and a hundred and eyghtéene footemen of the Spanish nation two péeces of ordinance and thirtie thousand Indians and appoynted him so pitch his camp in Culhuacan To Gonsalo de Sandoual who was the thyrde Captayne he gaue thrée and twenty Horsemen and 160. footemen two péeces of Ordinance and 40000. Indians with commission to choose a place to piâ—ch his Campe. In euery Vergantine he planted a péece of ordinaÌ„ce sixe hargabushes or crossebowes and 23. Spaniards meÌ„ most fittest for that purpose He appointed also Captaynes for eache and himselfe for general whereof some of the chiefest of his companye began to murmure that wente by lande thinking that they had bin in greater daunger wherefore they required him to goe with the mayne battell and not by water Cortes little estéemed their words for although it is more daunger in the water than in the land yet it did more importe to haue greater care in the warres by water than on the land bycause his men had bin in the one and not in the other On the tenth of May Aluarado and Cristoual de Olid departed and went that night to a Towne called A colman where was betwéene them greate discorde touchyng their lodgings yea and if Cortes had not sente to take vp the matter much mischiefe had ensued The nexte daye they lodged in Xâ—lâ—tâ—peâ— whych was not inhabited The thyrde daye they came vnto Tlacopan whyche was also as all the Townes of the lake wythout people there they were lodged in the Lordes house of the Towne The Tlaxcaltecas began to viewe Mexico by the calsey and foughte with their enimies vntill the nighte made them to ceasse On the thirtéenth of May Cristoual de Olid came to Chapultepec and brake the conduites of swéete water wherevpon Mexico was destitute of the same being the conduit that did prouide all the Citie Pedro de Aluarado wyth his company procured to amende all the broken places of the calsey that the horsemen might haue frée passage and hauing muche to do in these affaires he spente thrée dayes and fighting with many enimies some of his men were hurt and many Indian friendes slayn Aluarado abode in Tlacopan with his armye and Cristoual de Olid retired to Culhuacan with his men according to the instruction receyued from Cortes and fortifyed themselues in the Lordes houses of the Towne and euery daye skyrmished with the enimies and some went to the Townes néere at hande and brought Centli fruite and other prouision In this businesse they occupyed theÌ„selues a whole wéeke The Battaile and victory of the Vergantines against the Canoas THe newe Kyng Quahutimoc hauing intelligence how Cortes hadde launched hys Vergantines and so mightie a power to beséege Mexico entred into counsell wyth the chiefest péeres of hys Realme Some were of opinion and dyd prouoke hym to the warres considering theyr greate multitude of people and fortitude of the Citie Others were of opinion who tendred muche the common weale that no Spanyarde that shoulde happen to be taken prysoner shoulde be sacrificed but rather to be preserued for conclusion of peace if neede shoulde so requyre And finally some sayde that they should demaunde of their Goddes what was best to doe The King that inclined himselfe more to peace than to warâ—e sayde that he woulde remitte the matter to the iudgement of the idolles and that he would aduise them what answere should be made vnto him but in harte he desired to come to some honest order and agréement with Cortes fearing the thyng that after did ensue But seyng his Counsell and subiectes so determined to warre he coÌ„maunded foure Spaniardes whiche he had prysoners in a cage to be sacrificed vnto the Goddes of warre with a great number more of Indians He spake to the Diuell in the image of Vitzilopuchtli who answered him that he shoulde not feare the Spaniardes being but fewe nor yet those whiche were comen to helpe them for that they shoulde not long abide in the siege commaunding him to goe forth and to encounter them without feare for he would helpe them and kill his enimies With this answere of the diuel Quahutimoc commaunded forthwith to breake downe the bridges watche the Cittie make bulwarkes and to arme fiue thousande boates and sayde vnto the Spaniardes that the Goddes woulde be pleased with the sacrifice of their bodies the Snakes filled with their bloud and the Tigres relieued with their flesh they sayde also to the Indians of Tlaxcallan ah yée Cuckold knaues slaues and traytors to your gods and kyng will you not repent the wickednesse whiche yée haue committed agaynst your maisters therefore shall you nowe die an euill death for either you shall die with hunger or else vpon the knife and then wil we eate your fleshe and make thereof solemne a banket as the like hath heretofore neuer bene séene and in token therof hold take these armes and legges whiche we throwe vnto you of your owne men which we haue now sacrificed for the obtayning of victory And after these warres we will goe vnto your countrey and spoyle your Towne leaue no memory of your bloud or generation The Tlaxcaltecas laughed at their madde talke and sayd that it should be better for them to yéelde and submitte themselues to Cortes his mercy and if not yet it were more honorable to fight than to bragge willyng them to come out into the field And bad them assuredly beléeue that the ende of all their knauery was at hande it was a world to heare and sée the bragges and crakes on both sides Cortes hearyng of all these matters sent Sandoual to take Iztacpalapan and he enbarked himselfe to méete him at that place Sandoual combated the towne on the one side and the townes menne and people with feare fledde vnto Mexico on the otherside by water he burned the towne Cortes came at the time to a stroÌ„g rocke lyke a tower situated in the water where many men of Culhua were who seyng them approche with their Vergantines sette theyr beacons on fire and threwe downe vpon them stones and shotte of theyr arrowes Cortes wente ashore with a hundreth and fiftie menne and combatted the forte till at length he wanne the battlement whiche was the Indians beste defence and with muche adoe hée came to the toppe and there sought vntill he had not lefte one aliue sauyng women and chyldren It was a fayre victorie although fiue and twentie Spanyardes were hurte and wounded yet the forte was strong and the ouerthrowe a great discouragyng of the enimie At this instant were so many beacons and other fires made rounde aboute the lake and vpon the hilles that all séemed a lighte fire And also the Mexicans hearyng that the Vergantynes were comyng they came out in their boates with fiue hundreth Gentlemen whiche came to sée suche newe kinde of vesselles and to proue what they were beyng a thyng of so greate a fame Cortes embarked himselfe with the spoyle of the forte and commaunded his men to
pray Some thynk it is a Gryphon and not an Egle. The Gryphons in time paste say they did cause the vale of Auacatlan to be dispeopled for they were greate deuourers of menne and that theyr abidyng was in the Mountaynes of Teoacan they approue that these Mountains were called Cuitlachtepelt of Cuitlachtli which is a Gryphon bigger than a Lion but the Spaniardes dyd neuer sée any of them The Indians by theyr olde Pictures doe paynt those Gryphons to haue a kynde of heare and no feathers and also affirme that with theyr talandes téeth they breake mens bones They haue the courage of a Lion and the countenaunce of an Egle they paynte him with foure féete and téeth with a kinde of downe more lyke woolle than feathers with his beake talandes and wings And in all those things the picture agreeth with our paynting and wryting in suche sorte that a Gryphon is no approued naturall Foule nor yet beast Plinie iudgeth this tale of Gryphons to be lies There are also other Lordes that giue the Gryphon in their armes flying with a harte in his Talandes A house of Foule vvhiche vvere onely preserued for their feathers MVtezuma had another house with very good lodgings and fayre gallaries buylt vpō pillers of Iaspe whiche extendeth towarde a goodly garden in the whiche there are ten pondes or moe some of salte water for sea foule other some of fresh water for riuer foule and lake foule which pondes are deuised with sluyses to emptie to fill at their pleasure for the cleannesse of the feathers There is such a number of foule that scarcely the ponds may holde them and of suche diuers kindes bothe in feathers and makyng as sure it was an admiration for the Spaniardes to beholde for the moste of them they knew not nor yet had at any tyme séene the lyke And to euery kynde of foule they gaue suche bayte as they were wont to féede of in the fieldes or Riuers There did belong to that house thrée hundred persons of seruice some were to clense the pondes other some did fishe for bayte other some serued them with meate other did loose them and trimme theyr feathers others had care to looke to their egges others to sette them abroode others cured them when they were sicke and the principallest office was to plucke the feathers for of them was made riche Mantels Tapissarie Targattes Tuffes of feathers and many other things wrought with Golde and Siluer a most perfite worke A house of foule for havvking and other straunge things THere is another house with large quarters lodgings which is called a house for foule not bycause there are more thā in the other but bycause they bee bigger and to hauke withal and are foule of rapine wherfore they are estéemed as more nobler than al the others There are in this house many high halles in the whiche are kept men women and Children in some of them are kept suche as are borne white of colour which doth very seldome happen in other some are dwarfes crokebackes burstenmen counterfaites and monstrous persons in greate number they say that they vsed to deforme them when they were children to sette forth the kings greatnesse euery of these persons were in seuerall Halles by themselues In the lower Halles were greate Cages made of Tymber in some of them were Lyons in other Tygres in other Ownzes in others Wolues in conclusion there was no foure footed beaste that wanted there onely to the effect that the mightie Mutezuma might say that hee had such things in his house They were fed with their ordinary as Gynea cockes Deare Dogges and such like There was also in other Halles great Earthen vessels some with earth and some with water wherin were snakes as grosse as a mans thigh Vipers Crocodrilles whiche they cal Caymanes or Lizarts of twenty foote long wyth suche Scales and head as a Dragon hathe Also other little Lisarts and other venemous beastes and Serpentes as well of the water as of the land a terrible fight for the lokers on There were also other Cages for foule of rapyne of all sortes as Hawkes Kyghtes Boyters and at the least nine or ten kind of Haukes This house of foule had of dayly allowance fiue hundred Gynea cockes and thrée hundred men of seruice besides the Falconers and Hunters which are infinite There were many other sortes of Foules that our men knowe not which séemed by theyr beake and talents good to Hauke withal To the Snakes and other venemous beastes they gaue the bloude of men sacrifised to féede them and some saye they gaue vnto them mannes fleshe whych the greate Lysarts doe eate very well The Spaniardes saw the floure couered with bloud like a iealy in a slaughter house it stonke horribly It was straunge to sée the officers in this house howe euery one was occupied Our men tooke greate pleasure in beholding suche straunge thyngs but they coulde not awaye wyth the roaryng of the Lyons the fearefull hissing of the Snakes and Adders the dolefull howling and barking of the Wolues the sorowfull yelling of the Ownzes Tigres when they would haue meate Moste certaine in the nighte season it séemed a Dongeon of Hell and a dwelling place of the Deuill and euen so it was in déede for neare at hande was a Hall of a hūdred fiftie foote long and thirtie foote broad where was a Chappel with the Roofe of siluer and gold in leafe Wainescotted and decked with greate store of pearle and stone as Agattes Cornerines Emeraldes Rubies and diuerse other sortes and thys was the Oratory where Mutezuma prayed in the nighte season and in that chappell the Diuell did appeare vnto hym and gaue him answere accordyng to his prayers He had other houses lyke vnto Barnes onely for the feathers of foules and for mantels whiche procéeded of his rentes and tributes a thing muche to be séene vpon the dores was sette his armes whiche was a Connie Here dwelled the chiefe officers of his house as Tresorer Controller Receyuers and other officers appertainyng to the Kings reuenewes Mutezuma had no house wherein was not an oratory for the Deuill whome they worshipped for the Iewels there And therefore those houses were great and large The Armory of Mutezuma MVtezuma had some houses of Armour vpon the dores wherof stoode a bow and arrowes In these houses was greate store of all kinde of munition whiche they vse in their wars as Bowes Arrowes Slings Launces Dartes Clubbes Swordes and Bucklers and gallant Targettes more trimme than strong Skulles and Splintes but not many and al made of woodde gilte or couered with leather The woodde whereof they make their Armour and Targettes is very harde and strong for they vse to toaste it at the fire and at their arrowe endes they inclose a litle péece of flinte stone or a péece of a fishe bone called Libisa and that is venemous for if any hée hurte therewith and the head remayne in the
repayre continually his houses at their owne proper cost and payde all kind of workemen carrying vpon their backes or drawing in sleddes stone lyme timber water and all other necessaries for the worke Likewise they were bounde to prouide all the fierwod that should be spent in the Court whiche was a great thing and did amount to 230. huÌ„dred waight a day which was fiue hundred mens burthens and some dayes in the winter much more And for the Kings Chimneys they brought the barke of Oke trées whiche was best estéemed for the light thereof for they were greate sorcerers Mutezuma had 100. cities with their prouinces of whome he receiued rentes tributes vassalage where he mainteined garrison of souldiers had treasorers in each of theÌ„ His dominioÌ„ did extend from the North sea to the South sea 600. miles in loÌ„gitude within the maine laÌ„d although in very déed ther were some towns as TlaxcalloÌ„ Mechuacan Panuco and Teocantepec whiche were his enimies and payde him neyther tribute nor seruice but yet the ransome was muche when any of them were taken Also there were other kings and noble men as of Tezcuco and Tlacopan which were not in subiection vnto him but onely in homage and obedience for they were of his owne lignage vnto whome Mutezuma married hys daughters The scituation of Mexico MExico at the time when Cortes entred was a Citie of sixtye thousande houses The Kings house and other noble mens houses were great large and beautifull the others were small and roynish without eyther dores or windowes and although they were small yet there dwelled in some of them two thrée yea and tenne persons by reason whereof the Citie was wonderfully replenished with people This Citie is built vpon the water euen in the same order as Venice is All the body of the Citie standeth in a greate large lake of water There is thrée sortes of stréetes very broade and fayre the one sorte are onely of water with many bridges an other sort of onely earth and the thirde of earth and water that is to saye the one halfe earth to walke vpon and the other halfe for boates to bring prouision of all sorts These stréetes are kepte alwayes cleane and the moste parte of the houses haue two dores the one towarde the calsey and the other towarde the water at the whiche they take boate to gos where they list And although this Citie is founded vppon water yet the same water is not good to drynke wherefore there is broughte by conduit water from a place called Chapultâ—pec thrée myles distant from the Citie which springeth out of a little hill at the foote whereof standeth two Statues or couered Images wrought in stone with their Targettes and Launces the one is of Mutezuma and the other of Axaiaca his father The water is broughte from thence in two pypes or Canalls in greate quantitie and when the one is foule then all the water is conuayed into the other til the first be made cleane From this fountayne al the whole Citie is prouided so that they goe selling the same water from stréete to stréete in little boates and doe paye a certayne tribute for the same This Citie is deuided into two stréetes the one was called Tlatelulco that is to say a litle Iland and the other Mexico where Mutezuma his dwelling and courte was is to be interpreted a spring This stréete is the fayrest and most principall and bycause of the Kings pallace there the Citie was named Mexico although the old and first name of the Citie was Tenuchtitlan whiche doth signifie fruite out of stone for the name is compounded of Tetl which is stone and Nuchtli which is fruite called in Cuba Tunas The trée that beareth this fruite is named Nopal and is nothing almost but leaues of a foote broade and round and thrée ynches thicke some more and some lesse according to the growth full of thornes whiche are venemous the leafe is gréene and the thorne or pricke russet After that it is planted it encreaseth growing leafe vnto leafe and the foote thereof commeth to bée as the body of a frée and one leafe dothe not onely produce another at the poynt but at the sides of the same leaues procéedeth other leaues And bycause héere in Spayne is of the same trées and fruite it néedeth no further description In some prouinces where water is scante they vse to drynke the iuice of these leaues The fruite thereof called Nuchtli is lyke vnto fygges and euen so hathe hys little kernels or graynes within but they are somewhat larger and crowned lyke vnto a Medler There are of them of sundrye coloures some are gréene without and Carnationlike within which haue a good tast Others are yellowe and others white and some speckled the best sort are the white it is a fruite that will last long Some of them tasteth of peares and other some of Grapes it is a colde and a fresh fruite and best estéemed in the heate of Sommer The Spanyardes doe more estéeme them than the Indians The more the grounde is laboured where they growe the fruite is so muche the better There is yet another kinde of this fruite redde and that is nothing estéemed although his tast is not euill but bycause it dothe coloure and dye the eaters mouth lippes and apparell yea and maketh his vryne looke like pure bloud Many Spanyardes at their first comming into India and eating this fruite were in a maze and at their wittes ende thinking that all the bloud in their bodyes came out in vryne yea and manye Phisitions at theyr first comming were of the same beliefe for it hathe happened when they haue bin sent for vnto such as haue eaten this fruite they not knowing the cause and beholding the vryne by and by they ministred medicine to staunch bloud surely a thing to laugh at to sée the Phisitions so deceyued Of this fruite Nuchtli and Tetl which is a stone is compounded Tenuchtlitan When this Citie was begunne to bée founded it was placed néere vnto a great stone that stoode in the middest of the lake at the foote whereof grewe one of these Nopal trées and therefore Mexico giueth for armes and deuise the foote of a Nopal trée springing from a stone according to the Cities name Others do affirme that this Citie hathe the name of his first founder called Tenuch béeyng the seconde sonne of Iztacmixcoatl whose sonnes and descendentes did first inhabite thys lande of Ananac called nowe newe Spayne Howsoeuer the opinions are certayne it is that the scituation is called Tenuchtlitan and the dwellers there Tenuchea Mexico Mexico is as much to say as a spring or fountayne according to the propertie of the vowell and spéech Others doe affirme that Mexico hathe his name of a more auntiente time whose firste founders were called Mexiti for vnto this day the Indian dwellers in one strete of this citie are called of Mexica The Mexiti tooke name of their principallest
one to the men and the other to the women in the greate fauoure and prayse of the Spanyardes putting them in remembrance howe that they hadde not eaten salt nor worne cloth of cotten wooll in many yeares before vntil now that their friends were come and to this day these Indians doe muche presume of their fidelitie and likewise of the resistance and battayle they made with Cortes in Teoacazinco so that now when they celebrate any great feast or receyue any Christian vizeking there commeth of them out into the field sixtie or seauentie thousande men to skirmishe and fight in the same order as they did with Cortes The protestation and request of the Souldyers to Cortes WHen Cortes departed firste from Tlaxcallon towardes Mexico to visit Mutezuma hée lefte there twentie thousande Castlins of golde and moe besides the Kings portion which was sent with Monteio and Portocarrere He lefte there also manye other things if néede should haue happened in Mexico of money or other things to prouide his men in Vera Crux and this he lefte there also to proue the fidelitie of his friendes in Tlaxcallon And after he had obteyned the victory against Naruaez he wrote vnto the Captayne that he shoulde sende for the same for reason required that in all things they should haue their partes The Captaine of Vera Crux sente fiftie Spanyardes and fiue Horsemen for the same who at their returne were slayne and taken prisoners with all that treasure by the men of Culhua who had rebelled through the comming of Pamfilo de Naruaez robbing and spoyling sundrye dayes But when Cortez vnderstoode this newes his soy was turned to sorrowe not onely for the golde and treasure so muche as for the losse of his menne fearyng also some other warre or vprore to haue bin in the riche Towne of Vera Crux wherevpon hée sente a messenger thyther who returned in shorte time certifying that all the inhabitantes there were in good health and also all the Comarcans quiet and without any token of alteration This newes and answere pleased Cortes and all his company whiche desired to goe thither but he woulde not permitte them wherefore they began to murmure and to exclayme saying what thinketh Cortes what meaneth he to doe with vs why will he kéepe vs héere to dye an euill death what haue we offended him that he will not let vs goe we are alreadye full of wearinesse our bodyes are yet ful of fresh woundes we haue spente our bloude and are nowe withoute strength and apparell wée sée oure selues in a straunge Countrey and full of miserye enuironed with enimies yea and without hope to come to that hygh place from whence we fell yea then mighte wée hée accompted for worse than madde men to come into the perils from whence wée escaped wée meane not nowe to ende oure lyues so desperately as he would haue vs for wyth the insatiable thirste of honoure and glorye hée estéemeth not hys life neyther oures He doth not lykewyse consider that he wanteth menne horses artillerie and armoure things so necessarye for the warres yea he also wanteth victuall whyche is a thyng moste principall what shall wée saye but that he erreth and is deceyued in giuing credite to these Tlaxcaltecas who are like vnto the other nations of â—ndia which are light changeable and louers of newe things yea and rather in effecte of troth they better loue the Culhuacans than the Spanishe nation yea and although they nowe dissemble yet when they shall sée a greate army of Mexicans come vpon them they will then deliuer vs aliue to be eaten and sacrificed for it is an olde rule that friendship dothe not long endure betwixte them that are of sundry religion apparell and spéech After all these complayntes and murmurations amoÌ„g themselues they made a protestation and request in forme as it were in the name of the King and all the company praying him incontinent to departe froÌ„ thence and to goe with them to the Towne of Vera Crux before the enimies mighte disturbe their way and passage and then they to remayne both bought and solde and shutte vp as it were in a prison also they declared that in Vera Crux they should haue better oportunitie to make themselues strong if that he meante to returne agayne vpon Mexico or else to take shipping if to it shoulde séeme conuenient Cortes hearing this request and determination of hyâ— Souldyers was at his wits ende ymagining that theyr prefence was onely to procure him to goe from thence and afterwardes to raâ—â—e him at their pleasures and héeing a thing cleane contray to his pretended purpose hée aunswered them as followeth The Oration made by Cortez in answere to his Souldyers demaunde MY maisters I would do and fulfill youre request if it were a thing méete and conueniente for you for there is not one alone of you how much more all in generall for whome I shoulde not willingly aduenture my goodes and life if he shuld néede the same for why your deedes haue bin such that I stand bound neuer to forget theÌ„ or else to shewe my selfe an ingratefull man And thinke you not good friendes although I do not fulfill the thing whiche you so earnestly desire that therefore I estéeme not youre authoritie but in not graunting to the same I do exalt and estéeme you in greater reputation for why in oure departing nowe from hence oure honor is blotted and stayned for euermore and in abiding héere we shall like valiant menne preserue the same What nation is there that had rule dominon and Empire in this world that hath not bin ouercome at some time What famous Captayne returned home to his house for the losse of one battayle none truly for he that dothe not perseuer shall neuer triumph with Lady Victory he that retyreth sheweth that he flyeth and remayneth a mocking stocke for all men but hée that sheweth nobly his face dothe vtter the courage of his heart yea and is both feared and also beloued If we now should depart from hence these our frieÌ„ds would accept and iudge vs for cowardes and refuse perpetually our friendship Likewise oure enimies woulde iudge the same and neuer héereafter stande in feare of vs which shoulde be a greate shame vnto oure estimation Is there any amoÌ„g vs that would not holde himselfe affrented if it shoulde be sayde that he turned his backe and fledde how much more would it be a dishonor for vs all to haue the same report I doe muche maruell at the greatenesse of your inuincible heartes in battell you were wont to be desirous of warres and nowe that suche iust and laudable warre doth offer it selfe you doe feare and refuse the same sure it is a thing cleane contrary to oure nature What is hée that will prate of harnes and neuer ware none It was neuer yet séene in all this India and new world that any of our nation retired with feare And woulde you nowe that
an other hil and vpon the toppe therof to their iudgement they founde a thousande carte loade of wood ready cut neare to a little tower of idolles they named that place the porte of wood hauing passed twoo leagues from the porte of wood they founde the countrey barren and poore but soone after the army came to a place whiche they named white Castell bicause the Lordes house was of stone very white and newe and the beste that they had séene in all that countrey and so curiously wrought that they meruayled thereat that towne in their language is called Zaclotan and the valley neare vnto it is named Zacatami and the Lordes name is Olintlec who receyued Cortes honorably and prouided for him and his company abundantly being so commaunded by Mutezuma as hée reported afterwarde And in token that he had receyued that coÌ„mission from his Lorde he commaunded fiftie men to be sacrificed for ioy whose bloud they sawe newe and freshe The townes men of that towne caried the Spanyardes on their shoulders on suche beares as we carry dead men to Churche Cortes enformed them by his enterpreters of the cause of his comming into that countrey as he had vsed in other places demaunded whether he the Lorde of this towne were tributary to Mutezuma This Cazike being amazed at his question answered saying What is he that is not eyther slaue or vassall to the great Mutezuma Then Cortes certified him who and what the Emperour king of Spayne was willing him to be his friend and seruitour further enquired if he had any golde to sende him some This Cazike answered that he would do nothing without the commaundement of his Lorde nor yet sende his king any golde although he had inough Cortes dissimuled the matter and helde his peace yet by and by he desired to knowe the Maiestie and mightie power of Mutezuma the Cazike answered that Mutezuma was Lorde of the whole worlde and that he had thirtie Vassals who were able to make a. 100000. men of warre eche one of them he also certified that he sacrificed 20000. men yerely to his Goddes And also his dwellyng was in the most beautyfullest and strongest cittie of al that euer was enhabited likewise quoth he his house and courte is moste greate noble and replenished with Gentlemen his riches incredible and his charges excessiue And truely therein he sayde the very troth excepte in the sacrifice wherein he something enlarged although the slaughter of men for sacrifice in euery temple was very great yea and some hold opinion that some yéeres were sacrificed aboue 50000. men Being in this conuersation came two Gentlemen of that valley to sée the Spanyardes and eche of them presented vnto Cortes foure women slaues certayne collers of golde of small price Olintlec although he was vassall to Mutezuma was a greate Lorde and had 20000. vassals and thirtie wiues altogither in his house beside a bundreth other women that attended vpon them And had for his garde and houshold 2000. persons his towne was great had 13. temples in it eche temple many idolles of stone of diuers fashioÌ„s before whom they sacrificed men doues quayles other things with persumes great veneratioÌ„ In this place and territorie Mutezuma had 5000. souldiers in garrison and ordinarie postes from thence to Mexico Vntill this tune Cortez had not so amply vnderstoode the mighte and power of Mutezuma yea and though many inconuemences difficulties feare and such like did represent it selfe vnto him in his â—ourney to Mexico whiche perhaps would haue amazed some valiaÌ„t persons yet he shewed not one iote of cowaroise hauâ—ng hearde suche a reporte of that mightie Prince but rather his desire was so much the more to sée hym Considering now that he shoulde passe through Taxcallan to goe to Mexico Taxcallan being a greate sirong Citie and warlike people he dispatched four Zeampoalianezes to the Lordes and Captaynes of that Citie on the behalfe of Zempoallan and his owne offering vnto them his friendship and fauour giuing them to vnderstande that those few Christians woulde come vnto their Citie to serue theÌ„ desiring theÌ„ to accept the same thinking assuredly that those of Taxcallan would haue done with him as the Zempoallanezes had done which were both good and faithful who had always vsed trouth with him cueÌ„ so he thought that now he moughte credite them for they had enformed him that the Tlaxcaltecas were their friendes and so would be his considering that they were vtter enimies to Mutezuma and willingly would goe with him to the siege of Mexico with desire of libertie and to reuenge olde iniuries and griefes whiche they had susteyned many yeares before of the people of Culhua Cortez refreshed himselfe in Zaclotan fiue dayes where is a fresh riuer and quiet folke pulling downe the Idolles and placed a remembrance of Christ crucifyed as he hadde done in all the Townes that he had passed He toke his leaue of Olintlec leauing him wel pleased went to a town two leagues froÌ„ theÌ„ce along the riuer side whereof was Lorde Iztaemixtlitan one of the Gentlemen who had giuen him the slaues and collers of golde This towne standeth in a playne grounde of two leagues compasse which is replenished with so many houses as doth séeme to touche one another in that way that our army passed and the towne it selfe doth contayne fiue thousande householdes standing on a hill and on the one side thereof is the Lordes house with a strong forte being the beste yet séene in those parties walled with good stone with barbucan and déepe ditche There Cortes rested himselfe thrée dayes abiding the foure messengers whiche he sent from Zacloton to knowe the answere that should be brought The first encounter that Cortez had with the men of Tlaxcallan COrtes seyng the long tarying of the messengers he departed from Zaclotan without any intelligence from Tlaxcallan Our caÌ„p had not marched much after their departure from that place but they came to a great circuite of stone made without lyme or morter being of a sadom and a half high and twentie foote brode with loupe holes to shoote at that wall crossed ouer all the valley from one mountayne to another and but one onely entraunce or gate in the whiche the one wall doubled against the other and the way there was fourtie paces brode in such sort that it was an euill and perilous passage if any had bene there to defend it Cortes demaunded the cause of that circuite and who had buylte it Iztacmixtlitan that wente to beare him company tolde him that it was but a deuision from their countrey and Tlaxcallan and that their antecessors had made the same to disturbe the entrance of the Tlaxcaltecas in time of warre who came to robbe and murther them bycause of the friendship betwixte them and Mutezuma whose vassals they were That strange and costly wall séemed a thing of greate maiestie to our Spanyardes and more superfluous than
woulde throw downe the idols before thâ—â— presence and all the Citizens Mutezuma râ—â—lied to his â—emauÌ„â— saying It may please you to leaue of your determination wa st that in so doing all the Citie fall into an vprore and rebellion to defende their good Gods and auncient Religion the which Gods had alwayes prouided them of water bread health light and all other things néedefull This notwithstanding the first time that Mutezuma wente to the temple after his imprisonment Cortes and his company wente with him and euery of them layde handes vpon the idols threwe them downe headlong from their seates and Altars and other Chapels Mutezuma with this sight was in great agonie yea and his subiects ready to take weapon to slay them there present but yet Mutezuma commaunded his subiectes to stay from their pretence beséechyng Cortes to stay from his procéedings at whose request 〈◊〉 â—easâ—d for he thought as yet time serued not for the purpose and pretence but he declared vnto them by his interpreters as followeth The exhortation that Cortez made to Mutezuma and to the Citizens of Mexico concerning their Idols ALl creatures in the world mightie prince and yâ—â— Gentlemen and religions personâ— whether it be yée here or we in Spayne or whatsoeuer other nation that it may be haue I say all one begynnyng and ending of mortall lyfe whiche is had from God we are al formed and made of one mettall and haue all soules and senses euen so doubtlesse as we are like in proportion of body and soule yea and kinsfolke in bloud although that by the prouidence of the same our God some are borne fayre and beautifull and other some foâ—le and disfigured some of one colour and some of another some prudent and wise and other some fonde and foolishe without eyther iudgement or vertue in the which his maruellous works God sheweth himselfe iuste holy and almightie giuyng those seuerall giftes to the entent that the wise and learned inought teache the rude and ignorant and to guyde the blinde into the right way of saluation by the steppes of true and vnsayned religion Therfore I and my fellowes as your gestes and kinsmen according to equitie doe prâ—â—ure and wish the same vnto you A man and his life consisteth in thrée things as yée shal vnderstande that is body soule and goodes as for your goodes and ritches whiche is the least that wée desire for yée know well that we haue taken nothing forcible from you but â—â—ely those things whiche yée haue fréely and liberally giuen vs likewise we haue not hurt misused or molested your persons wiues or chyldren nor yet do meane any such thing your soules health onely is the thing we séeke for your saluation and that we nowe pretende to shewe and to giue vnto you perfite notice of the true and euerlasting god There is none of naturall iudgement can denie but that there is one God but yet through ignoraunce and deceyte of the Diuell will also thinke that there are many Goddes and not acerte vnto the true god But I 〈◊〉 say and moste assuredly certifie you that there is no other true God but onely â—e whome we Christians doe serue adore and worshippe the which is one eternall without beginnyng and without ende the onely creator gouernour of things created he alone made the Heauens the Sunne the Moone and Starres the whiche his creatures ye doe worship he I say founded and made the Sea and the sundry and maruelous fishes therein he planted and made the lande with all the monstrous beastes therein foules likewise in the ayre Plantes Hearbes Stones and suche like Al the whiche creatures ye as blinde and ignorant do hold for Goddes Our almighty God after he had finished and made all the former workes with his own blessed hands made one man one woman and being so formed and wrought he put a soule and breath into each body and then deliuered the worlde vnto them shewyng them Paradise and glory So that of that manne and woman we all mortall menne procéeded in generation and in this sorte are the handy worke of God kinsmen and brethren Nowe if we will come vnto God our father it is néedefull and necessary that we be good vertuous pitifull innocent and vnder obedience the whiche yée can not be if you worshippe statues images idols and vse bloudy sacrifice of mans fleshe Is there any of you that woulde willingly be slayne no truely why then doe you slea other so cruelly and where you can put no soules why doe you take them from thence there is none of you nor your false Gods that can make soules nor can forge mens bodies of fleshe and bone for if yée coulde there is none of you woulde be without children accordyng to your owne appetite and desire in fashion beautie and workemanship But where our God of heauen dothe make al creatures he vseth therein his owne discretion and giueth chyldren to whome hée pleaseth and therefore is he GOD alone and for these causes shoulde yée haue estéeme and worshippe him for suche a mightie God desiryng of him by prayers to giue rayne and temperature that the earth may bryng foorth Corne Fruite Hearbes Fleshe Foule and all other necessaries for the sustentation of lyfe All these thyngs the harde stones giueth not vnto you no nor yet your dry woodden images colde mettall neyther yet the small séedes wherewith your seruaunts and slaues with theyr filthy handes doe make these images and foule statues the whiche yée doe worshippe O what fonde people and madde religious persons who worship theyr owne workemanshippe doe ye thynke that they are Gods that rotte and moldre away and haue no lyfe and can neyther helpe nor kill Therefore I say vnto you that nowe and hereafter there is no cause that yée shoulde haue any moe idolles nor yet any moe slaughters for sacrifice no nor yet to make any moe prayers or supplications vnto them beyng bothe Blinde Deafe and Dumme Will yée knowe who is God and where he is lifte vp your eyes vnto Heauen and then shall you vnderstande that aboue is a Godhead or Deitie that moueth the heauens and gouerneth the course of the Sunne ruleth the Lande and replenisheth the Sea who prouideth for Man and Beast bothe Corne and Water This God whome yée nowe imagine in your hartes him I say serue and worshippe not with death of menne or blouddy sacrifice abominable but with deuotion and humble prayer as we Christians doe And consider well that to teach and instruct you these things was the cause of our commyng hither With this exhortation Cortes aplaked the yre of the Priestes and Citizens theyr idols beyng throwen downe Mutezuma tooke order that no moe shoulde be sette vp commaundyng to swéepe and make cleane the Chappels of the stinking bloud that was in theÌ„ forbidding sacrifice of mans flesh Mutezuma and his officers made a soleÌ„pne vowe and promise to permitte no more slaughter of men and
not be but very daungerous for the great multitude of enimies that â—illed vp the streates Al his company Spaniardes ioynâ—ly with the kings Treasurer séeing the determination of Cortes and the hurt already receyued besought and also required him to passe his campe vnto the market place who aunswered them that they had spoken like valiaunt men but as yet quoth he it is not time conuenient we oughte to consider better of the matter for why the enimies are fully determined to ende their liues in defence of that place But his men replyed so muche that hee was compelled to graunte to theyr requeste and proclaymed the entraunce for the nexte daye following Hee wrote also in his letters to Gonsalo de Sandoual to Pedro de Aluarado the instructions of the things that they shoulde doe whiche was in effect to Sandoual that hee shoulde remoue hys campe wyth all hys fardage as thoughe he woulde retire and flye and that vppon the calsey he shoulde haue tenne horsemen in ambushe behinde certaine houses to the intent that when the Citizens should espie theÌ„ flie and would pursue after theÌ„ to passe betwixt them and home with the said horsemen after the hurt done among them in this sort that then he with al his army shoulde come where Pedro de Aluarado aboade with other tenne horsemen a hundered footemen and the Nauye of Vergantines and leauing with hym his men should then take thrée of the Vergantines and to procure to winne that broken bridge where Aluarado of late receiued the foyle and if he fortuned to wynne that place that then he should damme it vp and make it sure before he passed anye further and the like order he gaue vnto him for al other broken places that he should passe Vnto Aluarado he gaue commission that he shoulde passe as farre into the Citie as he myght possible requyring him also to send vnto him eightie Spaniardes Hée also appointed the other seauen Vergantines to passe into both the lakes with thrée thousand Canoas He deuided likewise all his army into thrée companies bycause they had thre ways to enter into the citie By the one of these wayes or streates entred the Treasurer and Auditor with seauentye Spaniardes twentie thousande Indians eight horsemen twelue labourers with pickeaxes and Shouels and many other ydle felowes to cary earth and stones and to fill vp the broken places and to make the way plaine The seconde streate he commended to George de Aluarado and Andres de Tapia with eightie Spaniardes tenne thousande Indians two pieces of Ordinaunce and eight horsemen Cortes himselfe toke the thirde way wyth a great number of friendes and a hundred Spaniardes footemen of the whiche were twentye fiue with Crossebowes and Harquebushes and coÌ„maunded his horsemeÌ„ which were eight in number to abide there behinde and not to folow after vntil he shold sende for them In thys order and al at one instant they entred the Citie shewing the harts of valiaunt men greatly annoying the enemy and wan many bridges but when they came neare vnto the towne house called Tianquiztli there gathered togither such a number of the Indian friendes who before theyr eyes scaled entred and robbed their houses that they thought assuredly that the same day the citie had bin wonne Cortez commaunded that they should procéede no further saying that they had done sufficientlye for that day for also he feared afterclappes He likewise demanded whether all the broken bridges were made sure in the whych quoth he coÌ„sisteth the peril and victorie But those that went with the Treasurer following victorie and spoyle had left a bridge not well dammed vp but verye hollowe and false the whiche was of twelue paces broad and two fadom in depth When Cortez was aduertised hereof he went thither to remedy the same but he was no sooner come when he sawe his men fléeing and leaping into the water with feare of the cruel enimies which followed who leapt after them into the water to kill them There came also along the calsey manye Indian boates of enimies who toke many of the Indian friends and Spaniards aliue Then Cortes and other fiftéene persons which were with him serued for no other purpose but to helpe out of the water those that were fallen some came wounded and others halfe drowned and without armour yea and the multitude of enimies so beset Cortes and his fiftéene companions who wer helping their meÌ„ and so occupyed in the same that they had no regarde to their owne peril Whervpon certaine Mexicans layd haÌ„d vpoÌ„ Cortes who truly they had carried away if it had not bin for one Francisco de Olea his seruaÌ„t who cut off at one blowe the armes of them that had hold of him and he by the enemies was immediately slain so that he died to saue his maisters life Then came Antonio de Quinionez captaine of the guard who caught Cortes by the arme by force pluckt him out of the throng of enimies wyth whom valiantly he fought But theÌ„ with the fame that Cortez was prisoner came many spaniards among whoÌ„ was one horseman who made some roome but in shorte space they thrust him through the throte with a launce and made him to retire The fight ceassed a little Cortes had a horse brought vnto him on the which he lightlye amounted and gathering his men togither came to the streate of Tlacopan whiche was large and faâ—re There diedâ— Guzman his Chamberlayne giuing a horse vnto his maister whose death was much lamented among them all for he was a man valiant honeste welbeloued There fel also into the water two horses the one was saued but the other was killed by the Indians As the Treasurer and his company were Combatting a bulwarke the enimies threw out of a window thrée Spaniards heads vnto them saying the like they would do with their heads if they went not from thence the sooner They séeing this sight and likewise coÌ„sidered the great hurte and spoyle made among them began to retire by little and little The Mexican Priestes went vp into the Towres of Tlatelulco and made their fiers in chafing dishes and put therevnto the swéete guÌ„me of Copalli in token of victorie and forthwith stripped fiftie Spaniards captiues as naked as they were borne and with their fine rasors opened them in the breastes and pluckt out their hartes for an offering to the Idols and sprinckled their bloud in the ayre Our men seing before their eies the doleful sight would fain haue gone to reueÌ„ge the cruel custome But as time then required they had ynough to doe to put themselues in sauetie through the great troupe of Indians which came vpon them who now feared neither horse nor sword This day as ye haue heard were fortie Spaniards sacrificed and Cortes wounded in one of hys legges and thirtie moe of his men they lâ—ste a piece of Orâ—inance and foure horses Also that day was slayne aboue two thousand Indian friends and
sent for all the gouernours Captaines and valiant souldiers who had any office or charge to come vnto the buriall of his Father and he that came not from thencefoorth was helde for a Traytour and so punished When the death of thē olde King was certayne then came al degrées of Estates and brought presents to the newe king for the approbation of his kyngdome but if the King were not throughly dead but at the poynt of death then the gates were shut in and none permitted to enter and when hys lyfe was departed then beganne a generall crie and mournyng and they were permitted to come where their dead kyng lay and to touche him with their handes this beyng done the carkasse was washed with swéete waters and then a fine shyrte put vpon him and a payre of shoes made of a Déere skinne put on his féete and aboute his ancles were tied certayne belles of golde about his wrestes of his handes were put Manyllias of Turkies and other bracelets of golde lykewise aboute his necke they hong other collers of precious stones and golde and rings in his eares with a greate Turkise in his neather lippe Then his body was layde vpon a large heare whereon was placed a good bedde vnder him on his one side lay a bowe with a quyuer of arrowes and on his other side lay an image made of fine mantels of his owne stature or bignesse with a greate tuffe of fine feathers shoes vpon his féete with bracelets and a coller of gold Whyle this worke was a doyng others were bufied in washyng the men and women whiche shoulde be slayne for to accōpany him into Hell these wretched folke that should be slaine were banqueted filled with drinke bycause they shoulde receyue their death with lesse paine The newe kyng did appoint those who shoulde die for to serue the king his father but yet many of them had rather bene without his seruice notwithstanding some simple soules estéemed that odious death for a thyng of immortall glory First seuen Gentlewomen of noble parentage were appoynted to die the one to haue the office of keper of his tewels which he was wont to were another for the office of cup bearer another to giue him water with a basen and ewer another to giue him alwayes the vrinall another to be his Cooke and another to serue for landres They slewe also many women slaues and frée maydens for to attende vpon the Gentlewomen and moreouer one of euery occupation within the citie When all these that were appoynted to die were washed theyr bellies full with meate drinke then they paynted their faces yellow and put garlandes of swéete floures vpon each of their heads Then they went in order of processiō before the beare whereon the dead king was caried some wente playing on instruments made of snayle shelles others played vpon bones and shelles of seaturtils others went whistlyng and the most part weping the Sonnes of the dead kyng other noble men carried vpō their shoulders the beare where the corse lay proceded with an easie pace towarde the Temple of the God Curicaueri his kinsmen went round about the bere singyng a sorowful song The officers and houshold seruants of the Court with other Magistrates and rulers of iustice bare the Standartes and diuers other armes About midnight they departed in the order aforesayde out of the Kings palayce with great light of fire brandes and with a heauy noyse of trumpets and drummes The Citizens which dwelt where the corse passed attended to make cleane the streate And when they were come to the temple they wente foure tymes rounde about a great fire made of the woodde of Pine trée whiche was prepared to burne the dead body then the beare was layd vpon the fire and in the meane while that the body was burnyng they mawled with a clubbe those whiche had the garlandes and afterwarde buried them by foure and foure as they were apparelled behind the Temple The nexte day in the mornyng the ashes bones and Iewels was gathered and layde vpon a riche mantle the whiche was carried to the temple gate where the priests attended to blesse those Diuelishe relickes whereof they made a dowe or paste and thereof an image whiche was appareled lyke a man with a visor on his face and all other sortes of Iewels that the dead King was wonte to weare so that it séemed a gallant idoll At the foote of the temple stayres they opened a graue ready made whiche was square large twoo fadome déepe it was also hāged with new mattes rounde about and a fayre bed therein in the whiche a religious man placed the idoll made of ashes with his eyes towarde the east parte and honge rounde aboute the walles Targets of golde and siluer with bow and arrowes many gallant tuffes of feathers with earthen vessels as pottes dishes platters so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe chests couered with leather apparell iewels meate drinke and armour This done the graue was shut vp made sure with beames bordes and floored with earth on the toppe All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall washed them selues and wente to dinner in the Courte or yard of the Kings house without any table and hauing dined they wiped their hands vpon certayne lockes of Cotton wol hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any corne was ground or market kept nor none durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of theyr King. The order of Matrimony among the Indians IN Tlaxcallan and many other Cities was vsed as a principall Ceremonie and token of marriage that the Bridegrome and his Bride against the day of marriage had their heads polled whiche was to signifie that from that day forward al childishe orders should be laide aside and from that tyme new heare myght grow to declare another kind of lyfe The chiefest knotte of marriage vsed in Michuacan was that the Bride doe looke directly vppon hir spouse for otherwise the Matrimony was not perfite nor auaylable In Mixteoapan which is a greate prouince they vse to carrie the Bridgrome to be married vpon their backes which is to be vnderstoode that he goeth against his wil but yet they take hands in token that the one shall helpe the other and then they knitte both their mantels togyther with a great knotte signifying that they ought continually while life lasteth to dwell togither The Indians called Macatecas consūme not their Matrimony in twenty dayes after their marriage but abide in fasting and prayer all that while sacrificing their bodyes and annoynting the mouthes of the Idolles wyth their owne proper bloud In Panuco the husbandes buy their wiues