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.