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 yt 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 ye 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.
The imprisonment of Quahutemoc.
An euill revvarde.
Cortes seing the great extremitie that these poore wretched people were in, thinkyng nowe that they woulde yéelde vnto him, therevppon hée spake to an vncle of Don Hernando de Tezcuco, who was taken prisoner thrée dayes before, whom he desired to go to the king & treate of peace: this Gentleman refused the message, knowyng the determinate will of Quahutimoc, but through muche entreatie he graunted to his request. So the next day followyng Cortes entred into the Cittie, & sent that Gentleman & certaine Spaniardes before him. The Indian guarde of that streate receyued him with the honour which vnto such a noble man did appertayne. He procéeded forward toward the king, & being come where he was, he declared vnto him his embassage. When Quahutimoc had hearde his tale, he was so moued with yre & choller, that forthwith he commaūded him to be sacrificed, and gaue the Spaniardes for theyr answere blowes with stones, staues and arrowes, saying also that they desired death and no peace, and fought so stoutly that day, that they slewe many of our menne, and one horse. Lykewise on their side many were slayne.
The nexte day Cortes entred the cittie agayne, but he fought not, hoping then that they woulde submitte themselues, but yet the Citizens had no such thought. He came néere vnto a certayne bulwarke on horsebacke, and spake vnto certaine Gentlemen with whome he was acquaynted, saying that now within a shorte space he could make an ende of their finall destruction, but yet of meare compassion he wished it not, for the loue whiche he bare vnto them, so that they would in time rēder themselues: wherfore (quoth he) entreate yée the king to doe the same, and in so doyng ye shalbe well vsed, and haue victuals sufficient. The Gētlemen hearing these wordes, fell on weping, and answered, that now they knew well their errour, and felte their losse and destruction, notwithstāding they were bounde to obey their king and Goddes. But yet (quoth they) abide a while, and we will certifie Quahutimoc what you haue sayde, and in shorte space they went and returned againe, saying that the next day without fayle their Lord woulde come and talke with him in the markette place. With this answere Cortes returned to his campe, and thought at their méeting to conclude an honorable peace. So against the next day he caused a Canapie and chayre of estate to be sette in the markette place, accordyng to the Mexican vse, and also a dinner to be prepared. The day followyng came Cortes at the houre appoynted, with many of his men armed, but the king came not: neuerthelesse he sente fiue noble men to treate of the matter, excusing the kyng, saying he was not well at ease. Cortes welcomed those Gentlemen, and was gladde of their cōming, hoping thereby to conclude and make some good ende. And when they had dined and well refresshed their hungry bodies, Cortes gaue them victuals, and desired them to returne agayne to the King, and to declare vnto him that without his presence the conclusion coulde not be certayne. They wente and returned againe within twoo houres, and brought vnto Cortes certaine mantels made of cotton woll, very good & well wrought, with answere that the king would not come in any wise, both for shame and feare. And the next day these messengers came agayn, saying that the king would come to the place appointed. But yet he came not, although Cortes attended his commyng more than foure houres: who seing the mockerie, he forthwith sente Sandoual with his Vergantines one way, and he himself went an other, combatting the houses & fortes that yet remayned, where he founde small resistaunce, so that he might doe what he pleased. There was that day slayne and taken prysoners aboue .40000. persons, & then he retired to his campe. The lamentable crie and mourning of the women and children woulde haue made a stony hart relent, the stench also of the dead bodies was wōderfull noysome. That night Cortes purposed to make an end the next day of the warres, and Quahutimoc pretended to flie, and for that purpose had enbarked hymselfe in a Canoa of twētie ores. When the day appeared Cortes, with his men, and foure péeces of ordinance, came to the corner where those that yet remayned were shut vp, as cattell in a pounde. He gaue order to Sandoual and Aluarado what they shold do, which was, to be ready with their Vergātines, and to watche the comyng out of the Canoas whiche were hidden betwixte certayne houses, and especially to haue regard vnto the kings person, and not to hurte him, but to take him aliue. He commaunded the residue of hys men to force the Mexican boates to goe out, and he himselfe wente vp into a tower, inquiryng for the King, and there founde Xihuacoa, gouernour and Captayne generall of the Cittie, who woulde in no wise yéelde himselfe. Then came out of the Cittie a greate multitude of olde folkes, men, women and childrē to take boate. The throng was so great with hast to enter the Canoas, that many by that means were drowned in the lake. Cortes required his mē not to kil those miserable creatures: But yet he could not stay the Indians his friends, who slewe and sacrificed aboue fiftene thousand. After this, there was a great rumour among the cōmon people, that the king would flie, making a piteous mone and saying that they sorowfull creatures knew not whither to goe: But yet procuryng to goe into the Conoas, whiche were so full that there was no roume for thē, by reason thereof many were drowned.
The men of warre stoode in the house toppes and zoties beholding their perdition. All the nobilitie of Mexico were enbarked with the kyng. Then Cortes gaue signe with the shotte of a handgunne, that his captaines should be in a readinesse, so that in shorte space they wanne fully and wholy the great Cittie of Mexico. The Vergantines likewise brake in among the fléete of boates, without any resistaunce, and euery one sought where he might beste succour himselfe, the Royall Standarte was beaten downe. Garcia Holguin, who was captayne of a Vergantine, had espied a great Canoa of .xx. ores déepe laden with men. And one of his prysoners sayde vnto him, that the king wente in that greate Canoa. Holguin beyng gladde of the newes, gaue chase to that Canoa and ouertooke him. In his foreship he had thrée crossebowe men. And when Quahutimoc who stoode on the puppe of the Canoa ready to fighte, sawe those bowes ready bente, and many drawen swordes, he yéelded himselfe, declaryng that he was the king. Garcia Holguin being a gladde man of his prysoner, tooke and carried him vnto Cortes who receiued him reuerently. When Quahutimoc came neare vnto him, he layde his hande vpon Cortes his dagger, saying, I haue done all my possibility to defende me and mine, accordyng to my duetie, hoping not to haue come to this estate and place where now I stande: And considering that you may doe with me what you please, I beséeche you to kill me, and that is my only request. Cortes comforted him with faire words, giuyng him hope of life and seniory, and tooke him vp into a zotie, requiring him to commaund his subiectes to yéelde and render themselues: he obeyed his request. At that time there was about thrée score and tenne thousande persons, who in seing their Prince, threwe downe their weapons and submitted themselues.