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Show to6 BOOK IX. \ .. I H I S T 0 R y 0 F !Vr E X I C 0. " liberty, I thank you for the love and fid~lity you fb~w .m:; but you '' deceive yourfelves in thinking me a pnfoner, for tt ~~ m my OWl," " o tion to leave this palace of my late father, and return to ~y ow~l.' Ph I 1 r. 't If your rcfentmcnt is caufcd by thetr fiay 111 u w enever c 1tlle 1 • " this court, I acquaint you that they have given m~ alfurance, and I " affure you, that they will depart as foon as you wtll l~y down your " anns. ~iet therefore your emotions; let your fidehty to· me ap" car in this, unlefs what I have heard is true, that you. have fworn " ; 0 another that obedience which you owe to me; ·wh1ch I cannot " believe, nor can you ever do, without drawing the vengeanee of " heaven down upon you." . . . . The people remained filent :,or f~met1me,. until a ~extcan· (f), more daring than the refi, raifcd h1s votce, callmg the kmg cowardly and ffieminate and fitter to manage a fpindle and a fhuttle than to govern ea nation f'o courageous ; and reproaching him for ha v·m g, fir om h1' S cowardice and bafenefs, fuffered himfelf to be made the prifoner of his enemies : and not content with reviling him with words, taking •' "!!. 'bow in his hand, he 1hot an arrow at him. The common people, who arc always apt to be moved by the firfi impulfe which is given them, quickly followed his example; reproaches and contumelious. ianguage were heard on every fide ; and fhowers of ftones and arrows poured towards the quarter where the king ~ood. The Span~al. hifl:orians fay, that although the perfon of the k1ng was covered w1th two fhields, he was wounded by a blow from a fione on the head, by another in~ the leg, and by an arrow in the arm. He was immediately carried by his.fervants to his chamber, more wounded in foul by anger and vexation;· than. hurt by the facrilegious weapons of his fHbjects. In the mean while, the Mexicans perfifled in their attacks, and the Spaniards in their defence, until fome noble~ called Cortes to that fame place where the king had received his wounds, in order to treat with him about certain articles, cf which we do not find any hifioria11 give a proper and clear account. Cortes demanded of them why they were inclined' to treat him as. an enemy, hav.ing clone them no wrong? .. 1f you woula avoid farther hoftHi ties ( faid they),. depart immediately (/.) A coO a fays, that the Mexican who f,20kc thcfc inCulu to ~he king was ~auhtcmot:z.in,. h\a nc~cw1 and 'the Jc.a 'king of Mexico~ · ., from H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E :X 1 C 0. " from this city; if not, we are refolved to die, or to kill you all. :· Cortes replied, that he did not complain to them becaufe he was afraid of their arms, but becaufe he was pained to be obliged to kill fo many, of them and deftroy fo beautiful a city. The nobles went away, repeating their menaces. The three warlike machines being at length .finiihed, Cortes went out with them early on the 28th of Ju ne, and proceeded through one of the principal ftrcets of the city with three thoufand T lafcalam and other auxiliary troops, with the greater part of the Spaniards, and ten pieces of artillery. When they came to the bridge over the firft canal, they drew the machines and fcaling-ladders near to the ho~Jfes, i11 order to drive the crowds from the terraces; but t~e tl:ones were fo many and fo large which were thrown at the machines, that they broke through them. The · Spaniards fought courageoully until mid-day, without being able to take poficffion of the bridge; on which account they returned in fhame to their quarters, leaving one man killed, and carrying back many wounded. The Mexicans having been greatly encouraged by this lafi: event, five hundred nobles fortified themfelves in the upper area of the greater temple, well furnia1ed with arms and provifions, and from thence began to do great damage to the Spaniards with fiones ·and arrows, while other Mexican troops attacked them by the fire_ets. Cortes fent a captain with a hundred foldiers to drive the nobles from that fl:atio~, which, being fo very high and neighbouring, entirely commanded the quarters; but having made three different attempts to afcend there, they were vigoroully repulfed. The general then determined to make the allimlt upon the temple himfelf, although he ftill fuffered from a fevere wound he had received in his left hand ever fince the fidl: engagement. He tied his fhield to his arm, and having caufed the temple to be furrounded by a fuflicient number of Spaniards nnd ';rlafcalans, began to af'"end the ftairs of it with a great part of his people. The nobles who were now befiegcd difputed their afcent with great courage, and overturned fome of the Spaniards; in the mean while, other Mexican troops having entered the lower area, fought furioufly with thofe who furrounded the temple. Cortes, though not without the utme>.lt fatigue and difficulty, at bill gained P 2 the SEcT. XVII, T errible engagement m the temple. |