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BOOK that excited the most just alarm.

V.

1520.

June 24.

Improper conduct of Cortes.

But, m placable as the enmity of the Mexicans was, they were fo unacquainted with the fcience of war, that they knew not how to take the proper measures, either for their own fafety or the destruction of the Spaniards. Uninstructed by their former error in admitting a formidable enemy into their capital, instead of breaking down the causeways and bridges, by which they might have inclofed Alvarado and his party, and have effectually stopped the career of Cortes, they again fuffered him to march into the city without molestation, and to take quiet poffeffion of his ancient station.

THE tranfports of joy with which Alvarado and his foldiers received their companions cannot be expreffed. Both parties were so much elated, the one with their seasonable deliverance, and the other with the great exploits which they had atchieved, that this intoxication of fuccess seems to have reached Cortes himself; and he behaved on this occafion neither with his usual fagacity nor attention. He not only neglected to visit Montezuma, but imbittered the infult by expreffions full of contempt for that unfortunate prince and his people. The forces of which he had now the command, appeared to him fo irresistible, that he might affume an higher tone,

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V.

1520.

and lay afide the mask of moderation, under BOOK which he had hitherto concealed his designs. Some Mexicans who understood the Spanish language, heard the contemptuous words which Cortes uttered, and reporting them to their countrymen, kindled their rage anew. They were now convinced that the intentions of the general were equally bloody with thofe of Alvarado, and that his original purpose in vifiting their country, had not been, as he pretended, to court the alliance of their fovereign, but to attempt the conquest of his dominions. They The violent hottility of refumed their arms with the additional fury the Mexiwhich this discovery inspired, attacked a confiderable body of Spaniards who were marching towards the great fquare in which the public market was held, and compelled them to retire with fome lofs. Emboldened by this fuccefs, and delighted to find that their oppreffors were not invincible, they advanced next day with extraordinary martial pomp to affault the Spaniards in their quarters. Their number was formidable, and their undaunted courage ftill more fo. Though the artillery pointed against their numerous battalions, crowded together in narrow ftreets, swept off multitudes at every discharge; though every blow of the Spanish weapons fell with mortal effect upon their naked bodies, the impetuofity of the affault did not abate. Fresh

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BOOK men rushed forward to occupy the places of the

V.

1520.

Diftrefs of

the Spaniards.

flain, and meeting with the fame fate, were fucceeded by others no lefs intrepid and eager for vengeance. The utmost effort of Cortes's abilities and experience, feconded by the difciplined valour of his troops, were hardly fufficient to defend the fortifications, that furrounded the poft where the Spaniards were ftationed, into which the enemy were more than once on the point of forcing their way.

CORTES beheld, with wonder, the implacable ferocity of a people who feemed at first to submit tamely to the yoke, and had continued fo long paffive under it. The foldiers of Narvaez, who fondly imagined that they followed Cortes to share in the spoils of a conquered empire, were aftonifhed to find that they were involved in a dangerous war, with an enemy whofe vigour was still unbroken, and loudly execrated their own weakness, in giving fuch eafy credit to the delufive promises of their new leader. furprise and complaints were of no avail. Some immediate and extraordinary effort was requifite' to extricate themselves out of their prefent fitua tion. As foon as the approach of evening induced the Mexicans to retire, in compliance

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with their national cuftom of ceafing from hofti- BOOK lities with the fetting fun, Cortes began to prepare for a fally, next day, with fuch a confiderable force, as might either drive the enemy out of the

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1520.

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He conducted, in perfon, the troops deftined Cortes atfor this important fervice. Every invention without known in the European art of war, as well as every precaution, fuggefted by his long acquaintance with the Indian mode of fighting, were employed to enfure fuccefs. But he found an enemy prepared and determined to oppofe him. The force of the Mexicans was greatly augmented by fresh troops, which poured in continually from the country, and their animofity was in no degree abated. They were led by their nobles, inflamed by the exhortations of their priests, and fought in defence of their temples and families, under the eye of their gods, and in presence of their wives and children. Notwithstanding their numbers, and enthusiastic contempt of danger and death, wherever the Spaniards could clofe with them, the fuperiority of their discipline and arms obliged the Mexicans to give way. But in narrow streets, and where many of the bridges of communication were broken down, the Spaniards could feldom come

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BOOK to a fair rencounter with the enemy, and as they

V.

1510.

Montezuma
Rain.

advanced, were expofed to fhowers of arrows and ftones from the tops of houses. After a day of inceffant exertion, though vast numbers of the Mexicans fell, and part of the city was burnt, the Spaniards, weary with the flaughter, and haraffed by multitudes which fucceffively relieved each other, were obliged at length to retire, with the mortification of having accomplished nothing fo decifive as to compenfate the unusual calamity of having twelve foldiers killed, and above fixty wounded. Another fally, made with greater force, was not more effectual, and in it the general himself was wounded in the hand.

CORTES now perceived, too late, the fatal error into which he had been betrayed by his own contempt of the Mexicans, and was fatisfied that he could neither maintain his present station in the centre of an hoftile city, nor retire from it without the most imminent danger. One refource still remained, to try what effect the interpofition of Montezuma might have to foothe or overawe his fubjects. When the Mexicans approached next morning to renew the affault, that unfortunate prince, at the mercy of the Spaniards, and reduced to the fad neceffity of becoming the instrument of his own difgrace, and of the flavery

of

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