beft Manner they could to the Mountains. They loli 
great Numbers both in the Defence of the Ditch and in 
their Flight, neverthelefs the greateft Part of them faved 
themfelves among the Rocks and Precipices. The Town 
was found entirely abandoned, with great Store of Pro- 
vifions, and fome Spoil j which was given to the 
Soldiers. 
A little after, the Cazique, and fome of the chief In- 
habitants who v/ere willing to fubmit, called to the Spa- 
niards from the further Side of the Ditch, defiring L^eave 
to return to the Town, and prepare Quarters for the 
Troops which was granted, and they were of Ufe 
afterwards, by the Intelligence they gave of the Enemy’s 
Motions, and by the Knowledge they had of the Country. 
Early the next Morning, the Army took the Road of 
Suchirnilco^ a Place which deferved the Name of a City, 
feated on the Edge of a frefh W ater Lake which had a 
Communication with the great Lake ; the Buildings were 
partly on the Land and partly in the Waters, where a 
great Number of Canoes ferved them to pafs from Place to 
Place. It was of great Importance to take a View of this 
Town, which was within four Leagues of Mexico^ but the 
March was very troublefome •, for after they had paffed a 
Defile 'three Leagues long, they came into a dry barren 
Country, where the Soldiers fuffered much for Want of 
Water. 
The Fatigue of the March, and the Heat of the Sum- 
mer, increafed their Thirft to fuch a Degree, that, at their 
Entrance into a Foreft of Pines, they were infenfible of 
any Relief from its Shade. Near the Road they found 
fome Farm-houfes : Flere the Army lodged, and enjoyed 
that Night the Reft and Refrefhment they wanted. 
The Enemy had purpofely quitted them, to wait for the 
Spaniards in a ftronger Poft. Cortes drew up his Army 
in Order of Battle at break of Day, and began his March, 
expefling to meet with a good deal of Difficulty in his 
prefent Enterprize, it not being hkely-tlT3twhe-~;^l^zVt2«j 
would leave a Poft of fo great Importance, and fo near 
Mexico^ without a ftrong Garrifon, efpecially fince all 
who had efcaped from their paft Engagements went to 
that Place. His Conjeeftures proved right, for the Ene- 
my had drawn up their Battalions in a Plain at fome 
Diftance from the City, having a great and rapid River 
in their Front, which difeharged itfelf into the Lake. 
They had double lined the Banks of this River, and dif- 
pofed their main Body for the Defence of a wooden Bridge, 
which they would not cut down, having barricadoed it 
with Planks and Fafeines ; and fuppofing, that though 
this Fortification ffiould be forced, they fiiould have P. 
fufficient Advantage in the Narrownefs of the Pafs, and 
be able to deftroy dieir Enemies as faft as they came over 
the Bridge ; Cortes perceived the Difficulty, but, without 
appearing concerned, extended the Troops of the Allies 
along the Bank of the River, and, whilft both Sides made 
fome Difeharges at each other with little Effedl, he com- 
manded the Spaniards to advance, and go and take the 
Bridge. They met vfith fuch an obftinate Refiftance, that 
they were twice repulfed ^ but, returning a third time with 
greater Valour, and making Ufe of the Enemy’s Trenches 
againft them, they foon gained the Pafs ; which fo dif- 
couraged the Mexicans, that they began every where to 
fly ; their Commanders ordering the Signal for a Retreat. 
The Spaniards made hafte to feize upon the Ground the 
Mexicans had quitted, and at the fame time feveral 
Companies of dSlafcala and dSezcuco threw themfelves 
into the River and fwam to the other Side, and joined 
the Army. The Enemy was drawing up in Order of 
Battle, under the V^alRof the Town, but upon the firft 
Advance of the Spaniards they began to retire, provoking 
them ftill by fome Difeharges of Arrows, which did no 
Execution, to fignify that" they retreated out of Choice: 
However, Cortes fell upon them with Vigour, as they con- 
tinued retiring into the City ; in the Entrance of which 
they loft great Numbers •, but^ ffieltering themfelves within 
the Barricadoes, with which they had blocked up the 
Streets, they began again to ufe their ArmSj and defy 
their Enemies. 
Cortes left Parr of his Troops without the Town,- -to 
fecure h»s Retreat, and to oppofe any Attacks that might 
VoL. IL Numb. 77, ^ » 
be made from abroad^ and entered with the reft : For 
which Purpofe^ ordering fome Companies to force the 
Barricadoes in the Streets on the Right and Left,* he ad» 
vanced to the principal, where the Enemy had their 
greateft Force. With fome Difficulty he broke through 
their Blockade^ and, carried away by his Courage, Forgot 
the Care he ought to have taken of his Perfon *, for throw- 
ing himfelfj With more Bravery than Prudence, into the 
midft of a Multitude of EnemieSj he found himfeif fur- 
rounded by them^ when he would have retired to the 
Affiftance of his Foot. He fupported himfeif for fome time 
with the litmoft Courage^ until his Horfe, being tireds 
fell under himj and put him in extreme Danger nf his 
Life. Thofe who were neareft, immediately advancedf 
and before he was in a Condition to make ufe of his 
Arms he was in a manner taken ; the Only thing that 
defended him, being the great Defire the Mexicans ha.d ta 
fieze him alive^ for a Prefent to their Emperor.- At this 
Inftant Chrifioval de Oka, a Native of Medina del Camp 04 
a Soldier of diftinguiffied Valour,- who Was not far off, 
faw the Diftrefs of his General, and, calling to fOioe 
Tlafcalans who were fighting near him, forced his way to 
the Place with fo much Refolution, and was fo well fe- 
conded by thofe thaqfollowed him, that, after having killeci 
with his own Hand thofe who preffed moft upon his 
General, he had the good Fortune to reftore him to his 
Liberty. 
Cortes immediately made ufe of it to puniffi the Ene- 
my, who, upon efcaping to that part of the City which 
ftood in the Water, left the Spaniards Mafters of all the 
Streets upon the firm Land. Cortes came off with two 
flight Wounds, and Olea with three dangerous Cuts with 
a Sword. Herrera informs us, that Cortes owed his Li- 
berty to 2i’Tlafcalan unknown, both before and after ; and 
relates the Adlion as a kind of Miracle ; but Bernal Diaz^ 
who was one of the firft that came to the Relief of the 
General, atti ibutes the whole Honour to Olea ; and the 
Defeendants of this valiant Man may very well be excufed 
if they rather believe an Author who relates what he faw,' 
than one who goes upon Conjeftures. Whilft this Engage- 
ment lafted in the Town, the Troops that Were without 
were not idle : The Nobles of Mexico made an extraor- 
dinary Effort to reinforce the Garrifon of Suchimilco, the 
Prefervation of which their Emperor Guatimozin had 
very much , at Heart. They embarked with ten thou- 
fand chofen Men, and landed at fome Diftance from the 
Town, knowing the Spaniards were engaged in the Streets,* 
defigning to fall upon their Rear ; but they w’ere dif- 
covered, and charged with fo much RefolutiOn, that they 
were glad to reimbark, leaving a good Number of their 
Men behind them, dead in the Field. 
This happy Succefs made Cortes Mafter of the Place, 
and of all the Streets and Buildings upon the firm Land, 
and, having placed fufficient Guards by the Water-fide, 
he lodged his Troops near the principal Temple, which, 
having a fort of a Wall capable of refifting the Arms of 
the Mexicayis, feemed commodious for the Repofe of the 
Soldiers, and tfie Cure of their Wounds \ at the fame 
time he ordered fome Companies to mount, and view 
the Top of the Temple •, v/hich being forfaken, he pofted. 
an Officer and twenty or thirty Spaniards in the upper 
Court, with Inftruftions to relieve the Sentinels often, that 
they might obferve every thing that paffed, as well by 
Land as by Water : A very neceffary Precaution, and of 
which the Ufefulnefs was foon experienced % for at Clofe 
of Evening they gave notice, that they difeovered on the 
Side of Mexico^ above two thoufand armed Canoes that 
advanced with all Speed • by which timely Advice the 
Spaniards were enabled to prevent the Dangers of the 
Night, by doubling their Guards at the landing Places 5 
and in the Morning they faw the Enemy difembark, at a 
great Diftance from the City, in Appearance about four- 
teen or fifteen thoufand Men. Cortes Went out to receive 
them, chufing advantageous Ground for his Horfe, and 
leaving behind him a good part of his Troops for the De- 
fence of his Quarters. 
The two Armies quickly drew neaf, and the Mexicans 
began the Charge , but upon receiving the firft Fire they 
gave Ground, and the reft of the Troops coming up 
K k Sword 
* 
