They also saw the figures of armed men fighte in the aire one with another, a new and strange sight for them, and a thing that filled their heads with ymaginations: for when there was a prophecie spoken of among them, how that white men with beardes should come and rule their kingdome in the time of Mutezuma. The Lordes of Tezcuco and Tlacopan were much amazed, saying, that the sword whiche Mutezuma hadde, was the armes of those folke, whose figures they had séene in the ayre, with their apparell and attire. Mutezuma had muche adoe to pacifie them, fayning that the weapon and apparell was of hys forefathers, and bycause they should sée the troth thereof, he gaue them the sworde, and willed them to breake it if they coulde, and they prouing to breake the same and could not, they maruelled thereat, and also were resolued of their opinions.
It shoulde séeme, that a little before these things happened, some of Mutezuma his subiectes founde a chest of apparell and a sworde in it on the sea coast, which came floting out of some shippe that had wracked there about, and broughte it to their prince. Others affirme, that the cause of alteration among the noble men, was, when they saw the sword and apparell that Cortes had sent vnto Mutezuma by Teudilli, séeing it a thing so like the attire of the figures whiche they had séene in the ayre, but howsoeuer it was, they beléeued with these new tokens, that their Kingdome shoulde haue an ende, when they saw those straungers come into their Countrey.
The same yeare that Cortes came into Mexico, appeared a vision vnto a certaine Malli, which is to say, a slaue taken in the warres to be sacrificed, who at the time of his deathe and Sacrifice, bewayled his sorrowfull ende; calling vppon the God of Heauen, who at that instante sawe in spirite a vision, and heard a voyce, bidding hym not to feare that death, for the God whome be had called vpon, would haue mercy vpon hym, willing hym also to say vnto the pristes and ministers of the Idols, that their wicked sacrifice and bloudsheding was néere at an ende, and that there was a people at hand, that should take away all that wicked and abhominable religion.
This Malli was sacrificed in the middest of the market place of Tlatelulco, where at this daye is the place of execution.
They remembred, and noted well the wordes of the Malli, and the vision whiche they called a breath from heauen.
The earth also brake open, out of the whiche issued a maruellous greate streame of water, with many greate fishes, which they iudged and held for a strange pronostication.
The Mexicans did reporte, that when on a time Mutezuma came triumphantly with victory of Xochnuxco, said vnto the Lorde of Culhuacan: Now (quoth he) Mexico is strong and inuincible, for I haue in subiection Xochnuxco, and other prouinces, so that now I am without feare of any enemie. The Lord of Culhuacan aunswered, saying, trust not good King too muche, for one force forceth another, with the whiche aunswere, Mutezuma was not a little offended. But when Cortes hadde taken them both prisoners, then he called to remembrance the former talke, and held that saying for a prophesie.
The building vp agayne of Mexico.
