The history of Polexander in five bookes / done into English by VVilliam Browne, Gent. ...

Coatelicamat Cacique of Thevic, Conductor of the outraged Innocents, and perpetuall Enemy of all Tirants. To Hismalita Queene of Mexico, and to the Stran∣ger Zelmatida.

GReat injuries exciting great resentments are not satisfied but with extraordinary re venges. The Theviciens and as many other Nations as I lead, oppressed by such as call themselves their Fathers and Defenders have beene constrained to take armes, for their common deliverance and have not feared their owne losse, so they might crush by their proper downfall the cruell authors of their calamities. Heaven hath at this time de∣clared it selfe in a cause so just, and the ambitious Montezuma is fallen into that servitude which he prepared for so many free Nations. I hold in my chaines this prodigious ex∣ample of the change of Fortune: I make him feele how insupportable that disaster is to serve his enemy, and to be brought to the necessity of undergoing the rigours of a mercilesse Master. But the weight of his fetters, the horror of his dungeon, and his o∣ther miseries, are but the beginning of his tortures. I reserve others for him after I have burnt this proud City, the retreat of Monsters that devoure the flesh, and drinke the blood of the poore. In the meane while, since by thy valour, O too much blinded stranger! the punishment of the Mexicans crimes is yet procrastinated, and that I must content my selfe with a part of my vengeance; know, that even to morrow, all the prisoners of most importance, which I have taken with Montezuma, shall be sacrificed to the god of Justice and Liberty, to take them off from the race of men.

Hismalita arose from her seate, and transported with choler, snatched the Roll out of the hands of him that read; she gave it to Zelmatida, and withall, what (said she) will your great courage suffer the royall dignity to be thus troden under foote, or per∣mit that seditious persons and traytors dare, unpunished, violate the eternall Lawes by which the gods have established their owne power, in confirming that of Mona•…•…s? And in so saying, she tore in peeces the Declaration of the Cacique of Thevic, and •…•…ent the two Heralds that had brought it, to be presently hang'd. The Cacique understand∣ing the ill successe of his insolent deputation; resolved to deferre no longer to ve•…•…ge∣ance, which he had so often promised to his complices. To that end he kept them in armes all night, and the next day morning was seene from the top of the walls of Mexi∣co, a great Scaffold raised in the middest of the Lake, upon many boates linked to o•…•…e a∣nother. On one side of the scaffold there was an Altar, on which was an Idoll of g•…•…ld, which held a Javelin in his hand; many great •…•…aions of gold round about the Alta•…•…▪ and in them, those instruments wherewithall the Mexican Priests did use to open those men that were sacrificed to their gods. When the enemies sawe all the walls of Mexico ranged with men and women, they caused those Priests to mount the Sc•…•… which they had chosen for that sad ceremony.

The Priests perfumed the Idoll, and repeated oftentimes the words of Ven•…•…ce, Retribution and Liberty. After them were seene some Souldiers, who g•…•…ed and brought those that were condemned to their deaths. The first, being at the place desti•…•… for execution, was laid on a table, and with an horrible inhumanity, a Priest •…•…ke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great knife into his left side, and thence drew out his heart; presently he stuck it on the end of a javelin to make it seene the farther off, and after he had so held it a while, gave it to one of his companions. This done, two Souldiers tooke the body and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 i•…•…∣to the lake; twenty men were executed in this manner, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knowi•…•…g s•…•…e of them, cryed out alas, thus infallibly will these Barbarians put to death all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 T•…•…∣iths (the Mexicans call all their great Lords so) which have beene taken prisone•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉

the King. She had scarce ended these words, but she heard a muttering of voices, min∣gled with the resounding of trumpets, and presently saw on the scaffold the wretched Montezuma, who clad in his royall habiliments, had his chaines on his legs and hands, and witnessed by his trembling and lamentations, that he was never worthy of that qua∣lity which he was now about to lose. At this sight Hismalita growing furious, tore her hayre, plucked in peeces the Diadem she had on her head, and was with much adoe held by the Princes that were about her. What ye Mexicans (cryed she) will you en∣dure that the hangman shall lay his abhominable hands on the sacred person of your King, of your visible god? What is become of that faith you swore to him on the Al∣tars, and in the presence of the gods? Doe you no more remember that you have ac∣knowledged him for your Master, for your Father, for your Life? and at his coronati∣on; all falling on the Earth, offered your selves as Sacrifices ready to shed your blood for his preservation? She would have continued her remonstrances, but a new object of griefe, depriving her of understanding as well as speech, put her some time from her selfe; she came againe with being much troubled, and came againe to her more sorrow and anguish; for she sawe foure Priests take Montezuma, and despoyling him of his robes, bound his eyes and layed him along on the same table, where the other prisoners had lost their lives. The excesse of her resentment rendring her speech, Hangman (cry'd she) strike not the King, see mee here ready to receive the blowe, come, come, glut your rage upon the unfortunate Hismalita, and in so saying, she fell as dead among the armes of her women; and fortune would have it so, to the end that that Princesse by the violence of her afflictions should learne to be no more insensible of the misery of o∣thers. She was no sooner swounded but the boates of Mexico fell on those of the Thevi∣ciens, and during their fight, one man alone forcing his way, in spite of so many ene∣mies, ascended the scaffold where Montezuma was ready to be executed; threw five or sixe of the Priests into the lake, overturned the Altar and the Idoll, and unbinding the King of Mexico, changed his scaffold into a theater of tryumph. The Mexicans seeing so glorious a beginning of the enterprise of my Lord the Inca (you may well thinke that any other then he, could not have performed so difficult an action) rushed in on their e∣nemies, and fearing no more death, fell on them so vigorously that above a thousand boates, and more then sixe thousand Theviciens •…•…nke to the bottome. There were ta∣ken of them some foure thousand, who loaden with chaines were throwne into the towne Prisons. Hismalita returning •…•…rom her swound, was told that by the wonderfull valour of Zelmatida, the Theviciens were overthrowne on the lake, and Montezuma delivered when he was at the point to receive the stroake of death. The enemies woun∣ded and fettered which they drew along the streetes, were sufficient proofes of those victories which she might doubt of; yet imagining that her happinesse was too great to be true, she could not beleeve it till she sawe Zelmatida; who, leading Montezuma by the hand, came to restore to her that other precious halfe of her selfe, and bring againe all those prosperities and glories she had lost. As soone as she had resettled Montezu∣ma in his throne, and left him with his Queene and daughters, he departed without saying any thing, and causing the trumpets and other instruments of warre to sound eve∣ry where, drew out of the towne all those that were of age sufficient to fight. He made them to be fylde along the causseyes with an extreeme diligence, and put them into batalia in the sight of the enemies. The Cacique of Thevic knew the designe of the be∣seiged, and in spite of the terror that the name of Zelmatida gave him, prepared himselfe to fight, and did all that could be expected from a man that was as valiant as he was ambitious. He put his people in order, a•…•…d told them, that if they overcame their ene∣mies, they went not away with one sole victory, but that there were five or sixe linked one to another. Therefore in winning the battell (said he) your liberty is assured you, your Tyrants become your slaves, all Mexico is conquerd, and our short misfortunes followed by perpetu•…•…▪ •…•…elicities. Zelmatida for his part went from batalion to batalion, and according to the diversitie of mindes and countries, changed his tongue and per∣swasions. Every one was animated by his owne interest, and the eloquence of this in∣vincible Commander. Presently the skyrmishes began, and continued on both sides. At last the grosse of the Army moved, the battalions joyned, and their arrowes gave

place to more mortall weapons; I will not make you a particular description of the bat∣tell, nor anoy you in remarking what the Mexicans performed. Let us fixe (if you please) on Zelmatida, since 'tis his victory that you would knowe, and not that of his enemies. This Prince then searching out the ambitious Cacique of Thevic among his troopes, was compelled in finding him to come to handy stroakes with many hardy Theviciens, whom he overcame not without much hazarding himselfe. At last, being already all bloody, and weary with so many brunts already sustained, he met with Coatelicamat, that was driving before him a whole batalion of Mexicans. he put himselfe betweene the Runawayes and the Cacique, and comming up to him, his pike in his hand. Ca∣cique (said he) this is the day that thou must undergoe the punishmens for thy disloy∣altie. The Cacique without being dismayed at the threatning, knew Zelmatida, or at least doubted that twas he. Contrary then to the custome of miscreants, his courage in∣creased by the remembrance of his c•…•…imes, and the neerenesse of the perill, made him lose the feare of it. He came resolutely to Zelmatida, and Zeimatida received him with an intent not to spare him. The combat was long and furious, but it was reasonable that the justice of heaven should have his ordinary slowenesse to chastise so sam•…•… us an offender. Zelmatida which from all times had beene chosen by that incomprehensi•…•…le, to perfect this remarkable vengeance, strooke so great a blowe at his Enemy, that he cut off his right arme, and redoubling it as soone, gave him another so great a wound, that that monstrous toy of ambition, fell on the earth, and saw fall with him all his ab∣hominable hopes and expectancies. Zelmatida quickly clapt his foote on his bel•…•…, and ayming his Javelyn at the others throate, repent thee (said he) if thou wilt have me give thee thy life. Coatelicamat, with a constancy as great as his ambition; answered: I will never repent me, since I never doe any thing till it first seeme just to me. For the life that thou promisest me, I laugh at it, for I see it is not in thy power; but if thou wilt doe me any favour, tell me what thou art, and whence thou comest. Zelmatida swore to him that he could not content his curiositie, since he could not tell of what country he was, nor of what parents borne. At that word, Catelicamat lifting up with fury the arme that was left him, as if he would have striken some one; Impostors (cryed he) they are your eyes that have beene the authors of my crimes. You assured me that I should one day see my selfe seated on the throne of Montezuma, if I could escape the thundring arme of the Inca. In saying this last word, he plunged his hand into his wound, and by that violence tore out his Soule that would not yet have abandoned his body.

The death of Coatelicamat was the entyre ruine of all his army. The Mexicans had their wills of them, destroyed them cleerely. They pierced without resistance the great∣est batalions, and went on, beating those disordered troopes till late in the night; the flaughter was horrible, and of that prodigious number of men which came to the Seige of Mexico, there was not above fifteene or twenty thousand that saved themselves. Twelve thousand were taken alive and brought into the City to be sacrificed to the gods of the Estate. Zelmatida did his utmost to hinder so great a Massacre, but knowing that he had to doe with Barbarians, who place their pleasure and glory in spilling the blood of their adversaries, he left them and returned into Mexico with two thousand, that remayned of the sixe thousand men whom he had made the •…•…roope of his guard. The old men, the women, the children and the Souldiers, that were left behinde for the de∣fence of the towne, losing all memory of what they owed to Montezuma, received Zelmatida as their king, and called him the victorious, the father of the people, the de∣fender of Mexico, and the only hope of the State. These glorious Titles were followed with offrings and inestimable presents. All that particular persons had gathered of gold, silver, pearles, costly habiliments and other excellent moveables, were throwne a•…•… the feete of their Deliverer, and were as generously refused as they were free•…•…y 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Zelmatida having beene a long time in freeing himselfe from the prease of the pe•…•…le, came at last to the Palace, but instead of shoutes and bonefires, of which all the City was full, he met there with nothing but terror, silence, solitude and o•…•…scurity. This sad apearance strooke him to the heart, and made him presently cast his thoughts on I•…•…a∣tida. He stayed the first that he met withall, and asked them of the King and the Queen

and what new accidents had begot in the Court so generall and unhoped for a sadnesse; they answered him, that Montezuma and Hismalita were together, and shewed but lit∣tle by their countenances their feeling or resentment of their common deliverance. Z•…•…lmatida, presaging then the ill that the basenesse and cruelty of the husband and wife have made him suffer; went to see them; and relating to them with that grace particular to him, the successe of the last battell, drew them as by force out of the depth of their insensibility; and desiring to bring them absolutely to their mindes; What good (said he) friend to your Enemies, hath made you insensible of your felicities, and ties up your tongues in a time when you should use them in actions of prayse and thanksgiving? Come, come, let us a way to the Temples to offer pure offrings, and sacrifices of laud to the divinities, by whom your perfidious Subjects have beene punished, your deare M•…•…xico delivered, your throne exalted, and your celestiall persons avenged from the shame of fetters and the infamy of a publique death. Doe not you feare that your gods take notice of your ingratitude? and that repenting the good which you so ill acknow∣ledge, they rayse not againe the cruell and felonious Coatelicamat, and give you over to the rage of his complices? Zelmatida, after he had used this bold language to those timorous Princes, turned himselfe to some Priests that were with them; and you too (said •…•…e to them▪ contemners of the sacred character that makes you reigne over your like; doe you mis•…•…value the authors of your power, and for feare to brush at the iniquity of men, betray ye the cause of the gods? Run, run to the Temples, adorne the Altars, s•…•…nd even to Heaven the odor of your perfumes, and let all ring againe with your sa∣cred Songs and Eulogies. Montezuma not daring to oppose things so just, rose from his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and taking the Queene went with Zelmatida and all his Court to the great Temple of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He could scarce enter, it was so full of people; but as if he was come thither only but to confirme him in his first errors, and to have most certaine proofes of that misfortune which he did but suspect, all the people saluted him but for fashions like, and fixing their eyes on Zelmatida, calld him a hundred times the father and deliv•…•… of M•…•…xico. The prayers being ended, Montezuma returned more confu∣s•…•…d and afflicted then when he came. Hismalita that regarded no more my deare Ma∣ster out as a Monster ready to devoute her, could not at all open her mouth to answere him, but followed the king her husband. As soone as they were all at the Pallace, they gave (atleast in shew) the good night to Zelmatida, and put off till the morrow the en∣t•…•…rtayning him with publique affaires. The generous Prince, pittied the folly of those two Princes, and resolving in himselfe to try his uttermost to free them from it, went foreight to Isatidaes chamber. It was told him that Montezuma had sent for her, and that she should be that night with the Queene. What a friend had that fatall Messenger beene to Zelmatida, if he had given him his death when he brought him this unwelcom newes! My deare master had not suffered but one death, when since that unfortunate day, he is passible of all, and passible without seeing any end of them. He was not content with an answere to him so fatall, but enquired after the causes of that novelty, but learning nothing that could give him satisfaction, he retyr'd himselfe to his lodging, not to take any rest, but to increase his vexation by the agitations of his Soule. The day following so sad a night, was far more sorrowfull. My deare Master could not see the King nor the Queen, and that which afflicted him more, he could not possibly either know where the princesse Isatida was, nor to see any of her attendants. It was late night when Galtazis came to him from Hismalita, and signified, that her religion, and certaine vowes which she and her daughters had made during the imprisonment of Montezuma; oblieged them to a long retyrement, and she therefore besought him that he would not thinke it strange, and would not beleeve that without very great and law∣full causes, they would deprive themselves of the contentment of seeing him. But (added Galtazis) I am to informe you or some things more true and more important too, then these.

Retyre to your owne lodgings, and doe me the honour to expect me there. In the meane time, recall that vigour and great courage by which we have knowne Gyants to be so easily over com. With those helps you must encounter such as are more redoubtable then those that you have vanquish'•…•…. Galtazis in leaving him, gave a paper into his hands,

and prayed him (by way of diversion) that he would take the paines to reade it. Zelma∣tida retyred, and commanding all to leave him alone, and willing to see what the dwarfe had given him; He unfolded the paper and read that which followeth.