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 adoe 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 y^e hindmost man himselfe, he was in great peril of
taking. It was a maruell to sée what a spring hee 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_.
But _Cortes_ waying the substance of the matter, sawe in effecte that
his syde wente to wracke, wherefore he requested hys menne to departe
from thence, who were not a little ioyfull to heare their Captayne
pronounce that saying, for few or none of them escaped vnhurt and
wounded. They feared death, but yet wanted not stomacke and hearte to
dye. The _Indians_ were so many, that if the Chrystians shoulde but
onlye haue cutte their throtes without resistance, yet they had bin too
few for that purpose.
They were also in suche necessitie of bread, that pinched them sore.
Their pouder and shotte was spente, and almost all other prouision.
Their house was welnigh beaten downe about their eares. All these
causes were sufficient to leaue _Mexico_, and to séeke to saue their
liues: yet on the other side, they iudged it an euill case, to turne
their backes to their enimies, for (quoth they) the very stones riseth
vp against hym that flyeth. They feared agayne the passage of the
arches where the bridges hadde bin, so that now they were full besette
with sorrow, care, and misery: but in fyne, they all agréed to departe
that nighte, for many dayes before, one of their companye called
_Botello_, who presumed to haue good skyll in the Arte of Nigromäcie,
did declare vnto them, that if they would depart from _Mexico_ at a
certayne houre appoynted, that then they shuld escape, or else not: but
whether they gaue credite to his sayings or no, they fully determined
to departe that night, and like vnto politike and good Souldyers,
they prepared a bridge of tymber to carrie wyth them, to passe ouer
the arches where bridges hadde bin. This is most certayne, they were
all priuie and agréede to the departure, and not as some report, that
_Cortes_ fledde away, leauing aboue two hundred Spanyardes in the
house, who knewe nothyng of hys departure, and were afterwardes all
slayne, sacrifised, and eaten in _Mexico_, for out of the Citie he
coulde not haue departed so secretely, but it shoulde haue come to
their eares: howe muche more out of one house, where they were all
togither.
[Sidenote: Revvarde of a couetous mind.]
_Cortes_ called _Iohn de Guzman_ hys Chamberlayne, commaunding him to
open the hall where the treasure was, and called all the officers and
others, to sée the distribution of the same. First the kings portion
was deducted, and he gaue a Horse of his owne, and men to carrie it:
and for the remainder, he willed euery man to take what he listed,
for he gaue it frankely vnto them. The souldiers which had come with
_Naruaez_, & now serued _Cortes_, were somewhat hungry of treasure, so
that they tooke as much golde and other riches, as they myghte possible
carrie, but it cost them déere, for at their going out of the Citie,
with the waight of their heauie burthens, they coulde neyther fighte,
nor yet make hast on their way, vppon whiche occasion, the _Indians_
caught many of them, and drewe them by the héeles to the slaughterhouse
of Sacrifice, where they were slayne and eaten: yet those that escaped,
had eache of them some profyte, for that pray was well worth seauen
hundred thousand Ducketes: but beeyng things wrought in greate péeces,
they were troublesome to carrie, so that he whiche carried least,
escaped best. Yet some doe thinke, that there remayned in that house a
great parte of the treasure, but it was not so, for after our men had
taken what they would, then came in the _Tlaxcaltecas_, and made spoyle
of all the rest.
_Cortes_ gaue charge to certayne of his menne, to garde with much
respecte, a sonne and two daughters of _Mutezuma_, _Cacama_, and his
brother, and manye other greate Gentlemen his prisoners.
He also appoynted other fortie më to carrie the bridge of timber,
and other _Indians_ to carrie the Ordinance, and a little grayne of
_Centli_ that remayned.
The vantgarde he committed to _Gonsalo de Sandoual_, and _Antonio de
Quiniones_: and the reregarde he committed to _Pedro de Aluarado_, and
he hymselfe remayned with a hundred men, to vse his discretion. In
this order, and with good deliberation, at midnight he departed from
_Mexico_ in a darke myst, and so quietely, that none of the _Indians_
knewe thereof, commendyng themselues vnto GOD, beséechyng hym in theyr
prayers, to delyuer them from that presente daunger, and tooke the way
of _Tlacopan_, béeyng the same way that he came into the Citie.
The firste arche whereof the bridge was throwen downe, they passed with
the timber bridge whiche they carried with them at ease.
In this meane time the watche and espies which warded in the hiest
temples, had descried their flight, and began to sounde their
instruments of warre with a maruelous crie, saying, they flie, they
flie: And sodenly with this noyse, they hauing no armour to put on,
nor other impedimët, ioyned an infinite company of them togither, and
followed with greate celeritie, yea and with suche a heauy and terrible
noyse, that all the lake pronounced the Eccho, saying, let the cursed
and wicked be slayne, who hath done vnto vs such great hurte.
But when _Cortes_ came to plante his bridge vpon the second arche of
the Cittie, there mette him a greate company of _Indians_ to defende
the same, yet with much adoe he planted his bridge and passed thervpon
with fiue horsemen and a hundred Spaniardes, and with them procéeded
through the Calsey to the mayne lande passing many perilous places,
wherein swamme both man and horse, for the bridge of timber was broken:
this done, he lefte his foote menne on the firme lande, vnder the
gouernement of _Iohn Xaramillo_, and returned backe with the fiue
horsemen for to succour and helpe the residue of his company whiche
were behinde. But when he came vnto them, he found some fighting with
great courage, but many slaine. He lost also his golde and fardage,
his ordinance and prisoners, yea in fine he founde a maruellous change
and alteracion of the estate he lefte them in, wherevpon lyke a good
Captayne he shewed his wisdome and valour, helpyng and recoueryng as
many of his men, as he myght, and brought them into safetie. He lefte
also Captayne _Aluarado_ to succour the reste.
But _Aluarado_ with all his power and strength could not resiste the
fury of the enimies, wherefore with the Lance in his hande he beganne
to flie, seyng the greate slaughter of his company, so that hée was
forced to passe ouer the dead carkases, yea and vpon some that were
not throughly dead, who made a lamentable, pytifull, and dolefull
mone. And commyng to the next arche, whose brydge was broken downe, of
necessitie he tooke hys Lance, and therewith leaped such a space, that
the _Indians_ were amased to sée, for none of his fellowes could doe
the like, although they approued the enterprise, and were drowned for
their labour.
When _Cortes_ sawe this sorrowfull sight, he sate hym downe, not to
take any rest for his wearinesse, but only to bewayle the dead men,
yea and also them that were aliue and in greate daunger, and also to
ponder the vnstedfastnesse of cruell fortune in the perdition of so
many his friends, such great treasure and lordshippe, so greate a
Citie and Kingdome, but also to bewayle the sorrowfull estate that he
himself stoode in, seyng the moste of his men wounded & hurte, and
knowyng not whyther to goe, for that he was not certayne of the helpe
and friendship of _Tlaxcaltecas_. Yea and what harde hart, woulde not
haue relented to behold the dead bodies, who a litle before had entred
that same way, with suche magnificall triumphe, pompe and pleasure. But
yet hauing care of those whom he had lefte on the firme lande, he made
haste to _Tlacopan_.
This sorowfull night, which was the tenth of July in _An_ .1520. were
slaine aboute .450. Spaniardes, 4000. _Indian_ friends, and .46. horse,
yea & (as I iudge) all the prisoners which were in his company. If this
mishap had fortuned in the day time, possible so many and so great a
nüber had not perished. But where it fortuned by night, the noyse of
the wounded was sorrowful, & of the victors horrible and feareful. The
_Indians_ cried victory, calling vpon their diuelish and filthy Goddes
with ioy & pleasure, our men being ouercome, cursed their vnfortunate
lot, yea the hower, and he that brought them thither, others cried
vnto God for succour, others sayd helpe, help, for I stande in daüger
of drowning. I know not certenly whether moe perished in the water or
the lande, hopyng to saue themselues by swimming and leapyng ouer the
sluces and broken places, for they say, that a Spaniarde was no sooner
in the water, but an _Indian_ was vppon his backe. They haue great
dexteritie & skill in swimming, so that catching any Spaniarde in the
water, they would take him by the one arme, and carrie him whither they
pleased, yea & would vnpanch him in the water. If these _Indians_ had
not occupied themselues in taking the spoyle of those that were fallen
and slaine, certenly one Christian had not escaped that day: but in
fine, the greatest number of Spaniardes that were killed, were those
that went moste laden with golde plate and other iewels, & those which
escaped, were they that carried least burdens, & the first that with
noble courage made way to passe through the troupe of _Indians_.
Nowe wée may safely say, that the couetous desire of gold, wherof
they had plenty, was cause of their death, and they may answere that
they died riche. After that those, whiche had escaped, were paste the
calsey, the _Indians_ stayed and followed them no further, eyther for
that they contented themselues with that whiche they had done, or else
they durst not fight in open fields: But principally it is thought,
that they abode to mourne and lament for the death of _Mutezuma_ his
chyldren, not knowing till then their sorrowfull ende. But nowe seyng
the thyng present before their eyes, they wrang theyr hands, and made
a pitifull dole and crie, and the rather, bycause they themselues had
slayne them against their willes.
The battayle of Otumpan, a notable
_victory_.
The Inhabitants of _Tlacopan_, knewe not how our men came spoyled,
hurte, and ouerthrowen, and againe our men stoode in a maze, and knew
not what to doe nor whither to goe. _Cortes_ came vnto them, & cöforted
them & placed them in order before him, requyring them to make hast,
vntill they might come into the broade field, before such tyme as
the men of _Tlacopan_ should heare of the newes passed, & so to arme
thëselues and to ioyne with fourtie thousande _Mexicans_, who after the
mournyng for their friends, came marchyng after them. He placed in the
vantgard the _Indians_ his friëds, and passed through certayne tilled
grounde, and continually fought as they went, vntill they came to a
high hill, where was a tower and a Temple, whiche is called our Lady
churche at this day.
[Sidenote: A vvery iourney.]
The _Indians_ slewe some of the Spaniardes whiche came in the reregard,
and many of their _Indian_ friends, before they could get vp to the
toppe of the hill. They loste muche of the golde, that had remayned,
and with greate hazarde escaped through the multitude of _Indians_
with life, their horses whiche remayned aliue, were foure and twentie,
who were tyred both with trauell and hunger, & the Spaniardes their
maisters, with the residue coulde scarsely stirre hande or foote with
wearinesse of fightyng, and penurie of hunger, for al that day and
night they ceassed not from fight, eating nothing at all.
[Sidenote: A payneful man.]
In this Temple were reasonable lodgings, where they fortified
themselues as well as they myght, and dranke one to an other, but
theyr supper was very slëder. After their simple feast was ended, they
went and beheld an infinite number of _Indians_, whiche had beset
them almost round about, makyng a maruellous shoute and crie, knowyng
that they were without victuals, whiche onely is a warre worser than
to fight with the enimie. They made many fires with the woodde of
sacrifice, rounde about the tower and Temple, & with this pollicie, at
midnight departed secretely. It happened that they had _Tlaxcalteca_ to
be their guide, who knew well the way, assuring to bring them into the
iurisdiction of _Tlaxcallan_: with this guide they began to iourney.
_Cortes_ placed his wounded men and fardage in the middest of his
company, the souldiours that were whole and in health, he deuided into
the vantgarde & reregarde: he could not passe so secretly, but y^t they
were espied by the _Indian_ scoute, whiche was neare at hand, who gaue
aduise therof incötinent. Fiue horsemë which went before to discouer,
fell among certayne cöpanies of _Indians_, which attended their cöming
to robbe thë, & seing the horsemen, they suspected that the whole army
was at hand, whervpon they fled, but yet seing them few in number städe
and ioyned with the other _Mexicans_ that followed & pursued our men
thrée leagues vntil they came to a hill where was an other temple with
a good tower & lodgyng, where they lodged that night without supper.
They departed in the mornyng from thence, and wente through a cragged &
naughty way, to a great towne the enhabitantes whereof were fledde for
feare, so that they abode there two daies to rest thëselues, to cure
their më, & horses: also they somewhat eased their hügery stomakes and
carried frö thence prouision, although not muche, for they had none to
carrie it. And being departed frö thence, many enimies pursued them &
persecuted them very sore. Likewise y^e guide erred out of his way, &
at lëgth came to a little village of few houses, where they reposed y^e
night. In the morning they procéeded vpon their way, and the enimies
still pursuyng and troubled them sore all the day.
[Sidenote: Cortes vvounded vvith a slyng.]
[Sidenote: Oh noble Cortez.]
_Cortes_ was woüded with the stripe of a sling, and therewith was in
greate daunger of life, for his head so rancbled, that of necessitie
they were forced to take out certaine péeces of his skull, whervpon
he was driuen to séeke a solitarie place in the wildernesse to cure
him, and in goyng thitherwardes, the enimies wounded fiue Spaniardes
and foure horses, whereof one died, and that was eaten among them for
a sumptuous supper, and yet not sufficient for them all, for there
was none of them whiche were not vexed with hunger. I speake not of
their woundes and wearinesse, things sufficient to haue made an ende
of lyfe. But certainely the Spanishe nation can abide more hunger than
any other, and especially these with _Cortes_ dyd shewe the proofe. The
nexte day in the mornyng departing from a litle Village, and fearyng
the multitude of enimies, _Cortes_ commaunded eche horseman to take
a sicke manne behinde him, and those that were somewhat stronger, to
holde by the horse tayles and stirroppes: he likewise made cruches for
other some to ease them, and woulde not leaue one of his men behinde
him to be a pray and supper for the _Indian_ enimies. This aduise was
very profitable as things fell out, yea also there were some of them
that carried vpon their backe their fellowes, & thereby were saued.
They had not iourneyed a full league into a playne fielde, when there
mette them an infinite number of _Indians_ who compassed them round
aboute, and assaulted our men in such sorte, that they verily beléeued
that day to ende generally their liues, for there were many _Indians_
that durst wrastell with our men, man to man, yea and layd some of them
in the duste, and drewe them by the héeles, whether it were with the
great courage whiche they had, or whether it were with the trauayle,
hunger and hurtes of our men I know not, but great pittie it was to
sée, how they were drawen by the _Indian_ enimies, and what grieuous
mone they made.
[Sidenote: Oh valiant Cortez.]
[Sidenote: 200000. Indians.]
_Cortes_ that wente with vigilant care comfortyng his men, as muche
as was possible to doe, and well perusing the great daunger that
they were in, commendyng himselfe to God, sette spurres to his horse
and made way thorow the greatest troupe of _Indians_, and came vnto
the captayne generall who bare the Royall standart of _Mexico_, and
passed him through with his Lance, whereof he incontinent died.
But when the _Indians_ sawe the standart fallen, they threw their
auncient on the grounde and fled, scattering them here and there like
men amazed, knowing not whither to fly, for such is their custome in
warre, that when they sée the generall slayne, they forthwith leaue
the fielde. Then our wery soules began to recouer hart and strength,
and the horsemen followed thë to their great anoyance and slaughter.
It was credibly reported, that there were that day in fielde .200000.
_Indians_. And the fielde where this battayle was fought is called
_Otumpan_: there was neuer a more notable facte done in _India_,
nor greater victorie since the first discouery of the same. And as
manye Spaniardes as sawe _Hernando Cortes_ fighte that day, did holde
opinion, that neuer one man did more greater feates in armes, and that
he only was the meane in his owne person to saue and deliuer them all.
The entertaynement vvhiche the
_Spaniardes had in Tlaxcallan_.
After this victory obtayned, _Cortes_ with his company went to lodge
in a house planted alone, in a playne grounde, from whence appeared
the Mountaynes of _Tlaxcallan_, whereof our menne muche reioyced: yet
on the other side they stoode in doubt whether they should finde them
their friendes in such a daungerous season, for bycause the vnfortunate
man that flieth, findeth nothing in his fauour, for all thing that he
pretendeth, happeneth cleane contrary. That night _Cortes_ himselfe was
scoute, not bycause he was more whole than his fellowes, but like a
good Captayne, he deuided the trauayle & paynes equally, euen as their
hurte and damage was come.
[Sidenote: 50000. më.]
[Sidenote: Faythfull friendes.]
Being day, they iourneyed in plaine and straight way, directly to
the Mountaynes and Prouince of _Tlaxcallan_, they passed by a swéete
foütaine of water, where they wel refreshed themselues, and after they
came to _Huazilipan_, a towne of _Tlaxcallan_, of .4000. housholdes,
where they were louingly receiued & abundantly prouided for thrée
dayes, whiche they abode there refreshing & curing their weary bodies.
Some of the townes men would giue thë nothing without payment, but the
moste parte did vse them very gently: Vnto this Towne came _Maxixca_,
_Xicotencatlh_, _Axotecalth_, and many other principall persons of
_Tlaxcallan_, and _Huexozinca_ with .50000. men of warre, who were
going to _Mexico_ to succour the Spaniardes, knowyng of their troubles,
but not of their hurte and spoyle, yet some holde opinion that they
hauyng certayne knowledge of all theyr mishappes and flight from
_Mexico_, came only to comforte them, and in the name of all theyr
communaltie and state, to offer them their Towne, in conclusion, they
séemed sorrowfull for their misfortunes, and agayne ioyfull to sée them
there: Yea some of them with anguishe of harte wepte, and sayde, wée
did aduise and warne yée, that the _Mexicans_ were Traytours and wicked
persons, and yet yée woulde not beléeue vs: wée doe pyttie and bewayle
your troubles, but if it please you, lette vs goe thither to reuenge
your iniuries, and the death of your Christians, and our Citizens: and
if now ye will not, that then it may please you to goe with vs home to
our houses, for to recreate youre persons, and to cure your woundes.
_Cortes_ did cordially reioyce, to heare and finde such succour and
friendship, in such good men of warre, whereof he stoode in doubt as
he came thitherward. He gaue them most hartie thankes for their louing
offer, curtesie, and good will. He gaue vnto them of such Iewels as
remayned, and sayd vnto them, the time will come, that I shall desire
your helpe against the _Mexicans_, but now presently it is néedefull,
to cure my sicke and wounded men.
The noble men that were there present, besought him to giue them leaue
to skirmish with the _Indians_ of _Culhua_, for as yet many of them
wandered there aboute. _Cortes_ graunted their request, and sente
with them some of hys men, which were lustie, and in good health, who
procéeded forth all togither, and in that iourney slewe many _Indian_
enimies, so that after this time, the enimies appeared no more. Then
with triumph, pleasure, and victory, they departed toward the Citie,
and oure men followed. It is credibly reported, that twenty thousande
men and women met them by the way with sundry kindes of meates: I do
beléeue that the most of them came to sée them, for the great loue
whiche they bare vnto them, and likewise to enquire of their friends
which had gone with them to _Mexico_, of whome few returned. In
_Tlaxcallan_ they were honorable receyued, and well vsed. _Maxixca_
gaue hys house to _Cortes_, and the residue of hys company were hosted
at Gentlemens houses, who cherished them excéedingly, whereby they
forgate the paynes, sorrowes, and trauels past, for in fiftéene dayes
before, they lay on the bare ground.
Certaynely the Spanyardes were muche indebted to the _Tlaxcaltecas_,
for their loyaltie and faithfull friendship, especially vnto that good
and vertuous Gentleman _Maxixca_, who threwe _Xicotencatl_ downe the
stayres and steppes of the chiefe Temple, for giuing his counsell to
kyll the Spanyardes, meaning to reconcile hymselfe with the _Mexicans_.
He also made two Orations, the one to the men, and the other to the
women, in the greate fauoure and prayse of the Spanyardes, putting them
in remembrance, howe that they hadde not eaten salt, nor worne cloth
of cotten wooll in many yeares before, vntil now that their friends
were come: and to this day these _Indians_ doe muche presume of their
fidelitie, and likewise of the resistance and battayle they made with
_Cortes_ in _Teoacazinco_, so that now when they celebrate any great
feast, or receyue any Christian vizeking, there commeth of them out
into the field sixtie or seauentie thousande men, to skirmishe and
fight in the same order as they did with _Cortes_.
The protestation and request
_of the Souldyers to Cortes_.