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our fddiers were killed in this attack, and Alvarado was wounded ; but" 

 we ultimately beat the enemy off, and alfo made four of their chiefs pri- 

 foners. I fear to tire my readers with this repetition of battles. For 

 ninety three days together were we employed in the fiege of this great 

 and flrong city, and every day and every night we were engaged with 

 the enemy. Of courfe they muft pardon what my duty as an hifloj^ian 

 compels me to relate; ftill were I to extend my narrative to include eve- 

 ry adion which took place, it would be almoft endlefs, and my hil- 

 tory would referable that of Amadis, and the other books of chi- 

 "valry. 



Cortes growing weary of delay, called a council of war, relative 

 to a general aflault upon the city. His plan was, to march by the three 

 caufeways, and to endeavour to gain the great fquare, where, uniting 

 our whole force, we fliould command all the ftreets leading to it. 

 Upon this propofal there was a great difference of opinion, for many 

 thought our prefent method of proceeding by filling the canals as we 

 advanced, deflroying the houfes, and making a road with the materials, 

 was preferable to that recommended by Cortes, whereby, in going into 

 the heart of the city, we (hould become the befieged inflead of being 

 the befiegers, and fall exactly into the fituation in which we were when 

 obliged to fly from Mexico. We fhould alfo they faid be involved ia. 

 greater difficulties than formerly, for the enemy would now bring their 

 whole power by land and water upon us» fo that we fhould have to con- 

 tend with them in the city, on the lake, and all round it, without the, 

 poffibility of retreat, which they could preclude by cutting the caufeways. 

 When Cortes had heard the opinions of all, and the good reafons upon 

 which they were founded, the rcfult was, that he gave orders for our 

 whole force, together with our allies, to attack the city on the enfuing, 

 day, and to get pofTefTion of the great fquare. 



On the next morning therefore, having heard mafs, and recomw 

 mending ourfelves to God, our three detachments marched againft the 

 enemy's pofls in their front. Thofe commanded by Cortes and Sando- 

 val 



