Hovv 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.
