HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



49 



ny provifions to the camp, particularly fifti and cherries 

 in great quantities. 



Cortes, finding himfelf fo well reinforced with troops, 

 entered two or three days fucceffively into the city, mak- 

 ing dreadful flaughter of the citizens. He was inclined 

 to imagine that the befieged would neceflarily furrender, 

 feeing fuch an exceflive number of troops armed againft 

 them, and having experienced the ruinous effects of their 

 obftinacy : but in this he was miflaken, for the Mexicans 

 were determined to lofe their lives fooner than their li- 

 berty. He refolved therefore to make continued entries 

 into the city, in order to compel them by hoftilities to 

 a/k for that peace which they had refufed. He formed 

 two armaments of his veflels, each confiding of three 

 brigan tines and fifteen hundred fmall boats, ordering 

 them to proceed towards the city, to fet fire to its houfes, 

 and do the Mexicans all the mifchief in their power. 

 He gave orders to Sandoval and Alvarado to do the 

 fame on their fide, while he with all his Spaniards, and 

 eighty thoufand allies, by what appears* marched as 

 ufual by the road of Iztapalapan towards the city, but 

 without being able to gain, either in this or other 

 entries which he made in thofe particular days, any other 

 advantage than that of gradually reducing the number 

 of the enemy, demolishing fome of their buildings, and 

 advancing daily fome little way farther for the purpofe 

 of opening a communication with the camp of Alvarado, 

 although then it was not jn his power to effe® it. 



Alvarado and all his troops, feconded by the brigan- 

 tines, had already taken poUeiTion of a temple, which 

 flood in a little fquare in the road of Tlacopan, in which 

 he maintained from that time a garrifon, in fpite of the 

 violent affaults of the Mexicans. He had alfo taken 

 Vol. III. H fome 



