( ^'7 ) 



the exclamations of forrow which the people exprelTed at the fight of 

 his body. They now attacked us in our quarters with the greateft vio- 

 lence, and threatened us that within the fpace of two days we fhould 

 pay with our lives the death of their king, and the dilhonor of their 

 gods, faying that they had chofen a fovereign whom we could not de- 

 ceive, as we had done the good Montezuma. 



In confequence of the fituation to which we were reduced, Cortes 

 determined to make on the enfuing day another fally, and to march 

 towards that part of the city which contained many houfes built on the 

 firm ground, there to do all the injury we could, and that our cavalry 

 taking advantage of the caufeway, fliould ride the enemy down ; which 

 he hoped would make them tired of hoftility, and induce them to come 

 into terms. We accordingly made our fally, and proceeded to that part 

 of the city, where, notwithftanding the reliltance and incelTant attacks 

 of the enemy, we burned about twenty houfes, approaching very near 

 the firm ground; but whatever injury we did them was dearly paid for 

 by the lofs of twenty foldiers killed, nor could we get poiTefTion of a 

 iingle bridge, all of them being partly broken, and the enemy had alfo 

 made barricades and parapets to obftrud: the cavalry, in every part where 

 they exped:ed to be able to ad:. Thus our difficulties and troubles in- 

 creafed upon us. This fally I recoiled: took place on a thurfday; San- 

 doval and many other good cavalry men were prefent at it ; but thofe of 

 Narvaez not being ufed to fervice, were timorous in comparifon to our 

 veterans. 



As our numbers diminifhed every day, whilft thofe of the enemy 

 increafed, as alfo did the fury of their attacks, at the fame time that we 

 from our wounds were lefs able to make refiftancej our powder being 

 almoft exhaufled, our provifions and water intercepted, our friend the 

 good Montezuma dead, and our propofals fox peace rejected, the bridg- 

 es by which we were to retreat broken down, and in fine, death before 

 our eyes in every diredion, it was determined by Cortes and all of the 

 officers and fcJldiers, to quit the city during the night, as we hoped at 



Ff that 



