Chap. HI. for the ReduBion 
Cotton thrown over his naked Body, enriched with va- 
rious Jewels and Pendants, which alfo he wore in his Ears 
and Lips : A Prince of a very extraordinary Make, in 
whom Weight and Gravity agreed wonderfully well. It 
was neceffary for Cortes to put a Stop to the laughing 
of the Soldiers. But as foon as the Cazique began his 
Difcourfe, receiving Cortes with his Arms, and welcom- 
ing the reft of the Captains, he lliewed his good Senfe, 
and by his Speech forced a Refpedl: to his Perfon. 
He difcourfed much to the purpofe, and ftiortened 
his Compliments with Refpecl and Difcretion, bidding 
Cortes retire to reft after his Journey, and quarter his Men, 
after which he would vifit him in his Quarters, and 
talk more at Leifure about their common Interefts. He 
had provided Quarters in fquare Courts which had many 
Chambers, where they were all accommodated, and 
plentifully furnifhed with all they had Occafion for. 
After which the Cazique made way for his Viiit, by fend- 
ing a Prefent of Jewels, of Gold, and other Curiofities, 
to the Value of above 2000 Pefos, and foon after came 
himfelf with a iplendid Attendance, in a Chair, carried on 
the Shoulders of the Chiefs of his Family. Cortes went 
forth to receive him, attended by his Captains, and, 
giving him the Precedence and the Right-hand, retired 
with him and his Interpreters, for he thought it conve- 
nient to talk to him without Witnefs. After having 
made him the ufual Speech about the Intent of his 
coming, the Grandeur of his King, and the Errors of 
Idolatry j he proceeded to tell him that the Defign of 
thofe valiant Troops was to redrefs Wrongs, punifh Vio- 
lence, and take Part with Juftice and Reafon. 
He touched on that Point on purpofe to draw him in, 
by Degrees, to complain of Motezuma, and to difcover 
what Advantages might be expected from his Indignation, 
of which he had been before informed. It prefently ap- 
peared, by the Change of his Countenance, that Cortes 
had touched the right String ; and, before he refolved on 
an Anfwer, he began to ftgh, as one who found a Diffi- 
culty in making his Complaints : But at length, his Re- 
lentment prevailing, he broke out into Lamentations of 
his Unhappinefs, and told him. That all the Caziques of 
the neighbouring Countries were under a miferable Slavery, 
groaning under the Opprelftons and Tyranny of Mote- 
zumaj\Cith.Q\.it fufficient Force to free themfelves, or Courage 
to think on a Remedy ; that he caufed himfelf to be ferved 
and adored by his Subjefls like one of his Gods, and would 
have his Violencies reverenced like the Decrees of Hea- 
ven : But that it was not his Delire to have him adven- 
ture to fupport them, becaufe Motezuma was too powerful 
and ftrong for him to refolve to declare himfelf his Ene- 
my, nor would it be agreeable to the Laws of Civility to 
pretend to his Friendffiip by felling, at fo great a Price, 
'the fmall Service he had done him. 
Cortes endeavoured to comfort him ; telling him. That 
he fhould little regard Motezuma^ s Power, having Juftice 
on his Side; but that he was obliged to pafs on to ^li- 
abijlan^ where the Opprefled and Needy Ihould find him 
ready to affift them, and all who, having Reafon on their 
fide,^ ftood in need of his Arms, which he might com- 
municate to his Friends and Confederates -, afturing them 
all, that Motezuma Ihould not be able to oppofe it while 
he undertook their Defence. With this they both took 
Leave, and Cortes prepared for his March, having gained 
the Good-will of that Cazique, and being extremely well 
pleafed, in himfelf, at the better Profpea of his Defigns ; 
whicn, from being only diftant Views of the Imagination, 
began now to appear polTible. 
6 .^ The Army being ready to march, they found four 
hundred Indians provided to carry their Baggage and 
Provifions, and to help to conduct the Artillery, which 
was a great Eafe to the Soldiers, and looked upon as an 
extiaordinary Relpefr of the Cazique, till they underftood, 
horn Donna Marinei^ that it was a common Pradtice to 
afiift Jicir Allies with that Sort of Luggage-carriers, which, 
in their Language, they call Tamenes^ who are able to tra- 
vti fiv’e or fix Leagues with three Qiiarters of an Hundred 
v\ eight on their Backs. The Country they were enterino* 
was pleafant and delightful ; Part covered with great 
1 rees, and the reft cultivated j at which Sight the Spa- 
-Vol.il N>mb. LXXW 
V" Ne w S p A I A 
niards went on chearfully, rejoicing at their good Fortune 
in marching through fo plentiful a Country. At Sim-fe£ 
they found themfelves near a little Village unpeopled^ 
where they ftaid to avoid the Inconvenieiicy of entering 
^liahijlan by Night ; and arrived the next Day by Ten 
in the Morning. 
The Buildings appeared, at a Diftancc; on an Eminence 
of Rocks, which feemed to ferve inftead of Walls ; a 
Situation naturally ftrong, the Avenues narrow and 
fteep, which they found without Defence, and yet they 
entered with Difficulty. The Cazique had retired with 
the Inliabitants to difcover, at a Diftance, the Intention 
of the Spaniards ; and the Troops took Pofteffion of the 
Town, without finding any Perfon from whom they 
could gain the leaft Information, till coming to a Square, 
where the Indians had their Temples, there came out 
Fourteen or Fifteen Indians to meet them, handfomely 
drelTed, after their manner, and with Abundance of Civili- 
ties endeavoured to cover their Fear with Refped. Cortes 
encouraged them by his Carefles, and gave them fome 
Beads of blue and green Glafs, a fort of Coin, which for 
its Effefrs began to be valued even among thofe who 
were acquainted with it ; with which good Treatment they 
recovered from the Fright, and gave him to underftand. 
That their Cazique had withdrawn himfelf to prevent a 
War, by putting himfelf on his Defence, and not adventur- 
ing his Perfon by trufting to armed Troops which he did 
not know ; and it was impoffible to hinder the Flight of the 
Inhabitants, who were under lefs Obligations to run them- 
felves into Danger. But that as foon as the reft ftiould 
be fenfible of the Goodnefs of fuch Guefts, they would 
immediately return to their Houfes, and account it a great 
Happinefs to ferve and obey them. Cortes gave them all 
the Affurances poffible, and, whilft they were gone with 
this News, he gave ftridl Orders to the Soldiers to treat 
the Indians well, who foon ffiewed what Confidence they 
had in the Spaniards ; for that very Night fome Families 
returned, and, in a little Time, the Town was filled again 
with its Inhabitants. 
^ Some time after the Cazique returned, bringing with 
him the Cazique of Zempoalla. They both came in Lit-^ 
ters, on the Shoulders of Men. He of Zempoalla made 
a handfome Excufe for his Neighbour, and, after fome 
Ihort Difcourfe, they introduced their Complaints of Mo- 
tezuma^ recounting, with great Warmth, and fometimes 
with Tears, his Tyrannies and Cruelties; to which the 
Cazique of Zempoalla added as the utmoft Aggravation ; 
“ This Monfter is fo proud and fierce, that, befides his 
“ impoverifliing us by Tributes, and raifing his Wealth 
“ out of our Calamities, he invades the Houfes of his 
“ Subjebls, taking forcibly from us both our Wives and 
“ Daughters, ftaining with their Blood the Altars of his 
“ Gods, after having facrificed them firft to other Ufes 
“ more cruel, and lefs honeft.” Cortes endeavoured to 
comfort them, and bring them to enter into a Confederacy 
with him ; but at the Time that he was enquiring into 
their Strength, and the Number of People that would take 
Arms in Defence of their Liberty, two or three Indians 
came in, who leemed in a great Fright, and whilpering 
the Caziques in their Ears, put them into fuch Confufion 
that they rofe up, lofing Courage and Colour, and went 
haftily away, without fo much as taking leave or making 
an end of their Difcourfe. 
The Caufe of this Diforder was quickly known ; for 
fix Royal Commiffioners, fuch as Went about the King- 
dom to gather Motezuma’?, Tributes, were feen paffing 
before the Spaniards Quarters. They were adorned with 
Abundance of Feathers and Pendants of Gold on fine clean 
Cotton Cloths, with a fufficient Number of Servants and 
inferior Officers; vriio, moving great Fans made of 
Feathers, fanned their Mafters to cool them, or fhaded 
them from the Sun as Occafion required. Cortes went out 
to the Gates, with his Captain, to fee themj and they 
pafled on v/ithout paying him any Refpeft, and with 
Countenances that ffiewed Indignation ; which Pride pro- 
voked fome of the Soldiers fo much, , that they Would 
have chaftifed them, had they not been with-held hj Cortes^ 
v/ho^refted fatisfied at that Time with fending Donna 
Marina^ with a fufficient Guard, to inform himfelf of 
Y what 
