wniSHip] CORONADO TO MENDOZA, AUGUST 3, 1540 557 



were killed, and others might have been slain if I could have allowed 

 thern to be pursued. But I saw that there would be little advantage 

 in this, because the Indians who were outside were few, and those who 

 had retired to the city were numerous, besides many who had remained 

 there in the first place. As that was where the food was, of which we 

 stood in such great need, I assembled my whole force and divided them 

 as seemed to me best for the attack on the city, and surrounded it. 

 The hunger which we suffered would not permit of any delay, and so I 

 dismounted with some of these gentlemen and soldiers. I ordered the 

 musketeers and crossbowmen to begin the attack and drive back the 

 enemy from the defenses, so that they could not do us any injury. I 

 assaulted the wall on one side, where I was told that there was a scal- 

 ing ladder and that there was also a gate. But the crossbowmen broke 

 all the strings of their crossbows and the musketeers could do nothing, 

 because they had arrived so weak and feeble that they could scarcely 

 stand on their feet. On this account the people who were on top were 

 not prevented at all from defending themselves and doing us whatever 

 injury they were able. Thus, for myself, they knocked me down to the 

 ground twice with countless great stones which they threw down from 

 above, and if I had not been protected by the very good headpiece which 

 I wore, I think that the outcome would have been bad for me. They 

 picked me up from the ground, however, with two small wounds in my face 

 and an arrow in my foot, and with many bruises on my arms and legs, 

 and in this condition I retired from the battle, very weak. I think that 

 if Don Garcia Lopez de Cardenas had not come to my help, like a good 

 cavalier, the second time that they knocked me to the ground, by placing 

 his own body above mine, I should have been in much greater danger 

 than I was. But, by the pleasure of God, these Indians surrendered, and 

 their city was taken with the help of Our Lord, and a sufficient supply 

 of corn was found there to relieve our necessities. The army-master 

 and Don Pedro de Tovar and Ferrando de Alvarado and Paulo de 

 Melgosa, the infantry captain, sustained some bruises, although none 

 of them were wounded. Agoniez Quarez was hit in the arm by an 

 arrow, and one Torres, who lived in Pauuco, in the face by another, and 

 two other footmen received slight arrow wounds. They all directed their 

 attack against me because my armor was gilded and glittered, and on 

 this account I was hurt more than the rest, and not because I had done 

 more or was farther in advance than the others; for all these gentlemen 

 and soldiers bore themselves well, as was expected of them. I praise 

 God that I am now well, although somewhat sore from the stones. Two 

 or three other soldiers were hurt in the battle which we had on the 

 plain, and three horses were killed — one that of Don Lopez and another 

 that of Vigliega and the third that of Don Alfonso Manrich — and seven 

 or eight other horses were wounded ; but the men, as well as the horses, 

 have now recovered and are well. 



