[1068] Herrera, dec. iii. lib. i. cap. vii.
[1069] They begged permission to return home, says Chimalpain, Hist. Conq., i. 31. Herrera relates that the efforts of Ojeda, by Cortés’ order, to take from the Tlascaltecs the gold part of their booty so offended them that they began to desert. The extortion was accordingly stopped, dec. iii. lib. i. cap. vii. Clavigero doubts the story. Prescott regards the departure of the allies as distasteful to Cortés; but we have seen that he did not care at present to encumber himself with too many unruly auxiliaries to prey upon the peaceful provinces. The Tlascaltecs would willingly have remained to share in raiding expeditions.
[1070] Including 8000 Tezcucans under Chichinquatzin. Ixtlilxochitl, Hor. Crueldades, 15. On March 12th, says Vetancurt, Teatro Mex., pt. iii. 154.
[1071] Also known as Chimalhuacan-Chalco, to distinguish it from Chimalhuacan on Tezcuco Lake.
[1072] Lorenzana inspected the position in later times. Cortés, Hist. N. Esp., 214.
[1073] ‘Que todos los que allí se hallaron afirman.’ Cortés, Cartas, 190. The general lauds the achievement with rare fervor for him. Bernal Diaz sneers at the river of blood story; but then he was not present to share the glory. The Roman Mario was less dainty than these Spaniards under a similar circumstance, commemorated by Plutarch; or as Floro more prosaically puts it: ‘Ut victor Romanus de cruento flumine non plus aquæ biberit quam sanguinis barbarorum.’ Epitome, lib. iii. cap. iii.
[1074] Fifteen, says Bernal Diaz. Chimalpain, the Chalcan narrator, states that his tribe lost 350 men, but killed 1500 foes, capturing the captain-general, Chimalpopocatzin, a relative of the emperor, who now became a captain among the Tezcucans, and was killed during the siege. Hist. Conq., ii. 34. Some of these facts are evidently not very reliable. He also assumes that Sandoval lost eight soldiers on again returning to Tezcuco.
[1075] The ‘comissario’ or clerk in charge of the bulls was Gerónimo Lopez, afterward secretary at Mexico. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 129. This author names several of the arrivals, some of whom became captains of vessels. A number also arrived during the following week, he adds, notably in Juan de Búrgos’ vessel, which brought much material.
[1076] Gomara mentions also Maxcaltzinco as a distant place. Hist. Mex., 186.
[1077] The chiefs were awaiting orders to appear before Cortés. The general told them to wait till tranquillity was more fully restored. The name of the other soldier was Nicolás. Cortés, Cartas, 203-5. Herrera assumes that Barrientos arrived in camp during the late Tepeaca campaign, dec. ii. lib. x. cap. xvii.