had vnderstandyng of a snare that was layde to murder them at their
commyng to _Chololla_, by meanes of one of the foure Captaynes, who
had a sister which discouered the thing to _Pedro de Aluarado_ who
kepte hir. _Cortes_ incontinent called that Captayne out of his house,
and caused him to be choked, and so was the matter kepte close that
his death was neuer knowen, whereby the snare was vndone without any
rumour. It was a wonder that all _Tlaxcallan_ had not made an vprore
seyng one of their greatest Captaynes dead. There was inquirie made of
that snare, and the truth being knowen, it was approued that _Mutezuma_
had prepared .30000. Souldiers who were in campe for that purpose
within twoo leagues of the Citie, and that the streates in _Chololla_
were stopped vp with timber and rayles, and the toppes of their houses
prouided with stones, which houses are made with playne rooffes or
sotties, and the highe way stopped vp, & other false bywayes made with
déepe holes pitched ful of stakes very sharpe, to spoyle and lame
both horse and man: these engines were finely couered with sande, and
coulde not be espied, although the skoute had gone before on foote
to discouer. The matter also was very suspitious, for these Citizens
of _Chololla_ had not at any time come to visite hym, or sente any
presente vnto him as others had done.
Wherevpon _Cortez_ consulted with the _Tlaxcaltecas_ to sende certayne
messengers to _Chololla_, to request their Captaynes and rulers to
come vnto him, who did their message accordingly, and the _Cholollans_
woulde not come, but yet they sent thrée or foure persons to excuse
them, saying that they were not well at ease, praying to signifie
vnto them what he woulde haue: the _Tlaxcaltecas_ enformed _Cortes_
that those messengers were menne of small credite and of lowe degrée,
wishyng hym not to departe till theyr Captayne came. In this sorte
_Cortes_ returned theyr messengers backe agayne, with commaundement
written, declaring that if they came not within thrée dayes, hée woulde
proclayme them rebelles and his vtter enimies, and as suche would he
chasten with all rigour.
When this commaundement came vnto them, the next day followyng came
many Lordes and Captaynes to make their excuse, saying, that the
_Tlaxcaltecas_ were their enimies, and that through them they could not
liue in safetie, lykewise they knewe of the euill reporte whiche they
had made agaynst them: wherefore they besought him to giue no credite
vnto them, for why, they were both false and cruell menne: beséechyng
him also to goe with them to their Citie, and then he should sée that
all was but a mockery that had bene tolde him, and they his good and
faythfull friends: and laste of all they offered to serue him as
tributary subiectes.
_Cortes_ commaunded that all this talke should be sette downe in
wryting before the Notary and his interpreters, and so tooke his leaue
of the Citizens of _Tlaxcallan_. _Maxixca_ wepte at his departure, but
there wente in his company a hundreth thousande men of warre: there
were among them many Marchantes that wente to barter for Salte and
Mantels.
_Cortes_ commaunded that those hundreth thousande men should go alwayes
by thëselues: that day he reached not to _Chololla_, but abode by a
broke side, and thither came many of the citie, to desire him that the
_Tlaxcaltecas_ should not doe any hurte in their countrey: wherevpon
_Cortes_ cömaunded them to returne backe againe all sauing .5000. or
there aboute, much against their willes. But they stil required him to
take good héede of those euill folke, who be not (quoth they) men of
warre, but pedlers, and men of double harte: and they of their partes
would be very loth to leaue him in any peril or daunger, hauing giuen
themselues to be his true and faithfull friendes.
The nexte day in the morning the Spaniardes came to _Chololla_, and
there came out néere .10000. _Indians_ to receyue him with their
Captaynes in good order: many of them presented vnto him bread, foule,
& roses, and euery Captayne as he approched welcomed _Cortes_, and then
stoode aside that the reste in order mighte come vnto him. And when
he came entring into the Citie, all the other Citizës receyued him,
marueling to sée such men & horses.
After all this came out all the religious menne, as Priests, and
Ministers to the idols (who were many and straunge to beholde,) and
all were clothed in white lyke vnto surplices and hemmed with Cotten
thréede: some brought instrumentes of musicke like vnto Cornettes,
other brought instrumëts made of bones, other an instrumët like a ketel
couered with skin, some brought chafing dishes of coales with perfumes,
others brought idols couered, and finally they al came singing in their
language, which was a terrible noyse, and drew néere _Cortes_ and his
cöpany, sensing them with swéete smelles in their sensers.
With this pompe and solemnitie (whiche truely was great) they brought
him into the Cittie, and lodged him in a house where was roume inough
for him and his, and gaue vnto eche of them a Gynnea cocke, and his
_Indians_ of _Tlaxcallan_, _Zempoallan_ and _Iztacmixtlitan_, were
prouided by themselues.
The conspiracie of the Cholollans
_to kill Cortes and his men_.
Al that night followyng _Cortes_ was vigilant with all his company, for
bothe in the way and in the towne they had found some of the things
wherof they had bene aduised before in _Tlaxcallan_, and although their
firste present was a Gynnea cocke to eche mans allowance, other thrée
dayes followyng they gaue them nothing almost to eate, and very seldome
the Captaynes came to visite them, whereof _Cortes_ had great suspition.
[Sidenote: Many perils.]
And in this meane while the Embassadours of _Mutezuma_ entreated him
to leaue of his iourney to _Mexico_, alleaging that their great King
woulde die in beholdyng their beardes & gesture: other times they
sayde that there was no passage, other times they woulde say that they
wanted wherewith to sustayne them. And seyng them fully and in euery
respecte answered to all these poyntes, they caused the Townes menne
to enforme them, that where _Mutezuma_ his abiding was, were monstrous
Lysardes, Tigers, Lions, and many other fierce beastes, the whiche
when _Mutezuma_ commaunded to be losed, were sufficient to plucke in
péeces, and to destroy those fewe straungers: and seyng that all these
pollicies auayled not, they consulted with the Captaynes and chiefe
Citizens to murder the Christians. And bycause they shoulde so bryng
it to passe, the Embassadours promysed the Citizens greate rewardes on
the behalfe of _Mutezuma_, and presented to theyr generall a drumme of
Golde, and promised to bryng the thirtie thousande souldiers whiche lay
aboute twoo leagues from thence: the _Cholollans_ promysed to deliuer
them bounde hande and foote. But yet they woulde not consente that
those Soldiers of _Culhua_ should come into their Cittie, fearyng that
they (vnder colour of friendshippe) woulde remayne with the towne, for
why, the _Mexicans_ had vsed the lyke sleyght. And in this sorte they
with one bolte meante to kill twoo byrdes at a shote, for they thought
to take the Spaniardes sléepyng, and then to remayne with the Towne of
_Cholalla_. Also it was determined, that if all these pretences coulde
not be brought to passe, that then they should be conducted a contrary
way to _Mexico_ vpon the left hande, in the whiche were many daungerous
places, bycause the way was all sandy, with many sluces, diches, and
holes of thrée fadome déepe, meanyng there to méete them and to carry
them bounde to _Mutezuma_: this matter being fully agreed, they beganne
to take away theyr householde stuffe, and to carry it with their wiues
and chyldren vp into the mountaynes.
[Sidenote: Helpe from God.]
And our men beyng also ready to departe from thence for theyr small
chéere with euill countenaunce, it happened, an _Indian_ woman (beyng
wife to one of the principalest Cittizens,) hauing some affection to
the bearded men, sayde vnto _Marina_, that shée shoulde abide there
with hyr, for that she loued hir well, and that it woulde grieue hir
that she should be slayne with hir mayster. _Marina_ dissimulyng the
matter, procured to knowe what they were that had conspired the thing,
and hauing knowledge therof, she ranne to séeke _Aguillar_ hir fellow
interpreter, and both togither enformed _Cortes_ of the whole matter.
_Cortes_ hearyng this newes, slepte not, but incontinent examined twoo
of the Citizens, who confessed the thyng euen as it passed, and as
the Gentlewoman had declared: wherevpon _Cortes_ stayed his iourney
twoo dayes, to mollifie the matter and to disapoynt them of that euill
pretended purpose, and also to correcte their offences, he commaunded
their rulers to be called, saying that he had to talke with them,
and when they were comen he requyred them neyther to vse lies nor
deceytes with hym, but rather lyke menne to defie him to the fielde and
battayle, for (quoth hée) honest menne vse rather to fighte than to
lie. They all answered that they were his friendes and seruitours, and
no liars, and that it mighte please him to shewe them when he woulde
departe, for they woulde goe armed to kéepe hym company. He answered
that he woulde departe the nexte day followyng, and that he required
but onely some of their slaues to carry his fardage, bycause his owne
_Tamemez_ or Carriars were weried: lykewise he requyred some prouision
of victuall.
At this laste requeste they smyled, saying among themselues, to what
purpose will these men haue victuals, for shortly they themselues
shalbe boyled and eaten with the sause called _Axi_, yea, and if
_Mutezuma_ had not pretended their bodies for his owne dishe, they had
bene eaten here before this tyme.
The punishment that Cortez executed
_for conspiracie_.
[Sidenote: O vvorthy Cortes.]
The nexte day in the mornyng the _Cholollans_ thinkyng that they had
their determinate purpose in good readinesse, they came and brought
many to carry their fardage, & other some to carry the Spaniardes vppon
their backes, hopyng to apprehëd them in the same order. There came
also many armed men of the most valiantest, to kill him that should
disorder himselfe. Likewise that day their Priests sacrificed ten
children of thrée yeares of age to their God _Quezalcouatl_, fiue of
these children were menne, and the other fiue wemen, whiche was their
custome when they began their warres: the Captaynes placed themselues
at the foure dores of _Cortes_ his house with some armed men. _Cortes_
earely in the mornyng had secretely in a readinesse the _Indians_ of
_Zempoallan_ and _Tlaxcallan_, and other friends: he cömaunded his
horsemen to take their horses, giuing them this watche worde, that when
they hearde the noyse of the shotte of a handgun, that then they should
play the më, for it imported all their liues. And he seing the townes
men approch néere his lodging, commaunded y^e captaynes & chiefest of
them to come vnto him, saying, y^t he would take his leaue of them:
there came many, but he would not suffer aboue thirtie persons to come
in, who were the principallest, and declared vnto thë, that alwaies he
had dealte truly with them, & they with him nothing but treason and
lies. Likewise they had vnder colour requested that his friëds the
_Tlaxcaltecas_ shuld not come vnto their towne, & that he fulfilled
therein their desire, & also cömaunded his own men in no wise to be
hurtful vnto thë, yea & although they had not prouided him of victuals
as reason did require, yet he would not permit any of his men to take
the value of one henne from them, so that in recompence of all his
gentle dealings and good will, they had moste wickedly procured the
death of him and all his companie. And bycause they coulde not performe
it in their owne towne, they had prepared the slaughter in the high
way, at those daungerous places whiche they had determined to leade
them vnto, pretendyng also the helpe of thirtie thousand men, Souldiers
of _Mutezuma_, whiche army stoode not fully two leagues from thence.
And for this horrible and detestable wickednesse yée shall all die,
and in memory of traytors I will destroy this cittie, and turne the
fundations vpwardes, so that there shall remayne no remembraunce of you.
Their offence beyng manifest, coulde not be denied, and lookyng one
vpon an other, their colours waxed pale and wanne, saying, this man
is lyke vnto our Goddes, who knoweth all things, therefore lette vs
not denie the truth, and openly before the Embassadours of _Mutezuma_
confesse their errour and euill facte.
Then sayd _Cortes_ to the Embassadours, you do sée that we should
haue bene slaine by the _Cholollans_, and through the procurement of
_Mutezuma_, but yet I beleue it not, cösideryng that he is my friende
and a mightie Prince, saying also that Noble men vsed neyther treason
nor lyes, wherefore feare not you, but these dissemblyng Traytors shall
be punished, for you are persons inuiolable and messengers of a Prince,
whome he meante to serue and not offende, bicause he had an assured
opinion in _Mutezuma_, to be a vertuous Prince, and one that woulde not
committe villanie.
All these wordes he spake, bycause he woulde not fall out with
_Mutezuma_, vntill he sawe himselfe within the Cittie of _Mexico_.
Incontinent he commaunded some of those Captaines to be slayne, and
kepte the residue bounde. Then he shotte off hys handgun, whiche was
the watch vnto his armye, who forthwith sette vppon the Townesmen, and
within two houres slewe sixe thousand persons and more.
_Cortes_ commaunded that they shoulde kill neyther woman nor childe:
they foughte welnéere fyue houres: they sette fire on all the houses
and Towers that made resistance, and draue all the inhabitantes out of
the Towne. The dead carcases lay so thicke, that of force they must
treade vpon them.
There were twentie Gentlemen, and many Priestes, who ascended vp to the
high tower of the temple, whiche hathe a hundred and twenty steppes,
from whence wyth arrowes and stones they did much hurt, and woulde not
yéelde, wherevpon oure men set fier to the Tower, and burned them all.
Then they exclaymed on their Goddes, who woulde neyther helpe them nor
their Citie and holy sanctuary.
The Citie being sacked, oure men tooke the spoyle of golde, plate, and
feathers, and the _Indians_ their friendes tooke clothes and salte,
which was the treasure that they desired.
_Cortez_ commaunded to ceasse the spoyle. The other Captaynes that lay
bounde, hearing of suche a greate destruction and punishment, most
pitifully besought _Cortez_ to loase some of them, for to sée what was
become of their Gods and cömö people. Likewise they humbly besought
him to pardon them, who had not so muche faulte as _Mutezuma_, who
perswaded and entised them to that pretended treason.
Vpon their lamentable request, he loased two of them, and the next day
following the Citie was as ful of people agayne, that there séemed not
one to be wanting.
At the sute of the _Tlaxcaltecas_ who were put for mediators, _Cortes_
pardoned them all, and sette his prisoners at libertie, assuring
them that the like correction he woulde do vppon al them that should
dissemble or shewe an euil countenance, or make lyes, or fynally
vse anye kinde of treason toward him: wherevpon they all abode in
greate feare. He made the knot of friendship betwéene them and the
_Tlaxcaltecas_, which in time past had bin betwixt them, for _Mutezuma_
and his auncetors made them enimies, with fayre promises, words and
also feare.
The Citizens hauing their generall slayne, chose an other with licence
of _Cortes_.
The Sanctuary or holy place among
_the Indians was Chololla_.
_Chololla_ is a city as _Tlaxcallan_, and hathe but one person who
is gouernour and general Captayne, chosen by the consente of all the
Citizens. It is a Citie of twentie thousande householdes within the
walles, and in the suburbes as muche more. It sheweth outwardes verye
beautifull, and full of towers, for there are as manye temples as dayes
in y^e yeare, & euery temple hath his tower. Our men counted foure
hundred towers. The men and womë are of good disposition well fauoured,
and very wittie.
The women are Goldsmithes and also Caruers, the men are warriers, and
light fellowes, and good maisters for any purpose: they goe better
apparelled than anye other _Indiäs_ yet séene. They weare for their
vtter garmët clokes like vnto Moriscos, but after an other sort. Al
the Countrey rounde aboute them is fruitefull and eareable grounde,
well watered, and so full of people, that there is no wast grounde, in
respect whereof, there are some poore, whiche begge from dore to dore.
The _Spanyardes_ hadde not seene any beggers in that Coütrey before
they came thither.
_Chololla_ is a Citie of most deuotion and Religion in all _India_, it
is called y^e Sanctuary or holy place among y^e _Indians_, and thither
they trauelled from many places farre distante on pilgrimage, and for
this cause there were so many temples.
Their Cathedrall Temple was the best and hyghest of all the new
_Spayne_, with a hundred and twenty steppes vppe vnto it.
The greatest Idoll of all their Gods was called _Quezalcouately_, God
of the ayre, who was (say they) the founder of their Citie, being a
Virgin of holy lyfe, and great penance. He instituted fasting and
drawing of bloud out of their eares and tongs, and lefte a precepte,
that they shoulde sacrifice but onely Quayles, Doues, and other foule.
He neuer ware but one garmente of Cotten, whyche was white, narrow, and
long, and vpon that a mantle besette with certayne redde crosses.
They haue certayne gréene stones whiche were hys, and those they kéepe
for relikes. One of them is lyke an Apes head. Héere they abode twentye
dayes, and in thys meane whyle there came so manye to buy and sell,
that it was a wonder to sée. And one of the things that was to bée
séene in those fayres, was the earthen vessell, which was excéeding
curious and fine.
The hill called Popocatepec.
There is a hill eyght leagues from _Chololla_, called _Popocatepec_,
whiche is to say, a hill of smoke, for manye tymes it casteth oute
smoke and fier. _Cortez_ sente thither tenne _Spanyardes_, with manye
_Indians_, to carrie their victuall, and to guide them in the way. The
ascending vp was very troublesome, and full of craggie rockes. They
approched so nigh the toppe, that they heard such a terrible noyse
which procéeded frö thence, that they durst not goe vnto it, for the
ground dyd tremble and shake, and great quantitie of Ashes whyche
disturbed the way: but yet two of them who séemed to be most hardie,
and desirous to sée straunge things, went vp to the toppe, because they
would not returne with a sleuelesse aunswere, and that they myghte not
be accompted cowardes, leauing their fellowes behinde them, procéeded
forwards. The _Indians_ sayd, what meane these men: for as yet neuer
mortall man tooke suche a iourney in hande.
These two valiät fellowes passed through y^e desert of Ashes, and at
length came vnder a greate smoke verye thicke, and standing there a
while, the darkenesse vanished partly away, and then appeared the
vulcan and concauetie, which was about halfe a league in compasse,
out of the whiche the ayre came rebounding, with a greate noyse, very
shrill, and whistling, in sort that the whole hil did tremble. It
was to be compared vnto an ouen where glasse is made. The smoke and
heate was so greate, that they coulde not abide it, and of force were
constreyned to returne by the way that they had ascended: but they
wer not gone farre, whë the vulcan began to lash out flames of fier,
ashes, and imbers, yea and at the last stones of burning fire: and
if they had not chanced to finde a rocke, where vnder they shadowed
themselues, vndoubtedlye they had there bin burned.
When with good tokens they were returned where they left their
fellowes, the other _Indians_ kissed their garments as an honor due
vnto Gods. They presented vnto them such things as they had, and
wondred much at their facte.
[Sidenote: Purgatory.]
Those simple _Indians_ thoughte, that that place was an infernall
place, where all suche as gouerned not well, or vsed tyrannie in their
offices, were punished when they dyed, and also beléeued, that after
their purgation, they passed into glory.
This vulcan is like vnto the vulcan of _Cicilia_, it is high and round,
and neuer wanteth Snowe about it, and is séene a farre off in the
nighte, it lasheth out flames of fire.
There is néere aboute this hyl many Cities, and _Huexozinco_ is one of
the nighest.
In tenne yeares space this straunge hill of workyng did expell no
vapoure or smoke: but in the yeare .1540. it beganne agayne to burne,
and with the horrible noyse thereof, the neyghbours that dwelte foure
leagues from thence were terrifyed, for the especiall straunge smokes
that then were séene, the like to their predecessors hadde not bin
séene.
The ashes that procéeded from thence came to _Huexozinco_,
_Quelaxcopan_, _Tepiacac_, _Quauhquecholla_, _Chololla_, and
_Tlaxcallan_, whiche standeth tenne leagues from thence, yea some say,
it extended fiftéene leagues distant, and burned their hearbes in their
gardens, their fieldes of corne, trées, and clothes that lay a drying.
The consultation that Mutezuma had,
_concerning the comming of Cortez into Mexico_.
_Cortez_ pretended not to fall out with _Mutezuma_, before his comming
to _Mexico_, and yet he vnderstoode all _Mutezuma_ hys pretence,
wherevppon he complayneth to the Ambassadors, saying that he muche
maruelled that suche a mightie Prince, who by so manye Gentlemen had
assured his friendship vnto him, shoulde nowe procure his totall
destruction, in not kéeping hys promise and fidelitie. In consideration
whereof, where he meant to visit him as a friend, that now he would
goe to his Courte as an enimie. The Ambassadors excused their maisters
cause, besieching him to withdrawe hys furie, and to giue licence to
one of them to goe to _Mexico_, who woulde bryng aunswere from thence
with all spéede.
_Cortes_ graunted vnto the request, the one of them went, and returned
agayne within sixe dayes in company of another messenger that hadde
gone thither before, who broughte tenne platters of golde, and a
thousande fiue hundred mantels of cotten, with much victuall, and
_Cacao_ whiche is a kinde of fruite that serueth for currant money
among them. Likewise they brought a certaine kind of wine or licoure
made of _Cacao_ and _Centli_. They enformed _Cortes_, that _Mutezuma_
was innocente of the coniuration in _Chololla_, nor by anye meanes
priuie to their dealings, affyrming moreouer that the garrison of
souldyers did apperteine to _Acazinco_, and _Acazan_, who were
neyghbors to _Chololla_, who by inducement of some naughtye persons,
had procured that thing, saying that he shuld both sée and vnderstand
him to be his faithful and louing friend, praying him to come forwarde
on his iourney, for he would abide his comming in _Mexico_.
[Sidenote: Prophecie of the Diuell.]
This ambassage pleased well _Cortez_, but _Mutezuma_ feared, when
he hearde of the slaughter, and burning of _Chololla_, and sayde to
his friends, these are the people that our Gods said should come and
inherite this land.
_Mutezuma_ went incontinent to his Oratorie, and shut in himselfe
alone, where he abode in fasting and prayer eyght dayes, with sacrifice
of many menne, to asllake the fury of his Idolles, who séemed to be
offended.