tremendous conflict ensued. Cortes, who had come 1521. 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 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."

Various acts of mutual and bloody hostility suc ceeded by land and on the Mexican lake. Quauhtemotzin, the king of Mexico, though reduced to the greatest distress, still obstinately refusing to surrender, on repeated proposals of terms more honourable and indulgent, than, in such an extrem. ity, he might perhaps have possibly expected;

1 B. Diaz, ii. 98-100. Clavigero, ii. 172-176. The loss, sustained by the besiegers on that day, was 7 horses, a number of arms and boats, and a piece of artillery, upwards of 1000 allies, and more than 60 Spaniards, some of whom were killed in battle, but 40 were taken alive, and immediately sacrificed in the great temple of Mexico. The Mexicans celebrated their victory eight successive days with illuminations and music in their temples. Ibid. and Robertson, ii. book v. 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 Robert son," 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."

2 In addition to the daily loss of incredible numbers in action, famine began to consume the Mexicans within the city. The brigantines, hav

Last as

sault.

'

1521. Cortes 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 forty thousand of whom, it is affirmed, were slain. The stench of the unburied carcases obliged the besiegers to withdraw from the city; 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 penetrated into the great square in the centre of the city, made the 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 prison"er," 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,

ing 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." Robertson, ii. book v. P. Martyr, de Orh. Nov. 408.

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." Ibid.

2 Three fourths of the city were already reduced, and laid in ruins, Robertson

nor with the dejection of a suppliant. "I have 1521. "done what became a monarch. I have defended my people to the last extremity. Nothing now

remains but to die. ed he, laying his hand at his side," plant it

Take this dagger," continuon one, which Cortes wore in my breast, and put an end

Mexico is

"to a life, which can no longer be of use."' Cortes now ordered, that all the Mexicans should leave Aug. 13. the city without arms or baggage; and for three taken, 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.*

I Robertson, ii. book v. B. Diaz, ii. 122, Clavigero, ut supra. P. Martyr, 409. "En ferrum quo me potes et debes jugulare, exosum ét 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 Cuitlahuatzin, 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, to-tally 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. Quauhtemotzin 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." Clavigero, ii. 193. B. Diaz, ii. 283, 284. Robertson, ii. book v.

2 Mexico contained at this time 60,000 houses. [Clavigero, ii. 72.] 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, iii. 179, 180. Purchas, i. 788.] 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 sick"The city appeared one complete ruin." Clavigero, ii. 192, 193, 242. Herrera, iii. 110, 179. Robertson, ii. book v. Harris Voy. i. 772.

Ress.

Κ

1521. The fate of the capital decided the fate of the em pire, which was soon after entirely reduced under the dominion of Spain.'

Las Casas

niana

Bartholomew de las Casas, having obtained a goes to Cu- commission 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 three hundred 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, demolished the houses at Cumana; burned the this settle monastery; and 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

The natives break up

ment.

1 Clavigero, ii. book x. B. Diaz, ii. 124—126. Robertson, ii. book v. 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." For a farther account of Mexico, see Note II, at the end of the volume.

2 Vega, 662.

3 Herrera, iii. 181, 182. Vega, 662, 663. Robertson, i. book iii.

Panama was constituted a city, with the proper privileges, by Charles V.1

1522.

Panama made a

city.

vernor of

The emperor of Spain appointed Cortes captain Cortes apgeneral and governor of New Spain; and certain pointed go-. commissioners to receive and administer the royal New Spain. revenue there, with independent jurisdiction."

Villa del Spiritu Santo, in the province of Guascaca in New Spain, was built by Gonzales de Sandoval. 3

Newfound

Newfoundland, settled by different nations, is State of said to have contained at this period fifty houses.* land.

1523.

ments of

iards.

Cortes, with three hundred foot and one hun- Conquests dred and fifty horse, conquered Panuco. On the river and settleChila he built a town, called Santo Stephano del the SpanPuerto,and left in it a hundred foot and thirty horse. 5 He now rebuilt the city of Mexico, on the model of the European towns, dividing the ground among the conquerors. The Spanish Quarter was now begun with twelve hundred inhabitants." Alvarado, sent from Mexico with three hundred foot, seventy horse, and four field pieces, to discover and conquer Quahutemallan, and other towns toward the South Sea, discovered and subdued all that country; and built the city, called St. Jago Quahutemallan. Gonzales d'Avila discovered and peopled a place in the bottom of Ascension bay, in fourteen

1 Univ. Hist. xxxix. 158.

2 Herrera, iii. 323. Robertson, ii. book v.

3 Encyc. Methodique, Geog. Art. VILLA DEL SPIRITU SANTO.

4.Ibid. Art. TERRE NEUVE.

5 Herrera, iii. 278. Harris Voy. i. 272.

6 Herrera, iii. 279, 280. Venegas California, i. 133. The city was

ultimately built with 100,000 houses,

"fairer and stronger than before.”

Purchas, i, 788.