Then sayd _Cortes_ to the Embassadours, you do sée that we should haue bene slaine by the _Cholollans_, and through the procurement of _Mutezuma_, but yet I beleue it not, cösideryng that he is my friende and a mightie Prince, saying also that Noble men vsed neyther treason nor lyes, wherefore feare not you, but these dissemblyng Traytors shall be punished, for you are persons inuiolable and messengers of a Prince, whome he meante to serue and not offende, bicause he had an assured opinion in _Mutezuma_, to be a vertuous Prince, and one that woulde not committe villanie. All these wordes he spake, bycause he woulde not fall out with _Mutezuma_, vntill he sawe himselfe within the Cittie of _Mexico_. Incontinent he commaunded some of those Captaines to be slayne, and kepte the residue bounde. Then he shotte off hys handgun, whiche was the watch vnto his armye, who forthwith sette vppon the Townesmen, and within two houres slewe sixe thousand persons and more. _Cortes_ commaunded that they shoulde kill neyther woman nor childe: they foughte welnéere fyue houres: they sette fire on all the houses and Towers that made resistance, and draue all the inhabitantes out of the Towne. The dead carcases lay so thicke, that of force they must treade vpon them. There were twentie Gentlemen, and many Priestes, who ascended vp to the high tower of the temple, whiche hathe a hundred and twenty steppes, from whence wyth arrowes and stones they did much hurt, and woulde not yéelde, wherevpon oure men set fier to the Tower, and burned them all. Then they exclaymed on their Goddes, who woulde neyther helpe them nor their Citie and holy sanctuary. The Citie being sacked, oure men tooke the spoyle of golde, plate, and feathers, and the _Indians_ their friendes tooke clothes and salte, which was the treasure that they desired. _Cortez_ commaunded to ceasse the spoyle. The other Captaynes that lay bounde, hearing of suche a greate destruction and punishment, most pitifully besought _Cortez_ to loase some of them, for to sée what was become of their Gods and cömö people. Likewise they humbly besought him to pardon them, who had not so muche faulte as _Mutezuma_, who perswaded and entised them to that pretended treason. Vpon their lamentable request, he loased two of them, and the next day following the Citie was as ful of people agayne, that there séemed not one to be wanting. At the sute of the _Tlaxcaltecas_ who were put for mediators, _Cortes_ pardoned them all, and sette his prisoners at libertie, assuring them that the like correction he woulde do vppon al them that should dissemble or shewe an euil countenance, or make lyes, or fynally vse anye kinde of treason toward him: wherevpon they all abode in greate feare. He made the knot of friendship betwéene them and the _Tlaxcaltecas_, which in time past had bin betwixt them, for _Mutezuma_ and his auncetors made them enimies, with fayre promises, words and also feare.