hymselfe in a _Canoa_ of twëtie ores. When the day appeared _Cortes_, with his men, and foure péeces of ordinance, came to the corner where those that yet remayned were shut vp, as cattell in a pounde. He gaue order to _Sandoual_ and _Aluarado_ what they shold do, which was, to be ready with their Vergätines, and to watche the comyng out of the _Canoas_ whiche were hidden betwixte certayne houses, and especially to haue regard vnto the kings person, and not to hurte him, but to take him aliue. He commaunded the residue of hys men to force the _Mexican_ boates to goe out, and he himselfe wente vp into a tower, inquiryng for the King, and there founde _Xihuacoa_, gouernour and Captayne generall of the Cittie, who woulde in no wise yéelde himselfe. Then came out of the Cittie a greate multitude of olde folkes, men, women and childrë to take boate. The throng was so great with hast to enter the _Canoas_, that many by that means were drowned in the lake. _Cortes_ required his më not to kil those miserable creatures: But yet he could not stay the _Indians_ his friends, who slewe and sacrificed aboue fiftene thousand. After this, there was a great rumour among the cömon people, that the king would flie, making a piteous mone and saying that they sorowfull creatures knew not whither to goe: But yet procuryng to goe into the _Conoas_, whiche were so full that there was no roume for thë, by reason thereof many were drowned. The men of warre stoode in the house toppes and zoties beholding their perdition. All the nobilitie of _Mexico_ were enbarked with the kyng. Then _Cortes_ gaue signe with the shotte of a handgunne, that his captaines should be in a readinesse, so that in shorte space they wanne fully and wholy the great Cittie of _Mexico_. The Vergantines likewise brake in among the fléete of boates, without any resistaunce, and euery one sought where he might beste succour himselfe, the Royall Standarte was beaten downe. _Garcia Holguin_, who was captayne of a Vergantine, had espied a great _Canoa_ of .xx. ores déepe laden with men. And one of his prysoners sayde vnto him, that the king wente in that greate _Canoa_. _Holguin_ beyng gladde of the newes, gaue chase to that _Canoa_ and ouertooke him. In his foreship he had thrée crossebowe men. And when _Quahutimoc_ who stoode on the puppe of the _Canoa_ ready to fighte, sawe those bowes ready bente, and many drawen swordes, he yéelded himselfe, declaryng that he was the king. _Garcia Holguin_ being a gladde man of his prysoner, tooke and carried him vnto _Cortes_ who receiued him reuerently. When _Quahutimoc_ came neare vnto him, he layde his hande vpon _Cortes_ his dagger, saying, I haue done all my possibility to defende me and mine, accordyng to my duetie, hoping not to haue come to this estate and place where now I stande: And considering that you may doe with me what you please, I beséeche you to kill me, and that is my only request. _Cortes_ comforted him with