_Maxixca_ desired that _Cortes_ should not aduenture themselues into the power of the men of _Culhua_, whereat some of the _Spanyardes_ feared and suspected euill of the matter.
_Cortes_ tolde him, that notwithstanding all those things whiche they had tolde him, he was fully minded to goe to _Mexico_, to visit _Mutezuma_, wishing him to aduise hym what he mought do, or bring to passe for them with _Mutezuma_, for he woulde willingly do it, for the curtesie shewed vnto him, and that he beléeued _Mutezuma_ woulde graunt him any lawfull request.
Then they besought him to procure for them a licence to haue cotten wooll and salte out of his Countrey, for (sayd they) in time of the warres we stoode in greate néede thereof, and that they had none but suche as they boughte by stealthe of the Comercans verye déere, in change of golde: for _Mutezuma_ had made a straight lawe, whereby all suche as carried anye of those commodities to them shoulde be slayne. Then _Cortez_ enquired the cause of their disorder and euill neyborhood. They aunswered, that their griefes were olde, and cause of libertie: but as the Ambassadors did affyrme, and _Mutezuma_ afterward declare, it was not so, but for other matter farre differente. So that eache partye alleadging their causes, theyr reasons were, that the yong menne of _Mexico_ and _Culhua_ dyd exercise and bryng them vppe in warlike feates néere vnto them, and vnder theyr noses, to theyr greate annoyance, whereas they moughte haue gone to _Panuco_ and _Teocantepec_, hys frontiers a farre off.
Lykewyse theyr pretence was, to haue warre wyth them béeyng theyr neyghbors, onely to haue of them to sacrifice to their Gods: so that when they would make any solemne feast, then would they send to _Tlaxcallan_ for men to sacrifice, with such a great army, that they might take as many as they néeded for that yeare: for it is most certayne if _Mutezuma_ woulde, in one daye hée moughte haue broughte them in subiection, and slayne them all, ioyning his whole power in effecte: but his purpose was, to kéepe them for a pray to hunt withall, for men to be sacrificed to his Goddes, and to eate, so that hée woulde neuer sende but a small armye againste them: whereby it did chance that sometimes those of _Tlaxcallan_ did ouercome.