1521. the canals, and beginning to inundate the city, a retreat was sounded; but so far had the inundation risen, that the Spaniards I made their passage back with difficulty; some of the Tlascalans were drowned; and the greatest part of the booty was lost. This disaster was soon compensated by new confederacies, formed with several neighbouring cities by means of their ambassadors.1

Brigantines Cortes, who never relinquished the thought of the conquest of transported Mexico, had taken care to have 13 brigantines built, while he to Tezcuco. was at Tlascala, in aid of the great enterprise. These vessels

April 28.
Launched.

he now caused to be transported by land to Tezcuco. The command of the convoy, consisting of 200 foot soldiers, 15 horsemen, and two field pieces, he gave to Sandoval. Orders were given him to proceed by a place called by the Spaniards Puebla Moresca, to inflict an exemplary punishment on the inhabitants, who had robbed and put to death 40 Spanish soldiers, who were on their march from Vera Cruz to Mexico, for the relief of Alvarado.3 Eight thousand Tlascalans carried on their backs the beams, sails, and other materials, necessary for their construction; 2000 were loaded with provisions; and 30,000 were armed for defence, under the command of three Indian chiefs. After several expeditions into the neighbouring country; a fruitless attempt at a negotiation with Mexico; and the suppression of a conspiracy against his own life; Cortes made his final preparation for the siege of Mexico. On the 28th of April, the brigantines were launched into the Mexican lake. Notice of the grand movements was given to the allies, who now poured into Tezcuco,

4

1 Clavigero, ii. 142, 143. B. Diaz, ii. 34, 35. The citizens, in order to drown all their enemies, broke the mole of the lake, and entirely deluged the city. Two Spaniards only and one horse were lost; but upwards of 6000 of the hostile natives were slain. B. Diaz says, that he received a wound in his throat, "the marks of which," he adds, "I carry to this day."

2 He had obtained of the Senate 100 men of burden, for the transportation of the sails, cordage, iron, and other materials of the vessels, which he had unrigged the preceding year, with a view to this very use; and for tar had extracted turpentine from the pines of a neighbouring mountain. The materials were so prepared, that they might be carried in pieces ready to be put together. The first brigantine was built by Martino Lopez, a Spanish soldier, who was an engineer in the army of Cortes. After that model the other 12 were built by the Tlascalans. Clavigero, ii. 135, 146. Robertson, b. 5.

3 In the temples at that place were found many traces of their blood upon the walls; their idols were besmeared with it; "and we found," says B. Diaz, "the skins of two of their faces with their beards, dressed like leather, and hung upon the altars, as were also the shoes of four horses, together with their skins, very well dressed."

4 Clavigero, ii. 146. B. Diaz, ii. c. 2. Robertson, b. 5. But these authors differ from each other in their account of the number of armed Indians, that guarded this convoy. I have followed Clavigero. The line of march, according to B. Diaz, extended in some places, above 6 miles; and the entire materials for 13 brigantines were thus carried over land, through a mountainous country, 60 miles.

of the siege.

take the

in great numbers, to the aid of the Spaniards. On the 20th of 1521. May, Cortes collected his people in the great market place of Tezcuco, and made a disposition of them for the siege. The May 20. Disposition whole army, destined for this service, consisted of 917 Spaniards, for pos and more than 75,000 auxiliary troops, which number was soon siege of after increased to more than 200,000. Cortes, resolved to possess Mexico. himself of the three causeways of Tlacopan, Iztapalapan, and Cojohuacan, divided his army into three bodies, and committed the expedition of Tlacopan to Pedro de Alvarado; that of Cojohuacan, to Christopher de Olid; and that of Iztapalapan, to Gonzalo de Sandoval. Cortes himself took the command of the brigantines.1 The siege was begun on the 30th of May. 30. After several days, spent in various acts of hostility, Cortes, with Beginning much difficulty, effected an entrance into the great square of the city; but was so violently assailed by the citizens, that he found it expedient to retreat. Twenty days having passed, during which the Spaniards had made continual entrance into the city, Cortes determined on a general assault. On the appointed day, July 3. he marched with 25 horses, all his infantry, and more than Attempt to 100,000 allies; his brigantines, with more than 3000 canoes, city by forming the two wings of his army on each side of the causeway. storm. Having entered the city with little opposition, and commenced a most vigorous action, the Mexicans made some resistance, and then feigned a retreat. The Spaniards, pushing forward with emulation to enter the great square of the market, unwarily left behind them a broad gap in the causeway, badly filled up; and the priests at this instant blew the horn of the god Painalton, which was reserved for times of extreme danger, to excite the people to arms, when a multitude of Mexicans assembled, and, pouring with fury upon their assailants, threw them into confusion, and compelled them to retreat precipitately. In attempting to pass the gap, apparently filled up with faggots and other light materials, it sunk with the weight and violence of the multitude, when Spaniards, Tlascalans, horsemen, and infantry, plunged in promiscuously, the Mexicans at the same moment rushing upon them fiercely on every side. A tremendous conflict ensued. Cortes, who had come to the ditch in aid of his defeated troops, was at length bringing them off, when he was seized by six chiefs, who had cautiously taken him alive, "to honour their gods with the sacrifice of so illustrious a victim," and were already leading him away for this

1 To Alvarado, Cortes assigned 30 horses, 168 foot soldiers, 20,000 Tlascalans, and 2 pieces of artillery; to Olid, 33 horses, 168 foot soldiers, 2 pieces of artillery, and more than 25,000 allies; to Sandoval, 24 horses, 163 Spanish infantry, 2 cannons, and more than 30,000 allies. Among the brigantines he distributed 325 Spaniards, and 13 falconets; assigning to each brigantine a captain, 12 soldiers, and as many rowers.

Repulse.

1521. purpose. His men, apprized of his capture, flew to his aid; and Christoval de Olea, cutting off with one stroke of his sword the arm of a Mexican who held him, and killing four of the enemy, liberated his general, at the expense of his own life. Other soldiers arriving to the assistance of Cortes, they took him out of the water in their arms, and, placing him on a horse, hurried him off from the crowd of his enemies. The loss sustained by the besiegers, on that day, was seven horses, a number of arms and boats, a piece of artillery, upwards of a thousand allies, and more than sixty Spaniards. Some of the Spaniards were killed in battle; but forty were taken alive, and immediately sacrificed in the great temple of Mexico. The Mexicans celebrated their victory during eight successive days, with illuminations and music in their temples.1

Various acts of mutual and bloody hostility succeeded by land and on the Mexican lake. Quauhtemotzin, the king of Mexico, though reduced to the greatest distress, still obstinately refused to surrender, on repeated proposals of terms more honourable and indulgent, than in such an extremity he might perhaps have possibly expected. In addition to the daily loss of incredible numbers in action, famine began to consume the Mexicans within the city. The brigantines, having the entire command of the lake, rendered it almost impossible to convey to the besieged any provisions by water. By means of the vast number of Indian auxiliaries, Cortes had shut up the avenues to the city by land. The stores, laid up by Quauhtemotzin, were exhausted. The complicated sufferings of this devoted people brought on infectious and mortal distempers, "the last calamity that visits besieged cities, and which filled up the measure of their woes.2 Cortes, now determining upon an assault, began with most of his forces to attack some ditches and intrenchments; and Sandoval with another division attacked the city in the quarter of the north. Terrible was the havoc made this day among the Mexicans, more than 40,000 of whom, it is affirmed, were

1 B. Diaz, c. 152. Clavigero, ii. 160-176. Grynæus, 656, Narrat. F. Cortesii. Robertson, b. 5. This celebration appears to have commenced at the instant of victory. "Before we arrived at our quarters," says B. Diaz, "and while the enemy were pursuing us, we heard their shrill timbals, and the dismal sound of the great drum, from the top of the principal temple of the god of war, which overlooked the whole city. Its mournful noise was such as may be imagined the music of the infernal gods, and it might be heard at the distance of almost three leagues. They were then sacrificing the hearts of ten of our companions to their idols." Every quarter of the city," says the descriptive Robertson," was illuminated; the great temple shone with such peculiar splendor, that the Spaniards could plainly see the people in motion, and the priests busy in hastening the preparations for the death of the prisoners. Through the gloom they fancied that they discerned their companions by the whiteness of their skins, as they were stript naked, and compelled to dance before the image of the god, to whom they were to be offered."

66

2 Robertson, b. 5. P. Martyr, de Orb. Nov. 408.

slain.

The stench of the unburied carcases obliged the besiegers 1521. to withdraw from the city, three fourths of which were already laid in ruins; but the next day they returned, to make the last assault on that district of it which was yet in possession of the Mexicans. All the three divisions of the troops, having pene- Last astrated into the great square in the centre of the city, made the sault. attack at once, and pressed so hard on the feeble, exhausted citizens, that, finding no place of refuge, many threw themselves into the water, and some surrendered themselves to the conquerors. The Mexicans having previously prepared vessels, to save themselves by flight from the fury of the enemy, one of them, carrying the royal personages, escaped; but it was soon overtaken by a Spanish brigantine, and surrendered. "I am your prisoner," said Quauhtemotzin, the Mexican king, to the Spanish captain; "I have no favour to ask, but that you will show the queen my wife, and her attendants, the respect due to their sex and rank." When conducted to Cortes, he appeared neither with the sullen fierceness of a barbarian, nor with the dejection of a suppliant. "I have done what became a monarch. I have defended my people to the last extremity. Nothing now remains but to die. Take this dagger," continued he, laying his hand on one which Cortes wore at his side, "plant it in my breast, and put an end to a life which can no longer be of

use.

12

1 Clavigero, ii. 187, 188. On no day was so much Mexican blood spilt. "The wretched citizens having now neither arms to repel the multitude and fury of their enemies, strength to defend themselves, nor space to fight upon; the ground of the city was covered with dead bodies, and the water of every ditch and canal purpled with blood."

2 Robertson, b. 5. B. Diaz, c. 156, 177. Clavigero, b. 10. Herrera, d. 3. lib. 2. c. 7. Cortes, Narratio Tertia. P. Martyr, 409. "En ferrum quo me potes et debes jugulare, exosum et molestum mihi jam erit vivere." But he was reserved for a more cruel destiny. Quauhtemotzin was the eleventh and last king of Mexico. He succeeded Cuitlahuazin, a brother of Montezuma, formerly prince of Iztapalapan, who was elected king on the death of Montezuma; but, after a reign of three or four months, died of the small pox. This disease, totally unknown before in the New World, was brought to the Mexican country by a Moorish slave, belonging to Narvaez. He infected the Chempoallese, and thence the infection spread through all the Mexican empire, where many thousands perished, and some places were entirely depopulated. [Clavigero, i. 445; ii. 133.] No brother of the two last kings surviving, the Mexicans chose Quauhtemotzin, a nephew of those kings, then about 23 years of age. His name is commonly written Guatimozin, or Guatimotzin. But in the article of language, and in some other particulars, I give preference to the authority of the Abbé Clavigero, who was a native of Vera Cruz; resided nearly 40 years in the provinces of New Spain; and acquired the language of the Mexicans. Quahtemotzin was in a few days put ignominiously to the torture, by the burning of his feet slowly after they were anointed with oil, that he might declare where the immense riches of the court and temple were deposited; and about three years after [1525] was hanged, together with the kings of Tezcuco and Tlacopan, on account of some suspicious circumstances in their conduct. This most unjust and cruel act was blamed by all, and "occasioned some watchings and melancholy to Cortes." Baron Humboldt says, "These three princes were hung on the same tree; and, as I saw in a hieroglyphical picture possessed by Father

Aug. 13.
Mexico is

1521. Cortes now ordered that all the Mexicans should leave the city without arms or baggage; and for three days and three nights all the three roads, leading from the city, were seen "full of men, women, and children, feeble, emaciated, and dirty, who went to recover in other parts" of the Mexican territory. The fate of the capital decided the fate of the empire, which was soon after entirely reduced under the dominion of Spain.2

taken.

Las Casas

mana.

دو

Bartholomew de las Casas, having obtained a commission goes to Cu- from the king of Spain to make a peaceable religious settlement at Cumana, with orders that ships and seamen be provided for him at the royal charge, now arrived there with 300 artificers, "all wearing crosses. Gonzalo de Ocampo not allowing him to execute his commission without directions from the governor of Hispaniola, Las Casas went to that island, to obtain the governor's sanction. Gonzalo going there also from New Toledo, followed by many of the inhabitants, and some of the new colonists incautiously trading along the coast, contrary to the express orders of Las Casas; the natives, seizing this opportunity, deThe natives molished the houses at Cumana; burned the monastery; and this settle- killed all the golden knights, and others remaining there, excepting a few, who escaped in a small vessel. Not one Spaniard was now left alive, from the gulf of Paria to the borders of Darien.3

break up

ment.

Richardo (in the convent of San Felipe Neri), they were hung by the feet to lengthen their torments." N. Spain, ii. 38.

1 Mexico contained at this time 60,000 houses. Clavigero. There were at this city, during the siege, 200,000 confederate Indians, 900 Spanish foot, 80 horse, 17 pieces of small cannon, 13 brigantines, and 6000 canoes: Herrera, Purchas. The siege lasted 75 days, during which time there were 60 dangerous battles; some thousands of allies perished; more than 100 Spaniards were killed and sacrificed; and, according to the best computation, more than 100,000 Mexicans were slain, beside upward of 50,000, who died by famine or sickness. "The city appeared one complete ruin." Herrera, d. 3. lib. 2. c. 8. F. Cortesii Narrat. Tert. in Grynæo. B. Diaz, c. 156. Clavigero, b. 10. Robertson, b. 5. Harris' Voy. i. 772.

2 Clavigero, b. 10. B. Diaz, c. 156. Robertson, b. 5. Nothing was wanted but a good cause, to render this conquest one of the most illustrious achievements recorded in ancient or modern history. But, while we admire the action, as great, we condemn it, as criminal. The sanguinary customs of the Mexicans were indeed abolished by the introduction of European principles and manners; but at what expense? The victors, in one year of merciless massacre, sacrificed more human victims to avarice and ambition, than the Indians, during the existence of their empire, devoted to their gods. The forms of justice were established; but by what means? The Indian princes were despoiled of their territory and tributes, tortured for gold, and their posterity enslaved. The Christian Religion was introduced; but in what manner, and with what effect? "Her mild parental voice," to use the words of Clavigero, "was suborned to terrify confounded savages; and her gentle arm in violence lifted up to raze their temples and hospitable habitations, to ruin every fond relic and revered monument of their ancestry and origin, and divorce them in anguish from the bosom of their country." See NOTE IX.

3 Herrera, d. 3. lib. 2. c. 5. Vega, 662, 663. Robertson, b. 3.