whome he offereth bread flowers Papers and little Canes died in the bloudde of his owne tongue nose handes and other partes of his body After the foure dayes expired then come all the Noble men to beare him company to his palayce with great triumphe and pleasure of all the Cittie but after his consecration fewe or none dare looke him in the face And now with the declaryng of the actes and Ceremonies that the Mexican Kings are crowned I shall not néede to rehearse of other kyngs for generally they all do vse the same order sauyng that other Princes goe not vp to the toppe of the Temple but abide at the foote of the steppes to be crowned and after theyr Coronation they come to Mexico for their confirmation and then at theyr returne to their countrey they made many drunkē feasts and banquets The opinion of the Mexicans concerning the Soule THe Mexicans did beléeue that the Soule was immortal and that they receyued eyther ioy or payne according to theyr desertes liuyng in this worlde vnto which opinion all their religion did attayne and chiefly appeare at their burials They holde for an assured faith that there were nine places appointed for soules the chiefest place of glory to be neare vnto the Sunne where the soules of those whiche were good men slaine in the warres those which were sacrifised were placed and that all other sortes of euill persons their soules above on the earth were deuided after this sorte children that were dead borne went to one place those which died of age or other disease went to another those which died of sodden death to another those whiche died of woundes or contagious diseases went to an other place those which were drowned went to another those which were put to death for offence by order of iustice as for robbery and adultery to another Those which slewe their fathers mothers wiues or childrē to another place by themselues also those who slew their maysters or any religious person went to another place The common sorte of people were buried but Lordes and rich men had their bodies burned their ashes buried In their shreudes they had a greate difference for many dead bodies were buried better apparelled than when they were on liue Women were shrewded after another sorte And he that suffered death for adulterie was shrewded like vnto the God of leachery called Tlazoulteutl he that was drowned like vnto the God of water named Tlacoc and he that died with drunkennesse was shrewded like vnto the God of wyne called Ometochtli But the Souldier had an honorable shrewde like vnto the attyre of Vitzilopuchtli and the lyke order in all other sortes of deathes The buriall of Kings in Mexico WHen any Kyng of Mexico happened to fall sicke they vsed foorth-with to put a visor vppon the face of Tezcatlipuca or Vitzilopuchtli or some other Idoll whiche Visor was not taken awaye vntill they sawe whether the kyng did amend or else die But if he chaunsed to die then worde was sent throughout all his dominions to bewaile his death and also other postes were sent to call the Noble menne that were his nighest kinsmen and to warne them within foure dayes to come vnto his buriall The dead body was layde vpon a fayre matte was watched foure nightes with great lamëtation and mournyng then the body was washed and a locke of heare cut from the crowne of his head whiche was preserued as a great relicke saying that therein remayned the remembrance of his soule This done a fine Emerald was put into his mouth and his body shrewded in seuentene riche mantles of colours both riche and costly wrought Vpon the vpper mantle was sette the deuise or armes of Vitzilopuchtli or Tezcalipuca or of some other idoll in whome the kyng had greate confidence in his lyfe tyme and in his temple should the body be buried Vpō his face they put a visor paynted with foule and Diuelish gestures besette with many iewelles precious stones and pearles Then they killed his slaue whose office was to light the Lampes and make fire vnto the Goddes of his pallayce These things done they carried the dead body vnto the Temple some followed him with dolefull tune others song the death of the kyng by note for so was the custome The Noble men and Gentlemen of his housholde carried Targets Arrowes Mases and Ensignes to throwe into the fire where the body should be buried in the Temple The high Priest and all the Clergie receyued him at the Temple gate with a sorrowfull song and after he had sayde certayne wordes the body was throwen into a great fire made for the purpose with all the iewels that he had aboute him and all the other things whiche was brought to honour the burial also a dogge newly strangled with an arrowe whiche was to guyde him his way In the meane whyle that the King and dogge were burnyng the Priests sacrificed twoo hūdred persons howbeit in this Ceremonie there was no ordinary taxe for sometymes they sacrificed many moe they were opened with a rasour of flinte in the breastes and theyr hartes taken out and throwen into the fire where the Kings body was These miserable persons beyng sacrificed and their bodies throwen into a hole they beléeued assuredly that those shoulde serue for his slaues in another worlde some of them were dwarffes monstrous and deformed persons with some women They placed about the dead body of the King before his buriall Roses Floures and sundry dishes of meate and drinke and no creature durste touche the same but onely the Priests for it séemed to be an offeryng The nexte day followyng all the ashes were gathered togither and the téeth with the Emerald that was in his mouth the whiche things were put into a chest paynted on the inside with horrible figures of diuels and the locke of heare whiche was cut from his crowne and another locke of heare which was preserued from the tyme of his birth Then the chest was lockte and an image of wood made and clothed like vnto the Kings person which was set on the toppe of the chest The obsequies endured foure dayes in the whiche the wines and daughters of the king offered great offerings at the place where his body was buried and before the chest and his image On the fourth day after the buriall fiftene slaues were sacrificed for his soule and on the twentith day other fiue persons were also sacrificed likewise on the sixtie thrée and fourescore whiche was lyke vnto the yéeres minde The order of buriall of the Kings of Michuacan THe kingdeme of Michuacan is almoste as great as the Empire of Mexico and when any king of that countrey happened to be visited with sicknesse and brought to suche extremitie that hope of life were past according to the opinion of Phisitions then would he name and appoint whiche of his Sonnes shoulde inherite the estate and beyng knowen the new king or heyre incontinent
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
he married with a rich gentlewoman of that countrey by whom he hath children and is made a Captaine and wel estéemed with the Cazike for the victories that he hath had in the wars against the other Lords I sent vnto him your worships letter desiring him that he would come with me hauing so fit a passage but he refused my request I belieue for verye shame bycause hee had his nose ful boared of holes his eares sagged hys face handes painted according to the vse of the countrey or else he abode there for the loue he bare to his wife and children All those whiche stoode by hard this Historie were amased to heare Geronimo de Aguilar report howe those Indians did sacrifise eate mans flesh They also lamented the miserie death of his fellowes and highly praysed God to sée him frée frō his bondage from such cruel barbarous people to haue likewise so good an enterpreter with thē for vndoubtedly it semed a miracle y Aluarados ship fel into a leak for with the extremity they returned back again to that Iland wheras with contrarie winde they were constrayned to abide the cōming of Aguilar And certainly he was y mean speech of al their procéedings And therfore haue I bin so prolixious in the rehearsal of this matter as a notable point of this historie Also I wil not let to tell how the mother of Geronimo de Aguilar became mad c. When she hard the hir son was captiue among people the vsed to eate mās flesh euer after whē she saw any flesh spitted or roasted she would make an open outcrie saying oh I miserable woman behold this is the flesh of my deare beloued sonne who was all my comfort The Iland of Acusamil THe Indians naturall of that countrey do cal their Ilande Acusamil corruptlye Cosumel Iohn de Grijalua was that first Spaniard that apported there and named it the holy Roode bycause hee fell in sighte therof on holy roade daye It cōtayneth ten leagues in length thrée leagues in breadth although some say more some lesse it standeth twentye degrées on this side the equator and fiue leagues from the womēs cape it hath thrée villages in the which liueth nere thousand mē The houses are of stone and brick and couered with straw bowes some with tile Their temples and towers are made of lime stone very wel built thei haue no other fresh water but out of welles and raine water Calachuni is their chiefe Lord they are browne people goe naked if any weare cloth it is made of cotten wool only to couer their priuie mēbers they vse lōg hear platted bound about their foreheads they are great fishermē so the fish is their chiefest foode sustenance they haue also Maiz which is for bread also good fruites hony but somewhat soure and plots for bées which contayn 1000 hiues They knew not to what vse wax serued but whē they saw our mē make cādels therof they wōdred therat Their dogges haue Foxe faces and barke not these they gelde and fatten to eate This Iland is ful of high moūtaines at the feete of them good pastures many Deare and wilde Boares Connyes and Hares but they are not great The Spaniardes with their handguns and crossebowes prouide them of that victual fresh salt and dried The people of this Iland are Idolaters they doe sacrifice children but not manye And many times in stead of children they sacrifice dogges They are poore people but very charitable and louing in their false religion and beliefe The religion of the people of Acusamil THe temple is like vnto a square Toure broad at the foote steps round about it from the middest vpward very straight the top is hollow couered with straw it hath foure windowes with frontals and galleries In that holow place is their chappel wheras their Idols do stand The temple that stoode by the sea side was such a one in the which was a maruellous straunge Idol and differed muche from all the rest although they haue manye and of diuerse fashions The body of this Idol was great and hollow and was fastened in that wall with lime hee was of earth And behinde this Idols backe was the Vesterie where was kept ornaments other things of seruice for the temple The priests had a little secret dore hard adioyning to the Idol by which dore they crept into the hollow Idol and answered the people that came with prayers peticiōs And with this deceit the simple soules beleued al that the Idol spake honored the god more thā al the rest with many perfumes swéete smelles and offered bread and fruite with sacrifice of Quayles bloud and other birds and dogges and sometime mans bloud And through the fame of this Idoll and Oracle many Pilgrimes came to Acusamil from many places At the foote of this Temple was a plotte like a Churchyard well walled and garnished with proper pinnacles in the middest whereof stoode a Crosse of ten foote long the which they adored for God of the rayne for at all times whē they wanted rayne they would goe thither on Procession deuoutely and offered to the Crosse Quayles sacrificed for to appease the wrath that the God séemed to haue agaynste them and none was so acceptable a sacrifice as the bloud of that little birde They vsed to burne certaine swéete gūme to perfume that God withall and to be sprinckle it with water and this done they beléeued assuredly to haue rayne Suche is the Religiō of those Indians of Acusamil They could neuer know the original how that God of Crosse came amōgst them for in all those parties of India there is no memorie of anye Preaching of the Gospell that had bin at any time as shall be shewed in another place The Battell and vvinning of Potenchan COrtez procéeded with his Fléete very ioyfull bycause he had found one of his Ships which hée thought had bin lost aported at the riuer de Grijalua whiche in the Indian tong is called Tauases and anckred at the riuers mouth fearing to enter in with the bigger vessels ouer the barre and incontinente came manye Indians to gaze at them and theyr Shippes who were armed with feathers and suche lyke armour as they vse séeming a farre off trimme fellowes They wondered not muche to sée oure Shyppes and menne bycause they hadde séene before Iohn de Grijalua in the same Riuer The behauiour of that people and scituation of the Countrey liked Cortez verye well so that leauyng sufficiente garde in hys Shyppes he manned hys Vergantynes and Boates and carried with hym certayne pieces of Ordinance and with force of oares he entred the Riuer agaynste the streame whiche was verye greate and hauyng rowen little more than halfe a league they espyed a greate Towne walled wyth Timber and the houses made of mudwall couered with strawe The Towne wall was verye
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
it should be said that Cortes and his company fledde being in securitie and without perill or daunger I beséech God not to permitte any suche thing The warres doe muche consist in fame why then what better thyng would you desire than to be héere in Tlaxcallan in despite of all youre enimies yea proclayming open warres againste them and they not dare to annoy vs Therefore you may well consider that héere you are more sure than if you were from hence so that héere in Tlaxcallan you are honored with securitie and strength and besides this you haue al things necessary of phisicke and medicine to cure youre woundes and obteyne your health yea and I am bolde to saye that if you were in youre owne naturall Countrey you shoulde not haue the like nor yet so much made off I do nowe meane to send for our men that are in Coazacoalco and Almeria and so we shall haue a reasonable army yea and although they come not wée are sufficient for we were fewer in number when first we entred into thys Countrey hauyng no friendes and likewise you knowe well it is not the number that doth fighte but the couragious hearte and minde I haue séene one of you discomfyte a whole army as Ionatas did yea and manye among you haue had victory against a thousand yea ten thousand Indians as King Dauid had againste the Philistines I looke dayly for Horses from the Ilandes and other armoure and artillerie we shall haue from Vera Crux And as for vittayles take you no care for I wyll prouide you abundantly for they are thinges that alwayes followe the Conqueroures and as for these Citizens of Tlaxcallan I binde my selfe that you shall finde them trustie loyall and perpetuall friendes for so they haue promised me vppon their solemne othes yea and if they had meante otherwise what better oportunitie of time could they haue wished thā these latter dayes where as we lay sicke in their owne beddes and houses yea some of vs lame wounded and in manner rotten and they like louing friendes haue not only holpen you but also serued you with diligence of seruantes for they woulde rather choose to be your slaues than subiectes to the Mexicans theyr hatred is suche to them and their loue so great to you And bycause you shall sée the troth I will now proue them and you againste these of Tepeacac who slewe of late dayes twelue Spanyardes And if this iourney happen euill then will I followe youre request and if it please God that it happen well then wyll I entreate and pray you to follow my counsell The Souldyers hearing this comfortable spéeche began to lay aside their desire to goe from thence to Vera Crux They aunswered generally that they woulde obey his commaundemente it shoulde séeme with the promise made touching the successe of the victory in Tepeacac and lightly seldome it happeneth that a Spanyard saith no when he is required to goe on warfare for it is holden for a dishonor and shame The vvarres of Tepeacac COrtez found himselfe at hearts ease with this answere for it was a thing that had much troubled him vndoubtedly if he had followed his fellowes demand he shoulde neuer haue recouered Mexico agayne they likewise had bin slayne in the way towards Vera Crux for they hadde manye perillous places to passe Eache one of them waxed whole of his wounds sauing some which dyed for wāt of loking to in time leauing their wounds filthy vnbound as Surgiōs doe affirme with also their great trauell weakenesse And likewise other some remayned lame and halt which was no small griefe and losse but the most parte recouered healthe as I haue declared After twenty dayes fully past whiche they had abode in Tlaxcallan Cortes determined to make warre with the Indians of Tepeacac which is a great Towne and not farre from thence for they hadde slayne twelue Spanyards whiche came from Vera Crux towardes Mexico Likewise they were of the league of Culhua and therfore were holpen by the Mexicans and did many times great hurt to the inhabitantes of Tlaxcallan as Xicotencatl did testifye Cortes desired hys louing friende Maxixca and diuers other Gentlemen to goe with him who forthwith entred into counsell wyth the states and comunaltie of the Citie and there determined with generall consente to gyue vnto him fortie thousand fighting men besides many Tamemoz who are foote carriers to beare the baggage victuall and other things With this number of Tlaxcaltecas his owne men and horses he wente to Tepeacac requiring them in satisfaction of the death of the twelue Christiās that they shuld now yéelde themselues to the obedience of the Emperor and that héereafter neuer more to receiue any Mexican into theyr towne or houses neyther yet any of the prouince of Culhua The Tepeacacs answered that they had slaine the Spaniardes for good and iuste cause whiche was that being tyme of warre they presumed to passe through their countrey by force without their will and licence And also that the Mexicans and Culhuacans were their friendes and Lordes whom alwayes they would friendly entertayne within their towne and houses refusing vtterly their offer and request protesting to giue no obedience to whom they knew not wishyng them therefore to returne incontinent to Tlaxcallan excepte they had desire to ende their werie dayes Cortes innuited them diuers times with peace and seing it preuailed not he begā his warres in earnest Their enimies lykewise with the fauour of the Culhuacans were braue and lustie and began to stoppe and defend their pretended entraunce And they beyng many in number with diuers valiant men among them began to skirmishe sundry times but at the end they were ouerthrowen and many slayne without killing any Spaniarde although many Tlaxcaltecas were killed that day The Lordes and principall persons of Tepeacac seyng theyr ouerthrow and that their strength coulde not preuayle yéelded themselues vnto Cortes for vassalles of the Emperour with condition to banish for euer their allied friendes of Culhua And that he should punishe and correct at his will and pleasure all those whiche were occasion of the death of the twelue Spaniardes For which causes and obstinacie at the firste Cortes iudged by his sentence that all the townes whiche had bene priuie to the murder should for euer remaine captiues and slaues others affirme that he ouercame them without any condition and corrected them for their disobedience being Sodomites idolaters and caters of mans flesh and chiefly for exāple of all others And in conclusion they were condemned for slaues and within twentie dayes that this warres lasted he pacified all that prouince which is very great he draue from thēce the Culhuacans he threw downe the idols and the chiefest persons obeyed him And for more assuraunce he builte there a towne naming it Segura de la Frontera he appoynted all officers for the purpose being a towne situated in the high way from Vera Crux to