The exhortation made by Cortez to the Indians of Tlaxcallan.
The nexte daye following, Cortes called before him all the Lordes, Captaynes, and principall persons of Tlaxcallan, Huexocinco, Chololla, Chalco, and of other townes, who were there presente at that time, saying as followeth. My Lords and friendes, you know the iourney which I haue nowe in hande, to morrowe God willing I will departe to the warre and siege of Mexico, and enter into the land of youre enimies and mine: And the thing that now I do require, and also pray, is, that you remayne faithfull and constant in your promise made, as hithervnto you haue done, and so I trust you will continue. And bycause I can not bring so soone my purpose to passe according to youre desire and mine, without the Vergantines which are now a making, and to be placed in the lake of Mexico, therefore I praye you to fauoure these workemen whiche I leaue héere, with suche loue and friendship, as héeretofore you haue done and to giue them all things necessary for their prouision, and I do faithfully promise to take away the yoke of bondage, which the inhabitantes of Culhua haue layde vpon you, and also will obteyne of the Emperoure great libertie and priuiledges for you.
All the Indians shewed countenance of obedience, and the chiefest Gentlemen aunswered in few words, saying, we will not onely fulfyll youre request, but also when your vessels are finished, we will bring them to Mexico, and we all in generall will goe with you, and truly serue you in your warres.
Hovv Cortez tooke Tezcuco.
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.