At that time the Indiās of Zempoallan had many prisoners to sacrifice. Cortez demaunded them to send vnto the Emperour, but the Indians desired him to pardon them, for if we so do (quoth they) we shall offend our gods, who will take awaye our corne and children from vs, yea and also our liues in so doing.
Yet notwithstanding, Cortez tooke foure of them, and two women which were al yong and lustie.
But it was very strange to sée those that shold be sacrificed, how they wer trimmed and deckt with feathers, and went dauncing through the Cittie, asking almes for their sacrifice & death. It was also strange to sée the offerings yt were giuen thē. They had at their eares hanging rings of gold beset with turkie stones, & likewise other rings at their lippes, whiche shewed their téeth bare, a griesely sight to sée, but yet estéemed among them a thing beautifull.
Letters from the army and magistrates of the new towne directed to the Emperour.
When this present and fift part was layde aside for the king, Cortez required the magistrats to name and appoint two atturnyes, to carry the Emperors portion vnto Spayne. And that he for his part wold giue vnto them his full power, and letter of attourneye, with also one of his beste Shippes for that voyage.
The Counsell of the newe towne chose Alounso Fernandez Portocarero, and Francisco de Monteio for that iourneye: whereof Cortez was verye glad, and gaue them Antonio de Alominos for their pilot, with golde and plate sufficiente for tourne and retourne of the voyage. Cortez gaue them instructions, what they shoulde doe particularlye for hym, in the Courte of Spaine as also in Ciuil, and the towne where he was borne. Hee sente to his Father and Mother certaine money, with newes of his prosperitye: hee sente also with them the ordinaunces and actes instituted, and wrote by them a large letter to the Emperour, in the whiche hee gaue full aduertisemente of all things whyche hadde passed from the time of his departure from the Ilande of Cuba vntil that day, and of the discord betwéene hym and Iames Valasques, and of their greate traueyle and paynes, with the greate good will whiche they all bare vnto hys royall seruice: hee certified likewise of the riches of that countreye, with the maiestie and power of Mutezuma. Hee offered to bring in subiection vnto his royall Crown and state of Castil, al that Empire, & to winne also the greate Citie of Mexico, and to bring that mightie king Mutezuma to his handes quicke or deade.
Beséeching the Emperours maiestie to haue hym in remembraunce when offices and prouisions shoulde bee sente vnto that newe Spayne latelye discouered at hys great costes, and in recompence of hys paines and trauell.
The Counsell and magistrates of Vera Crux wrote also two letters to the Emperour, the one was touching the successe of their procéedings in his royall seruice. In that letter, went onely the Aldermens firmes, and Iudges.