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.