as it proved afterwards, possessed a fierce and pertinacious bravery like that of the Jews; weapons of offence which would not have been, contemptible anywhere in a previous age, but which were becoming so amongst Europeans in the sixteenth century;* a consolidated kingdom, of which the capital at any rate was devoted to its sovereign, and substantial edifices.† On the other hand, their defensive armour was good, though not to be compared to that of the Spaniards. + Lord Macaulay, in his "Essay on Lord Clive," says, that "the victories of Cortes had been gained over savages who had no letters, who were ignorant of the use of metals, who had not broken in a single animal to labour, who wielded no better weapons than those which could be made out of sticks, flints, and fish-bones, who regarded a horse-soldier as a monster, half man and half beast, who took an arquebusier for a sorcerer, able to scatter the thunder and lightning of the skies." These weapons, however, could hardly have been as contemptible as they are thus represented, for we find that, at the first discharge of missiles in the first battle with Cortes, the Indians wounded seventy men, two of them fatally. Neither is it much to their discredit, that they did not break in animals to labour, as there were none for them to break in. Now that they possess horses, there are no people in the world more expert with them, as may be seen in the case of those who make use of the MEXICANS AND SPANIARDS. 79 On his side Cortes had valiant captains, trained men-at-arms, a small park of artillery, these wonderful horses, and his own dissembling mind and vast audacity-cut off from all retreat. The difficulties, however, in his own camp, which his uncertain position created for him, were very great; and his enterprise, considered in all respects, was, perhaps, as difficult as any feat of arms the world has ever contemplated. lasso. Had the Mexicans possessed horses in those days, there would not have been the slightest chance for the Spaniards, unless they had come in large armies, in which case the difficulty of finding supplies would have been almost an insuperable obstacle. CHAPTER III. Cortes marches to Tlascala-Great battle with the Tlas- HE next step which Cortes took was to march towards the territory of Tlascala. His friends at Cempoala had informed him that the people of that territory were friends of theirs, and very especial enemies (muy capitales enemigos) of Montezuma. The Tlascalan form government was republican, and Cortes compares it to those of Genoa, Venice, and Pisa." "La órden que hasta ahora se ha alcanzado, que la gente de ella tiene en gobernarse, es casi como las Señorías de Venecia, y Génova, ó Pisa; porque no hay Señor general de todos."-LORENZANA, p. 59. 3 MESSAGE OF CORTES. 81 Before his approach, he sent four Cempoalans to the senate of Tlascala, telling the senate that he was coming through their country on his way to Mexico, that he had freed the Cempoalans from Montezuma's yoke, and that he wished to know what grievance the senate had against the Mexicans, Message that he might make the Tlascalan cause his own. Such, at least, was the substance of what Cortes wrote to the Tlascalans. of Cortes. the Senate. catzin's The Tlascalan senate received this crafty mes- Debate in sage, or whatever part the ambassadors (who probably spoke on behalf of their own nation) chose to report of it, and proceeded to debate, upon the subject. One great chief advised friendship with Magisthe Spaniards, as being a race more like gods than counsel. men, who would force their way even if the Tlascalans should oppose them. It would be wise, therefore, to accept their friendship, and to make alliance with them against the common enemy, Montezuma. These arguments he strengthened by appeals to omens and prophecies. Another Xicosenator said that the Spaniards were like some counsel. monstrous beasts cast upon the sea-shore. He lightly put aside the omens, on account of their tencatl's The Tlas Galans re- war. 82 TLASCALANS DECLARE WAR. incertitude. He probably appealed to what the Spaniards had already done-mentioned their demands for gold; and, no doubt, if he were aware of it, described the indignities they had offered to the gods of the country,-undoubted deities in his eyes, whatever the new comers might be.* His voice was for war: and such was the decision of the assembly,—as indeed might have been expected from the chiefs of a nation so jealous of interference that they had denied themselves the use of salt, because it came from Montezuma's country, and they were unwilling to have more intercourse with the Mexicans than they could help. Notwithstanding the opposition to be expected from the Tlascalans, Cortes persevered in making his entrance into their country, and had to fight his way thither. After three or four severe engagements, in one of which, he tells us, he had to * I will not by any means be answerable for the exactitude of these speeches. There are more elaborate ones given in Torquemada, Herrera, and Clavigero,all manifestly proceeding from one source, and tinged, I think, with a Spanish colour. I have no doubt, however, that great speeches were made on the occasion. |