from this cause in much danger. Thus we hastened forward along the causeway to our camp without losing a single Spaniard, although we had some wounded; and we set fire to most of the best houses in that street, so that when we entered again they could not injure us from the roofs. The alguacil mayor and Pedro de Alvarado fought very stoutly this day from their positions, and at the time of the combats we were a league and a half from one another; the population of the city is so extended that perhaps I even diminish the distance between us. Our allies who were with them were infinite and fought very well, retiring that day without sustaining any loss.[1]
In the meantime, Don Fernando, Lord of Tesaico and the province of Aculuacan, of whom I have heretofore made relation to Your Majesty, succeeded in
Don
Fernando
of Texcoco
winning over all the natives of his city and province to our friendship, who till now were not so steadfast in it as they afterwards became. Many chiefs and the brothers of Don Fernando daily joined him, determined to declare for us and to fight against those of Mexico and Temixtitan. As Don Fernando was still a youth and professed great love for the Spaniards, recognising the favour, which, in the name of Your Majesty, had been extended to him in the gift of so great a lordship, though there were others
- ↑ It seems incredible that neither Spaniards nor allies should have sustained any loss in this long day's fighting, which, though it ended to their advantage, had witnessed their utter rout and the capture of their gun on the square. Bernal Diaz, who was fighting under Alvarado, on the causeway from the Tacuba side, gives a more convincing description of the daily losses and the wounds which the men had to dress as best they could when they returned at night to their camp. There was a soldier Juan Catalan, who was reputed to have the gift of healing by prayer and charms, who had his hands full, as the Indians also placed faith in him, and brought him all their wounded. "I say," he piously adds, "that it pleased our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give us strength and to speedily heal us."
