Chapter VI: Part 6

In their warres (as I haue sayde before) they haue foure Captaynes, whiche gouerneth eache one stréete, of the whiche foure, they do elect a Captayne generall. Also there are other Gentlemen that are vndercaptaynes, but a small number. In the warres they vse their standerde to be carried behynde the army, but when the battayle is to be fought, they place the standerde where all the hoste may sée it, and he that commeth not incontinent to hys auntient, payeth a penaltie. Their standerd hathe two crossebowe arrowes set thereon, whiche they estéeme as the relikes of their auncetors. Thys standerd two olde souldiers and valiant menne, being of the chiefest Captaynes, haue the charge to carrie, in the which standerde an abusion of southsaying, eyther of losse or victory is noted. In this order they shote one of these arrowes against the first enimies that they méete, and if with that arrow they doe eyther kill or hurte, it is a token that they shall haue the victorie, and if it neyther kill nor hurt, then they assuredly beléeue that they shall lose the field.

[Sidenote: A strange contractation.]

This prouince or Lordship of _Tlaxcallan_, hath .28. Villages and townes, wherein is conteyned 150000. householdes. They are men well made, and good warriors, the lyke are not among the _Indians_. They are very poore, and haue no other riches, but only the grayne or corne called _Centli_, and with the gayne and profite thereof, they doe both cloth themselues, and paye their tributes, and prouide all other necessaries. They haue many market places, but the greatest and most vsed dayly, standeth in the stréete of _Ocotelulco_, whiche is so famous, that 30000. persons come thither in one day to buy and sell, whyche is to say, changing one thing for another, for they know not what money meaneth.

They sell such things in that market, as héere we vse, & al thing vnto them néedeful to eate, and cloth for themselues, and necessaries for building.

They haue all kinde of good policie in the Citie: there are Goldsmithes, fetherdressers, Barbors, hotehouses, and potters, who make as good earthen vessel, as is made in _Spayne_. The earth is fat and fruitefull for corne, fruite, and pasture, for among the pine trées groweth so muche grasse, that our men féede their cattell there, whiche in _Spayne_ they can not do.

Within two leagues of that Citie standeth a rounde hill of sixe miles of heigth, and fiue and fortie myles in compasse, and is now called Saint Bartholmewes hill, where the snow fréeseth. In times past they called that hill _Matealcucie_, who was their God for water. They had also a God for wyne, who was named _Ometochtli_, for the great dronkennesse whiche they vsed. They chiefest God was called _Camaxtlo_, and by another name _Mixcouatl_, whose Temple stoode in the stréete of _Ocotelulco_, in the whiche temple there was sacrifised some yeares aboue eyghte hundred persons. In _Tlaxcallan_ they spake thrée languages, that is to saye, _Nahualh_, whiche is the courtly spéech, and chiefest in all the land of _Mexico_: an other is called _Otomir_, which is most commonly vsed in the Villages: There is one onely stréete that spake _Pinomer_, which is the grosest speache. There was also in that Citie a common Iayle, where fellons lye in yrons, and all things which they held for sinne, was there corrected.

[Sidenote: Correctiö.]

It chanced at that time a Townesman to steale from a Spanyard a little golde, whereof _Cortes_ complayned to _Maxixca_, who incötinent made such enquirie, y^t the offender was found in _Chololla_, whiche is another Citie fyue leagues from thence: they brought the prisoner with the golde, and deliuered him to _Cortez_, to doe with him hys pleasure: _Cortes_ woulde not accepte him, but gaue hym thankes for his diligence: then was he carried wyth a Cryer before hym, manifestyng hys offence, and in the Market place vppon a skaffolde they brake hys ioyntes with a cudgell: our men maruelled to sée suche straunge Iustice.

The aunsvvere of the Tlaxcaltecas _touching the leauing of their Idolles_.

[Sidenote: A godly persvvasiö.]

VVhen _Cortez_ saw that these people executed Iustice, and liued in Religion after theyr manner, although abhominable and diuelish: and alwayes when he desired them to leaue off from their Idolatrie and that cruell vanitie, in killing and eating men sacrifised, considering that none among them how holly soeuer he were, would willingly be slayne & eaten, required them to beléeue in the most true God of the Chrystians, who was the maker of Heauen and earth, the giuer of rayne, and creator of all things that the earthe produceth only for the vse and profite of mortall man.

Some of them aunswered, that they woulde gladly do it, onely to pleasure him, but they feared that the commons would arise and stone them. Others sayde, that it was an hard matter to vnbeléeue that which their forefathers had so long beléeued, and that it shoulde be a cause to condemne their forefathers and themselues.

Others sayde, that it mighte be in time they woulde conuert, séeing the order of the Christian Religion, and vnderstanding the reasons and causes to turne Christians, and likewise perceyuing thoroughly the manner and life of the Christiäs, with their lawes and customs: and as for warlike feates, they were satisfyed, & had séene suche tryall, that they helde them for men inuincible in that poynte, and that their God did help them.

_Cortes_ promised them, that shortlye he woulde bring them suche men, as shoulde instruct and teache them, and then they should sée which way was best, with the greate ioy and fruite that they shoulde féele. They accepting that councell which he like a friende had giuen them, and for as much as presently it could not be brought to passe by reason of his iourney to _Mexico_.

He desired them, that the Temple wherein he was lodged, shoulde be made a Churche for him and his company, and if it pleased them, they mighte also come to sée and heare their diuine seruice.

The _Indians_ graunted to his request, and dayly came among them all the time of their abode there, and some came and dwelte with the _Spanyardes_, but the chiefest friende was Captayne _Maxixca_, who neuer went from _Cortez_.

The discord betvveene the _Mexicans and Tlaxcaltecas_.

_Cortez_ being throughly satisfyed of theyr hartie good wylles, he demaunded of them the estate and riches of _Mutezuma_. They exalted him greately, as men that had proued his force. And as they affyrmed, it was néere a hundred yeares that they mainteyned warre with him and his father _Axaiaca_, and others his Vnckles and Grandfathers. And saide also, that the golde and treasure of _Mutezuma_, was without number, and his power and dominion ouer all the lande, and hys people innumerable: for (quoth they) he ioyneth sometime two hundreth thousand men, yea and thrée hundred thousande for one battayle. And if it pleased hym, he woulde make as manye men double, and thereof they were good witnesse, bycause they had manye times fought with thë.

_Maxixca_ desired that _Cortes_ should not aduenture themselues into the power of the men of _Culhua_, whereat some of the _Spanyardes_ feared and suspected euill of the matter.

_Cortes_ tolde him, that notwithstanding all those things whiche they had tolde him, he was fully minded to goe to _Mexico_, to visit _Mutezuma_, wishing him to aduise hym what he mought do, or bring to passe for them with _Mutezuma_, for he woulde willingly do it, for the curtesie shewed vnto him, and that he beléeued _Mutezuma_ woulde graunt him any lawfull request.

Then they besought him to procure for them a licence to haue cotten wooll and salte out of his Countrey, for (sayd they) in time of the warres we stoode in greate néede thereof, and that they had none but suche as they boughte by stealthe of the Comercans verye déere, in change of golde: for _Mutezuma_ had made a straight lawe, whereby all suche as carried anye of those commodities to them shoulde be slayne. Then _Cortez_ enquired the cause of their disorder and euill neyborhood. They aunswered, that their griefes were olde, and cause of libertie: but as the Ambassadors did affyrme, and _Mutezuma_ afterward declare, it was not so, but for other matter farre differente. So that eache partye alleadging their causes, theyr reasons were, that the yong menne of _Mexico_ and _Culhua_ dyd exercise and bryng them vppe in warlike feates néere vnto them, and vnder theyr noses, to theyr greate annoyance, whereas they moughte haue gone to _Panuco_ and _Teocantepec_, hys frontiers a farre off.

Lykewyse theyr pretence was, to haue warre wyth them béeyng theyr neyghbors, onely to haue of them to sacrifice to their Gods: so that when they would make any solemne feast, then would they send to _Tlaxcallan_ for men to sacrifice, with such a great army, that they might take as many as they néeded for that yeare: for it is most certayne if _Mutezuma_ woulde, in one daye hée moughte haue broughte them in subiection, and slayne them all, ioyning his whole power in effecte: but his purpose was, to kéepe them for a pray to hunt withall, for men to be sacrificed to his Goddes, and to eate, so that hée woulde neuer sende but a small armye againste them: whereby it did chance that sometimes those of _Tlaxcallan_ did ouercome.

_Cortez_ receyued great pleasure to heare these discordes betwixt his newe friendes and _Mutezuma_, whiche was a thing fitte for his purpose, for by that meanes he hoped to bring them all vnder subiection, and therefore hée vsed the one and the other secretely, to build his pretence vpon a good foundation.

At all this communication there stoode by certayne _Indians_ of _Vexozinco_, whiche had bin against our men in the late warres, the which Towne is a Citie as _Tlaxcallan_, and ioyned with them in league of friendship against _Mutezuma_, who oppressed them in like effect of slaughter for their Temples of _Mexico_, and they also yéelded themselues to _Cortes_ for vassals to the Emperoure.

The solemne receyuing of the _Spanyardes into Chololla_.

[Sidenote: A gentle offer.]

The Ambassedors of _Cortes_ séeyng the determination of _Cortes_ to procéede on his iourney towarde _Mexico_, they besoughte him to goe by _Chololla_, whiche stoode fiue leagues from thence, certifying that _Chololla_ was a Citie in their friendship, and that there he might at his pleasure abide the resolution of their Lord _Mutezuma_, whether it were his pleasure that he should enter into _Mexico_ or no. This request was onely to haue him from thence, for truly it gréeued much _Mutezuma_ of theyr new friendshippe and league, fearyng that thereof woulde some great displeasure happen towardes him, and therefore procured all that was possible to haue him from thence, sending him alwayes presents to allure him to come frö thence the sooner. But when the _Tlaxcaltecas_ saw that he would goe to _Chololla_, it grieued them muche, saying vnto _Cortes_, that _Mutezuma_ was a liar and fraudelent person, and that _Chololla_ was a cittie his friende but not constant, and it mighte happen that they would displease him, hauyng him within their Cittie, wishyng him to looke wel to himself: And if néedes he would goe thither, yet they woulde prouide .20000. men to kéepe him company.

[Sidenote: Correction of treason.]

The women that were giuen to the Spaniardes at their firste entraunce, had vnderstandyng of a snare that was layde to murder them at their commyng to _Chololla_, by meanes of one of the foure Captaynes, who had a sister which discouered the thing to _Pedro de Aluarado_ who kepte hir. _Cortes_ incontinent called that Captayne out of his house, and caused him to be choked, and so was the matter kepte close that his death was neuer knowen, whereby the snare was vndone without any rumour. It was a wonder that all _Tlaxcallan_ had not made an vprore seyng one of their greatest Captaynes dead. There was inquirie made of that snare, and the truth being knowen, it was approued that _Mutezuma_ had prepared .30000. Souldiers who were in campe for that purpose within twoo leagues of the Citie, and that the streates in _Chololla_ were stopped vp with timber and rayles, and the toppes of their houses prouided with stones, which houses are made with playne rooffes or sotties, and the highe way stopped vp, & other false bywayes made with déepe holes pitched ful of stakes very sharpe, to spoyle and lame both horse and man: these engines were finely couered with sande, and coulde not be espied, although the skoute had gone before on foote to discouer. The matter also was very suspitious, for these Citizens of _Chololla_ had not at any time come to visite hym, or sente any presente vnto him as others had done.

Wherevpon _Cortez_ consulted with the _Tlaxcaltecas_ to sende certayne messengers to _Chololla_, to request their Captaynes and rulers to come vnto him, who did their message accordingly, and the _Cholollans_ woulde not come, but yet they sent thrée or foure persons to excuse them, saying that they were not well at ease, praying to signifie vnto them what he woulde haue: the _Tlaxcaltecas_ enformed _Cortes_ that those messengers were menne of small credite and of lowe degrée, wishyng hym not to departe till theyr Captayne came. In this sorte _Cortes_ returned theyr messengers backe agayne, with commaundement written, declaring that if they came not within thrée dayes, hée woulde proclayme them rebelles and his vtter enimies, and as suche would he chasten with all rigour.

When this commaundement came vnto them, the next day followyng came many Lordes and Captaynes to make their excuse, saying, that the _Tlaxcaltecas_ were their enimies, and that through them they could not liue in safetie, lykewise they knewe of the euill reporte whiche they had made agaynst them: wherefore they besought him to giue no credite vnto them, for why, they were both false and cruell menne: beséechyng him also to goe with them to their Citie, and then he should sée that all was but a mockery that had bene tolde him, and they his good and faythfull friends: and laste of all they offered to serue him as tributary subiectes.

_Cortes_ commaunded that all this talke should be sette downe in wryting before the Notary and his interpreters, and so tooke his leaue of the Citizens of _Tlaxcallan_. _Maxixca_ wepte at his departure, but there wente in his company a hundreth thousande men of warre: there were among them many Marchantes that wente to barter for Salte and Mantels.

_Cortes_ commaunded that those hundreth thousande men should go alwayes by thëselues: that day he reached not to _Chololla_, but abode by a broke side, and thither came many of the citie, to desire him that the _Tlaxcaltecas_ should not doe any hurte in their countrey: wherevpon _Cortes_ cömaunded them to returne backe againe all sauing .5000. or there aboute, much against their willes. But they stil required him to take good héede of those euill folke, who be not (quoth they) men of warre, but pedlers, and men of double harte: and they of their partes would be very loth to leaue him in any peril or daunger, hauing giuen themselues to be his true and faithfull friendes.

The nexte day in the morning the Spaniardes came to _Chololla_, and there came out néere .10000. _Indians_ to receyue him with their Captaynes in good order: many of them presented vnto him bread, foule, & roses, and euery Captayne as he approched welcomed _Cortes_, and then stoode aside that the reste in order mighte come vnto him. And when he came entring into the Citie, all the other Citizës receyued him, marueling to sée such men & horses.

After all this came out all the religious menne, as Priests, and Ministers to the idols (who were many and straunge to beholde,) and all were clothed in white lyke vnto surplices and hemmed with Cotten thréede: some brought instrumentes of musicke like vnto Cornettes, other brought instrumëts made of bones, other an instrumët like a ketel couered with skin, some brought chafing dishes of coales with perfumes, others brought idols couered, and finally they al came singing in their language, which was a terrible noyse, and drew néere _Cortes_ and his cöpany, sensing them with swéete smelles in their sensers.

With this pompe and solemnitie (whiche truely was great) they brought him into the Cittie, and lodged him in a house where was roume inough for him and his, and gaue vnto eche of them a Gynnea cocke, and his _Indians_ of _Tlaxcallan_, _Zempoallan_ and _Iztacmixtlitan_, were prouided by themselues.

The conspiracie of the Cholollans _to kill Cortes and his men_.

Al that night followyng _Cortes_ was vigilant with all his company, for bothe in the way and in the towne they had found some of the things wherof they had bene aduised before in _Tlaxcallan_, and although their firste present was a Gynnea cocke to eche mans allowance, other thrée dayes followyng they gaue them nothing almost to eate, and very seldome the Captaynes came to visite them, whereof _Cortes_ had great suspition.

[Sidenote: Many perils.]

And in this meane while the Embassadours of _Mutezuma_ entreated him to leaue of his iourney to _Mexico_, alleaging that their great King woulde die in beholdyng their beardes & gesture: other times they sayde that there was no passage, other times they woulde say that they wanted wherewith to sustayne them. And seyng them fully and in euery respecte answered to all these poyntes, they caused the Townes menne to enforme them, that where _Mutezuma_ his abiding was, were monstrous Lysardes, Tigers, Lions, and many other fierce beastes, the whiche when _Mutezuma_ commaunded to be losed, were sufficient to plucke in péeces, and to destroy those fewe straungers: and seyng that all these pollicies auayled not, they consulted with the Captaynes and chiefe Citizens to murder the Christians. And bycause they shoulde so bryng it to passe, the Embassadours promysed the Citizens greate rewardes on the behalfe of _Mutezuma_, and presented to theyr generall a drumme of Golde, and promised to bryng the thirtie thousande souldiers whiche lay aboute twoo leagues from thence: the _Cholollans_ promysed to deliuer them bounde hande and foote. But yet they woulde not consente that those Soldiers of _Culhua_ should come into their Cittie, fearyng that they (vnder colour of friendshippe) woulde remayne with the towne, for why, the _Mexicans_ had vsed the lyke sleyght. And in this sorte they with one bolte meante to kill twoo byrdes at a shote, for they thought to take the Spaniardes sléepyng, and then to remayne with the Towne of _Cholalla_. Also it was determined, that if all these pretences coulde not be brought to passe, that then they should be conducted a contrary way to _Mexico_ vpon the left hande, in the whiche were many daungerous places, bycause the way was all sandy, with many sluces, diches, and holes of thrée fadome déepe, meanyng there to méete them and to carry them bounde to _Mutezuma_: this matter being fully agreed, they beganne to take away theyr householde stuffe, and to carry it with their wiues and chyldren vp into the mountaynes.

[Sidenote: Helpe from God.]

And our men beyng also ready to departe from thence for theyr small chéere with euill countenaunce, it happened, an _Indian_ woman (beyng wife to one of the principalest Cittizens,) hauing some affection to the bearded men, sayde vnto _Marina_, that shée shoulde abide there with hyr, for that she loued hir well, and that it woulde grieue hir that she should be slayne with hir mayster. _Marina_ dissimulyng the matter, procured to knowe what they were that had conspired the thing, and hauing knowledge therof, she ranne to séeke _Aguillar_ hir fellow interpreter, and both togither enformed _Cortes_ of the whole matter.

_Cortes_ hearyng this newes, slepte not, but incontinent examined twoo of the Citizens, who confessed the thyng euen as it passed, and as the Gentlewoman had declared: wherevpon _Cortes_ stayed his iourney twoo dayes, to mollifie the matter and to disapoynt them of that euill pretended purpose, and also to correcte their offences, he commaunded their rulers to be called, saying that he had to talke with them, and when they were comen he requyred them neyther to vse lies nor deceytes with hym, but rather lyke menne to defie him to the fielde and battayle, for (quoth hée) honest menne vse rather to fighte than to lie. They all answered that they were his friendes and seruitours, and no liars, and that it mighte please him to shewe them when he woulde departe, for they woulde goe armed to kéepe hym company. He answered that he woulde departe the nexte day followyng, and that he required but onely some of their slaues to carry his fardage, bycause his owne _Tamemez_ or Carriars were weried: lykewise he requyred some prouision of victuall.

At this laste requeste they smyled, saying among themselues, to what purpose will these men haue victuals, for shortly they themselues shalbe boyled and eaten with the sause called _Axi_, yea, and if _Mutezuma_ had not pretended their bodies for his owne dishe, they had bene eaten here before this tyme.

The punishment that Cortez executed _for conspiracie_.

[Sidenote: O vvorthy Cortes.]

The nexte day in the mornyng the _Cholollans_ thinkyng that they had their determinate purpose in good readinesse, they came and brought many to carry their fardage, & other some to carry the Spaniardes vppon their backes, hopyng to apprehëd them in the same order. There came also many armed men of the most valiantest, to kill him that should disorder himselfe. Likewise that day their Priests sacrificed ten children of thrée yeares of age to their God _Quezalcouatl_, fiue of these children were menne, and the other fiue wemen, whiche was their custome when they began their warres: the Captaynes placed themselues at the foure dores of _Cortes_ his house with some armed men. _Cortes_ earely in the mornyng had secretely in a readinesse the _Indians_ of _Zempoallan_ and _Tlaxcallan_, and other friends: he cömaunded his horsemen to take their horses, giuing them this watche worde, that when they hearde the noyse of the shotte of a handgun, that then they should play the më, for it imported all their liues. And he seing the townes men approch néere his lodging, commaunded y^e captaynes & chiefest of them to come vnto him, saying, y^t he would take his leaue of them: there came many, but he would not suffer aboue thirtie persons to come in, who were the principallest, and declared vnto thë, that alwaies he had dealte truly with them, & they with him nothing but treason and lies. Likewise they had vnder colour requested that his friëds the _Tlaxcaltecas_ shuld not come vnto their towne, & that he fulfilled therein their desire, & also cömaunded his own men in no wise to be hurtful vnto thë, yea & although they had not prouided him of victuals as reason did require, yet he would not permit any of his men to take the value of one henne from them, so that in recompence of all his gentle dealings and good will, they had moste wickedly procured the death of him and all his companie. And bycause they coulde not performe it in their owne towne, they had prepared the slaughter in the high way, at those daungerous places whiche they had determined to leade them vnto, pretendyng also the helpe of thirtie thousand men, Souldiers of _Mutezuma_, whiche army stoode not fully two leagues from thence. And for this horrible and detestable wickednesse yée shall all die, and in memory of traytors I will destroy this cittie, and turne the fundations vpwardes, so that there shall remayne no remembraunce of you.

Their offence beyng manifest, coulde not be denied, and lookyng one vpon an other, their colours waxed pale and wanne, saying, this man is lyke vnto our Goddes, who knoweth all things, therefore lette vs not denie the truth, and openly before the Embassadours of _Mutezuma_ confesse their errour and euill facte.

Then sayd _Cortes_ to the Embassadours, you do sée that we should haue bene slaine by the _Cholollans_, and through the procurement of _Mutezuma_, but yet I beleue it not, cösideryng that he is my friende and a mightie Prince, saying also that Noble men vsed neyther treason nor lyes, wherefore feare not you, but these dissemblyng Traytors shall be punished, for you are persons inuiolable and messengers of a Prince, whome he meante to serue and not offende, bicause he had an assured opinion in _Mutezuma_, to be a vertuous Prince, and one that woulde not committe villanie.

All these wordes he spake, bycause he woulde not fall out with _Mutezuma_, vntill he sawe himselfe within the Cittie of _Mexico_.

Incontinent he commaunded some of those Captaines to be slayne, and kepte the residue bounde. Then he shotte off hys handgun, whiche was the watch vnto his armye, who forthwith sette vppon the Townesmen, and within two houres slewe sixe thousand persons and more.

_Cortes_ commaunded that they shoulde kill neyther woman nor childe: they foughte welnéere fyue houres: they sette fire on all the houses and Towers that made resistance, and draue all the inhabitantes out of the Towne. The dead carcases lay so thicke, that of force they must treade vpon them.

There were twentie Gentlemen, and many Priestes, who ascended vp to the high tower of the temple, whiche hathe a hundred and twenty steppes, from whence wyth arrowes and stones they did much hurt, and woulde not yéelde, wherevpon oure men set fier to the Tower, and burned them all. Then they exclaymed on their Goddes, who woulde neyther helpe them nor their Citie and holy sanctuary.

The Citie being sacked, oure men tooke the spoyle of golde, plate, and feathers, and the _Indians_ their friendes tooke clothes and salte, which was the treasure that they desired.

_Cortez_ commaunded to ceasse the spoyle. The other Captaynes that lay bounde, hearing of suche a greate destruction and punishment, most pitifully besought _Cortez_ to loase some of them, for to sée what was become of their Gods and cömö people. Likewise they humbly besought him to pardon them, who had not so muche faulte as _Mutezuma_, who perswaded and entised them to that pretended treason.

Vpon their lamentable request, he loased two of them, and the next day following the Citie was as ful of people agayne, that there séemed not one to be wanting.

At the sute of the _Tlaxcaltecas_ who were put for mediators, _Cortes_ pardoned them all, and sette his prisoners at libertie, assuring them that the like correction he woulde do vppon al them that should dissemble or shewe an euil countenance, or make lyes, or fynally vse anye kinde of treason toward him: wherevpon they all abode in greate feare. He made the knot of friendship betwéene them and the _Tlaxcaltecas_, which in time past had bin betwixt them, for _Mutezuma_ and his auncetors made them enimies, with fayre promises, words and also feare.

The Citizens hauing their generall slayne, chose an other with licence of _Cortes_.

The Sanctuary or holy place among _the Indians was Chololla_.

_Chololla_ is a city as _Tlaxcallan_, and hathe but one person who is gouernour and general Captayne, chosen by the consente of all the Citizens. It is a Citie of twentie thousande householdes within the walles, and in the suburbes as muche more. It sheweth outwardes verye beautifull, and full of towers, for there are as manye temples as dayes in y^e yeare, & euery temple hath his tower. Our men counted foure hundred towers. The men and womë are of good disposition well fauoured, and very wittie.

The women are Goldsmithes and also Caruers, the men are warriers, and light fellowes, and good maisters for any purpose: they goe better apparelled than anye other _Indiäs_ yet séene. They weare for their vtter garmët clokes like vnto Moriscos, but after an other sort. Al the Countrey rounde aboute them is fruitefull and eareable grounde, well watered, and so full of people, that there is no wast grounde, in respect whereof, there are some poore, whiche begge from dore to dore. The _Spanyardes_ hadde not seene any beggers in that Coütrey before they came thither.

_Chololla_ is a Citie of most deuotion and Religion in all _India_, it is called y^e Sanctuary or holy place among y^e _Indians_, and thither they trauelled from many places farre distante on pilgrimage, and for this cause there were so many temples.

Their Cathedrall Temple was the best and hyghest of all the new _Spayne_, with a hundred and twenty steppes vppe vnto it.

The greatest Idoll of all their Gods was called _Quezalcouately_, God of the ayre, who was (say they) the founder of their Citie, being a Virgin of holy lyfe, and great penance. He instituted fasting and drawing of bloud out of their eares and tongs, and lefte a precepte, that they shoulde sacrifice but onely Quayles, Doues, and other foule.

He neuer ware but one garmente of Cotten, whyche was white, narrow, and long, and vpon that a mantle besette with certayne redde crosses.

They haue certayne gréene stones whiche were hys, and those they kéepe for relikes. One of them is lyke an Apes head. Héere they abode twentye dayes, and in thys meane whyle there came so manye to buy and sell, that it was a wonder to sée. And one of the things that was to bée séene in those fayres, was the earthen vessell, which was excéeding curious and fine.

The hill called Popocatepec.

There is a hill eyght leagues from _Chololla_, called _Popocatepec_, whiche is to say, a hill of smoke, for manye tymes it casteth oute smoke and fier. _Cortez_ sente thither tenne _Spanyardes_, with manye _Indians_, to carrie their victuall, and to guide them in the way. The ascending vp was very troublesome, and full of craggie rockes. They approched so nigh the toppe, that they heard such a terrible noyse which procéeded frö thence, that they durst not goe vnto it, for the ground dyd tremble and shake, and great quantitie of Ashes whyche disturbed the way: but yet two of them who séemed to be most hardie, and desirous to sée straunge things, went vp to the toppe, because they would not returne with a sleuelesse aunswere, and that they myghte not be accompted cowardes, leauing their fellowes behinde them, procéeded forwards. The _Indians_ sayd, what meane these men: for as yet neuer mortall man tooke suche a iourney in hande.

These two valiät fellowes passed through y^e desert of Ashes, and at length came vnder a greate smoke verye thicke, and standing there a while, the darkenesse vanished partly away, and then appeared the vulcan and concauetie, which was about halfe a league in compasse, out of the whiche the ayre came rebounding, with a greate noyse, very shrill, and whistling, in sort that the whole hil did tremble. It was to be compared vnto an ouen where glasse is made. The smoke and heate was so greate, that they coulde not abide it, and of force were constreyned to returne by the way that they had ascended: but they wer not gone farre, whë the vulcan began to lash out flames of fier, ashes, and imbers, yea and at the last stones of burning fire: and if they had not chanced to finde a rocke, where vnder they shadowed themselues, vndoubtedlye they had there bin burned.

When with good tokens they were returned where they left their fellowes, the other _Indians_ kissed their garments as an honor due vnto Gods. They presented vnto them such things as they had, and wondred much at their facte.

[Sidenote: Purgatory.]

Those simple _Indians_ thoughte, that that place was an infernall place, where all suche as gouerned not well, or vsed tyrannie in their offices, were punished when they dyed, and also beléeued, that after their purgation, they passed into glory.

This vulcan is like vnto the vulcan of _Cicilia_, it is high and round, and neuer wanteth Snowe about it, and is séene a farre off in the nighte, it lasheth out flames of fire.

There is néere aboute this hyl many Cities, and _Huexozinco_ is one of the nighest.

In tenne yeares space this straunge hill of workyng did expell no vapoure or smoke: but in the yeare .1540. it beganne agayne to burne, and with the horrible noyse thereof, the neyghbours that dwelte foure leagues from thence were terrifyed, for the especiall straunge smokes that then were séene, the like to their predecessors hadde not bin séene.

The ashes that procéeded from thence came to _Huexozinco_, _Quelaxcopan_, _Tepiacac_, _Quauhquecholla_, _Chololla_, and _Tlaxcallan_, whiche standeth tenne leagues from thence, yea some say, it extended fiftéene leagues distant, and burned their hearbes in their gardens, their fieldes of corne, trées, and clothes that lay a drying.

The consultation that Mutezuma had, _concerning the comming of Cortez into Mexico_.

_Cortez_ pretended not to fall out with _Mutezuma_, before his comming to _Mexico_, and yet he vnderstoode all _Mutezuma_ hys pretence, wherevppon he complayneth to the Ambassadors, saying that he muche maruelled that suche a mightie Prince, who by so manye Gentlemen had assured his friendship vnto him, shoulde nowe procure his totall destruction, in not kéeping hys promise and fidelitie. In consideration whereof, where he meant to visit him as a friend, that now he would goe to his Courte as an enimie. The Ambassadors excused their maisters cause, besieching him to withdrawe hys furie, and to giue licence to one of them to goe to _Mexico_, who woulde bryng aunswere from thence with all spéede.

_Cortes_ graunted vnto the request, the one of them went, and returned agayne within sixe dayes in company of another messenger that hadde gone thither before, who broughte tenne platters of golde, and a thousande fiue hundred mantels of cotten, with much victuall, and _Cacao_ whiche is a kinde of fruite that serueth for currant money among them. Likewise they brought a certaine kind of wine or licoure made of _Cacao_ and _Centli_. They enformed _Cortes_, that _Mutezuma_ was innocente of the coniuration in _Chololla_, nor by anye meanes priuie to their dealings, affyrming moreouer that the garrison of souldyers did apperteine to _Acazinco_, and _Acazan_, who were neyghbors to _Chololla_, who by inducement of some naughtye persons, had procured that thing, saying that he shuld both sée and vnderstand him to be his faithful and louing friend, praying him to come forwarde on his iourney, for he would abide his comming in _Mexico_.

[Sidenote: Prophecie of the Diuell.]

This ambassage pleased well _Cortez_, but _Mutezuma_ feared, when he hearde of the slaughter, and burning of _Chololla_, and sayde to his friends, these are the people that our Gods said should come and inherite this land.

_Mutezuma_ went incontinent to his Oratorie, and shut in himselfe alone, where he abode in fasting and prayer eyght dayes, with sacrifice of many menne, to asllake the fury of his Idolles, who séemed to be offended.

The voyce of the Diuell spake vnto him, bidding him not to feare the Christians, saying they were but fewe, and when they were come, he should doe what he lysted with them, willing him in no wise to ceasse from the bloudy sacrifice, least some mischance might happen vnto him. And assured hym that he should haue the Goddes _Vitzipuchtli_, and _Tescatlipuca_ to preserue and kéepe hym. And bycause _Quezalcouatle_ was agréeued for wante of bloudy sacrifice, he permitted the Straungers to punishe them of _Chololla_. And _Mutezuma_ hearing this dyuelishe Oracle, and likewise _Cortez_ hauing warned him that hée would visite hym as an enimie, he was by this perswasion of Sathan, the better willing to receyue hym into _Mexico_.

Likewise _Cortes_ when he came to _Chololla_, was strong, and hadde at commaundemente a mightie power, and there made hymselfe stronger, the fame whereof, was blowen abroade, throughout all the dominions of _Mutezuma_. And whereas the poore _Indians_ hadde but onely maruelled at their persons and furniture, nowe they began to tremble and to feare at his doings, so that wheresoeuer he came, they opened him the gates with pure feare, more than for any loue.

[Sidenote: An euill counsellor.]

_Mutezuma_ at the beginning, pretended to feare _Cortes_ with the fearefull passages and other perils and danger, as the fortitude of _Mexico_, with his greate multitude of subiectes, and the great number of Princes that dyd both serue and obey him: and séeyng that all these things profited not, he thoughte to haue ouercome him with gyftes and treasure, knowyng that he hadde required golde: yet he sawe that nothing woulde preuayle, for that _Cortez_ woulde néedes come to sée hym, wherevppon, he tooke counsell of the Diuell what he shoulde doe in that case, vpon which counsell he was satisfyed by hys Priests and Captaynes, that he ought not to warre against so fewe straungers, for if he so did, the dishonor would be his, and chiefly, bycause _Cortez_ certifyed that he was an Ambassador, and vsing hym otherwise, it myghte so fall out, that hys owne subiectes would rebell againste him theyr Lorde and Prince, saying likewise that it was manifest that the _Otomies_ and _Tlaxcaltecas_ woulde fauour his syde, and also manye others, for to destroy and spoyle _Mexico_, vpon which consultation it was openly proclaymed, that his will was that the straungers should enter into _Mexico_ fréely, thinking that if at anye time they shoulde displease hym, to make a breakefast of them the nexte day.

Things that happened to Cortez in _his iourney to Mexico_.

_Cortez_ hauyng so good an aunswere of the Ambassadors, he gaue licence to as manye of the _Indians_ hys friendes, as listed to departe home to their houses, and he likewise departed from _Chololla_ with some borderers that would néedes follow him.

[Sidenote: Oh vvise Cortes.]

He lefte the way that the _Mexicans_ had perswaded him to come, for it was bothe euill and daungerous, as the Spaniarde whiche went to the vulcan had séene, he went another playner way and more nearer. That day he traueled but foure leagues, bicause he meant to lodge in the villages of _Huexozinco_, where he was friendly receyued, and they presented vnto him slaues, garments, and golde, although but little, for they are poore by reason that _Mutezuma_ hath enuironed them aboute, bicause they were of the parcialitie of _Tlaxcallan_. The next day in the morning he ascended vp a hill couered with snowe, which was sixe myles of heigth, where if the .30000. Souldiers had wayted for them, they might easily haue taken them, by reason of the great colde: and from the toppe of that hill, they discouered y^e land of _Mexico_, and the great lake with his villages rounde about, whiche is an excéedyng goodly sight. But when _Cortes_ saw that beautifull thing, his ioy was without comparison, and he tooke not so much pleasure, but some of his men feared as muche, and there was a murmuration among them to returne backe againe, yea and like to haue bene a mutinie among them. But _Cortes_ with his wisedome and dissimulation did pacifie the matter, with courage, hope, and gentle wordes, and they seing that their Captayne at all assayes was the first himselfe, they feared the lesse the things that they imagined. And discending downe into the playn, they found a great large house, sufficient for him and all his company, with sixe thousande _Indians_ of _Tlaxcallan_, _Huexozinco_, and _Chololla_. And y^e seruants of _Mutezuma_ made cotages of straw for the _Tamemez_ or carriers, who were ladë with the fardage, and victuals: there was a good supper prepared for them, and great fires to warme them, and all things necessary. Thither came many principall persons from _Mexico_ to visite him, among whome was a kinsman of _Mutezuma_, who presented vnto _Cortes_ the value of thrée thousand Ducates in gold, & besought him to returne backe againe, and to haue consideration of the pouertie, hunger, & euill way, yea and to passe in litle boates in daunger of drowning. And as for tribute to be giuen to the Emperour, a greater summe should be appointed thë though he went personally to _Mexico_, yea and that it should be payde at what place he would apoint. _Cortes_ welcomed them, as reason did require, and presented vnto them haberdashe toyes, which they estemed in much, & chiefly he did louingly entertayne _Mutezuma_ his kinesman, vnto whome he made this answere, saying, I woulde gladly serue & pleasure such a mightie prince as your soueraigne _Mutezuma_ is, if it lay in my handes without offence of the King my mayster, and concerning my goyng to _Mexico_, _Mutezuma_ shall receyue both pleasure and honour rather than otherwise, & after I haue talked with him I will soone returne, likewise hunger I feare not, neyther yet doubt that I nor none of mine shall wante, and for my passage on the water, I say it is nothing in comparison of twoo thousande leagues, which I haue sayled onely to come and visit him.

But yet for all this talke, if they had founde him carelesse, they would haue pinched him as some doth say, for he gaue them to vnderstand that he nor his men slept not by night, nor yet vnarmed themselues, yea and also if it chanced thë to find in the night season any that were not of their company, they slew them out of häd, desiring him to aduise his men thereof, least any of them should happen to fall into that daunger, which would much grieue him, and with this talke they went all to take their reste.

The next day in the morning he proceded forward and came to _Amaquemecan_ which is two leagues frö thence, & standeth in the prouince of _Chalco_, a towne that cötayneth 20000. householders. The Lorde of that towne presented to _Cortes_ fourtie women slaues, and .3000. Ducats in gold, with meate abüdantly for two dayes, and secretely made complaynt vnto him of _Mutezuma_. And from thence he went to another towne foure leagues from thëce, the one half therof was builte vpon the lake, and the other halfe vpon the lande at the foote of a ragged hill. There went in his company many subiectes of _Mutezuma_ for purueyors, but yet both they and the townes men would fayne haue layde hand vpon the Spaniardes, and euery night would sende their spies to sée what the Christians did, but the watch slew about twentie of them, whervpon the matter stayed and their pretence tooke no effect: sure it is a thing to laugh at, for at euery fancie they woulde proue to kill them, and yet they were not for the purpose. The nexte day in the mornyng came twelue Lordes from _Mexico_, among whome was _Cacama_ Neuew to _Mutezuma_, who was Lorde of _Tezcuco_ a yong man of .xxv. yeares of age, whom the _Indians_ did much honour: he was carried vpon their shoulders, & when they set him downe one went before with a brome to swéep the dust out of his way. These Gentlemen came to accöpany _Cortes_ excusing _Mutezuma_, saying that he was not well at ease & therfore he came not personally to receiue him. And yet they entreated _Cortes_ to returne backe againe, & not to come vnto _Mexico_, gyuing him to vnderstand by signes, y^t they would there displease him, yea & also defend the passage & entrance, a thing easie to be done, but they were either blinded or else they durst not breake the Calsey. _Cortes_ entertayned thë like noble më, & gaue vnto thë of his haberdashe, & departed from y^e towne w^t many graue personages who carried with thë a great trayne, whiche filled vp the way well nigh as they should passe, wödring at their beardes, harneys, apparell, horses & ordinaunce, saying to themselues, these be Gods. _Cortes_ gaue them warning not to come among the horses, nor among his men, for feare they would kil them. This he made them beléeue bicause he would not haue his way stopped, for y^t the number of thë was so great. They then came to a towne buylte vpon the water of two thousand houses, and before they came thither they had gone more than halfe a league vppon a fayre Calsey, whiche was twentie foote brode: the towne had fayre houses and many towers: the Lord of the towne did receyue them worshipfully, and prouided all things plentifully, desiryng him to abide there that night, and secretly made complayntes against _Mutezuma_, of many wrongs and exactions done by him, and certified him, that from thence the way was very fayre to _Mexico_, and al the like calsey as he had passed. With this newes _Cortes_ was very glad, for he meant to haue stayed there for to haue buylte barkes and foystes, & yet he feared least they woulde breake the calsey, wherfore he had alwayes a care ouer _Cacama_, who with the other Lordes desired him not to abide there, but to procéede forward to _Iztacpalapan_, which was but twoo leagues off, and that the Lorde thereof was another Neuew to _Mutezuma_. To admit their request he wët with them to that towne, and from thence to _Mexico_ was but twoo leagues, the which the next day he might goe at pleasure, and come timely into the Citie, & in this order came to _Iztacpalapan_.

Euery two houres came messengers betwixte _Cortes_ and _Mutezuma_: then came _Cuetlauac_ Lorde of that towne, with the Lorde _Culhuacan_ his kinsman to receyue him, who presented vnto him, slaues, garments, and feathers, and to the value of foure thousande Ducates in golde. _Cuetlauac_ receyued al the Spaniards into his own house, whiche hath very fayre lodgings all of stone and Carpenters worke excéeding well wrought, with high & lowe roumes, with all kinde of seruice: The chambers were hanged with cloth of Cotten, very rich, after their maner. There were fayre gardës replenished with many swéete floures, and swéete trées garnished with networke, made of Canes, and couered with roses and other fine hearbes, with sundry pondes of swéete water. There was an other garden very beautifull of all sortes of fruytes and hearbes, with a great ponde walled with lyme and stone, and was foure hundreth paces square, made with fayre steppes to discende vnto the bottome in many places, and was full of diuers kindes of fishes, and many kinde of water birds, which somtimes couered y^e pond, as Gulles, Mewes, and such like. _Iztacpallapan_ is a towne of .10000. households, & is pläted in a lake of salt water, the one half of the towne buylt on the water, & the other on the lande.

The Solemne pompe vvherevvith _Cortez was receyued into Mexico_.

From _Iztacpalapan_ to _Mexico_ is twoo leagues all vpon a fayre calsey, vpon the which eight horsemë may passe on räke, and so directly straight as though it had bene made by line. And who soeuer hath good eiesight might discerne the gates of _Mexico_ from thence. _Coyoacan_ is a towne of sixe thousande dwellers, _Vizilopuchtli_ is of fiue thousand. These townes are planted in the lake, and are adorned with many temples, whiche haue many fayre towers, that doe beautifie excedingly the lake. There is great contractatiö of Salte, which is made there, and from thence is carried abrode to fayres and markets, whiche thing was a greate rente to _Mutezuma_. Vpon this Calsey are many drawebridges buylt vpon fayre arches that the water passeth through.

_Cortes_ passed this calsey with .400. Spaniardes, & .6000. _Indians_ his friends: theyr passage was with much ado, by reason of the great multitude of _Indians_ which came to sée him, & cöming neare the citie, there adioyned another calsey with a broder passage, where standeth a strong bulwark of stone of the heigth of .ij. fadom, with two towers on eche side, and two gates very strong. Here at this forte came thrée thousande Courtiers and Citizens to receyue him, & euery of them touched the grounde with his right hand and kissed it, and passed forwards in the order as they came. These salutatiös endured an houre & more. From the bulwark the calsey lieth directly, and before the entraunce into the streate there is an other drawe bridge made of timber ten paces broade, vnder the which the water passeth too and fro. At this bridge came _Mutezuma_ to receyue _Cortes_ vnder a Canapie of gréene feathers & golde with much argentery hangyng thereat, whiche Canapie foure noble men did carry. And the two princes _Cuetlauac_, and _Cacama_ his neuewes, did leade him by eache arme: all thrée were riche appareled & al of one fashion, except _Mutezuma_, whiche had a payre of shoes of golde besette with pretious stones, and the soles were tied to the vpper part with latchets, as is paynted of the Antikes. His Gentlemen wente by two and two laying downe and taking vp mantels and couerlets vpon the ground, bicause his féete should not touche the same: then followed him as in procession .200. noble men barefooted, with garments of a richer liuery then the first thrée thousand. _Mutezuma_ came in the middest of the streate, and the others came behinde him as nigh the wal as they mought, their faces towards the grounde, for it was a great offence to looke him in the face. _Cortes_ alighted from his horse, and according to our vse went to embrace him, but the Princes who led him by the armes would not suffer him to come so nigh, for they held it for sin to touch him, but yet saluted ech one y^e other.

_Cortes_ put about _Mutezuma_ his necke a coller of Margarites, Diamondes, & other stones al of glasse. _Mutezuma_ receyued it thankfully, & wente before with one of the princes his Neuewes, & cömaunded the other to lead _Cortes_ by the hand next after him in the middest of the streat: and procéeding forwarde in this order, then came the Gëtlemen in the richest liuery to welcome him one by one, touchyng the ground with their handes, & after returned to their standyng. And if the Citizens had come as they requested, all y^e day would not haue serued for salutatiös. The coller of glasse pleased well _Mutezuma_, and bycause he woulde not take without giuyng a better thing as a great prince, he commaunded to be brought twoo collers of redde prawnes, which there are muche estéemed, and at euery one of them hanged eight shrimpes of gold of excellent workemanship, & of a finger length euery one, he put these collers with the owne hands about _Cortes_ his necke, the which was estéemed a most great fauour, yea and the _Indians_ marueled at it. At this time they were come to the streate ende, whiche was almost a mile long, broade, straight and very fayre and full of houses on eche side, in whose dores, windowes and tops was such a multitude of _Indians_ to beholde the strangers, that I knowe not who wondered most, our men to sée such a number of them, or else they to sée our men, their ordinance & horses, a thing so straunge vnto them. They were brought vnto a great court or house of idols, which was y^e lodging of _Axaiaca_, at the dore where of _Mutezuma_ tooke _Cortes_ by the hande and brought him into a fayre hall, and placed him vpon a riche carpet, saying vnto him, Sir nowe are you in your owne house, eate and take your rest & pleasure, for I wil shortly come and visite you againe. Such (as you heare) was the receiuing of _Hernando Cortes_ by _Mutezuma_ a most mightie King, into his great and famous Citie of _Mexico_, the eight day of Nouember .1519.

The Oration of Mutezuma to _the Spanyardes_.

[Sidenote: A strange opinion.]