RV. 



I 



Ml) 





84. *A M E%,I C A. Chap. III. 



fort, with fcvcral Prefents, and Overtures of Peace, which indeed were onely 

 Spies, to take notice where they might beft break in upon them 5 which Cor- 

 fe^miftrufting, and foon being informed of the whole Defign, he cut off the 

 Spies Hands, fo lending them back to Quefitangal with Defiance : Hereupon the 

 Indians immediately fetting forward, took advantage of the enluing Night, 

 and with great fury fell upon the Spaniards, who preaccjuainted with the De- 

 fign, were in fo good a pofture to receive them, that not able to endure fuch 

 hot Service, they quickly retreated, and utterly gave over the Enterprize : But 

 Corte^ as much encouraged by thefe Victories, purfu'd them, and the fame 

 Night Storm'd Tlaxcalla, a City containing above twenty thoufand Houfes, 

 which in few Hours he carried. This City was curioufly built, of bak'd 

 Stones, and a place of great Trade • infomuch that the Market-places fwarm'd 

 with Buyers and Sellers, bartering one with another all manner ofProviil- 

 ons, as Fifh, Flefh, and Bread, alio Plumes of Feathers, Pearls, imbroyder'd 

 Tapeftry, Chalk, Stones, Timber, arid Herbs. ill 



Twenty days Corte^ ftaid here to refrefh his Army, and then march'd to the 

 neighboring City Lhiurutical > with the Auxiliary Forces of the Tlaxcallans, to 

 the number of above a hundred thoufand - y they told him, That the People of 

 Cbiurutical had barricado'd up their Streets, laid upon the tops of their Houfes 

 great heaps of Stones, chat their upper Rooms were cfamm'd with Archers, 

 and all things made ready both for Offence and Defence 5 which Advertifenrcnt 

 he not much hearkned to,becaufehe was conducted into the City with all their 

 State-Formalities of Singing and Tabering upon their Tamboes, and every where 

 courteoufly entertahVd. 



Mean while Montezuma had rais'd a great Army, which were in their ad- 

 vance, not onely to the defence of his Border, but to furprize them them while 

 they ftaid in that City, the Townfmen having invited him thither to their re- 

 fcue and his own defence, had not the Plot been accidentally difcover'd by a 

 Cbirutecan Woman, who giving advice to one of her Friends thatfollow'd Cor^ 

 te%, that he mould immediately make his efcape, becaufe that all the Strangers 

 would bedeftroy'd within few Hours, who came and inform'd Corte^ there- 

 of- whereupon he defir'd all the Magiftrates of the City to come and fpeajc/ 

 Strange Martial Affain. with him, who no fooner entred the Hall where he was, but his Men by 

 Command immediately (hot them to death, which terrible Rumor fpreading, 

 and alarm'd with the report of the Executing Mufquets, the City was fuddenly 

 in an Uproar, gathering thither Arm/d from all Places, and began a ffiarp 

 Conflict, which lafted five Hours ; but then wearied out, and defpairing of 

 Succefs, loofing their Courage, they defir'd aCeffation, and atlaft concluded 

 Peace with the Spaniards. 



This News of his difcover'd Intention, fo ftartled Montezuma, that he fup- 

 pos'd it better to defift, and procure the Favor of Corte^ by Prefents . where- 

 fore he fent him 15000 Cotton Habits, trim'd up very richly, ten great Char- 

 gers of Gold, and fome Veffels of Wine, defiring him for a while to forbear 

 his Intentions of marching to Tenujtitan his Chief City, and that he would in 

 the mean while treat with him for an Accommodation. But Corte^ though 

 he accepted of the Prefents, yet neverthelcfs held his Reiolution of marching 



A Plot flrangely «Ufc<H 

 rcr'd. 



Now Mtx'tci. 



on. 



Wonderful Mountain Po~ 

 j-jcatefifut. 



Eight Leagues horn Tenujiitan hefaw the double-fpired Mountain (popocate- 

 peque, fo call'd from the Smoke which continually afcends from its top. for 

 Popoca fignifies A Smoke, and Tepeque, A Mountain. The Smoke riles upright,and 



with 



