Spaniards beaten afresh.
Remarkable Exploits of Cortez.
Tenustitan, or Mexico, taken.
But whilst Cortez having staid waiting eight Months in Tenustitan, for the return of the Messengers sent to the Spanish Court, receiv’d Tidings, That Pamphilo Narvaecy, by order of Velasques, was come with eighteen Sail, Mann’d with eight hundred Foot, and eighty Horse, from Cuba, and now riding before the Mexican Coast; from whence soon after he receiv’d unexpected Command, to come presently aboard unarm’d, and resign up his Authority: But he in stead of submission, compell’d Narvaecy in a short time to relinquish his Title, and own him for Superior. Mean while the Spaniards which remain’d in possession of Tenustitan, ran the hazard of a general Massacre; for the Citizens much stomacking the Oppressions of the Spaniards, who grew very insolent, inslaving their King, bringing their inveterate Enemies the Tlaxcallans and Guazuzingans into their City, exacting them to pay Tributes, pulling down their Gods, and demolishing their ancient Idols, they brake out from all Parts in a tumultuous manner, ran to Arms, and besieg’d them Day and Night in their Fort, although Montezuma endeavor’d to perswade the contrary. Cortez, hearing of it, came to their relief with the New Forces Landed from Cuba; but he fighting his way ere he could get in, was so roughly entertain’d by the Mexicans, that they kill’d him forty Men, wounding as many more; and notwithstanding fifteen Field-pieces with continual Shot made foul Breaches, lessening the number of the Assailants, yet they suddenly fill’d up their Vacancies again with fresh Men, which clamber’d over the Heaps of those that lay slain. Three Days the Battel had continu’d very fierce, when Montezuma being with the Spaniards in the Castle, went to a low Window, to see if he could command his Subjects to retreat; but a continual Cry so deafned their Ears, and showres of Arrows and Stones so took away their sight, that he did nothing: Then Montezuma, thinking to be more easily either heard or seen, went to a higher Window, where looking out, he was unfortunately hit with a Stone, of which he died three days after. Besides their Enemies, the Spaniards suffer’d extremely by Famine; and though they had beaten down a Tower, which had done the Castle great mischief, and set five hundred Houses on fire, yet they could discern no likely issue thereof, but judg’d it best to make their escape by Night over the nearest Bridge: Cortez therefore dividing his gotten Treasures, which amounted to above seven hundred thousand Duckets, amongst his Soldiers, carried Montezuma’s Son, and two Daughters, Prisoners with him, though not without infinite danger and loss; for the Tenustitans assail’d him on both sides, and falling in also upon his Rear, spar’d not to kill Montezuma’s own Children. In this last Fight the Service was so hot, that Cortez lost forty two Horse, a hundred and fifty Spaniards, and two thousand Auxiliaries; and although gotten over the Lake, they were still pursu’d by the Mexicans, who would then undoubtedly have made a general Slaughter, had not Cortez amused the Enemies, by leaving in the Night great Fires in several Places, his suppos’d Camps, whilst he silently stole away: Yet the Tenustitans would have pursu’d the Spaniards, had they not wanted Provisions: But Cortez sending his Treasure before him, through the Countrey Colva, to Vera Crux, with a Convoy of five Horse, and forty four Foot, were all cut off by the Colvaans, and feasted upon in a Thanksgiving Sacrifice. The same misfortune befel twelve Spaniards in Tepeacu, which great City surrendred it self up to Cortez, being assisted by a mighty Army of Tlaxcallans and others. But after all these Losses, he took Guaccachiulla, and Izzuca, both fortified with strong Walls and Gates; in which last he burnt above a hundred Temples, built for Humane Sacrifices. All the Countrey through which he thus ransack’d, he call’d New-Spain. From the City Tazuco, which he had newly taken, intending to besiege Tenustitan, he digg’d through the Lakes a broad Trench, of above three Leagues in length, to bring up thirteen new Ships to Tenustitan; and the neighboring People envying, that that City should not be conquer’d, as well as theirs, rais’d an Army of above a hundred and fifty thousand Men, making Cortez their General: Himself incamped on one corner of the City, appointing the other two sides to be invested by Gonsales Sandovalo, and Pedro Avarado; but the Besieg’d resolutely broke out, and made a fierce Sally with five thousand Boats, setting upon the thirteen Ships; but the great Guns made such execution and havock amongst them, that they retreated with great damage. Whoever were taken Prisoners in this Fight by the Spaniards, the Tlaxcallans, being Commission’d by Cortez, feasted upon. On the seventh day the City was taken, but not without great Slaughter, and the new King imprison’d.
Sad accident occasion’d by a Tyger.
After this mighty Conquest, Cortez resolv’d to discover those Territories that lay Southward; and whilst he was making all things ready for the Voyage, he sent two Ships with an invaluable Treasure to Spain, who fearing to be taken by the French Pyrats, ran in at Tercera, where a miserable Accident hapned to the Seamen of the biggest Ship, wherein were carried two Tygers, which though taken young, and bred up amongst men, yet had not so quite forgotten their natural ferocity, but that one breaking loose in the Night, tore seven of them in pieces, hurting a far greater number, of which some had the Brawns of their Arms, the Calves of their Legs, and fleshy parts of their Thighs bit out.
Strange Battel with Baboons.
Several Places in America breed Tygers, that far exceed Lyons in fierceness; so that where any considerable number of them frequents, though the Soil be never so fruitful, yet it is left desolate and forsaken. But the Baboons that frequent the Woods are more pleasant, and less dangerous. Peter Arias relates, That his whole Army incountred with these Beasts, which climb’d from one Tree to the other, shrieking, and making very strange Gesticulations to those that were gone before, and gathering their Mouths and Hands full of Stones, which they threw as exact and strongly as a Man. When one of these Baboons, shot by a Musquet, fell to the Ground, the rest gave such a horrible shriek, that the Woods resounding with the noise, strook a terror into the Spaniards. Amongst several things that hapned in this Counter-scuffle, take this one: A Spaniard taking aim with his Musquet at an old Baboon, which sate pearch’d up in a Tree, and being now just ready to give Fire, the Baboon Soldier, at the very instant, to break the Shot, taking a Stone out of his Mouth, threw it exactly into the Mans Mouth, with such force as beat out some of his Teeth; with which sudden blow surpris’d, he lost his Mark; and the proud Foe, shewing signs of Triumph, went his way.
Great destruction.
The unfortunate Expedition of Garajus.