An embassage that Mutezuma sente to Hernando Cortez.

TOC

A carefull Captayne.

When these espyes were gone, oure men espyed out of our Campe a great multitude of men goe crossing ouer a hill, and it séemed that they were those that the Captayne Xicotencatl hadde in ambush: and although it was néere night, Cortes determined to followe them, and not to abide their comming, fearing that at a first brunt they mighte set fire among his cotages, as was pretended among them, whiche pretence hauing taken effecte, myght haue bin the destruction of all his men, eyther by the fier or otherwise: wherefore he put all his men in good order, and commaunded the Horsemenne to decke the brest plates of hys Horses with belles, and then procéeded towarde their enimies, who durst not abide their comming, hauing intelligence of the cutting of their espyes hands, and likewise hearing the new noyse of belles: yet oure men followed them tyll two houres within night, through many sowen fieldes of Centli, and slew many of thē, and then returned with victorie to the Campe.

Ambassage from Mutezuma.

At that season were come sixe noble men from Mexico, who brought two hundred seruing men to wayt vpon them. They brought vnto Cortes a present, whiche was a hundred garments of cotten, and some of feathers, and a thousand péeces of golde.

Excuses.

These ambassadors on the behalfe of Mutezuma, declared, that their Lord would be friende with the Emperoure, and also with him, and his company, requestyng to knowe what tribute he woulde yearely demaunde, in golde, plate, pearles, slaues, or garments, or of any other thing that was within his kingdome, and the same tribute he woulde well and truly pay withoute delay, wyth such condition, that neyther he nor his company shoulde come vnto Mexico. And this request (quoth they) is not only bycause you should bée disturbed to come into hys countrey, but chiefly bycause the waye is euill, barren, and full of euill rockes, whyche lette dothe gréeue Mutezuma, that suche valiant menne as ye be shoulde suffer in his Countrey, lying not in hys power to remedie it.

Cortez dyd thankefully receyue the present and gentle offer for the Emperoure King of Castile, but (quoth hée) my earnest desire is, that you depart not til ye sée the end of these warres whyche I haue nowe in hande, bycause yée shall carrie newes thereof to Mexico, what I pretende to doe againste these mortall enimies of Mutezuma.

Then Cortez fel into an ague, for which cause he went not out to skyrmish as he was wonte to do, but only prouided to make his Camp strong against certaine flockes of Indians, whiche came dayly to skirmishe, for that was as ordinarie, as the meate that was wont to be broughte to thē: but yet these skirmishes nor furie of y^e Indiās were not like to their fierce beginning.

Cortez now meaneth to take a purgation for his ague: and tooke certayne pilles whiche he broughte with him from Cuba, at suche houre of the nighte as is vsed for purgations.

It happened that the nexte daye following, before hys purge had wrought, came thrée great companies of Indians to besiege his Camp. It should séeme that those Indians had some intelligence of his sicknesse, or else thinking with feare that he durst not come abroade as he was wont to doe.

A valiant Captayne.

Cortes being aduertised of this newes, withoute anye more respect to his purgation taken, tooke his horse, and with his menne came to the encounter, and foughte with his enimies all day till it was nighte, and draue them a good way off, to their great hurt, and then returned to his Camp, and the next day following, he purged as fresh, as though it had bin newly taken. I doe not rehearse thys for a miracle but to declare what he passed: for Hernando Cortez was a greate sufferer of trauell and paynes, and one of y^e firste that alway was at any assay or brunt of enimies, and he was not onely a good man of his handes, but also graue in counsell. And hauing thus purged hym selfe, and taken rest those dayes, he watched euery night that fell to his lotte, as well as any other souldier, and so continually he vsed to do. He was not for this the lesse estéemed, but rather muche the more beloued among hys men.