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CHAPTER II. 



March of the Spaniards to befiege Mexico,. December 2Uh. 

 1520. Invejlunent of Mexico, May T^oth. 1521. Siege of 

 that city, arid final conquejl Augufl \6th. 1521. 



On the day after the feaft of the nativity, we fet forward towards 

 Tezcuco with our full force, and accompanied by ten thoufand of our 

 Tlafcalan allies. On the fame night we halted" in a part of the territory 

 of Tezcuco, the inhabitants of the place fupplying us with proviJions. 

 The next night we halted at the foot of the ridge of mountains, having 

 made a march of about three leagues; we found here a very feverecold. 

 Early the next day we afcended the mountains, the bad roads through 

 which were made more difficult by cuts, or dikes, abbatis of trees, and 

 the like, which required the utmoft exertions of our allies to remove. 

 Proceeding thus however with much regularity and precaution, we 

 reached, the fummit, a company of mufqueteers and crofsbow-men being 

 in our front,, and our allies clearing the way for the cavalry. Defcend- 

 ing a little, we came to that part from whence we difcover the whole 

 extent of the city, lake, and plain of Mexico, with all its towns rifing 

 as it were out of the water, and here we returned thanks to God for per- 

 mitting us again to behold this city. 



We now obferved fignals made by fmoke in the different places 

 towards Mexico, and a little farther on we fell in with a body of the 

 enemy who were pofled at a bad pafs, where a broken wooden bridge 

 eroffed a deep water cut. We foon drove them from thence, and paf- 

 fed over without difficulty, the enemy contenting themfelves with fhout- 

 ing at us from a diflance. Our allies pillaged as they went along, con- 

 trary 



