History of Mexico, Volume 1, 1516-1521Bancroft, Hubert Howe
History
History of Mexico, Volume 1, 1516-1521
Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Mexico -- History
[222] ‘Figliuoli porse del suo fratello Cuitlahuatzin.’
_Clavigero_, _Storia Mess._, iii. 30.
[223] ‘Ciertas pieças de oro y plata bien labradas, y vn
casquete de oro menudo.... Peso todo esto dos mil, y nouenta
Castellanos.’ _Gomara_, _Hist. Mex._, 58.
[224] Before the embassy came, says Herrera, ‘Diò orden con
voluntad del señor de Chianhuitzlan, que los tres Mexicanos
pressos fuessen sueltos,’ dec. ii. lib. v. cap. xi.
[225] _Ixtlilxochitl_, _Hist. Chich._, 290. Other authorities
differ in the spelling.
[226] One of them who had bartered a fine light-colored horse
for some property in Cuba was unable to annul the trade,
and thus lost his animal. _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._,
34. Gomara, _Hist. Mex._, 64, refers merely to murmurs in
favor of Velazquez, which Cortés quiets by placing a few
in chains for a time.
[227] ‘Muriò este soldado en vna guerra en la Prouincia de
Guatimala sobre vn Peñol.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._,
35. He places the incident on the return march.
[228] According to Gomara the Aztec garrison does ravage
the country when the Totonac revolt occurs, and their forces
meet the Spaniards on the field, only to flee at the sight of
the horsemen. Cortés and four others dismount, and mingling
with the fleeing, reach the fort gates, which they hold
till their troops come up. Surrendering the place to the
allies, Cortés tells them to respect the people and to let
the garrison depart without arms or banner. This victory
gained great influence for the Spaniards, and remembering
the feat of Cortés, the Indians declared that one Spaniard
was enough to aid them in achieving victory. _Hist. Mex._,
59. Ixtlilxochitl, who follows Gomara, fights the Aztec
garrison as far as the city, and then captures it. _Hist.
Chich._, 290. Solis assumes that a few Spaniards cut off
the retreat of the townsmen, and rushing forward with some
Cempoalans, are already inside when the leaders come to
plead for mercy. _Hist. Mex._, i. 197-8. The foremost credit
is however due to Bernal Diaz, _Hist. Verdad._, 34-5, who,
being present, declares Gomara’s account wholly wrong, that
no garrison existed here, and that no resistance was made.
The latter sentence is modified by Tapia, also a member of
the expedition, who states that the town did resist and was
punished. _Relacion_, in _Icazbalceta_, _Col. Doc._, ii.
566. Hence it may be assumed that Diaz, as a foot soldier,
was not present to see the probably bloodless rout of the
Indians by the cavalry. The townsmen are not likely to
have allowed the Cempoalans to approach without offering
resistance, or, in case they knew of the Spanish advance,
without sending a deputation before the pillage began.
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