of the _Mexican Indians_, and hauing a generall daye of hearyng, the
charge béeyng layde against them, some sayd, that it was through the
letters and persuasion of _Naruaez_: Others aunswered, their desire and
meaning was, to expell the straungers, according to agréemente made,
for in theyr skirmishes they cryed nothing but gette you hence, get you
hence: Other sayde, that they pretended the libertie of _Mutezuma_, for
in theyr Combates they woulde saye, lette goe oure God and Kyng, if you
list not to bée slayne. Others sayde, that they were Théeues, and hadde
robbed theyr golde and plate from them, whyche was in valewe more than
seauen hundred thousande duckettes: Others cryed, héere shall you leaue
the golde that you haue taken from vs. Others sayde, that they coulde
not abyde the syghte of the _Tlaxcaltecas_, and other theyr mortall
enimies. Manye beléeued that the mutinye was for throwyng downe theyr
Goddes and Idolles: each of these causes were sufficient to rebell,
how muche more altogither.
But the chiefest and most principall cause was, that after the
departure of _Cortes_ towarde _Naruaez_, happened a solemne holiday,
whiche the _Mexicans_ were wont to celebrate, and desiring to obserue
the same, as they were wont to do, they came and besoughte Captayne
_Aluarado_ to graunt them licence, & not to ymagine that they were
ioyned togither to kill the Spanyardes. _Aluarado_ gaue them licence,
with such conditions, that in their Sacrifice shoulde no mans bloude be
spilte, nor yet to weare anye weapon.
At this feast, sixe hundred Gentlemen and principall persons ioyned
togither in the greate temple: some doe saye, that they were more than
a thousande persons of greate estate, but that nighte they made a
maruellous great noyse, with cornets, shels, clouen bones, wherewith
they made a straunge musicke: they celebrated the feast, their naked
bodyes couered with telc, made and wrought with precious stones,
collers, girdels, bracelettes, and many other iewels of golde, siluer,
and aliofar, with gallant tuffes of feathers on their heads. They
daunced a daunce called _Mazeualiztli_, which is to say, deserte wyth
payne, and so they call _Mazauali_ a husbandman. Thys daunce is like
_Netoraliztli_, which is another daunce. The manner is, that they lay
mattes in the Temple yarde, and with the sounde of their Drummes,
called _Atabals_, they daunce a round, hande in hande, some singing,
and others answere, which songs were in y^e honor and prayse of the God
or Saincte, whose feast it is, hoping for thys seruice to haue rayne,
corne, healthe, victory, peace, chyldren, or anye other thing that they
maye wishe for, or desire.
[Sidenote: A couetous desire and a vile.]
These _Indian_ Gentlemen being occupied in their daunsing and
ceremonies, it fortuned that _Pedro de Aluarado_ went to the Temple of
_Vitzilopuchtli_ to beholde theyr doings, and whether his goyng was of
his owne accorde, or by the consent of his cöpany I am not certaine,
although some saye that he was aduised howe the mutinie was there
conspired, as after did follow: others holde opinion, that their onely
goyng to the Temple was to beholde the maruaylous and straunge daunce.
And then seying them so richely attyred, they coueted their Golde and
Iewels whiche they were, and besieged the Temple with tenne Spaniardes
at each dore, & the Captayne entred in, with fiftie men, and without
any Christian respect slewe and murdered them al, and tooke from them
all their treasure. Although this facte séemed odious vnto _Cortes_,
yet he dissimuled the mater, for feare least he shoulde hurte his owne
procéedings, as time did then require knowyng not, what néede he might
haue of them, but especially to auoyde contention among his company.
The threatenings of the Mexicans
_agaynst the Spaniardes_.
The cause of this rebellion, beyng well knowen, _Cortes_ demaunded how
theyr enimies fought, mary (quoth they) after they had taken weapon
agaynst vs for the space of ten dayes arew, they neuer seased with
great fury to assaulte and cöbat our house, and we with feare least
_Mutezuma_ shoulde escape and flée vnto _Naruaez_, durst not goe out
of dores to fight in the streate, but onely to defende the house with
especiall care of _Mutezuma_, accordyng to your charge giuen vnto vs.
Also we being but few and the _Indians_ many, who still refreshed
their men, they did not onely wery vs, but also put vs in great feare
and cleane out of courage, yea and if at the greatest brunt, _Mutezuma_
personally had not ascended to the toppe of our wal, commaunding them
if euer they meant to sée him aliue, to stay and cease from their
enterpryce.
At the sight of _Mutezuma_ they were all amazed, and incontinent
ceased the combat and assault. They sayde also that with the newes of
the victory had agaynst _Pamfilo de Naruaez_, _Mutezuma_ requyred his
men to leaue off from theyr pretence: notwithstandyng, the _Indians_
calling to remembraunce, that _Cortes_ was cöming with a greater
company, at whose returne they should haue the more to doe, began
afreshe to assaulte the house, wherevppon some doe thinke, that it
was agaynst the will of _Mutezuma_. But it followed, that one day the
Spaniardes standing in greate perill, charged their greatest péece of
ordinaunce, and gyuing fire, the péece discharged not: the _Indians_
seyng the same, beganne a freshe with a marueylous terrible noyse,
vsing staues, Bowes, lances, & stones that came as thicke as Hayle,
saying, nowe will wée redéeme our King, sette our houses at libertie,
and reuenge our iniuries. But in the middest of theyr fury the péece
wente of, without any more prymyng or touche, with a greate and
fearefull thunderyng, the péece beyng great and ful of hayle shotte,
with the mayne pellotte, made a straunge spoyle among them, and 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 forthwith 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 why dothe not the earth
open & swallow you which taketh other mës 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 mä 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 they 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_ vnderstäding that
_Cortes_ had spoken euil of them, made as though he went to fulfill his
commandment: 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 waxe 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, which 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
rather 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.
[Sidenote: A straunge inuention.]
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 fought very stoutly. Thrée dayes _Mutezuma_ remayned in
extréeme payne, and at the ende departed his life.
And bicause it shoulde appeare that his death was of the stripe that
they had giuen, and not by any hurte receyued at their hands, he caused
two gentlemë of _Mexico_, who were prysoners, to carry him out vpon
their backes, who certified the Citizens of the certentie of his
death, that at that presente time were giuyng battery to the house.
But yet for all this they woulde not leaue off the combat, nor yet the
warres, as some of our men thought they woulde, but rather procéeded
on their purpose, with greater courage and desire of reuenge. And when
they retyred, they made a pityfull lamentation, with preparation to
bury their king in _Chapultepec_. On this sorte died _Mutezuma_, who
was holden for a God among the _Indians_. Some say that hée desired to
be Baptised at the Shrouetide before his death, and they prolonged the
matter, thinking at Easter followyng to haue christened him with honour
and triumph. But as it happened, it had bene better to haue done it at
that time according to his request. But with the comming of _Pamfilo
de Naruaez_ the thyng was also delayed, and after hée was wounded it
was likewyse forgotten, with the troubles that they were in. It was
credibly enformed, that _Mutezuma_ was neuer consentyng to the death
of any Spaniarde, nor yet in conspiracie agaynst _Cortes_, but rather
loued him entierly: yet some are of an other opinion, and bothe giue
good reasons to approue their arguments, but the truth could not wel
be knowen, for at that tyme our men vnderstoode not the language, and
agayne _Mutezuma_ after his death, lefte none to open that secrete.
The _Indians_ affirme that he was of the greatest bloud of all his
linage, and the greatest kyng in estate, that euer was in _Mexico_.
It is also to be noted, that when the kingdomes do most florish, then
are they niest to a chäge, or else to change their Lorde, as doth
appeare in this history of _Mutezuma_. Our men lost more by y^e death
of _Mutezuma_ than the natural _Indians_, if we cösider the murder and
destruction that incontinent did follow. _Mutezuma_ was a man very
moderate in his diet, and not so vicious as other _Indiäs_, although
he had many wiues. He was also liberal and frée harted: he was estéemed
for a very wise man, in my iudgement he was eyther wise in lettyng
things passe after that sorte, or else a very foole, that did not
vnderstande their doings: he was as deuoute as warlyke, for he had
bene presente in many battayles: it is reported that he wanne and had
victory in nine battayles, & also other nine times victorie man for man
in the fielde, he reygned seuentene yeares and certaine moneths.
The combat betvveene the Spaniardes
_and the Indians_.
After the death of _Mutezuma_, _Cortes_ sente vnto his Neuewes, and
to the other noblemen who mainteyned the warres, desiryng thë to come
and speake with him, and they came, vnto whome _Cortes_ spake from
the wall where _Mutezuma_ was slayne, saying, that it were méete that
they should ceasse from warre, and to chose another king, and also
to burie the dead, and that he woulde come to his buriall as his
friende: likewise he signified vnto them, that for the loue he bare
vnto _Mutezuma_ who had intreated for them, he had stayed from the
finall spoyle of the cittie, & correction of them for their rebellion
and obstinacie. But now that he had not vnto whome to haue respect,
he woulde bothe burne their houses, and chasten them, if that they
submitted not themselues to his friendship.
They answered, that they woulde neyther leaue the warres, nor yet
estéeme his friëdship, vntill they saw thëselues in their libertie, and
their wrongs wholly reuenged, yea and that without his counsell they
coulde elect the King vnto whom of right y^e kingdome did apertaine.
And sithens the Gods hath taken our welbeloued _Mutezuma_, we will
giue his body a Sepulchre, as vnto such a King doth apperteyne: yea and
if he would goe and beare his friend _Mutezuma_ company to the Gods,
that then he should come forth, and they would quickly dispatch him:
and as for the residue, they would haue rather warre thä peace, yea and
that they were not menne that did yéelde with wordes. Also séeing their
King was dead, for whose respecte they ceassed to burne their houses,
rost their bodyes, and eate their fleshe, but nowe (quoth they) if ye
depart not, we will not dally long time with you.
[Sidenote: A valiant man.]
_Cortez_ finding them stoute and stubborne, liked not the bargaine.
Againe, he knewe well that their meaning was, that if they hadde
departed from the Citie, to haue spoyled and murthered them by the
way. And séeing that their liues, rule and gouernement consisted in
strength of hand and good courage, he came forth in a morning with the
thrée engines, foure péeces of Ordinance, and fiue hüdred Spanyards,
and thrée thousand _Tlaxcaltecas_, to fighte with the enimies, and
to burne and spoyle their houses. They broughte the engines néere
vnto certaine greate houses which stoode néere vnto a bridge, casting
theyr scaling ladders on the walles, and so gote vp to the toppe where
manye people were, and there combated awhile, but shortly turned to
their forte againe, without doing any greate hurte, with one Spanyarde
slayne, and manye wounded, and also the engines broken and spoyled,
yea the multitude of _Indians_ were so thicke, and flewe vppon the
Ordinance in suche sorte, that they had no leysure to discharge them.
The stones came also so thicke from the house toppes, that the engines
were soone at an ende. And the Citizens hauing housed them againe in
the forte and lodging, began to amende the hurt done in their houses,
and to recouer the stréetes that were lost: also y^e great Temple,
in the Tower whereof, fiue hundred principall men hadde fortifyed
themselues wyth vittayles, stones, and long Launces, piked with yron
and flint stone verye sharp, but truly they did most hurt with stones.
This Tower was high and strong, as I haue before declared, and stoode
néere vnto the Spanyardes forte, whiche from that tower receiued muche
hurt. Although _Cortes_ was somewhat sadde and heauie, yet he ceassed
not like a good Captayne to comfort and encourage his menne, and
alwayes was the firste man at any brunt or assay, and hys heart coulde
not permitte him to remaine penned vp in that fort, wherefore he toke
thrée hundred Spanyardes, and went to assiege the high tower. Thrée
or foure dayes he ceassed not that enterprise, but coulde not come to
the toppe, being so high a thing, and manye persons in defence of the
same, well prouided, with fitte munition for the purpose, so that our
men came dayly tumbling downe the stayres, flying to their house with
broken pates, so that our Spanyardes dysmayed more and more, and many
murmured at the matter: you may well iudge howe _Cortes_ his heart was
afflighted, for the _Indians_ encreased still in courage, hauing the
better hand, and dayly victory from the 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 y^e
multitude of _Indians_ wer great. In conclusion, the whole fiue hundred
men there dyed very valiantly, and if their weapon and knowledge had
bin equall, the victory had bin doubtfull. _Cortes_ set fire on all
the Chappels, and other thrée Chappels, where infinite Idols were, yet
those sely _Indians_ lost no poynte of courage with the losse of their
Temple and Gods, which touched them at the hearte, but rather began
with more furie to assault the Spanish house.
Hovv the Mexicans refused the offer
_of peace made by Cortez_.
_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 frö 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 y^e 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 _Indiäs_ 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 liues. 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, beyng both wéery and full of care and sorrow.
The next daye they came forth againe, 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 néere 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.