The hunger and infirmitie vvhich the Mexicans suffered with greate courage.

TOC

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, y^e Spanyardes were so nigh. The next day following, béeing S. Iames his euen, Cortes entred againe into the Citie, according as he had done before, and wanne the stréete of Tlacopan, where he burned the riche and faire houses of king Quahutimoc, whiche were motted round aboute: so that nowe of foure partes of the citie, thrée partes were wonne, and the Spaniardes might safely passe from Cortes his campe, to the campe of Aluarado, by reason that all the houses were burned, and beaten downe playne with the grounde.

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 y^t were aliue, the streates also being so full of dead carcasses and sicke bodies, that our men coulde not passe but must néedes treade vpon them. Cortes desirous to sée what remayned of the cittie to win, went vp into a high tower, and hauyng well vewed the Cittie, he iudged that of eight parts one remained yet to win. And y^e next day following he assaulted the same, with speciall 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.