Cortez pretended not to fall out with Mutezuma, before his comming to Mexico, and yet he vnderstoode all Mutezuma hys pretence, wherevppon he complayneth to the Ambassadors, saying that he muche maruelled that suche a mightie Prince, who by so manye Gentlemen had assured his friendship vnto him, shoulde nowe procure his totall destruction, in not kéeping hys promise and fidelitie. In consideration whereof, where he meant to visit him as a friend, that now he would goe to his Courte as an enimie. The Ambassadors excused their maisters cause, besieching him to withdrawe hys furie, and to giue licence to one of them to goe to Mexico, who woulde bryng aunswere from thence with all spéede.
Cortes graunted vnto the request, the one of them went, and returned agayne within sixe dayes in company of another messenger that hadde gone thither before, who broughte tenne platters of golde, and a thousande fiue hundred mantels of cotten, with much victuall, and Cacao whiche is a kinde of fruite that serueth for currant money among them. Likewise they brought a certaine kind of wine or licoure made of Cacao and Centli. They enformed Cortes, that Mutezuma was innocente of the coniuration in Chololla, nor by anye meanes priuie to their dealings, affyrming moreouer that the garrison of souldyers did apperteine to Acazinco, and Acazan, who were neyghbors to Chololla, who by inducement of some naughtye persons, had procured that thing, saying that he shuld both sée and vnderstand him to be his faithful and louing friend, praying him to come forwarde on his iourney, for he would abide his comming in Mexico.
Prophecie of the Diuell.
This ambassage pleased well Cortez, but Mutezuma feared, when he hearde of the slaughter, and burning of Chololla, and sayde to his friends, these are the people that our Gods said should come and inherite this land.
Mutezuma went incontinent to his Oratorie, and shut in himselfe alone, where he abode in fasting and prayer eyght dayes, with sacrifice of many menne, to asllake the fury of his Idolles, who séemed to be offended.
The voyce of the Diuell spake vnto him, bidding him not to feare the Christians, saying they were but fewe, and when they were come, he should doe what he lysted with them, willing him in no wise to ceasse from the bloudy sacrifice, least some mischance might happen vnto him. And assured hym that he should haue the Goddes Vitzipuchtli, and Tescatlipuca to preserue and kéepe hym. And bycause Quezalcouatle was agréeued for wante of bloudy sacrifice, he permitted the Straungers to punishe them of Chololla. And Mutezuma hearing this dyuelishe Oracle, and likewise Cortez hauing warned him that hée would visite hym as an enimie, he was by this perswasion of Sathan, the better willing to receyue hym into Mexico.
Likewise Cortes when he came to Chololla, was strong, and hadde at commaundemente a mightie power, and there made hymselfe stronger, the fame whereof, was blowen abroade, throughout all the dominions of Mutezuma. And whereas the poore Indians hadde but onely maruelled at their persons and furniture, nowe they began to tremble and to feare at his doings, so that wheresoeuer he came, they opened him the gates with pure feare, more than for any loue.
An euill counsellor.
Mutezuma at the beginning, pretended to feare Cortes with the fearefull passages and other perils and danger, as the fortitude of Mexico, with his greate multitude of subiectes, and the great number of Princes that dyd both serue and obey him: and séeyng that all these things profited not, he thoughte to haue ouercome him with gyftes and treasure, knowyng that he hadde required golde: yet he sawe that nothing woulde preuayle, for that Cortez woulde néedes come to sée hym, wherevppon, he tooke counsell of the Diuell what he shoulde doe in that case, vpon which counsell he was satisfyed by hys Priests and Captaynes, that he ought not to warre against so fewe straungers, for if he so did, the dishonor would be his, and chiefly, bycause Cortez certifyed that he was an Ambassador, and vsing hym otherwise, it myghte so fall out, that hys owne subiectes would rebell againste him theyr Lorde and Prince, saying likewise that it was manifest that the Otomies and Tlaxcaltecas woulde fauour his syde, and also manye others, for to destroy and spoyle Mexico, vpon which consultation it was openly proclaymed, that his will was that the straungers should enter into Mexico fréely, thinking that if at anye time they shoulde displease hym, to make a breakefast of them the nexte day.