Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/28

 that when the brigantines started they would go with all their people, for they wished to die where I died, and to revenge themselves on the Culuans their mortal enemies.

Next day which was the twenty-eighth of December, the Feast of the Innocents, I left with all my people in good order, and we marched six leagues from Tascaltecal to a town called Tezmoluca, belonging to the province of Guajocingo, whose natives have always kept the same friendship and alliance with us as the natives of Tascaltecal; and there we rested that night.

In my other account, Very Catholic Sire, I said that I had been informed that the natives of Mexico and Temixtitan were preparing many arms, constructing earth-works and fortifications, and gathering forces for resisting our entrance into the country; for they already knew that I intended to return against them. I was aware of this, and knowing how dextrous and crafty they were in matters of war, I many times pondered how we could surprise them; for they knew that we had information of three roads or entrances, by each of which we might advance into their country. I determined to enter by the road of Tezmoluca, because as its pass was the roughest and steepest of all, I felt sure that we would not encounter much resistance there, nor would they be so much on their guard.

The next day after the Feast of the Innocents, having heard Mass, and recommended ourselves to God, we left  The March to Mexico the town of Tezmoluca, I leading the vanguard, with ten horsemen, and sixty light foot-soldiers, all able men of war. We pursued our road, leading up to the pass with all possible order, and sleeping four leagues from Tezmoluca on the top of the pass which is already within the limits of Culua. Although great cold prevailed, we made