NowshortlyafterChristmas，havingmarchedfromthecoastwithagreatarrayofSpaniards，formanyhadjoinedhisbannerfromoversea，andtensofthousandsofnativeallies，CortestookuphisheadquartersatTezcucointhevalleyofMexico。
Thistownissituatednearthebordersofthelake，atadistanceofseveralleaguesfromTenoctitlan，andbeingontheedgeoftheterritoryoftheTlascalanshisallies，itwasmostsuitabletoCortesasabaseofaction。
Andthenbeganoneofthemostterriblewarsthattheworldhasseen。
Foreightmonthsitraged，andwhenitceasedatlength，Tenoctitlan，andwithitmanyotherbeautifulandpopuloustowns，wereblackenedruins，themostoftheAztecsweredeadbyswordandfamine，andtheirnationwascrushedforever。
OfallthedetailsofthiswarIdonotpurposetowrite，forwereItodoso，therewouldbenoendtothisbook，andIhavemyowntaletotell。