Montezuma Edition

HISTORY OF THE
Conquest of Mexico

BY
WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT
EDITED BY
WILFRED HAROLD MUNRO
PROFESSOR OF EUROPEAN HISTORY IN BROWN UNIVERSITY
AND COMPRISING THE NOTES OF THE EDITION BY
JOHN FOSTER KIRK

“Victrices aquilas alium laturus in orbem”
Lucan, Pharsalia, lib. v., v. 238

VOL. IV
PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY


Copyright, 1843, by William H. Prescott
Copyright, 1871, by William G. Prescott
Copyright, 1873, by J. B. Lippincott & Co.
Copyright, 1904, by J. B. Lippincott Company
Electrotyped and Printed by
J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia U. S. A.

CONTENTS OF VOL. IV

[BOOK VI]
SIEGE AND SURRENDER OF MEXICO(CONTINUED)
[CHAPTER V]
Indian Flotilla defeated—Occupation of the Causeways—Desperate Assaults—Firing on the Palaces—Spirit of the Besieged—Barracks for the Troops
PAGE
Sandoval marches on Iztapalapan[3]
Cortés takes Command of the Fleet[3]
Indian Flotilla defeated[5]
Cortés occupies Xoloc[6]
Sandoval advances to Cojohuacan[7]
Skirmishes on the Causeway[8]
Blockade completed[9]
Simultaneous Assaults on Mexico[9]
Ramparts raised by the Aztecs[10]
Brigantines enfilade the Causeway[10]
Spaniards enter the City[12]
Allies demolish the Buildings[12]
Fierce Battles in the City[13]
Spaniards reach the Square[15]
Storm the Pyramid[15]
Hurl the Priests headlong[15]
The Aztecs rally[16]
Spaniards give Way[16]
Cavalry to the Rescue[17]
Retreat to their Quarters[17]
Ixtlilxochitl in the Camp[19]
A second Assault[20]
Spaniards penetrate the City[20]
Fire the Palace of Axayacatl[21]
Royal Aviary in Flames[22]
Rage of the Mexicans[23]
Their Desperation[24]
Sufferings of the Spaniards[26]
Operations of Guatemozin[27]
His Vigilance[27]
Ambuscade among the Reeds[28]
Resources of the Indian Emperor[29]
Accession of Allies to the Spaniards[30]
Barracks for the Troops[31]
Hard Fare of the Besiegers[31]
Spirit of the Aztecs[33]
[CHAPTER VI]
General Assault on the City—Defeat of the Spaniards—Their disastrous Condition—Sacrifice of the Captives—Defection of the Allies—Constancy of the Troops
Views of the Spaniards[35]
Council of War[36]
General Assault on the City[37]
Cortés rebukes Alvarado[38]
The Enemy give Way[39]
Their cunning Stratagem[40]
Horn of Guatemozin sounds[41]
Aztecs turn upon their Foe[41]
Terrible Rout of the Spaniards[42]
Imminent Danger of Cortés[43]
Self-devotion of his Followers[44]
Sharp Struggle on the Causeway[45]
His Division retreats[46]
Sandoval and Alvarado[46]
Their Troops driven from the City[47]
Sandoval visits the General[49]
His Interview with him[50]
Great Drum beat in the Temple[51]
Sacrifice of the Captives[52]
Sensations of the Spaniards[53]
Rejoicings of the Aztecs[54]
Prophecy of the Priests[55]
Defection of the Allies[56]
Gloomy Condition of the Spaniards[56]
Their Constancy[58]
Heroism of their Women[58]
[CHAPTER VII]
Successes of the Spaniards—Fruitless Offers to Guatemozin—Buildings razed to the Ground—Terrible Famine—The Troops gain the Market-place—Battering Engine
Allies return to the Camp[60]
Accession of Confederates[62]
Plan of the Campaign[63]
The Breaches filled[65]
Famine in the City[66]
Fruitless Offers to Guatemozin[67]
Council of the Aztecs[67]
Result of their Deliberations[69]
Buildings razed to the Ground[69]
Single Combats[71]
Guatemozin’s Palace in Flames[72]
Sufferings of the Besieged[73]
Neglect of their Dead[73]
Their unconquerable Spirit[75]
Conflagration of the Teocalli[76]
Success of Alvarado[77]
Spaniards in the Market-place[79]
Cortés surveys the City[80]
Its Desolation[81]
Battering Engine[82]
Its Failure[83]
[CHAPTER VIII]
Dreadful Sufferings of the Besieged—Spirit of Guatemozin—Murderous Assaults—Capture of Guatemozin—Evacuation of the City—Termination of the Siege—Reflections
Dreadful Famine in the City[85]
Cannibalism[86]
The Corpses fill the Streets[87]
Pestilence sweeps off Multitudes[88]
Alarming Prodigies[88]
Spirit of Guatemozin[89]
Cortés requests an Interview with him[90]
Guatemozin consents[90]
He avoids a Parley[91]
Murderous Assault[93]
Appalling Scene of Carnage[93]
Preparations for the final Attack[96]
Cortés urges an Interview[97]
The Signal given[98]
Aztecs attempt to escape[99]
Capture of Guatemozin[100]
Cessation of Hostilities[101]
Person of Guatemozin[102]
Brought before Cortés[102]
His Wife, Montezuma’s Daughter[104]
Furious Thunder-storm[106]
Mexicans abandon their City[106]
Number of those who perished[108]
Amount of the Spoil[109]
Cortés dismisses his Allies[109]
Rejoicings of the Spaniards[110]
Solemn Thanksgiving[111]
Reflections[111]
Aztec Institutions[112]
Their moral Influence[114]
Cruelty ascribed to the Spaniards[114]
The Conquest as a military Achievement[117]
Notice of the Historian Solís[119]
His Life and Writings[121]
Sahagun’s Twelfth Book[125]
[BOOK VII]
CONCLUSION—SUBSEQUENT CAREER OF CORTÉS
[CHAPTER I]
Torture of Guatemozin—Submission of the Country—Rebuilding of the Capital—Mission to Castile—Complaints against Cortés—He is confirmed in his Authority
Small Amount of Treasure[130]
Disappointment of the Soldiers[130]
Torture of Guatemozin[130]
His Fortitude unshaken[131]
Submission of the Country[132]
The Southern Ocean reached[133]
Rebuilding of the Capital[135]
Aztec Prophecy accomplished[136]
Mission to Castile[136]
Envoys captured by the French[138]
Charges against Cortés[139]
Tápia sent to New Spain[140]
Insurrection of the Natives[141]
Quelled by Sandoval[141]
Fonseca’s Hostility to Cortés[143]
His Cause referred to a select Tribunal[143]
Accusations against Cortés[144]
Defence by his Friends[144]
Acts of Cortés ratified[146]
He is confirmed in the supreme Authority[147]
He triumphs over Fonseca[147]
Mortification of Velasquez[148]
His Death and Character[149]
[CHAPTER II]
Modern Mexico—Settlement of the Country—Condition of the Natives—Christian Missionaries—Cultivation of the Soil—Voyages and Expeditions
Mexico rebuilt[151]
Edifices in the City[152]
Its Fortress[153]
Its Population[154]
Settlement of the Country[155]
Encouragements to Marriage[156]
The Wife of Cortés arrives in Mexico[158]
Her Death[159]
System of Repartimientos[159]
Reward of the Tlascalans[161]
Treatment of the Natives[162]
Franciscan Missionaries[163]
Their Reception by Cortés[164]
Progress of Conversion[166]
Settlements of the Conquerors[167]
Cultivation of the Soil[168]
Fleet burnt at Zacatula[169]
Voyages to discover a Strait[170]
Expedition of Alvarado[172]
Results of the Enterprises of Cortés[173]
[CHAPTER III]
Defection of Olid—Dreadful March to Honduras—Execution of Guatemozin—Doña Marina—Arrival at Honduras
Defection of Olid[175]
Cortés prepares to visit Honduras[176]
The General’s Retinue[177]
Obstacles on the March[179]
Passes near Palenque[180]
Lost in the Mazes of the Forests[181]
Builds a stupendous Bridge[182]
Horses sink in the Marshes[182]
Reports of a Conspiracy[183]
Guatemozin arrested[184]
His Execution[185]
His Character[185]
Feelings of the Army[187]
Cause of the Execution[187]
Cortés’ Remorse[188]
Prosecution of the March[189]
Lake of Peten[189]
Doña Marina[190]
Her Meeting with her Mother[190]
She marries a Castilian Knight[191]
Her Son Don Martin[192]
Missionaries in the Isles of Peten[192]
Passage of “the Mountain of Flints”[193]
Army arrives at Honduras[194]
Famine in the Colony[195]
Cortés reaches Truxillo[196]
Prepares to reduce Nicaragua[196]
His romantic Daring[197]
Tidings from Mexico[198]
[CHAPTER IV]
Disturbances in Mexico—Return of Cortés—Distrust of the Court—Cortés Returns to Spain—Death of Sandoval—Brilliant Reception of Cortés—Honors conferred on him
Misrule in Mexico[199]
Cortés attempts to return[200]
Driven back by the Tempest[200]
His Despondency[201]
Embarks once more for Mexico[201]
Lands near San Juan de Ulua[201]
Progress to the Capital[202]
Cortés re-enters Mexico in State[202]
Distrust of the Crown[204]
Ponce de Leon sent as Commissioner[205]
He dies on his Arrival[205]
Appoints Estrada his Successor[207]
Affronts to Cortés[208]
He leaves the City[209]
The Commission of the Royal Audience[210]
Cortés determines to return to Spain[210]
News of his Father’s Death[212]
Preparations for Departure[212]
He lands at Palos[213]
His Meeting with Pizarro[213]
Death of Sandoval[215]
His Person and Character[215]
Brilliant Reception of Cortés[217]
Sensation caused by his Presence[217]
Admitted to an Audience by the Emperor[218]
Charles V. visits him when ill[219]
He is made Marquis of the Valley[220]
Grants of Lands and Vassals[220]
Refused the Government of Mexico[222]
Reinstated in his military Command[222]
Cortés’ second Marriage[223]
Splendid Presents to his Bride[223]
His Residence at Court[224]
[CHAPTER V]
Cortés revisits Mexico—Retires to his Estates—His Voyages of Discovery—Final Return to Castile—Cold Reception—Death of Cortés—His Character
Cortés embarks for Mexico[225]
Stops at Hispaniola[225]
Proceedings of the Audience[226]
Cortés lands at Villa Rica[228]
Reception in Mexico[229]
Retires to his Estates[229]
His Improvement of them[231]
His Voyages of Discovery[232]
He embarks for California[233]
Disastrous Expedition[233]
Arrival of a Viceroy[234]
Policy of the Crown[234]
Maritime Enterprises of Cortés[236]
His Disgust with Mendoza[237]
His final Return to Castile[238]
He joins the Expedition to Algiers[239]
His cold Reception by Charles V.[240]
Cortés’ last Letter to the Emperor[241]
Taken ill at Seville[242]
His Will[242]
Scruples of Conscience as to Slavery[243]
Views entertained on this Topic[244]
He moves to Castilleja[245]
Death of Cortés[246]
His funeral Obsequies[246]
Fate of his Remains[248]
Posterity of Cortés[249]
His Character[251]
His Knight-errantry[251]
His military Genius[253]
Power over his Soldiers[254]
Character as a Conqueror[256]
His enlightened Views[256]
His private Life[258]
His Bigotry[259]
His Manners and Habits[261]
———
[APPENDIX]
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
Aztec Mother’s Advice to her Daughter[267]
Translations of Nezahualcoyotl’s Poem[272]
Palace of Tezcotzinco[279]
Punishment of the guilty Tezcucan Queen[281]
Velasquez’s Instructions to Cortés[284]
Extract from Las Casas’ History[290]
Deposition of Puerto Carrero[291]
Extract from the Letter of Vera Cruz[296]
Extract from Camargo’s Tlascala[299]
Extract from Oviedo’s History[302]
Dialogue of Oviedo with Cano[307]
Privilege of Doña Isabel de Montezuma[318]
Military Ordinances of Cortés[324]
Extracts from the Fifth Letter of Cortés[331]
Last Letter of Cortés[337]
Account of his funeral Obsequies[342]