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
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
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
to set vp a Crosse for remembrance of the death and passion of Iesu Christe borne of the virgin Marie The whiche their promisse was well fulfilled for after that day the Spanyardes coulde neuer heare nor finde of any moe sacrifice But yet there abode in their hartes a mortall rancor the whiche coulde not long be dissimuled Truely in this worthy facte Cortes gotte more honour than though he had ouercomen them in battayle The burning of the Lorde Qualpopoca and other Gentlemen AFter twentie dayes that Mutezuma had bene prysoner returned the messengers who had gone with the seale for Qualpopoca and brought him his Sonne and other fiftene principall persons with them the whiche by inquirie made were culpable and partakers in the counsell and death of the nine Spaniardes Qualpopoca entred into Mexico accompanied like a greate Lorde as he was beyng borne vpon his seruaunts shoulders in rich furniture As sone as he had saluted Mutezuma he his Sonne were deliuered vnto Cortes with the other fiftene Gentlemen Cortes placed them asunder and commaunded them to be put in Irons and theyr examinations taken they confessed that they had slayne those Spaniardes in battayle Cortes demaunded of Qualpopoca if he were subiect to Mutezuma why quoth he is there any other Prince to whome I might be in subiection giuing almost to vnderstand that he was a Lorde absolute Cortes answered that a farre greater Prince was the King of Spayne whose subiects vnder colour of friendship and salfeconduct he had slayne But quoth he nowe shalte thou make payment thereof And beyng agayne more straighter examined they confessed that they had slaine two Spaniards by the aduice and inducement of the greate prince Mutezuma and the residue were slayne in the warres and had assaulted their houses and entred their countrey wherefore they helde it lawfull to kill them Through the confession pronounced by their owne mouthes sentence was giuen against them and they condēned to be burned whiche sentence was openly executed in the market place in sight of all the people without any mutine or slaunder and with great silence terrour feare of the newe maner of iustice which they sawe there executed vpon so noble a man in the chiefe seate and kyngdome of Mutezuma beyng gestes and straungers The cause of the burnyng of Qualpopoca AT the time that Cortes departed from Vera Crux he left in cōmission to Pedro Hircio to procure to inhabite in that place which is called Almeria not to permit Francisco de Garray to soiourne there for so much as once he was driuen frō that coast Now Hircio to fulfill his cōmission sente to requyre those Indians with peace and friēdship and to yéeld themselues for vassals of the Emperour Qualpopoca Lorde of Nahutlan which is now called as aforesaid Almeria sent to aduertise Pedro Hircio that he could not come to yéelde his obedience for the enimies that were in the way but if it would please him to sende some of his men for the securitie of the way he would willyngly come vnto him Hircio hearing this answere sent foure of his men giuing credite to his message and for the desire he hadde to inhabite there When the soure Spanyardes came into the prouince of Nahutlan there mette with them many armed men who slew two of them and made thereof a great triumph the other two escaped sore wounded and returned with that newes to the Towne of Vera Crux Pedro Hircio beleeuing that Qualpopoca had done that iniurie armed out agaynst hym fiftie Spanyardes and ten thousand Indians of Zempoallan with two horses and two péeces of Ordinance Qualpopoca hearing this newes came with a mightie power to driue them out of his Countrey and in that encounter seauen Spanyardes were slayne and many Zempoallanezes but at the ende he was ouercome his Countrey spoyled and Towne sacked and many of his army slaine and taken captiues The prisoners declared that by the commaundement of the greate Lorde Mutezuma all this vprore was attempted by Qualpopoca it mighte well be for at the houre of death they confessed the same But some affirme they sayde so but to excuse themselues and to lay the fault to the Mexicans Hircio wrote these newes to Cortez béeyng in Chololla and through these letters Cortez apprehended Mutezuma as is afore declared Hovv Cortez put a payre of giues on Mutezuma his legges BEfore the execution of Qualpopoca and hys fellowes Cortes declared vnto Mutezuma that Qualpopoca and his company had confessed that by hys aduice and commaundemente the nine Spanyardes were slayne wherein he had done very euill they being his friendes and guestes but quoth he if it were not in respect of the loue I beare vnto you this matter shoulde not in this sort be shut vp and then knocked a payre of giues on his legges saying he that killeth ought to be killed according to the lawes of god These things did Cortes bycause he shoulde occupye himselfe in his owne griefe and sorrow and to let other mens passe Mutezuma waxed pale with countenāce of death through the great feare that he was in séeyng himselfe in Irons a new and strange thing for suche a great King excusing himselfe that he was innocent of the facte And as soone as the execution of burning was done Cortez commaunded to put away the Irons that Mutezuma ware offering him libertie and willing him to goe vnto his owne pallace who reioyced much to sée himselfe out of the Irons and gaue Cortes most hartie thankes and refused to goe home to his owne pallace surmising that the offer was but wordes or else fearing least his subiects woulde kyll him séeing him out of the Spanyardes power for permitting himselfe to be taken prisoner and so to be kept Hée sayd also that if he went from them his subiectes woulde rebell and compell him to kill the Spanyardes Truly the poore simple soule was of small hearte and courage to suffer himselfe to be taken prisoner and after his imprisonment woulde neuer procure libertie Cortes offering it vnto him and many of his noble men desired him And remayning in that order there was none in Mexico durst offende any Spanyard for feare of displeasing him for Qualpopoca came 70. leagues with only warning him that the great Lorde had sent for him shewing hym the figure of his seale yea and al the péeres of his realme that dwelte farthest off were ready to obey hys commaundementes Hovv Cortez sent to seeke for Mines of golde into diuers places COrtez had a greate desire to know howe farre the Empire of Mutezuma dyd extende and what friendship was betwixte him and other Kings and Princes Comarcans and also to gather togither a good summe of gold to send to Spayne to the Emperoure for his custome or firste parte with full relation of the Countrey people and things happened vntill that day Wherefore he prayed Mutezuma to shew him where the mynes were from whence he and his subiectes had the golde and plate Mutezuma
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
the estate of Mutezuma The description of Tlaxcallan TLaxcallan is properly in the Indian tong as much to say as bread well baked for there is more grayne called Centli gathered than is in all the prouince round about In times past the Citie was called Texcallan that is to say a valley betwixt two hilles It is a greate Citie and planted by a riuer side whiche springeth out of Atlancatepec and watreth the most parte of that prouince and from thence issueth out into the South sea by Zacatullan This Citie hathe foure goodly stréetes whiche are called Tepeticpac Ocotelulco Tizatlan Quiahuiztlan The firste stréete standeth on hygh vpon a hyll farre from the riuer whiche maye be aboute halfe a league and bycause it standeth on a hill it is called Tepeticpac that is to say a hyll and was the firste population which was fouÌ„ded there on high bycause of the warres An other stréete was scituate on the hill side towarde the Riuer bycause at the building thereof there were many pyne trées they named it Ocotelulco which is to say a pine apple plot This stréete was beautifull and firste inhabited of all the Citie and there was the chiefest Market place where all the buying and selling was vsed and that place they called Tianquiztli in that stréete was the dwelling house of Maxixca Along the Riuer side in the playne standeth another stréete called Tizatlan bycause there is muche lyme and chalke In this stréete dwelled Xicotencatl Captayne generall of the common weale There is another stréete named by reason of the brackish water Quiahuiztlan but since the Spanyardes came thither all those buildings are almost altered after a better fashion and built with stone In the plaine by the riuer side standeth the Towne house and other offices as in the Citie of Venice This Tlaxcallan was gouerned by noble and riche men they vse not that one alone should rule but rather flye from that order as from tyrannie In their warres as I haue sayde before they haue foure Captaynes whiche gouerneth â—ache one stréete of the whiche foure they do elect a Captayne generall Also there are other Gentlemen that are vndercaptaynes but a small number In the warres they vse their standerde to be carried behynde the army but when the battayle is to be fought they place the standerde where all the hoste may sée it and he that commeth not incontinent to hys auntient payeth a penaltie Their standerd hathe two crossebowe arrowes set thereon whiche they estéeme as the relikes of their auncetors Thys standerd two olde souldiers and valiant menne being of the chiefest Captaynes haue the charge to carrie in the which standerde an abusion of southsaying eyther of losse or victory is noted In this order they shote one of these arrowes against the first enimies that they méete and if with that arrow they doe eyther kill or hurte it is a token that they shall haue the victorie and if it neyther kill nor hurt then they assuredly beléeue that they shall lose the field This prouince or Lordship of Tlaxcallan hath 28. Villages and townes wherein is conteyned 150000. householdes They are men well made and good warriors the lyke are not among the Indians They are very poore and haue no other riches but only the grayne or corne called Centli and with the gayne and profite thereof they doe both cloth themselues and paye their tributes and prouide all other necessaries They haue many market places but the greatest and most vsed dayly standeth in the stréete of Ocotelulco whiche is so famous that 30000. persons come thither in one day to buy and sell whyche is to say changing one thing for another for they know not what money meaneth They sell such things in that market as héere we vse al thing vnto them néedeful to eate and cloth for themselues and necessaries for building They haue all kinde of good policie in the Citie there are Goldsmithes fetherdressers Barbors hotehouses and potters who make as good earthen vessel as is made in Spayne The earth is fat and fruitefull for corne fruite and pasture for among the pine trées groweth so muche grasse that our men féede their cattell there whiche in Spayne they can not do Within two leagues of that Citie standeth a rounde hill of sixe miles of heigth and fiue and fortie myles in compasse and is now called Saint Bartholmewes hill where the snow fréeseth In times past they called that hill Matealcucie who was their God for water They had also a God for wyne who was named Ometochtli for the great dronkennesse whiche they vsed Their chiefest God was called Camaxtlo and by another name Mixcouatl whose Temple stoode in the stréete of Ocâ—telulco in the whiche temple there was sacrifised some yeares aboue eyghte hundred persons In Tlaxcallan they spake thrée languages that is to saye Nahualh whiche is the courtly spéech and chiefest in all the land of Mexico an other is called Otomir which is most commonly vsed in the Villages There is one onely stréete that spake Pinomer which is the grosest speache There was also in that Citie a common Iayle where fellons lye in yrons and all things which they held for sinne was there corrected It chanced at that time a Townesman to steale from a Spanyard a little golde whereof Cortes complayned to Maxixca who incoÌ„tinent made such enquirie that the offender was found in Chololla whiche is another Citie fyue leagues from thence they brought the prisoner with the golde and deliuered him to Cortez to doe with him hys pleasure Cortes woulde not accepte him but gaue hym thankes for his diligence then was he carried wyth a Cryer before hym manifestyng hys offence and in the Market place vppon a skaffolde they brake hys ioyntes with a cudgell our men maruelled to sée suche straunge Iustice The aunsvvere of the Tlaxcaltecas touching the leauing of their Idolles WHen Cortez saw that these people executed Iustice and liued in Religion after theyr manner although abhominable and diuelish and alwayes when he desired them to leaue off from their Idolatrie and that cruell vanitie in killing and eating men sacrifised considering that none among them how holly soeuer he were would willingly be slayne eaten required them to beléeue in the most true God of the Chrystians who was the maker of Heauen and earth the giuer of rayne and creator of all things that the earthe produceth only for the vse and profite of mortall man. Some of them aunswered that they woulde gladly do it onely to pleasure him but they feared that the commons would arise and stone them Others sayde that it was an hard matter to vnbeléeue that which their forefathers had so long beléeued and that it shoulde be a cause to condemne their forefathers and themselues Others sayde that it mighte be in time they woulde conuert séeing the order of the Christian Religion and vnderstanding the reasons and causes to turne Christians and likewise perceyuing thoroughly the manner
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