Also it was determined, that if all these pretences coulde not be brought to passe, that then they should be conducted a contrary way to _Mexico_ vpon the left hande, in the whiche were many daungerous places, bycause the way was all sandy, with many sluces, diches, and holes of thrée fadome déepe, meanyng there to méete them and to carry them bounde to _Mutezuma_: this matter being fully agreed, they beganne to take away theyr householde stuffe, and to carry it with their wiues and chyldren vp into the mountaynes. [Sidenote: Helpe from God.] And our men beyng also ready to departe from thence for theyr small chéere with euill countenaunce, it happened, an _Indian_ woman (beyng wife to one of the principalest Cittizens,) hauing some affection to the bearded men, sayde vnto _Marina_, that shée shoulde abide there with hyr, for that she loued hir well, and that it woulde grieue hir that she should be slayne with hir mayster. _Marina_ dissimulyng the matter, procured to knowe what they were that had conspired the thing, and hauing knowledge therof, she ranne to séeke _Aguillar_ hir fellow interpreter, and both togither enformed _Cortes_ of the whole matter. _Cortes_ hearyng this newes, slepte not, but incontinent examined twoo of the Citizens, who confessed the thyng euen as it passed, and as the Gentlewoman had declared: wherevpon _Cortes_ stayed his iourney twoo dayes, to mollifie the matter and to disapoynt them of that euill pretended purpose, and also to correcte their offences, he commaunded their rulers to be called, saying that he had to talke with them, and when they were comen he requyred them neyther to vse lies nor deceytes with hym, but rather lyke menne to defie him to the fielde and battayle, for (quoth hée) honest menne vse rather to fighte than to lie. They all answered that they were his friendes and seruitours, and no liars, and that it mighte please him to shewe them when he woulde departe, for they woulde goe armed to kéepe hym company. He answered that he woulde departe the nexte day followyng, and that he required but onely some of their slaues to carry his fardage, bycause his owne _Tamemez_ or Carriars were weried: lykewise he requyred some prouision of victuall. At this laste requeste they smyled, saying among themselues, to what purpose will these men haue victuals, for shortly they themselues shalbe boyled and eaten with the sause called _Axi_, yea, and if _Mutezuma_ had not pretended their bodies for his owne dishe, they had bene eaten here before this tyme. The punishment that Cortez executed _for conspiracie_. [Sidenote: O vvorthy Cortes.]