abfent himfelfe from Mexico, & to leave poore 

 ma in the handes of his companions, who wan ted di 

 cretion nor had not moderation like vnto him : fo as 

 they grew to that difcention,as there was no meanes to 

 pacific it. 



Of the death of Mote^uma, and the Spaniards departure 

 out ^/Mexico. CHAP. 26. 



r> . 

 T i\ 7Henas Cortes was abfent from Mexico , he that 



V V remained his lievetenant,rcfolved to punifh the 

 Mexicans feverely,caufing a great number of the nobi- 

 litie to be flaine at a maske which they made in the pal. 

 lace, the which did fo far exceede 3 as all the people mu- 

 tined, & in a furious rage, tooke armes to be revenged 

 and tokil the Spaniards.They therefore befieged them 

 inthepallace, preffmgthemfo neere, that alfthe hurt 

 the Spaniards could do them with their artillery aiKi 

 croffe-bowes, might not terrific them, :nor force them 

 to retyrefrom their enterpiife , where they continued 

 many daies,ftopping their vidualls , nor fufFering any 

 one to enter or iffue forth. They did fightwithdftoncs, 

 and caftdartes after their maner, with a kindc of lances 

 like vnto arrpwes., in the which there are foure or fix 

 very fharpe raters, the which are fuck, (as thehiftorics 

 report 5> )that in thefe warrcs, an Indian with one blow 

 oftheferafors, ahnoft cut off the neckeofa horfe> &as 

 they did one day fight with this refoliition & furie,tht: 

 Spaniards to make them ceafejihewed forth Motcestma, 

 with another of the chiefc Lords of Mexice, vpon the 

 top ofa platform of the houfe,covered with the targets 

 of two fouldiers that were with them. The 'Mtxuant* 

 feeing their Lord MtfcfM**, ftaied with great filence. 



Then 



