Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/42

 I left the province of Tascaltecal for Mexico and Temixtitan, I left him there with certain Spaniards, and I shall relate hereafter to Your Majesty what afterwards happened there.

The day after my return from Iztapalapa to the city of Tesaico, I determined to send Gonzalo de Sandoval, aguacil mayor of Your Majesty, in command of twenty horsemen, two hundred foot soldiers, musketeers, archers, and shield bearers, for two very necessary objects: first, to escort out of this province certain messengers I was sending to the city of Tascaltecal to learn in what state the thirteen brigantines, which were being made there, were, and for some other necessary things, as well for the people of Vera Cruz, as for my own company; and second, to make sure of that region, so that the Spaniards might come and go in safety; for at that time we could neither go out of the province of Aculuacan without passing through the enemy's country, nor could the Spaniards in Vera Cruz and other parts, come to us without much danger from the adversary. I ordered the aguacil mayor, after having conducted the messengers safely, to go to a province called Calco, bordering on this of Aculuacan; for I had proofs that the natives of that province, although belonging to the league of Culua, wished to become vassals of Your Majesty but did not