CHAPTER XLVII.

_How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be imprisoned,

and no further obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute to be

exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this

monarch._

Cortes further said to the caziques, they were aware he had already

assured them that the emperor, our master, had specifically commissioned

him to punish all those who did evil, and in particular, no longer to

suffer kidnapping nor human sacrifices.

As the Mexican tax-gatherers now required human beings of them for those

sacrifices, he would take and keep them prisoners until Motecusuma

should learn the reason why he had done so, and was made acquainted with

the other violent measures they were accustomed to commit against them,

their wives and daughters.

The caziques were excessively alarmed that Cortes should require this at

their hands, and durst not venture to lay hands on the tax-gatherers of

the mighty Motecusuma. But Cortes exhorted them for such a length of

time that they at last took courage, seized their persons, and fastened

them, in their fashion, to long poles, by collars, which went round the

neck, so that they could not even move themselves. One of them, who made

resistance, was whipped into the bargain.

Upon this Cortes commanded the caziques no longer to obey the mandates

of Motecusuma, nor to pay him tribute, and to make these his wishes

known to all those tribes with whom they were allied and friendly,

adding that they should inform him, whether there were tax-gatherers in

other districts, that he might also send to take them prisoners.

The rumour of all this quickly spread through the whole country, as the

fat cazique despatched messengers to that end, while the chiefs, who had

accompanied the Mexican tax-gatherers, hastened back to their townships

to relate the wonderful news. When the Indians learnt this astounding,

and to them so important an occurrence, they said to one another, that,

such great things could not have been done by men, but only by _teules_,

which sometimes mean gods, sometimes demons, here in the former sense;

which was the reason they termed us teules, from that moment; and I beg

the reader to observe, that whenever in future I speak of teules in

affairs relating to us, that we are meant thereby.

All the caziques were of opinion that we should sacrifice the prisoners,

that they might not return to Mexico and relate what had befallen them.

Cortes, however, strictly forbade this, and placed a strong watch over

them. About midnight he ordered the sentinels into his presence, and

said to them: "Pay particular attention to what I say. Take two of the

most active of the prisoners, now in our hands, and bring them into my

quarters. This must be done with great circumspection, so that the

Indians of this township may know nothing of it."

When the two men were brought before Cortes, he did as if he was

unconscious they were Mexicans, and questioned them, by means of

interpreters, as to whence they came, and why they had been taken

prisoners? To which they answered, "that the caziques of Sempoalla, and

of this township, had seized upon their persons in secret understanding

with us." Cortes, however, positively assured them, that he was totally

ignorant of the whole matter, and was very sorry it should have

happened. He immediately ordered food to be given them, and otherwise to

be kindly treated, and commissioned them to acquaint their monarch,

Motecusuma, that we were all his sincerest friends and most devoted

servants. That they might not suffer any further ill treatment, he

added, they should be set at liberty and he would severely reprimand the

caziques, by whom they had been imprisoned. He was ready to render them

any service in his power, and he would likewise release their three

companions; they themselves, however, had better get out of sight as

quickly as possible, that they might not be retaken by the inhabitants

and killed. Both the prisoners said, they should be very thankful for

their liberty, but were afraid of falling again into their enemies'

hands, as they were compelled to pass through their country. Cortes

therefore ordered six sailors to take the Mexicans in a boat to a

certain point on the coast, twelve miles distant, where they would be

out of the Sempoallan territory. All this was dexterously managed, and

when daylight appeared the caziques and other chiefs were not a little

surprised to find only three prisoners remaining. These they insisted

should be sacrificed, but Cortes feigned to be highly incensed at the

escape of the two, and said he was determined to guard the others

himself. To this end he ordered chains to be brought from our vessels,

with which the prisoners were bound, and in that way taken on board,

where their chains were taken off again. They received the kindest

treatment, and were assured they would be sent back to Mexico in a very

short time.

The caziques of Sempoalla, Quiahuitzlan, and those from the country of

the Totonaques, now assembled and explained the position in which they

were placed at present, as no doubt Motecusuma, upon the first

intelligence of the imprisonment of his tax-gatherers, would put his

army in motion and fall upon them, the consequence of which would be

their total extirpation.

But Cortes assured them, with the most pleasing smile on his

countenance, that he and his brothers who were with him would be their

protection, and he who should dare to molest them, should forfeit his

life. Upon this the caziques, one and all, promised to unite their whole

armed force to ours against Motecusuma and his allies. On this occasion

Diego de Godoy drew up a formal deed of their subjection to the sceptre

of his majesty the emperor, and notice was sent of this to the different

townships of the province. As there was no further talk of tribute, and

tax-gatherers no longer made their appearance, these people were almost

out of their senses for excessive joy in having shaken off the Mexican

yoke.