The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstHovv Cortez besieged Mexico
The night of Cortes his abiding there, was perillous, for he had not aboue a hundreth men in his cōpany, and aboute midnight set vpō him many Mexicans both by water and lande, although they accustomed not to fight in the night, but the Vergantines made them soone to retire.
In the morning came vnto Cortes from Cristoual de Olid, eight horsemen, and foure score footemen. The Mexicans combated the towers, where Cortes was lodged, who incontinent came forth & draue them along the calsey, vntil he had wonne an other bridge and a bulwarke, and made a great spoyle among them, with the ordinaunce & horse men, pursuyng them to the vtmoste houses of the Cittie: and bycause many of the Canoas whiche were on the other side of the calsey galled Cortes and his menne, he brake downe so muche of the calsey, that he mighte well passe some of his Vergantines to the otherside, the which with few encounters shutte vp the Canoas on that side, within the succour of Mexico: and in this wise he remayned Lord ouer bothe the lakes.
The next day Sandoual departed from Iztacpalapan toward Culhuacan, and in his way he tooke and spoyled a little Citie that standeth in the lake, bycause they came out to resist him. Cortes sente vnto him two Vergantines to passe his men where the calsey was broken. Sandoual left his company with Cristoual de Olid, and wēt to Cortes with tenne horsemen, and when he came he found him in fight with the enimies, and he alightyng from his horse, an Indian persed him through the foote with a dart. Many Spaniardes were hurte that day, but theyr griefe was well reuenged, for from that day forwarde the Indians courage was muche abated. With the paynes, labour and victory already obtayned, Cortes might now at ease pitche his campe at his owne pleasure where he woulde, and also prouide his army of victuals: sixe dayes he ceassed not skirmishyng, and the Vergantines likewise founde out channels that they mighte goe rounde aboute the Cittie, yea and wente spoylyng and burning many houses within the Suburbes.
Mexico was besieged in foure places, although at the first they determined but thrée. Cortes was placed betwixt the twoo towers of the calsey: Pedro de Aluarado in Tlacopan: Cristoual de Olid in Culhuacan: Gonsalo de Sandoual in Xaltoca: for they had aduise that the same way they would flée out of the Citie, seyng themselues in any daunger. It would not haue grieued Cortes to haue lefte a passage for the enimy, but only bycause they should not profite themselues vpon the lande, and prouide the Cittie that way of armour & victuall, yea, he also thought to preuaile against his enimies better vpon the lande than vpon the water. And againe according to the olde prouerbe, When thine enimy flieth make him a bridge of siluer.
The first skirmishe vvithin the cittie of Mexico
Cortes pretended to enter the Citie, and to gette what he could, & also to sée what stomacke the enimy had: he sent to aduise his captaines, that eche of them should do the like, requiring them to sende vnto him some of their horsemen and footemē. He gaue speciall commaundement to Cristoual de Olid to haue regard to the kéeping of his calsey, and to forsée that the inhabitants of Xochmilco, Culhuacan, Iztacpalapan, Vitzilopuchtli, Mexicalcinco, Cuetlauac, & other cities thereaboutes come not that way behinde them and vnwares. He commaunded that the Vergantines should goe along the calsey on bothe the sides, if any néede shoulde happen. Cortes early in the morning came out of his campe with .200. Spaniardes and .80000. Indian friends: they had gone but a small space, when they met with their enimies well armed, keping the gappe where the calsey was brokē, which broken place mought be a speares length, and as much in depth. They fought with them, who for a great space defended themselues behinde a bulwarke, but in fine he wanne the passage, and followed them vnto the entrance of the citie, where was a Tower, and at the foote thereof a bridge drawen, where a good streame of water passed. This place was very strong to combat, yea and fearefull to behold the passage where the draw bridge was. They ceased not shotyng of arrowes and hurlyng of stones, so that our men coulde not come neare, vntill the Vergantines came, and by meanes of them they wanne that fort with lesser paynes than they imagined: for without the Vergantines it had not bene possible to haue entred the Cittie.
The enimies being now fled from that holde, our men alanded there, with the Indian friendes, who incontinent dammed vp the broken place with stones and earth. The Spaniardes of the vantgarde, tooke another bulwarke, which was planted in the largest and fayrest streate of the Citie, and pursued the enemy to another draw bridge, which remayned, but with one poste or beame, vppon the which many of the Indians passed ouer, and then toke ye beame awaye and aboue to defende the place: but when our men approched & sawe how the matter went, Cortez commaunded two pieces of Ordinaunce to be broughte, with the whiche, and with their Harquebushes, they did great hurt among the Mexicans, who began to fainte, and lose their courage, the which being vnderstoode, certayne Spaniards swā ouer where the draw bridge was, wt their weapons in their mouthes. But when the enimy sawe them passe ouer, they began, as well from that place as from the house toppes, zoties and bulwarke, whiche they had defended for the space of two houres, to flie. Cortes and his whole army beyng passed ouer, he commaunded to damme vp that broken place of the drawe brydge, with earth, rubbishe and stones, and procéedyng forwarde they came to an other bridge whiche had no bulwarke, but was neare one of the chiefest places of the cittie, and there placed a péece of ordinaunce wherewith they dyd greate hurte, and seyng them now past all the bridges, they determined to enter into the harte of the Citie. When the Mexicans perceyued their determination, they beganne to prouide euery one for himselfe, for some fledde one way and some another, but the moste wente to the great temple of Idols. The Spaniardes and theyr friends pursued after them, and among the throng gotte into the Temple, where they slewe many, and at length they wente vp into the high tower, and there threwe downe the idols, among whome they made a great spoyle.
Quahutimoc beganne to reprehende his men for their cowardie and flight, who gathered themselues togither, and considering theyr ouersight, and that there were no horses, began a freshe to sette vppon the Spanyardes, and with force and strength draue them out of all the circuite of the Temple, and made them truste to their féete. But when Cortes sawe his menne come flying, he caused them to returne and to shewe face vnto the enimy, declaryng vnto them how shamefull a thyng it was to flie: But seing the strength and multitude of their enimies, they had no other remedie but onely to retire to the greate market place, yea & from thence also they were expelled, and lost a péece of their ordinaunce. But beyng nowe in this extremitie, there came thrée horsemen who played the valiant men and made way through the troupe of enimies, who at the sight of the horses began to flie, and our men to follow with suche harte and courage, that in short time they wan the great temple agayne: then came other sixe horsemen who ioyned with the other thrée, and lay in ambushe, where they slew .30. Mexicans. The day being now farre spent, and the nighte at hande, Cortes commaunded his army to retire, and they obeying his commandemēt, hadde not so soone turned their backes, but an infinite number of enimies were at their héeles, who if it hadde not bin for the Horsemen, had slayne many Spanyardes, for they came vpon them like rauening dogges without any feare, yet with the succoure of the Horsemen, the enimie was putte agayne to flighte, and our men burned many houses, to auoyde at their next comming the daunger of stones whiche were throwen from their toppes. The other Captaynes, who were Sandoual and Aluarado, fought valiantly on the other side of the Citie.
The great hurt and dammage in the houses of Mexico with fire
In this meane while, Don Hernando of Tezcuco, wente throughout his Lordship, to allure his vassall to the seruice and friendship of Cortes, according to his former promise: and whether it were seyng the Spanyards prosperitie in the séege of Mexico, or otherwise, he broughte almost the whole prouince of Culhuacan, whiche is vnder the gouernemente of Tezcuco, with sixe or seauen of his owne bréethren, for more he could not, although he had more than a hundred bréethren, as héereafter shall be declared. One of them named Iztlixuchilh béeyng a valiant yong man, of the age of foure and twenty yeares, he appoynted generall Captayne ouer fiftie thousande men of warre, well armed and trimmed according to their fashion. Cortes dyd friendly receyue and welcome them, giuing them greate thankes for their ayde and good willes. Of these newcome men, he tooke into his owne host thirtie thousande, and deuided the residue equally among the other Captaynes.
This was a sorrowfull newes to the Mexicans, to heare of the succoure which Don Hernando hadde sente to serue Cortes, and with holden the same from them, yea and also among them were come kinsmen, bréethren, and fathers to many of them which were in Mexico in the seruice of Quahutimoc.
Two dayes after that these menne were come, there came also men of Xochmilco, and certayne husbandmen of the Moūtaines, who spake the Otomitlh spéech, beséeching Cortes to pardon their long tarrying, offering also both men and vittayles for the séege. Cortes was pleased wyth their cōming and gentle offer, for they being his friēds, he was assured of them of Culhuacan, and sayd vnto them, within these thrée daies (God willing) I wil combate the Citie, therefore againste that time I praye you prepare your selues accordingly, and therein shall I knowe whether you are my friendes or no: and with this aunswere they departed, promising to fulfill his request, as they did in déede. This done, he sente thrée Vergātines to Sandoual, and other thrée to Aluarado, for to disturbe anye succoure that mighte come from the land to the Citie, and likewise to defende and ayde the Spanyardes at all times, when they would land vpon the calsey, to combate the Citie, for he well vnderstoode howe profitable those vessels would be néere vnto the bridges.
The Captaines of the Vergantines ceased not night and day to runne the coast and Townes of the lake, where they tooke manye boates from the enimies, laden with men and victuall, and permitted none to come into the Citie, nor yet any to come out.
The daye appointed to the enimies for the combate, Cortes made his prayers vnto God, & then enformed each Captayne what he should do, and came foorth with twētie horsemen, thrée hundred Spanyardes, and a great number of Indians, with their péeces of Ordinance, and where in thrée or foure dayes before they had not skirmished, time serued the Mexicans at will to open al those places which were dammed vp before, and also to builde better bulwarkes thā those which were throwen downe, attending with that horrible noyse accustomed. But whē they sawe the Vergantines on eache side, theyr ioy was turned into sorrowe, and beganne to fainte, the whiche oure men vnderstood well, and therewith alanded themselues vpon the calsey, and wanne the bulwarke and the bridge. Our army procéedyng forward, set vppon the enimies, vntill they came to another bridge, the whyche was likewise wonne in shorte time, and this pursued from bridge to bridge, alwayes fighting, vntill they had driuen them from the Calsey and stréetes.
Cortes for his part lost no time, for he with tenne thousande Indians laboured to damme vp againe the sluses and broken places of the bridges, making the way plaine both for Horsemen and footemen: it was so much to doe, that all those ten thousand Indians were occupyed therein from the morning vntill the euening.
The other Spanyards and Indian friends skirmished continually, and 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 mās 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 destructiō 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 hād. 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 ye market place of Tlalulco, for he toke much payn & stoode in perill in susteyning ye bridges which he had gotten, hauing hys forte almost a league frō 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 brokē 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 cōmend his valiaunt and good seruice: he also cōmuned 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 thē flie, and would pursue after, thē 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 ye 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.
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 cōmaunded his horsemē 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 ye 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 ye 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) cōsisteth 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 ye 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 mē, and so occupyed in the same, that they had no regarde to their owne peril. Wherevpon certaine Mexicans layd hād vpō Cortes, who truly they had carried away if it had not bin for one Francisco de Olea his seruāt, 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 thē with the fame that Cortez was prisoner, came many spaniards, among whō 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 cōsidered 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 gūme 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 reuēge 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 Mexicās 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.