others with whome to warre: I doe confesse that the Sea is somewhat
farre from vs, and neuer Spaniarde trauelled so farre into the mayne
lande of _India_, as wée haue done: for why? nowe we leaue the Sea a
hundreth and fiftie myles behinde vs, nor yet euer any hath come to
neare _Mexico_ where _Mutezuma_ dothe reside, from whome suche messages
and Treasure wée haue receyued. It is nowe but thrée score myles
thyther, and the worste is paste, as you doe sée, if we come thither,
as I truste in Iesus wée shall, then shall we not onely gette and winne
for the Emperoure oure naturall Lorde a riche Lande, greate Kingdomes,
infinite Vassalles, but lykewyse for oure selues muche riches, as
Golde, Siluer, Pretious stones, Pearles, and other commoditie, and
besides thys, the greatest honour that euer any nation did obtayne. For
loke howe great a King this is, howe large his countrey is, and what
greate multitude of people hée hath, so muche the more is our glory.
Besides all this, wée are bounde as Christians to exalte and enlarge
oure Catholyke fayth, as wée haue begonne, abolishyng Idolatrie and
blasphemie agaynst our Sauiour Christe, takyng away the blouddy
Sacrifice and eatyng of mannes fleshe, so horrible and agaynste nature,
and many other grieuous sinnes so muche here vsed, for the foulenesse
whereof I name them not.
And therefore (I saye) feare you nor yet doubte you the victorie,
consideryng that the worste is paste. Of late wée ouercame the
_Indians_ of _Tabasco_, and also an hundreth and fiftie thousande this
other daye of the _Tlaxcaltecas_, who haue the onely name of breakers
of Lyons iawes: so with Gods helpe you shal be Conquerers of the reste,
if ye faynt not and folowe me.
All hys company was pleased and contente with this comfortable
exhortation, and those that were faynt harted recouered strength. And
hys valiaunt Souldiers recouered double courage, & those who hated
him began to honour him: and in conclusion he departed from thence
excéeding welbeloued of all his company. But all his former talke was
very néedefull as time then requyred: for why? some of his (as you haue
heard) were desirous to returne: likewise vpon dissention, rebellion
mought haue growen, and he forced to returne to the sea coaste, where
all his toyle and trauell taken had bene lost.
Hovv Xicotencatl came for Embassadour
_to Cortez his Campe_.
_Cortez_ had not so soone made an ende of his talke, when _Xicotencatl_
came entryng into the campe, who was chiefe and generall captayne in
_Tlaxcallan_, & of all the warres: he brought in his company fiftie
persons of auctoritie to kéepe him cöpany. They approched neare where
_Cortes_ was, and saluted eche other according to the vse of their
countrey. Their salutations ended and the parties setten downe,
_Xicotencatl_ began the talke, saying: Sir I am come on mine owne
behalf and also of my fellow Captaine, and Lieuetenant _Maxixca_,
and in the name of many other noble personages, and finally in the
name of the whole state and common weale of _Tlaxcallan_, to beséeche
and pray you to admitte vs into your friendshippe, and to yéelde our
selues and countrey vnto your King, crauyng also at your hande pardon
for our attempt in takyng armes agaynst you, wée not knowyng what you
were, nor what you sought for in our countrey. And where we presumed
to resiste and defende your entrance, we did it as agaynst straungrrs
whome we knewe not, and suche menne as we had neuer here tofore séene:
and fearyng also that you had bene friendes to _Mutezuma_, who is and
alwayes hath bene our mortall enimy. And these things wée suspected,
seyng _Mutezuma_ his seruaunts in your company, or else we imagined
that you were comen to vsurpe our libertie, the which of tyme without
memory we haue possessed, as our forefathers did with the shedyng of
their bloud. And of our owne naturall prouision we wante cotten woolle
to clothe vs, wherfore in tyme paste we wente as naked as we were
borne, but some of vs vsed other clothe to couer our nakednesse, made
of the leaues of the trée called _Metl_: and Salte also wée wanted,
of which twoo things so necessarie to humayne lyfe, _Mutezuma_ had
greate store, and other our enimies, with whome we are rounde aboute
enuironed. And lykewise where wée haue no gold, stones of value, or
any riche thyng to barter with them, of very pure necessitie many
times we are forced to sell our owne bodies to buy these wantes.
And this extremitie (sayde he) wée néeded not, if that we woulde be
subiectes and vassalles to _Mutezuma_. But yet had we rather all in
generall to end our lyues, than wée woulde putte oure selues in suche
subiection, for we thynke our selues as valiaunt menne in courage
as our forefathers were, who alwayes haue resisted agaynst him and
his grandfather, who was as mightie as nowe is he: wée woulde also
haue withstoode you and your force, but wée coulde not, although we
proued all our possibilitie by night and day, and found your strength
inuincible, and we no lucke agaynst you. Therefore sithence our fate
is such, we had rather be subiect vnto you than vnto any others. For
wée haue knowen and hearde by the _Zeampoallanezes_, that you doe no
euill, nor came not to vere any, but were moste valliaunt and happie,
as they had séene in the warres, beyng in your companie. For whiche
consideration, we truste that our libertie shall not be diminished, but
rather our owne persons, wyues, and familie better preserued, and our
houses and husbandry not destroyed. And in süme of all his talke, the
teares trickling downe his chéekes, he besought _Cortes_ to wey that
_Tlaxcallan_ did neuer at any tyme reknowledge any superiour King or
Lorde, nor at any time had commen any person among them to commaunde,
but onely he, whome they did voluntarily electe and chose as their
superiour and ruler.
It can not be tolde, howe muche _Cortes_ reioyced with this Embassage,
and to sée such a mighty Captayne come vnto his campe to submitte
himselfe: and also it was a matter of great wayght to haue that Cittie
in subiection, for the enterprice whiche he had in hande, whereby he
fully made an account that the warres were at an ende, to the great
cötentation of him and his company, and with great fame and reputation
among the _Indians_.
_Cortes_ with a mery and louing countenaunce answered, laying to their
charge the hurte and damage whiche he had receyued in their countrey,
bycause they refused at the firste to harken vnto him, and quietly
to suffer him to enter into their countrey, euen as he had required
and desired by his Messengers of _Zeampoallan_ sente vnto them from
_Zaclotan_. Yet al this notw^tstandyng, he did both pardon the kyllyng
of his twoo horses, the assaultyng of him in the highe way, and the
greate lies whiche they had moste craftily vsed with hym, (for where
as they themselues fought agaynst him, yet they layde the faulte to
others) likewise their pretence to murder him in the ambush prepared
for him, (enticing him to come to their Citie,) without makyng firste
defiance according to the law of armes.
These causes notwithstanding, he did louingly receyue their offer made
in subiection to the Emperour, and in this sorte departed, saying,
that shortely hée woulde be with him in _Tlaxcallan_, and presently
he coulde not goe with him for the dispatche of the Ambassadours of
_Mutezuma_.
The receyuing and entertaynement
_of Cortez in Tlaxcallan_.
It grieued muche the Embassadours of _Mutezuma_, to sée _Xicotencates_
in the Spanishe Campe, and the offer made vnto _Cortes_ in the behalfe
of his King, of their persons, Cittie and goodes, aduising _Cortes_ to
gyue no credite vnto them, for all their saying (quoth they) is treason
and lies, and to the entent to locke you vp in their Cittie.
_Cortes_ answered, that although their aduise were true, yet he did
determine to go thither, for that he feared them lesse in the towne
than in the fielde. They hearyng this answere and determination,
besought him to giue vnto one of them licence to returne vnto _Mexico_,
to aduertise _Mutezuma_ of all that was past, with an answere to their
Ambassage, promising within sixe dayes to haue newes from _Mexico_, and
till then prayed him not to departe with his Campe.
_Cortes_ graunted their request, and abode there the time appointed,
expectyng the answere. In this meane season came many of _Tlaxcallan_
to the camp, some brought Ginnea cockes, other brought bread
and Cherries, and gaue it for nothyng in comparison, with merry
countenaunce, desiryng them to goe home with them vnto their houses.
[Sidenote: A riche present.]
The sixth day the _Mexican_ came, accordyng to promise, and brought
vnto _Cortes_ tenne Iewelles of Golde, bothe riche and well wrought,
and a fiftene thousand garments of Cotten excéeding gallant, and moste
earnestly besought hym on the behalfe of _Mutezuma_, that he shoulde
not daunger himselfe in trustyng to the wordes of the _Tlaxcaltecas_,
who were so poore y^t with necessitie they would robbe him of the
thyngs whiche his mayster had sente him, yea and lykewise murder him,
knowyng of the friendshippe betwéene his mayster and him: likewise all
the chiefest Lordes of _Tlaxcallan_, came to intreate hym to goe with
them to _Tlaxcallan_ where he shoulde be cherished, lodged, and well
prouided. For it was a greate dishonour and shame for them to permitte
suche personages to abyde in suche vyle cotages as they were in. And if
(quoth they) you truste vs not, that then wée are ready to gyue you for
your securitie what soeuer gages you shall demaunde: notwithstandyng
they dyd bothe sweare and faithfully promise, that they might safely
goe with them, saying also that the Othe and fayth of theyr common
weale should neuer be broken for all the goodes in the worlde.
[Sidenote: Entraunce into Tlaxcallan.]
Wherevpon _Cortez_ seyng the good will of so many Gentlemen his newe
friendes, and lykewise the _Indians_ of _Zeampoallan_, of whome he
had good credite, did so importune him and assure him of his goyng,
he commaunded his fardage to be laden and also his ordinaunce, and
departed towarde _Tlaxcallan_, whiche was sixe leagues from that place,
with as good order as it had bene to a battayle: And at the Tower where
he had pitched hys campe, he lefte certayne Crosses for a memorie, with
a greate heape of stones, and entred into _Tlaxcallan_ the eightenth of
September. There came out such a multitude of people to sée him and to
méete him in the way, that it was a wonder to sée.
He was lodged in the greatest temple, which had many great and fayre
lodgyngs, sufficient for hym and all his companie, except the _Indians_
hys friends which were lodged in other Temples. He set certayne
limittes, out of the whiche he commaunded straightely that none of
hys company should passe, vpon payne of deathe, and also commaunded
that they shoulde take nothing, but what shoulde be giuen them. His
commaundement was well obserued, for none presumed to goe a stoanes
cast without his licence. The _Indian_ Gentlemen shewed greate
pleasure and curtesie to the strangers, and prouided thë of all things
necessarie, and manye of them gaue theyr daughters vnto them, in token
of true friendshippe, and likewise to haue fruite of their bodyes, to
be brought vp for the warres, beyng such valiant men.
This Countrey lyked well oure men, and the greate loue of the people.
They abode there at their pleasure twenty dayes, in whiche time they
did procure to knowe particularly the estate of their common weale
and secretes, and also were sufficiently instructed of the estate of
_Mutezuma_.
The description of Tlaxcallan.
_Tlaxcallan_ is properly in the _Indian_ tong as much to say, as bread
well baked, for there is more grayne called _Centli_ gathered, than is
in all y^e prouince round about.
In times past the Citie was called _Texcallan_, that is to say, a
valley betwixt two hilles. It is a greate Citie, and planted by a riuer
side, whiche springeth out of _Atlancatepec_, and watreth the most
parte of that prouince, and from thence issueth out into the South
sea, by _Zacatullan_. This Citie hathe foure goodly stréetes, whiche
are called _Tepeticpac_, _Ocotelulco_, _Tizatlan_, _Quiahuiztlan_. The
firste stréete standeth on hygh vpon a hyll, farre from the riuer,
whiche maye be aboute halfe a league, and bycause it standeth on a
hill, it is called _Tepeticpac_, that is to say, a hyll, and was the
firste population which was foüded there on high, bycause of the warres.
An other stréete was scituate on the hill side towarde the Riuer,
bycause at the building thereof, there were many pyne trées: they named
it _Ocotelulco_, which is to say, a pine apple plot. This stréete was
beautifull, and firste inhabited of all the Citie, and there was the
chiefest Market place, where all the buying and selling was vsed, and
that place they called _Tianquiztli_: in that stréete was the dwelling
house of _Maxixca_. Along the Riuer side in the playne standeth another
stréete called _Tizatlan_, bycause there is muche lyme and chalke. In
this stréete dwelled _Xicotencatl_, Captayne generall of the common
weale. There is another stréete named by reason of the brackish water,
_Quiahuiztlan_, but since the Spanyardes came thither, all those
buildings are almost altered, after a better fashion, and built with
stone. In the plaine by the riuer side, standeth the Towne house, and
other offices, as in the Citie of _Venice_. This _Tlaxcallan_ was
gouerned by noble and riche men: they vse not that one alone should
rule, but rather flye from that order, as from tyrannie.
In their warres (as I haue sayde before) they haue foure Captaynes,
whiche gouerneth eache one stréete, of the whiche foure, they do
elect a Captayne generall. Also there are other Gentlemen that are
vndercaptaynes, but a small number. In the warres they vse their
standerde to be carried behynde the army, but when the battayle is to
be fought, they place the standerde where all the hoste may sée it, and
he that commeth not incontinent to hys auntient, payeth a penaltie.
Their standerd hathe two crossebowe arrowes set thereon, whiche they
estéeme as the relikes of their auncetors. Thys standerd two olde
souldiers and valiant menne, being of the chiefest Captaynes, haue the
charge to carrie, in the which standerde an abusion of southsaying,
eyther of losse or victory is noted. In this order they shote one of
these arrowes against the first enimies that they méete, and if with
that arrow they doe eyther kill or hurte, it is a token that they shall
haue the victorie, and if it neyther kill nor hurt, then they assuredly
beléeue that they shall lose the field.
[Sidenote: A strange contractation.]
This prouince or Lordship of _Tlaxcallan_, hath .28. Villages and
townes, wherein is conteyned 150000. householdes. They are men well
made, and good warriors, the lyke are not among the _Indians_. They
are very poore, and haue no other riches, but only the grayne or corne
called _Centli_, and with the gayne and profite thereof, they doe
both cloth themselues, and paye their tributes, and prouide all other
necessaries. They haue many market places, but the greatest and most
vsed dayly, standeth in the stréete of _Ocotelulco_, whiche is so
famous, that 30000. persons come thither in one day to buy and sell,
whyche is to say, changing one thing for another, for they know not
what money meaneth.
They sell such things in that market, as héere we vse, & al thing vnto
them néedeful to eate, and cloth for themselues, and necessaries for
building.
They haue all kinde of good policie in the Citie: there are
Goldsmithes, fetherdressers, Barbors, hotehouses, and potters, who make
as good earthen vessel, as is made in _Spayne_. The earth is fat and
fruitefull for corne, fruite, and pasture, for among the pine trées
groweth so muche grasse, that our men féede their cattell there, whiche
in _Spayne_ they can not do.
Within two leagues of that Citie standeth a rounde hill of sixe miles
of heigth, and fiue and fortie myles in compasse, and is now called
Saint Bartholmewes hill, where the snow fréeseth. In times past they
called that hill _Matealcucie_, who was their God for water. They
had also a God for wyne, who was named _Ometochtli_, for the great
dronkennesse whiche they vsed. They chiefest God was called _Camaxtlo_,
and by another name _Mixcouatl_, whose Temple stoode in the stréete
of _Ocotelulco_, in the whiche temple there was sacrifised some
yeares aboue eyghte hundred persons. In _Tlaxcallan_ they spake thrée
languages, that is to saye, _Nahualh_, whiche is the courtly spéech,
and chiefest in all the land of _Mexico_: an other is called _Otomir_,
which is most commonly vsed in the Villages: There is one onely stréete
that spake _Pinomer_, which is the grosest speache. There was also in
that Citie a common Iayle, where fellons lye in yrons, and all things
which they held for sinne, was there corrected.
[Sidenote: Correctiö.]
It chanced at that time a Townesman to steale from a Spanyard a little
golde, whereof _Cortes_ complayned to _Maxixca_, who incötinent made
such enquirie, y^t the offender was found in _Chololla_, whiche is
another Citie fyue leagues from thence: they brought the prisoner
with the golde, and deliuered him to _Cortez_, to doe with him hys
pleasure: _Cortes_ woulde not accepte him, but gaue hym thankes for his
diligence: then was he carried wyth a Cryer before hym, manifestyng
hys offence, and in the Market place vppon a skaffolde they brake
hys ioyntes with a cudgell: our men maruelled to sée suche straunge
Iustice.
The aunsvvere of the Tlaxcaltecas
_touching the leauing of their Idolles_.
[Sidenote: A godly persvvasiö.]
VVhen _Cortez_ saw that these people executed Iustice, and liued in
Religion after theyr manner, although abhominable and diuelish: and
alwayes when he desired them to leaue off from their Idolatrie and that
cruell vanitie, in killing and eating men sacrifised, considering that
none among them how holly soeuer he were, would willingly be slayne &
eaten, required them to beléeue in the most true God of the Chrystians,
who was the maker of Heauen and earth, the giuer of rayne, and creator
of all things that the earthe produceth only for the vse and profite of
mortall man.
Some of them aunswered, that they woulde gladly do it, onely to
pleasure him, but they feared that the commons would arise and stone
them. Others sayde, that it was an hard matter to vnbeléeue that which
their forefathers had so long beléeued, and that it shoulde be a cause
to condemne their forefathers and themselues.
Others sayde, that it mighte be in time they woulde conuert, séeing
the order of the Christian Religion, and vnderstanding the reasons and
causes to turne Christians, and likewise perceyuing thoroughly the
manner and life of the Christiäs, with their lawes and customs: and as
for warlike feates, they were satisfyed, & had séene suche tryall, that
they helde them for men inuincible in that poynte, and that their God
did help them.
_Cortes_ promised them, that shortlye he woulde bring them suche men,
as shoulde instruct and teache them, and then they should sée which way
was best, with the greate ioy and fruite that they shoulde féele. They
accepting that councell which he like a friende had giuen them, and
for as much as presently it could not be brought to passe by reason of
his iourney to _Mexico_.
He desired them, that the Temple wherein he was lodged, shoulde be made
a Churche for him and his company, and if it pleased them, they mighte
also come to sée and heare their diuine seruice.
The _Indians_ graunted to his request, and dayly came among them all
the time of their abode there, and some came and dwelte with the
_Spanyardes_, but the chiefest friende was Captayne _Maxixca_, who
neuer went from _Cortez_.
The discord betvveene the
_Mexicans and Tlaxcaltecas_.
_Cortez_ being throughly satisfyed of theyr hartie good wylles, he
demaunded of them the estate and riches of _Mutezuma_. They exalted
him greately, as men that had proued his force. And as they affyrmed,
it was néere a hundred yeares that they mainteyned warre with him and
his father _Axaiaca_, and others his Vnckles and Grandfathers. And
saide also, that the golde and treasure of _Mutezuma_, was without
number, and his power and dominion ouer all the lande, and hys people
innumerable: for (quoth they) he ioyneth sometime two hundreth thousand
men, yea and thrée hundred thousande for one battayle. And if it
pleased hym, he woulde make as manye men double, and thereof they were
good witnesse, bycause they had manye times fought with thë.
_Maxixca_ desired that _Cortes_ should not aduenture themselues into
the power of the men of _Culhua_, whereat some of the _Spanyardes_
feared and suspected euill of the matter.
_Cortes_ tolde him, that notwithstanding all those things whiche
they had tolde him, he was fully minded to goe to _Mexico_, to visit
_Mutezuma_, wishing him to aduise hym what he mought do, or bring to
passe for them with _Mutezuma_, for he woulde willingly do it, for the
curtesie shewed vnto him, and that he beléeued _Mutezuma_ woulde graunt
him any lawfull request.
Then they besought him to procure for them a licence to haue cotten
wooll and salte out of his Countrey, for (sayd they) in time of the
warres we stoode in greate néede thereof, and that they had none but
suche as they boughte by stealthe of the Comercans verye déere, in
change of golde: for _Mutezuma_ had made a straight lawe, whereby
all suche as carried anye of those commodities to them shoulde be
slayne. Then _Cortez_ enquired the cause of their disorder and euill
neyborhood. They aunswered, that their griefes were olde, and cause of
libertie: but as the Ambassadors did affyrme, and _Mutezuma_ afterward
declare, it was not so, but for other matter farre differente. So
that eache partye alleadging their causes, theyr reasons were, that
the yong menne of _Mexico_ and _Culhua_ dyd exercise and bryng them
vppe in warlike feates néere vnto them, and vnder theyr noses, to
theyr greate annoyance, whereas they moughte haue gone to _Panuco_ and
_Teocantepec_, hys frontiers a farre off.
Lykewyse theyr pretence was, to haue warre wyth them béeyng theyr
neyghbors, onely to haue of them to sacrifice to their Gods: so
that when they would make any solemne feast, then would they send
to _Tlaxcallan_ for men to sacrifice, with such a great army, that
they might take as many as they néeded for that yeare: for it is most
certayne if _Mutezuma_ woulde, in one daye hée moughte haue broughte
them in subiection, and slayne them all, ioyning his whole power in
effecte: but his purpose was, to kéepe them for a pray to hunt withall,
for men to be sacrificed to his Goddes, and to eate, so that hée woulde
neuer sende but a small armye againste them: whereby it did chance that
sometimes those of _Tlaxcallan_ did ouercome.
_Cortez_ receyued great pleasure to heare these discordes betwixt his
newe friendes and _Mutezuma_, whiche was a thing fitte for his purpose,
for by that meanes he hoped to bring them all vnder subiection, and
therefore hée vsed the one and the other secretely, to build his
pretence vpon a good foundation.
At all this communication there stoode by certayne _Indians_ of
_Vexozinco_, whiche had bin against our men in the late warres, the
which Towne is a Citie as _Tlaxcallan_, and ioyned with them in league
of friendship against _Mutezuma_, who oppressed them in like effect
of slaughter for their Temples of _Mexico_, and they also yéelded
themselues to _Cortes_ for vassals to the Emperoure.
The solemne receyuing of the
_Spanyardes into Chololla_.
[Sidenote: A gentle offer.]
The Ambassedors of _Cortes_ séeyng the determination of _Cortes_ to
procéede on his iourney towarde _Mexico_, they besoughte him to goe by
_Chololla_, whiche stoode fiue leagues from thence, certifying that
_Chololla_ was a Citie in their friendship, and that there he might at
his pleasure abide the resolution of their Lord _Mutezuma_, whether
it were his pleasure that he should enter into _Mexico_ or no. This
request was onely to haue him from thence, for truly it gréeued much
_Mutezuma_ of theyr new friendshippe and league, fearyng that thereof
woulde some great displeasure happen towardes him, and therefore
procured all that was possible to haue him from thence, sending him
alwayes presents to allure him to come frö thence the sooner. But when
the _Tlaxcaltecas_ saw that he would goe to _Chololla_, it grieued them
muche, saying vnto _Cortes_, that _Mutezuma_ was a liar and fraudelent
person, and that _Chololla_ was a cittie his friende but not constant,
and it mighte happen that they would displease him, hauyng him within
their Cittie, wishyng him to looke wel to himself: And if néedes he
would goe thither, yet they woulde prouide .20000. men to kéepe him
company.
[Sidenote: Correction of treason.]