_Cortez_ departed from _Tlaxcallan_ wyth hys Souldyers in good order, whyche was a goodly sight to beholde, for at that time he had eyghtie thousand men in his host, and the most of them armed after their manner, which made a gallant shew: but _Cortes_ for diuers causes would not haue them all with him, vntill the _Vergantines_ were finished, and _Mexico_ beséeged, fearing wante of vittayle for so greate an armye: yet notwithstanding hée tooke twentie thousand of them, besides the Carriers, and that night came to _Tezmoluca_, which städeth sixe leagues from _Tlaxcallan_, and is a Village apperteyning to _Huexocinco_, where he was by the principall of the Towne wel receyued. The next day he iourneyed foure leagues, into the territorie of _Mexico_, and there was lodged on the side of a hill, where many had perished with colde, had it not bin for the store of woodde which they found there. In the morning he ascended vpwards on this hill, and sente hys scoute of foure footemen and foure horsemen to discouer, who found the way stopped with great trées newly cutte downe, and placed crossewise in the way: but they thynking that yet forwards it was not so, procéeded forthe as well as they might, till at length the let with great hugie trées was such, that they could passe no further, and with this newes were forced to returne, certifying _Cortes_ that the Horsemenne coulde not passe that way in any wyse. _Cortes_ demaunded of them, whether they hadde séene anye people, they aunswered no, wherevppon he procéeded forwarde with all the Horsemen, and a thousande footemen, commaundyng all the residue of hys armye to followe hym wyth as muche spéede as myghte bée, so that wyth that companye whyche he carried with him, he made waye, takyng away the trées that were cutte downe to disturbe his passage: and in this order, in short time passed his host, without any hurt or daunger, but with great payne and trauell, for certaynely if the enimies had bin there to defende that passage, oure menne hadde not passed, for it was a verye euill way, and the enimies also thoughte the same to be sure with the trées whiche were crossed the way, wherevppon they were carelesse of that place, and attended their comming in playne grounde: for from _Tlaxcallan_ to _Mexico_ are thrée wayes, of the whiche _Cortes_ chose the worst, ymagining the thing that afterwards fell out, or else some hadde aduised him howe that way was cléere from the enimies. And béeing past this crooked passage, they espyed the lake of _Mexico_, and gaue vnto God moste hartie thankes for the same, and there made a solemne vowe and promise, not to returne, vntill they had wonne _Mexico_, or lost their liues. They abode there and rested themselues, till all the whole armye were come togither, to descende downe into the playne, for nowe they myghte descrye the fires and beacons of theyr enimies in sundrye places, and all those whyche hadde attended theyr commyng