_Cortes_ commaunded greate bonfiers to be made in token of victory, and also to mortifie the horrible stenche of the dead bodies, whome he lykewise commaunded to be buried, and some of the prysoners menne and women he caused to be marked in the face, for the Kings slaues, and pardoned all the residue. He commaunded the Vergantines to bée brought ashore, and appoynted one _Villa fuerte_, with .80. men to guarde thë, fearyng least the _Mexicans_ shold set fire or otherwise destroy them. In this businesse he occupied himself foure dayes, & then remoued his campe to _Culhuacan_, where he rendred hartie thanks to all the Gentlemen his friendes, promysing to gratifie their good and faythfull seruice, desiryng them to departe home to theyr houses, cösidering y^e warre was at an end, wherevpon they departed almost all in generall, both rich and iocond with the spoyle of _Mexico_, and also to remayne in the fauour and grace of _Cortes_. Maruellous signes and tokens of the _destruction of Mexico_. Not long before _Hernando Cortes_ came vnto the newe _Spayne_, did many nightes after the midnighte appeare in the aire, and in the same port and place where _Cortes_ entred into that land, great lightning of fire, whiche amounted vpward, and suddaynely vaded away. The _Mexicans_ at that time saw flames of fire toward the orient, where now _Vera Crux_ standeth, with a great and thicke smoke, that séemed to touche the heauen and earthe: thys sight was fearfull vnto them. They also saw the figures of armed men fighte in the aire one with another, a new and strange sight for them, and a thing that filled their heads with ymaginations: for when there was a prophecie spoken of among them, how that white men with beardes should come and rule their kingdome in the time of _Mutezuma_. The Lordes of _Tezcuco_ and _Tlacopan_ were much amazed, saying, that the sword whiche _Mutezuma_ hadde, was the armes of those folke, whose figures they had séene in the ayre, with their apparell and attire. _Mutezuma_ had muche adoe to pacifie them, fayning that the weapon and apparell was of hys forefathers, and bycause they should sée the troth thereof, he gaue them the sworde, and willed them to breake it if they coulde, and they prouing to breake the same and could not, they maruelled thereat, and also were resolued of their opinions.