Of the Docke or trench vvhich was made to launch, the Vergantines.
Manye prouinces of India, came to submitte and offer their seruice vnto Cortes, some for feare of destruction, and others for the hatred whyche they bare to the Mexicans: so that nowe Cortes was strong both with Spaniardes and Indians. Also the Spanishe Captaine of Segura, sent a letter to Cortez, the which letter he had receyued of another spaniard, the effect therof was as foloweth. Noble gentlemen, diuerse times I haue written vnto you, but as yet I neuer receiued answere, nor yet now doe I. I thynke otherwise, notwithstanding yee shall vnderstande, that the Culhuacans haue done much hurte in thys countrey, but we remayne with victorie. This prouince desireth to see and knowe Captaine Cortez, for to render themselues vnto him, and nowe they stande in neede of our nation, wherfore it may please you to sende vnto vs thirtie Spaniardes.
Cortez aunswered the letter in suche sort, that he then presently coulde not sende the thing desired, for that he was readye to the siege of Mexico: notwythstanding hée gaue them great thankes, with hope shortlye to sée thē. He that writte the former letter, was one of the Spaniardes that Cortez hadde sente to the prouince of Chinanta, a yeare paste, to enquire of the secretes of that place, and to séeke for golde and other commodities. And if it so happened, that the Lorde of that place made that Spaniarde a Captayne, agaynste the Culhuacans theyr enemyes, for Mutezuma made them warre béeyng farre from Mexico, bycause they had entertayned the Spaniardes. But through the industrie of that Christian, the Lorde aboade alwayes with victorye, and hauing vnderstanding that some of hys nation were in Tepeacac, he wrote so often as the letter declareth, but none of them came to their handes, but only this last letter: our men reioyced muche to heare that the Spaniardes were aliue, and also the Lorde of Chinanta to be their friende: likewise they marueyled much howe they had escaped, for at the time that they fledde from Mexico, all other Spaniardes that were abidyng in the Mynes and other Lordshippes, were slaine by the Indians.
Cortes made his preparation for the séege of Mexico with all hast, and furnished hym with scalling ladders, and other necessaryes, fitte for such a purpose. His Vergantines being nayled, and throughly ended, he made a sluise or trench of halfe a league of length, twelue foote broad & more, and two fadome in depth. This worke was fiftie dayes a doyng, although there were foure hundred thousand mē dayly working, truly a famous worke and worthy of memory.
A strange tallovve.
The Vergantines were calked with Towe and cotten woll, and for want of tallow and oyle, they were (as some reporte,) driuen to take mans grease, not that they slewe men for that effect, but of those which were slayne in the warres. The Indians who were cruell and bloudy butchers, vsing sacrifice, would in this sort open the dead bodye, and take out the grease. The Vergantines being lanched, Cortes mustered his men, and founde nine hundred Spanyardes, of the which were 86. Horsemen, and a hūdred and eyghtéene with Crossebowes and Hargabushes, and all the residue had sundry weapons, as swords, daggars, Targets, Launces, and Halbertes. Also they had for armour, corselets, coates of mayle, and Iackes. They had moreouer thrée great péeces of cast yron, fiftéene small péeces of brasse, and tenne hundred waighte of powder, with store of shotte. All that ye haue hearde, was the prouision that Cortes had for the séege of Mexico, the strongest and greatest Citie in all India and newe world. In eache Vergantine he placed a péece of brasse. He proclaymed agayne all the institutions and ordinances of the warre, praying and commaunding that they might be well and faithfully obserued, and said, Brethrē and my fellowes, now do you sée our vessels readye, yea and also you do remember howe troublesome a thyng it hathe bin to bring them hither with the coste and sweate of our friendes, and one of the chiefest hopes that I haue shortly to winne Mexico, are these vessels, for with them we will burne all their Canoas, or else we will so locke them vp, that they shall not help them, whereby we wyll annoy our enimie as muche that way, as our army shall do by land. I haue also a hundred thousand men of warre my friends to beséege this Citie, who are (as you know) ye valiantest men in all these parties. You haue also your vittailes prouided abundantly, and that which now importeth, is, that you play the menne, as héeretofore you haue done, and most humbly to pray vnto God for victorie, for that this warre is his.