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On this day we loft ten or twelve foldiers, and all of us who came 

 back were feverely wounded. From the period of our return w^ were 

 occupied in making preparation for a general fally on the next day but 

 one, with four military machines conftru(5ted of very ftrong timber, in 

 the form of towers, and each capable of containing twenty five menr un- 

 der cover, with port holes for the artillery and alfo for the mufquetiers 

 and crofsbow-men. This work occupied us for the^ fpace of one day, 

 except that we were obliged Hkewife to repair the breaches made in our 

 walls, and refift thofe who attempted to fcale them in twenty different 

 places at the fame time. They continued their reviling language faying, 

 that the voracious animals of their femples had now been kept two days 

 fafting, in order to devour us at the period which was fpeedily approach- 

 ing, when they were to facrifice us to their gods; that our allies were 

 to be put up in cages to fatten, and that they would foon rcpoffefs our 

 ill acquired treafure. At other times they plaintively called to us to give 

 them their king, and during the night we were conftantly annoyed by 

 fhowers of arrows, which they accompanied with (houts and whift- 

 lings. 



At day break on the enfuing morning, after recommending our- 

 felves to God, we fallied out with our turrets, which as well as I recoi- 

 led: were called burros or mantas, in other places where I have feen 

 them, with fome of our mufquetry and crofs-bows in front, and our 

 cavalry occafionally charging. The enemy this day (hewed theinfelves 

 more determined than ever, and we were equally refolved to force our 

 way to the great temple, although it fhould coft the life of every man 

 of us ; we therefore advanced with our turrets in that direction. I will 

 not detail the defperate battle which we had with the enemy in a very 

 ftrong houfe, nor how their arrows wounded our horfes, notwithftand- 

 ing their armour, and if at any time the horfemen attempted to purfue 

 the Mexicans, the latter threw themfelves into the canals, and others 

 fallied out upon our people and maftacred them with large lances. 



,As to fetting fire to the buildings, or tearing them down, it was 



utterly 



