Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/61

 On Holy Wednesday, which was the twenty-seventh of March of the year 1521, I had brought before me those chiefs of Temixtitan who had been taken by the Calcans. I asked if any of them would go to the city and speak on my part to the lords of it, and ask them to stop fighting and give themselves as vassals of Your Majesty as they had before done; for I did not wish to destroy them but to be their friends. Although they took it badly, fearing they would be killed for bringing that message, two of the prisoners determined to go, and asked me for a letter, for, though they did not understand what was in it, they knew that amongst us it was customary, and that by taking it the people of the city would give them credence. I explained also through the interpreters what I wrote in the letter, which was what I had told them. So they left, and I ordered five horsemen to accompany them till they were in safety. On Holy Saturday, the Calcans and some of their allies and friends sent to tell me that the Mexicans were marching against them, and they showed me on a large white cloth a drawing of all the towns which were to march, and the roads by which they were coming; and they besought me at all costs to send them help. I answered them that within four or five days I would send it, but if meanwhile they found themselves in straits they should let me know and I would aid them. On the third day of the Feast of the Resurrection, they came back to beg me to send help as quickly as possible as the enemy was advancing steadily. I told them I would and announced that for the following Friday twenty-five horsemen and three hundred foot-soldiers should be ready. The Thursday before, certain messengers came to Tesaico from the provinces of Tazapan, Mascalcingo, and Nautan, and from other cities in their neighbourhood, telling me that they came to give themselves as