the myddest were placed the Tamemez and those that carryed the foyst with all the apparell of the Vergantines Before those two captaynes went a hundered Spaniardes and eight horsemen and behind and last came Sandoual with all the residue and seuen horsemen But now although Chichimecatetl was offended touching his firste charge now much more bycause the Spaniardes were not in his company saying quoth he ye take me not for valiant or else not faithful That matter being pacified and euery thing in good order they toke theyr way towarde Tezcuco with a marueylous noyse crying Christians Christians Tlaxcallan Tlaxcallan and Spayne On the fourth day they entred into Tezcuco in verye good order with the sounde of drummes snayle-shelles and other like instrumentes of Musicke and againste their entry into the Citie they put on al their brauerye of clothes and bushes of feathers whiche truely was a gallant sight they were sixe houres in entryng into the towne keping their array Cortez came forth to receyue them and gaue greate thankes vnto the gentlemen and all the company and prouided them of good lodgings and entertaynement Of the Docke or trench vvhich was made to launch the Vergantines MAnye prouinces of India came to submitte and offer their seruice vnto Cortes some for feare of destruction and others for the hatred whyche they bare to the Mexicans So that nowe Cortes was strong both with Spaniardes and Indians Also the Spanishe Captaine of Segura sent a letter to Cortez the which letter he had receyued of another spaniard the effect therof was as foloweth Noble gentlemen diuerse times I haue written vnto you but as yet I neuer receiued answere nor yet now doe I I thynke otherwise notwithstanding yee shall vnderstande that the Culhuacans haue done much hurte in thys countrey but we remayne with victorie This prouince desireth to sée and knowe Captaine Cortez for to render themselues vnto him and nowe they stande in neede of our nation wherfore it may please you to sende vnto vs thirtie Spaniardes Cortez aunswered the letter in suche sort that he then presently coulde not sende the thing desired for that he was readye to the siege of Mexico notwythstanding hée gaue them great thankes with hope shortlye to sée theÌ„ He that writte the former letter was one of the Spaniardes that Cortez hadde sente to the prouince of Chinanta a yeare paste to enquire of the secretes of that place and to séeke for golde and other commodities And if it so happened that the Lorde of that place made that Spaniarde a Captayne agaynste the Culhuacans theyr enemyes for Mutezuma made them warre béeyng farre from Mexico bycause they had entefrayned the Spaniardes But through the industrie of that Christian the Lorde aboade alwayes with victorye and hauing vnderstanding that some of hys nation were in â—epeacac he wrote so often as the letter declareth but none of them came to their handes but only this last letter our men reioyced muche to heare that the Spaniardes were aliue and also the Lorde of Chinanta to be their friende likewise they marueyled much howe they had escaped for at the time that they fledde from Mexico all other Spaniardes that were abidyng in the Mynes and other Lordshippes were slaine by the Indians Cortes made his preparation for the séege of Mexico with all hast and furnished hym with scalling ladders and other necessaryes fitte for such a purpose His Vergantines being nayled and throughly ended he made a sluise or trench of halfe a league of length twelue foote broad more and two fadome in depth This worke was fiftie dayes a doyng although there were foure hundred thousand meÌ„ dayly working truly a famous worke and worthy of memory The Vergantines were calked with Towe and cotten woll and for want of tallow and oyle they were as some reporte driuen to take mans grease not that they slewe men for that effect but of those which were slayne in the warres The Indians who were cruell and bloudy butchers vsing sacrifice would in this sort open the dead bodye and take out the grease The Vergantines being lanched Cortes mustered his men and founde nine hundred Spanyardes of the which were 86. Horsemen and a huÌ„dred and eyghtéene with Crossebowes and Hargabushes and all the residue had sundry weapons as swords daggars Targets Launces and Halbertes Also they had for armour corselets coates of mayle and Iackes They had moreouer thrée great péeces of cast yron fiftéene small péeces of brasse and tenne hundred waighte of powder with store of shotte All that ye haue hearde was the prouision that Cortes had for the séege of Mexico the strongest and greatest Citie in all India and newe world In eache Vergantine he placed a péece of brasse He proclaymed agayne all the institutions and ordinances of the warre praying and commaunding that they might be well and faithfully obserued and said BrethreÌ„ and my fellowes now do you sée our vessels readye yea and also you do remember howe troublesome a thyng it hathe bin to bring them hither with the coste and sweate of our friendes and one of the chiefest hopes that I haue shortly to winne Mexico are these vessels for with them we will burne all their Canoas or else we will so locke them vp that they shall not help them whereby we wyll annoy our enimie as muche that way as our army shall do by land I haue also a hundred thousand men of warre my friends to beséege this Citie who are as you know the valiantest men in all these parties You haue also your vittailes prouided abundantly and that which now importeth is that you play the menne as héeretofore you haue done and most humbly to pray vnto God for victorie for that this warre is his The order of the host and army of Cortes for to beseege Mexico THe nexte day following Cortes sente vnto the prouinces of Tlaxcallan Huexocinco Chololla Chal and other Townes warning theÌ„ within tenne dayes to come vnto Tezcuco with theyr armoure weapon and other necessaries for the séege of Mexico He certifyed them also how the Vergantines were ready with all other furniture accordingly and the Spanyardes were very desirous to lose no time wherefore they meante not to delay their pretence farther than the day appoynted The Indians hearing this newes and bycause they would not come too late to the beginning of the assaulte came incontinente and entred into Tezcuco in good order of warre aboue sixtie thousand men gallantly trimmed after their vse and custome Cortes friendly welcommed them and prouided them lodgings accordingly On Whitsonday all the Spanyardes came into the fielde whereas Cortes made thrée chiefe Captaynes among whome he deuided his whole army Vnto Pedro de Aluarado the first Captayne he appoynted thirtie horsemen and a hundred and seauentie footemen of the Spanyardes two péeces of ordinance and thirtie thousande Indians commaunding him to campe in Tlacopan Vnto Cristoual de Olid the seconde Captayne he gaue thrée and thirtie Horsemen
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 him 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 forte Cortes returned theyr messengers backé 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 them 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 coulde 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 shoulde 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 pany 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 theÌ„selues 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 Tlaxcalâ—ecas should not doe any hurte in their countrey wherevpon Cortes coÌ„maunded 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 â—edlers 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 CitizeÌ„s 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 instrumeÌ„ts made of bones other an instrumeÌ„t 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 coÌ„pany 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 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 flerce heastes 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 forte 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 Chololla 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 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 where vpon 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 be 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 shal be 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 THe nexte day in the mornyng the Cholâ—llans 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 appreheÌ„d 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 yeaâ—es of age to their God Quezalcouail fiue of these children were menne and the other fiue wemen whiche was their custome when they began their warres the Captayne 's placed themselues at the foure dores of Cortes his house with some armed men Cortes carely in the mornyng had secretely in a readinesse the Indians of Zempoalâ—an and Tlaxcallan and other friends he coÌ„maunded 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 meÌ„ for it imported all their liues And he seing the townes men approch néere his lodging commaunded the captaynes chiefest of them to come vnto him saying that he would take his leaue of them there came many but be would not suffer aboue thirtie persons to come in who were the principallest and declared vnto theÌ„ that alwaies he had dealte truly with them they with him nothing but treason and lies Likewise they had vnder colour requested that his frieÌ„ds the Tlaxcaltecas shuld not come vnto their towne that he fulfilled there in their desire also coÌ„maunded his own men in no wise to be hurtful vnto theÌ„ 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 coÌ„sideryng 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 muche 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 coÌ„moÌ„ people Likewise they humbly besought him to pardon them who had not so muche faultâ— 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
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
himselfe and moreouer they decked them with feathers garlands and floures Many of these sort of people do go to the slaughter with ioyfull countenaunce dauncing demaunding almes through the Citie for their sacrifice all the whiche almes is due vnto the priestes When the gréene corne was a foote aboue the ground they vsed to go vnto a certain hil whiche was appointed for such deuotion and there sacrifised two children a boy and a girle of thrée yeares of age to the honor of Tlaloc god of water beséeching him therefore deuoutlye to haue alwayes a care to prouide them water these children were frée borne and therfore theyr hartes were not taken out of their bodies but after that their throtes were cut their bodies were wrapped in a new mantel and then buried in a graue of stone The feaste of Tozoztli was when the fields of Maiz were growen two foote high then a certaine summe of merchandise was gathered among the dwellers in the towne wherewith were bought foure little slaues betwixt the age of fiue and seuen and they were likewise sacrificed to the god Tlaloc for continuall shoures of rayne And those dead bodies were shut vp in a caue appointed for the same purpose The beginning of this sacrifice of foure children was at the time when in foure yeres space it rayned not in the whiche season the springs were dryed vp and al gréene things perished wherfore they were forced to leaue the countrey and went to inhabite at Nicaragua In the moneth and feast of Hueitozotli when the corne fields of Maiz waxed ripe then euery one in generall gathered his handful of Maiz and brought it vnto the temple for an offering with a certaine drinke called Atuli whiche is made of the same Maiz. They brought also the swéete gum Copalli to sense the gods which do cause the corne to growe and all that night they ceassed not dauncing without drunkennesse At the beginning of summer they celebrate an other feast called Tlaxuchimcaco with all kinde of Roses and swéete floures that might be gotten and thereof they vsed to make garlands to set vpon the Idols heades and so spente all that day in dauncing And to celebrate the feast called Tecuilhuitli al the gentlemen and principall persons of ech prouince do come vnto the Citie on the euening of the feast and then they apparell a woman with the attire of the Gods of salt who daunced among a great company of hir neighboures But on the nexte day she was sacrificed with all the Ceremonies and solempnitie accustomed and al that day was spent in gret deuotion burning of incense in the fire pannes of the temple The merchants who had a temple by themselues dedicated to the god of gaines made their feast vppon the day called Miccailhuitl wherein they slewe many slaues in sacrifice which they had bought and banqueted that feast with mans flesh dauncing al the day The feast of Vchpaniztli they sacrificed a woman and afterward hyr bodye was flayne and hir skinne put vppon an Indians backe who daunced two days a row with al the townsmen which were apparelled in their best attire to celebrate the feaste The day of Hatamutztli the feast is kept in Mexico where they enter into the lake with a great nuÌ„ber of Canoas there they drown a boy a girle in a litle boat which they cause to be sonke in such sorte that neuer after that boat appeareth again and they hold opinion y those children were in company with the Goddes of the lake So that that daye was spente in feasting in the temples and annoynting the Idols chéekes with gum called Vlli. There were some Images that had their faces two ynches thicke with that gum The order of certaine religious women ON the backe side of euerye greate Temple in euerye Cittie was made a greate Hall or lodgyng standing alone where as manye women did eate drincke lodge leade their liues And although suche houses had no orders they aboad there sure ynough These women which lay in the houses of the Goddes were of sundry intentions But none of them came to abide there al their life time although among them wer some olde women Some entered into those religious houses being sicke and disseased hoping there to recouer theyr health others came thither through pure néede and necessitie to be there relieued other some came thither to be good and vertuous and some entered into the religion hoping that the Goddes woulde giue vnto them riches and long life But generallye their comming thyther was to haue good husbandes and manye chyldren eche of them vowed the time that shee woulde or ment to abide in that order and after that time expired they marryed The first thing that they did comming into the religion was to polle their heads to be knowen froÌ„ others Their offices were to spinne cotton wool and feathers and to weaue cloth for to apparel the Goddes and themselues to swepe the yarde and lodgings of the temple for the stayres and high chappels the ministers themselues did make cleane they vsed also to let them bloud in certaine partes of the body to offer to the Diuellish Idols On euery festiual day they went on procession with the priestes but it was not lawful for them to presume to go vppe the stayres of the temple nor yet to sing They liued on almes for their kinsefolke being rich did mayntaine them with almes as a charitable seruice done vnto the Goddes their foode was boyled flesh and hote bread to the intent that they should offer therof to the Goddes that they might tast of the smoke of that victual they vsed to eate in communitie and lay altogither in one dormitorye as a flocke of shéepe they lay alwayes in theyr clothes for honestie sake and also to be the sooner ready in the morning to serue the Gods to go to their worke And yet I know not why they shold put off their clothes for they went almost naked On the holy dayes they vsed to daunce before the Gods and she that either talked or laughed with any religious or secular person was reprehended for the same And if any of them committed whoredome then both the man the woman were slain yea they belieued that all suche offenders fleshe woulde rotte and consume away and especially those which had lost their Virginity in the time of their religion So that with feare of punishmente and infamie they were good women al the while that they aboade there Hovv the Diuell appeared to the Indians THe Diuell did many times talke wyth the priestes and with other rulers and perticular persons but notwith al sorts of men And vnto him to whom the Diuel had appeared was offered presented great giftes The wicked spirit appeared vnto theÌ„ in a thousand shapes and fashions finally he was conuersant and familiar â—mong them very often And the fooles thought it a greate wonder that Gods would be so familiar with mortal men Yea they not
and as it happened he was therein fortunate for that thereby hée escaped great perils and troubles whiche happened to them that went on that voyage and iourney Things that happened to Cortez in the Ilande of Cuba THe Lorde Iames Colori being Admirall and chiefe Gouernour of the new India sent one Iaymes Velasques to conquer the Ilande of Cuba in the yeare 1511. And gaue vnto him men Armour and other thinges necessarie And then Hernando Cortez wente to that conquest as a Clearke to the Treasorer called Michaell de Passamontes for to kéepe the accompts of the Kings fiftes and reuenewes being so intreated and required by the same Iaymes Velasques bycause he was holden for a man both able and diligente And it followed that in the repartition of the lands conquered Iaymes Velasques gaue vnto Cortez the Indians of Manicora◠in coniunct company with his brother in lawe called Iuan Xuarez wherevpon Cortez did inhabite in Saint Iames de Barucoa whiche was the first place of habitation in that Ilande whereas he bredde and broughte vp Kine Shéepe and Mares and was the first that hadde there any heard or flocke and with his Indians he gathered great quantitie of golde so that in short time he wared riche and ioyned in company with one Andres de Duero a Merchaunt and put in two thousande Castlins for his stocke He was also highly estéemed with Iaymes Velasques and put in authoritie to dispatch businesse and to giue order for edifices In his tyme be caused a money house to be built also an Hospital At that time one Iuan Xuarez naturall of the Citie of Granada carried to the I le of Cuba his mother and thrée sisters whiche came to the Iland of Santo Domingo with that vicequéene the Lady Mary of Toledo in Anno. 1509. hoping to marrie them there with rich men for they were very poore And the one of them named Cathelina was wont to say That she shoulde be a greate Gentlewoman it was eyther hyr dreames and fantasies or else some Astronomer hadde made hir beléeue so but hir mother was reported to bée very cunning The maydens were beautifull for which cause and also being there but fewe Spanishe women they were muche made of and often feasted But Cortez was woer to the saide Cathelina and at the ende married with hir Although at the first there was some strife about the matter and Cortez put in prison bycause he refused hir for his wife but she demaunded him as hir husband by faith and troth of hand wherein Iaymes Velasques did stande hir friende by reason of an other sister of hyrs which he had but of an euil name It so fell out that one Baltazar Bermudez Iuan Xuares and the two Anthony Velasques with one Villegas accused Cortez that he ought to marrie with Cathelina yet those witnesses spake of euill will many things as touching the affaires cōmitted to his charge alleadging that he vsed secret dealing with certaine persons The which causes although they were not true yet they carried great colour therof For why many wēt secretly to Cortez his house complayning of Iaymes Velasques Some bycause they had not iust repertitiō of the cōquered Indiās and other some not according to deserte Contrariwyse Iames Velasques gaue credit to his talebearers bicause Cortez refused to marrie with Cathelina Xuarez vsed vncourteous words vnto him in the presēce of many that stoode by and also commaunded him to warde And when Cortez sawe himselfe in the stockes he feared some proces of false witnesse as many times dothe happen in those parties At time conueniente he brake the locke off the stockes and layde hand vpon the Sword and Target of the kéeper and brake vp a windowe escaping thereby into the stréete and tooke the Church for Sanctuary But when Iaymes Velasques had notice thereof he was greatlye offended with Christopher Lagos the Iayler saying that for money he had losed him wherefore he procured by al meanes to plucke him out of the Sanctuary But Cortez hauing intelligence of his dealing did resiste and withstand his force Yet notwithstanding one daye Cortez walking before the Churche dore and being carelesse of his businesse was caught by the backe with a Serieant called Iohn Esquier and others and then was put aboorde a Shyppe vnder hatches Cortez was welbeloued among his neighboures who did well consider the euill will that the Gouernour bare vnto him But nowe Cortez séeing himselfe vnder hatches despaired of his libertie and did verily thinke that he shoulde be sent prisoner to the Chancerie of Santo Domingo or else to Spayne who being in this extremitie soughte all meanes to get hys foote out of the chayne and at length he gote it out and the same nighte he changed his apparell with a ladde that serued him and by the Pump of the Shippe he gote out not heard of any his kéepers climbing softly along the Shippe syde he entred the Skiffe and went hys way therewith and bycause they shoulde not pursue after him he losed the Boate of another Shippe that roade by them The Currant of Macaguanigua a riuer of Barucoa was so fierce that he could not gette in with his Skiffe bicause he had no help to row was also very werie fearing to be drowned if he should put himselfe to the land wherefore he stripped himselfe naked and tyed a nyghtkerchiefe aboute hys head with certayne wrytings apperteyning to his office of Notarie and Clearkshippe to the Treasourer and other things that were agaynst the Gouernoure Iames Velasques and in this sorte swamme to lande and wente home to hys owne house and spake with Iohn Xuarez hys brother in law and tooke Sanctuarie agayne with Armour Then the Gouernoure Iames Velasques sente hym worde that all matters shoulde bee forgotten and that they shoulde remayne friendes as in tyme past they hadde bin and to goe with hym to the Warres agaynste certayne Indians that hadde rebelled Cortez made hym no aunswere but incontinent married with mistresse Catalina Xuarez according to his promise and to lyue in peace Iames Velasques procéeded on hys iourney wyth a greate companye agaynste the Rebelles Then sayde Cortez to hys brother in lawe Iohn Xuares bryng me quoth he my Launce and my Crosbowe to the Townes ende And so in that euening hée wente out of Sanctuarie and taking hys Crosse bowe in hande hée wente with his brother in lawe to a certayne Farme where Iames Velasques was alone with his householde seruauntes for hys armye was lodged in a Village thereby and came thither somewhat late and at suche tyme as the Gouernoure was perusing hys Booke of charges and knocked at his dore which stoode open saying Héere is Cortez that woulde speake with the Gouernoure and so wente in When Iames Velasques sawe hym armed and at such an houre he was maruellously afrayde desiring hym to rest hymselfe and also to accepte hys Supper No Sir quoth he my onely comming is but to knowe the complayntes you
Company entred the Towne at ease without contradiction so that hée and the other Companye of his Souldyers mette togither at the Markette place and expulsed all the Indians out of the Towne excepte those that were taken prisoners and the carkases of the deade Then the Chrystians soughte the spoyle and founde nothyng but Turkie Hennes and some thyngs wrought of Cotten wooll but verye little Golde There was that daye aboue foure thousande Indians in fyghte and defence of the Towne There was much Indian bloud shedde bycause they fought naked manye were wounded and fewe Captiue Cortez lodged himselfe wyth hys armie in the chiefest Temple of the Idolles where was roome sufficiente They kepte that nyghte good watche as in a house of enimies but the poore Indians durst not once interrupte them After thys sorte was Potonchan taken béeyng the fyrste Cytie that Cortez wanne by force in all hys Conquest The Battell of Cintla AL the nighte Cortez slept not but rather occupyed himselfe in carrying the wounded men other stuffe aboord the Shyps also to disenbarke thirtéene Horses the residue of his mē that he had left aboord that which he brought to passe before the sunne rising although the Tauascans had notice therof Whē the sunne was risen he had with his company made vnto God their prayers and mustered his men where were at that time in Campe néere fiue hundred Spanyardes thirtéene Horses and sixe péeces of ordinance These Horses were the fyrste that euer came into that Countrey whych now is called new Spayne He planted his men and munition in good order and thus marched forwardes toward Cintla The Indians séeyng this preparation began also to make readie and to place in good order fortie thousand men in fyue cōpanies their méeting was in ploughed lande among manye déepe lakes and pondes very daungerous to passe so that our men by reason thereof were brought out of order And Hernando Cortez with his horsemen wente to séeke a better passage and to enclose himselfe among certayne trées on their left hand for to set vpon the enimies when time should serue The footemen procéeded on and passed many marishe groundes vntill they came to the tilled land The Indians were expert in those places wher they beganne the battayle shooting with their bowes and slings and throwing of dartes And although our mē did some hurt among them with their Crossebowes hādgunnes and Ordinance whē they were in place to shoote yet the Indians pursued our men so thicke that they could not put them off for by pollicie the Indians of Potonchan hadde soughte out that place and it is to bée thoughte that they were not barbarous nor of small vnderstanding in warres yet notwithstandyng wyth muche payne oure men gate out of that place and obtayned another somewhat better and more playner grounde whereas they myghte vse their Ordinance and fyghte with their weapons bodye to body But the Indians béeyng so greate a number draue our men to so narrowe a place that they were fayne to ioyne backe to backe for theyr owne defence yea for all that were in maruellous greate daunger for they hadde no roome to vse their Ordinance nor yet Horsemen to make them waye They béeyng in thys perplexitie and readie to flye suddaynely appeared a Horseman with a speckled Horse whome they iudged to be Captayne Morla whych Horsemanne sette vppon the Indians and made them retyre and hauyng more space than before they sette afreshe vppon the enimies and slewe some of them In thys meane tyme the Horsemanne vaded away and was not séene and wyth hys absence the Indians beganne afreshe and enclosed the Chrystians in the same daunger that they were in before then the Horsemanne appeared agayne néere oure menne and made maruellous way among the enimies wherevpon our menne séeyng this succoure gaue the onset agayne with great courage and slewe and hurt many Indians but at the best season the Horseman vanished away cleane out of sighte and when the Indians sawe not the Horseman with feare of whome they fledde thinkyng that he hadde bin a Centaure and that the Horse and man was all one incorporate they returned agayne with liuely courage and vsed our Christians worse than they hadde done before Then the Horseman returned the third time and putte the Indians to flight with great hurte whom our footemē pursued with great slaughter Now at this instant came Cortez with al his company of horsemen being wearied with the trauaile in passing such strange lakes and wildernesse wherof the countrey is replenished Our men being ioyful of his comming they began to enforme him what wonders they had sene a horseman do which came to succour them demanding of him which of their company it was Cortez answered and faithfully assured them that it was none of their cōpany bicause it was not possible for any of them to come any sooner Then they al gaue God praise belieuing that it was a helpe sent from heauen Cortez said my deare fellows forwards for god is with vs Then the horsemē set vpon the Indians and with force of lance droue them out of the marish ground and brake their mayne battel The Indians incontinent left the fielde and fled into the thicke woodden the footemen followed them and slue aboue thrée hundred Indians besides many other that were hurt There wer aboue seauenty Spaniardes wounded with arrowes and stones And whether it were with labour of the battel or with excessiue heate or with drinking the water of that place there fel such a stitch in their loynes that about a hūdred of them fel flat vpon the groūd not able to go nor stand their fellowes being forced to carry thē on their backes But it pleased god that the same night the payne wente frō them being in the morning wel againe Who séeyng themselues deliuered from so manye perils gaue moste humble thankes to the almightye god that had miraculously deliuered them They all agréed that thrée times they had séene the straunge horseman with the speckled horse fight in their fauour as is aforesaid beléeuing generally it was a miracle as certainely it did appeare for the Christians did not alone sée this thing but also the Indians dyd muche note it for the maruelous flercenesse wherwith he came vppon them with such great murder that they were amased and almoste blynde with hys bryghtnesse being so trodden vnder hys féete The captiue Indians after the battayle declared the circumstance therof The Lord Tauasco submitteth himselfe to the Christians COrtez released some of hys prisoners and sent them to their Lorde saying that it grieued him the hurt done on both parties but the fault was theirs And that god was witnesse of hys innocencie and also of hys curtesie offered vnto thē But notwithstanding all that was paste he pardoned their errour with sucke condition That if in continent or within two dayes theyr Lorde woulde come vnto him to yéelde satisfaction of their
a better port or scituation Also that we make a wall or Castell for oure defence if néede shou'de happen for the people of this land hath little ioy of our comming and abiding héere It was then considered that frō that place they might the sooner haue friendshippe and contractation with the Indians and Townes nexte adioyning as Zempoallan and others whyche were enimies to Mutezuma and béeyng in this order once placed they myghte discharge their Shyppes and sende them incontinent to Cuba Santo Domingo Iamayca Borriquen and other Ilandes or else to Spayne for more men armour and Horsses and for clothing and victuals Moreouer it was thought iust and méete to sende relation of all their procéedings to the Emperoure theyr King and maister with the demonstration of golde syluer and other riches which they had in their power And bycause all these things should be done in good order Cortez determined as Captayne generall to appoint a Counsell Aldermen and Iudges And also ordeyne all other offices that shoulde be necessary and néedefull to rule and gouerne a Citie whych he then pretended to edifie and erecte the whiche Magistrates should fully commaund vntill such time that the Emperour should otherwise prouide in matters conuenient for his seruice After this diligence put in vre he solemnely tooke possession of all the land in the name of the Emperour Charles King of Castill with all the actes and ceremonies as to such a matter apperteyned And demaunded of Francisco Fernandez notarie appoynted that he shoulde gyue vnto him by testimonie in writing all the actes done therein All his company aunswered that they did very well allowe hys procéedings and praysed and also approued hys determination besieching hym to procéede accordingly sithence they were come to serue and obey hym Then Cortez named Judges Aldermen Attorney Serieant Notary and Towneclearke and all other officers apperteyning to the good gouernement of a Citie in the name and behalfe of the Emperoure hys naturall Lord and delyuered incontinent to the Iudges white roddes to beare in their handes in token of Iustice and named the newe Citie to be builte The ryche Towne De la vera Crux bycause that one goodfriday they had entred into that land After these things finished Cortez began before the saide Notary another act in presence of the iudges who were Alounso Fernandez Portocarero and Frācisco de Monteio in whose handes he made cession and dyd desyst from all rule and offices whiche heretofore he had receiued which was his gouernership captaineship and general discouerer recetued in the Chauncerie of Santo Domingo at the handes of the presidentes who were there chiefe of the kings counsell and presidents likewise be protested not to vse the power and auctority of the gouernour of Cuba Admirall of India for so much the now none of them had any rule or gouernement in that Countrey which he and his fellowes had newely discouered and begun to enhabite in the name of the king of Castil as his naturall subiectes The which auctoritie he likewise required to be set downe in recorde and to haue a copie of the same Hovv the soudiours chose Cortez for Captaine generall and chiefe ruler in Iustice AL the newe officers toke possession and charge of their offices and entred into the towne house to counsel according to the vse and custome of Castill In the which congregation or counsel then holden many matters were had in question as touching the good gouernemente of the common weale And among many other things they al agréed to electe Hernando Cortez for captaine generall and chiefe Iustice and to giue vnto him full power and authority for all matters appertayning to the wars and conquest vntill such time as the Emperour should otherwise prouide with this determination the next day following al the Aldermen Iudges and Counsellers went vnto Cortez and sayde vnto him Sir we haue greate néede of a guide and captaine for the warres to procéede vppon the conquest of this countrey wherfore vntil such time as the Emperour shall prouide therein they all besought hym to accepte that office and charge approuing him a man most fit for the same both to rule and gouerne for the great experience that they had séene of his courage wisdome and pollicie and by Vertue of their offices did cōmaund him to accept the same saying that in so doing God and the king shoulde bee faithfully serued And they woulde thankfully gratify the same knowing that at his hands they should be ruled with iustice vsed with humility be preserued with diligence and strength And for that purpose they had chosen him for that office giuing vnto him their ful whole authority submitting thēselues vnder his hands iurisdiction defence Cortez accepted the charge at smal entreating for he desired nothing so much And being in this sort elected general the counsel said vnto him Sir you do wel vnderstād that vntil such time as we shal bee better planted in this countrey we haue not wherwith to maintaine our selues but only with suche things as are abord our shippes Therfore it may please you to commaund it to be brought a shore and that you take therof what shal seme good vnto you for your houshold and familie and the residue may be taxed at a reasonable price and so to be deuided among them for payment they wold al binde thēselues or else the presently it should be deducted out of the stocke after that the kings sift parte were subtracted Likewise they desired him to value his ships and artillery bycause they would make like payment for the same and that frō thence forwards the ships should serue in common for to passe to the Ilāds for bread wine clothes weapons horses and other things which should be néedeful for the new towne and army for therby shey mought be better cheape prouided than if merchants should prouide them consideryng alway they seke for excessiue gaine saying that if it would please hym to accepte thys offer and request they would thankfully requite the same Cortez aunswered that at the time he made his preperation and furniture in Cuba he ment not to sel his prouision as others vsed to do but he would and did frankely giue it vnto them although hee had spent his goods and indetted himselfe therin And incontinent he commaunded the maisters of the ships and pursers to bring a lād al their victual to the town house requiring the Aldermen to deuide it equally to euerye man his part without making any difference of him or of any other for quoth he in time of neede of victuals that yongest hath as muche allowaunce as the eldest And although I am indetted and do owe more than seauen M. Duckets I giue this victuall al franckly vnto you And as cōcerning the ships I wil do the which shal be most cōuensēt for you al. And quoth he I wil determin nothing to be done with thē but wil first giue you aduertisemēt
of the same Al this did Cortez for to get their loue and fauour bycause there were many that loued hym not althoughe in very trouth he was of his own nature liberal and large in experiences with al his souldiers in the warres The receiuing of Cortez into Zempoallan FOr as much as the situation there was not conuenient to place the newe worke they determined to go from thence to Aguiahuiztlan which standeth nere the shadowe of the rocke that Monteis had informed them of wherevppon Cortez commaunded the shippes to depart for that place And he with his foure hundred men and horses would goe by land and there mete theÌ„ which may be about ten leagues iorney In this order the fléete departed and likewise Cortez with his company toward Zâ—mpoallan which stoode directly weastward And after he had iourneyed three leagues he came to the riuer which deuided the Lordshippe of Mutezuma and Zempeallan coulde finde no passage wherefore he was forced to returne to the seaside where with muche adoe they passéd ouer and so trauayled on that side of the river found cotages of fishermen and other poore houses and some sowen ground and procéeding on their iorney at length they came into very faire valleys wher was great store of deare and stil they went along the riuer side hoping to finde some good towne and in short space they espied neare twenty persons vppon the ioppe of a hill Cortez commaunded foure of his horsemen to setch them vnto him willing theÌ„ to make signes of peace vnto them but if they flie quoth he then follow them vntill you ouertake them for they shall stand vs in steade as wel to lead vs the way as to serue vs for enterpreters The horsemen tooke on theyr way and when they came to the hill toppe they made signes of peace vnto them but the poore and fearefull Indians fledde with spéede yea being aâ—â—ased and in great feare to beholde suche a monsterous thyng as a horseman beleuyng assuredly that horse and man was one thing incorporate but in theyr flight they were soone ouertaken and they yéelded themselues and so were all brought vnto Cortez These men had in theyr eares and noses bored holes with rings of golde hangyng thereat for so was the vse of Zempoallan they enformed Cortez that the Cittie was neare at bande Cortez demaunded the cause of their commyng thither they answered to behold and sée so straunge a sight but why fledde you then quoth he For feare only sir sayde they of people which we knew not Then Cortez willed them to put all feare aside and tolde them that he with his small company woulde goe vnto their Cittie to visite their Lorde and to be acquaynted with him the Indians sayde that the day was farre spent and that it was late to goe that night to Zempoallan but if it pleased hym they would conduct him to a village whiche stoode on the otherside of the Riuer and within sight and although it were but a small village yet there was reasonable lodging with meate sufficiente for his armie their counfell séemed well so they wente to that village and when they were comen thither the Indians craued licence to goe to aduertife their Lorde how the straungers abode in that place promising to returne the nexte day with answere Some of the Indians had licence to do the message the others abode there attendyng and prouiding for the newe gestes in this order they were al lodged and their supper abundantly prouided That night Cortez fortified himselfe as strong as mought be and the nexte morning came a hundreth men laden with Hennes saying that their Lord much reioyced of their comming and bicause he was so grosse and vnwealdie he came not personallye vnto him but yet notwithstanding he aboade in the cittie expecting his comming Cortez friendly welcomed them and with that presente he and his company brake their faste and then proceeded with his guives in good order with two fauconets in readinesse if néede should happen and from that passage of the riuer they had a faire way vntil they came to another riuer which being likewise waded ouer they discried Zempoallan whiche stoode a myle distant from them all beset wyth fayre Orchardes and Gardens verye pleasaunte to beholde they vsed alwayes to water them with sluses when they pleased There procéeded out of the Towne many persons to behold and receyue so strange a people vnto them They came with smiling countenance and presented vnto theÌ„ diuers kinde of Floures and sundry fruites which none of our menne had héeretofore séene These people came without feare among the Ordinance with this pompe triumph and ioy they were receiued into the Citie which séemed a beautifull Garden for the trées were so gréene and high that scarsely the houses appeared At the Citie gate stoode many graue persons of nobilitie as Magistrates of the Citie who solemnely welcomed the Strangers Sixe Horsemen which hadde gone before the army to discouer returned backe as Cortez was entring into the Citie saying that they had séene a great house and Court and that the walles were garnished with siluer Cortez commaunded them to procéede on willing them not to shew any token of wonder of any thing that they should sée All the stréetes were replenished with people whiche stoode gaping and wondering at the horses and strauÌ„gers And passing through a great market place they saw on their right hande a great walled house made of lyme and stone with loupe holes and towers whited with playster that shined lyke siluer being so well burnished and the sunne glistering vpon it And that was the thing that the Spaniards thought had bene walles of siluer I doe beléeue that with the imagination and great desire whiche they had of golde and siluer all that shined they déemed to be the same mettall Within this great house was a long rew of lodgings and on the other side sixe or seuen Towers one higher than another They procéeded on dissimulyng the errour of the siluer walles and followed their guide vntill suche time as they came to the Lordes lodging who came forth accompanied with many auncient persons and better attired than the other Citizens were with twoo Gentlemen that ledde him by the armes They saluted eche other according to the vse of their countreys and then entred into the pallayce where certayne principall men conducted Cortes and all his trayne to their lodgyng and Captayne Cortes was lodged in the house whiche had the glisteryng walles situated in the markette place whiche house was sufficient for him and all his company And when they were placed and behelde the walles they were ashamed of their owne folly for where they thought those walles had bene adorned with siluer they faunde them cleane contrary Cortes deuided his men caused his horses to be trimmed and planted his ordinaunce at his dore making himselfe as strong as though he had bene in campe and néere his enimies
profitable yet they suspected that the Tlaxcaltecas were valiant warriers who had suche defense made agaynst them And as Cortes and his army stoode beholding thys worke Iztaemixtlitan thought he had bin afrayde to procéede forward and prayed him for so much as he was his Lordes friend not to passe that way nor yet through the Countrey of Tlaxcallan for so muche as he wente to visite his maister for quoth he if they knowe you to be my Lordes friende they will séeke youre displeasure as they haue done to others and I will prouide you guides to leade you continually through the dominiâ—â—f Mutezuma where you shall be well receyued and prouided vntil you come to Mexico But Mamexi and the others of Zempoallan willed hym to refuse that offer and counsell in any wise alleatgyng that it was an onely pretence to separate them from the friendship of that prouince whose people were good honorable and valiant and that Iztaemixtlitans perswasion was to prohibite theyr helpe and succoure agaynst Mutezuma willing hym earnestly to giue no credite vnto hys sayings for he and his allyes are false Traytors and meante to bryng hym into some snare where they myghte kill both him and his company and féede vppon theyr fleshe Cortes for a space was amazed at the talke of the one and the other but in conclusion he accepted the councell of Mamexi for that he hadde conceyued a better opinion of the Zeampoallanezes his allyed friendes than of the others And setting all feare asyde he tooke the way to Tlaxcallon byddyng IztaemixtlitaÌ„ farewell and with thrée hundred Souldyers on a ranke he entred the way in the wall and procéeded in good order all the way forwardes carrying the Ordinance ready charged and he himselfe the leader of all his army yea and sometimes he woulde be halfe a league before them to discouer and make the way playne And hauing gone the space of thrée leagues from that circuite be commaunded his footemen to make hast bycause it was somewhat late and he with his Horsemen went to descrye the way forwardes who ascendyng vp a hyll two of the formost horsemenne mette with fiftéene Indians armed with swordes and Targets and tuffes of feathers whiche they vse to weare in the warres These fiftéene were spyes and when they sawe the Horsemen they beganne to flye with feare or else to gyue aduise Then approched Cortez with other thrée horsemen calling to them to stay but by no meanes they woulde abyde then syre Horsemen ranne after them and ouertooke theÌ„ who ioyned all togither with determinatio rather to dye than to yéelde shewing them signes to stande still yet the Horsemen comming to lay handes on them they prepared themselues to battayle and foughte desendyng themselues for a whyle In thys fyghte the Indians slewe two of theyr Horses and as the Spanyardes doe witnesse at two blowes they cutte off a Horse head bridle and all Then came the rest of the Horsemenne and the army approched for there were in syghte néere fiue thousande Indians in good order to succoure theyr fiftéene fyghting menne but they came too late for that purpose for they were all slayne wyth the anger that was taken for the killyng of the two Horses and woulde not render themselues in tyme yet notwythstandyng theyr fellowes foughte vntyll they espyed oure armye commyng and the Ordinance then they returned leauyng the fielde to oure menne but oure Horsemenne followed them and slewe aboute 70 persons of them withoute receyuing anye hurte Thys done the Indians sente vnto Cortes two of the foure messengers whiche hadde bin sente thither before wyth other Indians saying that the Tlaxcaliecas knewe nothyng of the thynges that were happened certifying lykewyse that those with whome hée hadde fought were of other comunities and not of their iurisdiction béeyng sorowfull for that whyche hadde passed and for so muche as it happened in theyr Countrey they woulde willingly pay for the two Horses whyche were slayne praying them to come in good time to theyr Towne who woulde gladly receyue them and enter into theyr league of friendshippe bycause they séemed to bée valiante menne but all was a fayned and a false message Yet Cortes beléeued them and gaue them thankeâ— for theyr curtesie and good will and that accordyng to theyr request he woulde goe vnto theyr Towne and accepte their friendshippe And touchyng the deathe of his Horses he required nothyng for within shorte space he expected many moe but yet God knoweth how sorowfull he was for the want of them and not only so muche for theÌ„ as that the Indians shoulde thinke that Horses could dye or be slayne Cortez procéeded forwardes aboute two leagues where the Horses were kylled although it was almost Sunnesette and his men wéeried hauing trauelled farre that day His will was to haue pitched his Camp in a strong place of water wherefore he planted his army by a Riuer side whereas they remayned all that night with good watche both of footemen and horsemen fearing some assault but there was no attempt giuen that night whereby they might haue taken better rest than they were aware of Hovv there ioyned a hundred and fiftie thousand men against Cortez THe next morning at Sunne rising Cortez departed with his army in good order and in the middest of them wente the fardage and artillerie and as soone as they were come to a little Village there néere at hande they mette with the other two messengers of Zempoallan who departed from them at Zaclotan they came with pitifull chéere exclayming of the Captaynes of the power of Tlaxcallan who had bounde them and deteyned them from returning but with good fortune that nighte they hadde broken loose and escaped for otherwise in the morning following they had bin sacrificed to the God of Victory and after the sacrifice to be eaten for a good beginning of their warres protesting the like to be done with the berded men and with as many as came with them They had no sooner tolde their tale when there appeared behinde a little hill about a thousande Indians verye well appoynted after their fashion and came with suche a maruellous noyse and crye as though theyr voyces shoulde haue pearced the Heauens hurling at oure menne stones dartes and shotte wyth bowes and arrowes Cortes made many tokens of peace vnto them and by his interpreters desired them to leaue the battell But so much the more as he entreated for peace the more hastio and earnest were they thinkyng either to haue ouercomen them or else to holde them play to the enteÌ„t that the Spanyardes should haue solowed them to a certaine ambushe that was prepared for them of more then 80000. men whiche they had planted in a créeke of a riuer which abutted vpoÌ„ the high way Then our men began to cease from wordes and to lay hande vpon their weapons for that company of a thousande were as many as on our side were fighting men they were well practised in the
themselues yea and also if it chanced theÌ„ to finde in the night season any that were not of their company they slew them out of haÌ„d 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 froÌ„ thence standeth in the prouince of Chalco a towne that coÌ„tayneth 20000. householders The Lorde of that towns presented to Cortes fourtie women slaues and. 3000. Ducats in gold with meate abuÌ„dantly for two dayes and secretely made complaynt vnto him of Mutezuma And from thence he went to another towne foure leagues from theÌ„ce 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 purueyers 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 accoÌ„pany 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 that 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 theÌ„ like noble meÌ„ gaue vnto theÌ„ of his haberdashe departed from the towne with many graue personages who carried with theÌ„ a great trayne whiche filled vp the way well nigh as they should passe woÌ„dring 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 that the number of the 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 â—alsey 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 weÌ„t with them to that towne and from thence to Meâ—ico 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 Iztacpalapâ—n Euery two houres came messengers betwixte Cortes and Mutezuma then came Cuetlauac Lorde of that towne with the Lorde Culhuacan his hinsman 〈…〉 him who presented vnto him slaues gaâ—â—ments and feathers and to the value of foure thousande Ducates in golde Cuetlanac receyued al the Spaniards into his own house whiche hath very fayre sodâ—ings all of stone and Carpenters worke excéeding well wrought with 〈◊〉 lowâ— roumes with all kinde of seruice The chambers were hanged with cloth of Cotten very rich after their maner There were fayre gardeÌ„s 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 the pond as Gulles Mewes and such like Iztacpallapan is a towne of .10000 households is plaÌ„ted 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 horsemeÌ„ may passe on raÌ„ke 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 excédingly the lake There is great contractatioÌ„ 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 drawe bridges 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 coÌ„ming 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 salutatioÌ„s endured an houre more From the bulwark the calsey lieth directly and before the eutraunce into the streate there is an other drawebridge 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
the whiche there was one rounde temple dedicated to the God of the ayre called Quecalcouaâ—l for euen as the ayre goeth rounde about the heauens euen for that consideration they made his temple rounde The entraunce of that Temple had a dore made lyke vnto the mouth of a Serpent and was paynted with foule and Diuelish gestures with great teeth gummes wrought whiche was a thing to feare those that should enter in thereat especially the Christians vnto whom it represented very Hel with that ougly face and monsterous teeth There were other Teucalles in the citie that had the asâ—â—nding vp by steps in thrée places all these temples had houses by theÌ„selues with all seruice priests particular Gods. At euery dore of the great temple standeth a large Hall goodly lodgings both high and lowe round about which houses were coÌ„mon armories for the Citie for the force and strength of euery towne is the temple and therfore they haue there placed their store house of munition They had other darke houses full of idols greate small wrought of sundry mettals they are all bathed and washed with bloud and do shewe very blacke through theyr dayly sprinklyng and anoynting theÌ„ with the same when any man is sacrificed yea the walles are an inche thicke with bloud and the grounde is a foote thicke of bloud so that there is a diuelish stench The Priests or Ministers goeth dayly into those Oratories and suffer none others but great personages to enter in Yea and when any such goeth in they are bounde to offer some man to be sacrificed that those bloudy hangmen and ministers of the Diuell may washe their handes in bloud of those so sacrificed and to sprinkle their house therewith For their seruice in the kitchin they haue a ponde of water that is filled once a yéere which is brought by conduct from the pryncipal fountayne All the residue of the foresayde circuite serueth for places to breede foule with gardens of hearbes and swéete trees with Roses and floures for the Altars Such so great straunge was this temple of Mexico for the seruice of the Diuell who had deceiued those simple Indians There dothe reside in the same temple continually fiue thousand persons and all they are lodged and haue theyr liuing there for that teÌ„ple is maruellous riche hath diuers townes onely for their maintenaunce and reparation and are bounde to sustayne the same alwayes on foote They doe sowe corne and maintayne all those fiue thousande persons with bread fruyte flesh fishe and firewoodde as much as they néede for they spende more fire woodde than is spent in the kings courte these persons doe liue at their hartes ease as seruauntes and vassals vnto the Goddes Mutezuma brought Cortes to this temple bicause his men shoulde sée the same and to enforme them of his religion and holinesse wherof I will speake in an other place being the most straunge and cruellest that euer was harde off The Idols of Mexico THe Gods of Mexico were two thousand in number as the Indians reported the chiefest were Vitcilopuchtli and Tezcatlipuca whose images stoode highest in the Temple vppon the Altars they were made of stone in ful proportion as bigge as a Gyant They were couered with a lawne called Nacar These images were besette with pearles precious stones péeces of gold wrought like birds beasts fishes and floures adorned with Emeralds Turquies Calcedons and other little fine stones so that when the lawne Nacar was taken away the Images séemed very beautifull to beholde The Image had for a girdle great snakes of gold and for collors or chaynes about their neckes ten hartes of men made of golde and each of those Idolles had a counterfaite visor with eies of glasse and in their necks death painted eache of these things hadde their considerations and meanings These two Goddes were brethren for Tezcatlipuca was the God of Prouidence and Vitcilopuchtli God of the warres who was worshipped and feared more than all the rest There was another God who hadde a greate Image placed vppon the toppe of the Chappell of Idols and hée was estéemed for a speciall and singular God aboue all the rest This God was made of all kinde of séedes that groweth in that Countrey and being ground they made a certayne past tempered with childrens bloud and Virgins sacrifised who were opened with their razures in the breastes and their heartes taken out to offer as first fruites vnto the Idoll The Priestes and Ministers doe consecrate this Idoll with great pomp and many Ceremonies All the Comarcans and Citizens are presente at the consecration with great triumph and incredible deuotion After the consecration many deuoute persons came and sticked in the dowy Image precious stones wedges of golde and other Iewels After all this pomp ended no secular man mought touche that holye Image no nor yet come into his Chappell nay scarcely religious persons except they were Tlamacaztli who are Priestes of order They doe renue this Image many times wyth new dough taking away the olde but then blessed is hée that can get one péece of the olde ragges for relikes and chiefly for souldyers who thought themselues sure therwith in the warres Also at the consecration of thys Idoll a certayne vessell of water was blessed with manye wordes and ceremonyes and that water was preserued very religiously at the foote of the altar for to consecrate the King when he should be crowned and also to blesse any Captayne generall when he shoulde be elected for the warres with only giuing him a draught of that water The Charnell house or place of dead mens sculles for remembrance of death WIthout the temple and ouer againste the principall dore thereof a stones cast distant standeth the Charnell house onely of dead mens heads prisoners in warres and sacrifiâ—ed with the knife This monument was made like vnto a Theatre more larger than broade wrought of lyme and stone with ascending steppes in the walles whereof was graffed betwixt stone and stone a skul with the teeth outwards At the foote and head of this Theatre were two Towers made only of lime and skulles the téeth outwarde and this wall hauing no other stuffe séemed a straunge sight At and vppon the toppe of the Theatre were 70. polles standing the one from the other foure or fiue foote distant and eache of them was full of staues from the foote to the toppe Each of these staues had others made fast vnto them so that euery of them had fiue skulles brothed through the temples Andrewe de Tapia did certifie me that he and Gonsalo de Vmbria dyd recken them in one daye and founde a hundred thirtie and sixe thousande skulles on the polles staues and steppes The other Towers were replenished out of number a most cruell custome being only mens heads slaine in sacrifice although it hath a shewe of humanitie for the remembrance there placed of death There are also men
God yet we will not suffer them to enioy our trauayles paynes who are now comen white fingered to spoile the bloud of their neighbours yea like madde men to striue against their owne nation sowing slander among those Indians which serued vs as our friēds yée procuring more cruel warres than the ciuill warre betwene Mario Sila or of Cesar Pompeio who turned vpsidowne the Romaine Empire Wherfore I do determine to méete him by the way not to suffer him to come vnto Mexico for it is better to say God saue you than they to come say who is there yée though they are many a good hart doth breake euill fortune as it hath appered by vs who haue passed thorow the pikes since our cōming hither moreouer I doubte not but that many of Naruaez his cōpany will come vnto vs Therfore my déere friends doe I giue you aduise of my pretence to the entent the those which will goe with me let them prepare thēselues those that will not let them remaine to kéepe Mexico Mutezuma whiche is as much in effect At the end of his talke he promised great rewards if that with victory he returned His mē answered al with one voyce that they were al at his cōmandemēt ready to fulfil his wil yet some feared the pride blindnesse of Pamfilo de Naruaez on the otherside the Indians began to be lusty to sée dissention among the Spanyardes that the Indians of the coast were ioyned in league with the new come mē The requests of Cortez to Mutezuma AFter al his talk answer of his souldiers he wēt to visite to comune with Mutezuma for to departe on his iourney with somewhat the lesser care also to proue the minde wil of Mutezuma vnto whome he vttered his mind as foloweth Sir you know the loue the I haue desire to serue you chiefly the trust againe that you will haue to my cōpanions whē I am gone frō this citie Therfore I pray you that it may please you to remaine here in this lodgyng to haue regard vnto these strangers which I leaue with you also I cōmend vnto you the gold iewels whiche is in their custodie and gyuen vnto vs of your owne liberalitie For I doe now goe to signifie vnto those which of late are comen in the new fléete how your highnesse doth commaunde that I departe from this land and that they doe not agrauate or molest your subiectes nor yet presume to enter into your countrey but that they remayne on your coast vntill we be ready to departe with them according to your will and pleasure And if in the meane season any of your subiects be so vnaduised as to molest my men whiche now remayne in your power and Guarde that then it may please you to be their shielde succour and onely defence Mutezuma promised to fulfill his request wishing him moreouer that if any in his iourney shoulde offende him then immediatly to aduise him and that he would sende his men of warre to chasten thē yea and also if it pleased him he woulde giue vnto hym guydes to salfe conduct him through his owne dominion to the Sea coast who should prouide him of all necessaries by the way Cortes kissed his handes for his curtesie with moste hartie thankes for the same and gaue vnto him certayne Spanishe apparell and other glasen Iewels and also other like treasure to his Noble men which stoode by at all the talke But in effect he tolde him not what he pretended to doe nor yet the newes of Pamfilo de Naruaez his procedings was not come to his eare or else it may be that Mutezuma dissimuled the matter with inwarde pleasure that one Christian should kill the other thinkyng thereby to haue most sure his libertie and the Goddes pleased The imprisonment of Pamfilo de Naruaez COrtes was so wel beloued among hys companie that they offered willingly to goe with him by reason whereof he chose 250. men fitte for his iourney lefte other 200. in guarde of Mutezuma and the Citie with Pedro de Aluarado for their Captayne He lefte also with them the artillerie and foure Foystes readye made to haue the lake in subiection beséeching them onely to haue speciall regard that Mutezuma fled not from them to Naruaez and not to permitte him to goe out of their fort or strong house With those fewe Spanyards Cortes tooke his iourney with no more but oyght or nine Horsemen and certayne Indians for his seruice and carriage Passing through Chololla and Tlaxcallan he was honorably receyued and lodged and aboute fiftéene leagues from Zempoallan where Naruaez was abiding he mette with two Priestes and his old especial friend Andres de Duero who had lente him money for the setting for the of that voyage These thrée persons came to require him to obey the Generall lately come as Lieutenant to the Gouernour Velasques and to deliuer vnto him the Countrey with all the fortes or Castels therein aduising him that if he would not accomplish the same that then he woulde procéede againste him euen as an enemie and Rebell to the execution of death Likewise if he would fulfill the request made vnto him that then he shoulde haue libertie and conueniente shipping to depart both for him and as many as would goe with him Cortes aunswered that hée would rather suffer deathe than to leaue the Countrey whiche he had conquered and pacifyed with his handes and industrie without anye commaundemente from the Emperoure and quoth he if againste all equitie and iustice he will contend with me in warre I will defend me as well as I may and if I haue the victory as I trust in God and the righte that I haue on my side I shall not stand in néede of shipping and if I be slaine muche lesse Therefore I doe require him to shew vnto me his commission and authoritie had from the Emperour for vntil I doe both sée and reade the same I will accepte no agréemente and if quoth he that he refuse the same that then I dare warne admonish and require him to returne to Cuba the place from whence he came and if he wil not obey my precept I will then apprehende him and sende him prisoner in yrons to the Emperoure and with thys aunswere dispatched the thrée messengers sending also a notarie of his owne to commaund him to take his shipping and to departe without making any altercation in the Countrey or the ensuing of further morders and strife and if not that vppon Whitsonday whiche was within thrée dayes following he meante to be with him at supper Pamfilo de Naruaez made a mockery and iest at his commaundemente and tooke Prisoner the Notarie whiche came from Cortes with that order holding Cortes for madde who made so manye bragges with so small a company And before Iohn Velasques de Leon and Iohn de Rio Cortes his friendes he
with feare they retyred But yet they beganne to say well well shortely shall your fleshe be boyled although wée meane not to eate it for truely it is very carrayne and good for nothing But yet we will bestowe the same vpon the Eagles Lions Tigres and Snakes who shal be the graues for your filthy carcases But if forth with ye let not Mutezuma departe and restore him to his libertie yée shall quickly haue your rewarde for your presumption pride who durst be so bold as to lay hande on Mutezuma being our God and Lorde that giueth vs our dayly foode And yet yée with your filthy théeues handes presumed to touch him oh how dothe not the earth open swallow you which taketh other meÌ„s goodes But marke the end for our Gods whose religion you did profane will rewarde you according to your deserte if they do not shortly execute their wrath then let vs alone for we will out of hande make an ende of you And as for those théeues and villaines of Tlaxcallan your slaues shall not depart praysing their gaynes who nowe presume to take their maisters wiues ye and to demaund tribute of them vnto whome they themselues are tributors These such like were the wordes of the Mexicans But our men although they were in a maruelous feare yet they reprehended their folly as touchyng Mutezuma saying that Mutezuma was no God but a mortall maÌ„ as they were and no better and that their Gods were vayne idols and their religion most false and abhominable and that only our God was holy iuste true and infinite The great extremitie and daunger that our men were put in by the Mexicans IN hearyng the former talke in defense of the house and prouiding of things necessary the night passed away And in the mornyng to proue the Mexicans intent Cortes commaunded the market to be vsed as in time past Aluarado wished Cortes to shew himself toward him as agrieued not well pleased makyng as though he would apprehend correct him for the things passed thinking that Mutezuma and his men would haue entreated for him Cortes passed not for that talke saying that thâ—â— were infidels diuelish and wicked people with whome suche complementes shoulde not bée vsed But he commaunded a certaine principal Gentleman of Mexico who stoode there presente that out of hande he should commaunde the market to be furnished as in time past This Indian vnderstaÌ„ding that Cortes had spoken euil of them made as though he went to fulfill his commandement but he wente to proclayme libertie publishyng the heynous and iniurious wordes whiche he had harde so that in shorte space the matter beganne to ware hoate for some went and brake downe the bridges others went to call all the Citizens who ioyned themselues togither and besieged the Spaniardes house with suche straunge noyse that one coulde not heare another the stones flewe lyke hayle Dartes and arrowes filled the Spanyardes yarde which troubled them much Cortes seing this broyle he with certaine of his men went out at one dore and an other Captayne at another with eache of them twoo hundred men They fought with the Indians who slewe foure Spaniardes and wounded many moe and of them were slayne very fewe with their succor and defence at hande If our men fought with them in the streates then would they stoppe their passage at the bridges if they assaulted their houses then they were beaten with stones from the toppe of their houses whiche were flatte ruffed and at their retire they persecuted them terribly They sette fire vpon the Spaniardes house in sundry places but chiefly in one place they coulde not aplake the fire a great whyle vntill they threwe downe certayne chambers and walles whereas they had entered at pleasure had it not bene for the Artillerie Crossebowes and handgunnes whiche were there in defence of that place This combat endured all that day vntill night yea and in the night also they had their handes full our men had litle leasure to sleepe but ratheâ— spente the night in mendyng the walles and dores and curing the wounded men who were more than foure score likewise to set their men in order readinesse for the fight of the next day following It was no sooner day but the Indians beganne theyr assault a fresh with more courage and furie than the day before so that our men were fayne to trust to their artillery the whiche the Indians feared not a whitte for if a shotte carried ten fiftene or twentie Indians at a clappe they would close againe as though one man had not bene missyng Cortes came out with other twoo hundreth men and gate some bridges burned some houses and slew many that defended them But the Indians were so many in number that no hurte appeared yea and our men were so fewe in comparison of them that although they fought al the day yet had they much a doe to defend themselues how much more to offende That day neuer a Spaniarde was slayne outright but thrée score of them were wounded and hurte wherby they had inough to do to cure them for that night and to procure remedy and defence against the hurtes whiche they receyued from the house toppes They inuented Engines of timber made vpon whéeles and foure square couered on the toppe and with Arte to passe through the streates there were placed on eache of them twentie men with Pikes Hargabush Crossebowes and one double Base Behinde the Engines wente men with shouels and Mattockes to throwe downe houses bulworkes and to rule and gouerne the Engines The death of Mutezuma ALl the while that the Engines were a makyng our men came not out to fight beyng occupied in the worke but onely to defende their lodgyng The enimies thinkyng that they were all sore hurte and wounded beganne their warres agayne reuilyng them with many iniurious wordes threatnyng them that if they woulde not deliuer Mutezuma that they woulde giue them the moste cruellest death that euer man suffered and came with great force to haue entred the house Cortes desired Mutezuma to goe vp into the sotie which is the toppe of the flatte roufe of the house and to commaunde his subiects to ceasse from their heate and furie At Cortes his request he wente vp and leaned ouer the wall to talke with them who beginnyng to speake vnto them they threw so many stones out of the streate houses and windowes that one happened to hitte Mutezuma on the temples of his head with whiche blowe he fell downe to the ground this was his ende euen at the handes of his owne subiectes and vassalles agaynst theyr willes for the truth is that a Spaniarde helde a Target ouer his head wherby they knew him not nor yet would beléeue that he was there for all the signes and tokens whiche were made vnto them Cortes forthwith published the hurte and daunger of life of Mutezuma some gaue credite to his tale and othersome woulde not but rather
treasure and lordshippe so greate a Citie and Kingdome but also to bewayle the sorrowfull estate that he himselfe stoode in seyng the moste of his men wounded hurte and knowyng not whyther to goe for that he was not certayne of the helpe and friendship of Tlaxcaltecas Yea and what harde hart woulde not haue relented to behold the dead bodies who a litle before had entred that same way with suche magnificall triumphe pompe and pleasure But yet hauing care of those whom he had lefte on the firme lande he made haste to Tlacopan This sorowfull night which was the tenth of Iuly in An. 1520. were slaine aboute 450. Spaniardes 4000. Indian friends and. 46. horse yea as I iudge all the prisoners which were in his company If this mishap had fortuned in the day time possible so many and so great a nūber had not perished But where it fortuned by night the noyse of the wounded was sorrowful of the victors horrible and feareful The Indians cried victory calling vpon their diuelish and filthy Goddes with ioy pleasure our men being ouercome cursed their vnfortunate lot yea the hower and he that brought them thither others cried vnto God for succour others sayd helpe help for I stande in daūger of drowning I know not certenly whether moe perished in the water or the lande hopyng to saue themselues by swimming and leapyng ouer the sluces and broken places for they say that a Spaniarde was no sooner in the water but an Indian was vppon his backe They haue great dexteritie skill in swimming so that catching any Spaniarde in the water they would take him by the one arme and carrie him whither they pleased yea would vnpanch him in the water If these Indians had not occupied themselues in taking the spoyle of those that were fallen and slaine certenly one Christian had not escaped that day but in fine the greatest number of Spaniardes that were killed were those that went moste laden with golde plate and other iewels those whiche escaped were they that carried least burdens the first that with noble courage made way to passe through the troupe of Indians Nowe wée may safely say that the couetous desire of gold wherof they had plenty was cause of their death and they may answere that they died riche After that those whiche had escaped were paste the calsey the Indians stayed and followed them no further eyther for that they contented themselues with that whiche they had done or else they durst not fight in open fielde But principally it is thought that they abode to mourne and lament for the death of Mutezuma his chyldren not knowing till then their sorrowfull ende But nowe seyng the thyng present before their eyes they wrang theyr hands and made a pitifull dole and crie and the rather bycause they themselues had slayne them against their willes The battayle of Otumpan a notable victory THe Inhabitants of Tlacopan knewe not how our men came spoyled hurie and ouer throwen and againe our men stoode in a maze and knew not what to doe nor whither to goe Cortes came vnto them cēforted them placed them in order before him requyring them to make hast vntill they might come into the broadefield before such tyme as the men of Tlacopan should heare of the newes passed so to arme thēselues and to ioyne with fourtie thousande Mexicans who after the mournyng for their friends came marchyng after them He placed in the vantgard the Indians his friēds and passed through certayne tilled grounde and continually fought as they went vntill they came to a high hill where was a tower and a Temple whiche is called our Lady churche at this day The Indians slewe some of the Spaniardes whiche came in the reregard and many of their Indian friends before they could get vp to the toppe of the hill They loste muche of the golde that had remayned and with greate hazarde escaped through the multitude of Indians with life their horses whiche remayned aliue were foure and twentie who were tyred both with trauell and hunger the Spaniardes their maisters with the residue coulde scarsely stirre hande or foote with wearinesse of fightyng and penurie of hunger for al that day and night they ceassed not from fight eating nothing at all In this Temple were reasonable lodgings where they fortified themselues as well as they myght and dranke one to an other but theyr supper was very slēder After their simple feast was ended they went and beheld an infinite number of Indians whiche had beset them almost round about makyng a maruellous shoute and crie knowyng that they were without victuals whiche onely is a warre worser than to fight with the enimie They made many fires with the woodde of sacrifice rounde about the tower and Temple with this pollicie at midnight departed secretely It happened that they had Tlaxcalteca to be their guide who knew well the way assucing to bring them into the iurisdiction of Tlaxcallan with this guide they began to iourney Cortes placed his wounded men and fardage in the middest of his company the souldiours that were whole and in health he deuided into the vantgarde reregarde he could not passe so secretly but that they were espied by the Indian scoute whiche was neare at hand who gaue aduise therof incōtinent Fiue horsemē which went before to discouer fell among certayne cōpanies of Indians which attended their cōming to robbe thē seing the horsemen they suspected that the whole army was at hand wher vpon they fled but yet seing them few in number stāde and ioyned with the other Mexicans that followed pursued our men thrée leagues vntil they came to a hill where was an other temple with a good tower lodgyng where they lodged that night without supper They departed in the mornyng from thence and wente through a cragged naughty way to a great towne the enhabitantes whereof were fledde for feare so that they abode there two daies to rest thēselues to cure their mē horses also they somewhat eased their hūgery stomakes and carried frō thence prouision although not muche for they had none to carrie it And being departed frō thence many enimies pursued them persecuted them very sore Likewise the guide erred out of his way at lēgth came to a little village of few houses where they reposed the night In the morning they procéeded vpon their way and the enimies still pursuyng and troubled them sore all the day Cortes was woūded with the stripe of a sling and therewith was in greate daunger of life for his head so rancbled that of necessitie they were forced to take out certaine péeces of his skull whervpon he was driuen to séeke a solitarie place in the wildernesse to cure him and in goyng thitherwardes the enimies wounded fiue Spaniardes and foure horses whereof one died and that was eaten among them for a sumptuous supper and yet
the host vnto whom in general he spake as followeth The exhortation of Cortez to his Souldiers MY louyng brethren I gyue moste hartie thankes vnto Iesu Christ to sée you now whole of your woundes and frée from diseases likewise I muche reioyce to sée you in good order trimly armed yea and with suche desire to sette agayne vpon Mexico to reuenge the death of our fellowes and to winne that greate Citie the whiche I truste in God shal be brought to passe in shorte time hauing the friendship of Tlaxcallan and other prouinces who haue as great desire to sée the ouerthrowe of the Mexicans as we our selues for therein they gette both honour libertie safegarde of life Also it is to be considered that if the victory should not be ours they poore soules should be destroyed and remaine in perpetuall captiuitie Also the Culhuacans do abhorre them worse than vs for receyuing vs into their houses and countrey therefore sure I am that they will sticke vnto vs vnfaynedly I muste néedes confesse their vnfayned friendship for presente workes doe testifie the same They will not onely be a meane to bryng others their neyghbours to our seruice but also haue now in readinesse .100000 mē of warre to sende with vs besides a great nūber of Tamemez or carriers to carrie al our prouision Ye also are now the same which alwaies heretofore ye haue bene for I as witnesse beyng your captayne haue had the victory of many battayles fighting with a .100 yea 200000. enimies we got also by strength of arme many strōg cities yea brought in subiection many prouinces not beyng so many in number as we are nowe for when we came firste into this countrey we were not so many as now presently we are Agayne in Mexico they feare our cōming it should also be a blot vnto our honour that Quahutimoc should inherite the kingdome that cost our friēd Mutezuma his life Likewise I esteme al that we haue done is nothing if we winne not Mexico our victories shoulde also be sorowfull if we reuenge not the death of our déere fellowes The chiefe and principall cause of our cōming into this countrey was to set forth the faith of Iesu Christ therwithal doth folow honour profite which seldome times do dwell togither In those fewe dayes that we were in Mexico we put downe the idols we caused sacrifice and eatyng of mans fleshe to bée layde aside and also in those dayes wée beganne to conuerte some to the fayth It is not therefore nowe reason to leaue of so laudable an enterpryse so well begonne Lette vs now goe whither holy fayth doth call vs and where the sinnes of our enimies deserueth so great a punishment and if yée well remember the Citizens of that citie were not cōtent to murder such an infinite number of men women children before the idols in their filthy sacrifice for honour of their Diuelishe Goddes but also to eate their fleshe a thyng inhumayne and much abhorred of God and al good men doth procure and especially Christians to defende and punishe suche odious customes Besides all this they committe that horrible sinne for the whiche the fiue cities with Sodom were burned by fire from heauen Why then what greater occasion should any man wishe for in earth than to abolish such wickednesse and to plant among these bloudy tirants the fayth of Iesu Christ publishing his holy gospel Therfore now with ioyfull hartes lette vs procéede to serue God honour our nation to enlarge our Princes dominions and to enriche our selues with the goodly pray of Mexico to morrow God willyng we will beginne the same All his men answeared with chéerefull countenaunce that they were ready to departe when it pleased him promising their faithful seruice vnto him It should séeme the rather with the desire of that pleasure and greate treasure whiche they had eyght moneths enioyed before Cortes commaunded to proclayme throughout his army certaine ordinaunces of warre for the good gouernement of his hoste whiche he had written among others and were these that followeth That none should blaspheme the holy name of Iesus That no Souldier should fight with his fellowe That none shoulde play at any game his horse nor armour That none should force any woman That none should robbe or take any Indian captiue without his speciall licence and counsellers That none should wrōg or iniurie any Indian their friēds he also taxed yron worke and apparell for cause of the excessiue prices that they were there solde for The exhortation made by Cortez to the Indians of Tlaxcallan THe nexte daye following Cortes called before him all the Lordes Captaynes and principall persons of Tlaxcallan Huexocinco Chololla Chalco and of other townes who were there presente at that time saying as followeth My Lords and friendes you know the iourney which I haue nowe in hande to morrowe God willing I will departe to the warre and siege of Mexico and enter into the land of youre enimies and mine And the thing that now I do require and also pray is that you remayne faithfull and constant in your promise made as hithervnto you haue done and so I trust you will continue And bycause I can not bring so soone my purpose to passe according to youre desire and mine without the Vergantines which are now a making and to be placed in the lake of Mexico therefore I praye you to fauoure these workemen whiche I leaue héere with suche loue and friendship as héeretofore you haue done and to giue them all things necessary for their prouision and I do faithfully promise to take away the yoke of bondage which the inhabitantes of Culhua haue layde vpon you and also will obteyne of the Emperoure great libertie and priviledges for you All the Indians shewed countenance of obedience and the chiefest Gentlemen aunswered in few words saying we will not onely fulfyll youre request but also when your vessels are finished we will bring them to Mexico and we all in generall will goe with you and truly serue you in your warres Hovv Cortez tooke Tezcuco COrtez departed from Tlaxcallan wyth hys Souldyers in good order whyche was a goodly sight to beholde for at that time he had eyghtie thousand men in his host and the most of them armed after their manner which made a gallant shew but Cortes for diuers causes would not haue them all with him vntill the Vergantines were finished and Mexico beséeged searing wante of vittayle for so greate an armye yet notwithstanding hée tooke twentie thousand of them besides the Carriers and that night came to Tezmoluca which stādeth sixe leagues from Tlaxcallan and is a Village apperteyning to Huexocinco where he was by the principall of the Towne wel receyued The next day he iourneyed foure leagues into the territorie of Mexico and there was lodged on the 〈◊〉 of a hill where many had perished with colde had it not bin for the store of woodde which they found there In the
morning he ascended vpwarâ—â— on this hill and sente hys scoute of foure footemen and foure horsemen to discouer who found the way stopped wish great trées newly cutte downe and placed crossâ—wise in the way but they thynking that yet for war 〈◊〉 was not so procéeded forthe as well as they â—â—ght liâ— at length the let with great hugiâ— trées was such that they could passe no further and with this neweâ— were forced to returne certifying Cortes that the Horsemenne coulde not passe that way in any wyse Cortes demaunded of them whether they hadde séene anye people they aunswered 〈◊〉 wherevppon he procéeded forwarde with all the Marsenâ—◠〈…〉 thousande footemen commaundyng all the residue of hys armye to followe hym wyth as muche 〈…〉 myghte hée so that wyth that companye whyche he carried with him he made waye takyng away the trées that were cutte downe to disturbe his passage and in this order in short time passed his host without any hurt or daunger but with great payne and trauell for certaynely if the enimies had bin there to defende that passage oure menne hadde not passed for it was a verye euill way and the enimies also thoughte the same to be sure with the trées whiche were crossed the way wherevppon they were carelesse of that place and attended their comming in playne grounde for from Tlaxcallan to Mexico are thrée wayes of the whiche Cortes chose the worst ymagining the thing that afterwards fell out or else some hadde aduised him howe that way was cléere from the enimies And béeing past this crooked passage they espyed the lake of Mexico and gaue vnto God moste hartie thankes for the same and there made a solemne vowe and promise not to returne vntill they had wonne Mexico or lost their liues They abode there and rested themselues till all the whole armyâ— were come togither to descende downe into the playne for nowe they myghte descrye the fires and beacons of theyr enimies in sundrye places and all those whyche hadde attended theyr commyng by the other two wayes were now gathered togyther thynkyng to sette vppon them betwixte certayne bridges where a greate company aboade exspecting theyr commyng but Cortes sente twenty Horsemen who made way among them and then followed the whole armye who slewe manye of them wythoute receyuyng anye hurte And in thys order they came to Quahutipec whiche is of the iurisdiction of Tezcuco where they abode that nyghte and in that place founde neyther manne nor Woman but not farre off was pytched the Caâ—â—e of the Indians of Culhua which myght be néere a hundred thousand men of warre who were sent by the Seniors of Mexico and Tezcuco to encounter oure armye in consideration whereof Cortes kept good watch with tenne Horsemen and all his Souldyers were warned to be in readynesse at a call if néede should happen The next day in the morning he departed from thence towarde Tezcuco whiche standeth thrée leagues distante and procéeding on their iourney foure principal persons inhabitantes of Tezcuco mette with them bearing a rod of golde with a little flagge in token of peace saying that Coacuacoyozin their Lord had sent them to desire him not to make any spoyle in his Countrey and likewise to offer his friendship praying also that it might please him with his whole army to take his lodging in the Towne of Tezcuco where he shoulde be well receyued Cortes reioyced with this message although he suspected that it was a fayned matter but one of them he knewe verye well whome he saluted saying My comming is not to offend any but rather to do you good I will also receyue and hold your Lord for a friende with condition that hée doe make vnto me restitution of the treasure whyche hée tooke from fiue and fortie Spanyards and thrée hundred Tlaxcaltecas all the which were by his commaundemente also slayne of late dayes They aunswered that Mutezuma caused them to be murthered who had likewise taken the spoyle and that the Citizens of Tezcuco were not culpable in that fact and with this aunswere they returned Cortes went forward on his way and came to Quahutichan and Huaxuta which are suburbes of Tezcuco where he and all his host were plentedâ—â—â—y prouided of al things necessary and threw downe the Idolles This done hée entred into the Citie where his lodging was prepared in a great house sufficient for him and all the Spanyardes with many other the Indian friends And bycause that at his first entry he sawe neyther women nor children hee suspected some treason and forthwith proclaymed vpon payne of death that none of his men should go out The Spaniards began to triumph in their lodgings and chaÌ„bers placing euery thing in good order In the euening they went vp into the Zâ—â—ies and galleries to beholde the Citie which is as bigge as Mexico and there they sawe the greate number of Citizens that fledde from thence with their stuffe some towardes the mountaines and others to the water side to take boate a thing straunge to sée the great hast and stirre to prouide for themselues at the least ther were twentie thousand litle boates called Conoas occupyed in carying houshold stuffe and passengers Cortes would fayne haue remedied it but that night was so nygh at hand that he coulde not He would gladly also haue apprehended the Lord but he was one of the first that fledde vnto Mexico Cortes caused many of the Citizens to be called before him and hauing in hys company a yong gentleman of a noble house in that couÌ„trey who was also last christened had to name HernaÌ„do Cortes being his godfather who loued him well sayde vnto the citizens that this new Christian lord Don HernaÌ„do was sonne vnto Nezaualpincintli their louing Lord wherfore he required them to make him their king considering that Goacnacoyocin was fled vnto the enimies laying also before them his wicked fact in killing of Cacuza his own brother only to put him from his inheritance kingdome through the enticemente of Quahutimoccin a mortal enimie to the Spaniards In this sort was Don Hernando elected king and the fame therof being blowen abroade manye citizens repayred home againe to visite their newe Prince so that in short space the citie was as wel replenished with people as it was before and being also well vsed at the Spaniardes handes they serued them dilygentlye in all thyngs that they were commaunded And Don Hernando aboade euer after a faithfull friende vnto the Spaniardes and in short tyme learned the Spanishe tongue and soone after came the inhabitants of Quahutichan Huaxuta and Auntenco to submytte them selues crauing pardon if in any thyng they had offended Cortez pardoned them and gaue them licence to departe home vnto their houses Quahutimoc Coacnacoijo and other magistrates of Culhua sente to rayle vppon those townes for yéeldyng themselues to the Christians but they layde hold vpon the messengers and brought them vnto Cortes of whome he enformed himselfe of the state of Mexico and
abode in certaine great houses in the Market place They foughte that day in many places of the Citie and at the retire one shot of a handgun whiche was the token that those which lay in ambushe should come forth The enimies folowed our men that séemed to flée with maruellous greate courage But they were not so soone passed the snare when Cortes came forth with his thirtie horsemen saying vpon them vpon them By this onely meane were sâ—â—ine aboue fiue hundred Mexicans besides the prisoners Our Indian friends had a good supper that nyght with mans fleshe whiche as yet they would not be perswaded to leaue Certaine Spaniards went vppe into a Tower of Idols and there opened a sepulchre where they found fiue hundred Castlins in golde With this ouerthrowe the Mexicans remayned in suche feare that all their threaâ—nings and triumphes were turned into mourning and euer after wheÌ„ they saw our men retire they would not folow them fearing the like danger so that this was a meane the sooner to win Mexico The hunger and infirmitie vvhich the Mexicans suffered with greate courage TWo poore soules who were vexed wyth hunger came in the nighte season out of the citie vnto Cortes his Camp who certifyed how the Citizens were in greate necessitie and so manye dead with hunger and sicknesse that there were heapes of dead bodyes in the houses only to kéepe close their extreame miserie and said also that in the night season manye came out to fishe betwéene the houses with feare of the Vergantines and others came out to séeke for wodde hearbes and rootes to eate Cortes hearing these newes determined to knowe the troth thereof so that the nexte night he commaunded the Vergantines to goe round about the Citie and he himselfe with fiftéene Horsemen a hundred footemen and manye Indian friends placed themselues betwixte certaine houses with order to his espyes to aduertise him what they shoulde sée It was no sooner day but manye poore folke came out to séeke for foode and when Cortes had intelligence thereof he made a greate slaughter among them whereas at that time of vnarmed men women and chyldren were slayne to the number of eyght hundred and she Vergantines on their side made another spoyle The pitiful noise being heard into the Citie the Citizens were astonyed and knew not what to doe fearing the like ambushe that they had séene and â—ealt the day before also wondered that at such an houre not accustomed the Spanyardes were so nigh The next day following béeing S. Iames his euen Cortes entred againe into the Citie according as he had done before and wanne the stréete of Tlacopan where he burned the riche and faire houses of king Quahutimoc whiche were motted round aboute so that nowe of foure partes of the citie thrée partes were wonne and the Spaniardes might safely passe from Cortes his campe to the campe of Aluarado by reason that all the houses were burned and beaten downe playne with the grounde But yet the poore Mexicans would say to the Indians of Tlaxcallan goe to go to make hast burne and destroy these houses for time will come that yée shall buylde them againe at your owne coste For if we haue victory then shall ye buylde them for vs and if we be ouercome then shall yée buylde them for these straungers Within foure dayes after Cortes entred the citie againe and also Aluarado on his side who to shewe hys haultie stomacke laboured all that was possible to gette two towers of the temple of Tlatelulco the whiche at the length he wan although he loste thrée horses in the coÌ„bat The next day followyng the horsemen walked vp and downe in the greate market place at pleasure the poore Mexicans beholding that sorrowful sight froÌ„ their houses And as the Spaniardes wente walking in the cittie they founde heapes of dead bodies in the houses streates and in the water they found also the barke of trées and rootes gnawen by the hungry creatures and the men so leane and yellow that it was a pitifull sighte to beholde Cortes yet agayne required them to yéelde and they although they were so leane of body were strong in harte and answered that he should not speake of any friendshippe nor yet hope of their spoyle for when no fortune would fauour them then they woulde eyther burne their treasure or throwe it into the lake where they should neuer profite therby and that they would fight while one alone shoulde remayne aliue At Cortes his nexte entry into the citie he founde the streates full of women children olde folke and many miserable sicke persons whiche were perishyng for want of foode Cortes commaunded that none of his army should doe any hurâ—e vnto such miserable creatures The principall folke who were whole and sounde they stoode in their zoties or house toppes without weapon and clothed in maÌ„tels It was thought that they kepte a certaine holy day peace was againe offered but they answered with dissimulation The next day followyng Cortes required Aluarado on his side to combat a streat of .1000 houses that was not yet won and that he would doe the like on the otherside for a little space the Citizens defended theÌ„selues but their defence endured not but were driuen to flie being not able to resiste the force of theyr contraries So that the Spanishe army wan also that streate and slewe 12000. Cittizens the murder was so great bicause the Indian friends would shewe no mercie or compassion vpon them although they were required to the coÌ„trary So that now the Mexicans hauing lost this streate also the houses that were not beateÌ„ downe could scarcely hold the people that were aliue the streates also being so full of dead carcasses and sicke bodies that our men coulde not passe but must néedes treade vpon them Cortes desirous to sée what remayned of the cittie to win went vp into a high tower and hauyng well vewed the Cittie he iudged that of eight parts one remained yet to win And the next day following he assaulted the same with speciall coÌ„maundement giuen to his army not to kil any but only such as should resist The sorrowful Citizens bewayling their vnfortunate fate destinie besought the Spaniards to make an ende and to kill them all out of hande Then certayne of the horsemen called Cortes in great hast who went vnto them incontinent hopyng of some agrement of peace and standing at the brymme of the water neare vnto a drawe bridge the Mexicans sayde oh captayne Cortes consideryng that thou art the childe of the Sunne why doest thou not entreate the Sunne thy father to make an ende of vs oh thou Sunne that canst goe rounde about the worlde in a day and a night we pray thée make an end of vs and take vs out of this miserable lyfe for we desire death to go and rest with our God Quetcauatlh who tarieth for vs After these speaches they made a lamentable crie callyng
vpon their Goddes with loude voyces Cortes answered what he thought good but yet could not perswade them to yéelde truely it was a pitefull sight to beholde The imprisonment of Quahutemoc COrtes seing the great extremitie that these poore wretched people were in thinkyng nowe that they woulde yéelde vnto him therevppon hée spake to an vncle of Don Hernando de Tezcuco who was taken prisoner thrée dayes before whom he desired to go to the king treate of peace this Gentleman refused the message knowyng the determinate will of Quahutimoc but through muche entreatie he graunted to his request So the next day followyng Cortes entred into the Cittie sent that Gentleman certaine Spaniardes before him The Indian guarde of that streate receyued him with the honour which vnto such a noble man did appertayne He procéeded forward toward the king being come where he was he declared vnto him his embassage When Quahutimoc had hearde his tale he was so moued with yre choller that forthwith he commauÌ„ded him to be sacrificed and gaue the Spaniardes for theyr answere blowes with stones staues and arrowes saying also that they desired death and no peace and sought so stoutly that day that they slewe many of our menne and one horse Lykewise on their side many were slayne The nexte day Cortes entred the cittie agayne but he fought not hoping then that they woulde submitte themselues but yet the Citizens had no such thought He came néere vnto a certayne bulwarke on horsebacke and spake vnto certaine Gentlemen with whome he was acquaynted saying that now within a shorte space he could make an ende of their finall destruction but yet of meare compassion he wished it not for the loue whiche he bare vnto them so that they would in time reÌ„der themselues wherfore quoth he entreate yée the king to doe the same and in so doyng ye shal be well vsed and haue victuals sufficient The GeÌ„tlemen hearing these wordes fell on weping and answered that now they knew well their errour and felte their losse and destruction notwithstaÌ„ding they were bounde to obey their king and Goddes But yet quoth they abide a while and we will certifie Quahutimoc what you haue sayde and in shorte space they went and returned againe saying that the next day without fayle their Lord woulde come and talke with him in the markette place With this answere Cortes returned to his campe and thought at their méeting to conclude an honorable peace So against the next day he caused a Canapie and chayre of estate to be sette in the markette place accordyng to the Mexican vse and also a dinner to be prepared The day followyng came Cortes at the houre appoynted with many of his men armed but the king came not neuerthelesse he sente fiue noble men to treate of the matter excusing the kyng saying he was not well at ease Cortes welcomed those Gentlemen and was gladde of their coÌ„ming hoping thereby to conclude and make some good ende And when they had dined and well refresshed their hungry bodies Cortes gaue them victuals and desired them to returne agayne to the King and to declare vnto him that without his presence the conclusion coulde not be certayne They wente and returned againe within twoo houres and brought vnto Cortes certaine mantels made of cotten woll very good well wrought with answere that the king would not come in any wise both for shame and feare And the next day these messengers came agayn saying that the king would come to the place appointed But yet he came not although Cortes attended his commyng more than foure houres who seing the mockerie he forthwith sente Sandoual with his Vergantines one way and he himself went an other combatting the houses fortes that yet remayned where he founde small resistaunce so that he might doe what he pleased There was that day slayne and taken prysoners aboue .40000 persons then he retired to his campe The lamentable crie and mourning of the women and children woulde haue made a stony hart relent the stench also of the dead bodies was woÌ„derfull noysome That night Cortes purposed to make an end the next day of the warres and Quahutimoc pretended to flie and for that purpose had enbarked hymselfe in a Canoa of tweÌ„tie ores When the day appeared Cortes with his men and foure péeces of ordinance came to the corner where those that yet remayned were shut vp as cattell in a pounde He gaue order to Sandoual and Aluarado what they shold do which was to be ready with their VergaÌ„tines and to watche the comyng out of the Canoas whiche were hidden betwixte certayne houses and especially to haue regard vnto the kings person and not to hurte him but to take him a liue He commaunded the residue of hys men to force the Mexican boates to goe out and he himselfe wente vp into a tower inquiryng for the King and there founde Xihuacâ—a gouernour and Captayne generall of the Cittie who woulde in no wise yéelde himselfe Then came out of the Cittie a greate multitude of olde folkes men women and childreÌ„ to take boate The throng was so great with hast to enter the Canoas that many by that means were drowned in the lake Cortes required his meÌ„ not to kil those miserable creatures But yet he could not stay the Indians his friends who slewe and sacrificed aboue fiftene thousand After this there was a great rumour among the coÌ„mon people that the king would flie making a piteous mone and saying that they sorowfull creatures knew not whither to goe But yet procuryng to goe into the Conoas whiche were so full that there was no roume for theÌ„ by reason thereof many were drowned The men of warre stoode in the house toppes and zoties beholding their perdition All the nobilitie of Mexico were enbarked with the kyng Then Cortes gaue signe with the shotte of a handgunne that his captaines should be in a readinesse so that in shorte space they wanne fully and wholy the great Cittie of Mexico The Vergantines likewise brake in among the fléete of boates without any resistaunce and euery one sought where hâ— might beste succour himselfe the Royall Standarte was beaten downe Garcia Holguin who was captayne of a Vergantine had espied a great Canoa of .xx. ores déepe laden with men And one of his prysoners sayde vnto him that the king wente in that greate Canoa Holguin beyng gladde of the newes gaue chase to that Canoa and ouertooke him In his foreship he had thrée crossebowe men And when Quahutimoc who stoode on the puppe of the Canoa ready to fighte sawe those bowes ready bente and many drawen swordes he yéelded himselfe declaryng that he was the king Garcia Holguin being a gladde man of his prysoner tooke and carried him vnto Cortes who receiued him reuerently When Quahutimoc came neare vnto him he layde his hande vpon Cortes his dagger saying I haue done all my possibility to defende me and mine accordyng to my
Coautli An Egle Cozcaquahutl A Bussard Olin A Temple Tepatlh A Knife Quiauitl Rayne Xuchirl A Rose Althoughe these twentie names ferue for the whole yere and are but the dayes of euery moneth yet therfore euery moneth beginneth not with Cipactli which is the first name but as they followe in order and the fiue odde dayes is the cause thereof And also bycause theyr wéeke is of thirtéene dayes which changeth the names as by example Cecipactli can go no further thā vnto Matlactlomeiacatl which is thirtéene and then beginneth an other wéeke and we do not say Matlactlinaui Ocelotl whiche is the fourtéenth day but we say Ceocelotl whiche is one and then recken the other sixe names vnto twenty And when al the twentie dayes are ended begin againe to recken from the first name of the twentie but not frō one but from viij And bicause ye may better vnderstand the matter here is the example Cecipactli Omehecatl Ei Calli. Naui Cuezpali Macuilcouatl Chicoacen Mizquinth Chicome Macatl Chicuei Tochtli Chiconauiatl Matlaciz Cuintli Mailactlioce Ocumatli Matlactliome Malinalli Matlactlomei Acatlh The next wéeke following doth begin his dayes from one And that one is the fouretéenth name of the moneth and of the dayes and saith Ceocelotl Macuil Tecpatl Omecoautli Chicoacen Quiauitl Eicozcaquahutli Chicome Xuchitl Naui Olui Chicoei Cipactti In this second wéeke Cipactli came to fal on the eighte day being in the first wéeke the first day Cemacatl Ometochtli Eiatl Nauiizeuintli Macuil Ocumatli And so proceede on to the thirde wéeke in the which this name Cipactli entreth not but Macatl which was the seuenth day in the first wéeke had no place in the second and is the first in the third This reconing is no darker than ours which we haue in a.b.c.d.e.f.g. For they also change with time and runne in such sort that a. whiche was the firste letter of this moneth commeth to be the fift daye of the nexte moneth and the thirde moneth he counteth to be the third day and so orderly doth the other sixe letters The accounting of yeares THese Mexicans had another order to recken theyr yeares which exceded not aboue foure in number as one two thrée foure wherewith they accounte a hundred fiue hundred a thousand and as many moe as they lust Those foure figures or names are Tochtli Acatlh Tecpatlh Calli and do signifye a Conny a Caue a Knife and a House saying Ce Totchtli One yeare Ome Acatlh Two yeares Ei Tecpatlh Thrée yeares Naui Calli Foure yeares Macuil Tochtli Fiue yeares Cicoacen Acatlh Sixe yeares Cicome Tecpatlh Seauen yeares Chicuei Calh Eight yeares Chiconaui Tochtli Nine yeares Matlactli Acatlh Tenne yeares Matlactlioce Tecpatlh Eleuen yeares Matlactliome Calli Twelue yeares Matlactliomei Tochtli Thirtéene yeares So that the reconing passeth not aboue thirtéeue whiche is one wéeke of the yeare and endeth where he began Another Weeke Ce A catlh One yeare Ome Tlepatlh Two yeares Ei Calli Thrée yeares Naui-Tochtli Foure yeares Macuil Acatlh Fiue yeares Chicoacen Tecpatlh Sixe yeares Chicome Calli Seuen yeares Chicuei Tochtli Eight yeares Chiconaui Acatlh Nine yeares Matlactli Tecpatlh Tenne yeares Matlactlioce Calli Eleuen yeares Matlactliome Tochtli Twelue yeares Matlactliomei Acatlh Thirtéene yeares The third vveeke of yeares Ce Tecpatlh One yeare Ome Calli Two yeres Ei Tochtli Thrée yeres Naui Acatlh Foure yeres Macuil Tecpatlh Fiue yeres Chicoacan Calli Sixe yeares Chicome Tochtli Seauen yeares Chicuei Acatlh Eight yeares Chiconaui Tecpatlh Nine yeares Matlactli Calli Tenne yeares Matlactliome Tochtli Eleuen yeares Matlactliome Acatlh Twelue yeares Matlactliomei Tecpatlh Thirtéene yeares The fourth Weeke Ce Calli One yeare Ome Tochtli Two yeares Ei Acatlh Thrée yeares Naui Tecpatlh Foure yeares Macuil Calli Fiue yeares Chicoacen Tochtli Sixe yeares Chicome Acatlh Seauen yeares Chicuei Tecpatlh Eight yeares Chiconaui Calli Nine yeares Matlactli Tochtli Tenne yeares Matlactlioce Acatlh Eleuen yeares Matlactliome Tecpatlh Twelue yeares Matlactliomei Calli Thirtéene yeares Ech of these wéekes which our men cal Indition doth conteyne thirtéene yeares so that all the foure wéekes make two and fiftie yeares which is a perfit number in the reconing and is called the yeare of grace for from fiftie two yeres to fiftie two yeares they vsed to make solemne feastes with strange Ceremonies as hereafter shall be declared And when fiftie two yeares are ended then they beginne againe by the same order before declared vntil they come to as many moe beginning at Ce Tochtli and so forwarde But alwayes they begin at the Conny figure So that in the forme of reconing they kepe haue inmemorye things of 850. yeares and by this Cronicle they know in what yere euerye thing hapned and how long euery King raygned howe many children they had and all things else that importerd to the estate of the gouernement of the lande The Indians beleeued that fiue ages were past which they called Sunnes THe Indians of Cullua did beléeue that the Gods had made the world but they knew not how yet they beléeued that since the creation of the world four Sunnes were past and that the fift and last is the Sunne that now giueth light to the world They helde opinion that the firste Sunne perished by water and at the same time all liuing creatures perished likewise The second Sunne say they sell from the heauēs with whose fall all liuing creatures were slayne and then said they were manye Giantes in that Countrey and certayne monstrous bones which our men found in opening of graues by proportion whereof some shoulde séeme to be men of twenty spannes high The third Sunne was consumed by fire whiche burned day and night so that then all liuing crealures were burned The fourth Sunne finished by tempest of ayre or winde which blew downe houses trées yea and the mountaynes and Rockes were blowē asunder but the lignage of mankinde perished not sauing that they were conuerted into Apes And touching the fift Sunne which now raigneth they know not how it shall consume But they say that when the fourth Sunne perished all the worlde fell into darkenesse and so remained for the space of fiue and twenty yeares continually and at the fiftenth yeare of that fearefull darkenesse the Gods did forme one man and a woman who brought forth children and at the end of the other tenne yeares appeared the Sunne whiche was newly borne vppon the figure of the Conny day and therfore they begin their account of yéeres at the day reckoning from the yeare of oure Lorde 1552 their age or Sunne is 858. so that it appeareth that they haue vsed many yeares their writing in figures and they had not onely this vse from Cetochtli whiche is the beginning of their yeare moneth and day of their fifth Sunne but also they hadde the same order and vse in the other foure Sunnes which were past but they let many things slippe out of memorie saying that with the newe Sunne all other things should be likewise new They held also opinion that thrée
whome he offereth bread flowers Papers and little Canes died in the bloudde of his owne tongue nose handes and other partes of his body After the foure dayes expired then come all the Noble men to beare him company to his palayce with great triumphe and pleasure of all the Cittie but after his consecration fewe or none dare looke him in the face And now with the declaryng of the actes and Ceremonies that the Mexican Kings are crowned I shall not néede to rehearse of other kyngs for generally they all do vse the same order sauyng that other Princes goe not vp to the toppe of the Temple but abide at the foote of the steppes to be crowned and after theyr Coronation they come to Mexico for their confirmation and then at theyr returne to their countrey they made many drunkē feasts and banquets The opinion of the Mexicans concerning the Soule THe Mexicans did beléeue that the Soule was immortal and that they receyued eyther ioy or payne according to theyr desertes liuyng in this worlde vnto which opinion all their religion did attayne and chiefly appeare at their burials They holde for an assured faith that there were nine places appointed for soules the chiefest place of glory to be neare vnto the Sunne where the soules of those whiche were good men slaine in the warres those which were sacrifised were placed and that all other sortes of euill persons their soules above on the earth were deuided after this sorte children that were dead borne went to one place those which died of age or other disease went to another those which died of sodden death to another those whiche died of woundes or contagious diseases went to an other place those which were drowned went to another those which were put to death for offence by order of iustice as for robbery and adultery to another Those which slewe their fathers mothers wiues or childrē to another place by themselues also those who slew their maysters or any religious person went to another place The common sorte of people were buried but Lordes and rich men had their bodies burned their ashes buried In their shreudes they had a greate difference for many dead bodies were buried better apparelled than when they were on liue Women were shrewded after another sorte And he that suffered death for adulterie was shrewded like vnto the God of leachery called Tlazoulteutl he that was drowned like vnto the God of water named Tlacoc and he that died with drunkennesse was shrewded like vnto the God of wyne called Ometochtli But the Souldier had an honorable shrewde like vnto the attyre of Vitzilopuchtli and the lyke order in all other sortes of deathes The buriall of Kings in Mexico WHen any Kyng of Mexico happened to fall sicke they vsed foorth-with to put a visor vppon the face of Tezcatlipuca or Vitzilopuchtli or some other Idoll whiche Visor was not taken awaye vntill they sawe whether the kyng did amend or else die But if he chaunsed to die then worde was sent throughout all his dominions to bewaile his death and also other postes were sent to call the Noble menne that were his nighest kinsmen and to warne them within foure dayes to come vnto his buriall The dead body was layde vpon a fayre matte was watched foure nightes with great lamëtation and mournyng then the body was washed and a locke of heare cut from the crowne of his head whiche was preserued as a great relicke saying that therein remayned the remembrance of his soule This done a fine Emerald was put into his mouth and his body shrewded in seuentene riche mantles of colours both riche and costly wrought Vpon the vpper mantle was sette the deuise or armes of Vitzilopuchtli or Tezcalipuca or of some other idoll in whome the kyng had greate confidence in his lyfe tyme and in his temple should the body be buried Vpō his face they put a visor paynted with foule and Diuelish gestures besette with many iewelles precious stones and pearles Then they killed his slaue whose office was to light the Lampes and make fire vnto the Goddes of his pallayce These things done they carried the dead body vnto the Temple some followed him with dolefull tune others song the death of the kyng by note for so was the custome The Noble men and Gentlemen of his housholde carried Targets Arrowes Mases and Ensignes to throwe into the fire where the body should be buried in the Temple The high Priest and all the Clergie receyued him at the Temple gate with a sorrowfull song and after he had sayde certayne wordes the body was throwen into a great fire made for the purpose with all the iewels that he had aboute him and all the other things whiche was brought to honour the burial also a dogge newly strangled with an arrowe whiche was to guyde him his way In the meane whyle that the King and dogge were burnyng the Priests sacrificed twoo hūdred persons howbeit in this Ceremonie there was no ordinary taxe for sometymes they sacrificed many moe they were opened with a rasour of flinte in the breastes and theyr hartes taken out and throwen into the fire where the Kings body was These miserable persons beyng sacrificed and their bodies throwen into a hole they beléeued assuredly that those shoulde serue for his slaues in another worlde some of them were dwarffes monstrous and deformed persons with some women They placed about the dead body of the King before his buriall Roses Floures and sundry dishes of meate and drinke and no creature durste touche the same but onely the Priests for it séemed to be an offeryng The nexte day followyng all the ashes were gathered togither and the téeth with the Emerald that was in his mouth the whiche things were put into a chest paynted on the inside with horrible figures of diuels and the locke of heare whiche was cut from his crowne and another locke of heare which was preserued from the tyme of his birth Then the chest was lockte and an image of wood made and clothed like vnto the Kings person which was set on the toppe of the chest The obsequies endured foure dayes in the whiche the wines and daughters of the king offered great offerings at the place where his body was buried and before the chest and his image On the fourth day after the buriall fiftene slaues were sacrificed for his soule and on the twentith day other fiue persons were also sacrificed likewise on the sixtie thrée and fourescore whiche was lyke vnto the yéeres minde The order of buriall of the Kings of Michuacan THe kingdeme of Michuacan is almoste as great as the Empire of Mexico and when any king of that countrey happened to be visited with sicknesse and brought to suche extremitie that hope of life were past according to the opinion of Phisitions then would he name and appoint whiche of his Sonnes shoulde inherite the estate and beyng knowen the new king or heyre incontinent
for a bowe two arrowes and a nette and afterwarde the father in lawe speaketh not one worde to his sonne in law for the space of a whole yeare And when the husbande hapneth to haue any child he lyeth not any more with his wife in two yeares after for feare least she might be with childe againe before the former childe were out of daunger although some doe sucke vntyll twelue yeares of age and for this consideration they haue many wiues Likewise there is an order among them that no woman may touch or dresse any thing being with theyr menstruall ordinarie Diuoremcent was not permitted without a iust cause and authoritie of Iustice among those who were openly married but the other sort might be as easily forsaken as taken In Mechuacan was not permitted any diuorcemente excepte the partie made a solemne othe that they loked not the one on the other stedfastly and directly at the time of their marriage But in Mexico they must proue how the wife is barraine foule of a naughty cōdition but if they put away their wiues without order and commaundemente of the Iudge then the heare of the offenders head is burned in the market place as a shame or punishment of a man without reason or witte The payne of adultery was death as well for the mā as the woman but if the adulterer were a Gentleman his head was decked with feathers after that he was hāged and his body burned and for this offence was no pardon eyther for man or woman but for the auoyding of adultery they do permitte other common women but no ordinary stewes Of the Iudges and order of Iustice IN Mexico were twelue Iudges who were all noble men graue and well learned in the Mexican lawes These men liued only by the rentes that properly apperteyne to the maintenance of Iustice and in anye cause iudged by thē it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges who were of the princes bloud and alwayes abode in the Court and were mainteyned at the Kings owne cost and charge The inferior Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to cōsult with the higher And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery prouince within the Mexican Empire to consult with the Iudges of Mexico but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King onely to passe by his order and determination The Painters serued for notaries to paint al the cases which were to be resolued but no sute passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall ende and determination There were in that citie twelue Sergeants whose office was to arrest and to cal parties before the Iudges Their garments were painted mantels wherby they were knowen a farre off The prisons were vnder ground moyst and darke the cause whereof was to put the people in feare to offend If anye witnesse were called to take an oth the order was that he shoulde touche the grounde with one of his fingers and then to touch his tong with the same whiche signifyed that hée had sworne and promised to speake the troth wyth hys tōg taking witnes therof of the earth which did mainteine him But some do interprete the oth that if the partie sware not true that then he mighte come to such extremitie as to eate earthe Sometime they name and call vppon the God of the crime whose cause the matter touched The Iudge that taketh bribes or giftes is forthwith put out of his office whiche was accounted a most vyle and shamefull reproch The Indians did affirme that Necaualpincintli did hang a Iudge in Tezcuco for giuing an vniust sentence he himselfe knowing the contrary The murther is executed without exception The woman with child that wilfully casteth hir creature suffereth deathe for the same bycause many women did voluntary vse that fact knowing their children could not inherite The punishment of adultery was death The Théefe for the firste offence was made a slaue and hanged for the second The traytor to the King and cōmon weale was put to death with extreame tormēts The woman taken in mans apparel dyed for the same and likewise the man taken in womans attire Euerye one that challēged another to fight except in the warres was cōdemned to die In Tezcuco the sinne of Zodomy was punished with death that law was instituted by Necaualpincintli Necaualcoio who were Iudges which abhorred the filthy sinne therfore they deserued great praise for in other prouinces the abhominable sin was not punished although they haue in those places cōmon stewes as in Panuco The order of cruell Sacrifice vsed among the Indians AT the ende of euery twenty dayes is celebrated a festiuall feast called Tonalli which falleth continually the last daye of euerye moneth but the chiefest feast in the yeare when most men are sacrificed eaten is at the ende of euerye fiftye two yeares But the Tlaxcaltecas and other common weales do celebrate this feast euery fourth yeare The last day of the first moneth is called Tlacaxipeualiztli on the which day were slaine a hundred slaues which were taken in the warres and after the sacrifise their flesh was eaten in this order Al the Citizens gathered themselues togither in the high Temple and thē the Ministers or Priestes came and vsed certaine ceremonies the which being ended they toke those whyche were to be sacrifised by one and one and layd them vpon their backes vpon a large stone and then the slaue being on liue they opened him in the breast with a knife made of flinte stone and toke out his hart whiche they threw immediately at the foote of the Aulter as an offering and anoynted with the fresh bloude the face of the God Vitzilopuchtli or any other Idol This done they pluckt of the skinnes of a certaine number of them the which skinnes so many auntient persons put incontinēt vppon their naked bodies al fresh bloudy as they wer sleane from the deade carcasses And being open in the backe part and shoulders they vsed to lace them in such sorte that they came fitte vppon the bodies of those that ware them and being in this order attired they came to daunce among many others In Mexico the king him selfe did put on one of these skinnes being of a principall captiue and daunced among the other disguised persons to exalte and honor the feast and an infinite number followed him to behold his terrible gesture although some hold opinion that they followed him to cōtemplate his greate deuotion After the sacrifise ended the owner of the slaues did carry their bodies home to their houses to make of their fleshe a solemne feaste to all their friendes leauing their heades and hartes to the Priests as their dutie and offering And the skinnes were filled with cotten wool or strawe to be hong in the temple and kings pallayce for a memorie The slaues when they went to their sacrifice were apparelled in the habite or deuise of the Idol vnto whom ech of them did commende