Company entred the Towne at ease without contradiction so that hée and the other Companye of his Souldyers mette togither at the Markette place and expulsed all the Indians out of the Towne excepte those that were taken prisoners and the carkases of the deade Then the Chrystians soughte the spoyle and founde nothyng but Turkie Hennes and some thyngs wrought of Cotten wooll but verye little Golde There was that daye aboue foure thousande Indians in fyghte and defence of the Towne There was much Indian bloud shedde bycause they fought naked manye were wounded and fewe Captiue Cortez lodged himselfe wyth hys armie in the chiefest Temple of the Idolles where was roome sufficiente They kepte that nyghte good watche as in a house of enimies but the poore Indians durst not once interrupte them After thys sorte was Potonchan taken béeyng the fyrste Cytie that Cortez wanne by force in all hys Conquest The Battell of Cintla AL the nighte Cortez slept not but rather occupyed himselfe in carrying the wounded men other stuffe aboord the Shyps also to disenbarke thirtéene Horses the residue of his mē that he had left aboord that which he brought to passe before the sunne rising although the Tauascans had notice therof Whē the sunne was risen he had with his company made vnto God their prayers and mustered his men where were at that time in Campe néere fiue hundred Spanyardes thirtéene Horses and sixe péeces of ordinance These Horses were the fyrste that euer came into that Countrey whych now is called new Spayne He planted his men and munition in good order and thus marched forwardes toward Cintla The Indians séeyng this preparation began also to make readie and to place in good order fortie thousand men in fyue cōpanies their méeting was in ploughed lande among manye déepe lakes and pondes very daungerous to passe so that our men by reason thereof were brought out of order And Hernando Cortez with his horsemen wente to séeke a better passage and to enclose himselfe among certayne trées on their left hand for to set vpon the enimies when time should serue The footemen procéeded on and passed many marishe groundes vntill they came to the tilled land The Indians were expert in those places wher they beganne the battayle shooting with their bowes and slings and throwing of dartes And although our mē did some hurt among them with their Crossebowes hādgunnes and Ordinance whē they were in place to shoote yet the Indians pursued our men so thicke that they could not put them off for by pollicie the Indians of Potonchan hadde soughte out that place and it is to bée thoughte that they were not barbarous nor of small vnderstanding in warres yet notwithstandyng wyth muche payne oure men gate out of that place and obtayned another somewhat better and more playner grounde whereas they myghte vse their Ordinance and fyghte with their weapons bodye to body But the Indians béeyng so greate a number draue our men to so narrowe a place that they were fayne to ioyne backe to backe for theyr owne defence yea for all that were in maruellous greate daunger for they hadde no roome to vse their Ordinance nor yet Horsemen to make them waye They béeyng in thys perplexitie and readie to flye suddaynely appeared a Horseman with a speckled Horse whome they iudged to be Captayne Morla whych Horsemanne sette vppon the Indians and made them retyre and hauyng more space than before they sette afreshe vppon the enimies and slewe some of them In thys meane tyme the Horsemanne vaded away and was not séene and wyth hys absence the Indians beganne afreshe and enclosed the Chrystians in the same daunger that they were in before then the Horsemanne appeared agayne néere oure menne and made maruellous way among the enimies wherevpon our menne séeyng this succoure gaue the onset agayne with great courage and slewe and hurt many Indians but at the best season the Horseman vanished away cleane out of sighte and when the Indians sawe not the Horseman with feare of whome they fledde thinkyng that he hadde bin a Centaure and that the Horse and man was all one incorporate they returned agayne with liuely courage and vsed our Christians worse than they hadde done before Then the Horseman returned the third time and putte the Indians to flight with great hurte whom our footemē pursued with great slaughter Now at this instant came Cortez with al his company of horsemen being wearied with the trauaile in passing such strange lakes and wildernesse wherof the countrey is replenished Our men being ioyful of his comming they began to enforme him what wonders they had sene a horseman do which came to succour them demanding of him which of their company it was Cortez answered and faithfully assured them that it was none of their cōpany bicause it was not possible for any of them to come any sooner Then they al gaue God praise belieuing that it was a helpe sent from heauen Cortez said my deare fellows forwards for god is with vs Then the horsemē set vpon the Indians and with force of lance droue them out of the marish ground and brake their mayne battel The Indians incontinent left the fielde and fled into the thicke woodden the footemen followed them and slue aboue thrée hundred Indians besides many other that were hurt There wer aboue seauenty Spaniardes wounded with arrowes and stones And whether it were with labour of the battel or with excessiue heate or with drinking the water of that place there fel such a stitch in their loynes that about a hūdred of them fel flat vpon the groūd not able to go nor stand their fellowes being forced to carry thē on their backes But it pleased god that the same night the payne wente frō them being in the morning wel againe Who séeyng themselues deliuered from so manye perils gaue moste humble thankes to the almightye god that had miraculously deliuered them They all agréed that thrée times they had séene the straunge horseman with the speckled horse fight in their fauour as is aforesaid beléeuing generally it was a miracle as certainely it did appeare for the Christians did not alone sée this thing but also the Indians dyd muche note it for the maruelous flercenesse wherwith he came vppon them with such great murder that they were amased and almoste blynde with hys bryghtnesse being so trodden vnder hys féete The captiue Indians after the battayle declared the circumstance therof The Lord Tauasco submitteth himselfe to the Christians COrtez released some of hys prisoners and sent them to their Lorde saying that it grieued him the hurt done on both parties but the fault was theirs And that god was witnesse of hys innocencie and also of hys curtesie offered vnto thē But notwithstanding all that was paste he pardoned their errour with sucke condition That if in continent or within two dayes theyr Lorde woulde come vnto him to yéelde satisfaction of their
and a hundred and eyghtéene footemen of the Spanish nation two péeces of ordinance and thirtie thousand Indians and appoynted him so pitch his camp in Culhuacan To Gonsalo de Sandoual who was the thyrde Captayne he gaue thrée and twenty Horsemen and 160. footemen two péeces of Ordinance and 40000. Indians with commission to choose a place to piâ—ch his Campe. In euery Vergantine he planted a péece of ordinaÌ„ce sixe hargabushes or crossebowes and 23. Spaniards meÌ„ most fittest for that purpose He appointed also Captaynes for eache and himselfe for general whereof some of the chiefest of his companye began to murmure that wente by lande thinking that they had bin in greater daunger wherefore they required him to goe with the mayne battell and not by water Cortes little estéemed their words for although it is more daunger in the water than in the land yet it did more importe to haue greater care in the warres by water than on the land bycause his men had bin in the one and not in the other On the tenth of May Aluarado and Cristoual de Olid departed and went that night to a Towne called A colman where was betwéene them greate discorde touchyng their lodgings yea and if Cortes had not sente to take vp the matter much mischiefe had ensued The nexte daye they lodged in Xâ—lâ—tâ—peâ— whych was not inhabited The thyrde daye they came vnto Tlacopan whyche was also as all the Townes of the lake wythout people there they were lodged in the Lordes house of the Towne The Tlaxcaltecas began to viewe Mexico by the calsey and foughte with their enimies vntill the nighte made them to ceasse On the thirtéenth of May Cristoual de Olid came to Chapultepec and brake the conduites of swéete water wherevpon Mexico was destitute of the same being the conduit that did prouide all the Citie Pedro de Aluarado wyth his company procured to amende all the broken places of the calsey that the horsemen might haue frée passage and hauing muche to do in these affaires he spente thrée dayes and fighting with many enimies some of his men were hurt and many Indian friendes slayn Aluarado abode in Tlacopan with his armye and Cristoual de Olid retired to Culhuacan with his men according to the instruction receyued from Cortes and fortifyed themselues in the Lordes houses of the Towne and euery daye skyrmished with the enimies and some went to the Townes néere at hande and brought Centli fruite and other prouision In this businesse they occupyed theÌ„selues a whole wéeke The Battaile and victory of the Vergantines against the Canoas THe newe Kyng Quahutimoc hauing intelligence how Cortes hadde launched hys Vergantines and so mightie a power to beséege Mexico entred into counsell wyth the chiefest péeres of hys Realme Some were of opinion and dyd prouoke hym to the warres considering theyr greate multitude of people and fortitude of the Citie Others were of opinion who tendred muche the common weale that no Spanyarde that shoulde happen to be taken prysoner shoulde be sacrificed but rather to be preserued for conclusion of peace if neede shoulde so requyre And finally some sayde that they should demaunde of their Goddes what was best to doe The King that inclined himselfe more to peace than to warâ—e sayde that he woulde remitte the matter to the iudgement of the idolles and that he would aduise them what answere should be made vnto him but in harte he desired to come to some honest order and agréement with Cortes fearing the thyng that after did ensue But seyng his Counsell and subiectes so determined to warre he coÌ„maunded foure Spaniardes whiche he had prysoners in a cage to be sacrificed vnto the Goddes of warre with a great number more of Indians He spake to the Diuell in the image of Vitzilopuchtli who answered him that he shoulde not feare the Spaniardes being but fewe nor yet those whiche were comen to helpe them for that they shoulde not long abide in the siege commaunding him to goe forth and to encounter them without feare for he would helpe them and kill his enimies With this answere of the diuel Quahutimoc commaunded forthwith to breake downe the bridges watche the Cittie make bulwarkes and to arme fiue thousande boates and sayde vnto the Spaniardes that the Goddes woulde be pleased with the sacrifice of their bodies the Snakes filled with their bloud and the Tigres relieued with their flesh they sayde also to the Indians of Tlaxcallan ah yée Cuckold knaues slaues and traytors to your gods and kyng will you not repent the wickednesse whiche yée haue committed agaynst your maisters therefore shall you nowe die an euill death for either you shall die with hunger or else vpon the knife and then wil we eate your fleshe and make thereof solemne a banket as the like hath heretofore neuer bene séene and in token therof hold take these armes and legges whiche we throwe vnto you of your owne men which we haue now sacrificed for the obtayning of victory And after these warres we will goe vnto your countrey and spoyle your Towne leaue no memory of your bloud or generation The Tlaxcaltecas laughed at their madde talke and sayd that it should be better for them to yéelde and submitte themselues to Cortes his mercy and if not yet it were more honorable to fight than to bragge willyng them to come out into the field And bad them assuredly beléeue that the ende of all their knauery was at hande it was a world to heare and sée the bragges and crakes on both sides Cortes hearyng of all these matters sent Sandoual to take Iztacpalapan and he enbarked himselfe to méete him at that place Sandoual combated the towne on the one side and the townes menne and people with feare fledde vnto Mexico on the otherside by water he burned the towne Cortes came at the time to a stroÌ„g rocke lyke a tower situated in the water where many men of Culhua were who seyng them approche with their Vergantines sette theyr beacons on fire and threwe downe vpon them stones and shotte of theyr arrowes Cortes wente ashore with a hundreth and fiftie menne and combatted the forte till at length he wanne the battlement whiche was the Indians beste defence and with muche adoe hée came to the toppe and there sought vntill he had not lefte one aliue sauyng women and chyldren It was a fayre victorie although fiue and twentie Spanyardes were hurte and wounded yet the forte was strong and the ouerthrowe a great discouragyng of the enimie At this instant were so many beacons and other fires made rounde aboute the lake and vpon the hilles that all séemed a lighte fire And also the Mexicans hearyng that the Vergantynes were comyng they came out in their boates with fiue hundreth Gentlemen whiche came to sée suche newe kinde of vesselles and to proue what they were beyng a thyng of so greate a fame Cortes embarked himselfe with the spoyle of the forte and commaunded his men to
passage and followed them vnto the entrance of the citie where was a Tower and at the foote thereof a bridge drawen where a good streame of water passed This place was very strong to combat yea and fearefull to behold the passage where the draw bridge was They ceased not shotyng of arrowes and hurlyng of stones so that our men coulde not come neare vntill the Vergantines came and by meanes of them they wanne that fort with lesser paynes than they imagined for without the Vergantines it had not bene possible to haue entred the Cittie The enimies being now fled from that holde our men alanded there with the Indian friendes who incontinent dammed vp the broken place with stones and earth The Spaniardes of the vantgarde tooke another bulwarke which was planted in the largest and fayrest streate of the Citie and pursued the enemy to another draw bridge which remayned but with one poste or beame vppon the which many of the Indians passed ouer and then toke the beame awaye and abode to defende the place but when our men approched sawe how the matter went Cortez commaunded two pieces of Ordinaunce to be broughte with the whiche and with their Harquebushes they did great hurt among the Mexicans who began to fainte and lose their courage the which being vnderstoode certayne Spaniards swaÌ„ ouer where the draw bridge was with their weapons in their mouthes But when the enimy sawe them passe ouer they began as well from that place as from the house toppes zoties and bulwarke whiche they had defended for the space of two houres to flie Cortes and his whole army beyng passed ouer he commaunded to damme vp that broken place of the drawe brydge with earth rubbishe and stones and procéedyng forwarde they came to an other bridge whiche had no bulwarke but was neare one of the chiefest places of the cittie and there placed a péece of ordinaunce wherewith they dyd great hurte and seyng them now past all the bridges they determined to enter into the harte of the Citie When the Mexicans perceyued their determination they beganne to prouide euery one for himselfe for some fledde one way and some another but the moste wente to the great temple of Idols The Spaniardes and theyr friends pursued after them and among the throng gotte into the Temple where they slewe many and at length they wente vp into the high tower and there threwe downe the idols among whome they made a great spoyle Quahutimoc beganne to reprehende his men for their cowardie and â—light who gathered themselues togither and considering theyr ouersight and that there were no horses began a freshe to sette vppon the Spanyardes and with force and strength draue them out of all the circuite of the Temple and made them truste to their féete But when Cortes sawe his menne come flying he caused them to returne and to shewe face vnto the enimy declaryng vnto them how shamefull a thyng it was to flie But seing the strength and multitude of their enimies they had no other remedie but onely to retire to the greate market place yea from thence also they were expelled and lost a péece of their ordinaunce But beyng nowe in this extremitie there came thrée horsemen who played the valiant men and made way through the troupe of enimies who at the sight of the horses began to flie and our men to follow with suche harte and courage that in short time they wan the great temple agayne then came other sixe horsemen who ioyned with the other thrée and lay in ambuâ—â—e where they flew 30. Mexicans The day being now farre spent and the nighte at hande Cortes commaunded his army to retire and they obeying his commandemeÌ„t hadde not so soone turned their backes but an infinite number of enimies were at their héeles who if it hadde not bin for the Horsemen had slayne many Spanyardes for they came vpon them like rauening dogges without any feare yet with the succoure of the Horsemen the enimie was putte agayne to flighte and our men burned many houses to auoyde at their next comming the daunger of stones whiche were throwen from their toppes The other Captaynes who were Sandoual and Aluarado fought valiantly on the other side of the Citie The great hurt and dammage in the houses of Mexico with fire IN this meane while Don Hernando of Tezcuco wente throughout his Lordship to allure his vassall to the seruice and friendship of Cortes according to his former promise and whether it were seyng the Spanyards prosperitie in the séege of Mexico or otherwise he broughte almost the whole prouince of Culhuacan whiche is vnder the gouernemente of Tezcuco with sixe or seauen of his owne bréethren for more he could not although he had more than a hundred bréethren as héereafter shall be declared One of them named Iztlixuchilh béeyng a valiant yong man of the age of foure and twenty yeares he appoynted generall Captayne ouer fiftie thousande men of warre well armed and trimmed according to their fashion Cortez dyd friendly receyue and welcome them giuing them greate thankes for their ayde and good willes Of these new-come men he tooke into his owne host thirtie thousande and deuided the residue equally among the other Captaynes This was a sorrowfull newes to the Mexicans to heare of the succoure which Don Hernando hadde sente to serue Cortes and with holden the same from them yea and also among them were come kinsmen bréethren and fathers to many of them which were in Mexico in the seruice of Quahutimoc Two dayes after that these menne were come there came also men of Xochmilco and certayne husbandmen of the MouÌ„taines who spake the Oâ—omitlh spéech beséeching Cortes to pardon their long tarrying offering also both men and vittayles for the séege Cortes was pleased wyth their coÌ„ming and gentle offer for they being his frieÌ„ds he was assured of them of Culhuacan and sayd vnto them within these thrée daies God willing I wil combate the Citie therefore againste that time I praye you prepare your selues accordingly and therein shall I knowe whether you are my friendes or no and with this aunswere they departed promising to fulfill his request as they did in déede This done he sente thrée VergaÌ„tines to Sandoual and other thrée to Aluarado for to disturbe anye succoure that mighte come from the land to the Citie and likewise to defende and ayde the Spanyardes at all times when they would land vpon the calsey to combate the Citie for he well vnderstoode howe profitable those vessels would be néere vnto the bridges The Captaines of the Vergantines ceased not night and day to runne the coast and Townes of the lake where they tooke manye boates from the enimies laden with men and victuall and permitted none to come into the Citie nor yet any to come out The daye appointed to the enimies for the combate Cortes made his prayers vnto God then enformed each Captayne what he should do and came foorth with tweÌ„tie
Many other couerlets of cotten course Two kerchiefs of good cotten Many perfumes of sweete odor much of that countrey fruits They also brought a gentlewoman that was giuen theÌ„ and other prisoner Indians And for one of them was offered hys weight in golde but Grijalua woulde not take it They also brought newes that there were Amazons women of warre in certaine Ilandes and manye gaue credit being amazed at the things that they had brought bartered for things of a vile price as here-vnder appeareth the Merchandise that they gaue for al the aforesaid Iewels The Inuentorie of the Spanish Merchandise SIxe course shirts Thrée paire of Maryners breeches of lynnen Fiue paire of womens shoes Fiue broad leatherne girdels wrought with coloured thréed with their purses Manye purses of shéepes skinne Sixe glasses a little gilt Foure brouches of glasse Two thousand beadstones of glasse greene A hundred paire of beades of diuerse colours Twenty woodden combes Sixe paire of Sissers Fiftéene kniues great and small A thousand taylers nedels Two thousand pinnes of sorts Eight paire of corded shoes A paire of pinsers and a hammer Seauen red night cappes Thrée coates of colours A freese coate with a cap of the same An old gréene veluet coats An olde veluet cappe The determination of Cortez to prepare a Nauie for discouerie BYcause Iohn de Grijalua was absent a loÌ„ger season than was Francisco Hernandez de Cordona before his returne or giuing aduise of his procéedings the gouernoure Valasques prepared a Caruel and therein sent one Christofer de Olid for to séeke Grijalua with succor if néed wer and gaue Olid great charge that he should returne with newes from Grijalua with all spéede But this messenger taried but a small while vpon his voyage and saw but little of Yucatan and not fynding Grijalua he returned backe againe to Cuba which returne happed not wel for the gouernour nor yet for Grijalua For if he had procéeded for the on his way to Saint Iohn de Vlhua hee had then mette with whom he sought for and likewise caused him to haue inhabited there But he excused him self alleaging that he had lost his ankers and was therfore forced of necessitie to returne And as soone as Olid was departed on that voyage Pedro de Aluarado returned to Cuba wyth full relation of the discouerie brought many things with hym wrought in gold with strange coloured feathers and cotton wool The gouernour Iames Valasques reioyced much to behold those principles And all the Spaniardes of Cuba wondered therat and likewise to heare the whole relatioÌ„ of the iourney Yet the gouernour feared the returne of his kinsman bycause some of his companye that came sicke and diseased from those parties saide that Grijalua meaned not to inhabite there and that the people and land was great and also how the same people were warlike likewise the gouernour feared the wisedome and courage of his kinsman Wherevppon he determined to send thyther certaine shippes with souldiers and armor and other trifling things thinking chiefly to enrich himself by barter and also to inhabite by force He requested one Baltazer Vermudez to take that voyage in hand who accepted the offer but he demaunded thrée thousand duckets for his furniture and prouision Their gouernour hearing this demaund answered that in suche sorte the charges would be more than the profite And so for that tyme lefte off the matter bycause he was couetous and loth to spend thinking to prouide an army at other meÌ„s cost as he had done before when Grijalua went firste on that voyage for at that time one Francisco de Montezo did furnish one shippe And also certaine gentlemen called Alaunso FernaÌ„dez Porto Carero Alaunso de Auila Iames de Ordas with manye others wente with Grijalua at theyr proper costes and charges It followed that the gouernour brake the matter to Cortez required that the voyage shoulde be set forth betwixte them knowing that Cortez had two thousand Castlyns of gold in the power of one Andres de Duero a merchaunt and also that Cortez was a man diligent wise and of stoute courage Cortez being of haughtye stomacke accepted both the voyage and the charges thinking the cost would not be much c. So that the voyage and agréemente was concluded whervpon they sent one Iohn de Sanzedo to the kings couÌ„sel and chauncery resident in the Iland of Santo Domingo who were then religyous persons to haue and obtain of them licence fréelye to goe and traffike into those parties of â— newe discouerie and also to séeke for Iohn de Grijalua for they imagyned that wythout hym small trafficke woulde bee hadde whyche was to exchaunge trifles of Haberdashe for golde and syluer The chiefe rulers of gouernemente at that tyme in the kings counsell there were these following Sogniour AlouÌ„so de SaÌ„to Domingo Segniour Luys de Figuerâ—a Segniour Barnardo de Munsanedâ— who graunted the licence and appointed Hernando Cortez for captaine Generall of the voyage and setter forth in company of Iames Velasques They also appointed a Treasurer and Surueyour to procure for the kings portion or parte whych was according to custome one fifte parte In thys meane season Cortez prepared hymselfe for the Iourney and communed wyth hys especiall friendes to sée who woulde beare hym companye And hee founde thrée hundred men that agréed to his request He then bought a Caruell and Vergantine and another Caruell that Pedro de Aluarado brought home An other Vergantine he had of Iames Valesques he prouided for them armour artillery and other Munition hee brought also wyne Oyle Beanes Pease and other victuals necessarye he toke vp also vppon hys credite of one Iames Sauzedâ— muche Haberdashe to the value of seauen hundred Castlyns in golde The gouernour Velasques deliuered vnto hym a thousande Castlyns whyche he possessed of the goods of one Pamfilâ— de Naruaiz in hys absence alleaging that he had no other money of hys owne proper And beeyng in thys manner agréed the Articles and Conenauntes were drawen and set downe in wryting before a Notary called Alounso de Escalantes the thrée and twenty day of October Anno. 1518. In this meane time arriued at Cuba Iohn de Grijalua vpon whose arriuall the gouernour chaunged his purpose and pretence for hee refused to disburse any more money nor yet would consent that Cortez should furnish his Nauie For the onely cause was that he ment to dispatch backe againe his kinseman and his army But to behold the stoute courage of Cortez his charges and liberalitie in expences it was straunge and to sée how hee was deceiued And also to coÌ„sider the flatterie and deceite of his aduersarie yea what complaints were made to the Lord Admiral saying that Cortez was subtil high minded and a louer of honor which were tokeÌ„s that he wold rebel being in place conuenient and that he woulde reuenge olde griefes Also it grieued Vermudez that he had not accepted the voyage vnto whoÌ„ it was once offered
warres very valiāt and also pitched in a better place for fight This battell endured certaine houres and at the ende the Indians being eyther wearied or else meanyng to take our men in the snare appointed began to flie toward theyr maine battell not as ouercome but to ioyne with their owne folke And our men being hote in the fight and slaughter whiche was not litle followed them with all their fardage and vnwares fell into the ambushe among an infinite number of Indians armed they stayde not bycause they would not put themselues out of order and passed through their campe with great haste feare The enimies began to sette vpon the horsemen thinkyng to haue taken their lances from them their courage was so stoute many of the Spaniardes had there perished had it not bin for the Indian friends Likewise the courage of Cortes did much animate them for although he ledde his army making way yet diuers times he turned him backe to place his men in order and to comforte chem and at length came out of that daungerous way into the playne fielde where the horses mought helpe and the ordinaunce stande in stéede whiche two things did greatly anoy the enimie to their great wonder and maruell and at the sight thereof began to flie In bothe encounters remayned many Indians slayne and wounded and of the Spaniardes some were hurt but none killed giuyng moste hartie thankes vnto God for their deliuery from so great a multitude of Indians their enimies with muche ioye and pleasure of the victory Then they wente to pitche their campe in a village called Teoacaziaco where was a little Tower and a Temple and there fortified themselues and buylte cotages of bowes and strawe The Indians of Zeampoallan and those of Iztacmixtlitan did play the valiant men that day wherfore Cortes honoured them with harty thankes This day was the first of September The night followyng our men slepte not quietly with feare of inuasion of their enimies but they came not for they neuer vse to fighte in the nighte season And as soone as it was day Cortes sente to the Captaynes of Tlaxcallan to requyre them of peace and friendshippe willyng them quietly to suffer the passage through their countrey to Mexico for that they meant them no hurte but rather good will. This done hée lefte twoo hundreth Spanyardes and the Carreirs in the campe And tooke with him other twoo hundreth with seuen hundreth Indians and wente with them abrode to skirmishe in the face of their enimies and at that tyme burned fiue or sixe villages and returned with foure hundreth prysoners without receyuyng any hurte although they followed him to his campe At his returne he founde the answere of the Captayne 's his enimies whiche was that the next day they would come and talke with him and declare theyr mindes Cortes was well preuented that night for the answere liked him not but rather séemed braue and a matter determined to be done as they had sayde lykewise those whiche were taken prysoners certified that his enimies were ioyned togither to the nūber of a. 150000. mē to giue him battaile the next day folowing to swallow thē aliue whom so mortally they did hate thinking thē so be friēds to Mutezuma vnto whom they wished all euil mischief It was moste true that the Tlaxcaltecas had gathered all their whole power to apprehende the bearded menne and to make of them a more solemne sacrifice vnto their Goddes than at any time heretofore they had done with a generall banquet of their flesh which they called Celestial The Captaines of Tlaxcallan deuided their souldiers into foure battayles the one to Tepeticpac another to Ocotelulco the third to Tizatlan and the fourth to Quiahuiztlan that is to say the men of the Mountaynes the men of the Lymepittes the men of the Pinetrées and the water men euery of these had their Lordes and Captaynes whome they shoulde repayre vnto and obey and all these foure sortes of men dothe make the body of the common weale and cittie and also commaunde both in tyme of warre and peace So that euery of these Captaynes had his iust portion or number of warriers but the general of al the whole army was called Xicotencatl who was of the Limepits and he had the standart of the cittie which is a Crane of gold with his wings spred adorned with Emeralds siluerworke which standart is according to their vse either caried before the whole host or else behinde thē all The second Captaine or Lieuetenant was Maxixcazin the number of the whole army was 150000. men Such a great number they had ready against 400. Spaniardes yet at length ouercome neuerthelesse after all this broyle they were most greatest friends These foure captains came with their chpany that the fields where they were séemed a forest They were trimme felowes well armed according to their vse although they were paynted so that their faces shewed like diuels with great tuffes of feathers and triumphed gallantly They had also slinges staues speares swordes bowes and arrowes skulles splintes gantlettes all of wood gilte or else couered with feathers or leather their corselets were made of cotten woolle their targettes and bucklers gallant and strong made of woodde couered with leather and trimmed with laton and feathers theyr swordes were staues with an edge of flint stone cunningly ioyned into the staffe which woulde cutte very well and make a sore wounde The host as is declared was deuided into foure parts their instrumentes of warre were hunters bornes and drummes called attabals made like a caldron and couered with vellam So that the Spanyardes in all the discouery of India did neuer sée a better army togither nor better ordered The threatning of the Indian campe agaynst the Spanyardes THese Indians were great braggers and sayde among themselues what madde people are these that threatneth vs and yet knoweth vs not But if they will be so bolde to inuade our countrey without our licence let vs not sette vpon them so soone it is meete they haue a litle reste for we haue tyme inough to take binde them let vs also sende them meate for they are commen with empty stomackes And againe they shall not say that we do apprehende them with wearinesse and hunger Wherevpon they sent vnto the Christians thrée hundreth Gynnea cockes and two hundreth baskets of bread called Centli The whiche present was a great sucker for the néede that they stoode in And seene after quoth they nowe let vs goe and sette vpon them for by this time they haue eaten their meate and nowe wée will eate them and so shall they pay vs the victuals that we sent likewise we wil know if Mutezuma commaunded them to come into our countrey or who else And if he sente them then let him come and deliuer them and if it be their owne enterpryse they shall receyue theyr reward accordingly These and such like
with feare they retyred But yet they beganne to say well well shortely shall your fleshe be boyled although wée meane not to eate it for truely it is very carrayne and good for nothing But yet we will bestowe the same vpon the Eagles Lions Tigres and Snakes who shal be the graues for your filthy carcases But if forth with ye let not Mutezuma departe and restore him to his libertie yée shall quickly haue your rewarde for your presumption pride who durst be so bold as to lay hande on Mutezuma being our God and Lorde that giueth vs our dayly foode And yet yée with your filthy théeues handes presumed to touch him oh how dothe not the earth open swallow you which taketh other meÌ„s goodes But marke the end for our Gods whose religion you did profane will rewarde you according to your deserte if they do not shortly execute their wrath then let vs alone for we will out of hande make an ende of you And as for those théeues and villaines of Tlaxcallan your slaues shall not depart praysing their gaynes who nowe presume to take their maisters wiues ye and to demaund tribute of them vnto whome they themselues are tributors These such like were the wordes of the Mexicans But our men although they were in a maruelous feare yet they reprehended their folly as touchyng Mutezuma saying that Mutezuma was no God but a mortall maÌ„ as they were and no better and that their Gods were vayne idols and their religion most false and abhominable and that only our God was holy iuste true and infinite The great extremitie and daunger that our men were put in by the Mexicans IN hearyng the former talke in defense of the house and prouiding of things necessary the night passed away And in the mornyng to proue the Mexicans intent Cortes commaunded the market to be vsed as in time past Aluarado wished Cortes to shew himself toward him as agrieued not well pleased makyng as though he would apprehend correct him for the things passed thinking that Mutezuma and his men would haue entreated for him Cortes passed not for that talke saying that thâ—â— were infidels diuelish and wicked people with whome suche complementes shoulde not bée vsed But he commaunded a certaine principal Gentleman of Mexico who stoode there presente that out of hande he should commaunde the market to be furnished as in time past This Indian vnderstaÌ„ding that Cortes had spoken euil of them made as though he went to fulfill his commandement but he wente to proclayme libertie publishyng the heynous and iniurious wordes whiche he had harde so that in shorte space the matter beganne to ware hoate for some went and brake downe the bridges others went to call all the Citizens who ioyned themselues togither and besieged the Spaniardes house with suche straunge noyse that one coulde not heare another the stones flewe lyke hayle Dartes and arrowes filled the Spanyardes yarde which troubled them much Cortes seing this broyle he with certaine of his men went out at one dore and an other Captayne at another with eache of them twoo hundred men They fought with the Indians who slewe foure Spaniardes and wounded many moe and of them were slayne very fewe with their succor and defence at hande If our men fought with them in the streates then would they stoppe their passage at the bridges if they assaulted their houses then they were beaten with stones from the toppe of their houses whiche were flatte ruffed and at their retire they persecuted them terribly They sette fire vpon the Spaniardes house in sundry places but chiefly in one place they coulde not aplake the fire a great whyle vntill they threwe downe certayne chambers and walles whereas they had entered at pleasure had it not bene for the Artillerie Crossebowes and handgunnes whiche were there in defence of that place This combat endured all that day vntill night yea and in the night also they had their handes full our men had litle leasure to sleepe but ratheâ— spente the night in mendyng the walles and dores and curing the wounded men who were more than foure score likewise to set their men in order readinesse for the fight of the next day following It was no sooner day but the Indians beganne theyr assault a fresh with more courage and furie than the day before so that our men were fayne to trust to their artillery the whiche the Indians feared not a whitte for if a shotte carried ten fiftene or twentie Indians at a clappe they would close againe as though one man had not bene missyng Cortes came out with other twoo hundreth men and gate some bridges burned some houses and slew many that defended them But the Indians were so many in number that no hurte appeared yea and our men were so fewe in comparison of them that although they fought al the day yet had they much a doe to defend themselues how much more to offende That day neuer a Spaniarde was slayne outright but thrée score of them were wounded and hurte wherby they had inough to do to cure them for that night and to procure remedy and defence against the hurtes whiche they receyued from the house toppes They inuented Engines of timber made vpon whéeles and foure square couered on the toppe and with Arte to passe through the streates there were placed on eache of them twentie men with Pikes Hargabush Crossebowes and one double Base Behinde the Engines wente men with shouels and Mattockes to throwe downe houses bulworkes and to rule and gouerne the Engines The death of Mutezuma ALl the while that the Engines were a makyng our men came not out to fight beyng occupied in the worke but onely to defende their lodgyng The enimies thinkyng that they were all sore hurte and wounded beganne their warres agayne reuilyng them with many iniurious wordes threatnyng them that if they woulde not deliuer Mutezuma that they woulde giue them the moste cruellest death that euer man suffered and came with great force to haue entred the house Cortes desired Mutezuma to goe vp into the sotie which is the toppe of the flatte roufe of the house and to commaunde his subiects to ceasse from their heate and furie At Cortes his request he wente vp and leaned ouer the wall to talke with them who beginnyng to speake vnto them they threw so many stones out of the streate houses and windowes that one happened to hitte Mutezuma on the temples of his head with whiche blowe he fell downe to the ground this was his ende euen at the handes of his owne subiectes and vassalles agaynst theyr willes for the truth is that a Spaniarde helde a Target ouer his head wherby they knew him not nor yet would beléeue that he was there for all the signes and tokens whiche were made vnto them Cortes forthwith published the hurte and daunger of life of Mutezuma some gaue credite to his tale and othersome woulde not but rather
high Tower. But nowe Cortes determined to leaue his house and not to returne therevnto agayne vntill he had wonne the Tower. He bounde his Target to his arme whiche had bin hurt before and beséeged the Tower againe with many of his men Tlaxcaltecas and other friends and many times although they were beaten downe arose agayne succoring one another tyll at length they gote to the toppe and there foughte with the Indians till some of them lept out of the Tower and stood hanging vpon the listes of the wall which were thrée in number the one higher than the other and a foote broad Some fell downe to the ground who besides their falles were receyued vpon the swordes poynt and in this sorte they left none aliue Thrée houres they fought on the top of the Tower bycause the multitude of Indians wer great In conclusion the whole fiue hundred men there dyed very valiantly and if their weapon and knowledgâ—â—â—ad bin equall the victory had bin doubtfull Cortes set 〈◊〉 on all the Chappels and other thrée Chappels wherâ— infinite Idols were yet those sely Indians lost no poynâ—â— of courage with the losse of their Temple and Gods which touched them at the hearte but rather began with more surie to assault the Spanish house Hovv the Mexicans refused the offer of peace made by Corcez COrtez considering the great multitude of Indians his enimies and also the greate courage with desire of reuengement and waying also how his men were weake and wéeryed with fight yet I may say with great desire to goe froÌ„ thence if that the Citizens would haue suffered them he began againe to require them with peace and to desire them of truce saying vnto them also that they should consider how that many of their side were slayne and yet they coulde kill none of them They béeing more hard harted than before answered that they vtterly refused his offer saying that they neuer woulde haue peace with those who had slained their men and burned their Gods yea quoth they and although some of vs are killed yet wée also do both kill and hurt for ye are mortall men and not immortall as we are beholde ye also the number of vs vpon Zoties in windowes and stréetes assure youre selues there are thrée tymes as manye within the houses So wée shall sooner make an ende of you by kyllyng one and one than you shall doe of vs by killing a thousande by thousande or ten thousand by ten thousand for ending all these whome you sée there wyll come so many more and after them so manye more but if ye were once killed there woulde come no more Spanyardes yea and when oure weapons can not throughly destroy you that then we will sterue you to deathe with hunger and famine yea and though nowe you would depart it is too late bycause the bridges are throwen downe and the calseys broken and succoure by water you haue none In this communications the daye was spente and night at hand their heads occupyed and heartes full heauie for hunger alone hadde bin ynough to finish theyr dayes without any further warre That nighte the one halfe of the number of Spanyardes armed themselues and late in the euening came forthe into the Citie The IndiaÌ„s now being not accustomed to fight at such houres the Spanyardes burned aboue thrée hundred houses in one stréete and in some of them found many Citizens of whome they left not one aliue They burned and spoyled thrée Zoties néere vnto their owne lodging whiche hadde greately annoyed them before The residue of the Spanyardes whiche abode at home amended the engins and repaired their houses As this iourney hapned well vnto them earely in the morning they procéeded out againe and wente to the bridge where their engins hadde bin broken and although they founde there greate resistance yet the matter imported their lines They foughte with noble courage and gote manye towers houses and Zoties They wanne also four of the eyght bridges which were in the Citie leauing gard in those places whyche were wonne returning to their Campe with manye woundes keyng both wéery and full of care and sorrow The next days they came forth againâ— and wanne the other foure bridges and dammed them vp with earth in such sorte that the Horsemen that way followed the enimies to the firme lande Cortez being occupyed in damming vp the ditches and making plaine way of the bridges there came certayne messengers vnto him saying that neere at hand abode many noblemen and Captaines to treate of peace requiring hym to come vnto them praying him to bring Tlamacazque his prisoner who was one of the principallest of the Diuels Cleargie there to heare the treatie of the matter Cortes wente and carried the Priest with him whome he appoynted to require them to ceasse from contention and to remoue their siege but he came not backe wyth aunswere All thys was a fayned fetche to sée the state of the Christian Campe or else to recouer their religious Tlamacazque Cortes séeyng theyr deceyte wente hys way to dinner and was no sooner sette at hys meate but certayne Tlaxcaltecas came running in with an open crye saying that theyr enimies hadde recouered agayne the bridges and wente armed vp and downe the stréetes and hadde also slayne the most of the Spanyardes that were lefte in garde of the bridges Incontinente Cortes wente out with the Horsemenne who were readyest at that tyme and made way through the troupe of enimies following them euen vnto the firme lande but at theyr returne the footemen that were hurt and wéeried in kéeping of the stréete coulde not susteyne the force and furie of the infinite number of Indians whyche came vpon them yea with muche adde they coulde escape home to their forte The multitude was not so greate of Indians in the stréete but also by water in Canoas so that stones flewe on both sydes and galled oure men cruelly Cortes was hurte in one of hys knées very sore wherevppon it was blowen abroade through the Citie that Cortes was slayne whiche newes dyd greately discourage our men and much animate the Indians But yet Cortes for all hys payne and hurt ceassed not to embolden encourage hys Souldyers who set afreshe vpon the enimies At the farthest bridge fel two Horses which troubled muche oure men that followed Cortes made suche way among the Indians that the Horsemen hadde reasonable passage and béeyng the hindmost man himselfe he was in great peril of taking It was a maruell to sée what a spring hée gaue with hys Horse and thereby escaped but in conclusion with stones they were forced to returne to their hold beyng very late As soone as he had ended his supper he sente some of his men to gard the stréete and bridges and to defend the same againste the enemie They were somewhat ioyfull of their procéedings and good successe whiche they hadde the same day Hovve Cortez fledde from Mexico BVt Cortes waying the substance of
horsemen thrée hundred Spanyardes and a great number of Indians with their peeces of Ordinance and where in thrée or foure dayes before they had not skirmished time serued the Mexicans at will to open al those places which were dammed vp before and also to builde better bulwarkes thaÌ„ those which were throwen downe attending with that horrible noyse accustomed But wheÌ„ they sawe the Vergantines on eache side theyr ioy was turned into sorrowe and beganne to fainte the whiche oure men vnderstood well and therewith alanded themselues vpon the calsey and wanne the bulwarke and the bridge Our army procéedyng forward set vppon the enimies vntill they came to another bridge the whyche was likewise wonne in shorte time and this pursued from bridge to bridge alwayes fighting vntill they had driuen them from the Calsey and stréetes Cortes for his part lost no time for he with tenne thousande Indians laboured to damme vp againe the sluses and broken places of the bridges making the way plaine both for Horsemen and footemen it was so much to doe that all those ten thousand Indians were occupyed therein from the morning vntill the euening The other Spanyards and Indian friends skirmished continually and slew many of their enimies Likewyse the Horsemen so scoured the stréetes that the enimies were forced to locke them vp in their houses Temples It was a notable thing to sée how our Indians played the menne that daye againste the Citizens sometimes they would chalenge them the fielde other times they would conuite them to supper and shewe vnto them legges armes and other péeces of maÌ„s flesh saying behold your owne flesh which shal serue for our supper and brekefast and to morrow we wil come for more therefore flye not you are valiant fellowes yet it were better for you to dye fighting than with hunger And after all this spéech euery one of them called vppon the name of his owne Towne with a loude voyce setting fire vppon their houses The Mexicans were replenished with sorrow to see themselues so afflicted with Spanyardes but yet theyr sorrowe was the greater to heare their owne vassals so raile againste them saying and crying at their owne dores victory victory Tlaxcallan Chalcho Tezcuco Xochmilco and other Townes the eating of their fleshe greeued them not for they did the like Cortes séeing the Mexicans so stoute and hard harted with full determination eyther to defend themselues or else to dye therevpon he bethought himselfe vppon two things the one was that he shoulde not obteyne the treasure whiche he had séene in the time of Mutezuma the other was that they gaue him occasion totally to destroy the Citie Both these things gréeued him much but especially the destructioÌ„ of the citie He ymagined with himselfe what he mighte doe to bring them to acknowledge their error and the hurt that mighte fall vpon them and for these considerations he pluckt downe their Towers and brake their idolles He burned also the greate house wherein he was lodged before and the house of foule which was néere at haÌ„d There was not one Spanyard who had séene that magnificall building before but lamented sore the sight but to agréeue the Citizens it was commaunded to be burned There was neuer Mexican that thought any humaine force how much lesse so fewe Spanyards shoulde haue entred into Mexico in despite of them all and to sette fire vpon their principallest edifices within the Citie While this house was a burning Cortes gathered his men and retired to his Campe. The Mexicans would fayne haue remedyed the fire but it was too late and séeing our men retire they followed wyth their noyse accustomed and slue some of our men who were laden with the spoyle and came behinde the reste The horsmen relieued our men and caused the enimy to retire in such wise that before night al our men werein safetie and the enimies in their houses the one sorte full of sorowe and the others wearied with fighte and trauel The slaughter was great that day but the burning and spoyle of houses was greater for besides those whiche wee haue spoken of the Vergantines did the like where they wente and the other Captaines also were not idle where they were appointed Things that happened to Pedro de Aluarado through his bolde attempt PEdro de Aluarado would passe his army to the market place of Tlalulco for he take much payn stoode in perill in susteyning the bridges which he had gotten hauing hys forte almost a league froÌ„ thence And again he being a man of a haughtie stomacke thinking as wel to get honor as his general and likewise being procured by his company who sayde that it were a shame for them if Cortez should winne that market place being more nearer vnto them than vnto him wherevpon he determined to winne those bridges which as yet wer vnwonne and to place himselfe in the market place He procéeded with all his army vntill they came to another brokeÌ„ bridge which was sixtie paces of length and two fadome depe the whiche with the helpe of the Vergantines he wan in short space and gaue order to certaine of his men to damme it vppe substancially and he himselfe pursued his enimies with fiftie Spaniardes But when the Citizens sawe so few in number and al footemen for the horses coulde not passe the sâ—â—ce so soone they came vpon them so sodainely fiercely that they made our men to turne their backes and trust to theyr legges yea and our men fel into the water they knewe not which way They slew many of our IndiaÌ„s and four Spaniards who forthwith they sacrifised and eate their fleshe in the open sight of al the army Aluarado saw his owne folly in not beleauing Cortes who had always forewarned him not to procede foreward vntil he had made the way sure behinde him but Aluarâ—do his counsellers payde their counsel with life Cortes sorrowed for the same for the like had happened vnto him if he had giuen credite to their counsel But as a prudent captain he considered the matter better for euery house was then an Ilande the calsey broken in many places and the zoties or house toppes beset with stones for these and suche like places vsed Quahutimoc Cortes went to see where Aluarado had pitched hys campe and also to rebuke him for that which was past and to aduise him what he shold do But when he came and found him so farre within the libertie of the Citie and the daungerous places which hadde passed he dyd highly coÌ„mend his valiaunt and good seruice he also coÌ„muned with him of manye things concerning the siege and then returned to his owne campe The tryumph and sacrifice vvhich the Mexicans made for their victorie COrtez delayed the time to pitche his campe in the market place of Mexico although daily his menn entrede and skirmished with in the Citie for the causes before alleaged and likewise to sée if Quahutimoc would yéeld himself And also the entrie could
not be but very daungerous for the great multitude of enimies that â—illed vp the streates Al his company Spaniardes ioynâ—ly with the kings Treasurer séeing the determination of Cortes and the hurt already receyued besought and also required him to passe his campe vnto the market place who aunswered them that they had spoken like valiaunt men but as yet quoth he it is not time conuenient we oughte to consider better of the matter for why the enimies are fully determined to ende their liues in defence of that place But his men replyed so muche that hee was compelled to graunte to theyr requeste and proclaymed the entraunce for the nexte daye following Hee wrote also in his letters to Gonsalo de Sandoual to Pedro de Aluarado the instructions of the things that they shoulde doe whiche was in effect to Sandoual that hee shoulde remoue hys campe wyth all hys fardage as thoughe he woulde retire and flye and that vppon the calsey he shoulde haue tenne horsemen in ambushe behinde certaine houses to the intent that when the Citizens should espie theÌ„ flie and would pursue after theÌ„ to passe betwixt them and home with the said horsemen after the hurt done among them in this sort that then he with al his army shoulde come where Pedro de Aluarado aboade with other tenne horsemen a hundered footemen and the Nauye of Vergantines and leauing with hym his men should then take thrée of the Vergantines and to procure to winne that broken bridge where Aluarado of late receiued the foyle and if he fortuned to wynne that place that then he should damme it vp and make it sure before he passed anye further and the like order he gaue vnto him for al other broken places that he should passe Vnto Aluarado he gaue commission that he shoulde passe as farre into the Citie as he myght possible requyring him also to send vnto him eightie Spaniardes Hée also appointed the other seauen Vergantines to passe into both the lakes with thrée thousand Canoas He deuided likewise all his army into thrée companies bycause they had thre ways to enter into the citie By the one of these wayes or streates entred the Treasurer and Auditor with seauentye Spaniardes twentie thousande Indians eight horsemen twelue labourers with pickeaxes and Shouels and many other ydle felowes to cary earth and stones and to fill vp the broken places and to make the way plaine The seconde streate he commended to George de Aluarado and Andres de Tapia with eightie Spaniardes tenne thousande Indians two pieces of Ordinaunce and eight horsemen Cortes himselfe toke the thirde way wyth a great number of friendes and a hundred Spaniardes footemen of the whiche were twentye fiue with Crossebowes and Harquebushes and coÌ„maunded his horsemeÌ„ which were eight in number to abide there behinde and not to folow after vntil he shold sende for them In thys order and al at one instant they entred the Citie shewing the harts of valiaunt men greatly annoying the enemy and wan many bridges but when they came neare vnto the towne house called Tianquiztli there gathered togither such a number of the Indian friendes who before theyr eyes scaled entred and robbed their houses that they thought assuredly that the same day the citie had bin wonne Cortez commaunded that they should procéede no further saying that they had done sufficientlye for that day for also he feared afterclappes He likewise demanded whether all the broken bridges were made sure in the whych quoth he coÌ„sisteth the peril and victorie But those that went with the Treasurer following victorie and spoyle had left a bridge not well dammed vp but verye hollowe and false the whiche was of twelue paces broad and two fadom in depth When Cortez was aduertised hereof he went thither to remedy the same but he was no sooner come when he sawe his men fléeing and leaping into the water with feare of the cruel enimies which followed who leapt after them into the water to kill them There came also along the calsey manye Indian boates of enimies who toke many of the Indian friends and Spaniards aliue Then Cortes and other fiftéene persons which were with him serued for no other purpose but to helpe out of the water those that were fallen some came wounded and others halfe drowned and without armour yea and the multitude of enimies so beset Cortes and his fiftéene companions who wer helping their meÌ„ and so occupyed in the same that they had no regarde to their owne peril Whervpon certaine Mexicans layd haÌ„d vpoÌ„ Cortes who truly they had carried away if it had not bin for one Francisco de Olea his seruaÌ„t who cut off at one blowe the armes of them that had hold of him and he by the enemies was immediately slain so that he died to saue his maisters life Then came Antonio de Quinionez captaine of the guard who caught Cortes by the arme by force pluckt him out of the throng of enimies wyth whom valiantly he fought But theÌ„ with the fame that Cortez was prisoner came many spaniards among whoÌ„ was one horseman who made some roome but in shorte space they thrust him through the throte with a launce and made him to retire The fight ceassed a little Cortes had a horse brought vnto him on the which he lightlye amounted and gathering his men togither came to the streate of Tlacopan whiche was large and faâ—re There diedâ— Guzman his Chamberlayne giuing a horse vnto his maister whose death was much lamented among them all for he was a man valiant honeste welbeloued There fel also into the water two horses the one was saued but the other was killed by the Indians As the Treasurer and his company were Combatting a bulwarke the enimies threw out of a window thrée Spaniards heads vnto them saying the like they would do with their heads if they went not from thence the sooner They séeing this sight and likewise coÌ„sidered the great hurte and spoyle made among them began to retire by little and little The Mexican Priestes went vp into the Towres of Tlatelulco and made their fiers in chafing dishes and put therevnto the swéete guÌ„me of Copalli in token of victorie and forthwith stripped fiftie Spaniards captiues as naked as they were borne and with their fine rasors opened them in the breastes and pluckt out their hartes for an offering to the Idols and sprinckled their bloud in the ayre Our men seing before their eies the doleful sight would fain haue gone to reueÌ„ge the cruel custome But as time then required they had ynough to doe to put themselues in sauetie through the great troupe of Indians which came vpon them who now feared neither horse nor sword This day as ye haue heard were fortie Spaniards sacrificed and Cortes wounded in one of hys legges and thirtie moe of his men they lâ—ste a piece of Orâ—inance and foure horses Also that day was slayne aboue two thousand Indian friends and
came triumphantly with victory of Xochnuxco said vnto the Lorde of Culhuacan Now quoth he Mexico is strong and inuincible for I haue in subiection Xochnuxco and other prouinces so that now I am without feare of any enemie The Lord of Culhuacan aunswered saying trust not good King too muche for one force forceth another with the whiche aunswere Mutezuma was not a little offended But when Cortes hadde taken them both prisoners then he called to remembrance the former talke and held that saying for a prophesie The building vp agayne of Mexico COrtes pretended to reedifie againe the Citie of Mexico not onely for the scituation and maiestie but also for the name great fame thereof and also to builde vp that which he hadde beaten downe by reason whereof he trauelled to make this Citie greater better and to be more replenished with people He named and appoynted Iudges Aldermen Attourneys Towne-clearke Notaries Skauengers and Seriants with all other officers necessarie for the common weale of a Citie He deuided the Citie among the Conquerors hauing first taken out places for Churches market places townehouse and other necessarie plottes to builde houses profitable for the common weale He also separated the dwellings of the Spanyards from the IndiaÌ„s so that the water passeth and maketh deuision betwixt them Hée procured many Indians to come to the building of the Citie for auoiding charges although therein he had somewhat to do by reason that many kinsmen of Quahutimoc were not as yet come vnder obedience He made Lorde of Tezcuco Don Carolus Iztlixuchitl by the consent of the Citie in place of Don Hernando his brother who was deceassed and commaunded many of hys vassals to labour in the workes bycause they were Carpenters masons and builders of houses He promised also to them that were naturals of the Citie of Mexico plottes to build vpon inheritance fréedome and other liberties and the like vnto all those that woulde come and inhabite there whiche was a meane to allure many thither He sette also at libertie Xihuaco the generall Captayne and made him chiefe ouer the Indians in the Citie vnto whome he gaue a whole stréete He gaue likewyse another stréete to Don Pedro Mutezuma who was sonne to Mutezuma the king All this was done to winne the fauoure of the people He made other Gentlemen Seniors of little Ilands and stréetes to builde vpon and to inhabite and in this order the whole scituation was reparted and the worke began with great ioy and diligence but when the fame was blowen abroade that Mexico should be built againe it was a wonder to sée the people that resorted thither hearing of libertie fréedome the number was so greate that in a whole league compasse was nothing but people both men and women They laboured sore and eate little by reason whereof many sickned and pestilence followed whereof dyed an infinite number Their paines was great for they bare on theyr backes and drew after them stones earth timber lyme bricke and all other things necessary in this sort and by little and little Mexico was built againe with a hundred thousande houses more stronger and better than the olde building was The Spanyardes also built their houses after the Spanish fashion Cortes built his house vpon the plotte where Mutezuma his house stoode whiche renteth now yéerely foure thousand duckates a yeare Pamfilo de Naruaez accused him for the same saying that he hadde spoyled the woddes and mountaynes and spente seauen thousand beames of Ceder trées in the worke of his own house The number seemeth more héere than there for where all the Mountaynes are replenished with Ceder trées it is a small matter There are Gardines in Tezcuco that haue a thousand Ceder trées for walles and circuite yea and there are Ceder trées of a hundred tweÌ„ty foote long and twelue foote in compasse from ende to end They built faire dockes couered ouer with arches for the Vergantines whereas for a perpetuall memorie all the thirtéene Vergantines do remayne vntil this day They dâ—mmed vp the stréetes of water where now faire houses stand so that Mexico is not as it was wont to be yea and since the yeare of 1524. the lake decreaseth and sometime casteth out a vapour of stench but otherwise it is a wholesome and temperate dwelling by reason of the Mountaynes that standeth round about it and well prouided through the fertilitie of the Countrey and commoditie of the lake so that now is Mexico one of the greatest Cities in the world and the most noble in all India as well in armes as policie There are at the least two thousande Citizens that haue each of them his horse in his stable with riche furniture for them There is also great contractation and all sortes of occupations Also a money house where money is dayly coyned a fayre schole whiche the Vizeroy Don Antonio de Mendosa caused to be made There is a greate difference betwixte an inhabitant of Mexico and a Conqueror for a Conqueror is a name of honor and hathe landes and rentes and the inhabitante or onely dweller payeth rente for hys house When this Citie was a building not throughlye furnished Cortes came from Culhuacan to dwell there The fame of Cortes and maiestie of Mexico was blowen abroade into farre prouinces by meanes whereof it is now so replenished as I haue before declared yea hath so many Spanyards who haue conquered aboue 400. leagues of land being all gouerned by the princely seate of Mexico Hovv the Emperour sent to take accompt of Cortes of his gouernement in the newe Spayne IN these dayes Cortes was the man of the greatest name of all the Spanish nation although many had defamed him and especially Pamfilo de Naruaez who was in the Court of Spaine accusing him And where of long time the Counsell of India had receyued no letters from him they suspected yea and beléeued whatsoeuer euil was spoken of him Wherevppon they prouided the Admirall Don Diego Colon for Gouernour of Mexico who at that time went to lawe wyth the king pretending the said office and many others with condition to carrie at his owne coast a thousand men to apprehend Cortes They prouided also for Gouernour of Panuco one Nonio de Gusman and Simon de Alcazaua portingall for gouernour of Honduras To kindle more thys mischiefe and to set this businesse forward one Iohn de Ribera the Attourney of Cortes was a sitte and an earnest instrument againste his maister and the cause was for falling out with Martin Cortes father vnto Hernando Cortes about foure thousand Duckates which Cortes had sent by him to his father which money the said Ribera his Attourney kept to his owne vse and therefore raised many slaunders against his maister yea and credite was giuen to his tales but on a night he had a morsell of bacon gyuen him vppon a skaffolde wherewith he was choked in the chiefe time of his businesse These newe officers