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of rank as had been taken by our foldiers, to be delivered to their huf- 

 bands, and fathers. The general found fome difficulty in this, but 

 agreed to permit them to make fearch, and fuch as wifhed to return, he 

 affured them that he would caufe to be given up. They fearched 

 through every houfe, and though the women hid themselves they found 

 many, but very few were inclined to return; they declared that they 

 detefted the idolatry of their countrymen, and in addition they were 

 many of them pregnant, fb that of the whole number three only went 

 back to their families. 



One of the firfl: public works undertaken was an arfenal in the 

 city, fo fituated as to include our flotilla. Alvarado was to the beft of 

 my knowledge appointed alcalde, until the arrival of Salazar de la Pe- 

 drada. All the gold, filver, and jewels, which were now colle(5ted in 

 Mexico, amounted to the paltry fum of three hundred and eighty thou- 

 fand crowns. It was reported that Guatimotzin had thrown great 

 quantities into the lake four days before the furrender of the town, and 

 it was v/ell known that a confiderable (hare had fallen to our allies, and 

 to thofe who ferved on board the fleet. Cortes was not forry to think 

 Guatimotzin had it concealed, in hopes of obtaining it all for himfelf. 

 It was then propofed to put both Guatimotzin and his confidential friend 

 the prince of Tacuba to the torture, to extort confeflioii from them ; this 

 was certainly very contrary to the inclination and difpofition of Cortes, 

 who could not approve of fuch an adl of cruelty being committed on a 

 perfon fo diftinguiflied as Guatimotzin ; one who was abfolute monarch 

 of a country three times larger than Cailille. In anfwer to all enquiries 

 the king's ofl^cers protefted that there was no more than what had been 

 produced, which when melted and run into bars did not exceed three 

 hundred and eighty thoufand crowns. From this the fifth for the Em- 

 peror and another for Cortes were deducted; what remained did not at 

 all fatisfy thofe of the conquerors of Mexico who were not before friends 

 to Cortes. They fuggefled to the treafurer Alderete that the general 

 objedted to Guatimotzin being tortured, in order to get the gold him- 

 felf. Cortes was therefore obliged to leave the unfortunate king at their 



difpofal. 



