Twenty days Cortez staid here to refresh his Army, and then march’d to the neighboring City Chiurutical, with the Auxiliary Forces of the Tlaxcallans, to the number of above a hundred thousand; they told him, That the People of Chiurutical had barricado’d up their Streets, laid upon the tops of their Houses great heaps of Stones, that their upper Rooms were cramm’d with Archers, and all things made ready both for Offence and Defence; which Advertisement he not much hearkned to, because he was conducted into the City with all their State-Formalities of Singing and Tabering upon their Tamboes, and every where courteously entertain’d.
A Plot strangely discover’d.
Strange Martial Affairs.
Mean while Montezuma had rais’d a great Army, which were in their advance, not onely to the defence of his Border, but to surprize them while they staid in that City, the Townsmen having invited him thither to their rescue and his own defence, had not the Plot been accidentally discover’d by a Chirutecan Woman, who giving advice to one of her Friends that follow’d Cortez, that he should immediately make his escape, because that all the Strangers would be destroy’d within few Hours, who came and inform’d Cortez thereof; whereupon he desir’d all the Magistrates of the City to come and speak with him, who no sooner entred the Hall where he was, but his Men by Command immediately shot them to death, which terrible Rumor spreading, and alarm’d with the report of the Executing Musquets, the City was suddenly in an Uproar, gathering thither Arm’d from all Places, and began a sharp Conflict, which lasted five Hours; but then wearied out, and despairing of Success, loosing their Courage, they desir’d a Cessation, and at last concluded Peace with the Spaniards.
Now Mexico.
This News of his discover’d Intention, so startled Montezuma, that he suppos’d it better to desist, and procure the Favor of Cortez by Presents; wherefore he sent him 15000 Cotton Habits, trim’d up very richly, ten great Chargers of Gold, and some Vessels of Wine, desiring him for a while to forbear his Intentions of marching to Tenustitan his Chief City, and that he would in the mean while treat with him for an Accommodation. But Cortez, though he accepted of the Presents, yet nevertheless held his Resolution of marching on.
Wonderful Mountain Popocatepeque.
Resolution of two Spaniards.
Eight Leagues from Tenustitan he saw the double-spired Mountain Popocatepeque, so call’d from the Smoke which continually ascends from its top; for Popoca signifies A Smoke, and Tepeque, A Mountain. The Smoke rises upright, and with so much strength, that by the greatest Wind it deviates not one jot from mounting upwards in a direct Line, to whose forked Head ten Spaniards resolv’d to climb; but having got scarce half way up, they were forc’d to return, the Ashes lying knee-deep; yet at last two more resolute conquer’d all those Difficulties, and got to the top, where the mouth of the Cave, as they guessed, measur’d four Miles in Circumference: The shaking of the Mountain, and roaring of the Flames, frequently bursting forth, so much terrified them, that they staid not long there; for, as we said, the Ground not onely trembled under them, but the Fiery Gulph ejected great Stones, which falling down on all sides of the Mountain, rolled to the bottom; and without doubt they had there perish’d, had they not speedily run to a hollow neighboring Hill, from whence they came at length to the rest of their Company, where they were admir’d by the Indians for their undaunted Resolution, and presented with several rich Gifts. These Indians had a Tradition, That for wicked Princes, and such as had not govern’d the People well, this was the Tophet appointed for their Torments.
