Part 25
Dayly increased _Cortes_ in strength and reputation, and many townes as wel of the partes of _Culhua_ as others came vnto his friendship and obedience. Within two days that _Don Hernando_ was made king, came certayne gentlemen of _Huaxuta_ and _Quahutichan_, to certify vnto him, how al the power of the _Mexicans_ was comming towardes them, and to knowe if it were his pleasure, that they should carry their wiues, children, and other goods into the Mountaines, or els to bring them where he was, theyr feare was so great. _Cortes_ made vnto thë this answere, saying: be ye of good courage, and feare ye not. Also I pray you to cömaunde your wiues & families to make no alteratiö, but rather quietly to abide in your houses. And cöcerning the enimies, I am glad of their comming, for ye shal sée how I will deale with them. But the enimies wente not to _Huaxuta_, as it was thought: neuerthelesse _Cortes_ hauing intelligence where they were, wente out to encounter them, with two pieces of Ordinaunce, twelue horsemen and two hundred Spaniardes, with many _Indians_ of _Tlaxcallä_. He fought with the enemie, and slew but few, for they fledde to the water. He burnt certaine townes where the _Mexicans_ were wonte to succour themselues. The next day came the chiefest men of thrée townes to craue pardon, and to beséech him not to destroy thë, promising neuer to harbour nor succour, any of _Culhua_.
The _Mexicans_ hearing what these townes men pretended, with greate yre made a foule correction among them, as dyd appeare by many of them, which came vnto _Cortes_ with broken heads, desiring reuengement.
The inhabitaunts of _Chalco_ sent also vnto him for succour, declaring that the _Mexicans_ made greate spoyle among them. But _Cortes_ being ready to send for his Vergantines, could not relieue them all, and especially wyth Spaniardes: wherefore he remitted them to the helpe of the _Tlaxcaltecas_, and vnto thë of _Huexocinco_, _Chololla_, _Huacacholla_ and other friends, promising that shortly he would come himselfe. But this answere pleased him not, yet for the present néede they required his letters to be written vnto those townes. And being in this communication, there came messengers from _Tlaxcallan_, with news, that the Vergantines were ready, and to knowe if he stoode in néede of any succour, for of late, (quoth they) we haue séene many beacons, and fiers, which are greater tokens of warre, than heretofore hath bene séene.
There came at that time, a Spaniard also from _Vera Crux_, with certaine newes, that there had arriued a ship, whiche had brought thirtie Souldiers besides the mariners of the shippe, with eight horses, great store of pouder, shotte, crossebowes, and Harquebushes. The plesent newes reioyced much our men, wherevpon _Cortes_ sente forthwith to _Tlaxcallan_ for the Vergantines, _Gonzalo de Sandoual_, with two hundered Spaniards, and fiftéene horsemen, and commaunded that in their way they shold burne and destroy the towne where the fourty fiue Spaniardes, and thrée hundered _Tlaxcaltecas_ were slayn, with fiue horses moe, when _Mexico_ was last besieged: and y^t village is in y^e iurisdiction of _Tezcuco_, and bordereth vpon the territorie of _Tlaxcallan_, yea, and for that purpose hée would gladly haue corrected and punished the dwellers of _Tezcuco_, but time then permitted not y^e same, although they had deserued more punishment than the others. For why? in their town they were sacrifised and eaten, yea & the walles painted with their bloud, shewing moreouer perfit tokens, how it was spaniards bloud. They pluckt off also the horses skinnes & tanned thë in the heare, and afterwards hung them vppe, with the horseshoes in their great temple, & next vnto them, the spaniards garmëtes, for a perpetual memory.
_Sandoual_ went vnto that place with determinate entët to follow his cömission, & also before he came to y^e place, he found writtë in a house w^t a cole, these words: here in this house was a prisoner y^e vnfortunate _Iohn Iust_, who was a gentleman, and one of the fiue horsemen that wer taken. But the people of that towne, being many, fledde when they saw the Spaniardes approch neare vnto thë. But _Sandoual_ followed them, and slewe many of them: he toke also prisoners, manye women and children, who yelded themselues vnto his mercie, and their bodies for slaues. He séeing so little resistance, and beholding the pitiful mone of the wiues for their husbandes, and the children for their fathers, had compassiö on them, and wold not destroye their towne, but rather caused the dwellers to come again, and pardoned them, with othe, that hereafter they shoulde serue them truely, and be vnto them loyal friends. In this sorte was the death of the Christians reuenged, yet _Sandoual_ asked them howe they slewe so manye Christians without resistaunce, marye (quoth they) we made an ambush in an euil and narrow way, ascending vp a hill, and there as they went vppe by one and one we spoyled them, for there, neyther horses nor other weapon could defend or help thë, so y^t we tooke them prisoners and sente them to _Tezcuco_, where, as is before declared, they were sacrificed in the reuengement of the imprisonment of _Calama_.
Hovv the Vergantines vvere brought frö _Tlaxcall to Tezcuco_.
Nowe when the enemies which murdered the Spaniardes, were reduced and chastened, _Sandoual_ procéeded forwarde towarde _Tlaxcallan_, and at the border of that prouince, he mette with the Vergätines whiche were broughte in pieces, as tables, planches, and nayles, with all other furniture, the whyche eight thousand men caryed vpon their backes.
There came also for their safeconduicte twentie thousande men of warre, and a thousande _Tamemez_, who were the carriers of victuals, and seruantes. Thë the Spanishe Carpenters sayde vnto _Sandoual_, that for as muche as they were nowe come into the countrey of enimies, it might please him to haue regarde thervnto, for daungers that myght happen: he allowed wel theyr iudgement.
Nowe _Chichimecatetl_, being a principal man and a valiant also, was captaine of a thousande men & desired to haue the vantguard with the Tymber, and hauing had the same charge hithervnto, it should be an affrent for him, to be put from it, and gaue manye reasons in hys behalfe. But notwithstanding his request, he was entreated to take the reregarde. And that _Tutipil_ and _Teutecatl_ captaines, very principal gentlemen, should haue the vantgard, with ten thousand men. In the myddest were placed the _Tamemez_, and those that carryed the foyst, with all the apparell of the Vergantines. Before those two captaynes, went a hundered Spaniardes, and eight horsemen, and behind and last came _Sandoual_ with all the residue, and seuen horsemen. But now although _Chichimecatetl_ was offended, touching his firste charge, now much more bycause the Spaniardes were not in his company, saying (quoth he) ye take me not for valiant, or else not faithful. That matter being pacified, and euery thing in good order, they toke their way towarde _Tezcuco_, with a marueylous noyse, crying, Christians, Christians, _Tlaxcallan_, _Tlaxcallan_, and Spayne.
On the fourth day they entred into _Tezcuco_, in verye good order, with the sounde of drummes, snayle-shelles, and other like instrumentes of Musicke, and againste their entry into the Citie, they put on al their brauerye of clothes, and bushes of feathers, whiche truely was a gallant sight: they were sixe houres, in entryng into the towne, keping their array.
_Cortez_ came forth to receyue them, and gaue greate thankes vnto the gentlemen, and all the company, and prouided them of good lodgings and entertaynement.
Of the Docke or trench vvhich _was made to launch, the Vergantines_.
Manye prouinces of _India_, came to submitte and offer their seruice vnto _Cortes_, some for feare of destruction, and others for the hatred whyche they bare to the _Mexicans_: so that nowe _Cortes_ was strong both with Spaniardes and _Indians_. Also the Spanishe Captaine of _Segura_, sent a letter to _Cortez_, the which letter he had receyued of another spaniard, the effect therof was as foloweth. Noble gentlemen, diuerse times I haue written vnto you, but as yet I neuer receiued answere, nor yet now doe I. I thynke otherwise, notwithstanding yee shall vnderstande, that the _Culhuacans_ haue done much hurte in thys countrey, but we remayne with victorie. This prouince desireth to see and knowe Captaine _Cortez_, for to render themselues vnto him, and nowe they stande in neede of our nation, wherfore it may please you to sende vnto vs thirtie Spaniardes.
_Cortez_ aunswered the letter in suche sort, that he then presently coulde not sende the thing desired, for that he was readye to the siege of _Mexico_: notwythstanding hée gaue them great thankes, with hope shortlye to sée thë. He that writte the former letter, was one of the Spaniardes that _Cortez_ hadde sente to the prouince of _Chinanta_, a yeare paste, to enquire of the secretes of that place, and to séeke for golde and other commodities. And if it so happened, that the Lorde of that place made that Spaniarde a Captayne, agaynste the _Culhuacans_ theyr enemyes, for _Mutezuma_ made them warre béeyng farre from _Mexico_, bycause they had entertayned the Spaniardes. But through the industrie of that Christian, the Lorde aboade alwayes with victorye, and hauing vnderstanding that some of hys nation were in _Tepeacac_, he wrote so often as the letter declareth, but none of them came to their handes, but only this last letter: our men reioyced muche to heare that the Spaniardes were aliue, and also the Lorde of _Chinanta_ to be their friende: likewise they marueyled much howe they had escaped, for at the time that they fledde from _Mexico_, all other Spaniardes that were abidyng in the Mynes and other Lordshippes, were slaine by the _Indians_.
_Cortes_ made his preparation for the séege of _Mexico_ with all hast, and furnished hym with scalling ladders, and other necessaryes, fitte for such a purpose. His _Vergantines_ being nayled, and throughly ended, he made a sluise or trench of halfe a league of length, twelue foote broad & more, and two fadome in depth. This worke was fiftie dayes a doyng, although there were foure hundred thousand më dayly working, truly a famous worke and worthy of memory.
[Sidenote: A strange tallovve.]
The _Vergantines_ were calked with Towe and cotten woll, and for want of tallow and oyle, they were (as some reporte,) driuen to take mans grease, not that they slewe men for that effect, but of those which were slayne in the warres. The _Indians_ who were cruell and bloudy butchers, vsing sacrifice, would in this sort open the dead bodye, and take out the grease. The _Vergantines_ being lanched, _Cortes_ mustered his men, and founde nine hundred Spanyardes, of the which were 86. Horsemen, and a hüdred and eyghtéene with Crossebowes and Hargabushes, and all the residue had sundry weapons, as swords, daggars, Targets, Launces, and Halbertes. Also they had for armour, corselets, coates of mayle, and Iackes. They had moreouer thrée great péeces of cast yron, fiftéene small péeces of brasse, and tenne hundred waighte of powder, with store of shotte. All that ye haue hearde, was the prouision that _Cortes_ had for the séege of _Mexico_, the strongest and greatest Citie in all _India_ and newe world. In eache _Vergantine_ he placed a péece of brasse. He proclaymed agayne all the institutions and ordinances of the warre, praying and commaunding that they might be well and faithfully obserued, and said, Brethrë and my fellowes, now do you sée our vessels readye, yea and also you do remember howe troublesome a thyng it hathe bin to bring them hither with the coste and sweate of our friendes, and one of the chiefest hopes that I haue shortly to winne _Mexico_, are these vessels, for with them we will burne all their _Canoas_, or else we will so locke them vp, that they shall not help them, whereby we wyll annoy our enimie as muche that way, as our army shall do by land. I haue also a hundred thousand men of warre my friends to beséege this Citie, who are (as you know) y^e valiantest men in all these parties. You haue also your vittailes prouided abundantly, and that which now importeth, is, that you play the menne, as héeretofore you haue done, and most humbly to pray vnto God for victorie, for that this warre is his.
The order of the host and army of _Cortes for to beseege Mexico_.
The nexte day following, _Cortes_ sente vnto the prouinces of _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.