the better to passe So that with this newes béeyng true or false Cortes left the one halfe of his men to defende and keepe his lodging and at euery crosse stéete he planted me and the residue he sent to the Court by two and two and thrée and three and he hymselfe came to the pallaice saying that he must talke wyth Mutezuma of matters that did emport their liues Cortes was secretely armed Mutezuma hearyng howe Cortez attended for hym came forth and receyued him taking him by the hand and placed him in his seate Thirtie Spanyardes wayted vpon Cortez and the residue aboue without at â—he dore Cortez saluted Mutezuma according to his accustomed manner and began to iest and talke merily as hée was wont to do Mutezuma beeyng carelesse of the thing that Fortune hadde prepared agaynste hym was also very merrie 〈◊〉 pleased with that conuersation He gaue vnto Cortez Iewels of golde and one of his daughters and other noble mens daughters to others of his company Cortes receyued the gift for otherwise it hadde bin a frent vnto Mutezuma But yet he enformed him that he was a married man and that he coulde not merrie with his daughter for the Christian law did not permitte the same nor yet that any Christian inought haue more than one wife vppon payne of infamy and to be marked in the forehead After all this talke ended Cortez tooke the letters of Pedro Hircio and caused them to be interpreted vnto Mutezuma makyng hys grieuous complaynte agaynste Qualpopoca who hadde slayne so many Spanyardes through hys commaundement yea and that his subiectes had published that they woulde kill the Spanyardes and breake downe the bridges Mutezuma excused himselfe earnestly as well of the one as of the other saying the report giuen out agaynste hys subiectes was false and vntrue and as for Qualpopoca who had slayne the Spanyardes he was innocent thereof and bycause that he shoulde sée the troth he called incontinent certayne of his seruauntes commaunding theÌ„ to goe for Qualpopoca and gaue vnto them his seale whiche was a stone that he ware at his wrest engraued with the figure of the God Vitzilopuchtli and the messengers departed therewith incontinent Cortez replyed and sayd My Lord your highnesse must goe with me to my lodging and there abide vntill youre messengers returne with Qualpopoca and the certaynâ—tie of the deathe of my men In my lodging youre highnesse shall rule and commaund as you do héere in Court your person shall bée well vsed wherefore take you no care for I will haue respecte vnto youre honor as to myne owne proper or the honor of my 〈…〉 you to pardon me in this my request for if I shoulde doe otherwise and dissemble with you mine own company would be offended with me saying that I doe not defende them according to duetie Wherefore commaund your householde seruauntes to repose themselues without alteration for be you assured that
and assist him hauing néede of their helpe his thirde pretence was to procure all the Indians to be Christened the which purpose he tooke first in hand as a thing most nedeâ— full On the other side Mutezuma repented himselfe hauyng newes that Pamfilo de Naruaiz was arriued who came as enimy to Cortes yea and after all this he was at length driuen out of Mexico These notable things shal be reâ—ersed in their order But now Mutezuma came and desired Cortes to departe out of his countrey adnising hym that otherwise bothe be and his menne were in perill of killyng saying also that thrée especiall causes moued him to this requeste the one was the dayly sute of his subiectes who enportuned him to come out of captiuitie and to murder the Spanyardes saying that it was a great shame for them to suffer theyr Prince to bée in pryson in the power of so fewe straungers whom they might vse as a footebal hauing dishonored theÌ„ and robbed them of their goodes gatheryng and heaping vp their gold for themselues for their king who as séemed by their doings was but a poore fellowe and if hée would not accept their offer and sute that then of theyr owne auctoritie they would take the thyng in hande for so much as he refusing to be theyr king they woulde also refuse to be his vassals giuyng warnyng and aduice that he should looke for no better rewarde at the Spaniardes handes than Qualpopoca and Cacama his Neuewe had receiued although they shoulde flatter him neuer so muche An other cause was that the Diuell had appeared vnto him and willed him to kill those Christians or dryue them out of the lande threatnyng him that if he did not so that then he woulde goe from him and neuer talke any more with him for quoth he with their gospels baptisme and deuotion they doe muche displease me Mutezuma answered him that there was no reason to kill theÌ„ being his friendes and honest men but he would entreate them to departe vnto this the Diuell answered that hée should do so and therein he would receyue great pleasure for eyther he woulde goe his way and leaue him or else that Christian fellowes should departe for they sow here quoth he a Christian fayth y which is much against our ReligioÌ„ and can not dwell both togither Another cause was that Mutezuma was not well pleased with the imprysonment of Cacama whoÌ„ once he loued excedyng wel so in fine secretely hee repented him of all that was past in the Spanyardes fauour and chiefly by the persuasion of the Diuell who sayde that he coulde not doe vnto him a more acceptable seruice and of greater pleasure to the Goddes than to expell the Spaniardes and abolishe the name of Christians and in so doyng the seate of Kings should not finish in the linage of Culhua but rather be enlarged his childreÌ„ should raigne after him wishing him not to beléeue in prophesâ—es sithence the eight yeare was past and was nowe in the eyghtenth yeare of his raigne For these causes or possible for other whiche we knowe not off Mutezuma prepared an army of a hundred thousand men so secretely that Cortes knew not thereof to the effecte that if the Spanyardes woulde not departe being once more required that then he meant not to leaue one of them aliue With this determination he came for the one day into the yard or courte and had long conference and consultation with his Gentlemen aboute this matter This done he sente for Cortes who liked not this newes saying to him selfe I pray God this message be to good purpose and taking twelue of his men whych were readyest at hand went to know wherefore hée had sente for him Mutezuma arose from the place where hée sate and tooke Cortez by the hande commaunding a stoole to be brought for him and so sate them downe both togither and beganne his talke as followeth Sir I beséeche you to departe from this Citie and Countrey for my Gods are sore offended with me bycause I doe and haue permitted you héere so long demaunde of me what you please and it shall be giuen you bycause I loue you well and thinke you not that I giue you this warning in iest but rather in good earnest therefore it is conuenient that you depart It séemed strange vnto Cortez this talke Also he saw by the countenance of Mutezuma that some thing was a working and before the interpreter of Mutezuma had made an end of his talke Cortes willed one of his meÌ„ to goe forthwith and to aduise all his fellowes saying that the waight of their liues was in questioÌ„ Then our meÌ„ called to remembrance what was tolde them in Tlaxcallon considering that it was néedeful of courage and help from God to bring them out of that daunger WheÌ„ Mutezuma had ended his tale I haue quoth Cortes vnderstood your meaning and doe thanke you for the same also I would know when it is your pleasure that we should depart and it shal be done Euen when it please you quoth Mutezuma take the time that you thinke meete and againste that time will I prepare a hundred waighte of gold for you and fiftie pound waight to each of your meÌ„ Cortes sayde you knowe that when I came into thys Countrey I commaunded all my Shippes to be sonke so that nowe I haue neede of â—â—ne conueniente to builde vessels to earrie vs into oure Countrey wherefore my request is that you commaund some of your CarpeÌ„ters to be called to cutte downe timber for the purpose for I haue men that can make the vessels And this done wée will departe so that you giue vs the golde whiche you haue promised and certifie you the same to youre Gods and vassals Mutezuma receyued great pleasure at this aunswere and sayd your request shall be fulfilled and incontinente he sent for many Carpenters Likewise Cortes prepared certayne of his Marriners for Shipwrightes All the which workemen went vnto great woddes of Pinetrées and there cut downe the â—â—mber necessarye for the purpose Mutezumâ— being a simple man gaue credite to all Cortez his talke Cortes likewise aduertised his men of his procéedings and sayd vnto them Mâ—â—â—zuma would haue vs departe out of his Countrey bycause his vassals and the Diuell haâ—he entised him therevnto wherefore it is néedefull that we build shipping and therefore I praye you goe with these Indians and procure to cut downe the best timber fit for oure purpose and in tho 〈…〉 God will prouide for vs whose affayres wâ— haue 〈◊〉 in hand of remedie and succour in suthe sort thâ—â—ine lose not this frutefull countrey It is also necessary that wheÌ„ you come vnto the wodde that you make all the delay possible giuing a shew that you are busse occupyed and with great desire to make an ende that those Indians may suspect nothing of oure pretence Departe in Gods name and aduise me alwayes what doth passe in your affaires The feare
praying hym that if he had conceiued any euill opinion agaynste hym to putte away the same agayne and that it mighte please hym to goe directly to hys owne house where hée abode hys comming wyth the Spanishe guarde that he hadde lefte with him who were aliue and in good healthe as he hadde lefte them With thys message Cortes and hys companye reposed all that nyghte and the nexte days béeyng Midsommer daye he entred into Mexico at dynner tyme with hys hundred Horsemen and the thousande footemen with a greate companye of theyr friendes of Tlaxcallan Huexocinco and Chololla but he saw but few folke in the stréetes and small entertaynement with manye bridges broken and other euill tokens He came to hys lodgyng and all those of his companye whyche coulde not well bée lodged there hée sente them to the greate Temple Mutezuma came forth into the yarde to receyue hym full heauie and sorrowfull as it séemed of that offence whiche his subiectes had done excusing hymselfe and then euery one entred into hys lodgyng and Chamber but the ioy and pleasure of Pedro de Aluarado was incomparable saluting the one the other with demaundes and questions howe they fared yea and how much the one company declared of prosperitie and pleasure the other againe replyed as muche of sorrow and trouble The causes of the Rebellion COrtes procured to knowe the principall cause of the insurrection of the Mexican Indians and hauing a generall daye of hearyng the charge béeyng layde against them some sayd that it was through the letters and persuasion of Naruâ—â—z Others aunswered their desire and meaning was to expell the straungers according to agréemente made for in theyr skirmishes they cryed nothing but gette you hence get you hence Other sayde that they pretended the libertie of Mutezuma for in theyr Combates they woulde saye lette goe oure God and Kyng if you list not to bée slayne Others sayde that they were Théeues and hadde robbed theyr golde and plate from them whyche was in valewe more than seauen hundred thousande duckettes Others cryed héere shall you leaue the golde that you haue taken from vs Others sayde that they coulde not abyde the syghte of the Tlaxcaltecas and other theyr mortall enimies Manye beléeued that the mutinye 〈◊〉 for throwyng downe theyr Goddes and Idolles each of these causes were sufficient to rebell how muche more altogither But the chiefest and most principall cause was that after the departure of Cortes towarde Naruaez happened a solemne holiday whiche the Mexicans were wont to celebrate and desiring to obserue the same as they were wont to do they came and besoughte Captayne Aluarado to graunt them licence not to ymagine that they were ioyned togither to kill the Spanyardes Aluarado gaue them licence with such conditions that in their Sacrifice shoulde no mans bloude be spilte nor yet to weare anye weapon At this feast sixe hundred Gentlemen and principall persons ioyned togither in the greate temple some doe saye that they were more than a thousande persons of greate estate but that nighte they made a maruellous great noyse with cornets shels clouen bones wherewith they made a straunge musicke they celebrated the feast their naked bodyes couered with tele made and wrought with precious stones collers girdels bracelettes and many other iewels of golde siluer and aliofar with gallant tuffes of feathers on their heads They daunced a daunce called Mazeualiztli which is to say deserte wyth payne and so they call Mazaudi a husbandman Thys daunce is like Netoriliztli which is another daunce The manner is that they lay mattes in the Temple yarde and with the sounde of their Drummes called Atabals they daunce a round hande in hande some singing and others answere which songs were in the honor and prayse of the Godor Saincte whose feast it is hoping for thys seruice to haue rayne corne healthe victory peace chyddren or anye other thing that they maye wishe for or desire These Indian Gentlemen being occupied in their daunsing and ceremonies it fortuned that Pedro de Aluarado went to the Temple of Vitzilopuchtli to beholde theyr doings and whether his goyng was of his owne accorde or by the consent of his coÌ„pany I am not certaine although some saye that he was aduised howe the mutinie was there conspired as after did follow others holde opinion that their onely goyng to the Temple was to beholde the maruaylous and straunge daunce And then seyng them so richely attyzed they coueted their Golde and Iewels whiche they were and besieged the Temple with tenne Spaniardes at each dore the Captayne entred in with fiftie men and without any Christian respect slewe and murdered them al and tooke from them all their treasure Although this facte séemed odious vnto Cortes yet he dissimuled the mater for feare least he shoulde hurte his owne procéedings as time did then require knowyng not what néede he might haue of them but especially to auoyde contention among his company The threatenings of the Mexicans agaynst the Spaniardes THe cause of this rebellion beyng well knowen Cortes demaunded how theyr enimies fought mary quoth they after they had taken weapon agaynst vs for the space of ten dayes arew they neuer seased with great fury to assaulte and coÌ„bat our house and we with feare least Mutezuma shoulde escape and flée vnto Naruaez durst not goe out of dores to fight in the streate but onely to defende the house with especiall care of Mutezuma accordyng to your charge giuen vnto vs Also we being but few and the Indians many who still refreshed their men they did not onely wery vs but also put vs in great feare and cleane out of courage yea and if at the greatest brunt Mutezuma personally had not ascended to the toppe of our wal commaunding them if euer they meant to sée him a liue to stay and cease from their enterpryce At the sight of Mutezuma they were all amazed and incontinent ceased the combat and assault They sayde also that with the newes of the victory had agaynst Pamfilo de Naruaez Mutezuma requyred his men to leaue off from theyr pretence not withstandyng the Indians calling to remembraunce that Cortes was a coÌ„ming with a greater company at whose returne they should haue the more to doe began afreshe to assaulte the house wherevppon some doe thinke that it was agaynst the will of Mutezuma But it followed that one day the Spaniardes standing in greate perill charged their greatest péece of ordinaunce and gyuing fire the péece discharged not the Indians seyng the same beganne a freshe with a marueâ—lous terrible noyce vsing staues Bowes lances stones that came as thicke as Hayle saying nowe will â—â—ée redéeme our King sette our houses at libertie and reuenge our iniuries But in the middest of theyr fury the péece wente of without any more prymyng or touche with a greate and fearefull thunderyng the péece beyng great and ful of hayle shotte with the mayne pellotte made a straunge spoyle among them and
the host vnto whom in general he spake as followeth The exhortation of Cortez to his Souldiers 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 vpon Mexico to reuenge the death of our fellowes and to winne that greate Citie the whiche I truste in God shal be brought to passe in shorte time hauing the friendship of Tlaxcallan and other prouinces who haue as great desire to sée the ouerthrowe of the Mexicans 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 the Culhuacans do 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 of Tamemez or carriers to carrie al our prouision Ye also are now the same which alwaies heretofore ye haue bene for I as witnesse beyng 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 in Mexico they feare our cōming it should also be a blot vnto our honour that Quahutimoc should inherite the kingdome that cost our friēd Mutezuma his life Likewise I esteme al that we haue done is nothing if we winne not Mexico 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 in Mexico we put downe the idols we caused sacrifice and eatyng 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 with Sodom were 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 of Mexico 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 Cortes commaunded 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 That none should blaspheme the holy name of Iesus That no Souldier should fight with his fellowe That none shoulde play at any game his horse nor armour That none should force any woman That none should robbe or take any Indian captiue without his speciall licence and counsellers That none should wrōg or iniurie any Indian their friēds he also taxed yron worke and apparell for cause of the excessiue prices that they were there solde for The exhortation made by Cortez to the Indians of Tlaxcallan THe nexte daye following Cortes called before him all the Lordes Captaynes and principall persons of Tlaxcallan 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 of Mexico 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 the Vergantines which are now a making and to be placed in the lake of Mexico 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 of Culhua haue layde vpon you and also will obteyne of the Emperoure great libertie and priviledges for you All the Indians shewed 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 to Mexico and we all in generall will goe with you and truly serue you in your warres Hovv Cortez tooke Tezcuco COrtez departed from Tlaxcallan wyth 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 but Cortes for diuers causes would not haue them all with him vntill the Vergantines were finished and Mexico beséeged searing wante of vittayle for so greate an armye yet notwithstanding hée tooke twentie thousand of them besides the Carriers and that night came to Tezmoluca which stādeth sixe leagues from Tlaxcallan and is a Village apperteyning to Huexocinco where he was by the principall of the Towne wel receyued The next day he iourneyed foure leagues into the territorie of Mexico and there was lodged on the 〈◊〉 of a hill where many had perished with colde had it not bin for the store of woodde which they found there In the
and their prouisions were not so secretely obteyned but the matter was as secretely talked in the Courte whiche at that time was abiding in the Citie of â—â—olâ—dâ— and the procedings séeme not iust vnto the friends of Cortes The Commendador Pedro de Pina opened the matter to the Licenciat Nouez and vnto father Melgareto wherevppon they reclaymed of the Counsels determination beséeching them to stay for a season to sée what newes should come from Mexico Also the Duke of Betar tendred the cause of Hernando Cortez for that Cortez by promise of faith and troth was assured in marriage to his brothers daughter named the Lady Iâ—ne de Zuniga who aplaked the Emperoure his anger and the saide Duke became suretie to aunswere in all causee for him The matter standing in this estate there arriued in Spayne Diego de Zoto with a whole Coluerin made of siluer and 70000. castlins in golde the newes whereof was blowen ouer all Spaine And to say the troth this presente was the cause that Cortes was not put out of his office but a Iudge of residence was sent thither to take an accompt of him Now a wise and a learned man was sought for that purpose yea suche a one as could rule the matter for some souldiers are oftentimes vnmanerly whervpoÌ„ they thought the Licenciat Léwes pouce de Leon a fitte maÌ„ who had bin Lieutenante to Don Martin de Cordoua Earle of Alcaudete chiefe gouernour of the citie of Tâ—lledo This Licenciate with power sufficient was sent vnto the new Spaine who carried in his company as assistant the batcheler Marcus de Aguillar who hadde ruled in time past in a worshipfull office of Iustice in the Ilande of Santo Domingo With prosperous weather they departed from Spayne and in shorte tyme arriued at Vera Crux Cortez hauing newes of their arriuall by foote postes within two dayes And vppon Midsomer day came letters to Cortes from the Licenciate Ponce with another letter from the Emperour wherby he vnderstood the cause of their comming He returned backe incontineÌ„t an aunswere and desired to know which way he would come to Mexico eyther by the way inhabited or else the other way which is néerer The Licenciate replyed that he woulde for a while abide in Vera Crux to refresh himselfe béeyng seasicke and a man that had not héeretofore at any time passed the seas thinking that Cortes meante to haue done iustice on certain offenders yea also to haue takeÌ„ hym by the way wherefore he suspected that Cortes had sent bycause he woulde knowe whiche way he meant to come wherevpon he secretely tooke post horse with certaine GentlemeÌ„ and other religious persons that came in hys company passed through the Townes although it was the farther way and made suche hast that in fiue dayes he came to Iztacpallâ—pan refusing the entertaynement and prouision of meate and lodging that Cortes had prepared by his GentlemeÌ„ that weÌ„t both the wayes to méete him In IztacpallapaÌ„ they receyued him with great feast and maiestie but after dinner the Licenciate fell a vomiting and the most of hys companye and after the vomite they fell into a flixe They thoughte that certayne hearbes was the cause thereof whiche were in a dishe of curdes The Licenciate was somewhat gréedie of the curdes and tooke the dishe and offered it to father Thomas Ortiz no quoth the Stewarde hys reuerence shall haue another dishe no quoth father Ortiz I will none of these nor yet of anye other of whyche wordes there were afterwardes Verses made suspecting somethyng of the curdes but truely there was no hurte or anye euill thyng putte in them as héereafter shal be declared for the Comendador Proano who was then chiefe Sheriffe did eate of all those dishes yea in the same dishe that the Licenciat eate of who neyther vomited nor yet receyued any hurte or alteration But I thinke that they coÌ„myng hoate wery and hungry did eate too muche and dranke also colde water whereby their stomackes reuolted and thereof followed the flixe with vomite On the behalfe of Cortes there was presented to the Licenciat a riche present but he refused it Cortes with al the flower of Gentlemen in Mexico came to receyue him and giuyng him the right hand they went togyther vntill they came to Sainct Frances abbay where after their praiers made Cortes demauÌ„ded to sée the kings prouisions who answered that the nexte day he woulde shew them vnto him then they accompanied him to his house where he was well lodged The nexte day followyng all the magistrates of the Cittie mette the Licentiat in the cathedrall Church and by acte before the notary he presented his auctoritie from the Emperour He tooke the Vares of Iustice from the Iudges and Sargeants and incontinent restored them agayne and saide with gentle speach this rodde of the Senior gouernour I will haue for my selfe Cortes with all the other Magistrates kissed the Emperours letters and put them vpon the crowne of their heads in tokeÌ„ of great obedience saying that they woulde obserue and obey all that was therein contayned as the commaundement of their king and Lorde requyring the same to be set downe by acte and testimony After these things done they proclaymed the residence and account of iustice of Hernando Cortes to the intent that all persons who coulde accuse him of any vnrightful dealyng should come and make their complaint and to haue remedy for the same There should you then sée the stirre and talke among them euery officer fearyng his owne cause with desire to sée the ende of their businesse The death of the Licenciat Luys Ponce THe Licenciat comming one day from Saint Frances abbay from seruice fell into an extréeme burnyng feuer and lay him downe in his bedde where he remayned the space of thrée dayes as a man out of his wittes and the feuer stil encreasing so that on the seuenth day he yéelded vp the ghost In the time of his sickenesse he receyued the communion and made his laste will testament He left for substitute in his office the bacheler Marcus de Aguillar Cortes made as greate sorrow for his death as if he had bene his owne father his funeralles were celebrated with great pompe The enimies of Cortes published that he died of poyson But the Licenciat Pero Lopez and Doctor Hoieda who were his Phisitions swore that he died of a burnyng feuer and shewed a further consequence that the euenyng before he deceased he desired them to play the measures vpon a lute and as he lay in his bedde shewed with stirryng his féete the compasses and pointes of the daunce It was a thing which diuers persons saw and forthwith he lost his speach and that night towarde the dawning of the day he yéelded vp his spirite I thinke that fewe men do die dauÌ„sing as this Lawier did The number of a hundred persons came out of Spayne with the Licenciat whereof the moste parte died by sea and
Coautli An Egle Cozcaquahutl A Bussard Olin A Temple Tepatlh A Knife Quiauitl Rayne Xuchirl A Rose Althoughe these twentie names ferue for the whole yere and are but the dayes of euery moneth yet therfore euery moneth beginneth not with Cipactli which is the first name but as they followe in order and the fiue odde dayes is the cause thereof And also bycause theyr wéeke is of thirtéene dayes which changeth the names as by example Cecipactli can go no further thā vnto Matlactlomeiacatl which is thirtéene and then beginneth an other wéeke and we do not say Matlactlinaui Ocelotl whiche is the fourtéenth day but we say Ceocelotl whiche is one and then recken the other sixe names vnto twenty And when al the twentie dayes are ended begin againe to recken from the first name of the twentie but not frō one but from viij And bicause ye may better vnderstand the matter here is the example Cecipactli Omehecatl Ei Calli. Naui Cuezpali Macuilcouatl Chicoacen Mizquinth Chicome Macatl Chicuei Tochtli Chiconauiatl Matlaciz Cuintli Mailactlioce Ocumatli Matlactliome Malinalli Matlactlomei Acatlh The next wéeke following doth begin his dayes from one And that one is the fouretéenth name of the moneth and of the dayes and saith Ceocelotl Macuil Tecpatl Omecoautli Chicoacen Quiauitl Eicozcaquahutli Chicome Xuchitl Naui Olui Chicoei Cipactti In this second wéeke Cipactli came to fal on the eighte day being in the first wéeke the first day Cemacatl Ometochtli Eiatl Nauiizeuintli Macuil Ocumatli And so proceede on to the thirde wéeke in the which this name Cipactli entreth not but Macatl which was the seuenth day in the first wéeke had no place in the second and is the first in the third This reconing is no darker than ours which we haue in a.b.c.d.e.f.g. For they also change with time and runne in such sort that a. whiche was the firste letter of this moneth commeth to be the fift daye of the nexte moneth and the thirde moneth he counteth to be the third day and so orderly doth the other sixe letters The accounting of yeares THese Mexicans had another order to recken theyr yeares which exceded not aboue foure in number as one two thrée foure wherewith they accounte a hundred fiue hundred a thousand and as many moe as they lust Those foure figures or names are Tochtli Acatlh Tecpatlh Calli and do signifye a Conny a Caue a Knife and a House saying Ce Totchtli One yeare Ome Acatlh Two yeares Ei Tecpatlh Thrée yeares Naui Calli Foure yeares Macuil Tochtli Fiue yeares Cicoacen Acatlh Sixe yeares Cicome Tecpatlh Seauen yeares Chicuei Calh Eight yeares Chiconaui Tochtli Nine yeares Matlactli Acatlh Tenne yeares Matlactlioce Tecpatlh Eleuen yeares Matlactliome Calli Twelue yeares Matlactliomei Tochtli Thirtéene yeares So that the reconing passeth not aboue thirtéeue whiche is one wéeke of the yeare and endeth where he began Another Weeke Ce A catlh One yeare Ome Tlepatlh Two yeares Ei Calli Thrée yeares Naui-Tochtli Foure yeares Macuil Acatlh Fiue yeares Chicoacen Tecpatlh Sixe yeares Chicome Calli Seuen yeares Chicuei Tochtli Eight yeares Chiconaui Acatlh Nine yeares Matlactli Tecpatlh Tenne yeares Matlactlioce Calli Eleuen yeares Matlactliome Tochtli Twelue yeares Matlactliomei Acatlh Thirtéene yeares The third vveeke of yeares Ce Tecpatlh One yeare Ome Calli Two yeres Ei Tochtli Thrée yeres Naui Acatlh Foure yeres Macuil Tecpatlh Fiue yeres Chicoacan Calli Sixe yeares Chicome Tochtli Seauen yeares Chicuei Acatlh Eight yeares Chiconaui Tecpatlh Nine yeares Matlactli Calli Tenne yeares Matlactliome Tochtli Eleuen yeares Matlactliome Acatlh Twelue yeares Matlactliomei Tecpatlh Thirtéene yeares The fourth Weeke Ce Calli One yeare Ome Tochtli Two yeares Ei Acatlh Thrée yeares Naui Tecpatlh Foure yeares Macuil Calli Fiue yeares Chicoacen Tochtli Sixe yeares Chicome Acatlh Seauen yeares Chicuei Tecpatlh Eight yeares Chiconaui Calli Nine yeares Matlactli Tochtli Tenne yeares Matlactlioce Acatlh Eleuen yeares Matlactliome Tecpatlh Twelue yeares Matlactliomei Calli Thirtéene yeares Ech of these wéekes which our men cal Indition doth conteyne thirtéene yeares so that all the foure wéekes make two and fiftie yeares which is a perfit number in the reconing and is called the yeare of grace for from fiftie two yeres to fiftie two yeares they vsed to make solemne feastes with strange Ceremonies as hereafter shall be declared And when fiftie two yeares are ended then they beginne againe by the same order before declared vntil they come to as many moe beginning at Ce Tochtli and so forwarde But alwayes they begin at the Conny figure So that in the forme of reconing they kepe haue inmemorye things of 850. yeares and by this Cronicle they know in what yere euerye thing hapned and how long euery King raygned howe many children they had and all things else that importerd to the estate of the gouernement of the lande The Indians beleeued that fiue ages were past which they called Sunnes THe Indians of Cullua did beléeue that the Gods had made the world but they knew not how yet they beléeued that since the creation of the world four Sunnes were past and that the fift and last is the Sunne that now giueth light to the world They helde opinion that the firste Sunne perished by water and at the same time all liuing creatures perished likewise The second Sunne say they sell from the heauēs with whose fall all liuing creatures were slayne and then said they were manye Giantes in that Countrey and certayne monstrous bones which our men found in opening of graues by proportion whereof some shoulde séeme to be men of twenty spannes high The third Sunne was consumed by fire whiche burned day and night so that then all liuing crealures were burned The fourth Sunne finished by tempest of ayre or winde which blew downe houses trées yea and the mountaynes and Rockes were blowē asunder but the lignage of mankinde perished not sauing that they were conuerted into Apes And touching the fift Sunne which now raigneth they know not how it shall consume But they say that when the fourth Sunne perished all the worlde fell into darkenesse and so remained for the space of fiue and twenty yeares continually and at the fiftenth yeare of that fearefull darkenesse the Gods did forme one man and a woman who brought forth children and at the end of the other tenne yeares appeared the Sunne whiche was newly borne vppon the figure of the Conny day and therfore they begin their account of yéeres at the day reckoning from the yeare of oure Lorde 1552 their age or Sunne is 858. so that it appeareth that they haue vsed many yeares their writing in figures and they had not onely this vse from Cetochtli whiche is the beginning of their yeare moneth and day of their fifth Sunne but also they hadde the same order and vse in the other foure Sunnes which were past but they let many things slippe out of memorie saying that with the newe Sunne all other things should be likewise new They held also opinion that thrée
for a bowe two arrowes and a nette and afterwarde the father in lawe speaketh not one worde to his sonne in law for the space of a whole yeare And when the husbande hapneth to haue any child he lyeth not any more with his wife in two yeares after for feare least she might be with childe againe before the former childe were out of daunger although some doe sucke vntyll twelue yeares of age and for this consideration they haue many wiues Likewise there is an order among them that no woman may touch or dresse any thing being with theyr menstruall ordinarie Diuoremcent was not permitted without a iust cause and authoritie of Iustice among those who were openly married but the other sort might be as easily forsaken as taken In Mechuacan was not permitted any diuorcemente excepte the partie made a solemne othe that they loked not the one on the other stedfastly and directly at the time of their marriage But in Mexico they must proue how the wife is barraine foule of a naughty cōdition but if they put away their wiues without order and commaundemente of the Iudge then the heare of the offenders head is burned in the market place as a shame or punishment of a man without reason or witte The payne of adultery was death as well for the mā as the woman but if the adulterer were a Gentleman his head was decked with feathers after that he was hāged and his body burned and for this offence was no pardon eyther for man or woman but for the auoyding of adultery they do permitte other common women but no ordinary stewes Of the Iudges and order of Iustice IN Mexico were twelue Iudges who were all noble men graue and well learned in the Mexican lawes These men liued only by the rentes that properly apperteyne to the maintenance of Iustice and in anye cause iudged by thē it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges who were of the princes bloud and alwayes abode in the Court and were mainteyned at the Kings owne cost and charge The inferior Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to cōsult with the higher And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery prouince within the Mexican Empire to consult with the Iudges of Mexico but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King onely to passe by his order and determination The Painters serued for notaries to paint al the cases which were to be resolued but no sute passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall ende and determination There were in that citie twelue Sergeants whose office was to arrest and to cal parties before the Iudges Their garments were painted mantels wherby they were knowen a farre off The prisons were vnder ground moyst and darke the cause whereof was to put the people in feare to offend If anye witnesse were called to take an oth the order was that he shoulde touche the grounde with one of his fingers and then to touch his tong with the same whiche signifyed that hée had sworne and promised to speake the troth wyth hys tōg taking witnes therof of the earth which did mainteine him But some do interprete the oth that if the partie sware not true that then he mighte come to such extremitie as to eate earthe Sometime they name and call vppon the God of the crime whose cause the matter touched The Iudge that taketh bribes or giftes is forthwith put out of his office whiche was accounted a most vyle and shamefull reproch The Indians did affirme that Necaualpincintli did hang a Iudge in Tezcuco for giuing an vniust sentence he himselfe knowing the contrary The murther is executed without exception The woman with child that wilfully casteth hir creature suffereth deathe for the same bycause many women did voluntary vse that fact knowing their children could not inherite The punishment of adultery was death The Théefe for the firste offence was made a slaue and hanged for the second The traytor to the King and cōmon weale was put to death with extreame tormēts The woman taken in mans apparel dyed for the same and likewise the man taken in womans attire Euerye one that challēged another to fight except in the warres was cōdemned to die In Tezcuco the sinne of Zodomy was punished with death that law was instituted by Necaualpincintli Necaualcoio who were Iudges which abhorred the filthy sinne therfore they deserued great praise for in other prouinces the abhominable sin was not punished although they haue in those places cōmon stewes as in Panuco The order of cruell Sacrifice vsed among the Indians AT the ende of euery twenty dayes is celebrated a festiuall feast called Tonalli which falleth continually the last daye of euerye moneth but the chiefest feast in the yeare when most men are sacrificed eaten is at the ende of euerye fiftye two yeares But the Tlaxcaltecas and other common weales do celebrate this feast euery fourth yeare The last day of the first moneth is called Tlacaxipeualiztli on the which day were slaine a hundred slaues which were taken in the warres and after the sacrifise their flesh was eaten in this order Al the Citizens gathered themselues togither in the high Temple and thē the Ministers or Priestes came and vsed certaine ceremonies the which being ended they toke those whyche were to be sacrifised by one and one and layd them vpon their backes vpon a large stone and then the slaue being on liue they opened him in the breast with a knife made of flinte stone and toke out his hart whiche they threw immediately at the foote of the Aulter as an offering and anoynted with the fresh bloude the face of the God Vitzilopuchtli or any other Idol This done they pluckt of the skinnes of a certaine number of them the which skinnes so many auntient persons put incontinēt vppon their naked bodies al fresh bloudy as they wer sleane from the deade carcasses And being open in the backe part and shoulders they vsed to lace them in such sorte that they came fitte vppon the bodies of those that ware them and being in this order attired they came to daunce among many others In Mexico the king him selfe did put on one of these skinnes being of a principall captiue and daunced among the other disguised persons to exalte and honor the feast and an infinite number followed him to behold his terrible gesture although some hold opinion that they followed him to cōtemplate his greate deuotion After the sacrifise ended the owner of the slaues did carry their bodies home to their houses to make of their fleshe a solemne feaste to all their friendes leauing their heades and hartes to the Priests as their dutie and offering And the skinnes were filled with cotten wool or strawe to be hong in the temple and kings pallayce for a memorie The slaues when they went to their sacrifice were apparelled in the habite or deuise of the Idol vnto whom ech of them did commende
into such hatred that perfyte friendshippe coulde neuer after take place betwéene them although at the beginning they were familiar and louing friendes but malice grewe to suche extremitie that eache of them wrote vndecently agaynste other to the Emperoure theyr maister the whyche theyr doyngs blemished both theyr credites Cortes wente to lawe with the Licenciat Villa Lobos the Kings Attourney aboute certayne of his vassals and also the Vizeroy assisted agaynste him as muche as hée myghte Vpon consideration whereof he was enforced to come into Spayne in Anno 1540. and broughte Don Martin his sonne and heyre béeyng a childe of eyghte yeares of age and hys sonne Don Luys to serue the Prince he came very riche but not so riche as the fyrste time He entred into great friendship with the Cardinal Loaisa and the Secretarie Cobos but it preuayled not for the Emperoure was gone into Flanders about matters of Gant. In the yeare 1541. the Emperoure personally wente to the séege of Argell with a mightie armye and Cortez with his two sonnes went also thither to serue him with a good companye of men and Horses but it pleased God to raise vp suche a tempest wherewith the most parte of the fléete perished Cortes then being in the Galley of Don Henrike Enrikes called the Esperanca and fearing to lose his rich emraldes and other Iewels at the time that the Galley was driuen by violence of weather vpon the shore he then bound about him the sayde fyue rich emraldes estéemed in a hundred thousande Duckates yet notwithstanding through the throng of people and hast to escape out of ocâ—e and mire the Iewels fell from him who could neuer heare more of them so that the present warres cost hym more than any other except the Emperoures maiestie although Andrea de Oria lost eleuen Galleys But the losse of treasure gréeued hym not so much as the excluding hym out of the Counsell of the warres where as other yong Gentlemen of lesse knowledge and abilitie were accepted which was a cause of greate murmuryng among the host And where in the counsell of warre it was determined to leaue the séege and to depart it gréeued manye whereupon Cortes made an open offer that he alone with the Spanishe nation would presume to take Argell hauyng but the one halfe of the Tudescos and Italians if it woulde please the Emperoure to graunte vnto hym the enterprise The Souldyers on the lande dyd hyghly commende hys courage but the Sea menne woulde giue no eare vnto him so that it is thoughte that the offer came not to the Emperoures knowledge Cortes wente vp and downe in the Courte a long season being sore afflicted in a certaine sute aboute hys vassals and also the processe and allegations of Nunio de Guzman layde vnto hys charge in hys residence The whole processe was séene in the counsell of Indias but iudgemente was neuer pronounced whyche was a greate hartes ease for Cortes And then hée departed from the Courte towarde Siuill with determinate wyll to passe vnto the newe Spayne and to ende his lyfe in Mexico and also to receyue the Lady Mary Cortes hys daughter who was come from India and promised in marriage vnto Don Aluar Perez Osorio with a hundred thousande Duckates in dowry and hyr apparell but the marriage tooke no effecte through the faulte of Don Aluar and hys father He then fell sicke of a flixe and indisgestion whiche endured long so that on hys iourney towarde the Citie of Siuill he departed thys transitory lyfe in a little Village called Castilleia de La Cuesta whyche standeth a myle from the Citie of Siuill on the seconde of December Anno 1547. béeyng thréescore and thrée yeares of age His body was deposited with the dukes of Medina Sidonia He left a Sonne and thrée Daughters begotten of the Lady Iane de Zuniga his wife his Sonne was called Don Martin Cortes who did inherite his fathers estate and was married vnto the Lady Ana de Arellano his cousine daughter to the Countie De Aguilar by order of his father The doughters vnto Cortes were named as foloweth the lady Donea Maria Donea Catalina and Donea Iuana who was the yongest He had another Sonne by an Indian woman and he was called Don Martin Cortez He had also another base sonne by a Spanish woman who was named Don Luys Cortez and thrée daughters by thrée seuerall Indian women Cortez buylt an hospitall in Mexico and gaue order for a Colledge to be also erected there He builte also a Temple in Coioacan where he willed in his Testament that his bones shoulde be buried at the charges of his Sonne and heyre He situated foure thousand Ducates of rent whiche yéeldeth yéerely his houses in Mexico for the purpose aforesayd of the which foure thousande Ducates twoo thousand should be to maynteyne the Studients in the Colledge FINIS Comfort of God. Cortez escapeth The Gouernoure vvas sore afrayde Men tangled in foolish loue The coÌ„ming home of Gripâ—ua The goueâ— nour an old enemy Courage of Cortez A snare lay de for Cortez The feare of the Indians of Acusamil Hovv the people vver found A facte vvorthy of prayse Nevves of bearded men The coÌ„ming of Aguilar to Cortez A straunge Idol The God of rayne Poliâ—ie Diligence of a good Captayne Câ—re oâ—â—â—ooâ—â—â—â—pâ—â—ayâ—â— Fortye thousande Indians Perill of the Christians A miracle A sodaine disease The Cazike enbassadours The ansvvere of the Cacike The armor of the Indians VVisedome The comming of the Gouernor A straunge salutation A maruellous happe The aunsvvere of Teudilli The disease of the Spaniardes The excuse of Matezuma The IndiaÌ„s attyre Policie A good subiecte Liberality Simplicitie Mens folly vvith a great lyr A vigilant Captayne The Indian complaynt Vnder colour of holinesse An other gâ—fte A straunge salutation A stranuge hap The receyuers put in pryson Pollicie A vvise Captaine Diuers opinions in counsell Fmbâ—â—â—adors The valiant courage of Cortes â—â—â—eraluie of Cortez Straunge Paper A good protestatioÌ„ Mischefe Tvvo hanged and tvvo vvhipped A famous facte Nevves for Cortez A vvise practise Troubles A straunge ioy A straunge vvall A subtill message First â—actaylâ— 80000 〈◊〉 Seconde battayle The care of good souldiers 15000 â—i men Indian ar 〈◊〉 Apresent A reekning made before the hoste Battayle Cortes vvas a painfull man. A strange presente Indian policie The good aduise of a friende ConfessioÌ„ A good correction A carefull Captayne Ambassagâ— from Mutezuma Excuses A valiant Captayne An euill Spirite appeared A couragâ—ous Capâ—ayne A famous Cortez Murmuration A riche present Entraunce into Tlaxcallan A strange contractation CorrectioÌ„ A godly persvvasioÌ„ A geâ—tle offer Correction of treason Many peâ—â—ls Helpe from God. Ovvorthy Cortes Purgatory Prophecie of the Diuell An euill counsellor Oh vvise Cortes A strange opinion A louing â—â—usvvere A straunge dore A vvicked attire A madde offering A svveetâ— bedde Determination of Cortez Treasory of Mutezuma A sorovvful pastime It vvas maruel that Corres vvas not taken for an
heretike Cacama vvas vvise Cacama prysoner A fonde beliefâ— Poore Mutezuma A true prophecie A surtle Foxe At the time of neede prouideth God. A drunken reckoning A noble Iudge A foule bragge A cruell proclamation A madde â—eckenyng A good captayne and a vvise Chvvâ—â—â— Cortes A stoute man. An vncertayne recâ—oaing A darke night for Naruaeâ— A couetous desire and a vile A straunge inuention â–ª A valiant man. Revvarde of a couetous â—â—nd A vvery iourney A payneful man. Cortes vvounded vvith a flyng Oh noble Cortez Oh valiant Cortez 200000. Indians 50000. meÌ„ Faythfull friendes Exclamation A good correction A strange tallovve A Diuelish sentence A kinde harted captaineâ— A cruell â—act of Cortez A â—â—â—e pâ—â—pheâ—â—e An extreme penurâ—â— A sorovvfull tale An euâ—â—â— revvarde Seauen thousand Ceder beames The revvard of a knaue A madde daunce The riche Emeraldes Before the Iudges came Cortez vvaâ— gone to Spayne A good sentence Abhominable fact The oyntment A Table expressyng the Chapiters vvhiche are conteyned in this Historie THe birth and lynage of Hernando Cortez Fol. 1. The age of Cortes vvhen he passed into India 2 The time that Cortes abode in Santo Domingo 5 Things that happened to Cortes in the lande of Cula 6 The discouery of the nevv Spayne 10. The inuentory of the treasure that Gâ—â—ialua brought 12 The determinatioÌ„ of Cortes to prepare a fleete for discouery 16 The nauy and men that Cortes caried to the Conquest 20 The oration made by Cortes to his Souldiers 24 The entraunce of Cortes into the â—â—and of Acusamil 25 The Indiâ—â—s of Acusamil gaue nevves of bearded men 29 A miraculous chaunce hovv Aguillar came to Cortes 31 The Iland of Acusamil 35 The religion of the people of Acusamil 40 The battell of Poâ—onchan 41 The battell of Cintla 43 The Lord Tauasco yeeldeth to the Christians 46 Questions demaunded by Cortes of the Cacike Tanasco 48 Hovve the Indians of Potonchan brake dovvne their Idols 50 The good entertaynement that Cortes had in Saint Iohn de Vlhua 51 The talke of Cortes vvith Teudilli 55 The presente by Mutezuma vnto Cortes 58 Hovve Cortes knevv of discorde in the countrey 61 Hovve Cortes vvent to suruey the countrey vvith .400 men 64 Hovv Cortes rendred vp his office by pollicie 67 Hovve the Souldiers chose Cortes for their Captayne generall 69 The receeuing of Cortes into Zempoallan 72 The talke of the Lorde of Zempoallan vvith Cortes 76 Things that happened vnto Cortes in Chiauiztâ—â—n 80 The message sent by Cortes to Mutezuma 83 The rebellion done by the industry of Cortes 85 The fundation of the riche tovvne of Vera Crux 88 The taking of Tizapansinca 90 The presenâ—e that Cortes sente to the Emperour Charles for his fifth parte 92 Letters in generall from the Magistrates of Vera Crux to the Emperour 97 An vprore among the Souldiers agaynst Cortes and the correction for the same 100 Cortes caused all his shippes to bee sunke a vvorthy fact 102 Hovv the inhabitantes of Zempoallan brake dovvne their Idolles 104. Hovv Olintlec exalted the mightie povver of Mutezuma 107 The first encounter that Cortes had vvith the men of Tlaxcallan 11â— Hovve there ioyned a hundreth and fiftie thousande men agaynst Cortes 116 The threatenings of the Indian campe agaynst the Spaniardes 120 Hovve Cortes cut off the handes of fiftie espies 124 The Embassage that Mutezuma senâ— vnto Cortes 126 Hovve Cortes vvanne the Cittie of Zimpanzinco 129 The desire that some of the Spanierdes had to leaue the vvarres 132 The oration made by Cortes to his Souldiers 13â— Hovv Xicotencatl came for Embassadour to Cortes his campe 136 The receiuing of Cortes into Tlaxcallan 136 The description of Tlaxcallan 141 The ansvvere of the Tlaxcaltecas touchyng the leauyng of their Idolles 145 The discorde betvvene the Mexicans and the Tlaxcaltecas 147 The solemnâ— receyuing of the Spaniardes into Chololla 148 The conspiracie of the Cholollans against the Spaniardes 152 The punishment for conspiracy 155 The sanctuary among the Indians vvas Chololla 158 The hill called Popocatepec 160 The consultation of Mutezuma coÌ„cerning the coÌ„ming of Cortes into Mexico 162 Things that happened to Cortes in his iourney tovvarde Mexico 164. The solemne pompe vvherevvith Cortes vvas receyued into Mexico 160 The Oration of Mutezuma to the Spaniardes 172 The Maiestie and order vvhervvith Mutezuma vvas serued at his table 175 The foote players that played before Mutezuma 178 The tennys play in Mexico 179 The number of vviues that Mutezuma had 181 A house of foule vvhiche vvere only preserued for the feathers 183 A house of fovvle for havvking 184 The armory of Mutezuma 186 The gardens of Mutezuma 187 The court and guarde of Mutez 188 The greate subiection of the people to their King. 189 The situation of Mexico 192 The market place of Mexico 196 The great temple of Mexico 201 The Idols of Mexico 204 The charnell house of Mexico 206 Hovv Cortes tooke Mutezuma prisoner 207 The recreation of hunting vvhiche Mutezuma vsed 212 Hovve Cortes beganne to plucke dovvne the Idols of Mexico 214 The exhortation made by Cortes to Mutezuma and the Citizens for the abolishing of Idolles 215 The burning of the Lorde Qualpopoca and other Gentlemen 219 The cause of the burnyng of Qualpopoca 220 Hovv Cortes put a paire of gyues on Mutezuma his legges 221 Hovve Cortes sente to seeke for the mynes of golde in diuers places 223 The imprisonment of Cacama king of Tezcuco 227 The sorovvfull oration that Mutezuma made vnto his noble men to yeeld them to the Emperour 230 The golde and Ievvels that Mutezuma gaue vnto Cortes for his first tribute 233 Hovve Mutezuma required Cortes to depart from Mexico 235 The feare that our men stande in to be sacrificed 230 Hovv Iames Velasques sente Pamfilo de Naruaez agaynst Corteâ— 241. The substaunce of a letter that Cortes vvrote vnto Naruaez 244 The talke of Naruaiz to the Indians and his ansvvere to Cortes 246. The talke that Cortes had vvith his ovvne Souldiers 249 The requestes of Cortes to Mutezuma 251 The imprisonment of Pamfilo de Naruaiz 252 The rebellion of Mexico 256 The cause of the rebellion 259 The threatnings of the Mexicans against the Spaniardes 261 The great dauÌ„ger that our meÌ„ vvere put in by the straungers 26â— The death of Mutezuma 266 The combat betvveene the Spaniardes and the Indians 268 Hovve the Mexicans refused the offer of peace and amitie 271 Hovv Cortes fledde from Mexico 274. The battell of Otumpan 280 The entertaynement of the Spaniardes at their returne to Tlaxcallan fol. 283 The protestation and request of the Souldiers to Cortes 286 The oration made by Cortes in ansvvere to his Souldiers demaunde 289 The vvarres of Tepeacac 292 The great auctoritie that Cortes had among the Indians 294 The VergaÌ„tines that Cortes caused to be buylte and the Spanyerdes vvhiche he had to besiege Mexico 296 The exhortation of Cortes to his Souldiers 298 The exhortation made to the Indians of Tlaxcallan 301 Hovv Cortes tooke Tezcuco 302 The Spaniardes vvhich vvere sacrifised in Tezcuco 307 Hovv the VergaÌ„tines vvere brought from Tlaxcallan to Tezcuco 310. Of the docke or trenche vvhiche vvas made to lanche the Vergantines 311 The order of the hoste and army to besiege Mexico 314 The battell and victory of the Vergantines agaynst the Canoas 316 Hovve Cortes besieged Mexico 320. The firste skirmishe vvithin the Citie of Mexico 322 The great hurte and damage in the house of Mexico by fire 327 Things that happened to Pedro de Aluarado through his bolde attempt 329 The triumph sacrifice vvhich the Mexicans made for victory 331 The determination of Cortes to destroy Mexico 336 The hunger and infirmitie vvhiche the Mexicanâ— suffered vvith great courage 340 The imprisonment of Quahatimoc 343. The taking of Mexico 347 Maruelous signes and tokens of the destruction of Mexico 349 The buylding vp agayne of the Citie of Mexico 351 Hovv the Emperour sent to take account of Cortes his gouernment 354. The death of the Licenciat Luys Ponce 358 Hovv Cortes came into Spaine 359 The honour vvhiche the Emperour shevved vnto Cortes vvith revvarde 361 The mariage of Cortes 362 Hovv the Chancery vvas firste placed in Mexico 364 The returne of Cortes to Mexico 367. The letters vvhich the Indians vsed in Mexico 369 The Mexican yeare 371 The Indians beleeued that fiue ages vvere paste c. 377 The nation of the Indians called Chichimecas 378 The Coronation of the Kings of Mexico 379 The opinion of the Mexicans concerning the soule 382 The buriall of kings in Mexico 383 The order of the burial of the kings of Michuacan 386 The order of Matrimony among the Indians 389 Of the iudges and order of Iustice 391. The order of cruell sacrifice vsed among the Indians 392 The order of certayne religious vvomen 396 Hovv the Diuell appeared to the Indians in a strange forme 398 The viceroys of Mexico 399 The conuersion of the Indians 401 The death of HernaÌ„do Cortes 40â— FINIS
Iames Velasques of the great present sent vnto the Emperour to the intent it shoulde be taken from their attorners passing néere the porte of Hauana with all the letters and relations of their businesse bycause the Emperoure shoulde not sée it to conceyue well of their procéedings Then Cortez began to be agréeued in earnest and apprehended diuers of them whose confessions being taken the matter was manifestly knowen to be true and there vppon according to the processe hée condemned those that were most culpable and caused forthwith two of them to be hanged who were Iohn Escudero and Iames Cermenio pilot and condemned Gonsalo de Vmbria and Alonso Penate to be whipped and incontinent execution was done all the rest being pardoned With this correction Cortez was more feared and also estéemed than before he was for certainely if he hadde vsed gentlenesse he should neuer haue tamed them yea and if he had not loked to them in time he had bin spoyled for their pretence was to haue aduertised Iames Velasques who would haue preuented them of their Shyps and present and yet afterwarde he sente a Caruell after the sayd Ship although it were too late Cortez caused all his Shippes to be sunke and broken vpon the shore a most worthy facte COrtez purposed to goe vnto Mexico and would not gyue his Souldyers to vnderstand it bycause they shoulde not refuse the iourney through the talke of Teudilli especially hearing that the Citie of Mexico was situated vpon water whyche they imagined to be excéeding strong as in effect it was and to the intent that they should all follow hym although againste their willes he determined to spoyle all his Shyppes which was a strange case perillous and a great losse His intent throughly weyed he little estéemed the losse of his Shippes to withstand his men from disturbance of his enterprise for doubtlesse they woulde haue stayed him yea and rebelled if they hadde knowen his minde and pretended purpose He did secretly accord with one of the Maisters of hys Fléete in the nighte season to bore holes in them that thereby they myghte synke wythoute anye remedie to recouer them agayne Also he requested the other Maisters and Pylots to publish among the army that the Shyppes were so rotten and wormeaten that they were not fytte to goe to sea agayne and that they shoulde when they chanced to espye him and many of his Souldies togither come and certifie him openly of the estate and force of the sayde Shippes bycause that afterwardes they shoulde not laye any fault to his charge According to this instruction the Pylots and Maisters did accomplish his commaundemente for shortlye after they espyed him among a flocke of his companye and then came they vnto him saying Sir your nauie is not to make any moe voyages by reason that they are all leake and spoyled rotten and worme eaten wherfore according to our duetie we do certifie you thereof to prouide therein as you shall see cause All the Souldiers gaue credite to their tale bycause the Shippes had bin there more than thrée monethes And after long talke aboute the matter Cortez commaunded that they shoulde profite themselues of them the best that they myght and as for the Hulles let them sinke or runne a shore fayning great sorrow for so great a losse and want of such prouision And in this manner they lette runne a shore fyne of the best Shyppes fauyng theyr Ordinance vittayles sayles Cables Ankers ropes and all other tacle and shortely after they spoyled other foure vessels but that was done wyth some difficultie bycause they beganne to surmise the intente of Cortez and beganne openly to saye that Cortes meant to carrie them to the slaughter house He then pacifyed them wyth gentle wordes saying what is he that will refuse the warres in so riche a Countrey if there be any of you that wyll leaue my companye hée or they may if please them returne to Cuba in a Shyppe that yet remayneth And this hée spake to knowe howe many were the cowards meanyng in tyme of néede to haue no trust or confidence in them Then dyuers shamelesse persons demaunded licence to returne to Cuba but they were suche as loued no warres There wer also others that said nothing who woulde gladly haue retourned séeyng the greatenesse of the Countrey and the multitude of the people but yet they were ashamed to shewe cowardise openlye Cortez knowing his souldyers mindes commanded the other Ship to be sunke so that then they were all without hope to goe out of that Countrey at that time exalting and praysing the noble minde of Cortes shewed in that worthy facte Certaynely it was a déede necessary for the present time and done by the iudgement of a stout Captayne although he lost much by his Shyppes and abode without succour of the sea There are few of these examples which are not of valiant personages as was omiez Barbaroza with the cut arme who a few yeares past brake seauen Galleys and Foystes to winne thereby Bugia as largely I do write thereof in battayles of the sea in our dayes Hovv the inhabitants of Zempoallan brake downe their Idolles EVery day séemed long to Cortes with the desire to sée Mutezuma He nowe began to publishe openly his iourney and departure and chose out of the body of his host a hūdred and fiftie mē which he thought sufficient to leaue for safegard of the new towne and fort which was almost finished and appoynted Pedro de Hircio their Captaine leauing with them two Horses and two small péeces of Ordinance wyth many Indians to serue them and fiftie Townes round about them in faithfull friendship and league out of the which Townes they might alwayes haue at their néede fiftie thousande men of warre and he departed with the residue of his Spanyardes towarde Zempoallan whyche mighte be foure leagues from thence and was scarcely come to the Towne when newes was broughte hym that foure Shippes of Francisco Garray sayled along hys coast and were in sight of Vera Crux With this newes he returned incontinent with a hundred of his men suspecting euill of those Shippes At his comming to Vena Crux his Captaine there enformed him how he had gone himselfe to know what they were and from whence they came and what they would but coulde speake with none of them Cortes beyng informed how they roade at anker toke Captaine Hircio and certaine of his company to expect their commyng ashore suspectyng them muche bicause they roade so farre off being by signes and tokens willed to come into the Harbor Cortes hauing wandered neare thrée miles mette with thrée Spaniardes whiche came from the shippes the one of them sayde that he was a Notary and the other twoo were to serue for witnesses in their affayres which was to ascite and notifie certaine wrytings whiche they shewed not and also to require Cortes by vertue of the same to come and make repartitiō of that countrey with
horsemen thrée hundred Spanyardes and a great number of Indians with their peeces of Ordinance and where in thrée or foure dayes before they had not skirmished time serued the Mexicans at will to open al those places which were dammed vp before and also to builde better bulwarkes thaÌ„ those which were throwen downe attending with that horrible noyse accustomed But wheÌ„ they sawe the Vergantines on eache side theyr ioy was turned into sorrowe and beganne to fainte the whiche oure men vnderstood well and therewith alanded themselues vpon the calsey and wanne the bulwarke and the bridge Our army procéedyng forward set vppon the enimies vntill they came to another bridge the whyche was likewise wonne in shorte time and this pursued from bridge to bridge alwayes fighting vntill they had driuen them from the Calsey and stréetes Cortes for his part lost no time for he with tenne thousande Indians laboured to damme vp againe the sluses and broken places of the bridges making the way plaine both for Horsemen and footemen it was so much to doe that all those ten thousand Indians were occupyed therein from the morning vntill the euening The other Spanyards and Indian friends skirmished continually and slew many of their enimies Likewyse the Horsemen so scoured the stréetes that the enimies were forced to locke them vp in their houses Temples It was a notable thing to sée how our Indians played the menne that daye againste the Citizens sometimes they would chalenge them the fielde other times they would conuite them to supper and shewe vnto them legges armes and other péeces of maÌ„s flesh saying behold your owne flesh which shal serue for our supper and brekefast and to morrow we wil come for more therefore flye not you are valiant fellowes yet it were better for you to dye fighting than with hunger And after all this spéech euery one of them called vppon the name of his owne Towne with a loude voyce setting fire vppon their houses The Mexicans were replenished with sorrow to see themselues so afflicted with Spanyardes but yet theyr sorrowe was the greater to heare their owne vassals so raile againste them saying and crying at their owne dores victory victory Tlaxcallan Chalcho Tezcuco Xochmilco and other Townes the eating of their fleshe greeued them not for they did the like Cortes séeing the Mexicans so stoute and hard harted with full determination eyther to defend themselues or else to dye therevpon he bethought himselfe vppon two things the one was that he shoulde not obteyne the treasure whiche he had séene in the time of Mutezuma the other was that they gaue him occasion totally to destroy the Citie Both these things gréeued him much but especially the destructioÌ„ of the citie He ymagined with himselfe what he mighte doe to bring them to acknowledge their error and the hurt that mighte fall vpon them and for these considerations he pluckt downe their Towers and brake their idolles He burned also the greate house wherein he was lodged before and the house of foule which was néere at haÌ„d There was not one Spanyard who had séene that magnificall building before but lamented sore the sight but to agréeue the Citizens it was commaunded to be burned There was neuer Mexican that thought any humaine force how much lesse so fewe Spanyards shoulde haue entred into Mexico in despite of them all and to sette fire vpon their principallest edifices within the Citie While this house was a burning Cortes gathered his men and retired to his Campe. The Mexicans would fayne haue remedyed the fire but it was too late and séeing our men retire they followed wyth their noyse accustomed and slue some of our men who were laden with the spoyle and came behinde the reste The horsmen relieued our men and caused the enimy to retire in such wise that before night al our men werein safetie and the enimies in their houses the one sorte full of sorowe and the others wearied with fighte and trauel The slaughter was great that day but the burning and spoyle of houses was greater for besides those whiche wee haue spoken of the Vergantines did the like where they wente and the other Captaines also were not idle where they were appointed Things that happened to Pedro de Aluarado through his bolde attempt PEdro de Aluarado would passe his army to the market place of Tlalulco for he take much payn stoode in perill in susteyning the bridges which he had gotten hauing hys forte almost a league froÌ„ thence And again he being a man of a haughtie stomacke thinking as wel to get honor as his general and likewise being procured by his company who sayde that it were a shame for them if Cortez should winne that market place being more nearer vnto them than vnto him wherevpon he determined to winne those bridges which as yet wer vnwonne and to place himselfe in the market place He procéeded with all his army vntill they came to another brokeÌ„ bridge which was sixtie paces of length and two fadome depe the whiche with the helpe of the Vergantines he wan in short space and gaue order to certaine of his men to damme it vppe substancially and he himselfe pursued his enimies with fiftie Spaniardes But when the Citizens sawe so few in number and al footemen for the horses coulde not passe the sâ—â—ce so soone they came vpon them so sodainely fiercely that they made our men to turne their backes and trust to theyr legges yea and our men fel into the water they knewe not which way They slew many of our IndiaÌ„s and four Spaniards who forthwith they sacrifised and eate their fleshe in the open sight of al the army Aluarado saw his owne folly in not beleauing Cortes who had always forewarned him not to procede foreward vntil he had made the way sure behinde him but Aluarâ—do his counsellers payde their counsel with life Cortes sorrowed for the same for the like had happened vnto him if he had giuen credite to their counsel But as a prudent captain he considered the matter better for euery house was then an Ilande the calsey broken in many places and the zoties or house toppes beset with stones for these and suche like places vsed Quahutimoc Cortes went to see where Aluarado had pitched hys campe and also to rebuke him for that which was past and to aduise him what he shold do But when he came and found him so farre within the libertie of the Citie and the daungerous places which hadde passed he dyd highly coÌ„mend his valiaunt and good seruice he also coÌ„muned with him of manye things concerning the siege and then returned to his owne campe The tryumph and sacrifice vvhich the Mexicans made for their victorie COrtez delayed the time to pitche his campe in the market place of Mexico although daily his menn entrede and skirmished with in the Citie for the causes before alleaged and likewise to sée if Quahutimoc would yéeld himself And also the entrie could
not be but very daungerous for the great multitude of enimies that â—illed vp the streates Al his company Spaniardes ioynâ—ly with the kings Treasurer séeing the determination of Cortes and the hurt already receyued besought and also required him to passe his campe vnto the market place who aunswered them that they had spoken like valiaunt men but as yet quoth he it is not time conuenient we oughte to consider better of the matter for why the enimies are fully determined to ende their liues in defence of that place But his men replyed so muche that hee was compelled to graunte to theyr requeste and proclaymed the entraunce for the nexte daye following Hee wrote also in his letters to Gonsalo de Sandoual to Pedro de Aluarado the instructions of the things that they shoulde doe whiche was in effect to Sandoual that hee shoulde remoue hys campe wyth all hys fardage as thoughe he woulde retire and flye and that vppon the calsey he shoulde haue tenne horsemen in ambushe behinde certaine houses to the intent that when the Citizens should espie theÌ„ flie and would pursue after theÌ„ to passe betwixt them and home with the said horsemen after the hurt done among them in this sort that then he with al his army shoulde come where Pedro de Aluarado aboade with other tenne horsemen a hundered footemen and the Nauye of Vergantines and leauing with hym his men should then take thrée of the Vergantines and to procure to winne that broken bridge where Aluarado of late receiued the foyle and if he fortuned to wynne that place that then he should damme it vp and make it sure before he passed anye further and the like order he gaue vnto him for al other broken places that he should passe Vnto Aluarado he gaue commission that he shoulde passe as farre into the Citie as he myght possible requyring him also to send vnto him eightie Spaniardes Hée also appointed the other seauen Vergantines to passe into both the lakes with thrée thousand Canoas He deuided likewise all his army into thrée companies bycause they had thre ways to enter into the citie By the one of these wayes or streates entred the Treasurer and Auditor with seauentye Spaniardes twentie thousande Indians eight horsemen twelue labourers with pickeaxes and Shouels and many other ydle felowes to cary earth and stones and to fill vp the broken places and to make the way plaine The seconde streate he commended to George de Aluarado and Andres de Tapia with eightie Spaniardes tenne thousande Indians two pieces of Ordinaunce and eight horsemen Cortes himselfe toke the thirde way wyth a great number of friendes and a hundred Spaniardes footemen of the whiche were twentye fiue with Crossebowes and Harquebushes and coÌ„maunded his horsemeÌ„ which were eight in number to abide there behinde and not to folow after vntil he shold sende for them In thys order and al at one instant they entred the Citie shewing the harts of valiaunt men greatly annoying the enemy and wan many bridges but when they came neare vnto the towne house called Tianquiztli there gathered togither such a number of the Indian friendes who before theyr eyes scaled entred and robbed their houses that they thought assuredly that the same day the citie had bin wonne Cortez commaunded that they should procéede no further saying that they had done sufficientlye for that day for also he feared afterclappes He likewise demanded whether all the broken bridges were made sure in the whych quoth he coÌ„sisteth the peril and victorie But those that went with the Treasurer following victorie and spoyle had left a bridge not well dammed vp but verye hollowe and false the whiche was of twelue paces broad and two fadom in depth When Cortez was aduertised hereof he went thither to remedy the same but he was no sooner come when he sawe his men fléeing and leaping into the water with feare of the cruel enimies which followed who leapt after them into the water to kill them There came also along the calsey manye Indian boates of enimies who toke many of the Indian friends and Spaniards aliue Then Cortes and other fiftéene persons which were with him serued for no other purpose but to helpe out of the water those that were fallen some came wounded and others halfe drowned and without armour yea and the multitude of enimies so beset Cortes and his fiftéene companions who wer helping their meÌ„ and so occupyed in the same that they had no regarde to their owne peril Whervpon certaine Mexicans layd haÌ„d vpoÌ„ Cortes who truly they had carried away if it had not bin for one Francisco de Olea his seruaÌ„t who cut off at one blowe the armes of them that had hold of him and he by the enemies was immediately slain so that he died to saue his maisters life Then came Antonio de Quinionez captaine of the guard who caught Cortes by the arme by force pluckt him out of the throng of enimies wyth whom valiantly he fought But theÌ„ with the fame that Cortez was prisoner came many spaniards among whoÌ„ was one horseman who made some roome but in shorte space they thrust him through the throte with a launce and made him to retire The fight ceassed a little Cortes had a horse brought vnto him on the which he lightlye amounted and gathering his men togither came to the streate of Tlacopan whiche was large and faâ—re There diedâ— Guzman his Chamberlayne giuing a horse vnto his maister whose death was much lamented among them all for he was a man valiant honeste welbeloued There fel also into the water two horses the one was saued but the other was killed by the Indians As the Treasurer and his company were Combatting a bulwarke the enimies threw out of a window thrée Spaniards heads vnto them saying the like they would do with their heads if they went not from thence the sooner They séeing this sight and likewise coÌ„sidered the great hurte and spoyle made among them began to retire by little and little The Mexican Priestes went vp into the Towres of Tlatelulco and made their fiers in chafing dishes and put therevnto the swéete guÌ„me of Copalli in token of victorie and forthwith stripped fiftie Spaniards captiues as naked as they were borne and with their fine rasors opened them in the breastes and pluckt out their hartes for an offering to the Idols and sprinckled their bloud in the ayre Our men seing before their eies the doleful sight would fain haue gone to reueÌ„ge the cruel custome But as time then required they had ynough to doe to put themselues in sauetie through the great troupe of Indians which came vpon them who now feared neither horse nor sword This day as ye haue heard were fortie Spaniards sacrificed and Cortes wounded in one of hys legges and thirtie moe of his men they lâ—ste a piece of Orâ—inance and foure horses Also that day was slayne aboue two thousand Indian friends and