MHNTKZUMA S STRATEGY. 517 



Cortes: for that there are many histories and relations LlB - vn - 



thereof, as those which Fernando Cortes himselfe did write 

 to the Kmperour Charles the fift, although they be in a 

 plaine stile and farre from arrogancie, the which doe give a 

 sufficient testimony of what did passe, wherein ho was 

 worthy of eternall memory, but onely to accomplish my inten 

 tion. I am to relate what the Indians report of this action, x 

 the which hath not to this day beene written in our vulgar 

 tong. Monte^ uina therefore, having notice of this Captainos 

 victories, that he advanced for his conquest, that heo was 

 confederate and ioyned with them of Tlascala, his capitall 

 enemies, and that he had severely punished them of Cholula 

 his friends, he studied how to deceive him, or else to try / 

 him in sending a principall man viito him, attyred with the 

 like ornaments and royall ensignes, the which shuld take 

 vpon him to be Monteruma, which fiction being discouered 

 to the Marquis by them of Tlascala (who did accompany 

 him), he sent him bucko, after a milde and gentle reprehen 

 sion, in seeking so to deceive him : wherevpon MoutcQiima 

 was so confounded, that for the feare thereof, he returned 

 to his iirst imaginations and practises, to force the chris- 

 tians to retyre, by the invocation of coniurers and witches. 

 And therefore ho assembled a greater number then before, 

 threatning them that if they returned without effecting 

 what he had given them in charge, not any one should 

 escape, wherevnto they all promised to obey. And for this 

 cause all the divells officers went to the way of Chalco, by 

 the which the Spaniards should passe, when, mounting to 

 the top of a hill, Tezcatlipuca, one of their priucipall gods, 

 appeared vnto them, as commiug from the Spaniards camp, 

 in the habite of Chalcas, who had his breast bound about 

 eight foldc with a corde of reeds, hee came like a man 

 beside himselfe, out of his wits, and drunke with rage and 

 furie. Being come to this troupe of w r itches and coniurers, 

 he staied, and spake to them in great choller, &quot; Why come 



