This Countrey lyked well oure men, and the greate loue of the people. They abode there at their pleasure twenty dayes, in whiche time they did procure to knowe particularly the estate of their common weale and secretes, and also were sufficiently instructed of the estate of Mutezuma.
The description of Tlaxcallan.
Tlaxcallan is properly in the Indian tong as much to say, as bread well baked, for there is more grayne called Centli gathered, than is in all ye prouince round about.
In times past the Citie was called Texcallan, that is to say, a valley betwixt two hilles. It is a greate Citie, and planted by a riuer side, whiche springeth out of Atlancatepec, and watreth the most parte of that prouince, and from thence issueth out into the South sea, by Zacatullan. This Citie hathe foure goodly stréetes, whiche are called Tepeticpac, Ocotelulco, Tizatlan, Quiahuiztlan. The firste stréete standeth on hygh vpon a hyll, farre from the riuer, whiche maye be aboute halfe a league, and bycause it standeth on a hill, it is called Tepeticpac, that is to say, a hyll, and was the firste population which was foūded there on high, bycause of the warres.
An other stréete was scituate on the hill side towarde the Riuer, bycause at the building thereof, there were many pyne trées: they named it Ocotelulco, which is to say, a pine apple plot. This stréete was beautifull, and firste inhabited of all the Citie, and there was the chiefest Market place, where all the buying and selling was vsed, and that place they called Tianquiztli: in that stréete was the dwelling house of Maxixca. Along the Riuer side in the playne standeth another stréete called Tizatlan, bycause there is muche lyme and chalke. In this stréete dwelled Xicotencatl, Captayne generall of the common weale. There is another stréete named by reason of the brackish water, Quiahuiztlan, but since the Spanyardes came thither, all those buildings are almost altered, after a better fashion, and built with stone. In the plaine by the riuer side, standeth the Towne house, and other offices, as in the Citie of Venice. This Tlaxcallan was gouerned by noble and riche men: they vse not that one alone should rule, but rather flye from that order, as from tyrannie.
In their warres (as I haue sayde before) they haue foure Captaynes, whiche gouerneth eache one stréete, of the whiche foure, they do elect a Captayne generall. Also there are other Gentlemen that are vndercaptaynes, but a small number. In the warres they vse their standerde to be carried behynde the army, but when the battayle is to be fought, they place the standerde where all the hoste may sée it, and he that commeth not incontinent to hys auntient, payeth a penaltie. Their standerd hathe two crossebowe arrowes set thereon, whiche they estéeme as the relikes of their auncetors. Thys standerd two olde souldiers and valiant menne, being of the chiefest Captaynes, haue the charge to carrie, in the which standerde an abusion of southsaying, eyther of losse or victory is noted. In this order they shote one of these arrowes against the first enimies that they méete, and if with that arrow they doe eyther kill or hurte, it is a token that they shall haue the victorie, and if it neyther kill nor hurt, then they assuredly beléeue that they shall lose the field.
A strange contractation.
This prouince or Lordship of Tlaxcallan, hath .28. Villages and townes, wherein is conteyned 150000. householdes. They are men well made, and good warriors, the lyke are not among the Indians. They are very poore, and haue no other riches, but only the grayne or corne called Centli, and with the gayne and profite thereof, they doe both cloth themselues, and paye their tributes, and prouide all other necessaries. They haue many market places, but the greatest and most vsed dayly, standeth in the stréete of Ocotelulco, whiche is so famous, that 30000. persons come thither in one day to buy and sell, whyche is to say, changing one thing for another, for they know not what money meaneth.