The herald., 1895-04-07

could make war on us and cut off our
supplies Of food and water and by rals-
ing the bridges he could cut off our re,
treat; and to remember also that he had
in the city multitude OF Indian war
rios. And what could we do if we were
attackedP for all the houses are built
on the water and our allies OF Ilascala
could not enter to succor us.
And we said that all this was serious
thing to ponder on, and that in our
opinion the only thing to do if we wished
to secure our lives was to take Monte
auna prisonar and that -we should not
wait another day, for we could not rest
ourselves either by day or night with all
any OF the soldiers who did not feel thus
must be beasts who were blinded by the
lust of the treasure, and therefore could
not see death standing alongside OF it.
When Cortes heard this he replied, do
not think, gentlemen, that l am asleep,
nor think that | am unaware OF the
dangers you speak of; but what force
have we to dare to take so powerful
lord with such numerous guard prisoner
in his own palace? How can we put such
plan into execution? Will not he call
on his guards and order them to attack
us?''
Our Captains, Juan Velasquez de Leon,
Diego de Ordas, Gonzalo de Sandoval
and Pedro de Alvarado replied that by
fair words we should induce him to leave
his palace and come to our quarters and
TO tell him that he would have to come
or his person would be in danger, and
that if Cortes did not wish to take part
in 1T to give them permission and they
would take him prisoner, and that of the
two great dangers, the least was that of
taking him prisoner and that it was bet
ter than to wait until he made war on us,
when we would have no alternative.
Some OF the soldiers also said that the
m a nfM ~ f,,r
nish food with the good will they had for
the first few days. and that the Tlascalans
had told Geronimo de Aguilar that they
had noticed "a bad change in the manner
OF the Mexicans for the last two days.
After much discussion we determined
to leave the matter for next day, but re-
solved to take him prisoner. And all of
that night we were with Padre Olmedo
praying to God to point out to us the
right road for His holy service.
The next morning there came secretly
two Tlascalans from Villa Rica with let
ters, saying that Juan de Escalante, who
remained there for Chief Alguacil, and
six soldiers had been killed in battle
with the Mexicans; and that one horse
and many of the Totonacs who we're in
his company had been killed; and that
the mountain towns were altered and re-
fused to send food or assist in building
the fortress; and that since the defeat
they no longer considered us Teules, but
held us in contempt and were bold and
insolent in their attacks, and that they
did not know what to do.
When we heard this news God alone
knows how it weighed on our spirits, for
this was the first defeat we had suffered
i'll New Spain.
1t was now determined that this day by
one means or other we must take Monte
yuma prisoner or all perish in the at
tempt. But will first tell of the battle in
which Juan de Escalante was killed.
Montezuma had large force of war
riors at Soconusco to guard Guatemala
and Chiapas and another in Guazacualo,
and another in Michchoacan, and another
in Panuco between Tuzpan and another
town which we called Almera, which is
on the north coast. 1t appears that the
Mexicans force near Tuzpan demanded
tribute of the Indian towns that had
made alliances with u.s. and they replied
that they would not give it. as Malinche
had so instructed them. The Mexicans
replied that it they did not they would
destroy their towns and make slaves of
them ALL that such were recent orders
complained OF this to Juan de Escalante
he sent messengers to the Mexicans tell.
ing them to do no wrong to our allies,
that ourselves and Montezuma were good
friends. and that if they attacked our
allies he would make war on them. The
Mexicans treated his message with con-
tempt and said they would await him in
the field. Now Juan de Escalante was
brave man and good captain, and
when he received this reply he had blood
in his eyes, and he Immediately sent
word to all our confederates to come with
their arms. And he also prepared to
march with all the soldiers who were not |
sick for most OF those who remained in !
Villa Rica were sick men. He soon gath.
cred force of forty Spaniards with two
cannon and three crossbows and two |
muskets, very little powder and about |
two thousand Indians, and marched !