The _Vergantines_ were calked with Towe and cotten woll, and for want of tallow and oyle, they were (as some reporte,) driuen to take mans grease, not that they slewe men for that effect, but of those which were slayne in the warres. The _Indians_ who were cruell and bloudy butchers, vsing sacrifice, would in this sort open the dead bodye, and take out the grease. The _Vergantines_ being lanched, _Cortes_ mustered his men, and founde nine hundred Spanyardes, of the which were 86. Horsemen, and a hüdred and eyghtéene with Crossebowes and Hargabushes, and all the residue had sundry weapons, as swords, daggars, Targets, Launces, and Halbertes. Also they had for armour, corselets, coates of mayle, and Iackes. They had moreouer thrée great péeces of cast yron, fiftéene small péeces of brasse, and tenne hundred waighte of powder, with store of shotte. All that ye haue hearde, was the prouision that _Cortes_ had for the séege of _Mexico_, the strongest and greatest Citie in all _India_ and newe world. In eache _Vergantine_ he placed a péece of brasse. He proclaymed agayne all the institutions and ordinances of the warre, praying and commaunding that they might be well and faithfully obserued, and said, Brethrë and my fellowes, now do you sée our vessels readye, yea and also you do remember howe troublesome a thyng it hathe bin to bring them hither with the coste and sweate of our friendes, and one of the chiefest hopes that I haue shortly to winne _Mexico_, are these vessels, for with them we will burne all their _Canoas_, or else we will so locke them vp, that they shall not help them, whereby we wyll annoy our enimie as muche that way, as our army shall do by land. I haue also a hundred thousand men of warre my friends to beséege this Citie, who are (as you know) y^e valiantest men in all these parties. You haue also your vittailes prouided abundantly, and that which now importeth, is, that you play the menne, as héeretofore you haue done, and most humbly to pray vnto God for victorie, for that this warre is his. The order of the host and army of _Cortes for to beseege Mexico_. The nexte day following, _Cortes_ sente vnto the prouinces of _Tlaxcallan_, _Huexocinco_, _Chololla_, _Chal_, and other Townes, warning thë within tenne dayes to come vnto _Tezcuco_, with theyr armoure, weapon, and other necessaries, for the séege of _Mexico_. He certifyed them also, how the _Vergantines_ were ready with all other furniture accordingly, and the Spanyardes were very desirous to lose no time, wherefore they meante not to delay their pretence, farther than the day appoynted. The _Indians_ hearing this newes, and bycause they would not come too late to the beginning of the assaulte, came incontinente, and entred into _Tezcuco_ in good order of warre, aboue sixtie thousand men, gallantly trimmed after their vse and custome. _Cortes_ friendly welcommed them, and prouided them lodgings accordingly.