( 304 ) 



liad now advanced confiderably into the city at each of the three attacks ; 

 we had alfo reached the fountains of brackifli water, which we totally 

 deftroyed, and the cavalry could a6t through the whole fpace which 

 we had gained, as it was our care to make it level for them. 



Our general thought the prefent a good jundure to offer peace to 

 the Mexicans; he therefore propofed to three of his principal prifoners 

 to go with his meflagc to their king, Guatimotzin, but they declined 

 it, alledging that he would certainly put them to death. At length 

 however he prevailed with them to carry his propofal, which was to 

 this purport. That from the aftei6lion he bore to all the family of the 

 great Montezuma, in order alfo to prevent the deftrudion of that great 

 city, and the lofs of lives, he was willing to treat of peace, calling to 

 the recolled:ion of Guatimotzin, that his troops and people were cut off 

 from provifions and water, and that all thofe nations which had former- 

 ly been the vaffals of Mexico were now the allies of the Spaniards; with 

 many more ftrong arguments to the fame purpofe, which the embafla- 

 dors very well underftood. Previous to their going they defired that 

 the general would provide them with a letter, under which authority 

 they waited on the monarch, fobbing and wailing bitterly, as knowing 

 the danger which attended their bufmefs. At firft Guatimotzin and his 

 chiefs appeared enraged, but the moderation of his difpofition prevailed, 

 and he refolved to call a council compofed of the princes, chiefs, and 

 priefts of the city. Guatimotzin opened the bufinefs by exprefling his 

 own inclination to come into terms, expofing the inefficacy of their re- 

 fiftance, the defertion of their allies, and the diftrefles of the people. 

 The priefts took the oppofite opinion. They reprefented the condudl of 

 tlie Spaniards from the firft, their treatment of his uncle the great Mon- 

 tezuma, of Cacamatzin, and of various other princes as foon as they- 

 had got them in their power; alfo the death of the two fons of Mon- 

 tezuma, which they laid to their charge, the deftrudiion and wafte of 

 the wealth of Mexico, and the marks of flavery with which they had 

 branded other nations. They reminded him of his own martial fame 

 and condud:, of the infidLoufnefs of Cortes and his offers, and the 



promifes 



