Chapter XXII (4)

And thus we took our leaves, giving unto the chief of them some Beads, some medals, some Crosses of brasse, some _Agnus Dei_, some reliques brought from _Spain_, and to every one of the Town an Indulgence of fourty years, (which the Pope had granted unto us, to bestow where, and upon whom, and as often as wee would) wherewith we began to blind that simple people with ignorant, erroneous, and Popish principles. As we went out of the Arbour to take our Mules, behold the Market place was full of _Indian_ men and women; who as they saw us ready to depart, kneeled upon the ground as adoring us for a blessing, which as we rid along, we bestowed upon them with lifted up hands on high, making over them the signe of the Crosse. And this submission of the poor _Indians_ unto the Preists in those parts; this vain-glory in admitting such ceremonious entertainment and publike worship from them, did so puffe up some of our young Fryers hearts, that already they thought themselves better then the best Bishops in _Spain_, who though proud enough, yet never travail there with such publike acclamations as we did. The Waits and Trumpets sounded againe before us, and the chiefe of the Town conducted us a mile forward, and so tooke their leaves. The first two daies we lodged but in poore small _Indian_ Townes, among whom we still found kind entertainment, and good store of provision, especially of Hens, Capons, Turkeys, and severall sorts of fruits. The third day at night we came to a great Towne consisting of neere two thousand inhabitants, some _Spaniards_, some _Indians_, called _Xalappa de la Vera Crux_. This Towne in the yeare 1634. was made a new Bishops Sea (the Bishoprick of the City, called _La Puebla de los Angeles_ being divided into two) and this being not above the third part of it, is thought to be worth ten thousand duckats a yeer. It stands in a very fertile soile for _Indian_ wheat called _Maiz_, and some _Spanish_ wheat. There are many Townes about it of _Indians_; but what makes it rich, are the many farmes of Sugar, and some which they call _Estantia's_, rich farmes for breeding of Mules, and cattell; and likewise some Farmes of _Cochinil_. In this Towne there is but one great Church and an inferiour Chappell, both belonging to a Cloister of Franciscan Friers, wherein we were lodged that night and the next day, being the Lords day. Though the revenues of this Cloister be great, yet it maintaines not above halfe a dozen Fryers, where twenty might be plentifully maintained, that so those few lubbers might be more abundantly, and like Epicures fed and nourished. The Superiour or Guardian of this Cloister was no lesse vaine then the Prior of _S. John de Ulhua_; and though he were not of our profession, yet he welcomed us with stately entertainment. Here and wheresoever further we travailed, we still found in the Preists and Fryers loosenesse of life, and their waies and proceedings contrary to the waies of their profession, sworne to by a solemne Vow and Covenant. This Order especially of the mendicant Franciscan Fryers voweth (besides chastity and obedience) poverty more strictly to be observed, then any other Order of the _Romish_ Church; for their Clothing ought to be corse sackcloth, their girdles made of hemp should be no finer then strong halters, their shirts should be but woollen, their legs should know no stockings, their feet no shoes, but at the most and best either wooden clogs, or sandals of hemp, their hands and fingers should not so much as touch any money, nor they have the use or possession or propriety of any, nor their journeys be made easy with the help of Horses to carry them, but painfully they ought to travaile on foot; and the breach of any of these they acknowledge to be a deadly and mortall sinne, with the guilt of a high soul-damning and soul-cursing excommunication. Yet for all these bonds and obligations, those wretched Impes live in those parts as though they had never vowed unto the Lord, shewing in their lives that they have vowed what they are not able to performe. It was to us a strange and scandalous sight to see here in _Xalappa_ a Fryer of the Cloister riding in with his lackey boy by his side, upon a goodly gelding, (having gone but to the Townes end, as we were informed, to heare a dying mans confession) with his long habit tucked up to his girdle, making shew of a fine silke orange colour stockin upon his legs, and a neate Cordovan shoe upon his foot, with a fine Holland paire of drawers, with a lace three inches broad at knee. This sight made us willing to pry further into this and the other Fryers carriages, under whose broad sleeves we could perceive their dublets quilted with silke, and at their wrists the laces of their Holland shirts. In their talke we could discerne no mortification, but meer vanity and worldlinesse. After supper some of them began to talk of carding and dicing; they challenged us, that were but new comers to those parts, to a Primera; which though most of ours refused, some for want of money, some for ignorance of that game, yet at last with much ado they got two of our Fryers to joyn with two of theirs; so the cards were handsomely shuffled, the vies and revies were doubled, losse made some hot & blind with passion, gain made others eager and covetous; and thus was that religious Cloister made all night a gaming house, and sworne religious poverty turned into profane and worldly covetousnesse. We that beheld some part of the night the game, found enough to observe, for the more the sport increased, scandalls to the sport were added, both by drinking and swearing that common oath _Voio a Christo, Voio a Dios_, and also by scoffing and jearing at the religious vowes of poverty which they had vowed; for one of the Franciscans though formerly he had touched money, and with his fingers had laid it to the Stake on the table; yet sometimes to make the company laugh, if he had chanced to winne a double vie (and sometimes the vies and revies went round of twenty patacons) then would he take the end of one sleeve of his habit, and open wide the other broad sleeve, and so with his sleeve sweep the money into his other sleeve, saying, I have vowed not to touch money, nor to keep any, I meaned then a naturall contact of it; but my sleeve may touch it, and my sleeve may keep it: shewing with scoffes and jests of his lips, what religion was in his heart. My eares tingled with hearing such oathes, my tongue would have uttered some words of reproofe, but that I considered my self a guest and stranger in a strange house, and that if any thing I should say, it would doe no good; so silently I departed to my rest, leaving the Gamesters, who continued til Sun-rising, and in the morning I was informed that the jesting Fryer, that rather roaring Boy then religious Franciscan, fitter for _Sardanapalus_ or _Epicurus_ his Schoole, then to live in a Cloister, had lost fourescore and odde Patacons, his sleeve (it seemes) refusing to keep for him what hee had vowed never to possesse. Here I began to find out by experience of these Franciscans, that liberty and loosnesse of life it was that brought yeerly so many Fryers and Jesuites from _Spain_ to those parts, rather then zeale of Preaching the Gospel and Converting Soules to Christ, which indeed being an act of highest Charity, they make a speciall badge of the truth of their Religion: But the loosnesse of their lives sheweth evidently that the love of money, of vain-glory, of Power and Authority over the poore _Indians_, is their end and aime more then any love of God. From _Xalappa_ we went to a place called by the _Spaniards, La Rinconada_, which is no Towne nor Village, and therefore not worth mentioning in such a Rode as now I am in; yet as famous in two things, it must not bee omitted amongst greater places. This place stands so far from any other Town, that Travellers can scarce make their journeys without either baiting there at noone, or lying there at night, or declining three or foure miles out of the Rode to some _Indian_ Town. It is no more then one house, which the _Spaniards_ call, _Venta_, or as our _English_, Innes, seated in the corner of a low Valley, which is the hottest place from St. _John de Ulhua_ to _Mexico_; about it are the best Springs and Fountaines in all the Rode, and the water though warme with the heat of the Sun, yet as sweet as any Milk. The Inne-keepers knowing wel the _Spaniards_ heat, that it seeks coole and refreshing drink, have speciall care so to lay in water in great earthen Vessels, which they set upon a moist and waterish Sand, that it is so cold that it maketh the teeth to chatter. This sweetnesse and this coolnesse together of that water in so hot and scorching a Countrey, was to us a wonder, who could find no other refreshment from that extraordinary heat. Besides our Provision here of Beefe, Mutton, Kid, Hens, Turkeys, Rabbets, Fowles, and especially Quailes, was so plentifull and cheape, that wee were astonished at it. The Valley and Countrey about it is very rich and fertile, full of _Spanish_ Farmes of Sugar, and _Cochinil, Spanish_ and _Indian_ Wheate. But what maketh mee more especially remember this _Venta_, or Inne, is, for that though Art and experience of man have found a way to provide for Travellers in so hot a place coole and refreshing water, and God have given it the sweetnesse of Milk, and to the place such abundance of Provision; yet all this in the day onely is comfortable and pleasant; but in the night the _Spaniards_ call it, _Cumfites en infierno_, that is to say, Cumfits in hell, for not onely the heat is so extraordinary, that it is impossible to bee feeding without wiping away the continuall sweat of the Face, whose drops from the Browes are alwayes ready to blind our eyes and to fill with sauce our dishes, but the swarmes of Gnats are such that waking and sleeping no device of man is able to keep them off. True it is, most of us had our Pavilions which wee carried with us to hang about and over our beds, but these could not defend us from that piercing and stinging Vermine, which like _Egypts_ Plague of Frogs would be sure to be in every place, and through our Curtaines to come upon our very Beds. Yet in the day they are not; but just at Sun setting they begin to swarme about, and at Sun rising away they goe. After a most tedious and troublesome night, when wee found the rising of the Sun had dispersed and banished them away, wee thought it best for us to flie away from that place with them; and so from thence earely wee departed to a Towne as pleasant and fertill and abounding with Provision as this _Rinconada_, and free from such busie guests and individuall Mates and Companions as the night before had intruded themselves upon us. The next night wee got to a Towne called _Segura_, inhabited both by _Indians_ and _Spaniards_, consisting of about a thousand Inhabitants; here again without any charges we were stately entertained by Franciscan Fryers, as light and vain glorious as those of _Xalappa_. This Town had its first beginning and foundation from _Hernando Cortez_, and is called _Segura de la Frontera_, being built up by him for a Frontier Town to secure the _Spaniards_ that came from St. _John de Ulhua_ to _Mexico_, against the _Culhuacans_ and people of _Tepeacac_, who were allied to the _Mexicans_, and so much annoyed the _Spaniards_. But what most incensed _Cortez_ was, that after his first repulse from _Mexico_, the _Indians_ insulting over him and the rest of his Company, whom they heard had beene dangerously wounded, and were retired to _Tlaxcallan_ to recover and strengthen themselves; the two Townes, _Culhua_ and _Tepeacac_, then in League with the _Mexicans_ against _Cortez_ and the Town of _Tlaxcallan_, lying in wait for the _Spaniards_, took twelve of them, and sacrificed them alive to their Idols and eat their flesh. Whereupon _Cortez_ desired _Maxixca_, a chief Captain of _Tlaxcallan_, and divers other Gentlemen of that Towne to goe with him and to help him to bee avenged of the people of _Tepeacac_ for the cruelty used to twelve of his _Spaniards_, and for the daily and great hurt they also did to the Inhabitants of _Tlaxcallan_ with the helpe of their allied friends the _Culhuacans_ and _Mexicans. Maxixca_ and the chief of _Tlaxcallan_ forthwith entred into counsell with the States and and Communalty of the Town, and there determined with generall consent to give unto him forty thousand fighting Men, besides many _Tamemez_, who are Foot Carriers, to beare the Baggage, Victuall, and other things. With this number of _Tlaxcalteca's_, his owne men, and horses, _Cortez_ went to _Tepeacac_, requiring them in satisfaction of the death of the twelve Christians, that they should now yeeld themselves to the obedience of the Emperour and King of _Spain_ his Master, and hereafter never more to receive any _Mexican_ into their Town or houses, neither yet any of the Province of _Culhua_. The _Tepeacacs_ answered that they had slain the _Spaniards_ for good and just cause, which was that being time of Warre, they presumed to passe through their Countrey by force without their will and License. And also that the _Mexicans_ and _Culhuacans_ were their friends and Lords, whom alwayes they would friendly entertaine within their Towne and houses, refusing utterly their offer and request, protesting to give no obedience to whom they knew not, wishing them therefore to return incontinent to _Tlaxcallan_, except they had desire to end their weary days, and to be sacrificed and eaten up as their twelve friends had been. _Cortez_ yet invited them many times with peace; and seeing it prevailed not, he began his Wars in earnest. The _Tepeacacs_ with the favour of the _Culhuacans_ were brave and lusty, and began to stop and defend the _Spaniards_ entrance into their Town. And being many in number with divers valiant men among them, began to skirmish sundry times; but at the end they were overthrown and many slain without killing any _Spaniard_, although many _Tlaxcalteca's_ were killed that day. The Lords and principall persons of _Tepeacac_ seeing their overthrow, and that their strength could not prevaile, yeelded themselves unto _Cortez_ for Vassals of the Emperour with condition to banish for ever their allied friends of _Culhua_; and that hee should punish and correct at his will and pleasure all those which were occasion of the death of the twelve _Spaniards_. For which causes and obstinacy, at the first _Cortez_ judged by his sentence that all the Townes which had been privy to the murther, should for ever remain Captives and slaves; others affirm that he overcame them without any condition, and corrected them for their disobedience, being Sodomites, Idolaters and eaters of mans flesh, and chiefly for example of all others. And in conclusion, they were condemned for slaves, and within twenty daies that these Wars lasted, hee pacified all that Province, which is very great, hee drave from thence the _Culhuacans_, hee threw down the Idols, and the chiefest persons obeyed him. And for more assurance he built there this Town, naming it _Segura De la Frontera_, appointing all Officers for the purpose, whereby the Christians and strangers might passe without danger from _Vera Crux_ to _Mexico_. This Town likewise, as all the rest from St. _John de Ulhua_ to _Mexico_, is very plentifull of provision, and many sorts of fruits, namely Plantins, _Sapottes_, and _Chicosapottes_, which have within a great black kernell as big as our horse Plums, the fruit it self is as red within as Scarlet, as sweet as Honey; but the _Chicosapotte_, is lesse and some of them red, some browne coloured, and so juicy that at the eating the juyce like drops of Honey fall from them, and the smell is like unto a baked Peare. Here likewise were presented unto us Clusters of Grapes as faire as any in _Spain_, which were welcome unto us, for that wee had seen none since we came from _Spain_, and wee saw by them that the Countrey thereabouts would be very fit for Vineyards, if the King of _Spain_ would grant the planting of Vines in those parts; which often hee hath refused to doe, lest the Vineyards there should hinder the Trading and Trafique between _Spain_ and those parts, which certainly had they but Wine, needed not any commerce with _Spain_. This Towne is of a more temperate Climate then any other from _Vera Crux_ to _Mexico_, and the people who formerly had been eaters of Mans flesh, now as civill and politick, as loving and curteous as any in the rode. From whence we declined a little out of our way more Westward (the rode being North-Westward) only to see that famous Towne of _Tlaxcallan_, whose inhabitants joyned with _Cortez_, and wee may say were the chiefe instruments of that great and unparalleld Conquest.

CHAP. X.

_Wherein is set downe the estate and condition of the great Towne of_ Tlaxcallan, _when the first_ Spaniards _entred the Empire of_ Mexico; Cortez _his first encounter with the_ Tlaxcalteca's; _their league with him, with a description of the Towne; and of the state and condition of it now._

_Tlaxcallan_ being worth all the rest of the Townes and Villages between _S. John de Ulhua_ and _Mexico_; I thought it not fit to parallell it with the others in naming it briefely and passing by it as a Traveller, but rather I judged it convenient, and beseeming my present History, to record to posterity with one whole Chapter, the greatnesse of it, and the valour of its inhabitants, from the conquest of _America_ made by _Hernando Cortez_. Who being upon his march to _Mexico_, and having arrived to _Zaclotan_, and being informed that the _Tlaxcalteca's_ were men of valour, and enemies to _Montezuma_ the Emperour of _Mexico_, thought it his best policy to joyne with them against the _Mexicans_.

Whereupon hee dispatched unto them foure _Indians_ of a Towne called _Zempoallan_, as Ambassadours to acquaint them of his coming into those parts, and of his desire to visit their Towne, not for any harme he intended to them, but rather for their good. The _Tlaxcalteca's_ fearing _Cortez_, and judging him a friend of _Montezuma_, because upon his way to visit him, and having heard of the many costly presents which the Emperour had sent unto him; they resolved to resist his coming, and to send him no answer to his ambassage; but tooke the four Messengers which he had sent, and imprisoned them, minding to sacrifice them unto their Gods as Espies. _Cortez_ seeing the long tarrying of the Messengers, departed from _Zaclotan_, without any intelligence from _Tlaxcallan_. His camp had not marched much after their departure from that place, but they came to a great circuit of stone made without lime or morter, being of a fadome and a halfe high, and twenty foot broad, with loupe holes to shoot at; this wall crossed over a whole valley, from one mountain to another, and but one only entrance or gate, in the which the one wall doubled against the other, and the way there was fourty paces broad, in such sort that it was an evil and perillous passage, if any had been there to defend it. _Cortez_ demanded the cause of that circuit, and who had built it; the _Indians_ that went with him, told him that it was but a division from their countrey and _Tlaxcallan_, and that their Antecessors had made the same to disturbe the entrance of the _Tlaxcalteca's_ in time of warre, who came to rob and murther them because of the friendship betwixt them and _Montezuma_, whose vassals they were. That strange and costly wall seemed a thing of great majesty to the _Spaniards_, and more superfluous then profitable, yet they suspected that the _Tlaxcalteca's_ were valiant warriers, who had such defence made against them. But _Cortez_ setting all fear aside, with three hundred Souldiers on a ranke, entred the way in the wall, and proceeded in good order all the way forwards, carrying the Ordnance ready charged, and he himselfe the Leader of all his Army, and sometimes he would be halfe a league before them, to discover and make the way plain. And having gone the space of three leagues from that circuit, he commanded his Foot-men to make haste, because it was somewhat late, and he with his Horse-men went to descry the Way forwards, who ascending up a hill, two of the formost Horse-men met with fifteen _Indians_ armed with swords, and targets, and tuffes of feathers, which they used to weare in the warres. These fifteen being Spies, when they saw the Horse-men, began to flie with fear, or else to give advice. But _Cortez_ approaching with other three Horsemen called to them to stay; which they by no means would hearken unto; till six more Horse-men ran after them, and overtooke them. The _Indians_ then joyning all together with determination rather to die then to yeeld, shewed to the _Spaniards_ signes to stand still. But the Horsemen coming to lay hands on them; they prepared themselves to battel, and fought, defending themselves for a while. In this fight the _Indians_ slew two of their Horses, and (as the _Spaniards_ do witnesse) at two blowes they cut off a Horse head, bridle and all. Then came the rest of the Horsemen, the Army also of the _Indians_ approached, for there were in sight neer five thousand of them in good order, to succour their fifteen fighting men; but they came too late for that purpose, for they were all slain by the _Spanish_ fury, because they would not render themselves in time, and had killed two of their Horses. Yet notwithstanding their fellowes fought, until they espied the _Spanish_ Army coming, and the Ordnance, then they returned leaving the field to the _Spaniards_, whose Horse-men followed them, and slew about seventy of them, without receiving any hurt. With this the _Indians_ perceiving the great advantage which the _Spaniards_ had against them with their Horses, and meaning to come upon them subtilly with a more powerful Army, that they might the better deceive and delude them, they sent unto _Cortez_ two of the four Messengers which had been sent unto them with other _Indians_, saying, that they of _Tlaxcallan_ knew nothing of the things that had happened, certifying likewise that those with whom he had fought, were of other communities, and not of their jurisdiction, being sorrowfull for that which had passed; and for so much as it happened in their countrey, they would willingly pay for the two Horses which were slain, praying them to come in good time to their Towne, who would gladly receive them, and enter into their league of friendship, because they seemed to bee valiant men; But all this was a feigned and a false message. Yet _Cortez_ beleeved them, and gave them thanks for their courtesie and good will; and that according to their request he would goe unto their Towne, and accept their friendship. And touching the death of his Horses, hee required nothing, for that within short time he expected many more; yet sorrowfull he was not so much for the want of them, as that the _Indians_ should thinke that Horses could die or be slain. _Cortez_ proceeded forwards about two leagues, where the Horses were killed, although it was almost sun set, and his men wearied, having travelled far that day. He planted his Army by a river side, remaining all that night with good watch both of Foot-men and Horse-men, fearing some assault; but there was no attempt given that night. The next morning at sun rising, _Cortez_ departed with his Army in good order, and in the midst of them went the Fardage and Artillerie, and after a little marching they met with the other two Messengers whom they had sent from _Zaclotan_; they came with pitifull cryes exclaiming of the Captaines of the power of _Tlaxcallan_, who had bound them and detained them from returning; but with good fortune that night they had broken loose, and escaped, for otherwise in the morning following they had been sacrificed to the God of Victory, and after the sacrifice they had been eaten for a good beginning of the warres; the _Tlaxcalteca's_ protesting to doe the like to the bearded men (for so they termed the _Spaniards_) and to as many as came with them. They had no sooner told their tale, when there appeared behind a little hil about a thousand _Indians_, very well appointed after their fashion, and came with such a marvellous noise and cry, as though their voyces should have pierced the heavens; hurling at the _Spaniards_, stones, darts, and shot with bowes and arrowes. _Cortez_ made many tokens of peace unto them, and by his Interpreters desired them to leave the battail. But so much the more as he intreated for peace, the more hasty and earnest were they, thinking either to overcome them, or else to hold them play, to the intent that the _Spaniards_ should follow them to a certaine ambush that was prepared for them, of more then fourescore thousand men. Here the _Spaniards_ began to cease from words, and to lay hand upon their weapons; for that company of a thousand were as many as on the _Spaniards_ side were fighting men; though they were well practised in the warres, very valiant, and also pitched in a better place for fight. This battail endured certaine houres, and at the end the _Indians_ being either wearied, or else meaning to take the _Spaniards_ in the snare appointed, began to flie towards the main battail, not as overcome, but to joyne with their own side. The _Spaniards_ being hot in the fight and slaughter, which was not little, followed them with all their fardage, and unawares fell into the ambush, among an infinite number of _Indians_ armed; they stayd not, because they would not put themselves out of order, and passed through their campe with great haste and fear. The _Indians_ began to set upon the _Spanish_ Horse-men, thinking to have taken their lances from them, their courage was so stout; many of the _Spaniards_ had there perished, had it not been for their _Indian_ friends, who had come with them from _Zempoallan_ and _Zaclotan_. Likewise the courage of _Cortez_ did much animate them; for although hee led his Army making way, yet divers times hee turned him back to place his men in order, and to comfort them, and at length came out of that dangerous way and ambush, where the Horses might help, and the Ordnance stand instead, which two things did greatly annoy the _Indians_ to their great wonder and marvell, and at the sight thereof began to flie. In both incounters remained many _Indians_ slain and wounded, and of the _Spaniards_ some were hurt, but none killed, who gave most hearty thankes unto God for their delivery from so great a multitude as were foure score thousand against one thousand onely of _Indians_ and _Spaniards_ joyned together. The _Indians_ of _Zempoallan_ and _Zaclotan_ did play the valiant men that day, wherefore _Cortez_ honoured them with hearty thankes. Then they went to pitch their Campe in a village called _Teoacazinco_, where was a little Tower and a Temple, and there fortified themselves. The night following the _Spaniards_ slept not quietly with fear of a third Invasion of the _Tlaxcalteca's_. As soone as it was day _Cortez_ sent to the Captains of _Tlaxcallan_ to require them of Peace and Friendship, willing them quietly to suffer them to passe through their Countrey to _Mexico_, for that they meant them no hurt, but rather good wil. The answer of the captains of _Tlaxcallan_ was, that the next day they would come and talke with him and declare their minds. _Cortez_ was well prepared that night, for the answer liked him not, but rather seemed brave, and a matter determined to be done, as some had told him (whom hee tooke prisoners) who likewise certified that the _Tlaxcalteca's_ were joyned together, to the number of a hundred and fifty thousand men to give battaile the next day following, and to swallow up alive the _Spaniards_ whom so mortally they did hate, thinking them to bee friends unto the Emperour _Montezuma_, unto whom they wished all evill and mischief. Their intent was therefore with all their whole power to apprehend the bearded men, and to make of them a more solemne Sacrifice unto their Gods then at any time they had done, with a generall banquet of their flesh, which they called _Celestiall_.

The Captaines of _Tlaxcallan_ divided their Souldiers into foure Battailes, the one to _Tepeticpac_, another to _Ocotelulco_, the third to _Tizatlan_, and the fourth to _Quiahuiztlan_, that is to say, the men of the Mountaines, the men of the Limepits, the men of the Pinetrees, and the Water men; all these foure sorts of men did make the Body of the Common-weelth of _Tlaxcallan_, and commanded both in time of War and Peace. Every of these Captaines had his just portion or number of Warriers, but the Generall of all the whole Army was called _Xicotencatl_, who was of the Limepits; and hee had the Standard of the Common-wealth, which is a Crane of gold with his wings spread, adorned with Emeralds and Silver worke, which Standard was according to their use either carryed before the whole Host, or else behind them all. The Lieutenant Generall of the Army was _Maxixcazin_; and the number of the whole Army was a hundred and fifty thousand men. Such a great number they had ready against foure hundred _Spaniards_, and seven hundred _Indians_ of _Zempoallan_ and _Zaclotan_, and yet at length overcome; and after this fight they were the greatest friends that _Cortez_ had in those parts against _Montezuma_. These Captaines came with their Companies, that the fields where they were seemed a Forrest. They were gallant Fellowes and well Armed according to their use, although they were painted, so that their faces shewed like Devils, with great tuffes of Feathers, and they boasted gallantly. Their Weapons and Armour were Slings, Staves, Speares, Swords, Bowes and Arrowes, Sculles, Splintes, Gantlets, all of Wood, guilt or else covered with Feathers or Leather; their Corselets were made of Cotton Wooll, their Targets and Bucklers gallant and strong, made of wood covered with leather and trimmed with latten, and feathers, their Swords were staves with an edge of flint stone cunningly joyned into the staffe, which would cut very well and make a sore wound. Their instruments of War were hunters hornes, and Drummes called _Ataballs_ made like a Caldron and covered with Vellam. So that the _Spaniards_ in all their discovery of _India_ did never see a better Army together, nor better ordered; that which I could not omit to speake of here, having come in the order of my history to _Tlaxcallan_, where this numerous and gallant _Indian_ Army was set forth against 400 _Spaniards_ and 600 _Indians_ their friends. These _Indians_ thus ordered in Battail bragged very much against the _Spaniards_, and said amongst themselves, What mad people are these bearded men that threaten us and yet know us not? But if they will bee so bold to invade our Countrey without our licence, let us not set upon them so soone, it is meet they have a little rest, for wee have time enough to take and bind them; let us also send them meat, for they are come with empty stomackes, and so they shall not say that we do apprehend them with wearinesse and hunger. Whereupon they sent unto the _Spaniards_ three hundred Turkey cocks and two hundred baskets of bread, called _Centli_; the which present was a great succour and refreshment for the need the _Spaniards_ stood in. And soone after, Now (say they) let us goe and set upon them, for by this time they have eaten their meat, and now we will eat them, and so shall they pay us the victuals that we sent. These & such like brags they used, seeing so few _Spaniards_ before them, and not knowing the strength of their Ordnance against their so numerous an host. Then the foure Captaines sent two thousand of their valiantest men of warre, and old Souldiers, to take the _Spaniards_ quietly, with commandement that if they did resist, either to binde them, or else to kill them, meaning not to set their whole Army upon them, saying, that they should get but small honour for so great a multitude to fight against so few. The two thousand Souldiers passed the trench that was betwixt the two campes, and came boldly to the Tower where the _Spaniards_ were. Then came forth the Horse-men, and after them the Foot-men, and at the first encounter, they made the _Indians_ feele how the iron swords would cut; at the second, they shewed of what force those few in number were, of whom a little before they had so jested: but at the third brunt, they made those lusty Souldiers flie, who were come to apprehend them, for none of them escaped, but only a few such as knew the passage of the trenches or ditch. Then the main battail and whole Army set forth with a terrible and marvellous noise, and came so fierce upon the _Spaniards_, till they entred into their campe without any resistance, and there were at handy strokes with the _Spaniards_, and in a good space could not get them out, many of them being killed, which were so bold to enter. In this sort they fought four houres, before they could make way among their enemies. Then the _Indians_ began to faint, seeing so many dead on their side, and the great wounds they had, and that they could kill none of the Christians; yet the battail ceased not, till it drew neere night, and then they retired. Whereof _Cortez_ and his Souldiers were exceeding glad, for they were fully wearied with killing of _Indians_. The next day in the morning _Cortez_ went forth to runne the fields as he had done before, leaving halfe his men to keepe the campe; and because he should not be espied, he departed before day, and burned about ten Townes, and sacked one Towne, which was of three thousand houses, in the which were found but few people, because the most of them were gone to their campe. After the spoile he set fire on the Town, and came his way to his campe with a great prey by noone time. The _Indians_ pursued thinking to take away their prey, and followed them into the camp, where they fought five houres, and could not kill one _Spaniard_, although many of their side were slain; for even as they were many, and stood on a throng together, the Ordnance made a wonderfull spoil among them, so that they left off fighting, and the victory remained for the _Spaniards_, whom the _Indians_ thought were inchanted, because their arrowes could not hurt them. The next day following, the four Captaines sent three severall things in present to _Cortez_, and the messengers that brought them said. Sir, behold here five slaves, and if thou be that rigorous God that eatest mans flesh and blood, eat these which we bring unto thee, and we will bring thee more. And if thou be the gentle and meek God, behold here frankincense and feathers. And if thou bee a mortall man, take here fowle, bread and cherries. _Cortez_ answered that both he and his were mortall men even as they were. And because that alwaies he had used to tell them truth, wherefore did they use to tell him lies, and likewise to flatter him, for he desired to be their friend, advising them not to be mad and stubborn in their opinion, for if they so did, assuredly they should receive great hurt and dammage.