The death of Mutezuma.

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 deliuer Mutezuma, that they woulde giue them the moste cruellest death that euer man suffered, and came with great force to haue entred the house.

Cortes desired Mutezuma to 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. At Cortes his 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 hitte Mutezuma on 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. Cortes forthwith published the hurte and daunger of life of Mutezuma: some gaue credite to his tale, and othersome woulde not, but rather fought very stoutly. Thrée dayes Mutezuma remayned 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 of Mexico, 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 in Chapultepec. On this sorte died Mutezuma, who was holden for a God among the Indians. 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 of Pamfilo de Naruaez the thyng was also delayed, and after hée was wounded it was likewyse forgotten, with the troubles that they were in. It was credibly enformed, that Mutezuma was neuer consentyng to the death of any Spaniarde, nor yet in conspiracie agaynst Cortes, 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 agayne Mutezuma after his death, lefte none to open that secrete.

The Indians affirme that he was of the greatest bloud of all his linage, and the greatest kyng in estate, that euer was in Mexico. It is also to be noted, that when the kingdomes do most florish, then are they niest to a chāge, or else to change their Lorde, as doth appeare in this history of Mutezuma. Our men lost more by y^e death of Mutezuma than the natural Indians, if we cōsider the murder and destruction that incontinent did follow. Mutezuma was a man very moderate in his diet, and not so vicious as other Indiās, 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.