410 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



rous refinance from the enemies in their intrenchments 

 made to defend them from the fire of the Spaniards, he 

 took pofTeffion of the four firft bridges, and fet fire to 

 fome of the houfes upon that road, and made ufe of the 

 ruins to fill up the ditches and canals, that there might 

 be no difficulty of paffage if the Mexicans mould raife 

 the bridges. He left a fufficient garrifon upon the pofts 

 which he had taken, and returned to quarters with many 

 wounded, leaving ten or twelve dead behind him. 



The day after he continued his attacks upon the fame 

 road, took the three bridges which remained, and charg- 

 ing the enemy which defended them, he at laft got upon 

 the main land. Whilft he was attending to fill up the 

 laft ditches, to facilitate as is probable his retreat from 

 that capital by means of that fame road by which he 

 had been now feven months entered, he was told that 

 the Mexicans were willing to capitulate ; and, in order 

 to hear their propofitions, he returned in hafte to the 

 quarters with the cavalry, leaving the infantry to guard 

 the bridges. The Mexicans intimated that they were 

 ready to defifl from all hoftiliries ; but, that the capitu- 

 lation might take place, it was necerTary to have the 

 high-prieft, who had been made prifoner by the Spani- 

 ards when they made the aflault upon the temple : Cor- 

 tes fet him at liberty, and a fufpenfion of arms took 

 place. This appears to have been a mere ftratagem of 

 the electors to recover the chief of their religion, for 

 whofe perfon they had occafion to anoint the new king 

 whom they had chofen, or were going now to choofe 5 

 for Cortes had hardly obtained a cefiation of arms, when 

 fome Tlafcalans arrived with the news that the Mexi- 

 cans had retaken the bridges and killed fome Spaniards, 

 and that a great body of warriors were coming againft 



the 



