The vvarres of Tepeacac.

TOC

Cortez found himselfe at hearts ease with this answere, for it was a thing y^t had much troubled him: & vndoubtedly if he had followed his fellowes demand, he shoulde neuer haue recouered Mexico agayne, & they likewise had bin slayne in the way towards Vera Crux, for they hadde manye perilous places to passe. Eache one of them waxed whole of his wounds, sauing some which dyed for wāt of loking to in time, leauing their wounds filthy & vnbound, as Surgiōs doe affirme, with also their great trauell & weakenesse. And likewise other some remayned lame and halt, which was no small griefe and losse: but the most parte recouered healthe, as I haue declared. After twenty dayes fully past, whiche they had abode in Tlaxcallan, Cortes determined to make warre with the Indians of Tepeacac, which is a greate Towne, and not farre from thence, for they hadde slayne twelue Spanyards, whiche came from Vera Crux towardes Mexico. Likewise they were of the league of Culhua, and therfore were holpen by the Mexicans, and did many times great hurt to the inhabitantes of Tlaxcallan, as Xicotencatl did testifye. Cortes desired hys louing friende Maxixca, and diuers other Gentlemen, to goe with him, who forthwith entred into counsell wyth the states and comunaltie of the Citie, and there determined with generall consente to gyue vnto him fortie thousand fighting men, besides many Tamemoz, who are foote carriers, to beare the baggage, victuall, and other things. With this number of Tlaxcaltecas, his owne men and horses, he wente to Tepeacac, requiring them in satisfaction of the death of y^e twelue Christiās that they shuld now yéelde themselues to the obedience of the Emperor, and that héereafter neuer more to receiue any Mexican into theyr towne or houses, neyther yet any of the prouince of Culhua.

The Tepeacacs answered, that they had slaine the Spaniardes for good and iuste cause, whiche was, that being tyme of warre they presumed to passe through their countrey by force, without their will and licence. And also that the Mexicans and Culhuacans were their friendes and Lordes, whom alwayes they would friendly entertayne within their towne and houses, refusing vtterly their offer and request, protesting to giue no obedience to whom they knew not, wishyng them therefore, to returne incontinent to Tlaxcallan, excepte they had desire to ende their werie dayes.

Cortes innuited them diuers times with peace, and seing it preuailed not, he begā his warres in earnest. Their enimies lykewise with the fauour of the Culhuacans were braue and lustie, and began to stoppe and defend their pretended entraunce. And they beyng many in number, with diuers valiant men among them, began to skirmishe sundry times, but at the end, they were ouerthrowen, and many slayne, without killing any Spaniarde, although many Tlaxcaltecas were killed that day.

The Lordes and principall persons of Tepeacac seyng theyr ouerthrow, and that their strength coulde not preuayle, yéelded themselues vnto Cortes for vassalles of the Emperour, with condition to banish for euer their allied friendes of Culhua. And that he should punishe and correct at his will and pleasure, all those whiche were occasion of the death of the twelue Spaniardes. For which causes and obstinacie, at the firste Cortes iudged by his sentence, that all the townes whiche had bene priuie to the murder, should for euer remaine captiues and slaues: others affirme that he ouercame them without any condition, and corrected them for their disobedience, being Sodomites, idolaters and eaters of mans flesh, and chiefly for exāple of all others. And in conclusion, they were condemned for slaues, and within twenty daies that these warres lasted, he pacified all that prouince, which is very great: he draue from thēce the Culhuacans: he threw downe the idols, and the chiefest persons obeyed him. And for more assuraunce he builte there a towne, naming it Segura de la Frontera: he appoynted all officers for the purpose, being a towne situated in the high way from Vera Crux to Mexico, whereby the Christians and straungers mighte passe without daunger. In these warres serued lyke faithfull friendes the Indians of Tlaxcallan, Huexocinco and Cholalla, promysing the lyke seruice and succour agaynst Mexico, yea and rather better than worse. With this victory the Spaniardes recouered great fame, for they were thought to haue bene slayne.