Chap. III. for the ReducUon of New S p a i n. 85 
This done, he ordered Juan de Efculante^ the chief 
Alguazil, to repair to Villa Rica^ to bring alhore 
from the Ships their Anchors, Iron Work, Sails, and all 
that might be of any Ufe, and then to fink them all ex- 
cept the Boats •, and that the Mariners who were aged or 
difabled, and unfit for Service, fiioiild ftay in the Town. 
Juan deEfculante^ who was a very diligent Man, performed 
it with much Expedition, and returned to Zempoalla with 
the ableft of the Seamen, many of whom proved very 
good Soldiers. The more we confider and refledl upon 
this Stroke of our Hero’s Policy, the more we mtiftbe 
peduaded he deferves that Title, fince nothing could 
be greater in itfelf, or performed with more Spirit and! 
Refolution than this Scheme of burning his Ships, which 
he knew muft fill his Soldiers with a determined Re- 
folution to conquer, fince it abfolutely took away what 
had hitherto damped and qualified that Ardour, the 
Hopes of getting back to Cuha^ and efcaping perpetual 
Labours by a timely, though lefs honourable Re- 
treat. 
SECTION X. 
TIjb Hijlory of the War ^ Tlafcala, from its breaking out to Cortes V concluding a 
Peace with that Republic ; awd his taking them into the Confederacy againfi the In- 
dian Emperor Motezuma. 
r . Ebe Interruption Cortes met with in his intended March by the appearing of a SpaniOi Squadron on the 
Coaft^ and the Means he ufed to oblige them to retire. 2. He re fumes his March towards Mexico, ad- 
njances as far as Zocotlan, and refohes to move on notwithftanding the Report of the vafi Power 'of 
Motezuma. 3. Detef^mmes to take the Rout of though advifcd againft it ^ and fends fome of the 
Zempoallans, as his Pmbaf'adors^ who are very ill treated. 4. A War enfiies notwithftanding all the Care 
of Cortes to prevent it^ in which feveral bloody Battles are fought^ and a dreadful Slaughter made of the 
Tlafcalaiis, 5. A great Battle fought^ in which the Republic exert their whole Strength, but are never- 
thelefs overcome, though with Difficulty. 6 . The Tlafcalans e?nploy Spies, which are difeovered and pu,-' 
nifred: Another Battle enjiies, in which they are again beat. j. A Mutiny amongfi the Spaniards, on the 
point of breaking out, is flopped by a Negotiation fet on foot for Peace. 8. The Peace is at length con- 
cluded, to the great Joy and SatisfaBion of both Parties, notwithftandmg the Pains taken by Mote-*' 
• zuraa’r Embaft'adors to delay or hmder it. ' g. A fuccinB Hiftory of this celebrated Republic, includmg a 
Defcriptmi of the City of Tlafcala, and the Manner in which Cortes was treated by its Inhabitants . 
• JO. He perfiftsin his Refolutio?i of marching to Mexico, explains himfelf clearly upon that SubjeB to the 
Tlafcalans, engages them to affifthim in his Undertaking, and prepares for his March, ii. Obferwations 
on the moft remarkable Events contained in the foregoing SeBion. 
T- 1 1 A HE Genius of Cortes diftinguifiied itfelf chiefly He grew eafier upon this Advice, though there were ftill 
X iti delivering him fuddenly, and as it were, two Points to be carried before he could think of profe- 
vdthout Difficulty, out ol thofe fort of dangerous Con- curing his firfl: Enterprize : The firft was, giving a Check 
junflures which feemed to threaten him with immediate to this Scheme of Difeovery ; that he might have no 
and inevitable Deftrudlion : Of this there occurred a more Rivals to difturb his Undertakings hereafter. The 
very extraordinary . Inftance. Immediately after he other, to oblige thefe Ships to quit the Coaft inftantly ; 
had fixed a Refolution of putting all to the Hazard, . that none of the Malcontents in his Army might have 
and marching direftly v;ith his handful of Troops into an Opportunity of deferring to them, 
the Empire of Mexico, we have feen him take one of the In order to efied: this, he marched with a fmall Party 
boldefl; and moft romantic Steps that was perhaps ever of fuch as he could beft truft, to the Sea-fliore \ where 
put in pradice by a Perfon of fo much Prudence and he was hardly arrived before he met with three Spaniards, 
good Senfe, in the burning of his Fleet, purely to pre- one of whom advancing towards him faid, Hewasapub- 
yent thofe who were under his Command from having lie Notary, and that he brought the other two as Witneffes, 
it in their Power to fly from thofe Difficulties which he to atteft the Delivery to him of a Writing which he had 
meant they ffiould overcome ; but no fooner was this in his Hand, containing the Governor of Claim 
extraordinary Meafure taken, than the whole Ufe of it to a Part of this Country. Cortes declined taking the 
feemed to be deftroyed by an Accident he could not Paper, telling him very mildly. That it v/ould be better 
poffibly forefee, and which therefore it was impradicable if Captain Pineda, who he underftood was the Com- 
for him to avoid. mander, would come on Shore himfelf. The Notary 
This Accident was, the Arrival of a fmall Squadron upon anfwered, That neither he, nor any body elfe, would 
theCoaft, of which his Governor at VeraCruzitnmtEmtdj quit the Ship. Upon this Cortes feized him and his 
gave him notice. This could not fail of making Cortes Companions, and waited all Night behind a Sand-hill, to- 
uneafy, who, when he firft received the Intelligence, ap- fee if any body would venture from the Ship ; but findr 
prehended that it muft be fitted out by James V dafquez, ing that no-body came, he obliged his Prifoners to ftrip 
in order to deprive him of his Command, under Pretence themfelves, and having dreffed three of his Men in their 
of fending a Reinforcement for the more effeclual Profe- Clothes fent them to make a Signal ; upon which a Boat 
cution or the Expedition. He forefaw in an Inftant what came off from the Ship with twelve Men well armed : 
the Confequence of this might be, and therefore deter- Corteses Soldiers perceiving this retired under a Tree, and 
mined to march back with ail the Forces under his Com- four Men landing from the Boat with an Indian, ad- 
mand to Vera Cruz, that he might be in a Condition to vanced towards them, not in the leaft doubting that they 
deal with his Enemies, either by way of Perfuafion or were their own People. By this Stratagem he got thelb 
that of Arms, as Occafion flrould require. He did fo ; likewife into his Hands •, and the Boat’s Crew on feeing: 
but upon his Arrival he was informed, that thofe Ships Vv^hat had happened went off, to acquaint thofe on board 
came from the Northward ■, that they had been fitted out therewith, and in a few Hours after the Ship bore away, 
by the Governor of Jamaica, upon Difeovery •, and, and quitted that Coaft. 
that tney meant to fet Bounds to his Conquefts on that By this Means he delivered himfelf at once out of this 
Side, under Pretence that they firft found the Country of Perplexity ; and the Men he had taken, being well ufed, 
Panuco, and had traded with the Inhabitants for Gold, to gave him a faithful Account of all they had feen, and 
the Amount ot three thouiand Pieces of Eight or better, very readily enlifted in his Service, affurins: him at the 
VoL. IL .Numb. 75. - - Z ^ ' 'ikme 
