The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstThe determination of Cortez to destroy the citie of Mexico
Chichimecatl, a noble man of Tlaxcallan, (who hadde brought the Timber of ye Vergantines, frō 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 ye men of his owne countrey, went forth to cōbate the Citie, being a thing which toofore he had not attēpted, 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 ye 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 Mexicās 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 thē 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 cōmuned 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 begā to cōbate the stréete, which goeth directly to the market place, then fainedly the Citizēs 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 whē 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.
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, ye 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.
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 cōbat.
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 frō 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 mātels. 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 thēselues, 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 cōtrary. So that now the Mexicans hauing lost this streate also, the houses that were not beatē downe could scarcely hold the people yt 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 ye next day following he assaulted the same, with speciall cōmaundement giuen to his army, not to kil any but only such as should resist.
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
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 commaūded 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.
The nexte day Cortes entred the cittie agayne, but he fought not, hoping then that they woulde submitte themselues, but yet the Citizens had no such thought. He came néere vnto a certayne bulwarke on horsebacke, and spake vnto certaine Gentlemen with whome he was acquaynted, saying that now within a shorte space he could make an ende of their finall destruction, but yet of meare compassion he wished it not, for the loue whiche he bare vnto them, so that they would in time rēder themselues: wherfore (quoth he) entreate yée the king to doe the same, and in so doyng ye shalbe well vsed, and haue victuals sufficient. The Gētlemen hearing these wordes, fell on weping, and answered, that now they knew well their errour, and felte their losse and destruction, notwithstāding they were bounde to obey their king and Goddes. But yet (quoth they) abide a while, and we will certifie Quahutimoc what you haue sayde, and in shorte space they went and returned againe, saying that the next day without fayle their Lord woulde come and talke with him in the markette place. With this answere Cortes returned to his campe, and thought at their méeting to conclude an honorable peace. So against the next day he caused a Canapie and chayre of estate to be sette in the markette place, accordyng to the Mexican vse, and also a dinner to be prepared. The day followyng came Cortes at the houre appoynted, with many of his men armed, but the king came not: neuerthelesse he sente fiue noble men to treate of the matter, excusing the kyng, saying he was not well at ease. Cortes welcomed those Gentlemen, and was gladde of their cōming, hoping thereby to conclude and make some good ende. And when they had dined and well refresshed their hungry bodies, Cortes gaue them victuals, and desired them to returne agayne to the King, and to declare vnto him that without his presence the conclusion coulde not be certayne. They wente and returned againe within twoo houres, and brought vnto Cortes certaine mantels made of cotton woll, very good & well wrought, with answere that the king would not come in any wise, both for shame and feare. And the next day these messengers came agayn, saying that the king would come to the place appointed. But yet he came not, although Cortes attended his commyng more than foure houres: who seing the mockerie, he forthwith sente Sandoual with his Vergantines one way, and he himself went an other, combatting the houses & fortes that yet remayned, where he founde small resistaunce, so that he might doe what he pleased. There was that day slayne and taken prysoners aboue .40000. persons, & then he retired to his campe. The lamentable crie and mourning of the women and children woulde haue made a stony hart relent, the stench also of the dead bodies was wōderfull noysome. That night Cortes purposed to make an end the next day of the warres, and Quahutimoc pretended to flie, and for that purpose had enbarked hymselfe in a Canoa of twētie ores. When the day appeared Cortes, with his men, and foure péeces of ordinance, came to the corner where those that yet remayned were shut vp, as cattell in a pounde. He gaue order to Sandoual and Aluarado what they shold do, which was, to be ready with their Vergātines, and to watche the comyng out of the Canoas whiche were hidden betwixte certayne houses, and especially to haue regard vnto the kings person, and not to hurte him, but to take him aliue. He commaunded the residue of hys men to force the Mexican boates to goe out, and he himselfe wente vp into a tower, inquiryng for the King, and there founde Xihuacoa, gouernour and Captayne generall of the Cittie, who woulde in no wise yéelde himselfe. Then came out of the Cittie a greate multitude of olde folkes, men, women and childrē to take boate. The throng was so great with hast to enter the Canoas, that many by that means were drowned in the lake. Cortes required his mē not to kil those miserable creatures: But yet he could not stay the Indians his friends, who slewe and sacrificed aboue fiftene thousand. After this, there was a great rumour among the cōmon people, that the king would flie, making a piteous mone and saying that they sorowfull creatures knew not whither to goe: But yet procuryng to goe into the Conoas, whiche were so full that there was no roume for thē, by reason thereof many were drowned.
The men of warre stoode in the house toppes and zoties beholding their perdition. All the nobilitie of Mexico were enbarked with the kyng. Then Cortes gaue signe with the shotte of a handgunne, that his captaines should be in a readinesse, so that in shorte space they wanne fully and wholy the great Cittie of Mexico. The Vergantines likewise brake in among the fléete of boates, without any resistaunce, and euery one sought where he might beste succour himselfe, the Royall Standarte was beaten downe. Garcia Holguin, who was captayne of a Vergantine, had espied a great Canoa of .xx. ores déepe laden with men. And one of his prysoners sayde vnto him, that the king wente in that greate Canoa. Holguin beyng gladde of the newes, gaue chase to that Canoa and ouertooke him. In his foreship he had thrée crossebowe men. And when Quahutimoc who stoode on the puppe of the Canoa ready to fighte, sawe those bowes ready bente, and many drawen swordes, he yéelded himselfe, declaryng that he was the king. Garcia Holguin being a gladde man of his prysoner, tooke and carried him vnto Cortes who receiued him reuerently. When Quahutimoc came neare vnto him, he layde his hande vpon Cortes his dagger, saying, I haue done all my possibility to defende me and mine, accordyng to my duetie, hoping not to haue come to this estate and place where now I stande: And considering that you may doe with me what you please, I beséeche you to kill me, and that is my only request. Cortes comforted him with faire words, giuyng him hope of life and seniory, and tooke him vp into a zotie, requiring him to commaund his subiectes to yéelde and render themselues: he obeyed his request. At that time there was about thrée score and tenne thousande persons, who in seing their Prince, threwe downe their weapons and submitted themselues.