_Tlaxcallan_, _Huexocinco_, _Chololla_, _Chal_, and other Townes,
warning thë within tenne dayes to come vnto _Tezcuco_, with theyr
armoure, weapon, and other necessaries, for the séege of _Mexico_. He
certifyed them also, how the _Vergantines_ were ready with all other
furniture accordingly, and the Spanyardes were very desirous to lose no
time, wherefore they meante not to delay their pretence, farther than
the day appoynted.
The _Indians_ hearing this newes, and bycause they would not come
too late to the beginning of the assaulte, came incontinente, and
entred into _Tezcuco_ in good order of warre, aboue sixtie thousand
men, gallantly trimmed after their vse and custome. _Cortes_ friendly
welcommed them, and prouided them lodgings accordingly.
On Whitsonday, all the Spanyardes came into the fielde, whereas
_Cortes_ made thrée chiefe Captaynes among whome he deuided his whole
army. Vnto _Pedro de Aluarado_ the first Captayne, he appoynted thirtie
horsemen, and a hundred and seauentie footemen of the Spanyardes, two
péeces of ordinance, and thirtie thousande _Indians_, commaunding him
to campe in _Tlacopan_. Vnto _Cristoual de Olid_ the seconde Captayne,
he gaue thrée and thirtie Horsemen, and a hundred and eyghtéene
footemen of the Spanish nation, two péeces of ordinance, and thirtie
thousand _Indians_, and appoynted him to 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 pitch his Campe.
In euery _Vergantine_ he planted a péece of ordinäce, sixe hargabushes,
or crossebowes, and 23. Spaniards, më 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 _Acolman_, 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 _Xolotepec_, 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
théëselues 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 néede
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 warre, 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 cömaunded foure Spaniardes whiche
he had prysoners in a cage, to be sacrificed vnto the Goddes of warre,
with a greate number more of _Indians_.
[Sidenote: A Diuelish sentence.]
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 y^t time to a strög 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 fought 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 ourethrowe 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 abide all togither for the better
resistance, and bycause the enimies shoulde thynke that they feared,
wherevpon they mighte without any good order gyue the onsette vpon the
Christians, and so to fall suddenly into the snare. But it followed,
that when they came within shotte of the Spaniardes ordinaunce: they
stayed abydyng more company, but in shorte space there came so many
_Canoas_, that it séemed a wonder to beholde: They made suche a
terrible noyse with theyr voyces, drummes, Snayle shelles, and other
like instruments of warre, that they could not heare one an other, with
such great crakes and bragges, as they had done in time paste.
And beyng bothe parties in readinesse to fight, there happened suche a
poupewinde to the Vergantines which came from the shore, that it séemed
meruellous. _Cortes_ thë praysing God, commaunded al his Captaines to
giue the onset altogithers, & not to ceasse vntill the enimies should
be dryuen to retire into _Mexico_, for that it was the pleasure of
God to sende vnto them that prosperous winde in token of victory.
This talke ended, they beganne to sette vpon the enimy, who seyng the
Vergantines come with such lucky winde, yea & such a sight as the like
vnto them had not bene séene, they began to flie with suche greate
haste, that they spoyled, brake, and sunke many of them, and suche as
stoode to defende themselues were slayne, so that this battayle was
soone ended. They pursued them twoo leagues, vntill they had locked
them vp in the water streates of _Mexico_, and tooke many Lordes and
Gentlemen prisoners. And the key of al these warres cösisted in this
victory, for our më remayned for Lords of the whole lake, and the
enimie with great feare and losse: they had not bene so soone spoyled,
but that there were so many of them, who disturbed one an other. But
when _Aluarado_, and _Cristoual de Olid_ saw the fortunate successe of
_Cortes_ by water, they entered the calsey with their army, and tooke
certaine bridges and bulwarkes, and draue the _Indians_ from them, with
all their force and strength. But with the helpe of the Vergantines
which came vnto them, the _Indians_ were dryuen to runne a whole league
vpon the calsey, and where they founde the calsey broken, they procured
to leape ouer, and so fel into the middest.
_Cortes_ procéeded forwards, and findyng no _Canoas_, he landed vpon
the calsey that commeth from _Iztacpalapan_, with thirtie men, and
combatted two towers of idolles whiche were walled with wall of lyme
and stone: it was the same place where _Mutezuma_ receyued _Cortes_.
He wan those towers in shorte time, although they were defended with
all possibilitie: he vnshipped thrée péeces of ordinäce to scoure the
calsey, which was full of enimies: at first shotte he did greate hurte
among thë, and beyng the night at hande, they seased on bothe sides
for that day. And although _Cortes_ had determined otherwise with his
Captaynes, yet he aboade there that night, and sente to the campe of
_Gonsalo de Sandoual_ for pouder and fiftie më, with halfe the company
of _Indians_ of _Culhuacan_.
Hovv Cortez besieged Mexico.
The night of _Cortes_ his abiding there, was perillous, for he had not
aboue a hundreth men in his cöpany, and aboute midnight set vpö him
many _Mexicans_ both by water and lande, although they accustomed not
to fight in the night, but the Vergantines made them soone to retire.
In the morning came vnto _Cortes_ from _Cristoual de Olid_, eight
horsemen, and foure score footemen. The _Mexicans_ combated the towers,
where _Cortes_ was lodged, who incontinent came forth & draue them
along the calsey, vntil he had wonne an other bridge and a bulwarke,
and made a great spoyle among them, with the ordinaunce & horse men,
pursuyng them to the vtmoste houses of the Cittie: and bycause many
of the _Canoas_ whiche were on the other side of the calsey galled
_Cortes_ and his menne, he brake downe so muche of the calsey, that he
mighte well passe some of his Vergantines to the otherside, the which
with few encounters shutte vp the _Canoas_ on that side, within the
succour of _Mexico_: and in this wise he remayned Lord ouer bothe the
lakes.
The next day _Sandoual_ departed from _Iztacpalapan_ toward
_Culhuacan_, and in his way he tooke and spoyled a little Citie that
standeth in the lake, bycause they came out to resist him. _Cortes_
sente vnto him two Vergantines to passe his men where the calsey was
broken. _Sandoual_ left his company with _Cristoual de Olid_, and wët
to _Cortes_ with tenne horsemen, and when he came he found him in fight
with the enimies, and he alightyng from his horse, an _Indian_ persed
him through the foote with a dart. Many Spaniardes were hurte that day,
but theyr griefe was well reuenged, for from that day forwarde the
_Indians_ courage was muche abated. With the paynes, labour and victory
already obtayned, _Cortes_ might now at ease pitche his campe at his
owne pleasure where he woulde, and also prouide his army of victuals:
sixe dayes he ceassed not skirmishyng, and the Vergantines likewise
founde out channels that they mighte goe rounde aboute the Cittie, yea
and wente spoylyng and burning many houses within the Suburbes.
_Mexico_ was besieged in foure places, although at the first they
determined but thrée. _Cortes_ was placed betwixt the twoo towers of
the calsey: _Pedro de Aluarado_ in _Tlacopan_: _Cristoual de Olid_ in
_Culhuacan_: _Gonsalo de Sandoual_ in _Xaltoca_: for they had aduise
that the same way they would flée out of the Citie, seyng themselues in
any daunger. It would not haue grieued _Cortes_ to haue lefte a passage
for the enimy, but only bycause they should not profite themselues vpon
the lande, and prouide the Cittie that way of armour & victuall, yea,
he also thought to preuaile against his enimies better vpon the lande
than vpon the water. And againe according to the olde prouerbe, When
thine enimy flieth make him a bridge of siluer.
The first skirmishe vvithin the
_cittie of Mexico_.
_Cortes_ pretended to enter the Citie, and to gette what he could,
& also to sée what stomacke the enimy had: he sent to aduise his
captaines, that eche of them should do the like, requiring them to
sende vnto him some of their horsemen and footemë. He gaue speciall
commaundement to _Cristoual de Olid_ to haue regard to the kéeping
of his calsey, and to forsée that the inhabitants of _Xochmilco_,
_Culhuacan_, _Iztacpalapan_, _Vitzilopuchtli_, _Mexicalcinco_,
_Cuetlauac_, & other cities thereaboutes come not that way behinde them
and vnwares. He commaunded that the Vergantines should goe along the
calsey on bothe the sides, if any néede shoulde happen. _Cortes_ early
in the morning came out of his campe with .200. Spaniardes and .80000.
_Indian_ friends: they had gone but a small space, when they met with
their enimies well armed, keping the gappe where the calsey was brokë,
which broken place mought be a speares length, and as much in depth.
They fought with them, who for a great space defended themselues
behinde a bulwarke, but in fine he wanne the 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 y^e beame awaye and aboue 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 swä ouer where the draw bridge was, w^t 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
greate 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
flight, 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 ambushe, where they slew .30. _Mexicans_.
The day being now farre spent, and the nighte at hande, _Cortes_
commaunded his army to retire, and they obeying his commandemët, 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. _Cortes_ dyd friendly
receyue and welcome them, giuing them greate thankes for their ayde and
good willes. Of these newcome 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 Moütaines, who spake the
_Otomitlh_ spéech, beséeching _Cortes_ to pardon their long tarrying,
offering also both men and vittayles for the séege. _Cortes_ was
pleased wyth their cöming and gentle offer, for they being his friëds,
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 _Vergätines_ 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 twëtie horsemen, thrée hundred Spanyardes, and a
great number of _Indians_, with their péeces 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 thä those which were throwen downe,
attending with that horrible noyse accustomed. But whë 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.