The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
Cortes finding the catapult of no manner of use, and that theMexicans still refused to sue
for peace, ordered Sandoval to penetratewith our twelve brigantines into that quarter of the
city where Quauhtemoctzin had retreated with the flower of his army and the principal
personages of Mexico. He at the same time gave orders to themen not to kill nor wound
any Mexican, if it were at all possible to avoidit, and that they should not be the first to
attack, but to level the housesto the ground, and destroy the numerous breastworks that had
beenconstructed on the lake.
Cortes then mounted to the summit of the chief temple on the Tlatelulco, in order from
thence to view Sandoval's manœuvres, and was accompanied by Alvarado, Luis Marin,
Lugo, and other soldiers.
When Sandoval appeared with the brigantines in the quarter whereQuauhtemoctzin's palace
stood, the latter soon saw it would be impossibleto hold out much longer, and he began to
think of making hisescape, lest he should be put to death, or taken prisoner. He had for
some time past ordered that fifty large pirogues should always be readyat hand, with which,
when the danger was at its height, he intendedto escape to a part of the lake, which was
thickly covered with reeds,and from there to reach the mainland, and seek refuge in some
townshipwhich was friendly with the Mexicans. The same course he hadalso advised his
chief officers and grandees to adopt. Accordingly, assoon as the principal inhabitants found
Sandoval was penetrating intotheir very houses with his troops, they began to carry off all
the propertythey could take with them in their canoes, and took to flight; sothat the lake
was instantly covered with numbers of canoes. When Sandoval was informed that
Quauhtemoctzin, with the chief personagesof Mexico, had likewise fled, he immediately
staid the work of destructionin which his men were occupied, and ordered the brigantines
tothe pursuit of the canoes, and particularly to look out for the piroguewhich conveyed the
monarch himself. If they succeeded in taking himalive, they were not to ill-use him, but to
show him every courtesy,and to secure his person in the most respectful manner possible.
[Pg 108]
Garcia Holguin, who was an intimate friend of Sandoval, commanded the swiftest
brigantine, and had the best rowers. Sandoval, therefore, selected Holguin's vessel, and
pointed out to him the direction in which Quauhtemoctzin and his grandees were said to
have steered with thelarge pirogues. Holguin now flew in pursuit, and it pleased God that
he should overtake the canoes, and the fleet of large pirogues which conveyed
Quauhtemoctzin and the grandees of Mexico. He soon recognized the one in which
Quauhtemoctzin was himself, by the beautifullycarved work with which it was ornamented,
by the tent, and otherdecorations. Holguin now made a sign for the pirogues to stop, andas
they did not instantly comply, he ordered his men to level theircrossbows and muskets at
them. When Quauhtemoctzin observed this,he began to fear, and he cried out, "Forbid your
men to shoot at me.I am the king of Mexico, and of this country. I only beg of you notto
touch my wife, my children, these females, or anything else I havewith me here, but take
me alone to Malinche."
Holguin was greatly rejoiced when he heard these words, and oncoming up to the pirogue
he embraced the monarch, and assisted himmost courteously into his brigantine, with his
wife and twenty of hisgrandees. Soft mats and cloaks were then spread out on the poop of
the vessel for seats, and what food there was on board set before them.The canoes in which
the baggage was laden were not touched, butordered to follow the brigantine.
Sandoval had stationed himself at a spot whence he could watch themovements of the other
brigantines, and give signals to them. Whenhe was informed that Garcia Holguin had taken
Quauhtemoctzin prisoner,and that he was already on his way with the monarch to Cortes,
he ordered his men to pull with all their might to overtake Holguin,and cried out to him,
when he was come near enough, to deliver up hisprisoner to him. This Holguin refused to
comply with, saying thathe, and not Sandoval, had taken the monarch prisoner; to which
the latterreplied, that that had nothing to do with it, as he was commander-in-chiefof the
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