Part 24

_Cortes_ innuited them diuers times with peace, and seing it preuailed not, he begä 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 eaters of mans flesh, and chiefly for exäple of all others. And in conclusion, they were condemned for slaues, and within twenty daies that these warres lasted, he pacified all that prouince, which is very great: he draue from thëce 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 _Mexico_, whereby the Christians and straungers mighte passe without daunger. In these warres serued lyke faithfull friendes the _Indians_ of _Tlaxcallan_, _Huexocinco_ and _Cholalla_, promysing the lyke seruice and succour agaynst _Mexico_, yea and rather better than worse. With this victory the Spaniardes recouered great fame, for they were thought to haue bene slayne.

The great auctoritie that Cortez _had among the Indians_.

After all these things were finished, _Cortes_ cömaunded & gaue licence to al the _Indian_ friëds, to returne home vnto their houses, except his assured friends of _Tlaxcallan_, whö he kept in his company for the warres of _Mexico_: he nowe dispatched a poste to _Vera Crux_, commaundyng that foure of the shippes which _Naruaez_ had brought, should be sent with al spéede to y^e Iland of _Santo Domingo_, for men, horses, armour, pouder & other munition, also for wollen cloth, linnen, shooes, and many other things: and wrote his letters for the same to the licenciat _Rodrigo de Figueroa_, and to the whole magistrates of Chancery, certifying them of all their procéedings in that countrey; beséechyng them of helpe and succour, and that forthwith to be sent by the messenger.

This done, he sente twentie horsemen, twoo hundred Spaniardes, and many _Indians_ vnto _Zacatami_ and _Xalaxinco_, whiche were townes subiect to the _Mexicans_, and placed in the high way to _Vera Crux_, who had slayne certaine Spaniardes passyng that way. This company wente thither, with their accustomed protestations, whiche preuayled not, wherevpon followed fire and spoyle: many Gentlemen and other principall persons came to yéelde themselues to _Cortes_, more for feare than for good will, crauyng pardon for theyr offence, promising also not to offende agayne, nor yet at any tyme to take armour agaynst the Spaniardes. _Cortes_ pardoned them, & then hys armie returned, with determination to kéepe his Christmasse in _Tlaxcallan_, whiche was within twelue dayes followyng. He left a Captaine with thrée score Spaniards in the newe towne of _Segura_, to kéepe that passage, and also to put in feare the _Comarcans_ that dwelled thereabout: he sente before him his whole armie, and he himself went with twentie horsemen from thence to _Coliman_ to lodge there that night, being a cittie of his allied friendes, and there to ordaine and make by hys auctoritie, bothe Noble men and Captaynes in lue of them whiche died with the disease of small pockes. He aboade there thrée dayes, in the whiche the newe Lordes were ordeyned, who afterwardes remayned his especiall friendes. The nexte day hée came _Tlaxcallan_, beyng sixe leagues distant from thence, where he was triumphantly receyued. And truely at that time he made a iourney most worthie of renowne and glory.

At this season his déere friende _Maxixca_ was departed this transitorie lyfe, for whome he mourned clothed in blacke, after the Spanishe fashion: he lefte behinde him certaine sonnes, of whom the eldest was .xij. yéeres of age, whome _Cortes_ named and appoynted for Lorde of his fathers estate, and the commons did certifie it to appertaine vnto him. This was no small glory for _Cortes_ to giue estates, and also to take them away at his pleasure, yea and that those _Indians_ should haue him in suche feare and respect, that none durste doe any thyng in acceptyng the inheritaunce of their fathers without his good will and licence.

Now _Cortes_ procured that euery man shoulde make his harneys, weapons and prouision readie and in good order: he made also great haste in building Vergantines, for his timber was already cutte and seasoned: he sente vnto _Vera Crux_ for sayles, tacle, nayles, roapes and other necessarie things, whereof there was store remaynyng of the furniture of the shippes that were sunke. And hauyng wante of pitche, for in that countrey the _Indians_ knewe not what it meant, he commaunded certayne of his Mariners to make the same in the highe Mountaynes where was store of Pine trées, and not farre from the cittie.

The Vergantines that Cortez commaunded _to be built, and the Spaniardes which he had ioyned togither to besiege Mexico_.

The fame of prosperitie whiche _Cortes_ enioyed, was wonderfully blowen abroade with the newes of the imprisonment of _Mutezuma_, and the victory against _Pamfilo de Naruaez_, wherevppon there came many Spaniardes by twenty and twentie in a company from _Cuba_, _Santo Domingo_, and other Ilandes. Although that iourney coste some their liues, for in the way they were murdered by those of _Tepeacac_ and _Xalacinco_, as is before declared, yet notwithstanding there came many to _Tlaxcallan_, whereby his hoste was muche encreased, beséechyng him to make haste towarde the warres.

It was not possible for _Cortes_ to haue espies in _Mexico_, for the _Tlaxcaltecas_ were knowen by their lippes, eares, and other tokens, and also they had in _Mexico_ garde and greate enquirie for that purpose, by reason wherof he could not certainely knowe what passed in those parties, accordyng as he desired, for to haue prouided himself of things néedefull: yet a Captayne whiche was taken prysoner in _Huacacholla_, certified that _Cuetlauac_ Lorde of _Iztacpalapan_, Neuewe to _Mutezuma_, was elected Emperour after his Vncles death, who was a wise and valiant man, and hée it was that had dryuen _Cortes_ out of _Mexico_, who now had fortified _Mexico_ with many bulworkes and caues, and with many and sundry sortes of weapon, but chiefly very long Lances, yea and planted them in the grounde to resiste and molest the horsemen. He proclaymed pardon and frée libertie, without paying any tribute for the space of one whole yéere, yea and further as long as the warres should laste, he promysed also great rewardes to all them that shoulde kill any Christian, or expulse them from that countrey. This was a policie whereby he gatte muche credite among his vassals, yea and gaue them greate courage to play the valiant men. All this newes was founde to be true, sauyng onely _Cuetlauac_ was dead. And that _Quahutimoccin_, Neuew also, as some doe say, of _Mutezuma_, raygned at that tyme, who was a valiant man and a good warrier, as hereafter shalbe declared, who sente his messengers through out his Empyre, proclaymyng as great rewardes as _Cuetlauac_ had done before, declaryng vnto them that it was more reason to serue him than straungers, and also to defende theyr olde auncient Religion, and not to credite suche Christians as woulde make themselues Lordes of other mens goodes, yea and make them slaues and captiues as they had done in other places. _Quahutimoc_ encouraged muche his subiectes, and kindled with his talke their wrath agaynst the Spaniards: yet there were some prouinces that gaue no eare to his information, but rather leaned to our side, or else medled with neyther side. _Cortes_ seyng the effect of the matter, determined forthwith to beginne the warres: he mustered his men on Sainct Steuens day, and founde fourtie horsemen, and fiue hundreth & fourtie footemen, wherof foure score were Hargabushiers, and crossebow men, niene péeces of ordinaunce, and little powder: his horsemen he diuided into foure squares, and his footemen into nine: he named & appointed captaynes, and other officers for the host, vnto whom in general he spake as followeth.

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 shalbe 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. më of warre, to sende with vs, besides a great nüber 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 beying your captayne, haue had the victory of many battayles fighting with a .100. yea & 200000. enimies: we got also by strength of arme many strög 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 cöing: it should also be a blot vnto our honour that _Quahutimoc_ should inherite y^e kingdome that cost our friëd _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 cöming 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 eatying of mans fleshe to bée layde aside, and also in those dayes wée beganne to conuerte some to the fayth. It is not therefore nowe reason to leaue of so laudable an enterpryse, so well begonne. Lette vs now goe whither holy fayth doth call vs, and where the sinnes of our enimies deserueth so great a punishment, and if yée well remember, the Citizens of that citie were not cötent 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 wrög or iniurie any _Indian_ their friëds: 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 priuiledges 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, fearing 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 städeth 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 side of a hill, where many had perished with colde, had it not bin for the store of woodde which they found there. In the morning he ascended vpwards on this hill, and sente hys scoute of foure footemen and foure horsemen to discouer, who found the way stopped with great trées newly cutte downe, and placed crossewise in the way: but they thynking that yet forwards it was not so, procéeded forthe as well as they might, till at length the let with great hugie trées was such, that they could passe no further, and with this newes were forced to returne, certifying _Cortes_ that the Horsemenne coulde not passe that way in any wyse. _Cortes_ demaunded of them, whether they hadde séene anye people, they aunswered no, wherevppon he procéeded forwarde with all the Horsemen, and a thousande footemen, commaundyng all the residue of hys armye to followe hym wyth as muche spéede as myghte bée, so that wyth that companye whyche he carried with him, he made waye, takyng away the trées that were cutte downe to disturbe his passage: and in this order, in short time passed his host, without any hurt or daunger, but with great payne and trauell, for certaynely if the enimies had bin there to defende that passage, oure menne hadde not passed, for it was a verye euill way, and the enimies also thoughte the same to be sure with the trées whiche were crossed the way, wherevppon they were carelesse of that place, and attended their comming in playne grounde: for from _Tlaxcallan_ to _Mexico_ are thrée wayes, of the whiche _Cortes_ chose the worst, ymagining the thing that afterwards fell out, or else some hadde aduised him howe that way was cléere from the enimies. And béeing past this crooked passage, they espyed the lake of _Mexico_, and gaue vnto God moste hartie thankes for the same, and there made a solemne vowe and promise, not to returne, vntill they had wonne _Mexico_, or lost their liues. They abode there and rested themselues, till all the whole armye were come togither, to descende downe into the playne, for nowe they myghte descrye the fires and beacons of theyr enimies in sundrye places, and all those whyche hadde attended theyr commyng by the other two wayes, were now gathered togyther, thynkyng to sette vppon them betwixte certayne bridges, where a greate company aboade, exspecting theyr commying: but _Cortes_ sente twenty Horsemen, who made way among them, and then followed the whole armye, who slewe manye of them, wythoute receyuyng anye hurte. And in thys order they came to _Quahutipec_, whiche is of the iurisdiction of _Tezcuco_, where they abode that nyghte, and in that place founde neyther manne nor Woman: but not farre off was pytched the Campe of the _Indians_ of _Culhua_, which myght be néere a hundred thousand men of warre, who were sent by the Seniors of _Mexico_, and _Tezcuco_, to encounter oure armye, in consideration whereof, _Cortes_ kept good watch with tenne Horsemen, and all his Souldyers were warned to be in readynesse at a call, if néede should happen.

The next day in the morning he departed from thence towarde _Tezcuco_, whiche standeth thrée leagues distante, and procéeding on their iourney, foure principal persons, inhabitantes of _Tezcuco_, mette with them, bearing a rod of golde, with a little flagge, in token of peace, saying, that _Coacuacoyozin_ their Lord had sent them to desire him not to make any spoyle in his Countrey, and likewise, to offer his friendship, praying also, that it might please him with his whole army to take his lodging in the Towne of _Tezcuco_, where he shoulde be well receyued. _Cortes_ reioyced with this message, although he suspected that it was a fayned matter, but one of them he knewe verye well, whome he saluted, saying: My comming is not to offend any, but rather to do you good. I will also receyue and hold your Lord for a friende, with condition, that hée doe make vnto me restitution of the treasure whyche hée tooke from fiue and fortie Spanyards, and thrée hundred _Tlaxcaltecas_, all the which were by his commaundements also slayne of late dayes. They aunswered that _Mutezuma_ caused them to be murthered, who had likewise taken the spoyle, and that the Citizens of _Tezcuco_ were not culpable in that fact, and with this aunswere they returned.

_Cortes_ went forward on his way, and came to _Quahutichan_ and _Huaxuta_, which are suburbes of _Tezcuco_, where he and all his host were plenteously prouided of al things necessary, and threw downe the Idolles. This done, hée entred into the Citie, where his lodging was prepared in a great house, sufficient for him and all the Spanyardes, with many other the _Indian_ friends. And bycause that at his first entry, he sawe neyther women nor children, hee suspected some treason, and forthwith proclaymed, vpon payne of death, that none of his men should go out. The Spaniards began to triumph in their lodgings and chäbers, placing euery thing in good order. In the euening they went vp into the _Zoties_ and galleries, to beholde the Citie, which is as bigge as _Mexico_, and there they sawe the greate number of Citizens that fledde from thence with their stuffe, some towardes the mountaines, and others to the water side to take boate, a thing straunge, to sée the great hast and stirre to prouide for themselues, at the least ther were twentie thousand litle boates (called _Conoas_) occupyed, in carying houshold stuffe and passengers. _Cortes_ would fayne haue remedied it, but that night was so nygh at hand, that he coulde not. He would gladly also haue apprehended the Lord, but he was one of the first that fledde vnto _Mexico_. _Cortes_ caused many of the Citizens, to be called before him, and hauing in hys company a yong gentleman of a noble house in that coütrey, who was also last christened, & had to name _Hernädo_, _Cortes_ being his godfather, who loued him well, sayde vnto the citizens, that this new Christian lord, _Don Hernädo_, was sonne vnto _Nezaualpincintli_ their louing Lord, wherfore he required them to make him their king, considering that _Coacnacoyocin_, was fled vnto the enimies, laying also before them his wicked fact in killing of _Cacuza_ his own brother, only to put him from his inheritance & kingdome, through the enticemente of _Quahutimoccin_, a mortal enimie to the Spaniards. In this sort was _Don Hernando_ elected king, and the fame therof being blowen abroade, manye citizens repayred home againe to visite their newe Prince, so that in short space the citie was as wel replenished with people, as it was before, and being also well vsed at the Spaniardes handes, they serued them dilygentlye in all thyngs that they were commaunded. And _Don Hernando_ aboade euer after a faithfull friende vnto the Spaniardes, and in short tyme learned the Spanishe tongue: and soone after came the inhabitants of _Quahutichan_, _Huaxuta_ and _Auntenco_, to submytte them selues, crauing pardon, if in any thyng they had offended. _Cortez_ pardoned them, and gaue them licence to departe home vnto their houses.

_Quahutimoc_, _Coacnacoijo_ and other magistrates of _Culhua_ sente to rayle vppon those townes, for yéeldyng themselues to the Christians, but they layde hold vpon the messengers, and brought them vnto _Cortes_, of whome he enformed himselfe of the state of _Mexico_, and sent them backe againe, requiring their Lords of peace and friendshippe: but it preuayled not, for they were fully armed for the warre.

[Sidenote: A good correction.]

At this instante certaine friendes of _Iames Velasquez_ went vp and downe the Campe, procuring secretly a mutenie among the souldiers, to haue them to returne to _Cuba_, and vtterly to destroy _Cortes_ his procéedings. This thing was not so secretly wrought, but that _Cortes_ had knowledge, wherevppon he apprehended the doers thereof, and by their confessions the matter did plainely appeare, whervpon he condemned to death one _Antonio de Villafania_, who was natural of _Samora_, and forthwith executed the sentence, wherwith the punishment and Mutinie was ended, and ceassed.

The Spaniardes vvhich vvere _sacrificed in Tezcuco_.