But he commaunded a certaine principal Gentleman of Mexico, who stoode there presente, that out of hande he should commaunde the market to be furnished as in time past. This Indian vnderstāding that Cortes had spoken euil of them, made as though he went to fulfill his commandment: but he wente to proclayme libertie, publishyng the heynous and iniurious wordes whiche he had harde, so that in shorte space the matter beganne to waxe hoate, for some went and brake downe the bridges, others went to call all the Citizens, who ioyned themselues togither, and besieged the Spaniardes house, with suche straunge noyse that one coulde not heare another: the stones flewe lyke hayle, Dartes and arrowes filled the Spanyardes yarde, which troubled them much. Cortes seing this broyle, he with certaine of his men went out at one dore, and an other Captayne at another, with eache of them twoo hundred men. They fought with the Indians, who slewe foure Spaniardes, and wounded many moe, and of them were slayne very fewe with their succor and defence at hande. If our men fought with them in the streates, then would they stoppe their passage at the bridges: if they assaulted their houses, then they were beaten with stones from the toppe of their houses whiche were flatte ruffed, and at their retire they persecuted them terribly.
They sette fire vpon the Spaniardes house in sundry places, but chiefly in one place they coulde not aplake the fire a great whyle, vntill they threwe downe certayne chambers and walles, whereas they had entered at pleasure, had it not bene for the Artillerie, Crossebowes and handgunnes, which were there in defence of that place. This combat endured all that day vntill night, yea and in the night also they had their handes full: our men had litle leasure to sleepe, but rather spente the night in mendyng the walles and dores, and curing the wounded men who were more than foure score, & likewise to set their men in order & readinesse for the fight of the next day following.
A straunge inuention.
It was no sooner day, but the Indians beganne theyr assault a fresh, with more courage and furie than the day before, so that our men were fayne to trust to their artillery, the whiche the Indians feared not a whitte: for if a shotte carried ten, fiftene or twentie Indians at a clappe, they would close againe as though one man had not bene missyng. Cortes came out with other twoo hundreth men, and gate some bridges, burned some houses, and slew many that defended them. But the Indians were so many in number, that no hurte appeared, yea and our men were so fewe in comparison of them, that although they fought al the day, yet had they much a doe to defend themselues, how much more to offende. That day neuer a Spaniarde was slayne outright, but thrée score of them were wounded and hurte, wherby they had inough to do to cure them for that night, and to procure remedy and defence against the hurtes whiche they receyued from the house toppes. They inuented Engines of timber made vpon whéeles, and foure square, couered on the toppe, and with Arte to passe through the streates: there were placed on eache of them twentie men with Pikes, Hargabush, Crossebowes and one double Base. Behinde the Engines wente men with shouels and Mattockes, to throwe downe houses, bulworkes, and to rule and gouerne the Engines.
The death of Mutezuma.
All the while that the Engines were a makyng, our men came not out to fight, beyng occupied in the worke, but onely to defende their lodgyng. The enimies thinkyng that they were all sore hurte and wounded, beganne their warres agayne, reuilyng them with many iniurious wordes, threatnyng them, that if they woulde not deliuer Mutezuma, that they woulde giue them the moste cruellest death that euer man suffered, and came with great force to haue entred the house.
Cortes desired Mutezuma to goe vp into the sotie, which is the toppe of the flatte roufe of the house, and to commaunde his subiects to ceasse from their heate and furie. At Cortes his request he wente vp, and leaned ouer the wall to talke with them, who beginnyng to speake vnto them, they threw so many stones out of the streate, houses and windowes, that one happened to hitte Mutezuma on the temples of his head, with whiche blowe he fell downe to the ground: this was his ende, euen at the handes of his owne subiectes and vassalles agaynst theyr willes: for the truth is that a Spaniarde helde a Target ouer his head, wherby they knew him not, nor yet would beléeue that he was there, for all the signes and tokens whiche were made vnto them. Cortes forthwith published the hurte and daunger of life of Mutezuma: some gaue credite to his tale, and othersome woulde not, but rather fought very stoutly. Thrée dayes Mutezuma remayned in extréeme payne, and at the ende departed his life.
And bicause it shoulde appeare that his death was of the stripe that they had giuen, and not by any hurte receyued at their hands, he caused two gentlemē of Mexico, who were prysoners, to carry him out vpon their backes, who certified the Citizens of the certentie of his death, that at that presente time were giuyng battery to the house. But yet for all this they woulde not leaue off the combat, nor yet the warres, as some of our men thought they woulde, but rather procéeded on their purpose, with greater courage and desire of reuenge. And when they retyred, they made a pityfull lamentation, with preparation to bury their king in Chapultepec. On this sorte died Mutezuma, who was holden for a God among the Indians. Some say that hée desired to be Baptised at the Shrouetide before his death, and they prolonged the matter, thinking at Easter followyng to haue christened him with honour and triumph. But as it happened, it had bene better to haue done it at that time according to his request. But with the comming of Pamfilo de Naruaez the thyng was also delayed, and after hée was wounded it was likewyse forgotten, with the troubles that they were in. It was credibly enformed, that Mutezuma was neuer consentyng to the death of any Spaniarde, nor yet in conspiracie agaynst Cortes, but rather loued him entierly: yet some are of an other opinion, and bothe giue good reasons to approue their arguments, but the truth could not wel be knowen, for at that tyme our men vnderstoode not the language, and agayne Mutezuma after his death, lefte none to open that secrete.