416 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



the method and time for executing fiich refblution. 

 Their opinions were different. Some of them faid that 

 they ought to depart by day, forcing their way by arms, 

 if the Mexicans oppofed them : others thought that they 

 fhould depart by night ; this was the fuggeftion of a 

 foldicr named Botello, who pretended ikil! inaftrology, 

 to whom Cortes paid more deference than was proper, 

 having been induced to do fo by having feen fome of his 

 predictions accidentally verified. It was refolved, there- 

 fore, the vain obfervations of that wretched foldier be- 

 ing preferred to the dictates of military Mil and pru- 

 dence, to depart during the night, with all pofiible fecre- 

 cy : as if it had been pofiible to conceal the march of 

 nine thoufand men, with their arms, their horfes, their 

 artillery, and baggage, from the detection of fo nume- 

 rous and watchful an enemy. They fixed the night of 

 the firft of July for their departure (/>), a night the mod 

 unlucky and memorable to the Spaniards, from the great 

 flaughter they fuffered, on which account they gave it 

 the name of noche triste, by which it is Hill known in 

 their hiftories. Cortes ordered a bridge of wood to be 

 made, which could be carried by forty men, to ferve 

 for the patting of ditches. He then made all the gold, 

 filver, and gems, which they had hitherto amafled, to be 

 brought out, took the fifth part of it which belonged to 

 the king, and configned it to the officers belonging to his 

 majefty, declaring the impoffibiiity which he found of 

 preferving and faving it. He left the reft to his officers 



and 



(f) B. Diaz fays, that the defeat of the Spaniards happened on the night of 

 the tenth of July ; but we believe this to have been a miftake of the printer, as 

 Cortes affirms, that in their retreat, they arrived at Tlafcala on the tenth of 

 July ; and from the journal of their march kept by this conqueror, it is evi- 

 dent that their defeat could not have happened on any other day than the firft 

 of July. 



