HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



409 



with themfelves in their fall from thence, muting to put 

 an end to the war by the death of that general ; but 

 this fact, of which neither Cortes, nor Bernal Diaz, nor 

 Gomara, nor any other of the more ancient hiftorians 

 make mention, is rendered (till more improbable by the 

 circumftances added to it by fome modern authors (h). 



Cortes having returned to the quarters, had a frefli 

 conference with fome refpe&able perfons among the 

 Mexicans, reprefenting to them the lofTes they fuftained 

 from the Spanifh arms. They anfwered, that it was of 

 no importance to them provided the Spaniards were de- 

 ftroyed ; that if they were not all cut off by the Mexi- 

 cans, they would infallibly perifli by famine fliut up in 

 their quarters. Cortes having obferved that night fome 

 inattention and want of vigilance among the citizens, fal- 

 lied out with fome companies of foldiers, and proceeding 

 through one of the principal ftreets of the city, he fet 

 fire to more than three hundred houfes (#)■« 



The next day his machines being repaired, he went 

 out with them and the greateft part of his troops, and 

 directed his courfe along the great road of Iztapalapan 

 with more fuccefs than before ; for in fpite of a vigo- 

 Vol. II. 3 F rous 



(h) Solis fays, that the two Mexicans approached on their knees to Cortes, in the 

 aB of imploring his mercy, and ivithout delay threiv tbenifelves doivnivards ivith their 

 prey in their hands, increafing the violence of the effort ivith their natural -weight ; that 

 Cortes got clear of them and repulfed them, though not ivithout difficulty. We find it ra- 

 ther difficult to believe Cortes poffeffed of fuch furprifing force : the very hu- 

 mane gentlemen Raynal and Robertfon, moved with compaffion, it would ap- 

 pear, for the danger Cortes was in, have provided fome kind of unknown bat- 

 tlements and iron rails, by which he faved himfelf until he got clear of the 

 Mexicans ; but neither did the Mexicans ever make iron rails, nor had that tem- 

 ple any battlements. It is wonderful that thefe authors, fo incredulous con- 

 cerning what is attefted by the Spanifh and Indian writers, fhould yet believe 

 what is neither to be found among the ancient authors nor probable in itfelf. 



(f) Bernal Diaz fays, that it was a great fatigue to make them burn, from 

 their being covered with terraces and feparated from each other. 



