I 
13a ’The Expedition of H 
Body fortifying their Quarters with the Ruins of the 
Houfes, in the beft Manner they could. 
This caufed great Confufiop among the Mexicans^ and 
entirely broke all the Meafures they had taken to charge 
the Spaniards in their Retreat. The Rumour of it was 
foon fpread, the Danger greatly m.agnified, and every 
one’s Thoughts was employed about providing fome 
fpeedy Remedy. The Minifters inftantly repaired to Gu- 
atimozird^ Palace, and, by their preffing Intreaties, pre- 
vailed with him to retire that very Night to a more dif- 
tant Part of the City. Councils were continually held, 
and the Opinions were different, being either bold and 
refolute, or timorous and dejetled, according as the Un- 
derftanding followed the Dilates of their Hearts ; fome 
voted that the King, for the Security of his Royal Per- 
fon, fhould be immediately conveyed to fome Place lefs 
expofed ; others for fortifying that Part of the City where 
the Court then was, and others prelTed hard to diflodge 
the Enemy from the Pofts they poffeffed. Guatimozin 
inclined to the Advice of thofe who exprelfed the great- 
eft Refolution •, fo that he declared he was fully deter- 
mined to fhare his Fate with his People ; and that Mo- 
ment gave Orders that Preparations ftiould be made to 
attack the Enemy at Day-break, with the Remainder of 
his Forces. To this Purpofe the Chiefs, with all poffible 
Expedition, affembled all the Troops, which were di- 
vided into three Battalions, with a Defign of exerting 
their laft Strength in this Effort, to the total Deftrudlion 
of the Spaniards. 
Soon after dawning, the Enemy prefented themfelves 
within Sight of the three Lodgments ; but the Artillery 
which played upon the Avenues, made fuch a terrible 
Slaughter in their Van-guard, that they durft not advance 
to put their Orders in execution, and were foon convinced 
that their Attempt was wholly imprafticable ; fo that 
without venturing nearer they began to give back, en- 
deavouring to make what was in reality a Flight, looked 
upon as an orderly Retreat. But the Motion, as it was 
(low, gave the Spaniards an Opportunity to rout and dif- 
perfe the Enemy, and bettered their Quarters for the en- 
fuing Night.’ All was fo happily and fo expeditioudy 
effeSed, that in lefs than four Days the three Leaders 
came in Sight of Tlateleuco., whither they had all direft- 
ed their Courfe. Alverado was the firft that came to 
that fpacious Square, where he found the Enemy en- 
deavouring to draw up in order of Battle ; But he gave 
them not time, neither was it an eafy Matter for Indians^ 
when once in Diforder, to return to a Charge ; fo that, at 
the very firft Onfet, they abandoned the Ground, and in 
great Confufion retired to the Streets on the oppofite Side. 
Alverado obferved that there was at a fmall Diftance a 
very large Temple, the Towers whereof were poffeffed 
by the Enemy •, and thereupon he immediately detached 
fome Companies to drive them from thence, in order to 
fecure his Rear ; which Orders they foon performed. 
Soon after came up, by a different Avenue, the Detach- 
ment belonging to 0//J, but then under the Command 
of Cortes himfelf j and the confufed Throng of Mexicans 
that fled before him into the Square, fell in upon the Bat- 
talion which Alverado had drawn up in order of Battle ; 
where thefe Wretches being attacked on every Side, moft 
of them perifhed, and the like Fate attended thofe who 
were driven by Sandoval who prefently after arrived. 
Thofe of the Enemy who had retired to the Streets 
which led to the other Parts of the City marched with the 
iitmoft Precipitation, to defend the Perfon of their Prince, 
whereby the Spanifo General had an Opportunity to lodge 
himfelf to the befl: Advantage, without any Interruption, 
ordering the Brigantines and Canoes to ply about the 
three Caufways, and to give him Notice of v/hat fhould 
occur. The next Morning all the Streets were filled vtith 
armed Indians., but they were polled there only to cover 
thofe who were working upon the Fortifications, which 
were making for their Retreat , and Cortes., perceiving that 
they did not attempt by any Hoftilities to provoke 
him, fufpended thz Attack which he at firft had deter- 
mined, being inclined to offer them Peace, as fuppofing 
they might be now difpofed to an Accommodation. 
'I’he Meffage was carried by three or four principal Pri- 
2 
ERNAN Cortes, Book L 
foners, and Cortes was impatiently waiting for an Anfwer^^ 
as not doubting but the Propofai would be gladly receiv- 
ed ; becaufe it was obferved that thofe Multitudes of the 
Populace who were wont to be always ready to defend 
the Streets, were entirely withdrawn. The Qiiarter to 
which Guatirpozin, with his Minifters and Soldiers was re- 
tired, was a very fpacious Angle of the City, the great- 
eft Part whereof was defended by the Lake, and the 
reft was at no great Diftance from the great Square of 
Tlateleuco *, and it was fortifyed by a ftrong Wall made of 
huge Planks and Fafcines, which reached the Buildings on 
each Side of thofe Streets, before each of which was 
a broad and deep Ditch, full of Water, which they had 
dug acrofs the Streets, to give a Current to the Waters 
of the Canals. 
The enfuing Morning Cortes., followed by the greateft 
Part of the Spaniards^ marched to view the Ground 
which the Enemy had forfaken, and advanced till he 
came within Sight of thefe Fortifications, which he found 
covered with an incredible Multitude of Men in Arms ; 
but who feemed to be difpofed to Peace, for they neither 
founded their warlike Inftruments, nor made any Out- 
cries. The General drew back, and returned feveral 
times with the Spaniards without offering to moleft them : 
And it appeared that the Mexicans had orders to do the 
like. During the three Days Sufpenfion of Arms, Guati- 
mozin held feveral Councils to deliberate on the Overtures 
of Peace, and the Majority voted the admitting the 
Treaty, fenfible of the miferable Condition to which they 
were reduced, while others, conforming their Sufferings 
to the Inclination of their Sovereign, ftiewed them- 
felves willing to continue the War j but the deteftable 
Priefts fupported the leffer Number, affuring Vidlory with 
dark and myfterious Menaces, and infpired the whole 
Affembly with the fame diabolical Fury which pof- 
feffed their own Breafts. Upon this it was refolved to 
profecute the War, and to renew their Hoftilities, while 
Guatimozin., before he broke up the Council, gave Orders 
that all the Piraguas and Canoes fhould retire to a Bay 
which the Lake made in that Part of the City, in order 
to fecure a Retreat, in Cafe they fhould be driven to Ex- 
tremity. 
This Order was inftantly put in Execution, and an in- 
credible Number of thefe Veffels made to that Bay, of 
which Motion immediate Notice was fent from the Spa- 
niards who were upon the Lake, to Cortes *, who, with- 
out Hefitation, prefently concluded. That the Mexicans 
were ufing thefe Precautions, with no other View than to 
fecure their Prince’s Perfon. Hereupon lie appointed San- 
doval for Commander in chief of all the Brigantines, with 
Orders to furround the Bay at a Diftance, and to have a 
watchful Eye upon whatever Motion the Enemy fhould 
happen to make. Soon after he advanced with his 
Troops, but the Enemy had already received Orders to 
defend themfelves ; and, before the Spaniards came up, 
the Indians declared the Breach of the Treaty by their 
hoftiie Cries ; and, with a fteady and refolute Countenance, 
prepared for the Encounter; but it prefently appeared 
that their Courage began to fail them, for they no foon- 
er perceived the terrible Havock which the firft Dif- 
charge of the Cannon made in their wooden Fortification, 
which they foolifhly imagined to be impenetrable ; but 
they fent Notice thereof to Guatimozin., for it was not 
long before they made Signs of demanding a Parley, 
by hanging out white Cloths, and frequently repeating 
the Word Peace. ^ 
They were given to underftand, that whoever had any 
Propofai to offer from their Prince, might approach; 
upon which, four Mexicans, who feemed to be Perfons of 
fome Note, appeared on the further Side of the Ditch : 
Thefe Deputies, upon a Motion made by Cortes, promif- 
ed, in the Emperor’s Name, that he fhould confer with 
him the next Day ; and then brought an Excufe ; which 
Method they purfued for four Days together, while Gua- 
timozin, who never intended any fuch thing, was pre- 
paring to make his Efcape by the Lake. 
2 g. The Day being come, which Cortes had appoint- 
ed as the utmoft Period he would allow, Sandoval dif- . 
covered at the Dawn of the Morning Multitudes of 
Mexicans, 
4 
