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Montezuma Edition
THE WORKS OF WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT
TWENTY-TWO VOLUMES
VOL. IV
_The Montezuma Edition of William H. Prescott’s
Works is limited to one thousand copies, of which
this is_
No. 345
[Illustration: GUATEMOZIN BROUGHT BEFORE CORTÉS
Page 102]
_Montezuma Edition_
HISTORY OF THE
Conquest of Mexico
BY
WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT
EDITED BY
WILFRED HAROLD MUNRO
PROFESSOR OF EUROPEAN HISTORY IN BROWN UNIVERSITY
AND COMPRISING THE NOTES OF THE EDITION BY
JOHN FOSTER KIRK
Victrices aquilas alium laturus in orbem.
LUCAN. Pharsalia, lib. v., v. 238
VOL. IV
PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
Copyright, 1843, by WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT
Copyright, 1871, by WILLIAM G. PRESCOTT
Copyright, 1873, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
Copyright, 1904, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
Electrotyped and Printed by
J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, U. S. A.
CONTENTS OF VOL. IV
BOOK VI
SIEGE AND SURRENDER OF MEXICO
(CONTINUED)
CHAPTER V
INDIAN FLOTILLA DEFEATED--OCCUPATION OF THE CAUSEWAYS--DESPERATE
ASSAULTS--FIRING ON THE PALACES--SPIRIT OF THE
BESIEGED--BARRACKS FOR THE TROOPS
PAGE
Sandoval marches on Iztapalapan 3
Cortés takes Command of the Fleet 3
Indian Flotilla defeated 5
Cortés occupies Xoloc 6
Sandoval advances to Cojohuacan 7
Skirmishes on the Causeway 8
Blockade completed 9
Simultaneous Assaults on Mexico 9
Ramparts raised by the Aztecs 10
Brigantines enfilade the Causeway 10
Spaniards enter the City 12
Allies demolish the Buildings 12
Fierce Battles in the City 13
Spaniards reach the Square 15
Storm the Pyramid 15
Hurl the Priests headlong 15
The Aztecs rally 16
Spaniards give Way 16
Cavalry to the Rescue 17
Retreat to their Quarters 17
Ixtlilxochitl in the Camp 19
A second Assault 20
Spaniards penetrate the City 20
Fire the Palace of Axayacatl 21
Royal Aviary in Flames 22
Rage of the Mexicans 23
Their Desperation 24
Sufferings of the Spaniards 26
Operations of Guatemozin 27
His Vigilance 27
Ambuscade among the Reeds 28
Resources of the Indian Emperor 29
Accession of Allies to the Spaniards 30
Barracks for the Troops 31
Hard Fare of the Besiegers 31
Spirit of the Aztecs 33
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL ASSAULT ON THE CITY--DEFEAT OF THE SPANIARDS--THEIR
DISASTROUS CONDITION--SACRIFICE OF THE CAPTIVES--DEFECTION
OF THE ALLIES--CONSTANCY OF THE TROOPS
Views of the Spaniards 35
Council of War 36
General Assault on the City 37
Cortés rebukes Alvarado 38
The Enemy give Way 39
Their cunning Stratagem 40
Horn of Guatemozin sounds 41
Aztecs turn upon their Foe 41
Terrible Rout of the Spaniards 42
Imminent Danger of Cortés 43
Self-devotion of his Followers 44
Sharp Struggle on the Causeway 45
His Division retreats 46
Sandoval and Alvarado 46
Their Troops driven from the City 47
Sandoval visits the General 49
His Interview with him 50
Great Drum beat in the Temple 51
Sacrifice of the Captives 52
Sensations of the Spaniards 53
Rejoicings of the Aztecs 54
Prophecy of the Priests 55
Defection of the Allies 56
Gloomy Condition of the Spaniards 56
Their Constancy 58
Heroism of their Women 58
CHAPTER VII
SUCCESSES OF THE SPANIARDS--FRUITLESS OFFERS TO GUATEMOZIN--BUILDINGS
RAZED TO THE GROUND--TERRIBLE FAMINE--THE
TROOPS GAIN THE MARKET-PLACE--BATTERING ENGINE
Allies return to the Camp 60
Accession of Confederates 62
Plan of the Campaign 63
The Breaches filled 65
Famine in the City 66
Fruitless Offers to Guatemozin 67
Council of the Aztecs 67
Result of their Deliberations 69
Buildings razed to the Ground 69
Single Combats 71
Guatemozin’s Palace in Flames 72
Sufferings of the Besieged 73
Neglect of their Dead 73
Their unconquerable Spirit 75
Conflagration of the Teocalli 76
Success of Alvarado 77
Spaniards in the Market-place 79
Cortés surveys the City 80
Its Desolation 81
Battering Engine 82
Its Failure 83
CHAPTER VIII
DREADFUL SUFFERINGS OF THE BESIEGED--SPIRIT OF GUATEMOZIN--MURDEROUS
ASSAULTS--CAPTURE OF GUATEMOZIN--EVACUATION
OF THE CITY--TERMINATION OF THE SIEGE--REFLECTIONS
Dreadful Famine in the City 85
Cannibalism 86
The Corpses fill the Streets 87
Pestilence sweeps off Multitudes 88
Alarming Prodigies 88
Spirit of Guatemozin 89
Cortés requests an Interview with him 90
Guatemozin consents 90
He avoids a Parley 91
Murderous Assault 93
Appalling Scene of Carnage 93
Preparations for the final Attack 96
Cortés urges an Interview 97
The Signal given 98
Aztecs attempt to escape 99
Capture of Guatemozin 100
Cessation of Hostilities 101
Person of Guatemozin 102
Brought before Cortés 102
His Wife, Montezuma’s Daughter 104
Furious Thunder-storm 106
Mexicans abandon their City 106
Number of those who perished 108
Amount of the Spoil 109
Cortés dismisses his Allies 109
Rejoicings of the Spaniards 110
Solemn Thanksgiving 111
Reflections 111
Aztec Institutions 112
Their moral Influence 114
Cruelty ascribed to the Spaniards 114
The Conquest as a military Achievement 117
Notice of the Historian Solís 119
His Life and Writings 121
Sahagun’s Twelfth Book 125
BOOK VII
CONCLUSION--SUBSEQUENT CAREER OF CORTÉS
CHAPTER I
TORTURE OF GUATEMOZIN--SUBMISSION OF THE COUNTRY--REBUILDING
OF THE CAPITAL--MISSION TO CASTILE--COMPLAINTS
AGAINST CORTÉS--HE IS CONFIRMED IN HIS AUTHORITY
Small Amount of Treasure 130
Disappointment of the Soldiers 130
Torture of Guatemozin 130
His Fortitude unshaken 131
Submission of the Country 132
The Southern Ocean reached 133
Rebuilding of the Capital 135
Aztec Prophecy accomplished 136
Mission to Castile 136
Envoys captured by the French 138
Charges against Cortés 139
Tápia sent to New Spain 140
Insurrection of the Natives 141
Quelled by Sandoval 141
Fonseca’s Hostility to Cortés 143
His Cause referred to a select Tribunal 143
Accusations against Cortés 144
Defence by his Friends 144
Acts of Cortés ratified 146
He is confirmed in the supreme Authority 147
He triumphs over Fonseca 147
Mortification of Velasquez 148
His Death and Character 149