Hovv Cortez tooke Tezcuco.

TOC

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, fearing 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 side 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 vpwards on this hill, and sente hys scoute of foure footemen and foure horsemen to discouer, who found the way stopped with great trées newly cutte downe, and placed crossewise in the way: but they thynking that yet forwards it was not so, procéeded forthe as well as they might, till at length the let with great hugie trées was such, that they could passe no further, and with this newes 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 no, wherevppon he procéeded forwarde with all the Horsemen, and a thousande footemen, commaundyng all the residue of hys armye to followe hym wyth as muche spéede as myghte bée, 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 armye 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 commying: 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 Campe 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 commaundements 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 plenteously 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 chābers, placing euery thing in good order. In the euening they went vp into the Zoties 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 coūtrey, who was also last christened, & had to name Hernādo, Cortes being his godfather, who loued him well, sayde vnto the citizens, that this new Christian lord, Don Hernādo, was sonne vnto Nezaualpincintli their louing Lord, wherfore he required them to make him their king, considering that Coacnacoyocin, 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 sent them backe againe, requiring their Lords of peace and friendshippe: but it preuayled not, for they were fully armed for the warre.

A good correction.

At this instante certaine friendes of Iames Velasquez went vp and downe the Campe, procuring secretly a mutenie among the souldiers, to haue them to returne to Cuba, and vtterly to destroy Cortes his procéedings. This thing was not so secretly wrought, but that Cortes had knowledge, wherevppon he apprehended the doers thereof, and by their confessions the matter did plainely appeare, whervpon he condemned to death one Antonio de Villafania, who was natural of Samora, and forthwith executed the sentence, wherwith the punishment and Mutinie was ended, and ceassed.