Cortes went forward on his way, and came to Quahutichan and Huaxuta, which are suburbes of Tezcuco, where he and all his host were plenteously prouided of al things necessary, and threw downe the Idolles. This done, hée entred into the Citie, where his lodging was prepared in a great house, sufficient for him and all the Spanyardes, with many other the Indian friends. And bycause that at his first entry, he sawe neyther women nor children, hee suspected some treason, and forthwith proclaymed, vpon payne of death, that none of his men should go out. The Spaniards began to triumph in their lodgings and chābers, placing euery thing in good order. In the euening they went vp into the Zoties and galleries, to beholde the Citie, which is as bigge as Mexico, and there they sawe the greate number of Citizens that fledde from thence with their stuffe, some towardes the mountaines, and others to the water side to take boate, a thing straunge, to sée the great hast and stirre to prouide for themselues, at the least ther were twentie thousand litle boates (called Conoas) occupyed, in carying houshold stuffe and passengers. Cortes would fayne haue remedied it, but that night was so nygh at hand, that he coulde not. He would gladly also haue apprehended the Lord, but he was one of the first that fledde vnto Mexico. Cortes caused many of the Citizens, to be called before him, and hauing in hys company a yong gentleman of a noble house in that coūtrey, who was also last christened, & had to name Hernādo, Cortes being his godfather, who loued him well, sayde vnto the citizens, that this new Christian lord, Don Hernādo, was sonne vnto Nezaualpincintli their louing Lord, wherfore he required them to make him their king, considering that Coacnacoyocin, was fled vnto the enimies, laying also before them his wicked fact in killing of Cacuza his own brother, only to put him from his inheritance & kingdome, through the enticemente of Quahutimoccin, a mortal enimie to the Spaniards. In this sort was Don Hernando elected king, and the fame therof being blowen abroade, manye citizens repayred home againe to visite their newe Prince, so that in short space the citie was as wel replenished with people, as it was before, and being also well vsed at the Spaniardes handes, they serued them dilygentlye in all thyngs that they were commaunded. And Don Hernando aboade euer after a faithfull friende vnto the Spaniardes, and in short tyme learned the Spanishe tongue: and soone after came the inhabitants of Quahutichan, Huaxuta and Auntenco, to submytte them selues, crauing pardon, if in any thyng they had offended. Cortez pardoned them, and gaue them licence to departe home vnto their houses.
Quahutimoc, Coacnacoijo and other magistrates of Culhua sente to rayle vppon those townes, for yéeldyng themselues to the Christians, but they layde hold vpon the messengers, and brought them vnto Cortes, of whome he enformed himselfe of the state of Mexico, and sent them backe againe, requiring their Lords of peace and friendshippe: but it preuayled not, for they were fully armed for the warre.
A good correction.
At this instante certaine friendes of Iames Velasquez went vp and downe the Campe, procuring secretly a mutenie among the souldiers, to haue them to returne to Cuba, and vtterly to destroy Cortes his procéedings. This thing was not so secretly wrought, but that Cortes had knowledge, wherevppon he apprehended the doers thereof, and by their confessions the matter did plainely appeare, whervpon he condemned to death one Antonio de Villafania, who was natural of Samora, and forthwith executed the sentence, wherwith the punishment and Mutinie was ended, and ceassed.
The Spaniardes vvhich vvere sacrificed in Tezcuco.
Dayly increased Cortes in strength and reputation, and many townes as wel of the partes of Culhua as others came vnto his friendship and obedience. Within two days that Don Hernando was made king, came certayne gentlemen of Huaxuta and Quahutichan, to certify vnto him, how al the power of the Mexicans was comming towardes them, and to knowe if it were his pleasure, that they should carry their wiues, children, and other goods into the Mountaines, or els to bring them where he was, theyr feare was so great. Cortes made vnto thē this answere, saying: be ye of good courage, and feare ye not. Also I pray you to cōmaunde your wiues & families to make no alteratiō, but rather quietly to abide in your houses. And cōcerning the enimies, I am glad of their comming, for ye shal sée how I will deale with them. But the enimies wente not to Huaxuta, as it was thought: neuerthelesse Cortes hauing intelligence where they were, wente out to encounter them, with two pieces of Ordinaunce, twelue horsemen and two hundred Spaniardes, with many Indians of Tlaxcallā. He fought with the enemie, and slew but few, for they fledde to the water. He burnt certaine townes where the Mexicans were wonte to succour themselues. The next day came the chiefest men of thrée townes to craue pardon, and to beséech him not to destroy thē, promising neuer to harbour nor succour, any of Culhua.
The Mexicans hearing what these townes men pretended, with greate yre made a foule correction among them, as dyd appeare by many of them, which came vnto Cortes with broken heads, desiring reuengement.
The inhabitaunts of Chalco sent also vnto him for succour, declaring that the Mexicans made greate spoyle among them. But Cortes being ready to send for his Vergantines, could not relieue them all, and especially wyth Spaniardes: wherefore he remitted them to the helpe of the Tlaxcaltecas, and vnto thē of Huexocinco, Chololla, Huacacholla and other friends, promising that shortly he would come himselfe. But this answere pleased him not, yet for the present néede they required his letters to be written vnto those townes. And being in this communication, there came messengers from Tlaxcallan, with news, that the Vergantines were ready, and to knowe if he stoode in néede of any succour, for of late, (quoth they) we haue séene many beacons, and fiers, which are greater tokens of warre, than heretofore hath bene séene.