giuing them to vnderstand, that they stoode in no néede of vittayles, and so made an ende of theyr talke. The séege of this Citie séemed a long time to _Cortes_, for in néere fiftie dayes that he had begun the same, yet could not he bring his desire to passe, yea and much maruelled that the enimies coulde endure so long a season with dayly skirmishing, and also how they refused peace and concord, knowing how many thousands of them had bin slayne, and ended their miserable liues with hunger. Yet once agayne he sente this last message vnto them, that if they woulde not yéelde themselues, then he hauing them enuironed by land and water, woulde slea thë all, and not permitte anye kinde of victuall to come vnto them, so that theyr extremitie shoulde be so greate, that they should eate one another: their aunswere was, that firste the Spanyardes shoulde tast of the same cuppe, so that threatning increased their courages, and occupyed themselues in carrying stones to the market place, and many other stréetes, to stoppe the way against the Horses and their maisters. _Cortes_, although it gréeued him to destroy totally so beautifull a Citie, yet he determined to bring all the houses of the stréetes that he should winne to be equall with the ground, and to stoppe with them the Chanels of water. He cömuned the matter with his Captaynes, who liked well of his intente, although it was a troublesome thing. He also aduertised the Gentlemen _Indians_ hys friends of his determination, who highly commended his deuice. _Cortes_ séeyng the towardnesse of all his armye, he called and prepared all his labourers, with their pikeaxes and shouels, so that in these affaires, and in setting hys men in good order, he spent foure dayes, and then he begä to cöbate the stréete, which goeth directly to the market place, then fainedly the Citizës desired peace. _Cortes_ stayed, and asked for their King: they aunswered, that they had sent for him, wherevpon _Cortes_ taried an houre, and then they began to reuile him, and to throwe stones, and shot at him. The Spanyards séeing this, gaue the onser, and wanne a forte, and came into the chiefe place of the Citie. They cleansed the stréetes of the stones whiche they had laide to disturbe their passage, and stopped so vp the water stréete in that place, in suche wise, that neuer after it was opened againe, and threw downe all the houses, making the entrance into the Citie an open playne high way, and then retired to their camp. Also sixe dayes arowe they did the like, without receyuing any hurt, sauing the last day two horses were hurt.