A straunge inuention.
It was no sooner day, but theIndiansbeganne theyr assault a fresh, with more courage and furie than the day before, so that our men were fayne to trust to their artillery, the whiche theIndiansfeared not a whitte: for if a shotte carried ten, fiftene or twentieIndiansat a clappe, they would close againe as though one man had not bene missyng.Cortescame out with other twoo hundreth men, and gate some bridges, burned some houses, and slew many that defended them. But theIndianswere so many in number, that no hurte appeared, yea and our men were so fewe in comparison of them, that although they fought al the day, yet had they much a doe to defend themselues, how much more to offende. That day neuer a Spaniarde was slayne outright, but thrée score of them were wounded and hurte, wherby they had inough to do to cure them for that night, and to procure remedy and defence against the hurtes whiche they receyued from the house toppes. They inuented Engines of timber made vpon whéeles, and foure square, couered on the toppe, and with Arte to passe through the streates: there were placed on eache of them twentie men with Pikes, Hargabush, Crossebowes and one double Base. Behinde the Engines wente men with shouels and Mattockes, to throwe downe houses, bulworkes, and to rule and gouerne the Engines.
TOC
All the while that the Engines were a makyng, our men came not out to fight, beyng occupied in the worke, but onely to defende their lodgyng. The enimies thinkyng that they were all sore hurte and wounded, beganne their warres agayne, reuilyng them with many iniurious wordes, threatnyng them, that if they woulde not deliuerMutezuma, that they woulde giue them the moste cruellest death that euer man suffered, and came with great force to haue entred the house.
CortesdesiredMutezumato goe vp into the sotie, which is the toppe of the flatte roufe of the house, and to commaunde his subiects to ceasse from their heate and furie. AtCorteshis request he wente vp, and leaned ouer the wall to talke with them, who beginnyng to speake vnto them, they threw so many stones out of the streate, houses and windowes, that one happened to hitteMutezumaon the temples of his head, with whiche blowe he fell downe to the ground: this was his ende, euen at the handes of his owne subiectes and vassalles agaynst theyr willes: for the truth is that a Spaniarde helde a Target ouer his head, wherby they knew him not, nor yet would beléeue that he was there, for all the signes and tokens whiche were made vnto them.Cortesforthwith published the hurte and daunger of life ofMutezuma: some gaue credite to his tale, and othersome woulde not, but rather fought very stoutly. Thrée dayesMutezumaremayned in extréeme payne, and at the ende departed his life.
And bicause it shoulde appeare that his death was of the stripe that they had giuen, and not by any hurte receyued at their hands, he caused two gentlemē ofMexico, who were prysoners, to carry him out vpon their backes, who certified the Citizens of the certentie of his death, that at that presente time were giuyng battery to the house. But yet for all this they woulde not leaue off the combat, nor yet the warres, as some of our men thought they woulde, but rather procéeded on their purpose, with greater courage and desire of reuenge. And when they retyred, they made a pityfull lamentation, with preparation to bury their king inChapultepec. On this sorte diedMutezuma, who was holden for a God among theIndians. Some say that hée desired to be Baptised at the Shrouetide before his death, and they prolonged the matter, thinking at Easter followyng to haue christened him with honour and triumph. But as it happened, it had bene better to haue done it at that time according to his request. But with the comming ofPamfilo de Naruaezthe thyng was also delayed, and after hée was wounded it was likewyse forgotten, with the troubles that they were in. It was credibly enformed, thatMutezumawas neuer consentyng to the death of any Spaniarde, nor yet in conspiracie agaynstCortes, but rather loued him entierly: yet some are of an other opinion, and bothe giue good reasons to approue their arguments, but the truth could not wel be knowen, for at that tyme our men vnderstoode not the language, and agayneMutezumaafter his death, lefte none to open that secrete.
TheIndiansaffirme that he was of the greatest bloud of all his linage, and the greatest kyng in estate, that euer was inMexico. It is also to be noted, that when the kingdomes do most florish, then are they niest to a chÄge, or else to change their Lorde, as doth appeare in this history ofMutezuma. Our men lost more by yedeath ofMutezumathan the naturalIndians, if we cÅsider the murder and destruction that incontinent did follow.Mutezumawas a man very moderate in his diet, and not so vicious as otherIndiÄs, although he had many wiues. He was also liberal and frée harted: he was estéemed for a very wise man, in my iudgement he was eyther wise in lettyng things passe after that sorte, or else a very foole, that did not vnderstande their doings: he was as deuoute as warlyke, for he had bene presente in many battayles: it is reported that he wanne and had victory in nine battayles, & also other nine times victorie man for man in the fielde, he reygned seuentene yeares and certaine moneths.
TOC
After the death ofMutezuma,Cortessente vnto his Neuewes, and to the other noblemen who mainteyned the warres, desiryng thē to come and speake with him, and they came, vnto whomeCortesspake from the wall whereMutezumawas slayne, saying, that it were méete that they should ceasse from warre, and to chose another king, and also to burie the dead, and that he woulde come to his buriall as his friende: likewise he signified vnto them, that for the loue he bare vntoMutezumawho had intreated for them, he had stayed from the finall spoyle of the cittie, & correction of them for their rebellion and obstinacie. But now that he had not vnto whome to haue respect, he woulde bothe burne their houses, and chasten them, if that they submitted not themselues to his friendship.
They answered, that they woulde neyther leaue the warres, nor yet estéeme his friÄ“dship, vntill they saw thÄ“selues in their libertie, and their wrongs wholly reuenged, yea and that without his counsell they coulde elect the King vnto whom of right yekingdome did apertaine. And sithens the Gods hath taken our welbelouedMutezuma, we will giue his body a Sepulchre, as vnto such a King doth apperteyne: yea and if he would goe and beare his friendMutezumacompany to the Gods, that then he should come forth, and they would quickly dispatch him: and as for the residue, they would haue rather warre thÄ peace, yea and that they were not menne that did yéelde with wordes. Also séeing their King was dead, for whose respecte they ceassed to burne their houses, rost their bodyes, and eate their fleshe, but nowe (quoth they) if ye depart not, we will not dally long time with you.
A valiant man.
Cortezfinding them stoute and stubborne, liked not the bargaine. Againe, he knewe well that their meaning was, that if they hadde departed from the Citie, to haue spoyled and murthered them by the way. And séeing that their liues, rule and gouernement consisted in strength of hand and good courage, he came forth in a morning with the thrée engines, foure péeces of Ordinance, and fiue hūdred Spanyards, and thrée thousandTlaxcaltecas, to fighte with the enimies, and to burne and spoyle their houses. They broughte the engines néere vnto certaine greate houses which stoode néere vnto a bridge, casting theyr scaling ladders on the walles, and so gote vp to the toppe where manye people were, and there combated awhile, but shortly turned to their forte againe, without doing any greate hurte, with one Spanyarde slayne, and manye wounded, and also the engines broken and spoyled, yea the multitude ofIndianswere so thicke, and flewe vppon the Ordinance in suche sorte, that they had no leysure to discharge them. The stones came also so thicke from the house toppes, that the engines were soone at an ende. And the Citizens hauing housed them againe in the forte and lodging, began to amende the hurt done in their houses, and to recouer the stréetes that were lost: also yegreat Temple, in the Tower whereof, fiue hundred principall men hadde fortifyed themselues wyth vittayles, stones, and long Launces, piked with yron and flint stone verye sharp, but truly they did most hurt with stones. This Tower was high and strong, as I haue before declared, and stoode néere vnto the Spanyardes forte, whiche from that tower receiued muche hurt. AlthoughCorteswas somewhat sadde and heauie, yet he ceassed not like a good Captayne to comfort and encourage his menne, and alwayes was the firste man at any brunt or assay, and hys heart coulde not permitte him to remaine penned vp in that fort, wherefore he toke thrée hundred Spanyardes, and went to assiege the high tower. Thrée or foure dayes he ceassed not that enterprise, but coulde not come to the toppe, being so high a thing, and manye persons in defence of the same, well prouided, with fitte munition for the purpose, so that our men came dayly tumbling downe the stayres, flying to their house with broken pates, so that our Spanyardes dysmayed more and more, and many murmured at the matter: you may well iudge howeCorteshis heart was afflighted, for theIndiansencreased still in courage, hauing the better hand, and dayly victory from the high Tower. But noweCortesdetermined to leaue his house, and not to returne therevnto agayne, vntill he had wonne the Tower. He bounde his Target to his arme whiche had bin hurt before, and beséeged the Tower againe with many of his men,Tlaxcaltecasand other friends, and many times, although they were beaten downe, arose agayne, succoring one another, tyll at length they gote to the toppe, and there foughte with theIndians, till some of them lept out of the Tower, and stood hanging vpon the listes of the wall, which were thrée in number, the one higher than the other, and a foote broad. Some fell downe to the ground, who besides their falles, were receyued vpon the swordes poynt, and in this sorte they left none aliue. Thrée houres they fought on the top of the Tower, bycause yemultitude ofIndianswer great. In conclusion, the whole fiue hundred men there dyed very valiantly, and if their weapon and knowledge had bin equall, the victory had bin doubtfull.Cortesset fire on all the Chappels, and other thrée Chappels, where infinite Idols were, yet those selyIndianslost no poynte of courage with the losse of their Temple and Gods, which touched them at the hearte, but rather began with more furie to assault the Spanish house.
TOC
Cortezconsidering the great multitude ofIndianshis enimies, and also the greate courage, with desire of reuengement: and waying also how his men were weake and wéeryed with fight, yet (I may say) with great desire to goe frÅ thence, if that the Citizens would haue suffered them: he began againe to require them with peace, and to desire them of truce, saying vnto them also, that they should consider, how that many of their side were slayne, and yet they coulde kill none of them. They béeing more hard harted than before, answered that they vtterly refused his offer, saying, that they neuer woulde haue peace with those who had slained their men and burned their Gods: yea (quoth they) and although some of vs are killed, yet wée also do both kill and hurt, for ye are mortall men, and not immortall, as we are: beholde ye also the number of vs, vponZoties, in windowes and stréetes: assure youre selues there are thrée tymes as manye within the houses. So wée shall sooner make an ende of you by kyllyng one and one, than you shall doe of vs by killing a thousande by thousande, or ten thousand by ten thousand: for ending all these whome you sée, there wyll come so many more, and after them so manye more: but if ye were once killed, there woulde come no more Spanyardes, yea and when oure weapons can not throughly destroy you, that then we will sterue you to deathe with hunger and famine, yea and though nowe you would depart, it is too late, bycause yebridges are throwen downe, and the calseys broken, and succoure by water you haue none. In this communications the daye was spente, and night at hand, their heads occupyed, and heartes full heauie, for hunger alone hadde bin ynough to finish theyr dayes, without any further warre. That nighte, the one halfe of the number of Spanyardes armed themselues, and late in the euening came forthe into the Citie. TheIndiÄsnow being not accustomed to fight at such houres, the Spanyardes burned aboue thrée hundred houses in one stréete, and in some of them found many Citizens, of whome they left not one aliue. They burned and spoyled thréeZotiesnéere vnto their owne lodging, whiche hadde greately annoyed them before. The residue of the Spanyardes whiche abode at home, amended the engins, and repaired their houses. As this iourney hapned well vnto them, earely in the morning they procéeded out againe, and wente to the bridge where their engins hadde bin broken, and although they founde there greate resistance, yet the matter imported their liues. They foughte with noble courage, and gote manye towers, houses andZoties. They wanne also four of the eyght bridges which were in the Citie, leauing gard in those places whyche were wonne, returning to their Campe with manye woundes, beyng both wéery and full of care and sorrow.
The next daye they came forth againe, and wanne the other foure bridges, and dammed them vp with earth, in such sorte, that the Horsemen that way followed the enimies to the firme lande.Cortezbeing occupyed in damming vp the ditches, and making plaine way of the bridges, there came certayne messengers vnto him, saying, that néere at hand, abode many noblemen and Captaines to treate of peace, requiring hym to come vnto them, praying him to bringTlamacazquehis prisoner, who was one of the principallest of the Diuels Cleargie there, to heare the treatie of the matter.
Corteswente, and carried the Priest with him, whome he appoynted to require them to ceasse from contention, and to remoue their siege, but he came not backe wyth aunswere. All thys was a fayned fetche, to sée the state of the Christian Campe, or else to recouer their religiousTlamacazque.Cortesséeyng theyr deceyte, wente hys way to dinner, and was no sooner sette at hys meate, but certayneTlaxcaltecascame running in with an open crye, saying, that theyr enimies hadde recouered agayne the bridges, and wente armed vp and downe the stréetes, and hadde also slayne the most of the Spanyardes that were lefte in garde of the bridges. IncontinenteCorteswente out with the Horsemenne, who were readyest at that tyme, and made way through the troupe of enimies, following them euen vnto the firme lande, but at theyr returne, the footemen that were hurt and wéeried in kéeping of the stréete, coulde not susteyne the force and furie of the infinite number ofIndians, whyche came vpon them, yea with muche adoe they coulde escape home to their forte. The multitude was not so greate ofIndiansin the stréete, but also by water inCanoas, so that stones flewe on both sydes, and galled oure men cruelly.Corteswas hurte in one of hys knées very sore, wherevppon it was blowen abroade through the Citie, thatCorteswas slayne, whiche newes dyd greately discourage our men, and much animate theIndians. But yetCortesfor all hys payne and hurt, ceassed not to embolden & encourage hys Souldyers, who set afreshe vpon the enimies. At the farthest bridge fel two Horses, which troubled muche oure men that followed.Cortesmade suche way among theIndians, that the Horsemen hadde reasonable passage, and béeyng yehindmost man himselfe, he was in great peril of taking. It was a maruell to sée what a spring hee gaue with hys Horse, and thereby escaped, but in conclusion, with stones they were forced to returne to their hold, beyng very late.
As soone as he had ended his supper, he sente some of his men to gard the stréete and bridges, and to defend the same againste the enemie. They were somewhat ioyfull of their procéedings and good successe whiche they hadde the same day.
TOC
ButCorteswaying the substance of the matter, sawe in effecte that his syde wente to wracke, wherefore he requested hys menne to departe from thence, who were not a little ioyfull to heare their Captayne pronounce that saying, for few or none of them escaped vnhurt and wounded. They feared death, but yet wanted not stomacke and hearte to dye. TheIndianswere so many, that if the Chrystians shoulde but onlye haue cutte their throtes without resistance, yet they had bin too few for that purpose.
They were also in suche necessitie of bread, that pinched them sore. Their pouder and shotte was spente, and almost all other prouision. Their house was welnigh beaten downe about their eares. All these causes were sufficient to leaueMexico, and to séeke to saue their liues: yet on the other side, they iudged it an euill case, to turne their backes to their enimies, for (quoth they) the very stones riseth vp against hym that flyeth. They feared agayne the passage of the arches where the bridges hadde bin, so that now they were full besette with sorrow, care, and misery: but in fyne, they all agréed to departe that nighte, for many dayes before, one of their companye calledBotello, who presumed to haue good skyll in the Arte of NigromÄcie, did declare vnto them, that if they would depart fromMexicoat a certayne houre appoynted, that then they shuld escape, or else not: but whether they gaue credite to his sayings or no, they fully determined to departe that night, and like vnto politike and good Souldyers, they prepared a bridge of tymber to carrie wyth them, to passe ouer the arches where bridges hadde bin. This is most certayne, they were all priuie and agréede to the departure, and not as some report, thatCortesfledde away, leauing aboue two hundred Spanyardes in the house, who knewe nothyng of hys departure, and were afterwardes all slayne, sacrifised, and eaten inMexico, for out of the Citie he coulde not haue departed so secretely, but it shoulde haue come to their eares: howe muche more out of one house, where they were all togither.
Revvarde of a couetous mind.
CortescalledIohn de Guzmanhys Chamberlayne, commaunding him to open the hall where the treasure was, and called all the officers and others, to sée the distribution of the same. First the kings portion was deducted, and he gaue a Horse of his owne, and men to carrie it: and for the remainder, he willed euery man to take what he listed, for he gaue it frankely vnto them. The souldiers which had come withNaruaez, & now seruedCortes, were somewhat hungry of treasure, so that they tooke as much golde and other riches, as they myghte possible carrie, but it cost them déere, for at their going out of the Citie, with the waight of their heauie burthens, they coulde neyther fighte, nor yet make hast on their way, vppon whiche occasion, theIndianscaught many of them, and drewe them by the héeles to the slaughterhouse of Sacrifice, where they were slayne and eaten: yet those that escaped, had eache of them some profyte, for that pray was well worth seauen hundred thousand Ducketes: but beeyng things wrought in greate péeces, they were troublesome to carrie, so that he whiche carried least, escaped best. Yet some doe thinke, that there remayned in that house a great parte of the treasure, but it was not so, for after our men had taken what they would, then came in theTlaxcaltecas, and made spoyle of all the rest.
Cortesgaue charge to certayne of his menne, to garde with much respecte, a sonne and two daughters ofMutezuma,Cacama, and his brother, and manye other greate Gentlemen his prisoners.
He also appoynted other fortie mē to carrie the bridge of timber, and otherIndiansto carrie the Ordinance, and a little grayne ofCentlithat remayned.
The vantgarde he committed toGonsalo de Sandoual, andAntonio de Quiniones: and the reregarde he committed toPedro de Aluarado, and he hymselfe remayned with a hundred men, to vse his discretion. In this order, and with good deliberation, at midnight he departed fromMexicoin a darke myst, and so quietely, that none of theIndiansknewe thereof, commendyng themselues vntoGOD, beséechyng hym in theyr prayers, to delyuer them from that presente daunger, and tooke the way ofTlacopan, béeyng the same way that he came into the Citie.
The firste arche whereof the bridge was throwen downe, they passed with the timber bridge whiche they carried with them at ease.
In this meane time the watche and espies which warded in the hiest temples, had descried their flight, and began to sounde their instruments of warre with a maruelous crie, saying, they flie, they flie: And sodenly with this noyse, they hauing no armour to put on, nor other impedimēt, ioyned an infinite company of them togither, and followed with greate celeritie, yea and with suche a heauy and terrible noyse, that all the lake pronounced the Eccho, saying, let the cursed and wicked be slayne, who hath done vnto vs such great hurte.
But whenCortescame to plante his bridge vpon the second arche of the Cittie, there mette him a greate company ofIndiansto defende the same, yet with much adoe he planted his bridge and passed thervpon with fiue horsemen and a hundred Spaniardes, and with them procéeded through the Calsey to the mayne lande passing many perilous places, wherein swamme both man and horse, for the bridge of timber was broken: this done, he lefte his foote menne on the firme lande, vnder the gouernement ofIohn Xaramillo, and returned backe with the fiue horsemen for to succour and helpe the residue of his company whiche were behinde. But when he came vnto them, he found some fighting with great courage, but many slaine. He lost also his golde and fardage, his ordinance and prisoners, yea in fine he founde a maruellous change and alteracion of the estate he lefte them in, wherevpon lyke a good Captayne he shewed his wisdome and valour, helpyng and recoueryng as many of his men, as he myght, and brought them into safetie. He lefte also CaptayneAluaradoto succour the reste.
ButAluaradowith all his power and strength could not resiste the fury of the enimies, wherefore with the Lance in his hande he beganne to flie, seyng the greate slaughter of his company, so that hée was forced to passe ouer the dead carkases, yea and vpon some that were not throughly dead, who made a lamentable, pytifull, and dolefull mone. And commyng to the next arche, whose brydge was broken downe, of necessitie he tooke hys Lance, and therewith leaped such a space, that theIndianswere amased to sée, for none of his fellowes could doe the like, although they approued the enterprise, and were drowned for their labour.
WhenCortessawe this sorrowfull sight, he sate hym downe, not to take any rest for his wearinesse, but only to bewayle the dead men, yea and also them that were aliue and in greate daunger, and also to ponder the vnstedfastnesse of cruell fortune in the perdition of so many his friends, such great treasure and lordshippe, so greate a Citie and Kingdome, but also to bewayle the sorrowfull estate that he himself stoode in, seyng the moste of his men wounded & hurte, and knowyng not whyther to goe, for that he was not certayne of the helpe and friendship ofTlaxcaltecas. Yea and what harde hart, woulde not haue relented to behold the dead bodies, who a litle before had entred that same way, with suche magnificall triumphe, pompe and pleasure. But yet hauing care of those whom he had lefte on the firme lande, he made haste toTlacopan.
This sorowfull night, which was the tenth of July inAn.1520. were slaine aboute .450. Spaniardes, 4000.Indianfriends, and .46. horse, yea & (as I iudge) all the prisoners which were in his company. If this mishap had fortuned in the day time, possible so many and so great a nūber had not perished. But where it fortuned by night, the noyse of the wounded was sorrowful, & of the victors horrible and feareful. TheIndianscried victory, calling vpon their diuelish and filthy Goddes with ioy & pleasure, our men being ouercome, cursed their vnfortunate lot, yea the hower, and he that brought them thither, others cried vnto God for succour, others sayd helpe, help, for I stande in daūger of drowning. I know not certenly whether moe perished in the water or the lande, hopyng to saue themselues by swimming and leapyng ouer the sluces and broken places, for they say, that a Spaniarde was no sooner in the water, but anIndianwas vppon his backe. They haue great dexteritie & skill in swimming, so that catching any Spaniarde in the water, they would take him by the one arme, and carrie him whither they pleased, yea & would vnpanch him in the water. If theseIndianshad not occupied themselues in taking the spoyle of those that were fallen and slaine, certenly one Christian had not escaped that day: but in fine, the greatest number of Spaniardes that were killed, were those that went moste laden with golde plate and other iewels, & those which escaped, were they that carried least burdens, & the first that with noble courage made way to passe through the troupe ofIndians.
Nowe wée may safely say, that the couetous desire of gold, wherof they had plenty, was cause of their death, and they may answere that they died riche. After that those, whiche had escaped, were paste the calsey, theIndiansstayed and followed them no further, eyther for that they contented themselues with that whiche they had done, or else they durst not fight in open fields: But principally it is thought, that they abode to mourne and lament for the death ofMutezumahis chyldren, not knowing till then their sorrowfull ende. But nowe seyng the thyng present before their eyes, they wrang theyr hands, and made a pitifull dole and crie, and the rather, bycause they themselues had slayne them against their willes.
TOC
The Inhabitants ofTlacopan, knewe not how our men came spoyled, hurte, and ouerthrowen, and againe our men stoode in a maze, and knew not what to doe nor whither to goe.Cortescame vnto them, & cÅforted them & placed them in order before him, requyring them to make hast, vntill they might come into the broade field, before such tyme as the men ofTlacopanshould heare of the newes passed, & so to arme thÄ“selues and to ioyne with fourtie thousandeMexicans, who after the mournyng for their friends, came marchyng after them. He placed in the vantgard theIndianshis friÄ“ds, and passed through certayne tilled grounde, and continually fought as they went, vntill they came to a high hill, where was a tower and a Temple, whiche is called our Lady churche at this day.
A vvery iourney.
TheIndiansslewe some of the Spaniardes whiche came in the reregard, and many of theirIndianfriends, before they could get vp to the toppe of the hill. They loste muche of the golde, that had remayned, and with greate hazarde escaped through the multitude ofIndianswith life, their horses whiche remayned aliue, were foure and twentie, who were tyred both with trauell and hunger, & the Spaniardes their maisters, with the residue coulde scarsely stirre hande or foote with wearinesse of fightyng, and penurie of hunger, for al that day and night they ceassed not from fight, eating nothing at all.
A payneful man.
In this Temple were reasonable lodgings, where they fortified themselues as well as they myght, and dranke one to an other, but theyr supper was very slÄ“der. After their simple feast was ended, they went and beheld an infinite number ofIndians, whiche had beset them almost round about, makyng a maruellous shoute and crie, knowyng that they were without victuals, whiche onely is a warre worser than to fight with the enimie. They made many fires with the woodde of sacrifice, rounde about the tower and Temple, & with this pollicie, at midnight departed secretely. It happened that they hadTlaxcaltecato be their guide, who knew well the way, assuring to bring them into the iurisdiction ofTlaxcallan: with this guide they began to iourney.Cortesplaced his wounded men and fardage in the middest of his company, the souldiours that were whole and in health, he deuided into the vantgarde & reregarde: he could not passe so secretly, but ytthey were espied by theIndianscoute, whiche was neare at hand, who gaue aduise therof incÅtinent. Fiue horsemÄ“ which went before to discouer, fell among certayne cÅpanies ofIndians, which attended their cÅming to robbe thÄ“, & seing the horsemen, they suspected that the whole army was at hand, whervpon they fled, but yet seing them few in number stÄde and ioyned with the otherMexicansthat followed & pursued our men thrée leagues vntil they came to a hill where was an other temple with a good tower & lodgyng, where they lodged that night without supper. They departed in the mornyng from thence, and wente through a cragged & naughty way, to a great towne the enhabitantes whereof were fledde for feare, so that they abode there two daies to rest thÄ“selues, to cure their mÄ“, & horses: also they somewhat eased their hÅ«gery stomakes and carried frÅ thence prouision, although not muche, for they had none to carrie it. And being departed frÅ thence, many enimies pursued them & persecuted them very sore. Likewise yeguide erred out of his way, & at lÄ“gth came to a little village of few houses, where they reposed yenight. In the morning they procéeded vpon their way, and the enimies still pursuyng and troubled them sore all the day.
Cortes vvounded vvith a slyng.
Oh noble Cortez.
Corteswas woūded with the stripe of a sling, and therewith was in greate daunger of life, for his head so rancbled, that of necessitie they were forced to take out certaine péeces of his skull, whervpon he was driuen to séeke a solitarie place in the wildernesse to cure him, and in goyng thitherwardes, the enimies wounded fiue Spaniardes and foure horses, whereof one died, and that was eaten among them for a sumptuous supper, and yet not sufficient for them all, for there was none of them whiche were not vexed with hunger. I speake not of their woundes and wearinesse, things sufficient to haue made an ende of lyfe. But certainely the Spanishe nation can abide more hunger than any other, and especially these withCortesdyd shewe the proofe. The nexte day in the mornyng departing from a litle Village, and fearyng the multitude of enimies,Cortescommaunded eche horseman to take a sicke manne behinde him, and those that were somewhat stronger, to holde by the horse tayles and stirroppes: he likewise made cruches for other some to ease them, and woulde not leaue one of his men behinde him to be a pray and supper for theIndianenimies. This aduise was very profitable as things fell out, yea also there were some of them that carried vpon their backe their fellowes, & thereby were saued. They had not iourneyed a full league into a playne fielde, when there mette them an infinite number ofIndianswho compassed them round aboute, and assaulted our men in such sorte, that they verily beléeued that day to ende generally their liues, for there were manyIndiansthat durst wrastell with our men, man to man, yea and layd some of them in the duste, and drewe them by the héeles, whether it were with the great courage whiche they had, or whether it were with the trauayle, hunger and hurtes of our men I know not, but great pittie it was to sée, how they were drawen by theIndianenimies, and what grieuous mone they made.
Oh valiant Cortez.
200000. Indians.
Cortesthat wente with vigilant care comfortyng his men, as muche as was possible to doe, and well perusing the great daunger that they were in, commendyng himselfe to God, sette spurres to his horse and made way thorow the greatest troupe ofIndians, and came vnto the captayne generall who bare the Royall standart ofMexico, and passed him through with his Lance, whereof he incontinent died. But when theIndianssawe the standart fallen, they threw their auncient on the grounde and fled, scattering them here and there like men amazed, knowing not whither to fly, for such is their custome in warre, that when they sée the generall slayne, they forthwith leaue the fielde. Then our wery soules began to recouer hart and strength, and the horsemen followed thē to their great anoyance and slaughter. It was credibly reported, that there were that day in fielde .200000.Indians. And the fielde where this battayle was fought is calledOtumpan: there was neuer a more notable facte done inIndia, nor greater victorie since the first discouery of the same. And as manye Spaniardes as saweHernando Cortesfighte that day, did holde opinion, that neuer one man did more greater feates in armes, and that he only was the meane in his owne person to saue and deliuer them all.
TOC
After this victory obtayned,Corteswith his company went to lodge in a house planted alone, in a playne grounde, from whence appeared the Mountaynes ofTlaxcallan, whereof our menne muche reioyced: yet on the other side they stoode in doubt whether they should finde them their friendes in such a daungerous season, for bycause the vnfortunate man that flieth, findeth nothing in his fauour, for all thing that he pretendeth, happeneth cleane contrary. That nightCorteshimselfe was scoute, not bycause he was more whole than his fellowes, but like a good Captayne, he deuided the trauayle & paynes equally, euen as their hurte and damage was come.
50000. mē.
Faythfull friendes.
Being day, they iourneyed in plaine and straight way, directly to the Mountaynes and Prouince ofTlaxcallan, they passed by a swéete foūtaine of water, where they wel refreshed themselues, and after they came toHuazilipan, a towne ofTlaxcallan, of .4000. housholdes, where they were louingly receiued & abundantly prouided for thrée dayes, whiche they abode there refreshing & curing their weary bodies. Some of the townes men would giue thē nothing without payment, but the moste parte did vse them very gently: Vnto this Towne cameMaxixca,Xicotencatlh,Axotecalth, and many other principall persons ofTlaxcallan, andHuexozincawith .50000. men of warre, who were going toMexicoto succour the Spaniardes, knowyng of their troubles, but not of their hurte and spoyle, yet some holde opinion that they hauyng certayne knowledge of all theyr mishappes and flight fromMexico, came only to comforte them, and in the name of all theyr communaltie and state, to offer them their Towne, in conclusion, they séemed sorrowfull for their misfortunes, and agayne ioyfull to sée them there: Yea some of them with anguishe of harte wepte, and sayde, wée did aduise and warne yée, that theMexicanswere Traytours and wicked persons, and yet yée woulde not beléeue vs: wée doe pyttie and bewayle your troubles, but if it please you, lette vs goe thither to reuenge your iniuries, and the death of your Christians, and our Citizens: and if now ye will not, that then it may please you to goe with vs home to our houses, for to recreate youre persons, and to cure your woundes.
Cortesdid cordially reioyce, to heare and finde such succour and friendship, in such good men of warre, whereof he stoode in doubt as he came thitherward. He gaue them most hartie thankes for their louing offer, curtesie, and good will. He gaue vnto them of such Iewels as remayned, and sayd vnto them, the time will come, that I shall desire your helpe against theMexicans, but now presently it is néedefull, to cure my sicke and wounded men.
The noble men that were there present, besought him to giue them leaue to skirmish with theIndiansofCulhua, for as yet many of them wandered there aboute.Cortesgraunted their request, and sente with them some of hys men, which were lustie, and in good health, who procéeded forth all togither, and in that iourney slewe manyIndianenimies, so that after this time, the enimies appeared no more. Then with triumph, pleasure, and victory, they departed toward the Citie, and oure men followed. It is credibly reported, that twenty thousande men and women met them by the way with sundry kindes of meates: I do beléeue that the most of them came to sée them, for the great loue whiche they bare vnto them, and likewise to enquire of their friends which had gone with them toMexico, of whome few returned. InTlaxcallanthey were honorable receyued, and well vsed.Maxixcagaue hys house toCortes, and the residue of hys company were hosted at Gentlemens houses, who cherished them excéedingly, whereby they forgate the paynes, sorrowes, and trauels past, for in fiftéene dayes before, they lay on the bare ground.
Certaynely the Spanyardes were muche indebted to theTlaxcaltecas, for their loyaltie and faithfull friendship, especially vnto that good and vertuous GentlemanMaxixca, who threweXicotencatldowne the stayres and steppes of the chiefe Temple, for giuing his counsell to kyll the Spanyardes, meaning to reconcile hymselfe with theMexicans.
He also made two Orations, the one to the men, and the other to the women, in the greate fauoure and prayse of the Spanyardes, putting them in remembrance, howe that they hadde not eaten salt, nor worne cloth of cotten wooll in many yeares before, vntil now that their friends were come: and to this day theseIndiansdoe muche presume of their fidelitie, and likewise of the resistance and battayle they made withCortesinTeoacazinco, so that now when they celebrate any great feast, or receyue any Christian vizeking, there commeth of them out into the field sixtie or seauentie thousande men, to skirmishe and fight in the same order as they did withCortes.
TOC
WhenCortesdeparted firste fromTlaxcallontowardesMexicoto visitMutezuma, hée lefte there twentie thousande Castlins of golde and moe, besides the Kings portion which was sent withMonteioandPortocarrero. He lefte there also manye other things if néede should haue happened inMexicoof money, or other things to prouide his men inVera Crux, and this he lefte there also, to proue the fidelitie of his friendes inTlaxcallon. And after he had obteyned the victory againstNaruaez, he wrote vnto the Captayne that he shoulde sende for the same, for reason required that in all things they should haue their partes.
Exclamation.
The Captaine ofVera Cruxsente fiftie Spanyardes and fiue Horsemen for the same, who at their returne, were slayne and taken prisoners with all that treasure, by yemen ofCulhuawho had rebelled through the comming ofPamfilo de Naruaez, robbing and spoyling sundrye dayes. But whenCortezvnderstoode this newes, his ioy was turned to sorrowe, not onely for the golde and treasure so muche, as for the losse of his menne, fearyng also some other warre or vprore to haue bin in the riche Towne ofVera Crux, wherevpon hée sente a messenger thyther, who returned in shorte time, certifying that all the inhabitantes there were in good health, and also all theComarcansquiet, and without any token of alteration. This newes and answere pleasedCortesand all his company, whiche desired to goe thither, but he woulde not permitte them, wherefore they began to murmure and to exclayme, saying, what thinkethCortes, what meaneth he to doe with vs? why, will he kéepe vs héere to dye an euill death? what haue we offended him, that he will not let vs goe? we are alreadye full of wearinesse, our bodyes are yet ful of fresh woundes, we haue spente our bloude, and are nowe withoute strength and apparell: wée sée oure selues in a straunge Countrey, and full of miserye, enuironed with enimies, yea and without hope to come to that hygh place from whence we fell, yea then mighte wée bée accompted for worse than madde men, to come into the perils from whence wée escaped: wée meane not nowe to ende oure lyues so desperately, as he would haue vs, for wyth the insatiable thirste of honoure and glorye, hée estéemeth not hys life, neyther oures. He doth not lykewyse consider, that he wanteth menne, horses, artillerie, and armoure, things so necessarye for the warres, yea he also wanteth victuall, whyche is a thyng moste principall: what shall wée saye, but that, he erreth, and is deceyued, in giuing credite to theseTlaxcaltecas, who are, like vnto the other nations ofIndia, which are light, changeable, and louers of newe things, yea and rather, in effecte of troth, they better loue theCulhuacans, than the Spanishe nation, yea and although they nowe dissemble, yet when they shall sée a greate army ofMexicanscome vpon them, they will then deliuer vs aliue, to be eaten, and sacrificed, for it is an olde rule, that friendship dothe not long endure betwixte them that are of sundry religion, apparell, and spéech.
After all these complayntes and murmurations amÅg themselues, they made a protestation and request, in forme as it were in the name of the King and all the company, praying him incontinent to departe frÅ thence, and to goe with them to the Towne ofVera Crux, before the enimies mighte disturbe their way and passage, and then they to remayne both bought and solde, and shutte vp as it were in a prison: also they declared, that inVera Cruxthey should haue better opportunitie to make themselues strong, if that he meante to returne agayne vponMexico, or else to take shipping, if so it shoulde séeme conuenient.
Corteshearing this request, and determination of hys Souldyers, was at his wits ende, ymagining that theyr pretence was, onely to procure him to goe from thence, and afterwardes to rule him at their pleasures, and béeing a thing cleane contray to his pretended purpose, hée aunswered them as followeth.