CHAPTER V.

I. Cortes proposes a further exploration of the country-Is recalled to Mexico, by the imprudence of Alvarado....II. Return of Cortes to Mexico-Change in the deportment of the Mexicans-His haughty conduct to Montezuma.... III. The Spaniards suffer from the privation of food....IV. Hostile attacks of the Mexicans.... V. Death of Montezuma-His qualities....VI. Further combats....VII. The Noche Triste, or night retreat of Cortes from Mexico....VIII. Battle of Otompan....IX. Friendly reception of the Spaniards in Tlascala....X. Other Spanish losses-Policy of Cortes....XI. Discontent of the soldiers of Narvaez....XII. Excursion against the Tepejacans....XIII. Excursion against Quauhquechollan, Iztoccan and Tochtepec....XIV. Cortes receives supplies from Cuba and Jamaica-His strength....XV. Cuitlahuatzin raised to the throne of Mexico-His measures for defence....XVI. Death of the new Emperor and election of Quauhtimotzin.... XVII. Cortes advances to Tezcuco-Seats Ixlilcochitl on the throne of that kingdom....XVIII. Cortes subdues the cities and states around the lakes....XIX. Transportation of the brigantines. XX. Cortes makes further progress around the lake.... XXI. He receives reinforcements from Hispaniola-Launch of the brigantines upon the lake.... XXII. Conspiracy against Cortes.... XXIII. Cortes surveys his forces—March for Mexico-Execution of Xicotencatl.... XXIV. Destruction of the aqueducts of ChalpotepecTrial of the brigantines.... XXV. Commencement of the siege of Mexico....XXVI. Cortes

changes his mode of attack.... XXVII. The Spaniards make a permanent lodgement within the city-Quauhtimotzin taken prisoner.... XXVIII. Surrender of the city.

I. At the head of a force so respectable, comprising nearly one hundred horsemen with abundant supply of the munitions of war, the enterprising and comprehensive mind of Cortes prepared to make a further exploration of the country. He had already detailed parties for this purpose, and instructed his officers to survey the coasts of the Mexican gulph, when he was compelled to concentrate his troops, by unhappy tidings from the city of Mexico.

On the approach of the great festival of Huitzilopochtli, which was holden in the month Toxcatl, commencing this year on the 13th of May, Montezuma requested permission from Alvarado to visit the temple, that he might unite with the priests, the nobles, and the people, according to custom, in its celebration. The prudence or timidity of that officer, rejected the application; and the king, that he might participate in the sacred rite, directed the festival to be holden in the court of the palace occupied by the Spaniards. None were admitted save those of the higher order of priests and the principal nobles, who were adorned with their richest jewels. During the long dance which formed part of this stated religious ceremony, Alvarado, closed the gates and stationed guards at every avenue. At a given signal the remainder of the Spanish troops rushed with irresistible fury upon the unarmed, the astonished and wearied multitude. The slaughter was terrible, from which few only escaped, who succeeded in leaping the walls. When the horrible tragedy was completed, the executioners stripped the bodies of the glitter

a

ing jewels, which probably formed the chief inducement to the act.* To justify this inhuman deed, to his General, Alvarado alleged that he had received intelligence from two of the nobles and a priest, of a design on the part of the Mexicans to attack him. This may possibly have been true; and the dull intellect of the fierce soldier may have been incapable of discovering any other mode of averting the danger. But, if the defence be admitted, we must also admit that the Mexicans had, very extraordinary ideas of making war, when they enclosed themselves unarmed, in the very den of the lion. Bernal Diaz, exonerates Montezuma from all hostile designs, and expressly declares, had he willed it, he might readily have destroyed at this period the whole Spanish force.t

The people, driven beyond their patience, fiercely assaulted the Spanish quarters, broke down part of the outer wall, and undermined the palace in several places; and though repelled by the fire of the artillery, they returned to the attack on the succeeding day, and having slain seven of the Spaniards, would have destroyed the whole, had not Montezuma, compelled by his gaolers, restrained their fury. But though respect for their monarch

*Robertson, upon the authority of several historians, has laid the scene of this infamous deed within the great temple; Acosta and Clavigero, in the court of the residence of Cortes. The latter, from all circumstances, seems most probable. Gomara estimates the number of nobles present at six hundred, others, at more than a thousand. Las Casas, whose testimony on such occasions must be received with much allowance, at more than two thousand.

The testimony of honest Diaz is the more entitled to credit, that he relates, without strong marks of credulity, a circumstance narrated by Alvarado in his exculpation. A number of Indians, says the latter, enraged at the detention of Montezuma, and the erection of a crucifix in the temple, had by the order of their gods attempted to pull down the cross, but to their infinite astonishment found, that all their strength was unable to remove it.

and fears for his safety, diverted the assault from the Spanish quarters, the people did not desist from hostilities. They burned the brigantines on the lake, and blockaded their foes in the palace, drawing a ditch around it, with the resolution to destroy them by famine.

II. The garrison of Mexico was in this critical situation when Cortes received two messages, by the faithful Tlascalans, urging earnestly his immediate return to Mexico. To him the danger seemed so imminent as to admit neither deliberation nor delay. He hastened, therefore, with all his forces from Chempoalla, with no less rapidity than he had advanced thither. At Tlascala his army was augmented by two thousand selected warriors. But on entering the Mexican territories, he discovered that disaffection to his interests was every where prevalent. The principal inhabitants had deserted the towns through which he passed, and no provision was made for the subsistence of his troops. The roads, which on his former march were crowded by anxious and curious multitudes, were now silent and solitary; the people avoiding with horror all intercourse with him. Had the Mexicans possessed a very small portion of the martial science of their enemies, they might easily have accomplished their destruction. Had they suffered the advancing army to enter on the causeway of Iztapalapan, and broken up the road and removed the bridges in their front and rear, the whole must have fallen a prey to famine. But they, ignorantly, again suffered Cortes to march into the city without molestation and quietly to take possession of his former quarters.*

Pursuing the principles which had hitherto governed his conduct, his demeanour towards Monte

* Bernal Diaz. Solis. Robertson. Clavigero.

zuma, was marked with haughtiness and disrespect. He not only neglected to visit the monarch, but, barbed the insult with expressions of contempt for him and his people. Some Mexicans, who had acquired sufficient knowledge of the Spanish language to comprehend the contemptuous words, reported them to their countrymen, who, now satisfied that the intentions of the General were alike cruel with those of his lieutenant, resolved to renew the war with the utmost fury. Cortes, however, who was justly irritated at the wanton and unseasonable cruelty of Alvarado, severely censured that officer, and was restrained, only by the consideration that he should need the services of a brave leader, from inflicting upon him condign punishment.

III. The force of Cortes within the walls of the city, amounted, auxiliaries included, to nine thousand men; a part of whom were quartered in the enclosure of the great temple. For this multitude he found great difficulty to obtain provisions; the Mexican husbandmen, from hatred to the Spaniards, refusing to attend the markets. Cortes commanded Montezuma with stern threats to cause his subjects to bring to the city the customary supplies; and when the king urged the impossibility of executing this order whilst not only he, but the chief officers of the crown were helpless prisoners, he liberated Cuitlahuatzin, the king's brother, to that end; who instead of tamely feeding, sought effectively to destroy, the oppressors of his country.

IV. On the day succeeding that, on which Cortes re-entered Mexico,† one of his soldiers, whilst

*Observing, on the remonstrance of his officers who had kindly feelings towards the king, "Out on the dog! why does he neglect to supply us with provisions." "What owe I to the dog who treated secretly with Narvaez, and suffers us now to perish of want?"

+ June 25, 1520.