The Vergantines that Cortez commaunded to be built, and the Spaniardes which he had ioyned togither to besiege Mexico.

TOC

The fame of prosperitie whiche Cortes enioyed, was wonderfully blowen abroade with the newes of the imprisonment of Mutezuma, and the victory against Pamfilo de Naruaez, wherevppon there came many Spaniardes by twenty and twentie in a company from Cuba, Santo Domingo, and other Ilandes. Although that iourney coste some their liues, for in the way they were murdered by those of Tepeacac and Xalacinco, as is before declared, yet notwithstanding there came many to Tlaxcallan, whereby his hoste was muche encreased, beséechyng him to make haste towarde the warres.

It was not possible for Cortes to haue espies in Mexico, for the Tlaxcaltecas were knowen by their lippes, eares, and other tokens, and also they had in Mexico garde and greate enquirie for that purpose, by reason wherof he could not certainely knowe what passed in those parties, accordyng as he desired, for to haue prouided himself of things néedefull: yet a Captayne whiche was taken prysoner in Huacacholla, certified that Cuetlauac Lorde of Iztacpalapan, Neuewe to Mutezuma, was elected Emperour after his Vncles death, who was a wise and valiant man, and hée it was that had dryuen Cortes out of Mexico, who now had fortified Mexico with many bulworkes and caues, and with many and sundry sortes of weapon, but chiefly very long Lances, yea and planted them in the grounde to resiste and molest the horsemen. He proclaymed pardon and frée libertie, without paying any tribute for the space of one whole yéere, yea and further as long as the warres should laste, he promysed also great rewardes to all them that shoulde kill any Christian, or expulse them from that countrey. This was a policie whereby he gatte muche credite among his vassals, yea and gaue them greate courage to play the valiant men. All this newes was founde to be true, sauyng onely Cuetlauac was dead. And that Quahutimoccin, Neuew also, as some doe say, of Mutezuma, raygned at that tyme, who was a valiant man and a good warrier, as hereafter shalbe declared, who sente his messengers through out his Empyre, proclaymyng as great rewardes as Cuetlauac had done before, declaryng vnto them that it was more reason to serue him than straungers, and also to defende theyr olde auncient Religion, and not to credite suche Christians as woulde make themselues Lordes of other mens goodes, yea and make them slaues and captiues as they had done in other places. Quahutimoc encouraged muche his subiectes, and kindled with his talke their wrath agaynst the Spaniards: yet there were some prouinces that gaue no eare to his information, but rather leaned to our side, or else medled with neyther side. Cortes seyng the effect of the matter, determined forthwith to beginne the warres: he mustered his men on Sainct Steuens day, and founde fourtie horsemen, and fiue hundreth & fourtie footemen, wherof foure score were Hargabushiers, and crossebow men, niene péeces of ordinaunce, and little powder: his horsemen he diuided into foure squares, and his footemen into nine: he named & appointed captaynes, and other officers for the host, vnto whom in general he spake as followeth.