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 mäs 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 sée 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 the fleshe gréeued 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 destructiö 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 häd.
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 were in 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 y^e market place of
_Tlalulco_, for he toke much payn & stoode in perill in susteyning
y^e bridges which he had gotten, hauing hys forte almost a league frö
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 brokë 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 sluce 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
_Indias[=a?]_, 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 _Aluarado_ 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 cömend his valiaunt and good seruice: he
also cömuned 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 filled vp the
streates.
Al his company Spaniardes ioyntly, 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 should 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 thë flie, and would pursue after, thë 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 y^e 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.
[Sidenote: A kinde harted captaine.]
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 cömaunded his horsemë which were eight in number,
to abide there behinde, and not to falow after, vntil he shold sende
for them. In thys order, and al at one instaut, they entred the Citie,
shewing the harts of valiaunt men, greatly annoying the enemy, and
wan many bridges, but when they came neare vnto y^e 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 y^e 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) cösisteth 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 y^e _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 më, and so occupyed in the same, that they had no regarde to
their owne peril. Wherevpon certaine _Mexicans_ layd häd vpö _Cortes_,
who truly they had carried away if it had not bin for one _Francisco
de Olea_ his seruät, 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 thë with the fame that _Cortez_ was prisoner, came many spaniards,
among whö 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 faire. There
died _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 cösidered 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 güme
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 reuëge 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 loste a piece of Ordinance, and foure horses. Also that day was
slayne aboue two thousand _Indian_ friends, and many _Canoas_ lost and
the Vergantines in great daunger, and the captain and maister of one
of them were wounded. Whereof the captaine died within eight dayes,
the same day wer also slaine foure of _Aluarado_ his men, that daye
was an vnfortunate or dismal day, and the nyght heauy, sorrowfull and
replenished with lamentable griefe among the spaniardes and their
friendes. On the other side, the _Mexicäs_ tryumphed with ioy, and made
great bonefiers, blewe their hornes, stroke vp their drummes, daunced,
banqueted and dranke themselues drunk: they also opened their streats
and bridges, as they were before, and placed their scout and watch
about the Citie. And as soone as it was day, the king _Quehutimoc_,
sent two Christians heads, and two horse heads into al the comarcanes
there aboute, to signifye their victorie and to require them to forsake
the Christians friendship, promising in short space to make the like
ende of all those that remayned, and deliuer the countrey from warre,
these things encouraged some prouinces to take armour againste _Cortes_
being his allied friendes, as _Maliualco_ and _Cuixco_. This newes was
soone blowen abroade into many prouinces, wherevppon our men feared
rebellion among their new friends, yea and mutinie in their owne campe,
but it pleased god that it fel out otherwise. The next day _Cortes_
came out againe to fight, to shewe face to the enimies, but he turned
again from the first bridge, without doing any great act.
The determination of Cortez to destroy
_the citie of Mexico_.
_Chichimecatl_, a noble man of _Tlaxcallan_, (who hadde brought the
Timber of y^e Vergantines, frö whence it was wrought, and was placed in
the companye of _Aluarado_ at the beginning of the siege of _Mexico_,)
séeing that the Spaniards fought not as they wer wont to do, he alone
with y^e men of his owne countrey, went forth to cöbate the Citie,
being a thing which toofore he had not attëpted, gaue assault against
those which defended a certain bridge, and with great noyse cryed and
named his City and lynage, and in short space wanne the bridge, where
he lefte foure hundered archers, and followed after the enimie, who of
industrie fledde, thinking to take him at his returne, and at length
the enemy returned vppon him, where they made a fayre skirmishe, for
the fight was equall. There were many hurt and slaine on both sides, so
that with the dead carcasses they supped at will. But they thoughte to
ouerthrowe him at the bridge, not knowing of y^e foure hundered archers
which were there to attend _Chichimecatls_ comming, by meanes of whome,
he passed at pleasure, to the greate griefe of the _Mexicans_, yea and
remayned not a little amazed to sée the valor and bolde attempte of the
_Tlaxcaltecas_.
The Spanyards likewise highly commended the fact, for where oure men
combated not as they were wont to do, the _Mexicäs_ ymagined that the
cause was cowardize, infirmitie, or want of vittayles: wherevpon one
daye at the sunne rising, they set vpon _Aluarado_ his Camp, whiche
being espyed by the watch, they began to crye, arme, arme, who came
forth as well footemen as horsemen, and put them to flight, at whiche
retire many of the _Mexicans_ were drowned, and others sore hurt
and wounded. Then said the _Mexicans_, that they desired to talke
with _Cortez_, who came vnto a drawe bridge to knowe what they would
haue, vnto whome sometime they sayd, that peace was their request,
and other times they demanded truce, but finally required that the
Spanyards shoulde departe from that Countrey. All this policie was but
to féele what strength and courage our menne had, and to haue truce
for a certayne time, for to prouide them of such necessaries as they
wanted, for their determinate purpose was, to dye in the defence of
their countrey and religion. _Cortes_ aunswered, that truce was not
conueniente for eyther partie, but peace was laudable at al times, the
whiche for his parte, although he hadde beséeged the Citie, should not
be denyed: therfore he willed them to wey his plentifull estate of
vittayles, and their owne néede and necessitie of the same. They being
in this communication with their interpreters, appeared an auntient
olde man on the toppe of the Bulwarke, who in the sighte of them all,
pluckt bread out of his satchell péece by péece, and began to eate,
giuing them to vnderstand, that they stoode in no néede of vittayles,
and so made an ende of theyr talke.
The séege of this Citie séemed a long time to _Cortes_, for in néere
fiftie dayes that he had begun the same, yet could not he bring his
desire to passe, yea and much maruelled that the enimies coulde endure
so long a season with dayly skirmishing, and also how they refused
peace and concord, knowing how many thousands of them had bin slayne,
and ended their miserable liues with hunger.
Yet once agayne he sente this last message vnto them, that if they
woulde not yéelde themselues, then he hauing them enuironed by land and
water, woulde slea thë all, and not permitte anye kinde of victuall to
come vnto them, so that theyr extremitie shoulde be so greate, that
they should eate one another: their aunswere was, that firste the
Spanyardes shoulde tast of the same cuppe, so that threatning increased
their courages, and occupyed themselues in carrying stones to the
market place, and many other stréetes, to stoppe the way against the
Horses and their maisters.
_Cortes_, although it gréeued him to destroy totally so beautifull a
Citie, yet he determined to bring all the houses of the stréetes that
he should winne to be equall with the ground, and to stoppe with them
the Chanels of water. He cömuned the matter with his Captaynes, who
liked well of his intente, although it was a troublesome thing. He also
aduertised the Gentlemen _Indians_ hys friends of his determination,
who highly commended his deuice.
_Cortes_ séeyng the towardnesse of all his armye, he called and
prepared all his labourers, with their pikeaxes and shouels, so that in
these affaires, and in setting hys men in good order, he spent foure
dayes, and then he begä to cöbate the stréete, which goeth directly to
the market place, then fainedly the Citizës desired peace. _Cortes_
stayed, and asked for their King: they aunswered, that they had sent
for him, wherevpon _Cortes_ taried an houre, and then they began to
reuile him, and to throwe stones, and shot at him. The Spanyards séeing
this, gaue the onser, and wanne a forte, and came into the chiefe
place of the Citie. They cleansed the stréetes of the stones whiche
they had laide to disturbe their passage, and stopped so vp the water
stréete in that place, in suche wise, that neuer after it was opened
againe, and threw downe all the houses, making the entrance into the
Citie an open playne high way, and then retired to their camp. Also
sixe dayes arowe they did the like, without receyuing any hurt, sauing
the last day two horses were hurt.
The nexte day _Cortes_ laide an ambush with fiftie horsmen, and sent
before him the Vergantines, but hée himselfe with thirtie horsemen,
abode in certaine great houses in the Market place. They foughte
that day in many places of the Citie, and at the retire, one shot
of a handgun, whiche was the token that those which lay in ambushe
should come forth. The enimies folowed our men, that séemed to flée
with maruellous greate courage. But they were not so soone passed the
snare, when _Cortes_ came forth with his thirtie horsemen, saying, vpon
them, vpon them: By this onely meane were slaine aboue fiue hundred
_Mexicans_, besides the prisoners.
Our _Indian_ friends had a good supper that nyght with mans fleshe,
whiche as yet they would not be perswaded to leaue. Certaine Spaniards
went vppe into a Tower of Idols, and there opened a sepulchre, where
they found fiue hundred Castlins in golde: With this ouerthrowe the
_Mexicans_ remayned in suche feare, that all their threatnings and
triumphes were turned into mourning: and euer after whë they saw our
men retire, they would not folow them, fearing the like danger, so that
this was a meane, the sooner to win _Mexico_.
The hunger and infirmitie vvhich the
_Mexicans suffered with greate courage_.
Two poore soules who were vexed wyth hunger, came in the nighte season
out of the citie vnto _Cortes_ his Camp, who certifyed, how the
Citizens were in greate necessitie, and so manye dead with hunger and
sicknesse, that there were heapes of dead bodyes in the houses, only to
kéepe close their extreame miserie: and said also, that in the night
season manye came out to fishe betwéene the houses with feare of the
_Vergantines_, and others came out to séeke for wodde, hearbes, and
rootes to eate.
[Sidenote: A cruell fact of Cortez.]
_Cortes_ hearing these newes, determined to knowe the troth thereof, so
that the nexte night he commaunded the _Vergantines_ to goe round about
the Citie, and he himselfe with fiftéene Horsemen, a hundred footemen,
and manye _Indian_ friends, placed themselues betwixte certaine houses,
with order to his espyes, to aduertise him what they shoulde sée. It
was no sooner day, but manye poore folke came out to séeke for foode,
and when _Cortes_ had intelligence thereof, he made a greate slaughter
among them, whereas at that time of vnarmed men, women, and chyldren,
were slayne to the number of eyght hundred: and the _Vergantines_ on
their side made another spoyle. The pitiful noise being heard into the
Citie, the Citizens were astonyed, and knew not what to doe, fearing
the like ambushe that they had séene and fealt the day before, & also
wondered, that at such an houre not accustomed, y^e Spanyardes were so
nigh. The next day following, béeing S. Iames his euen, _Cortes_ entred
againe into the Citie, according as he had done before, and wanne the
stréete of _Tlacopan_, where he burned the riche and faire houses of
king _Quahutimoc_, whiche were motted round aboute: so that nowe of
foure partes of the citie, thrée partes were wonne, and the Spaniardes
might safely passe from _Cortes_ his campe, to the campe of _Aluarado_,
by reason that all the houses were burned, and beaten downe playne with
the grounde.
[Sidenote: A true prophesie.]
But yet the poore _Mexicans_ would say to the _Indians_ of
_Tlaxcallan_, goe to, go to, make hast, burne and destroy these houses,
for time will come that yée shall buylde them againe at your owne
coste. For if we haue victory then shall ye buylde them for vs, and if
we be ouercome then shall yée buylde them for these straungers.
Within foure dayes after, _Cortes_ entred the citie againe, and also
_Aluarado_ on his side, who to shewe hys haultie stomacke, laboured all
that was possible to gette two towers of the temple of _Tlatelulco_,
the whiche at the length he wan, although he loste thrée horses in the
cöbat.
[Sidenote: An extreme penurie.]
The next day followyng, the horsemen walked vp and downe in the greate
market place at pleasure, the poore _Mexicans_ beholding that sorrowful
sight frö their houses. And as the Spaniardes wente walking in the
cittie, they founde heapes of dead bodies in the houses, streates, and
in the water: they found also the barke of trées and rootes gnawen by
the hungry creatures, and the men so leane and yellow, that it was
a pitifull sighte to beholde. _Cortes_ yet agayne required them to
yéelde, and they although they were so leane of body were strong in
harte, and answered that he should not speake of any friendshippe, nor
yet hope of their spoyle, for when no fortune would fauour them, then
they woulde eyther burne their treasure, or throwe it into the lake,
where they should neuer profite therby, and that they would fight while
one alone shoulde remayne aliue. At _Cortes_ his nexte entry into the
citie, he founde the streates full of women, children, olde folke, and
many miserable sicke persons whiche were perishyng for want of foode.