Part 27
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.
_Cortes_ commaunded that none of his army should doe any hurte vnto such miserable creatures. The principall folke who were whole and sounde, they stoode in their zoties or house toppes, without weapon, and clothed in mätels. It was thought that they kepte a certaine holy day, peace was againe offered, but they answered with dissimulation. The next day followyng _Cortes_ required _Aluarado_ on his side to combat a streat of .1000. houses that was not yet won, and that he would doe the like on the otherside: for a little space the Citizens defended thëselues, but their defence endured not, but were driuen to flie, being not able to resiste the force of theyr contraries. So that the Spanishe army wan also that streate, and slewe 12000. Cittizens, the murder was so great bicause the _Indian_ friends would shewe no mercie or compassion vpon them, although they were required to the cötrary. So that now the _Mexicans_ hauing lost this streate also, the houses that were not beatë downe could scarcely hold the people y^t were aliue, the streates also being so full of dead carcasses and sicke bodies, that our men coulde not passe but must néedes treade vpon them. _Cortes_ desirous to sée what remayned of the cittie to win, went vp into a high tower, and hauyng well vewed the Cittie, he iudged that of eight parts one remained yet to win. And y^e next day following he assaulted the same, with speciall cömaundement giuen to his army, not to kil any but only such as should resist.
[Sidenote: A sorovvfull tale.]
The sorrowful Citizens bewayling their vnfortunate fate & destinie, besought the Spaniards to make an ende, and to kill them all out of hande. Then certayne of the horsemen called _Cortes_ in great hast, who went vnto them incontinent, hopyng of some agrement of peace: and standing at the brymme of the water neare vnto a drawe bridge, the _Mexicans_ sayde, oh captayne _Cortes_, consideryng that thou art the childe of the Sunne, why doest thou not entreate the Sunne thy father, to make an ende of vs: oh thou Sunne that canst goe rounde about the worlde in a day and a night, we pray thée make an end of vs, and take vs out of this miserable lyfe, for we desire death to go and rest with our God _Quetcauatlh_ who tarieth for vs. After these speaches they made a lamentable crie, callyng vpon their Goddes with loude voyces. _Cortes_ answered what he thought good, but yet could not perswade them to yéelde, truely it was a pitefull sight to beholde.
The imprisonment of Quahutemoc.
[Sidenote: An euill revvarde.]
_Cortes_ seing the great extremitie that these poore wretched people were in, thinkyng nowe that they woulde yéelde vnto him, therevppon hée spake to an vncle of _Don Hernando de Tezcuco_, who was taken prisoner thrée dayes before, whom he desired to go to the king & treate of peace: this Gentleman refused the message, knowyng the determinate will of _Quahutimoc_, but through muche entreatie he graunted to his request. So the next day followyng _Cortes_ entred into the Cittie, & sent that Gentleman & certaine Spaniardes before him. The _Indian_ guarde of that streate receyued him with the honour which vnto such a noble man did appertayne. He procéeded forward toward the king, & being come where he was, he declared vnto him his embassage. When _Quahutimoc_ had hearde his tale, he was so moued with yre & choller, that forthwith he commaüded him to be sacrificed, and gaue the Spaniardes for theyr answere blowes with stones, staues and arrowes, saying also that they desired death and no peace, and fought so stoutly that day, that they slewe many of our menne, and one horse. Lykewise on their side many were slayne.