The Project Gutenberg eBook of History of the Conquest of Mexico; vol. 4/4

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Title: History of the Conquest of Mexico; vol. 4/4

Author: William Hickling Prescott

Release date: June 28, 2019 [eBook #59832]
Most recently updated: January 24, 2021

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO; VOL. 4/4 ***

Contents of Volume IV.

List of Illustrations
(In certain versions of this etext [in certain browsers] clicking on the image will bring up a larger version.)

Footnotes
Appendix
Index: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

(etext transcriber's note)

Montezuma Edition

THE WORKS OF WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT

TWENTY-TWO VOLUMES

Vol. IV

The Montezuma Edition of William H. Prescott’s Works is limited to one thousand copies, of which this is

No. 345

GUATEMOZIN BROUGHT BEFORE CORTÉS

Page 102

Montezuma Edition

HISTORY OF THE

Conquest of Mexico

BY
WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT

EDITED BY

WILFRED HAROLD MUNRO
PROFESSOR OF EUROPEAN HISTORY IN BROWN UNIVERSITY

AND COMPRISING THE NOTES OF THE EDITION BY
JOHN FOSTER KIRK

“Victrices aquilas alium laturus in orbem”
Lucan, Pharsalia, lib. v., v. 238

VOL. IV

PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

Copyright, 1843, by William H. Prescott
Copyright, 1871, by William G. Prescott
Copyright, 1873, by J. B. Lippincott & Co.
Copyright, 1904, by J. B. Lippincott Company

Electrotyped and Printed by
J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia U. S. A.

CONTENTS OF VOL. IV

BOOK VI SIEGE AND SURRENDER OF MEXICO (CONTINUED)
CHAPTER V
Indian Flotilla defeated—Occupation of the Causeways—Desperate Assaults—Firing on the Palaces—Spirit of the Besieged—Barracks for the Troops
	PAGE
Sandoval marches on Iztapalapan	3
Cortés takes Command of the Fleet	3
Indian Flotilla defeated	5
Cortés occupies Xoloc	6
Sandoval advances to Cojohuacan	7
Skirmishes on the Causeway	8
Blockade completed	9
Simultaneous Assaults on Mexico	9
Ramparts raised by the Aztecs	10
Brigantines enfilade the Causeway	10
Spaniards enter the City	12
Allies demolish the Buildings	12
Fierce Battles in the City	13
Spaniards reach the Square	15
Storm the Pyramid	15
Hurl the Priests headlong	15
The Aztecs rally	16
Spaniards give Way	16
Cavalry to the Rescue	17
Retreat to their Quarters	17
Ixtlilxochitl in the Camp	19
A second Assault	20
Spaniards penetrate the City	20
Fire the Palace of Axayacatl	21
Royal Aviary in Flames	22
Rage of the Mexicans	23
Their Desperation	24
Sufferings of the Spaniards	26
Operations of Guatemozin	27
His Vigilance	27
Ambuscade among the Reeds	28
Resources of the Indian Emperor	29
Accession of Allies to the Spaniards	30
Barracks for the Troops	31
Hard Fare of the Besiegers	31
Spirit of the Aztecs	33
CHAPTER VI
General Assault on the City—Defeat of the Spaniards—Their disastrous Condition—Sacrifice of the Captives—Defection of the Allies—Constancy of the Troops
Views of the Spaniards	35
Council of War	36
General Assault on the City	37
Cortés rebukes Alvarado	38
The Enemy give Way	39
Their cunning Stratagem	40
Horn of Guatemozin sounds	41
Aztecs turn upon their Foe	41
Terrible Rout of the Spaniards	42
Imminent Danger of Cortés	43
Self-devotion of his Followers	44
Sharp Struggle on the Causeway	45
His Division retreats	46
Sandoval and Alvarado	46
Their Troops driven from the City	47
Sandoval visits the General	49
His Interview with him	50
Great Drum beat in the Temple	51
Sacrifice of the Captives	52
Sensations of the Spaniards	53
Rejoicings of the Aztecs	54
Prophecy of the Priests	55
Defection of the Allies	56
Gloomy Condition of the Spaniards	56
Their Constancy	58
Heroism of their Women	58
CHAPTER VII
Successes of the Spaniards—Fruitless Offers to Guatemozin—Buildings razed to the Ground—Terrible Famine—The Troops gain the Market-place—Battering Engine
Allies return to the Camp	60
Accession of Confederates	62
Plan of the Campaign	63
The Breaches filled	65
Famine in the City	66
Fruitless Offers to Guatemozin	67
Council of the Aztecs	67
Result of their Deliberations	69
Buildings razed to the Ground	69
Single Combats	71
Guatemozin’s Palace in Flames	72
Sufferings of the Besieged	73
Neglect of their Dead	73
Their unconquerable Spirit	75
Conflagration of the Teocalli	76
Success of Alvarado	77
Spaniards in the Market-place	79
Cortés surveys the City	80
Its Desolation	81
Battering Engine	82
Its Failure	83
CHAPTER VIII
Dreadful Sufferings of the Besieged—Spirit of Guatemozin—Murderous Assaults—Capture of Guatemozin—Evacuation of the City—Termination of the Siege—Reflections
Dreadful Famine in the City	85
Cannibalism	86
The Corpses fill the Streets	87
Pestilence sweeps off Multitudes	88
Alarming Prodigies	88
Spirit of Guatemozin	89
Cortés requests an Interview with him	90
Guatemozin consents	90
He avoids a Parley	91
Murderous Assault	93
Appalling Scene of Carnage	93
Preparations for the final Attack	96
Cortés urges an Interview	97
The Signal given	98
Aztecs attempt to escape	99
Capture of Guatemozin	100
Cessation of Hostilities	101
Person of Guatemozin	102
Brought before Cortés	102
His Wife, Montezuma’s Daughter	104
Furious Thunder-storm	106
Mexicans abandon their City	106
Number of those who perished	108
Amount of the Spoil	109
Cortés dismisses his Allies	109
Rejoicings of the Spaniards	110
Solemn Thanksgiving	111
Reflections	111
Aztec Institutions	112
Their moral Influence	114
Cruelty ascribed to the Spaniards	114
The Conquest as a military Achievement	117
Notice of the Historian Solís	119
His Life and Writings	121
Sahagun’s Twelfth Book	125
BOOK VII CONCLUSION—SUBSEQUENT CAREER OF CORTÉS
CHAPTER I
Torture of Guatemozin—Submission of the Country—Rebuilding of the Capital—Mission to Castile—Complaints against Cortés—He is confirmed in his Authority
Small Amount of Treasure	130
Disappointment of the Soldiers	130
Torture of Guatemozin	130
His Fortitude unshaken	131
Submission of the Country	132
The Southern Ocean reached	133
Rebuilding of the Capital	135
Aztec Prophecy accomplished	136
Mission to Castile	136
Envoys captured by the French	138
Charges against Cortés	139
Tápia sent to New Spain	140
Insurrection of the Natives	141
Quelled by Sandoval	141
Fonseca’s Hostility to Cortés	143
His Cause referred to a select Tribunal	143
Accusations against Cortés	144
Defence by his Friends	144
Acts of Cortés ratified	146
He is confirmed in the supreme Authority	147
He triumphs over Fonseca	147
Mortification of Velasquez	148
His Death and Character	149
CHAPTER II
Modern Mexico—Settlement of the Country—Condition of the Natives—Christian Missionaries—Cultivation of the Soil—Voyages and Expeditions
Mexico rebuilt	151
Edifices in the City	152
Its Fortress	153
Its Population	154
Settlement of the Country	155
Encouragements to Marriage	156
The Wife of Cortés arrives in Mexico	158
Her Death	159
System of Repartimientos	159
Reward of the Tlascalans	161
Treatment of the Natives	162
Franciscan Missionaries	163
Their Reception by Cortés	164
Progress of Conversion	166
Settlements of the Conquerors	167
Cultivation of the Soil	168
Fleet burnt at Zacatula	169
Voyages to discover a Strait	170
Expedition of Alvarado	172
Results of the Enterprises of Cortés	173
CHAPTER III
Defection of Olid—Dreadful March to Honduras—Execution of Guatemozin—Doña Marina—Arrival at Honduras
Defection of Olid	175
Cortés prepares to visit Honduras	176
The General’s Retinue	177
Obstacles on the March	179
Passes near Palenque	180
Lost in the Mazes of the Forests	181
Builds a stupendous Bridge	182
Horses sink in the Marshes	182
Reports of a Conspiracy	183
Guatemozin arrested	184
His Execution	185
His Character	185
Feelings of the Army	187
Cause of the Execution	187
Cortés’ Remorse	188
Prosecution of the March	189
Lake of Peten	189
Doña Marina	190
Her Meeting with her Mother	190
She marries a Castilian Knight	191
Her Son Don Martin	192
Missionaries in the Isles of Peten	192
Passage of “the Mountain of Flints”	193
Army arrives at Honduras	194
Famine in the Colony	195
Cortés reaches Truxillo	196
Prepares to reduce Nicaragua	196
His romantic Daring	197
Tidings from Mexico	198
CHAPTER IV
Disturbances in Mexico—Return of Cortés—Distrust of the Court—Cortés Returns to Spain—Death of Sandoval—Brilliant Reception of Cortés—Honors conferred on him
Misrule in Mexico	199
Cortés attempts to return	200
Driven back by the Tempest	200
His Despondency	201
Embarks once more for Mexico	201
Lands near San Juan de Ulua	201
Progress to the Capital	202
Cortés re-enters Mexico in State	202
Distrust of the Crown	204
Ponce de Leon sent as Commissioner	205
He dies on his Arrival	205
Appoints Estrada his Successor	207
Affronts to Cortés	208
He leaves the City	209
The Commission of the Royal Audience	210
Cortés determines to return to Spain	210
News of his Father’s Death	212
Preparations for Departure	212
He lands at Palos	213
His Meeting with Pizarro	213
Death of Sandoval	215
His Person and Character	215
Brilliant Reception of Cortés	217
Sensation caused by his Presence	217
Admitted to an Audience by the Emperor	218
Charles V. visits him when ill	219
He is made Marquis of the Valley	220
Grants of Lands and Vassals	220
Refused the Government of Mexico	222
Reinstated in his military Command	222
Cortés’ second Marriage	223
Splendid Presents to his Bride	223
His Residence at Court	224
CHAPTER V
Cortés revisits Mexico—Retires to his Estates—His Voyages of Discovery—Final Return to Castile—Cold Reception—Death of Cortés—His Character
Cortés embarks for Mexico	225
Stops at Hispaniola	225
Proceedings of the Audience	226
Cortés lands at Villa Rica	228
Reception in Mexico	229
Retires to his Estates	229
His Improvement of them	231
His Voyages of Discovery	232
He embarks for California	233
Disastrous Expedition	233
Arrival of a Viceroy	234
Policy of the Crown	234
Maritime Enterprises of Cortés	236
His Disgust with Mendoza	237
His final Return to Castile	238
He joins the Expedition to Algiers	239
His cold Reception by Charles V.	240
Cortés’ last Letter to the Emperor	241
Taken ill at Seville	242
His Will	242
Scruples of Conscience as to Slavery	243
Views entertained on this Topic	244
He moves to Castilleja	245
Death of Cortés	246
His funeral Obsequies	246
Fate of his Remains	248
Posterity of Cortés	249
His Character	251
His Knight-errantry	251
His military Genius	253
Power over his Soldiers	254
Character as a Conqueror	256
His enlightened Views	256
His private Life	258
His Bigotry	259
His Manners and Habits	261
———
APPENDIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
Aztec Mother’s Advice to her Daughter	267
Translations of Nezahualcoyotl’s Poem	272
Palace of Tezcotzinco	279
Punishment of the guilty Tezcucan Queen	281
Velasquez’s Instructions to Cortés	284
Extract from Las Casas’ History	290
Deposition of Puerto Carrero	291
Extract from the Letter of Vera Cruz	296
Extract from Camargo’s Tlascala	299
Extract from Oviedo’s History	302
Dialogue of Oviedo with Cano	307
Privilege of Doña Isabel de Montezuma	318
Military Ordinances of Cortés	324
Extracts from the Fifth Letter of Cortés	331
Last Letter of Cortés	337
Account of his funeral Obsequies	342

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

	PAGE
Guatemozin brought before Cortés	Frontispiece
From a painting especially made for this edition by L. Kowalsky.
The Standard of Cortés	46
From a photograph of the original, especially made for this edition, in the National Museum at Mexico.
View of the Great Square in Mexico	76
After the drawing by Raphael Ximeno, engraved by Bouquet.
The Torture of Guatemozin	130
After the painting in the Academy of Fine Arts at Mexico.
Fac-simile of the Signature of Cortés	220
Portrait of Hernando Cortés	226
After a painting at Madrid.

History of the Conquest of Mexico; vol. 4/4

About This Book

The Project Gutenberg eBook of History of the Conquest of Mexico; vol. 4/4

HISTORY OF THE Conquest of Mexico

CONTENTS OF VOL. IV

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

HISTORY OF THE

Conquest of Mexico