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.

The exhortation of Cortez to his Souldiers.

[TOC]

My louyng brethren, I gyue moste hartie thankes vnto Iesu Christ, to sée you now whole of your woundes and frée from diseases: likewise I muche reioyce to sée you in good order trimly armed, yea and with suche desire to sette agayne vpon Mexico, to reuenge the death of our fellowes, and to winne that greate Citie, the whiche I truste in God shalbe brought to passe in shorte time, hauing the friendship of Tlaxcallan and other prouinces, who haue as great desire to sée the ouerthrowe of the Mexicans, as we our selues, for therein they gette both honour, libertie & safegarde of life. Also it is to be considered, that if the victory should not be ours, they poore soules should be destroyed and remaine in perpetuall captiuitie. Also the Culhuacans do abhorre them worse than vs, for receyuing vs into their houses and countrey: therefore sure I am that they will sticke vnto vs vnfaynedly. I muste néedes confesse their vnfayned friendship, for presente workes doe testifie the same. They will not onely be a meane to bryng others their neyghbours to our seruice, but also haue now in readinesse .100000. mē of warre, to sende with vs, besides a great nūber of Tamemez or carriers to carrie al our prouision. Ye also, are now the same which alwaies heretofore ye haue bene, for I as witnesse beying your captayne, haue had the victory of many battayles fighting with a .100. yea & 200000. enimies: we got also by strength of arme many strōg cities, yea & brought in subiection many prouinces, not beyng so many in number as we are nowe, for when we came firste into this countrey we were not so many as now presently we are. Agayne in Mexico they feare our cōing: it should also be a blot vnto our honour that Quahutimoc should inherite ye kingdome that cost our friēd Mutezuma his life. Likewise I esteme al that we haue done is nothing, if we winne not Mexico, our victories shoulde also be sorowfull if we reuenge not the death of our déere fellowes. The chiefe and principall cause of our cōming into this countrey, was to set forth the faith of Iesu Christ, & therwithal doth folow honour & profite which seldome times do dwell togither. In those fewe dayes that we were in Mexico, we put downe the idols, we caused sacrifice and eatying of mans fleshe to bée layde aside, and also in those dayes wée beganne to conuerte some to the fayth. It is not therefore nowe reason to leaue of so laudable an enterpryse, so well begonne. Lette vs now goe whither holy fayth doth call vs, and where the sinnes of our enimies deserueth so great a punishment, and if yée well remember, the Citizens of that citie were not cōtent to murder such an infinite number of men, women & children before the idols, in their filthy sacrifice, for honour of their Diuelishe Goddes, but also to eate their fleshe, a thyng inhumayne, and much abhorred of God, and al good men doth procure, and especially Christians, to defende and punishe suche odious customes.

Besides all this, they committe that horrible sinne for the whiche the fiue cities with Sodom were burned by fire from heauen: Why then what greater occasion should any man wishe for in earth, than to abolish such wickednesse, and to plant among these bloudy tirants the fayth of Iesu Christ, publishing his holy gospel? Therfore now, with ioyfull hartes lette vs procéede to serue God, honour our nation, to enlarge our Princes dominions, and to enriche our selues with the goodly pray of Mexico, to morrow God willyng we will beginne the same.

All his men answeared with chéerefull countenaunce, that they were ready to departe when it pleased him, promising their faithful seruice vnto him. It should séeme the rather with the desire of that pleasure and greate treasure whiche they had eyght moneths enioyed before.

Cortes commaunded to proclayme throughout his army, certaine ordinaunces of warre for the good gouernement of his hoste, whiche he had written among others: and were these that followeth: