and drove them off, killing the leader, who was a prominent officer. For this important service the brave Lopez was rewarded with a captaincy.[1]
Cortés made quite rapid advance in the work of demolition, considering the immensity of it. The Tlacopan road had been levelled, rendering communication easy with the camp of Alvarado, and on the eve of Santiago's day[2] the greater part of the main street to the market was gained. This thoroughfare bore afterward the name of Guatemotzin,[3] because this emperor's palace was here situated. Strongly fortified, its capture was not effected without a severe struggle, wherein many a brave fellow met his fate. During the fight Alderete's horse became unmanageable from a thrust, and rushed amid the enemy in mad fury, creating more disorder by his pawing and biting than a squad of soldiers could have done.[4]
Equally severe was the struggle on the following days in entering and filling a street with a wide canal, adjoining the main road. At the same time was taken a temple,[5] wherein a number of impaled bearded heads stared the horrified Spaniards in the face. Tears filled the eyes of the beholders, and rev-
- ↑ 'De la Capitana, que èl havia salvado,' says Herrera, while asserting that the captain Villafuerte abandoned her; but this hardly agrees with his own later statements that Villafuerte remained in charge of the fleet, dec. iii. lib. i. cap. xxi.; lib. ii. cap. viii. The slain leader is called the lieutenant-general of Quauhtemotzin, and his death 'fue causa, que mas presto se ganase la Ciudad,' Torquemada, i. 538, all of which is doubtful. A similar reward to that of Lopez was accorded on another occasion to a soldier named Andrés Nuñez, who after the captain had abandoned his vessel led her to the rescue of two consorts. When the commander came to resume his post Nuñez refused to admit him, saying that he had forfeited it. On being appealed to, Cortés sustained the brave fellow and gave him the command, in which capacity he rendered important service. Herrera, dec. iii. lib. ii. cap. i.
- ↑ July 25th, according to Clavigero, while Torquemada less correctly makes it August 5th.
- ↑ The Spanish corruption of Quauhtemotzin. 'La calle qᵉ ba al tianguiz de Tlatelulco qᵉ se llama de Guatimosa.' Libro de Cabildo, MS., 88.
- ↑ Herrera names Magallanes as one of those who succumbed under the onslaught of a chief, but his death was avenged by Diego Castellanos, a noted marksman, dec. iii. lib. i. cap. xx. On this occasion Ixtlilxochitl intimates that his namesake captured his brother, the usurper king of Tezcuco, and surrendering him to Cortés, he was at once secured with shackles. Hor. Crueldades, 42-3. 'De manera que de cuatro partes de la ciudad, las tres estaban ya por nosotros.' Cortés, Cartas, 246.
- ↑ At the cornr of the street leading to Sandoval's quarter. Id., 247.
