The cause of the burnyng of Qualpopoca.

TOC

At the time that Cortes departed from Vera Crux, he left in cōmission to Pedro Hircio, to procure to inhabite in that place which is called Almeria, & not to permit Francisco de Garray to soiourne there, for so much as once he was driuen frō that coast. Now Hircio to fulfill his cōmission, sente to requyre those Indians with peace and friēdship, and to yéeld themselues for vassals of the Emperour. Qualpopoca Lorde of Nahutlan, which is now called as aforesaid Almeria, sent to aduertise Pedro Hircio, that he could not come to yéelde his obedience, for the enimies that were in the way: but if it would please him to sende some of his men, for the securitie of the way, he would willyngly come vnto him.

Hircio hearing this answere, sent foure of his men, giuing credite to his message, and for the desire he hadde to inhabite there.

When the foure Spanyardes came into the prouince of Nahutlan, there mette with them many armed men, who slew two of them, and made thereof a great triumph: the other two escaped sore wounded, and returned with that newes to the Towne of Vera Crux. Pedro Hircio beléeuing that Qualpopoca had done that iniurie, armed out agaynst hym fiftie Spanyardes, and ten thousand Indians of Zempoallan, with two horses, and two péeces of Ordinance.

Qualpopoca hearing this newes, came with a mightie power to driue them out of his Countrey, and in that encounter, seauen Spanyardes were slayne, and many Zempoallanezes, but at the ende he was ouercome, his Countrey spoyled, and Towne sacked, and many of his army slaine and taken captiues. The prisoners declared, that by the commaundement of the greate Lorde Mutezuma, all this vprore was attempted by Qualpopoca: it mighte well be, for at the houre of death they confessed the same. But some affirme, they sayde so, but to excuse themselues, and to lay the fault to the Mexicans. Hircio wrote these newes to Cortez béeyng in Chololla, and through these letters Cortez apprehended Mutezuma (as is afore declared.)