Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/125

number of people, who were Otumies, and the horsemen, believing that they were enemies, galloped towards them and lanced at three or four of them; and as the language of the Otumies is different from that of Culua they did not understand them, except that they threw away their arms and came towards the Spaniards, who even after that lanced three or four. But they understood well enough that this had happened from our men not recognising them. As the enemy did not wait, the Spaniards determined to return to another of their towns which was also hostile; but, seeing such a force come against them, the inhabitants came out peaceably. The alguacil mayor spoke kindly to the chief of that town, and told him that he already knew that I would receive with good will all who came to offer themselves as vassals of Your Majesty although they might be very culpable; that he besought him to speak with those of Matalcingo so that they might come to me of their own choice; he agreed to do this and also to bring those of Marinalco to peace. Thus victorious the alguacil mayor returned to his camp. On that day, some Spaniards fought in the city, and the citizens had sent word to ask our interpreter to come, because they desired to discuss peace,
First
Overtures
for Peace
which, as it appeared, they wished only on the condition that we should all leave the country. They did this with the object of resting some days and of furnishing themselves with necessaries, although we never overcame their disposition to fight. While engaged in these parleys with the interpreter, our people were very near the enemy with only a brokendown bridge between them, and an old man amongst them in full sight of all very slowly drew from his provision bag certain things which he ate, so as to give us to understand that they were not in want, for we had told them that they would starve to death; and at this our friends assured the Spaniards that the peace