_Cortez_ aunswered the letter in suche sort, that he then presently coulde not sende the thing desired, for that he was readye to the siege of _Mexico_: notwythstanding hée gaue them great thankes, with hope shortlye to sée thë. He that writte the former letter, was one of the Spaniardes that _Cortez_ hadde sente to the prouince of _Chinanta_, a yeare paste, to enquire of the secretes of that place, and to séeke for golde and other commodities. And if it so happened, that the Lorde of that place made that Spaniarde a Captayne, agaynste the _Culhuacans_ theyr enemyes, for _Mutezuma_ made them warre béeyng farre from _Mexico_, bycause they had entertayned the Spaniardes. But through the industrie of that Christian, the Lorde aboade alwayes with victorye, and hauing vnderstanding that some of hys nation were in _Tepeacac_, he wrote so often as the letter declareth, but none of them came to their handes, but only this last letter: our men reioyced muche to heare that the Spaniardes were aliue, and also the Lorde of _Chinanta_ to be their friende: likewise they marueyled much howe they had escaped, for at the time that they fledde from _Mexico_, all other Spaniardes that were abidyng in the Mynes and other Lordshippes, were slaine by the _Indians_. _Cortes_ made his preparation for the séege of _Mexico_ with all hast, and furnished hym with scalling ladders, and other necessaryes, fitte for such a purpose. His _Vergantines_ being nayled, and throughly ended, he made a sluise or trench of halfe a league of length, twelue foote broad & more, and two fadome in depth. This worke was fiftie dayes a doyng, although there were foure hundred thousand më dayly working, truly a famous worke and worthy of memory. [Sidenote: A strange tallovve.]