The weake courage and stomake of Mutezuma, caused his subiectes not onely to murmure, but also to seeke meanes of rebellion, especially his nephew Cacamazin, Lorde of Tezcuco, who was a stoute yong man and an honorable, and one yt receiued greate griefe of his Vncles imprisonment: and seeing that ye matter séemed long, he besought his Vncle to procure his libertie, and to shew himselfe a Lorde, and not a slaue: but séeing at length that he could not accepte and follow his councell, he began to stirre in the matter, threatning the death and destruction of the Spanyardes. Some said, that Cacama did begin that matter, to reuenge the iniurie and dishonor done vnto his Vncle. Others saide, that his meaning was to make himselfe Kyng of Mexico. Others held opinion, that his pretence was only to make an ende of ye Spanyards. But let it be for whatsoeuer purpose. Once he gathered a great army, which he coulde not want, although Mutezuma was prisoner, especially against ye Spanyards. He published that he would redéeme his Vncle out of Captiuitie, and expulse the Straungers, or else kill and eate them.
This was a terrible newes for the Christians, but yet for all those bragges Cortes dismayde not, rather hée determined forthwith to prepare himselfe for the warres, and to besiege him in his owne house and Towne, sauing that Mutezuma disturbed him, saying that Tezcuco was a place very strong, and scituated in water, and that Cacama was a man of bolde and stoute courage, and had at commaundemente of the Indians of Culhua, and was also Lorde of Culhuacan and Otumpa, whiche were fortes of great strength, thinking to bring the matter to a better passe another way: so that Cortez ruled himselfe by the counsell of Mutezuma, and sent vnto Cacama, praying him to haue in remembrance the friendshippe that hadde bin betwixt them two, from the time that he came and broughte hym into Mexico, and that alwayes peace was better than warre, and especially for a noble man of vassals, for the begynnyng of warres was pleasant to hym that knewe not what warres meante: and in so doyng, he shoulde do both pleasure and seruice to the Kyng of Spayne.
Cacama vvas vvise.
Cacama aunswered, that he had no friendship with him that woulde take away hys honor and kingdome, and that the warres whych he pretended, was profitable for his vassals, and in defence of their Countrey and Religion, yea and before he determined peace, he meante to reuenge hys Vncles wrongs and his goddes.
Also (quoth he) what haue I to doe wyth the Kyng of Spayne, who is a man that I know not, no nor yet would gladly heare of hym.
Cortez turned agayne to admonishe and require hym diuers tymes to leaue off his determination, and wylled Mutezuma to commaunde hym to accepte hys offer.
Wherevpon Mutezuma sente vnto hym, desiryng him to come vnto Mexico, to take some order in those controuersies and discordes betwixte hym and the Spanyardes.
Cacama aunswered very sharply vnto his Vncles request, saying, if you had bloud in your eye, or the hearte of a Prince, you woulde not permit your selfe to bée prisoner, and captiue of foure poore straungers, who with their fayre speache and flatteryng talke haue bewitched you, and vsurped your kingdome, no nor yet, suffer the Goddes of Culhua to be throwen downe and spoyled, yea and the Mexican religion and holy places, violated and troden with théeues féete and deceyuers: likewise the honour, glory, and fame of your predecessors blotted and abased, through your faynt stomacke and cowardize. But notwithstanding, accordyng to your request, and to repayre our religiō, to restore the Goddes to their Temples, to preserue the kingdome, and to procure libertie for you and the Cittie, I will obay your commaundement: But how? not with my handes in my bosome, but lyke a warrier, to kill those Spaniardes who haue so affrented the nation of Culhua. Our men stoode in great perill, as well of the losing of Mexico as of their owne liues, if this warre and mutinie had not soone bene qualified: for why? Cacama was valiant, stoute, and a good souldier, yea and well furnished of men of warre: also the Citizens of Mexico, were desirous of the same, for to redéeme Mutezuma their prince, and to kill the Spaniardes, or else to expulse them out of the Cittie.