The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstThe description of Tlaxcallan
Tlaxcallan is properly in the Indian tong as much to say, as bread well baked, for there is more grayne called Centli gathered, than is in all ye prouince round about.
In times past the Citie was called Texcallan, that is to say, a valley betwixt two hilles. It is a greate Citie, and planted by a riuer side, whiche springeth out of Atlancatepec, and watreth the most parte of that prouince, and from thence issueth out into the South sea, by Zacatullan. This Citie hathe foure goodly stréetes, whiche are called Tepeticpac, Ocotelulco, Tizatlan, Quiahuiztlan. The firste stréete standeth on hygh vpon a hyll, farre from the riuer, whiche maye be aboute halfe a league, and bycause it standeth on a hill, it is called Tepeticpac, that is to say, a hyll, and was the firste population which was foūded there on high, bycause of the warres.
An other stréete was scituate on the hill side towarde the Riuer, bycause at the building thereof, there were many pyne trées: they named it Ocotelulco, which is to say, a pine apple plot. This stréete was beautifull, and firste inhabited of all the Citie, and there was the chiefest Market place, where all the buying and selling was vsed, and that place they called Tianquiztli: in that stréete was the dwelling house of Maxixca. Along the Riuer side in the playne standeth another stréete called Tizatlan, bycause there is muche lyme and chalke. In this stréete dwelled Xicotencatl, Captayne generall of the common weale. There is another stréete named by reason of the brackish water, Quiahuiztlan, but since the Spanyardes came thither, all those buildings are almost altered, after a better fashion, and built with stone. In the plaine by the riuer side, standeth the Towne house, and other offices, as in the Citie of Venice. This Tlaxcallan was gouerned by noble and riche men: they vse not that one alone should rule, but rather flye from that order, as from tyrannie.
In their warres (as I haue sayde before) they haue foure Captaynes, whiche gouerneth eache one stréete, of the whiche foure, they do elect a Captayne generall. Also there are other Gentlemen that are vndercaptaynes, but a small number. In the warres they vse their standerde to be carried behynde the army, but when the battayle is to be fought, they place the standerde where all the hoste may sée it, and he that commeth not incontinent to hys auntient, payeth a penaltie. Their standerd hathe two crossebowe arrowes set thereon, whiche they estéeme as the relikes of their auncetors. Thys standerd two olde souldiers and valiant menne, being of the chiefest Captaynes, haue the charge to carrie, in the which standerde an abusion of southsaying, eyther of losse or victory is noted. In this order they shote one of these arrowes against the first enimies that they méete, and if with that arrow they doe eyther kill or hurte, it is a token that they shall haue the victorie, and if it neyther kill nor hurt, then they assuredly beléeue that they shall lose the field.
A strange contractation
This prouince or Lordship of Tlaxcallan, hath .28. Villages and townes, wherein is conteyned 150000. householdes. They are men well made, and good warriors, the lyke are not among the Indians. They are very poore, and haue no other riches, but only the grayne or corne called Centli, and with the gayne and profite thereof, they doe both cloth themselues, and paye their tributes, and prouide all other necessaries. They haue many market places, but the greatest and most vsed dayly, standeth in the stréete of Ocotelulco, whiche is so famous, that 30000. persons come thither in one day to buy and sell, whyche is to say, changing one thing for another, for they know not what money meaneth.
They sell such things in that market, as héere we vse, & al thing vnto them néedeful to eate, and cloth for themselues, and necessaries for building.
They haue all kinde of good policie in the Citie: there are Goldsmithes, fetherdressers, Barbors, hotehouses, and potters, who make as good earthen vessel, as is made in Spayne. The earth is fat and fruitefull for corne, fruite, and pasture, for among the pine trées groweth so muche grasse, that our men féede their cattell there, whiche in Spayne they can not do.
Within two leagues of that Citie standeth a rounde hill of sixe miles of heigth, and fiue and fortie myles in compasse, and is now called Saint Bartholmewes hill, where the snow fréeseth. In times past they called that hill Matealcucie, who was their God for water. They had also a God for wyne, who was named Ometochtli, for the great dronkennesse whiche they vsed. They chiefest God was called Camaxtlo, and by another name Mixcouatl, whose Temple stoode in the stréete of Ocotelulco, in the whiche temple there was sacrifised some yeares aboue eyghte hundred persons. In Tlaxcallan they spake thrée languages, that is to saye, Nahualh, whiche is the courtly spéech, and chiefest in all the land of Mexico: an other is called Otomir, which is most commonly vsed in the Villages: There is one onely stréete that spake Pinomer, which is the grosest speache. There was also in that Citie a common Iayle, where fellons lye in yrons, and all things which they held for sinne, was there corrected.
Correctiō
It chanced at that time a Townesman to steale from a Spanyard a little golde, whereof Cortes complayned to Maxixca, who incōtinent made such enquirie, yt the offender was found in Chololla, whiche is another Citie fyue leagues from thence: they brought the prisoner with the golde, and deliuered him to Cortez, to doe with him hys pleasure: Cortes woulde not accepte him, but gaue hym thankes for his diligence: then was he carried wyth a Cryer before hym, manifestyng hys offence, and in the Market place vppon a skaffolde they brake hys ioyntes with a cudgell: our men maruelled to sée suche straunge Iustice.
The aunsvvere of the Tlaxcaltecas touching the leauing of their Idolles
A godly persvvasiō
When Cortez saw that these people executed Iustice, and liued in Religion after theyr manner, although abhominable and diuelish: and alwayes when he desired them to leaue off from their Idolatrie and that cruell vanitie, in killing and eating men sacrifised, considering that none among them how holly soeuer he were, would willingly be slayne & eaten, required them to beléeue in the most true God of the Chrystians, who was the maker of Heauen and earth, the giuer of rayne, and creator of all things that the earthe produceth only for the vse and profite of mortall man.
Some of them aunswered, that they woulde gladly do it, onely to pleasure him, but they feared that the commons would arise and stone them. Others sayde, that it was an hard matter to vnbeléeue that which their forefathers had so long beléeued, and that it shoulde be a cause to condemne their forefathers and themselues.
Others sayde, that it mighte be in time they woulde conuert, séeing the order of the Christian Religion, and vnderstanding the reasons and causes to turne Christians, and likewise perceyuing thoroughly the manner and life of the Christiās, with their lawes and customs: and as for warlike feates, they were satisfyed, & had séene suche tryall, that they helde them for men inuincible in that poynte, and that their God did help them.
Cortes promised them, that shortlye he woulde bring them suche men, as shoulde instruct and teache them, and then they should sée which way was best, with the greate ioy and fruite that they shoulde féele. They accepting that councell which he like a friende had giuen them, and for as much as presently it could not be brought to passe by reason of his iourney to Mexico.
He desired them, that the Temple wherein he was lodged, shoulde be made a Churche for him and his company, and if it pleased them, they mighte also come to sée and heare their diuine seruice.
The Indians graunted to his request, and dayly came among them all the time of their abode there, and some came and dwelte with the Spanyardes, but the chiefest friende was Captayne Maxixca, who neuer went from Cortez.
The discord betvveene the Mexicans and Tlaxcaltecas
Cortez being throughly satisfyed of theyr hartie good wylles, he demaunded of them the estate and riches of Mutezuma. They exalted him greately, as men that had proued his force. And as they affyrmed, it was néere a hundred yeares that they mainteyned warre with him and his father Axaiaca, and others his Vnckles and Grandfathers. And saide also, that the golde and treasure of Mutezuma, was without number, and his power and dominion ouer all the lande, and hys people innumerable: for (quoth they) he ioyneth sometime two hundreth thousand men, yea and thrée hundred thousande for one battayle. And if it pleased hym, he woulde make as manye men double, and thereof they were good witnesse, bycause they had manye times fought with thē.
Maxixca desired that Cortes should not aduenture themselues into the power of the men of Culhua, whereat some of the Spanyardes feared and suspected euill of the matter.
Cortes tolde him, that notwithstanding all those things whiche they had tolde him, he was fully minded to goe to Mexico, to visit Mutezuma, wishing him to aduise hym what he mought do, or bring to passe for them with Mutezuma, for he woulde willingly do it, for the curtesie shewed vnto him, and that he beléeued Mutezuma woulde graunt him any lawfull request.
Then they besought him to procure for them a licence to haue cotten wooll and salte out of his Countrey, for (sayd they) in time of the warres we stoode in greate néede thereof, and that they had none but suche as they boughte by stealthe of the Comercans verye déere, in change of golde: for Mutezuma had made a straight lawe, whereby all suche as carried anye of those commodities to them shoulde be slayne. Then Cortez enquired the cause of their disorder and euill neyborhood. They aunswered, that their griefes were olde, and cause of libertie: but as the Ambassadors did affyrme, and Mutezuma afterward declare, it was not so, but for other matter farre differente. So that eache partye alleadging their causes, theyr reasons were, that the yong menne of Mexico and Culhua dyd exercise and bryng them vppe in warlike feates néere vnto them, and vnder theyr noses, to theyr greate annoyance, whereas they moughte haue gone to Panuco and Teocantepec, hys frontiers a farre off.
Lykewyse theyr pretence was, to haue warre wyth them béeyng theyr neyghbors, onely to haue of them to sacrifice to their Gods: so that when they would make any solemne feast, then would they send to Tlaxcallan for men to sacrifice, with such a great army, that they might take as many as they néeded for that yeare: for it is most certayne if Mutezuma woulde, in one daye hée moughte haue broughte them in subiection, and slayne them all, ioyning his whole power in effecte: but his purpose was, to kéepe them for a pray to hunt withall, for men to be sacrificed to his Goddes, and to eate, so that hée woulde neuer sende but a small armye againste them: whereby it did chance that sometimes those of Tlaxcallan did ouercome.
Cortez receyued great pleasure to heare these discordes betwixt his newe friendes and Mutezuma, whiche was a thing fitte for his purpose, for by that meanes he hoped to bring them all vnder subiection, and therefore hée vsed the one and the other secretely, to build his pretence vpon a good foundation.
At all this communication there stoode by certayne Indians of Vexozinco, whiche had bin against our men in the late warres, the which Towne is a Citie as Tlaxcallan, and ioyned with them in league of friendship against Mutezuma, who oppressed them in like effect of slaughter for their Temples of Mexico, and they also yéelded themselues to Cortes for vassals to the Emperoure.
The solemne receyuing of the Spanyardes into Chololla
A gentle offer
The Ambassedors of Cortes séeyng the determination of Cortes to procéede on his iourney towarde Mexico, they besoughte him to goe by Chololla, whiche stoode fiue leagues from thence, certifying that Chololla was a Citie in their friendship, and that there he might at his pleasure abide the resolution of their Lord Mutezuma, whether it were his pleasure that he should enter into Mexico or no. This request was onely to haue him from thence, for truly it gréeued much Mutezuma of theyr new friendshippe and league, fearyng that thereof woulde some great displeasure happen towardes him, and therefore procured all that was possible to haue him from thence, sending him alwayes presents to allure him to come frō thence the sooner. But when the Tlaxcaltecas saw that he would goe to Chololla, it grieued them muche, saying vnto Cortes, that Mutezuma was a liar and fraudelent person, and that Chololla was a cittie his friende but not constant, and it mighte happen that they would displease him, hauyng him within their Cittie, wishyng him to looke wel to himself: And if néedes he would goe thither, yet they woulde prouide .20000. men to kéepe him company.
Correction of treason
The women that were giuen to the Spaniardes at their firste entraunce, had vnderstandyng of a snare that was layde to murder them at their commyng to Chololla, by meanes of one of the foure Captaynes, who had a sister which discouered the thing to Pedro de Aluarado who kepte hir. Cortes incontinent called that Captayne out of his house, and caused him to be choked, and so was the matter kepte close that his death was neuer knowen, whereby the snare was vndone without any rumour. It was a wonder that all Tlaxcallan had not made an vprore seyng one of their greatest Captaynes dead. There was inquirie made of that snare, and the truth being knowen, it was approued that Mutezuma had prepared .30000. Souldiers who were in campe for that purpose within twoo leagues of the Citie, and that the streates in Chololla were stopped vp with timber and rayles, and the toppes of their houses prouided with stones, which houses are made with playne rooffes or sotties, and the highe way stopped vp, & other false bywayes made with déepe holes pitched ful of stakes very sharpe, to spoyle and lame both horse and man: these engines were finely couered with sande, and coulde not be espied, although the skoute had gone before on foote to discouer. The matter also was very suspitious, for these Citizens of Chololla had not at any time come to visite hym, or sente any presente vnto him as others had done.
Wherevpon Cortez consulted with the Tlaxcaltecas to sende certayne messengers to Chololla, to request their Captaynes and rulers to come vnto him, who did their message accordingly, and the Cholollans woulde not come, but yet they sent thrée or foure persons to excuse them, saying that they were not well at ease, praying to signifie vnto them what he woulde haue: the Tlaxcaltecas enformed Cortes that those messengers were menne of small credite and of lowe degrée, wishyng hym not to departe till theyr Captayne came. In this sorte Cortes returned theyr messengers backe agayne, with commaundement written, declaring that if they came not within thrée dayes, hée woulde proclayme them rebelles and his vtter enimies, and as suche would he chasten with all rigour.
When this commaundement came vnto them, the next day followyng came many Lordes and Captaynes to make their excuse, saying, that the Tlaxcaltecas were their enimies, and that through them they could not liue in safetie, lykewise they knewe of the euill reporte whiche they had made agaynst them: wherefore they besought him to giue no credite vnto them, for why, they were both false and cruell menne: beséechyng him also to goe with them to their Citie, and then he should sée that all was but a mockery that had bene tolde him, and they his good and faythfull friends: and laste of all they offered to serue him as tributary subiectes.
Cortes commaunded that all this talke should be sette downe in wryting before the Notary and his interpreters, and so tooke his leaue of the Citizens of Tlaxcallan. Maxixca wepte at his departure, but there wente in his company a hundreth thousande men of warre: there were among them many Marchantes that wente to barter for Salte and Mantels.
Cortes commaunded that those hundreth thousande men should go alwayes by thēselues: that day he reached not to Chololla, but abode by a broke side, and thither came many of the citie, to desire him that the Tlaxcaltecas should not doe any hurte in their countrey: wherevpon Cortes cōmaunded them to returne backe againe all sauing .5000. or there aboute, much against their willes. But they stil required him to take good héede of those euill folke, who be not (quoth they) men of warre, but pedlers, and men of double harte: and they of their partes would be very loth to leaue him in any peril or daunger, hauing giuen themselues to be his true and faithfull friendes.
The nexte day in the morning the Spaniardes came to Chololla, and there came out néere .10000. Indians to receyue him with their Captaynes in good order: many of them presented vnto him bread, foule, & roses, and euery Captayne as he approched welcomed Cortes, and then stoode aside that the reste in order mighte come vnto him. And when he came entring into the Citie, all the other Citizēs receyued him, marueling to sée such men & horses.
After all this came out all the religious menne, as Priests, and Ministers to the idols (who were many and straunge to beholde,) and all were clothed in white lyke vnto surplices and hemmed with Cotten thréede: some brought instrumentes of musicke like vnto Cornettes, other brought instrumēts made of bones, other an instrumēt like a ketel couered with skin, some brought chafing dishes of coales with perfumes, others brought idols couered, and finally they al came singing in their language, which was a terrible noyse, and drew néere Cortes and his cōpany, sensing them with swéete smelles in their sensers.
With this pompe and solemnitie (whiche truely was great) they brought him into the Cittie, and lodged him in a house where was roume inough for him and his, and gaue vnto eche of them a Gynnea cocke, and his Indians of Tlaxcallan, Zempoallan and Iztacmixtlitan, were prouided by themselues.
The conspiracie of the Cholollans to kill Cortes and his men
Al that night followyng Cortes was vigilant with all his company, for bothe in the way and in the towne they had found some of the things wherof they had bene aduised before in Tlaxcallan, and although their firste present was a Gynnea cocke to eche mans allowance, other thrée dayes followyng they gaue them nothing almost to eate, and very seldome the Captaynes came to visite them, whereof Cortes had great suspition.
Many perils
And in this meane while the Embassadours of Mutezuma entreated him to leaue of his iourney to Mexico, alleaging that their great King woulde die in beholdyng their beardes & gesture: other times they sayde that there was no passage, other times they woulde say that they wanted wherewith to sustayne them. And seyng them fully and in euery respecte answered to all these poyntes, they caused the Townes menne to enforme them, that where Mutezuma his abiding was, were monstrous Lysardes, Tigers, Lions, and many other fierce beastes, the whiche when Mutezuma commaunded to be losed, were sufficient to plucke in péeces, and to destroy those fewe straungers: and seyng that all these pollicies auayled not, they consulted with the Captaynes and chiefe Citizens to murder the Christians. And bycause they shoulde so bryng it to passe, the Embassadours promysed the Citizens greate rewardes on the behalfe of Mutezuma, and presented to theyr generall a drumme of Golde, and promised to bryng the thirtie thousande souldiers whiche lay aboute twoo leagues from thence: the Cholollans promysed to deliuer them bounde hande and foote. But yet they woulde not consente that those Soldiers of Culhua should come into their Cittie, fearyng that they (vnder colour of friendshippe) woulde remayne with the towne, for why, the Mexicans had vsed the lyke sleyght. And in this sorte they with one bolte meante to kill twoo byrdes at a shote, for they thought to take the Spaniardes sléepyng, and then to remayne with the Towne of Cholalla. Also it was determined, that if all these pretences coulde not be brought to passe, that then they should be conducted a contrary way to Mexico vpon the left hande, in the whiche were many daungerous places, bycause the way was all sandy, with many sluces, diches, and holes of thrée fadome déepe, meanyng there to méete them and to carry them bounde to Mutezuma: this matter being fully agreed, they beganne to take away theyr householde stuffe, and to carry it with their wiues and chyldren vp into the mountaynes.
Helpe from God
And our men beyng also ready to departe from thence for theyr small chéere with euill countenaunce, it happened, an Indian woman (beyng wife to one of the principalest Cittizens,) hauing some affection to the bearded men, sayde vnto Marina, that shée shoulde abide there with hyr, for that she loued hir well, and that it woulde grieue hir that she should be slayne with hir mayster. Marina dissimulyng the matter, procured to knowe what they were that had conspired the thing, and hauing knowledge therof, she ranne to séeke Aguillar hir fellow interpreter, and both togither enformed Cortes of the whole matter.
Cortes hearyng this newes, slepte not, but incontinent examined twoo of the Citizens, who confessed the thyng euen as it passed, and as the Gentlewoman had declared: wherevpon Cortes stayed his iourney twoo dayes, to mollifie the matter and to disapoynt them of that euill pretended purpose, and also to correcte their offences, he commaunded their rulers to be called, saying that he had to talke with them, and when they were comen he requyred them neyther to vse lies nor deceytes with hym, but rather lyke menne to defie him to the fielde and battayle, for (quoth hée) honest menne vse rather to fighte than to lie. They all answered that they were his friendes and seruitours, and no liars, and that it mighte please him to shewe them when he woulde departe, for they woulde goe armed to kéepe hym company. He answered that he woulde departe the nexte day followyng, and that he required but onely some of their slaues to carry his fardage, bycause his owne Tamemez or Carriars were weried: lykewise he requyred some prouision of victuall.
At this laste requeste they smyled, saying among themselues, to what purpose will these men haue victuals, for shortly they themselues shalbe boyled and eaten with the sause called Axi, yea, and if Mutezuma had not pretended their bodies for his owne dishe, they had bene eaten here before this tyme.