Chapter V: Part 5

But _Mamexi_ and the others of _Zempoallan_ willed hym to refuse that offer and counsell in any wise, alleadgyng that it was an onely pretence to separate them from the friendship of that prouince, whose people were good, honorable, and valiant, and that _Iztacmixtlitans_ perswasion was to prohibite theyr helpe and succoure agaynst _Mutezuma_, willing hym earnestly to giue no credite vnto hys sayings, for he and his allyes are false Traytors, and meante to bryng hym into some snare, where they myghte kill both him and his company, and féede vppon theyr fleshe.

_Cortes_ for a space was amazed at y^e talke of y^e one and the other, but in conclusion he accepted the councell of _Mamexi_, for that he hadde conceyued a better opinion of the _Zeampoallanezes_ his allyed friendes, than of the others. And setting all feare asyde, he tooke the way to _Tlaxcallon_, byddyng _Iztacmixtlitä_ farewell, and with thrée hundred Souldyers on a ranke, he entred the way in the wall, and procéeded in good order all the way forwardes, carrying the Ordinance ready charged, and he himselfe the leader of all his army, yea and sometimes he woulde be halfe a league before them, to discouer and make the way playne.

And hauing gone the space of thrée leagues from that circuite, he commaunded his footemen to make hast, bycause it was somewhat late, and he with his Horsemen went to descrye the way forwardes, who ascendyng vp a hyll, two of the formost horsemenne mette with fiftéene _Indians_ armed with swordes and Targets and tuffes of feathers, whiche they vse to weare in the warres. These fiftéene were spyes, and when they sawe the Horsemen, they beganne to flye with feare, or else to gyue aduise.

Then approched _Cortez_ with other thrée horsemen, calling to them to stay, but by no meanes they woulde abyde: then syxe Horsemen ranne after them, and ouertooke them, & ioyned all togither, with determination rather to dye than to yéelde, shewing them signes to stande still: yet the Horsemen comming to lay handes on them, they prepared themselues to battayle, and foughte, defendyng themselues for a whyle. In thys fyghte the _Indians_ slewe two of theyr Horses, and as the _Spanyardes_ doe witnesse, at two blowes they cutte off a Horse head, bridle and all. Then came the rest of the Horsemenne, and the army approched, for there were in syghte néere fiue thousande _Indians_ in good order, to succoure theyr fiftéene fyghting menne, but they came too late for that purpose, for they were all slayne wyth the anger that was taken for the killyng of the two Horses, and woulde not render themselues in tyme: yet notwythstandyng theyr fellowes foughte, vntyll they espyed oure armye commyng, and the Ordinance, then they returned, leauyng the fielde to oure menne, but oure Horsemenne followed them, and slewe aboute 70. persons of them, withoute receyuing anye hurte.

[Sidenote: A subtill message.]

Thys done, the _Indians_ sente vnto _Cortes_ two of the foure messengers whiche hadde bin sente thither before wyth other _Indians_, saying, that the _Tlaxcaltecas_ knewe nothyng of the thynges that were happened, certifying lykewyse that those with whome hée hadde fought were of other comunities, and not of their iurisdiction, béeyng sorowfull for that whyche hadde passed: and for so muche as it happened in theyr Countrey, they woulde willingly pay for the two Horses whyche were slayne, praying them to come in good time to theyr Towne, who woulde gladly receyue them, and enter into theyr league of friendshippe, bycause they séemed to bée valiante menne: but all was a fayned and a false message.

Yet _Cortes_ beléeued them, and gaue them thankes for theyr curtesie and good will, and that accordyng to theyr request he woulde goe vnto theyr Towne, and accepte their friendshippe. And touchyng the deathe of his Horses, he required nothyng, for within shorte space he expected many moe: but yet God knoweth how sorowfull he was for the want of them, and not only so much for thë, as that the _Indians_ shoulde thinke that Horses could dye, or be slayne.

_Cortez_ procéeded forwardes aboute two leagues where the Horses were kylled, although it was almost Sunnesette, and his men wéeried, hauing trauelled farre that day.

His will was, to haue pitched his Camp in a strong place of water: wherefore he planted his army by a Riuer side, whereas they remayned all that night with good watche both of footemen and horsemen, fearing some assault: but there was no attempt giuen that night, whereby they might haue taken better rest, than they were aware of.

Hovv there ioyned a hundred and fiftie _thousand men against Cortez_.

The next morning at Sunne rising, _Cortez_ departed with his army in good order, and in the middest of them wente the fardage and artillerie, and as soone as they were come to a little Village there néere at hande, they mette with the other two messengers of _Zempoallan_, who departed from them at _Zaclotan_: they came with pitifull chéere, exclayming of the Captaynes of the power of _Tlaxcallan_, who had bounde them, and deteyned them from returning: but with good fortune, that nighte they hadde broken loose, and escaped, for otherwise in the morning following, they had bin sacrificed to the God of Victory, and after the sacrifice, to be eaten, for a good beginning of their warres, protesting the like to be done with the berded men, and with as many as came with them.

They had no sooner tolde their tale, when there appeared behinde a little hill about a thousande _Indians_, verye well appoynted after their fashion, and came with suche a maruellous noyse and crye, as though theyr voyces shoulde haue pearced the Heauens, hurling at oure menne stones, dartes, and shotte wyth bowes and arrowes.

[Sidenote: First battayle.]

[Sidenote: 80000. më.]

[Sidenote: Seconde battayle.]

_Cortes_ made many tokens of peace vnto them, and by his interpreters desired them to leaue the battell. But so much the more as he entreated for peace, the more hastie and earnest were they, thinkyng either to haue ouercomen them, or else to holde them play, to the entët that the Spanyardes should haue folowed them to a certaine ambushe that was prepared for them, of more then .80000. men, whiche they had planted in a créeke of a riuer which abutted vpö the high way. Then our men began to cease from wordes, and to lay hande vpon their weapons, for that company of a thousande were as many, as on our side were fighting men, they were well practised in the warres, very valiät, and also pitched in a better place for fight. This battell endured certaine houres, and at the ende the _Indians_ being eyther wearied, or else meanyng to take our men in the snare appointed, began to flie toward theyr maine battell, not as ouercome, but to ioyne with their owne folke. And our men being hote in the fight and slaughter whiche was not litle, followed them with all their fardage, and vnwares fell into the ambushe among an infinite number of _Indians_ armed, they stayde not bycause they would not put themselues out of order, and passed through their campe with great haste & feare. The enimies began to sette vpon the horsemen, thinkyng to haue taken their lances from them, their courage was so stoute: many of the Spaniardes had there perished, had it not bin for the _Indian_ friends. Likewise the courage of _Cortes_ did much animate them, for although he ledde his army making way yet, diuers times, he turned him backe to place his men in order and to comforte them, and at length came out of that daungerous way into the playne fielde, where the horses mought helpe, and the ordinaunce stande in stéede, whiche two things did greatly anoy the enimie to their great wonder and maruell, and at the sight thereof began to flie.

In bothe encounters remayned many _Indians_ slayne and wounded, and of the Spaniardes some were hurt, but none killed, giuyng moste hartie thankes vnto God for their deliuery from so great a multitude of _Indians_ their enimies with muche ioye and pleasure of the victory. Then they wente to pitche their campe in a village called _Teoacazinco_, where was a little Tower and a Temple, and there fortified themselues, and buylte cotages of bowes and strawe. The _Indians_ of _Zeampoallan_, and those of _Iztacmixtlitan_ did play the valiant men that day, wherfore _Cortes_ honoured them with harty thankes.

[Sidenote: The care of good souldiers.]

This day was the first of September. The night followyng our men slepte not quietly with feare of inuasion of their enimies, but they came not, for they neuer vse to fighte in the nighte season. And as soone as it was day _Cortes_ sente to the Captaynes of _Tlaxcallan_, to requyre them of peace and friendshippe, willyng them quietly to suffer the passage through their countrey to _Mexico_, for that they meant them no hurte but rather good will. This done, hée lefte twoo hundreth Spanyardes and the Carreirs in the campe. And tooke with him other twoo hundreth, with seuen hundreth _Indians_, and wente with them abrode to skirmishe in the face of their enimies, and at that tyme burned fiue or sixe villages, and returned with foure hundreth prysoners, without receyuyng any hurte, although they followed him to his campe. At his returne he founde the answere of the Captaynes his enimies, whiche was, that the next day they would come and talke with him and declare theyr mindes.

[Sidenote: 150000. men.]

_Cortes_ was well preuented that night, for the answere liked him not, but rather séemed braue, and a matter determined to be done as they had sayde: lykewise those whiche were taken prysoners, certified that his enimies were ioyned togither to the nüber of a .150000. më to giue him battaile the next day folowing, & to swallow thë aliue whom so mortally they did hate, thinking thë to be friëds to _Mutezuma_, vnto whom they wished all euil & mischief.

[Sidenote: Indian armour.]

It was moste true that the _Tlaxcaltecas_ had gathered all their whole power to apprehende the bearded menne, and to make of them a more solemne sacrifice vnto their Goddes, than at any time heretofore they had done, with a generall banquet of their flesh, which they called Celestial. The Captaines of _Tlaxcallan_ deuided their souldiers into foure battayles, the one to _Tepeticpac_, another to _Ocotelulco_, the third to _Tizatlan_, and the fourth to _Quiahuiztlan_, that is to say, the men of the Mountaynes, the men of the Lymepittes, the men of the Pinetrées, and the water men, euery of these had their Lardes and Captaynes whome they shoulde repayre vnto and obey, and all these foure sortes of men dothe make the body of the common weale and cittie, and also commaunde both in tyme of warre and peace. So that euery of these Captaynes had his iust portion or number of warriers, but the general of al the whole army was called _Xicotencatl_, who was of the Limepits: and he had the standart of the cittie, which is a Crane of gold with his wings spred, adorned with Emeralds & siluerworke, which standart is according to their vse, either caried before the whole host or else behinde thë all. The second Captaine or Lieuetenant was _Maxixcazin_, & the number of the whole army was .150000. men. Such a great number they had ready against .400. Spaniardes & yet at length ouercome: neuerthelesse after all this broyle, they were most greatest friends. These foure captains came w^t their cöpany that the fields where they were séemed a forest. They were trimme felowes & well armed according to their vse, although they were paynted so that their faces shewed like diuels with great tuffes of feathers and triumphed gallantly. They had also slinges, staues, speares, swordes, bowes and arrowes, skulles, splintes, gantlettes all of wood, gilte or else couered with feathers or leather, their corselets were made of cotten woolle, their targettes and bucklers gallant and strong, made of woodde couered with leather, and trimmed with laton and feathers, theyr swordes were staues with an edge of flint stone cunningly ioyned into the staffe, which woulde cutte very well and make a sore wounde.

The host (as is declared) was deuided into foure parts, their instrumentes of warre were hunters hornes, and drummes called attabals made like a caldron and couered with vellam. So that the Spanyardes in all the discouery of _India_ did neuer sée a better army togither nor better ordered.

The threatning of the Indian campe _agaynst the Spanyardes_.

[Sidenote: A present.]

[Sidenote: A reckning made before the hoste.]

[Sidenote: Battayle.]

These _Indians_ were great braggers, and sayde among themselues, what madde people are these that threatneth vs and yet knoweth vs not. But if they will be so bolde to inuade our countrey without our licence, let vs not sette vpon them so soone, it is méete they haue a litle reste, for we haue tyme inough to take & binde them, let vs also sende them meate for they are commen with empty stomackes: And againe they shall not say that we do apprehende them with wearinesse and hunger. Wherevpon they sent vnto the Christians thrée hundreth Gynnea cockes, and two hundreth baskets of bread called _Centli_. The whiche present was a great sucker for the néede that they stoode in. And soone after (quoth they) nowe let vs goe and sette vpon them, for by this time they haue eaten their meate, and nowe wée will eate them, and so shall they pay vs the victuals that we sent: likewise we wil know if _Mutezuma_ commaunded them to come into our countrey, or who else. And if he sente them, then let him come and deliuer them: and if it be their owne enterpryse, they shall receyue theyr reward accordingly. These and such like bragges they vsed, seing so fewe Spaniardes before them, and not knowyng their strength. Then the foure Captaynes sente twoo thousande of their valiantest men of warre and olde Souldiers, to take the Spanyardes quietly, with commaundement that if they did resist, either to binde them or else to kill them, meanyng not to sette their whole army vpon them, saying that they shoulde gette but small honour for so great a multitude, to fight agaynst so fewe. The twoo thousande Souldiers passed the trench that was betwixt the twoo campes, and came boldely to the Tower where the Christians were. Then came foorth the Horsemen, and after them the footemen, and at the first encounter they made the _Indians_ féele howe the yron swordes woulde cutte: and at the seconde, they shewed of what force those fewe in number were, of whome a little before they had so iested: But at the thirde brunte they made those lusty Souldiers fly, who were come to apprehende them, for none of them escaped, but onely suche as knewe the passage of the trenches or ditche.

Then the mayne battell and whole army sette foorth with a terrible and maruellous noyse, and came so fierce vppon our menne, till they entred into our campe without any resistaunce, and there were at handye strokes and wrastlyng with the Spanyardes, and in a good space coulde not gette them out, killyng many of them whiche were so bolde to enter: and in this sorte they fought foure howers, before they coulde make way among their enimies. And then the _Indians_ began to faynt, seyng so many dead on theyr side, and the greate woundes they had, and that they coulde kill none of the Christians: yet the battayle ceased not till it drewe neare night and then they retyred. Whereof _Cortes_ and his Souldiers were excéedyng gladde, for they were fully weried with killyng of _Indians_, so that all that nighte our men triumphed with more ioy than feare, consideryng that the _Indians_ fought not by night, they slepte and tooke their reste at pleasure, whiche they had not done til that tyme, but alwayes kept bothe watche and warde.

The _Indians_ finding many of their hoste missyng, yet they would not yéelde themselues as ouercome, as after did appeare. They coulde not well tell howe many were slayne, nor yet our men had leasure to count them.

[Sidenote: Cortes vvas a painfull man.]

The nexte day in the mornyng _Cortes_ wente forth to runne the fieldes as he had done before, leauing halfe his menne to kéepe the campe, and bicause he shoulde not be espied he departed before day, & burned aboute .x. townes, and sacked one towne, whiche was of thrée thousande houses, in the whiche were founde but few folke of fight, bycause the moste of them were gone to their campe: After the spoyle, he set fire on the towne and came his way to his campe with a great pray by noone time. The enimies pursued thinkyng to take away their pray, and followed them into the camp, where they fought fiue houres and could not kill one Spaniarde, although many of their side were slaine: for euen as they were many and stoode on a throng togither, the ordinaunce made a wonderfull spoyle among them, so that they lefte off fighting, and the victory remayned for our men. The _Indians_ thought that the Spanyardes were inchaunted bycause their arrowes coulde not hurte them.

[Sidenote: A straunge presente.]

The nexte day followyng, the foure Captaynes sente thrée seuerall things in present to _Cortes_, and the messengers that brought them sayd: Sir behold here fiue slaues, and if thou be that rigorous God that eatest mans fleshe and bloud, eate these whiche we bring vnto thée, and we will bring thée moe. And if thou be the gentle and méeke God, beholde here Franckinsense and Feathers. And if thou be mortal man, take here foule, bread, & Cherries.

_Cortes_ answered, that both he and his were mortal men euen as they were. And bicause that alwayes he had vsed to tell them trouth, wherfore did they vse to tell him lies, and lykewise to flatter him, for he desired to bée their friende, aduising them not to be madde and stubborne in their opinion, for if they so did, assuredly they shoulde receyue great hurte and dammage. Likewise (quoth he) it is apparant vnto you how many of your side are slayne without the losse of one of mine, and with this answere sent them away. Notwithstanding the answere sent, there came aboute .30000. of them euen to _Cortes_ his campe to proue their Corselettes, as they had done the day before, but they returned with brokë pates. Here is to be noted, that although the first day the whole host of _Indians_ came to combat with our men, & finally all they came to fight, yet the next day they did not so, but euery seueral captaine by himselfe, for to deuide the better the trauayle & paynes equally amög them: & bicause that one should not disturbe another through y^e multitude, considering that they should fight but with a few, & in a narrow place, & for this consideration, their battayles were more fresher & stronger, for eche captaine did contende who should do most valiantly, for to get honour, & especially in killyng one Spaniarde, for they thought that all their hurtes shoulde be satisfied with the death of one Spaniarde, or taking one prisoner.

[Sidenote: Indian policie.]

Likewyse is to bée considered, the straungenesse of their battayle, for not withstandyng their controuersse all those fiftene dayes that they were there, whether they fought or no. The _Indians_ sente vnto the Spanyardes cakes of breade, Gynnea cockes and Cherries. But this polycie was not to giue them that meate for good will, but onely to espie and sée what hurte was done amongst them, and also to sée what feare or stomacke they had to procéede: but the Spanyardes fell not into that reckenyng, for the espies of _Tlaxcallan_ sayde, that none had fought with them but certayne outlawes and knaues called _Otomies_, who lyued as vagaboundes without a Lorde or other ruler: And that they were théeues, who had theyr abyding behinde a hill, whiche they poynted vnto with their hande.

Hovv Cortez cut off the handes _of fiftie Indian espies_.

The nexte day after these presentes were sente vnto them as Goddes, whiche was the sixte of September, there came to the Campe fiftie _Indians_ of _Tlaxcallan_, whiche séemed after theyr sorte honest menne, and gaue vnto _Cortes_ bread, cherries, & Gynnea cocks, as they ordinarily vsed to do, enquiring how all his Spaniardes did and what they meant to doe, and whether they stoode in necessitie of any thing. And after this communication they went vp and downe the camp, gasing and beholding the horses, armour and artillery, and seemed amased to sée such things. But the effect of their cöming was the office of espies.

[Sidenote: The good aduise of a friende.]

_Teuche_ of _Zempoallan_ marking these things, who being of a childe brought vp in wars, by reason wherof he was expert and wise, came vnto _Cortes_, saying, sir it semeth not well, y^t these _Tlaxcaltecas_ wander vp & downe your campe beholding the entrance and going out of the same, to beholde likewise the fortitude and weakenesse of youre power, I like it not: It may please you to make enquirie whether they be espyes or no. _Cortez_ hauing heard hys tale, gaue him hartie thankes for his good aduice, yea and maruelled, that neyther he himselfe, nor none of his Spanyardes had noted the thing, the _Indians_ hauing so many dayes come vnto them after this sort, yea and that only _Indian_ of _Zempoallan_ had considered it.

[Sidenote: Confessiö.]

Nowe the originall cause was not bycause _Teuch_ was more wise than the Christians, but by reason that hée had séene and heard those _Indians_ commune with the subiectes of _Iztacmixtlitan_ to féele their mindes, and wyth craft and subtiltie to obteyne their desire: whereby _Cortez_ vnderstoode that those fellowes came not to any good purpose: he apprehended that _Indian_ whiche stoode nexte vnto him, and hauing him alone from his fellowes, by his interpreters examined him effectually, who incontinent confessed that he was a spye, and that his comming thither was to view the way how to enter their Campe for to spoyle and burne their Tentes: and for so much as they hadde proued fortune all the houres of the day, and all happened contrary to their desire, against their auncient fame and glory which they hadde obteyned by noble exploytes in warres, they now meant to proue their successe by nighte, hoping of better fortune: and also bycause their souldiers shoulde not feare the Horses, with the darkenesse of the nighte, nor the blowes or stripes of the bright swordes, nor yet the fire and terrible noyse of the Ordinance: and that Captayne _Xicoteucatl_ was alreadye appoynted for that enterprise, with prouision of manye thousand souldiers which lay in ambush in a vale behind certayne hilles, right ouer against their Campe.

[Sidenote: A good correction.]

After this confession taken, _Cortes_ full prudently commaunded to take also the severall confessions of other foure or fyue, who likewise confessed that they were all espies, vppon whose confessions the were al fiftie taken prisoners, and iudgmente giuen, that their one hande should be cut off, which was forthwith executed, and then were returned to their Camp, signifying vnto them that the like iustice should be executed vpon as many espyes as they might take. And also they were charged to shew vnto their Generall who had sente them, that both daye and night he would be ready for them.

When the _Tlaxcaltecas_ sawe their espyes come in thys pickle, they were in a maruellous feare, and it séemed a newe world vnto them: they also beléeued that oure men hadde some familiar spirites that did instructe them of their thoughtes, and with feare of cutting off häds, there went no moe espies with victuals.

An embassage that Mutezuma sente _to Hernando Cortez_.

[Sidenote: A carefull Captayne.]

VVhen these espyes were gone, oure men espyed out of our Campe a great multitude of men goe crossing ouer a hill, and it séemed that they were those that the Captayne _Xicotencatl_ hadde in ambush: and although it was néere night, _Cortes_ determined to followe them, and not to abide their comming, fearing that at a first brunt they mighte set fire among his cotages, as was pretended among them, whiche pretence hauing taken effecte, myght haue bin the destruction of all his men, eyther by the fier or otherwise: wherefore he put all his men in good order, and commaunded the Horsemenne to decke the brest plates of hys Horses with belles, and then procéeded towarde their enimies, who durst not abide their comming, hauing intelligence of the cutting of their espyes hands, and likewise hearing the new noyse of belles: yet oure men followed them tyll two houres within night, through many sowen fieldes of _Centli_, and slew many of thë, and then returned with victorie to the Campe.

[Sidenote: Ambassage from Mutezuma.]

At that season were come sixe noble men from _Mexico_, who brought two hundred seruing men to wayt vpon them. They brought vnto _Cortes_ a present, whiche was a hundred garments of cotten, and some of feathers, and a thousand péeces of golde.

[Sidenote: Excuses.]

These ambassadors on the behalfe of _Mutezuma_, declared, that their Lord would be friende with the Emperoure, and also with him, and his company, requestyng to knowe what tribute he woulde yearely demaunde, in golde, plate, pearles, slaues, or garments, or of any other thing that was within his kingdome, and the same tribute he woulde well and truly pay withoute delay, wyth such condition, that neyther he nor his company shoulde come vnto _Mexico_. And this request (quoth they) is not only bycause you should bée disturbed to come into hys countrey, but chiefly bycause the waye is euill, barren, and full of euill rockes, whyche lette dothe gréeue _Mutezuma_, that suche valiant menne as ye be shoulde suffer in his Countrey, lying not in hys power to remedie it.

_Cortez_ dyd thankefully receyue the present and gentle offer for the Emperoure King of _Castile_, but (quoth hée) my earnest desire is, that you depart not til ye sée the end of these warres whyche I haue nowe in hande, bycause yée shall carrie newes thereof to _Mexico_, what I pretende to doe againste these mortall enimies of _Mutezuma_.

Then _Cortez_ fel into an ague, for which cause he went not out to skyrmish as he was wonte to do, but only prouided to make his Camp strong against certaine flockes of _Indians_, whiche came dayly to skirmishe, for that was as ordinarie, as the meate that was wont to be broughte to thë: but yet these skirmishes nor furie of y^e _Indiäs_ were not like to their fierce beginning.

_Cortez_ now meaneth to take a purgation for his ague: and tooke certayne pilles whiche he broughte with him from _Cuba_, at suche houre of the nighte as is vsed for purgations.

It happened that the nexte daye following, before hys purge had wrought, came thrée great companies of _Indians_ to besiege his Camp. It should séeme that those _Indians_ had some intelligence of his sicknesse, or else thinking with feare that he durst not come abroade as he was wont to doe.

[Sidenote: A valiant Captayne.]

_Cortes_ being aduertised of this newes, withoute anye more respect to his purgation taken, tooke his horse, and with his menne came to the encounter, and foughte with his enimies all day till it was nighte, and draue them a good way off, to their great hurt, and then returned to his Camp, and the next day following, he purged as fresh, as though it had bin newly taken. I doe not rehearse thys for a miracle but to declare what he passed: for _Hernando Cortez_ was a greate sufferer of trauell and paynes, and one of y^e firste that alway was at any assay or brunt of enimies, and he was not onely a good man of his handes, but also graue in counsell. And hauing thus purged hym selfe, and taken rest those dayes, he watched euery night that fell to his lotte, as well as any other souldier, and so continually he vsed to do. He was not for this the lesse estéemed, but rather muche the more beloued among hys men.

Hovv Cortez vvan a great Citie _called Zimpanzinco_.

[Sidenote: An euill Spirite appeared.]

[Sidenote: A couragious Captayne.]

In an euening _Cortes_ went vp to the toppe of his Tower, and looking rounde aboute hym, he espyed aboute foure leagues distant in the Mountaynes among rockes and procéeding out of a wodde dyuers smokes, whereby he ymagined people to be there: he opened not his minde to anye man, but commaunded two hundred of his men to followe hym, and some _Indians_ hys friendes, and within thrée or foure houres of the nyghte he toke hys iourney towarde the Mountaynes, béeing very darke. He had not fully gone a league, when suddaynely appeared the lykenesse of a great Bull whiche ouerthrewe them that they could not stirre. The firste Horseman béeing fallen, they aduysed _Cortez_ thereof, who aunswered, that he shoulde returne wyth hys Horse to the Campe: and incontinente fell another, _Cortez_ commaunded hym the lyke: and when thrée or foure were fallen, his company retyred, saying, it was an euill token, desiring him to returne and abyde the morning, that they myghte sée whether they wente. He aunswered, saying, yée oughte to gyue no credite to witchcraftes or fantasies, for God, whose cause we take in hande, is aboue all nature: wherefore I will not leaue my pretended iourney, for I doe ymagine that of thys nyghtes trauell shall come greate ease and pleasure, saying, that the Deuill hathe in this forme of a Bull appeared, to disturbe vs. He hadde no sooner ended his talke, when hys Horse fell likewise: then counsell was taken what was best to be done.

It was determined that the Horses which were fallë, should be returned to the Campe, and that of the residue, eache Horseman should leade hys Horse by the bridle, and so proceede on theyr way, and shortly after the Horses were well agayne, but they neuer knewe of what motion they hadde fallen: wyth the darkenesse of the nyghte they lost theyr way to the Mountaynes, and chanced into a cragged rockie waye, that they thoughte neuer to haue come out thereof.

[Sidenote: A famous Cortez.]

And after a whyle that they had gone this euill waye, wyth their heare standing with very feare, they espyed a little lyghte, and tooke the way thyther, where they founde a little house, wherein were two Women, and those Women, with other two women that afterwards they mette, conducted them to the Wildernesse, where they had espyed the smoke, and before day they sette vpon certayne Villages, and slewe many, yet they burned not those Villages, bycause they should not be perceyued through the lyght thereof. They receyued there aduyse, that néere at hand were great populations and soone after he came to _Zimpanzinco_, a towne of twenty thousand houses, as after dyd appeare by the visitation of _Cortes_. These inhabitantes béeyng vnaduised of this suddayne happe, were taken in their beddes, and came out all naked through the stréetes to knowe what the great mourning and lamentation meante: at the first entrance many were slayne, but bycause they made no resistance, _Cortez_ commaunded to ceasse from killyng, nor yet to take any of theyr goodes, or women.

The feare of these poore inhabitantes was so greate, that they fledde without respect of the father to the child, or husbande to the Wyfe, or yet eyther of house or goodes.

_Cortes_ commaunded sygnes of peace to be made vnto them, and with that they stayed, and before the Sunne rising, the Towne was pacifyed.

_Cortez_ went vp into a Tower to descry the Countrey, and there espyed a moste greate population: he then demaunded what it was: aunswere was made that it was called _Tlaxcallan_, and the Townes therevnto apperteynyng. Then he called hys Spanyardes, and sayd vnto them: beholde, what woulde it haue preuayled vs to kyll these poore soules, hauyng yonder so manye enimies? and wythoute doyng anye more hurte in that Towne, hée wente to a fayre Fountayne there at hande, and thyther came the Rulers of that Towne, and other foure hundred menne withoute weapon, and broughte wyth them muche victuall, most humbly they besought _Cortes_ to doe them no more hurte, gyuing hym likewise greate thankes, that hée hadde so fauourablye vsed them, offering both to serue and obey hym, and from that daye forwarde they woulde not onely kéepe hys friendshippe, but also trauell wyth the Lordes of _Tlaxcallan_ and others, that they should doe the same. _Cortez_ replyed, that sure he was, howe they had foughte agaynste hym before that time, although that nowe they broughte hym meate, yet notwithstandyng hée pardoned them, and also receyued them into hys seruice and friendshippe, to the vse of the Emperoure.

Wyth thys communication he departed from them, and returned to the Campe verye ioyfull wyth so good successe, hauyng such a daungerous beginning, wyth the suddayne fall of theyr Horses, wherein the Prouerbe is fulfylled, whyche sayeth, Speake not euill of the daye, till it be at an ende.

They hadde also a greate hope, that those newe friendes woulde bée a meane, to cause the _Tlaxcaltecas_ to leaue from Warre, and to become theyr friendes.

From that day forward he commaunded that none of hys Campe shoulde doe any hurte to any _Indian_, and certifyed his men that the same daye his warres were at an ende with that prouince.

The desire that some of the Spanyardes _had to leaue the warres_.

[Sidenote: Murmuration.]

VVhen _Cortez_ was returned so ioyfull to his Camp, he founde some of his men discouraged with the suddayne mishappe of the Horses, fearing that likewise some misfortune hadde happened to _Cortes_, but when they sawe him come well and with victorie, their ioy was great, although true it is that manye of his men were not well pleased, but desired muche to leaue the warres, and to returne to the coast, as they had often requested, but nowe chiefly séeyng such a great Countrey, and full of people, who woulde not permitte theyr abiding there, and they béeing so fewe in number in the middest among them withoute hope of succoure, certaynely things to be feared. With this murmuration they thought it good to talke with _Cortes_, & also to require him to procéede no further, but returne backe agayne to _Vera Crux_, from whence by little and little they mighte haue intelligence with the _Indians_, and therevppon procéede according to tyme, and that he mighte prouide more Horses and men, whiche was the chiefest prouision of the warre.

And although some secretely enformed _Cortes_ of thys matter, yet he gaue no eare to their talke, but on a night as hée came out of hys Tower to ouerlooke the watche, hée hearde a loude talke out of one of the Cotages, and beganne to hearken what theyr communication was: and the matter was, that certaine souldiers sayde these wordes: If our Captayne be madde, and go where he may be slayne, let him goe alone, what néede we to follow him. _Cortez_ hearyng this talke, called twoo of his friendes for witnesse, willyng them to harken his souldiers talke, for he that durst speake suche wordes would be ready to doe it. Also he hearde others say, what shall our iourney be as _Pedro Carbonerotes_ was? who went into _Barbaria_ to take Mores, and he and all his were there slayne, wherefore sayde they let vs not follow him but turne in time. It grieued _Cortez_ muche to heare this talke, who would fayne haue corrected them but it was not then tyme, wherefore he determined to leade them with sufferaunce, and spake vnto them as followeth.

The Oration made by Cortez _to his Souldiers_.

Maisters and louyng friendes, I did choose you for my fellowes, and ye chose me for your captaine, and all was for the seruice of God, and the augmenting of his holy faith, & also the seruice of our soueraigne Lord the King now Emperour: and next for our owne commoditie, I (as yée haue séene) haue not fayled nor yet displeased yée, nor yée likewise haue otherwise done to me vnto this day. But now I do féele faintnesse in some, yea and an euill will to goe forwarde in the warres whiche we haue in hande: but (God be praysed) it is now finished, at the least the ende is vnderstood, what it may be, and also the wealth that may follow, as partely you haue séene, but much without comparison of that you haue not séene, whiche is a thing that doth excéede the greatnesse of our wordes or thoughts.

Feare not my louyng fellowes to goe and abide with me, God forbidde that I should thynke, yea or that any shoulde reporte, that feare vexeth my company, or else disobedience to their Captayne, whiche is a perpetuall infamie, if wée shoulde leaue this Lande, this Warre, this way already made, and returne as some doe desire, shall wée then lyue at reste, loytring as idell and loste folke: God forbidde, that euer oure nation shoulde haue suche a name, hauyng warres of honour. And whether (I pray) shall the Oxe goe where he shall not helpe to ploughe the grounde? doe yée thinke peraduenture that yée shall finde lesse people, worse armed, and not farre from the sea? I doe assure you, that in so thynkyng yée séeke after fiue féete for a Catte, yea and you shall trauell no way, but that you shall méete some euill passage (as the Prouerbe sayth) yea and farre worser than this that we haue in hande. For why (God be thanked) since wée came into this Countrey, we neuer wanted meate, friendes, neyther money nor honour. For nowe yée sée that yée are estéemed more than menne, yea as persons immortall, and Goddes, if it mighte be spoken, for these _Indians_ beyng so many and without number, and so armed as ye your selues affirme, yet can they not kyll one of vs: and as touchyng theyr weapons, you sée that they are not poysoned, as the _Indians_ of _Cartagena_, _Veragna_, and the _Caribez_ doe vse, whiche haue killed many of our nation therewith, dying as madde menne ragyng.

And if there were no other cause than this onely, you shoulde not séeke others with whome to warre: I doe confesse that the Sea is somewhat farre from vs, and neuer Spaniarde trauelled so farre into the mayne lande of _India_, as wée haue done: for why? nowe we leaue the Sea a hundreth and fiftie myles behinde vs, nor yet euer any hath come to neare _Mexico_ where _Mutezuma_ dothe reside, from whome suche messages and Treasure wée haue receyued. It is nowe but thrée score myles thyther, and the worste is paste, as you doe sée, if we come thither, as I truste in Iesus wée shall, then shall we not onely gette and winne for the Emperoure oure naturall Lorde a riche Lande, greate Kingdomes, infinite Vassalles, but lykewyse for oure selues muche riches, as Golde, Siluer, Pretious stones, Pearles, and other commoditie, and besides thys, the greatest honour that euer any nation did obtayne. For loke howe great a King this is, howe large his countrey is, and what greate multitude of people hée hath, so muche the more is our glory.

Besides all this, wée are bounde as Christians to exalte and enlarge oure Catholyke fayth, as wée haue begonne, abolishyng Idolatrie and blasphemie agaynst our Sauiour Christe, takyng away the blouddy Sacrifice and eatyng of mannes fleshe, so horrible and agaynste nature, and many other grieuous sinnes so muche here vsed, for the foulenesse whereof I name them not.

And therefore (I saye) feare you nor yet doubte you the victorie, consideryng that the worste is paste. Of late wée ouercame the _Indians_ of _Tabasco_, and also an hundreth and fiftie thousande this other daye of the _Tlaxcaltecas_, who haue the onely name of breakers of Lyons iawes: so with Gods helpe you shal be Conquerers of the reste, if ye faynt not and folowe me.

All hys company was pleased and contente with this comfortable exhortation, and those that were faynt harted recouered strength. And hys valiaunt Souldiers recouered double courage, & those who hated him began to honour him: and in conclusion he departed from thence excéeding welbeloued of all his company. But all his former talke was very néedefull as time then requyred: for why? some of his (as you haue heard) were desirous to returne: likewise vpon dissention, rebellion mought haue growen, and he forced to returne to the sea coaste, where all his toyle and trauell taken had bene lost.

Hovv Xicotencatl came for Embassadour _to Cortez his Campe_.

_Cortez_ had not so soone made an ende of his talke, when _Xicotencatl_ came entryng into the campe, who was chiefe and generall captayne in _Tlaxcallan_, & of all the warres: he brought in his company fiftie persons of auctoritie to kéepe him cöpany. They approched neare where _Cortes_ was, and saluted eche other according to the vse of their countrey. Their salutations ended and the parties setten downe, _Xicotencatl_ began the talke, saying: Sir I am come on mine owne behalf and also of my fellow Captaine, and Lieuetenant _Maxixca_, and in the name of many other noble personages, and finally in the name of the whole state and common weale of _Tlaxcallan_, to beséeche and pray you to admitte vs into your friendshippe, and to yéelde our selues and countrey vnto your King, crauyng also at your hande pardon for our attempt in takyng armes agaynst you, wée not knowyng what you were, nor what you sought for in our countrey. And where we presumed to resiste and defende your entrance, we did it as agaynst straungrrs whome we knewe not, and suche menne as we had neuer here tofore séene: and fearyng also that you had bene friendes to _Mutezuma_, who is and alwayes hath bene our mortall enimy. And these things wée suspected, seyng _Mutezuma_ his seruaunts in your company, or else we imagined that you were comen to vsurpe our libertie, the which of tyme without memory we haue possessed, as our forefathers did with the shedyng of their bloud. And of our owne naturall prouision we wante cotten woolle to clothe vs, wherfore in tyme paste we wente as naked as we were borne, but some of vs vsed other clothe to couer our nakednesse, made of the leaues of the trée called _Metl_: and Salte also wée wanted, of which twoo things so necessarie to humayne lyfe, _Mutezuma_ had greate store, and other our enimies, with whome we are rounde aboute enuironed. And lykewise where wée haue no gold, stones of value, or any riche thyng to barter with them, of very pure necessitie many times we are forced to sell our owne bodies to buy these wantes. And this extremitie (sayde he) wée néeded not, if that we woulde be subiectes and vassalles to _Mutezuma_. But yet had we rather all in generall to end our lyues, than wée woulde putte oure selues in suche subiection, for we thynke our selues as valiaunt menne in courage as our forefathers were, who alwayes haue resisted agaynst him and his grandfather, who was as mightie as nowe is he: wée woulde also haue withstoode you and your force, but wée coulde not, although we proued all our possibilitie by night and day, and found your strength inuincible, and we no lucke agaynst you. Therefore sithence our fate is such, we had rather be subiect vnto you than vnto any others. For wée haue knowen and hearde by the _Zeampoallanezes_, that you doe no euill, nor came not to vere any, but were moste valliaunt and happie, as they had séene in the warres, beyng in your companie. For whiche consideration, we truste that our libertie shall not be diminished, but rather our owne persons, wyues, and familie better preserued, and our houses and husbandry not destroyed. And in süme of all his talke, the teares trickling downe his chéekes, he besought _Cortes_ to wey that _Tlaxcallan_ did neuer at any tyme reknowledge any superiour King or Lorde, nor at any time had commen any person among them to commaunde, but onely he, whome they did voluntarily electe and chose as their superiour and ruler.

It can not be tolde, howe muche _Cortes_ reioyced with this Embassage, and to sée such a mighty Captayne come vnto his campe to submitte himselfe: and also it was a matter of great wayght to haue that Cittie in subiection, for the enterprice whiche he had in hande, whereby he fully made an account that the warres were at an ende, to the great cötentation of him and his company, and with great fame and reputation among the _Indians_.

_Cortes_ with a mery and louing countenaunce answered, laying to their charge the hurte and damage whiche he had receyued in their countrey, bycause they refused at the firste to harken vnto him, and quietly to suffer him to enter into their countrey, euen as he had required and desired by his Messengers of _Zeampoallan_ sente vnto them from _Zaclotan_. Yet al this notw^tstandyng, he did both pardon the kyllyng of his twoo horses, the assaultyng of him in the highe way, and the greate lies whiche they had moste craftily vsed with hym, (for where as they themselues fought agaynst him, yet they layde the faulte to others) likewise their pretence to murder him in the ambush prepared for him, (enticing him to come to their Citie,) without makyng firste defiance according to the law of armes.

These causes notwithstanding, he did louingly receyue their offer made in subiection to the Emperour, and in this sorte departed, saying, that shortely hée woulde be with him in _Tlaxcallan_, and presently he coulde not goe with him for the dispatche of the Ambassadours of _Mutezuma_.

The receyuing and entertaynement _of Cortez in Tlaxcallan_.

It grieued muche the Embassadours of _Mutezuma_, to sée _Xicotencates_ in the Spanishe Campe, and the offer made vnto _Cortes_ in the behalfe of his King, of their persons, Cittie and goodes, aduising _Cortes_ to gyue no credite vnto them, for all their saying (quoth they) is treason and lies, and to the entent to locke you vp in their Cittie.

_Cortes_ answered, that although their aduise were true, yet he did determine to go thither, for that he feared them lesse in the towne than in the fielde. They hearyng this answere and determination, besought him to giue vnto one of them licence to returne vnto _Mexico_, to aduertise _Mutezuma_ of all that was past, with an answere to their Ambassage, promising within sixe dayes to haue newes from _Mexico_, and till then prayed him not to departe with his Campe.

_Cortes_ graunted their request, and abode there the time appointed, expectyng the answere. In this meane season came many of _Tlaxcallan_ to the camp, some brought Ginnea cockes, other brought bread and Cherries, and gaue it for nothyng in comparison, with merry countenaunce, desiryng them to goe home with them vnto their houses.

[Sidenote: A riche present.]

The sixth day the _Mexican_ came, accordyng to promise, and brought vnto _Cortes_ tenne Iewelles of Golde, bothe riche and well wrought, and a fiftene thousand garments of Cotten excéeding gallant, and moste earnestly besought hym on the behalfe of _Mutezuma_, that he shoulde not daunger himselfe in trustyng to the wordes of the _Tlaxcaltecas_, who were so poore y^t with necessitie they would robbe him of the thyngs whiche his mayster had sente him, yea and lykewise murder him, knowyng of the friendshippe betwéene his mayster and him: likewise all the chiefest Lordes of _Tlaxcallan_, came to intreate hym to goe with them to _Tlaxcallan_ where he shoulde be cherished, lodged, and well prouided. For it was a greate dishonour and shame for them to permitte suche personages to abyde in suche vyle cotages as they were in. And if (quoth they) you truste vs not, that then wée are ready to gyue you for your securitie what soeuer gages you shall demaunde: notwithstandyng they dyd bothe sweare and faithfully promise, that they might safely goe with them, saying also that the Othe and fayth of theyr common weale should neuer be broken for all the goodes in the worlde.

[Sidenote: Entraunce into Tlaxcallan.]

Wherevpon _Cortez_ seyng the good will of so many Gentlemen his newe friendes, and lykewise the _Indians_ of _Zeampoallan_, of whome he had good credite, did so importune him and assure him of his goyng, he commaunded his fardage to be laden and also his ordinaunce, and departed towarde _Tlaxcallan_, whiche was sixe leagues from that place, with as good order as it had bene to a battayle: And at the Tower where he had pitched hys campe, he lefte certayne Crosses for a memorie, with a greate heape of stones, and entred into _Tlaxcallan_ the eightenth of September. There came out such a multitude of people to sée him and to méete him in the way, that it was a wonder to sée.

He was lodged in the greatest temple, which had many great and fayre lodgyngs, sufficient for hym and all his companie, except the _Indians_ hys friends which were lodged in other Temples. He set certayne limittes, out of the whiche he commaunded straightely that none of hys company should passe, vpon payne of deathe, and also commaunded that they shoulde take nothing, but what shoulde be giuen them. His commaundement was well obserued, for none presumed to goe a stoanes cast without his licence. The _Indian_ Gentlemen shewed greate pleasure and curtesie to the strangers, and prouided thë of all things necessarie, and manye of them gaue theyr daughters vnto them, in token of true friendshippe, and likewise to haue fruite of their bodyes, to be brought vp for the warres, beyng such valiant men.

This Countrey lyked well oure men, and the greate loue of the people. They abode there at their pleasure twenty dayes, in whiche time they did procure to knowe particularly the estate of their common weale and secretes, and also were sufficiently instructed of the estate of _Mutezuma_.

The description of Tlaxcallan.

_Tlaxcallan_ is properly in the _Indian_ tong as much to say, as bread well baked, for there is more grayne called _Centli_ gathered, than is in all y^e prouince round about.

In times past the Citie was called _Texcallan_, that is to say, a valley betwixt two hilles. It is a greate Citie, and planted by a riuer side, whiche springeth out of _Atlancatepec_, and watreth the most parte of that prouince, and from thence issueth out into the South sea, by _Zacatullan_. This Citie hathe foure goodly stréetes, whiche are called _Tepeticpac_, _Ocotelulco_, _Tizatlan_, _Quiahuiztlan_. The firste stréete standeth on hygh vpon a hyll, farre from the riuer, whiche maye be aboute halfe a league, and bycause it standeth on a hill, it is called _Tepeticpac_, that is to say, a hyll, and was the firste population which was foüded there on high, bycause of the warres.

An other stréete was scituate on the hill side towarde the Riuer, bycause at the building thereof, there were many pyne trées: they named it _Ocotelulco_, which is to say, a pine apple plot. This stréete was beautifull, and firste inhabited of all the Citie, and there was the chiefest Market place, where all the buying and selling was vsed, and that place they called _Tianquiztli_: in that stréete was the dwelling house of _Maxixca_. Along the Riuer side in the playne standeth another stréete called _Tizatlan_, bycause there is muche lyme and chalke. In this stréete dwelled _Xicotencatl_, Captayne generall of the common weale. There is another stréete named by reason of the brackish water, _Quiahuiztlan_, but since the Spanyardes came thither, all those buildings are almost altered, after a better fashion, and built with stone. In the plaine by the riuer side, standeth the Towne house, and other offices, as in the Citie of _Venice_. This _Tlaxcallan_ was gouerned by noble and riche men: they vse not that one alone should rule, but rather flye from that order, as from tyrannie.