CHAPTER VIII.

The Reception of Cortes in Mexico-General attack upon the Spanish Quarters-Flight from Mexico to Tlacuba -Battle of Otumba-Cortes returns to Tlascala.

ERY different was the reception of Cortes' re-
Cortes on this occasion from that on his

first entry into Mexico, when Monte

zuma had gone forth with all pomp to meet him. Now the Indians stood silently in the doorways of their houses, and the bridges between the houses were taken up. Even when he arrived at his own quarters, he found the gates barred, so strict had been the siege; and he had to demand an entry. Alvarado appeared upon the battlements, and asked

* "Veiron las puentes de unas casas á otras, quitadas, y otras malas señales."-HERRERA, Hist. de las Indias, tom. II. dec. ii. lib. x. cap. 8.

_ception.

224

ARRIVAL OF CORTES.

if Cortes came in the same liberty with which he went out, and if he was still their General. Cortes replied "Yes," that he came with victory, and with increased forces. The gates were then opened, and Cortes and his companions entered. He had to hear the excuses of Alvarado for conduct which a prudent man like Cortes must have disapproved, but which he did not dare to punish then. His aspect was gloomy, and one who must have seen him that day, describes him by an epithet which, in the original meaning, was exceedingly applicable. Bernal Diaz says that Cortes was mohino, an adjective which is applied to one who plays in a game against many others.

The alternation of success and disappointment seems for once to have tried the equal temper and patient mind of the Spanish General. He sent a cold, or an uncourteous, message to Montezuma, the foolishness of which he seems afterwards to have been well aware of, and, with the candour of a great man about his own errors, to have acknowledged.*

"Muchos han dicho, aver oydo dezir a Hernando Cortés, que si en llegando visitara á Motezuma, sus cosas

MESSENGER SENT TO VERA CRUZ. 225

sends out a

At the moment, however, Cortes could give but little attention to anything save the pressing wants of the garrison. He lodged his own men in their old quarters, and placed in the great temple the additional forces he had brought with him. The next morning he sent out a messenger Cortes to Vera Cruz, probably with a view to ascertain messenger how he would be received in the streets of Mexico; Cruz, but not more than half an hour elapsed before the messenger returned, being wounded, and crying out that all the citizens were in revolt, and that back. the drawbridges were raised.

Before Cortes despatched this messenger, he had sent a threatening message to Montezuma, desiring him to give orders for the attendance of the people in the market-place, in order that the Spaniards might be able to buy provisions. Montezuma's reply was, that he and the greater part of his servants were prisoners, and that Cortes should set free and send out whomsoever he wished to entrust with the execution

to Vera

Who is

driven

passaran bien: y que lo dexó estimándole en poco, por hallarse tan poderoso."-HERRERA, Hist. de las Indias. dec. II. lib. x. cap. 8.

Monte

zuma's brother chosen by the citizens

as their leader.

The

Mexicans attack the garrison.

of the necessary orders. Cortes chose for this purpose Montezuma's brother, the Lord of Iztapalapa; but when that Prince came among the citizens, his message was not listened to, and he was not permitted by the people to return, but was chosen as their leader.

After the return of the messenger whom Cortes had sent out to Vera Cruz, the Mexicans advanced in great numbers towards the Spanish quarters, and commenced an attack upon them. Cortes, who was not given to exaggeration of statement, says that neither the streets nor the terraced roofs (azoteas) were visible, being entirely obscured by the people who were upon them; that the multitude of stones was so great, that it seemed as if it rained stones; and that the arrows came so thickly, that the walls and the courts were full of them, rendering it difficult to move about. Cortes made two or three desperate sallies, and was wounded. The Mexicans succeeded in setting fire to the fortress, which was with difficulty subdued, and they would have scaled the walls at the point where the fire had done most damage, but for a large force of cross-bowmen, musketeers, and artillery, which Cortes threw forward to meet the

THE SPANISH GARRISON.

227

danger. The Mexicans at last drew back, leaving no fewer than eighty Spaniards wounded in this first encounter.

The ensuing morning, as soon as it was daylight, the attack was renewed. There was no occasion for the artillerymen to take any particular aim, for the Mexicans advanced in such dense masses, that they could not be missed.* The gaps made in these masses were instantly filled up again; and practised veterans in the Spanish army, who had served in Italy, in France, and against the grand Turk, declared that they Distinhad never seen men close up their ranks as these Mexicans did after the discharges of artillery upon them. Again, and with considerable success,

"Los Artilleros no tenian necesidad de puntería, sino asestar en los Esquadrones de los Indios."-LORENZANA, p. 135.

"Porque unos tres ó quatro soldados que se avian hallado en Italia, que allí estavan con nosotros, juraron muchas vezes á Dios, que guerras tan bravosas jamas avian visto en algunas que se avian hallado entre Christianos, y contra la artillería del Rey de Francia, ni del gran Turco; ni gente, como aquellos Indios, con tanto ánimo cerrar los esquadrones vieron."-BERNAL DIAZ, cap. 126.

guished bravery of

the Mexi

can troops.