Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
THE MEMOIRS
OF THE
CONQUISTADOR BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF
CONTAINING A TRUE AND FULL ACCOUNT
OF THE
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST
OF
MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN
TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH BY
JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, F.R.A.S.
AUTHOR OF "ATTICA AND ATHENS"
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOL. II
LONDON
J. HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY
MDCCCXLIV.
C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.
CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
PAGE
CHAP. CXXXVII. How the whole of us marched towards Tezcuco, and
what happened to us on our way there 1
CHAP. CXXXVIII. How we marched against Iztapalapan; Cortes taking
along with him Alvarado and Oli; while Sandoval was left behind to
protect Tezcuco 6
CHAP. CXXXIX. How ambassadors arrive in Tezcuco from three
neighbouring townships, to sue for peace, and to beg forgiveness for
the murder of several Spaniards who had fallen into their hands; and
how Sandoval marched to Chalco and Tlalmanalco, to assist the
inhabitants there against the Mexicans 8
CHAP. CXL. How Sandoval marches to Tlascalla in order to fetch the
woodwork for building the brigantines, and what happened to him in a
place which we termed the Moorish town 15
CHAP. CXLI. How Cortes marches against the town of Xaltocan, which
lay in the midst of the lake, about twenty-four miles from Mexico,
and from thence proceeds to other townships 18
CHAP. CXLII. How the captain Sandoval marches to Chalco and
Tlalmanalco, and what he did there 26
CHAP. CXLIII. How we marked our slaves at Tezcuco with a red-hot
iron, and received intelligence that a vessel had run into Vera
Cruz 31
CHAP. CXLIV. How Cortes made a hostile excursion to all the cities
and larger townships which lay round about the lake, and what
happened on that occasion 34
CHAP. CXLV. The terrible thirst we suffered on our further march;
our dangerous position at Xochimilco, and the many battles we fought
there with the Mexicans, until our return to Tezcuco 42
CHAP. CXLVI. How we discover, on our return to Tezcuco, that a
conspiracy had been set on foot by the men of Narvaez's troops to
murder Cortes, and all who were of his party; of the author of this
conspiracy; his punishment; and of other matters 53
CHAP. CXLVII. How Cortes issues orders to the inhabitants of all the
townships in the neighbourhood of Tezcuco which were allied with us,
to furnish us with arrows and copper points for the same, and what
further took place at our head-quarters 55
CHAP. CXLVIII. How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops at
Tezcuco; and of his further dispositions for conducting the siege of
Mexico 57
CHAP. CXLIX. The manner in which Cortes selects the men who were to
row the brigantines; of the commanders who were appointed to each;
and of other matters 58
CHAP. CL. Of Cortes' further dispositions for the siege 60
CHAP. CLI. How Cortes assigns particular stations to the twelve
brigantines, the thirteenth being considered unfit for service 68
CHAP. CLII. How the Mexicans defeated Cortes, and took sixty-two of
his men prisoners, who were sacrificed to their idols; our general
himself being wounded in the leg 81
CHAP. CLIII. The new plan of operation which we adopt in the siege,
and how all our allies return to their several homes 91
CHAP. CLIV. How Cortes offers terms of peace to Quauhtemoctzin 97
CHAP. CLV. How Gonzalo de Sandoval marches against the provinces
which had sent their troops to cooperate with Quauhtemoctzin 100
CHAP. CLVI. How Quauhtemoctzin was taken prisoner 107
CHAP. CLVII. How Cortes orders the aqueduct of Chapultepec to be
restored; and of various other matters 116
CHAP. CLVIII. How a certain Christobal de Tapia arrived in Vera
Cruz, with the appointment of governor of New Spain 122
CHAP. CLIX. How Cortes and the officers of the crown forward to
Spain the wardrobe of Motecusuma, and the emperor's share of the
booty; and what further happened 131
CHAP. CLX. How Sandoval arrives in the town of Tustepec; what he
did there; his march to the river Guacasualco, and what further
happened 137
CHAP. CLXI. How Alvarado marches to the province of Tutepec to build
a town there; and how far he succeeded in subduing the country, and
in founding a colony 145
CHAP. CLXII. How Francisco de Garay arrives with an extensive
armament in the river Panuco; how far he was successful; and of many
other circumstances 148
CHAP. CLXIII. How the licentiate Zuazo set sail for New Spain in a
small vessel, accompanied by two monks of the order of Charity; and
their remarkable adventures on this voyage 163
CHAP. CLXIV. How Cortes despatched Alvarado to subdue the province
of Guatimala, and to found a colony there 165
CHAP. CLXV. How Cortes despatched an armament, under Christobal de
Oli, to the Higueras and Honduras, to subject these provinces; and
what further took place during this expedition 173
CHAP. CLXVI. How we who were left behind in Guacasualco were
constantly occupied in tranquillising the rebellious provinces; how
Luis Marin, by command of Cortes, marches into Chiapa, to subject
that province; myself and father Juan de las Varillas being
particularly desired by Cortes to join him in this campaign 177
CHAP. CLXVII. How our agents in Spain brought certain accusations
against the bishop of Burgos, and what further happened 195
CHAP. CLXVIII. How Narvaez, Christobal de Tapia, the pilot Umbria,
and the soldier Cardenas bring heavy accusations against Cortes, at
the instigation of the bishop of Burgos, and what judgment his
majesty pronounced 198
CHAP. CLXIX. Of Cortes' plans after he had obtained the appointment
of governor of New Spain; the way in which he distributes the
Indians; and of other matters 210
CHAP. CLXX. How Cortes sends a present to his majesty; 80,000 pesos
in gold and silver, besides a magnificent field-piece made of silver
and gold, covered with various beautiful figures; also how he sends
his father Martin Cortes above 5000 pesos 219
CHAP. CLXXI. How twelve monks of the order of St. Francis, with the
vicar-general and father-superior Martin de Valencia, arrive at Vera
Cruz, and how they are received by Cortes 221
CHAP. CLXXII. How Cortes sends his majesty 30,000 pesos worth of
gold, with an account of the conversion of the Indians, the
rebuilding of the city of Mexico, and of the expedition of
Christobal de Oli to the Honduras; also how the vessel which
conveyed this gold at the same time carried secret letters to Spain,
written by the royal accountant Rodrigo de Albornoz, in which Cortes
and the whole of the veteran Conquistadores were calumniated in the
vilest manner 224
CHAP. CLXXIII. How Cortes sent out a captain named Francisco de Las
Casas against Christobal de Oli, on receiving intelligence that this
officer had made common cause with Diego Velasquez, and had
renounced all further obedience to him 228
CHAP. CLXXIV. How Cortes himself marches at the head of his troops
to the Honduras in search of Christobal de Oli; of the officers and
men he selected on this occasion, and of other matters 233
CHAP. CLXXV. How we commence our march from Guacasualco, and the
terrible fatigues and hardship we had to undergo for the space of
two years and three months 238
CHAP. CLXXVI. How Cortes, on our arrival at Ciguatepec, despatches
Francisco de Medina in search of Simon de Cuenca, with orders for
the latter to repair with the two vessels to Triunfo de la Cruz; and
what further happened 245
CHAP. CLXXVII. Cortes' further plans after his arrival among the
Acallan townships; how he orders the powerful cazique of Mexico
Quauhtemoctzin and the king of Tlacupa to be hung; his reasons for
doing this; and of other matters 250
CHAP. CLXXVIII. We continue our march, and what further happened to
us 255
CHAP. CLXXIX. How Cortes entered the town founded by Gil Gonsalez de
Avila; the great joy of the inhabitants at his arrival, and what he
further did there 265
CHAP. CLXXX. How eighty of us, on the second day after our arrival
in Buena Vista, marched out under the command of Luis Marin to
explore the country and to search for provisions 266
CHAP. CLXXXI. How Cortes embarks, with the soldiers who accompanied
him on this expedition, and with all the inhabitants of Buena Vista,
for Puerto de Caballos, where he founds a colony, to which he gives
the name of Natividad 269
CHAP. CLXXXII. Sandoval commences to subdue the province of Naco,
and the opposition he meets with from the natives 272
CHAP. CLXXXIII. How Cortes disembarks in the harbour of Truxillo,
and the inhabitants rejoice at his arrival 273
CHAP. CLXXXIV. How Sandoval, during our stay at Naco, takes forty
Spanish soldiers with their captain prisoners, who, on their march
from the province of Nicaragua, had everywhere plundered and
otherwise ill-used the inhabitants 277
CHAP. CLXXXV. How Cortes receives a letter from the licentiate Zuazo
out of the Havannah, and of its contents 281
CHAP. CLXXXVI. How Pedro Arias de Avila is apprized by two of his
confidants that Francisco Hernandez was in close correspondence with
Cortes, and about to declare his independence of him; the steps
which Arias took upon this 289
CHAP. CLXXXVII. How Cortes, after setting sail, was twice obliged to
put back into the harbour of Truxillo; and what further happened 290
CHAP. CLXXXVIII. How Cortes despatches one of his servants, named
Martin de Orantes, to Mexico, with letters to Francisco de las Casas
and Pedro de Alvarado, in which he empowers them to take upon
themselves the chief government of New Spain; but in case they were
absent he conferred the same power on Estrada and Albornoz 292
CHAP. CLXXXIX. How the treasurer, with several other cavaliers,
requested the Franciscan monks to despatch father Diego de
Altamirano, a relation of Cortes, to Truxillo, to desire our general
to hasten his departure for Mexico 296
CHAP. CXC. Cortes sets sail from the Havannah, and has a favorable
passage to Vera Cruz, where he is received with the greatest
rejoicings 300
CHAP. CXCI. How the licentiate Luis Ponce de Leon, who was
commissioned to make inquiries into Cortes' government of New Spain,
arrives in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua 303
CHAP. CXCII. How the licentiate commences the investigation against
Cortes, and all those persons who had filled judicial offices; and
how he fell ill shortly after, and died 309
CHAP. CXCIII. How, after the death of Ponce de Leon, Marcos de
Aguilar assumes the government; the disputes which arose in
consequence, and of other matters 311
CHAP. CXCIV. Marcos de Aguilar dies, and in his will appoints the
treasurer Alonso de Estrada governor; and of other matters 318
CHAP. CXCV. How Cortes receives letters from the Cardinal de
Siguenza, then president of the council of the Indies, and from
several other cavaliers, advising him to repair to Spain without
delay; the death of his father Martin Cortes; and of other
matters 326
CHAP. CXCVI. How the royal court of audience arrive in Mexico during
Cortes' stay in Spain, and what their first occupations were 336
CHAP. CXCVII. How Nuno de Guzman, on the intelligence that the
emperor had cashiered the royal court of audience, determines to
subdue the province of Xalisco, at present called New Galicia 343
CHAP. CXCVIII. The arrival of the new members of the royal court of
audience in Mexico 344
CHAP. CXCIX. Cortes returns to New Spain as marquis del Valle
Oaxaca, and captain-general of New Spain and of the South Sea,
accompanied by his wife Dona Maria de Zuniga, and father Leguizamo
and other monks 348
CHAP. CC. Of the vast expenses to which the marquis Hernando Cortes
put himself in fitting out the expeditions to the South Sea, and of
their unfortunate termination 349
CHAP. CCI. Of the great festivities which took place in Mexico on
account of the peace which was concluded between our emperor and the
king of France; and of Cortes' second journey to Spain 355
CHAP. CCII. How the viceroy sends out a squadron of three vessels
into the South Sea to the assistance of Francisco Vasquez Coronado,
in the conquest of Cibola 357
CHAP. CCIII. Of a very extensive armament which was fitted out by
Alvarado in the year 1537 ib.
CHAP. CCIV. What befel the marquis del Valle on his second visit to
Spain 363
CHAP. CCV. Of the brave officers and soldiers who sailed from the
island of Cuba with the fortunate and spirited captain Hernando
Cortes, afterwards marquis del Valle 370
CHAP. CCVI. Of the stature and outward person of several brave
officers and soldiers, and of their age when they first joined
Cortes 383
CHAP. CCVII. Of the great merit which is due to us, the true
Conquistadores 387
CHAP. CCVIII. Of the human sacrifices and abominations practised by
the inhabitants of New Spain; how we abolished these, and introduced
the holy Christian faith into the country 388
CHAP. CCIX. How we introduced the Christian religion among the
Indians; of their conversion and baptism; and of the different
trades we taught them 390
CHAP. CCX. Of other advantages which arose from our glorious
conquests 393
CHAP. CCXI. The deliberations which took place at Valladolid in the
year 1550, in the royal council of the Indies, respecting the
distribution of Indians in perpetuity 398
CHAP. CCXII. Of various remarks which were made respecting my
history, which the reader will be pleased to hear 401
CHAP. CCXIII. Of the planets and signs in the heavens which
prognosticated our arrival in New Spain; how these were interpreted
by the Mexicans; and of other matters 406
NOTES 411
[Transcriber's Note: Footnote 54 was missing from the original text and
has, therefore, been inserted at the appropriate place.
The following errata have been corrected in the text.]
ERRATA.
P. 141, _l._ 32, _for_ then, _read_ there.
165, 19, _for_ Guanaca, _read_ Guaxaca.
199, 15, _for_ with, _read_ and.
345, 38, _omit_ to be.
354, 22, _for_ forgot, _read_ forget.
366, 6, _for_ enbonpoint, _read_ embonpoint.
CONQUEST
OF
MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN.
CHAPTER CXXXVII.
_How the whole of us marched towards Tezcuco, and what happened to
us on our way there._
When Cortes found himself so well provided again with muskets, powder,
crossbows, and horses, and observed how impatient the whole of us,
officers as well as soldiers, were to commence the siege of the great
city of Mexico, he desired the caziques of Tlascalla to furnish him with
10,000 of their troops to join us in the campaign of Tezcuco, as this
was one of the largest towns of New Spain, and next in importance to
Mexico. The elder Xicotencatl (now called Don Lorenzo de Vargas) assured
him that not only the 10,000, but many more troops were at his service,
and that the brave cazique Chichimeclatecl, our particular friend, would
himself march out at their head. Cortes returned him the most sincere
thanks, and, after having reviewed the whole of his troops, whose exact
number[1] I have forgotten, we commenced our march on the fourth day
after Christmas of the year 1520.
The first night we quartered in a township which was subject to Tezcuco,
and were provided with everything we required. From this place we
arrived on the Mexican territory, where, if possible, we observed still
greater precaution, and always had four of the horse-patrol and an equal
number of foot in advance to explore the defiles, as we had been
informed on our march that a very formidable mountain pass had been
blocked up by large trees which the enemy had felled when notice of our
approach was received in Mexico and Tezcuco. During this day's march,
however, we met with no kind of obstacle, and quartered ourselves for
the night about twelve miles further on, at the foot of a mountain.
Here we found it very cold, but kept a sharp look out. With break of day
we continued our march further up the mountain, and speedily arrived
where the mountain pass had been blocked up by felled trees, and a deep
hollow had been made; but as we had great numbers of Tlascallans with
us, we soon managed to clear away the trees, and to fill up the hole, so
as to enable our cavalry to pass over, a company of crossbow-men and
musketeers marching in advance. We now ascended the mountain for some
time, and then descended a little, until we came to a spot whence we had
a fine view of the lake of Mexico and its large towns standing in the
midst of the water.
As soon as we beheld this city again, we thanked the Almighty for having
conducted us thus far, and we promised ourselves to act more prudently
in this campaign against Mexico than we had done previously. On
descending this mountain, we observed numbers of signal fires about
Tezcuco and the townships subject to it, and when we had arrived at
another formidable pass, we came up with a large body of Mexicans and
Tezcucans. They were waiting our arrival near a bridge which had been
half burnt down, the water being of considerable depth. We, however,
soon put the enemy to flight, and got safely on the opposite side,
though our enemies still continued to yell fearfully from out the
defiles and other places where we could not get at them, but that was
all they did.
Although it was impossible for our cavalry to manoeuvre here, our
friends the Tlascallans did not remain inactive, for they spread
themselves about the country, and carried off everything they could lay
their hands on, although Cortes had ordered that no hostilities should
commence unless the enemy attacked us first; the Tlascallans, however,
maintained that if these Tezcucans had been friendly inclined towards
us, they would not have marched out against us as far as the bridge to
stop our further progress.
The night following we took up our quarters in another township under
Tezcuco. Here the whole of the inhabitants had fled; nevertheless we
took every precaution, as we were almost sure we should be attacked by a
vast body of Mexicans who were lying in wait for us in another mountain
pass; this we had learnt from five Mexicans whom we had taken prisoners
at the bridge just mentioned, but we afterwards heard that they had not
dared to run the risk of an engagement with us, and had, consequently,
marched off their troops; besides which, at that time, the Mexicans and
Tezcucans were not upon the best of terms with each other; and the
smallpox was raging throughout the whole of this district, so that they
were not able to bring many warriors into the field; while our recent
victories over the Mexican garrisons of Quauquecholla, Itztucan,
Tepeaca, Xalatzinco, and Castilblanco, had spread terror through the
country, and it was firmly believed that the united forces of
Huexotzinco and Tlascalla had joined us in this campaign.
The spot where we had encamped for the night may have been about eight
miles from Tezcuco, which we left at break of day, and observed every
military precaution as we passed along. We had scarcely proceeded a
couple of miles when our scouts came in with the glad tidings to Cortes
that about ten Indians were approaching, all unarmed, and bearing a
species of golden banner: neither had they, on passing by any dwellings
or plantations, been assailed by such terrible yells as on the day
before; but everything wore the aspect of peace. Cortes and the whole of
us were delighted with these good omens, and we halted for some time to
rest a little. Seven distinguished Tezcucans now came up, carrying a
golden banner at the point of a long lance, which they lowered, in token
of peace, as they approached nearer to us. When they had arrived in the
presence of Cortes, who had Dona Marina and Aguilar standing at his
side, they addressed him as follows: "Malinche, our lord and master
Coanacotzin,[2] the king of Tezcuco, has sent us to you to beg of you to
take him into your friendship. He awaits you in his city of Tezcuco;
and, in token of peace, he sends you this golden banner: at the same
time he requests you will command your brothers and the Tlascallans not
to commit any depredations in his country, and wishes you to take up
your quarters in his city, where he will provide you with everything you
may require."
These persons likewise assured us that the troops which lay in wait for
us in the defiles and mountain passes were not of Tezcuco, but the whole
of them were Mexicans sent out against us by Quauhtemoctzin. Cortes and
the whole of us were overjoyed at the message which the king of Tezcuco
had sent us. He embraced the ambassadors and three of them most
affectionately, for they were relatives of Motecusuma, and well known to
most of us as having been officers of that monarch. Our general then
ordered the Tlascallan chiefs into his presence, and strictly enjoined
them not to allow their men to commit any depredations in this country,
nor injure any one, as we were at peace with the inhabitants. These
orders they obeyed, though they were not so very particular as to the
manner in which they procured themselves provisions, as every house had
a plentiful supply of maise, beans, dogs, and fowls.
Cortes, however, suspected the Tezcucans were not in earnest in sueing
for peace, and deliberated with our officers on the subject, who were
all of the same opinion, and observed that if the Tezcucans had been
honestly inclined they would not have come in so great a hurry, and
would have brought provisions with them. Cortes, nevertheless, accepted
of the golden banner, which may have been worth about eighty pesos; he
thanked the ambassadors, and assured them that it was not our custom to
ill-use any of our emperor's subjects; on the contrary, they always
experienced the kindest treatment from us. This they themselves would
find to be true, if they abided faithfully by the peace they now sought
of us; he had also commanded the Tlascallans not to injure any of the
inhabitants; but as the Tezcucans on our retreat from Mexico had
murdered upwards of forty Spaniards and 200 Tlascallans, and plundered
them of all they possessed, he must demand of their king Coanacotzin,
and of the caziques of Tezcuco, restitution of the stolen property, and
if they delivered up this to him he would pardon the murder of the
Spaniards, whom they could not restore to us again. The ambassadors
replied, that they would faithfully communicate all this to their
monarch, but assured us that the teules he spoke of were, by order of
Cuitlahuatzin, all sent to Mexico with everything they had possessed,
and were there sacrificed to Huitzilopochtli.
Cortes, not wishing to intimidate them, made no further reply, but
desired one of them to remain with us and dismissed the others in peace.
The next place we came to was one of the suburban villages of Tezcuco,
but I have forgotten its name. Here we were furnished with excellent
provisions and every other necessary. On our road we destroyed some
idols which we found in a large building where we stopped. The next
morning we entered Tezcuco itself, and it immediately struck us as
singular that we should neither meet with women nor children, but only
with grown up men, who all appeared very shy of us, as if they were
about to commence hostilities. Notwithstanding this we took up our
quarters here, but Cortes gave strict commands that none of the officers
or men should stir out of the large courtyards adjoining our quarters,
and to be altogether upon their guard, as the inhabitants did not appear
very peaceably inclined, and it was necessary we should first see how
matters stood.
Alvarado and Oli with several soldiers, among which number I was myself,
were ordered to take possession of the great cu, which was very high,
and to take with us twenty musketeers as a guard. From which place we
were narrowly to watch the town and lake, of which we had an excellent
view from this height. We had no sooner arrived at the top of the temple
than we espied the inhabitants of this and the surrounding townships
running off with all they possessed; some fleeing to the mountains,
others again concealing themselves in those parts of the lake which were
thickly grown with reeds; the lake itself being crowded with large and
small canoes.
Information of this was immediately forwarded to Cortes, who then
determined to seize the king of Tezcuco, who had sent him the golden
banner, but was informed by the papas, whom he had despatched to call
their monarch, that he had fled with several distinguished personages to
Mexico.
In this way the first night passed away, during which time we kept a
vigilant look out, posted our sentinels in all directions, and made
frequent patrols. The next morning, very early, Cortes sent for the
chief authorities of the town, of whom many were opposed to the runaway
monarch, as they were at issue with him on various points respecting the
privileges he exercised in governing the town. When these made their
appearance, he desired them to detail every circumstance to him, and
inquired of them how long Coanacotzin had been king. They replied, that
Coanacotzin, in order to raise himself to the throne, had murdered his
elder brother, the former regent; and that this was done in secret
understanding with Cuitlahuatzin, who had attacked and driven us out of
Mexico after the death of Motecusuma; but that there were other persons
in the town who had a nearer claim to the crown of Tezcuco, particularly
one young man, who was indeed the rightful heir. This young man shortly
after became a convert to Christianity, and was baptized with great
solemnity by father Olmedo, and named after his godfather, Don Hernando
Cortes.[3] He was the lawful son of the former prince of Tezcuco,
Nezahal Pintzintli.[4] He was, therefore, without any further delay
raised to the throne, and installed with all due solemnity, to the great
satisfaction of the inhabitants, who obeyed the new king with the best
of good will. That, however, he might be thoroughly confirmed in our
holy religion, learn the art of governing, and the Spanish language,
Cortes gave him for stewards the bachelor Escobar, and Antonio de
Villareal, who was married to the beautiful Isabella de Ojeda. The brave
Pedro Sanchez Farsan, whose wife was the courageous and excellent Maria
de Estrada, was appointed commandant of the town, and he was
particularly cautioned not to allow the king to have any communication
with the Mexicans. This prince subsequently rendered us the greatest
services; and he was greatly esteemed and beloved by his subjects. The
first thing Cortes required of him at present was a sufficient number
of hands to assist us in launching the brigantines when they should be
completed, and to lengthen and deepen the canals where they were to be
launched; he then informed the king and chief personages of Tezcuco for
what he intended these vessels, and of his determination to inclose
Mexico on all sides. They not only declared their willingness to
cooperate with us, but even sent messengers to the neighbouring
townships, inviting them to seek our friendship, subject themselves to
our emperor, and declare war against Mexico.
The whole of our troops were now divided into companies, to each one was
assigned some particular station, which, indeed, was very necessary, as
Quauhtemoctzin sent out from time to time numbers of large pirogues and
canoes, to see whether we were off our guard or not.
About this time several tribes which were subject to Tezcuco came to sue
for peace with us and beg forgiveness, if we thought they had been any
way implicated in the late murders of our countrymen. Cortes received
them most kindly, and took them into his friendship. The building of our
brigantines was now rapidly continued, and there were every day from
seven to eight thousand Indians employed to lengthen and deepen one of
the canals. As we had an equal number of Tlascallans in our service, who
greatly desired to heap up honour for themselves in assisting us against
the Mexicans, Cortes easily persuaded them to accompany him in an
expedition against Iztapalapan, through which town we had passed on our
first march to Mexico. Cuitlahuatzin, the king of this township, had
been raised to the throne of Mexico, after the death of Motecusuma, and
the inhabitants had done us considerable damage, and were continually
committing their depredations on the townships of Chalco, Tlalmanalco,
Amaquemecan, and Chimalhuacan, because these had entered into alliance
with us. We had now been twelve days in Tezcuco without having achieved
any thing worthy of mention, and therefore determined to open the
campaign against Iztapalapan.