And these are the chiefest Towns, Villages, and Countreys, which surround the famous City Mexico.
The first Foundation of the City of Mexico.
Concerning the erecting of this City, the Indians relate thus: That the seventh Family of the Navatlaca’s, Extracted out of the Countrey Aztlan, rang’d up and down not without thousands of Inconveniences, from one Countrey to another, according to the Information which their Sages had given their Spirit Viztliputli, till at last some of the Priests straying from the Army, or rather Multitude, got into a Wilderness, full of Brambles and Thorns, and came at length to a Place where was a Spring of clear Water, in which the Fishes glitter’d like Silver; where taking up their repose that Night, their Spirit inform’d the oldest of them in a Dream, that they should find thereabouts a Tunal Tree (whose Leaves grow out of one another) under which, on a Stone, lay the Heart of the famous Sorcerer Copil: This Tunal Tree should be discover’d by a Crane on the top of it, which in one Foot should hold a Bird, and in the other a Bough of the Tree, near which they were to build a City: The old Priest waking, and relating his Dream, every one endeavor’d to find out the fore-mention’d Tree; at last they found it, by discovering on the top a Crane, with spread-out Wings looking up towards the Sun, and holding in his Claws a small Bird, invested with curious Feathers: Whereupon they with all speed built a Chappel of Turf and Clods of Earth, and cover’d the same with Canes, to keep their Idol from the Weather, resolving, so soon as they could, to build him a better Temple.
The Lake on whose Isles they setled, abounded with Fish and Fowls, which they exchang’d with the neighboring People for Stone and Mortar for the building of a Temple for Viztliputzli, and a new City; to which they made a Cawsey in the Lake Laguna, and divided it into four great Wards or Divisions, and subdivided them again into lesser; over which they plac’d peculiar Idols, and order’d a Crane like that which they had seen on the Tunal Tree to be their City Arms. The dividing of the Wards occasion’d great dislike amongst the Grandees, judging those to whose lot they fell, not to be worthy of them; wherefore deserting the same, and travelling along the Lake Laguna, they setled themselves at last in a sandy Soil, which they call’d Tlattellulco, and entertain’d a bitter hatred against their Countrey-men who kept the four Wards of the new Tenustitan, doing them all the mischief they could; wherefore the Assaulted were necessitated to chuse a King, that they might be the better able to oppose their Enemies: But that they might not raise a Discontent amongst themselves about electing a Governor, they judg’d it fittest to take a Foreigner; amongst whom they found none so capable of so great an Office as Acamapixtli, Grand-son to the King of Culhuacan, whereupon sending Ambassadors thither, they obtain’d their desires.
The new King was no sooner Crown’d, but he settled all things in order with great Prudence, insomuch, that Mexico grew daily to be more famous and fear’d: But this sudden growth rais’d a jealousie amongst the Neighbors, who dreaded their growing Power and Valor.
Proceedings between the Tapuneca’s and Mexicans.
The Tapunecans who were also a valiant People, being the nearest to them, and having Azcapuzalco for their chief City, made it their main design, utterly to root out the Mexicans, before they grew to be more Populous and Potent; notwithstanding they had hitherto receiv’d Tribute from them, for delivering the Lake Laguna to them, which was a quantity of Timber and Plants; yet they demanded not only more Tribute than formerly, but also in such a manner, as was thought impossible to have been perform’d, which was, that those Plants which were formerly brought to them, as growing on the Land, should be set in the Water, so as to come floating to them, as they grew, to Ascapuzalco, which if they did not pay, they should expect to be all put to the Sword. The Mexicans much amaz’d hereat, and not knowing how to produce the demanded Plants, Viztliputzli inform’d the oldest Priest, that the demands might be satisfi’d; and commanded him to throw Earth on the Water, and to Sow Seed on the same, which at the usual time produc’d Maiz, Azi, Chias, Tomates, and the like, with which the Tapunecans being satisfi’d, demand next a Goose, and a Hen which laid Eggs, out of which the young ones should appear, when on the floating Clods of Earth, the Nests came opposite to Azcapuzalco, which by the advice of Viztliputzli, they perform’d fifty years one after another. Mean while, Acamapixtli (who had inlarg’d Mexico with Streets, Palaces, Temples, and Markets) dying, would not name any one to succeed him, but left the choice of the Election to the Commonalty, who Crown’d his Son Vitzilovitli, and Marry’d him to the King of Tapunecans Daughter, that by that means they might gain his friendship, and be eas’d of their strange Annual Tribute: Whereupon Ayauchigual, the King of Tapunecans Daughter being Marry’d to Vitzilovitli, was within twelve Moneths deliver’d of a Son, which the Grand-father call’d Chimalpopoca, which signifies A Gun which gives Smoke, and afterwards was satisfi’d with two Geese, and some Fish yearly from the Mexicans, onely as an Acknowledgment that they inhabited his Countrey. Chimalpopoca loosing his Parents, in his tenth year was Crown’d King, with a Bowe and Arrows in his left Hand, and a Woodden Sword in the right: Soon after he oblig’d his Mothers Father to be kind to the Mexicans, for they being in great want for fresh Water, he had leave by Channels to bring the same out of the Mountain Chapultepec, a League distant from Mexico; to which purpose they made a Pipe of Planks, and hollow Trees joyn’d together with Clay, quite through the Lake; but this Pipe not being teight and durable, and the fresh Water by that means mixing with the Salt, they sent Agents to Azcapuzalco, to request Stones, Mortar, and Work-men to make a substantial Sewer: This message was ill resented by the Council of Azcapuzalco; What, (said they) do the Mexicans think, shall a rambling company of people, which on Charity live in anothers Countrey, Command those that Govern them to be their Servants? This grudge went so far, that at last they took a Resolution without the King’s knowledge, (for he was suspected, because of his Grand-chil’d Chimalpopoca) to forbid all manner of Trade with the Mexicans; nay, to endeavor utterly to root them out; yet some judg’d, that they ought to spare Chimalpopoca, while others on the contrary said, That he ought to be destroy’d, because his Father being a Mexican, he would to the utmost of his Power defend his People; which last being approv’d of, so troubled the King of the Tapunecans, that he dy’d of grief; for the Design being soon after put into execution, and the Tapuneca’s breaking in the Night into Chimalpopoca’s Palace, Murder’d him; which Murder made the Mexicans thirst for revenge; whereupon, setting themselves wholly against the Tapunecans, they enter’d into a League with Vezcuco, and Culhuacan, and chose Izcoalt, for his great Valor, for their King; notwithstanding Acamapixtli had begotten him on a Slave.
Izcoalts success against the Tapanecas.
Izcoalt was no sooner Crown’d, but he made great preparation for a War, though against every ones Opinion, because of the Populousness of the Tapunecans; yet it was concluded on, that they should request Peace, and a place to inhabit on the main Continent, that so they might remove from the Isles: This Request they thought could not be deny’d them in Azcapuzalco, provided the Mexicans brought their Gods thither, and wholly conform’d themselves to the manners of the Tapunecans, for otherwise they could expect nothing but utter Ruine: Yet though every one else imbrac’d the Proposal, Tlacaellel, the King’s Nephew, stiffly oppos’d it, alleging, that it did not agree with the Mexicans quality, to make so mean and slavish a Proffer; and that they had best consider, first if there were no other means to be found: and that he would willingly venture his Life in going to Azcapuzalco, as a Spie, to pry into their whole Designs and Intentions, which was perform’d accordingly; and soon after returning, he brought information, that the Tapunecans were making great preparations for War, and made no mention at all of Peace; which news struck a general fear into all Peoples Hearts; many desiring that they might save themselves by flight; but Izcoalt putting fresh courage into them, made an agreement with the People, that if he was beaten by the Tapunecans, they should eat him up; but if he prov’d Conqueror, they should all be at his Command; to which all consenting, they boldly march’d with their King to the City Azcapuzalco. The Front of the Army consisting of the prime Nobility, was led by Tlacaellel, and the Rear Izcoalt brought up, who was also to give the sign on a Drum, when they should fall upon the Enemies; who having ten Men to the Mexicans one, suddenly Sally’d out of the Gates, where they were so briskly entertain’d by Tlacaellel, that in a confus’d manner they soon ran back into the City, whither the Conqueror pursuing them, got within the Gates, where he put all to the Sword which he could meet with; some fled to a steep neighboring Mountain, whither being also follow’d, they threw down their Arms, and begg’d Quarter, to serve the Mexicans as Slaves, which was granted them, whilst Izcoalt found an unvaluable Mass of Treasure in Azcapuzalco, and distributed the Conquer’d Countrey amongst those who had behav’d themselves best.
This Conquest made the neighboring People jealous of the Mexicans, whose Success and growing Power they dreaded.