44 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



neither within the inclofure nor without in the fquare, 

 they were obliged to retire to the road by which they 

 had entered the city, leaving the piece of artillery in pof- 

 feffion of the enemy. A little time after, three or four 

 horfes came feafonably into the fquare, and the enemy 

 being perfuaded that the whole cavalry was coming 

 againft them, went into confufion from the fear they had 

 of thofe large and fiery animals, and ignominioufly aban- 

 doned the temple and the fquare, which were immedi- 

 ately occupied by the Spaniards. Ten or twelve Mexi- 

 can nobles were fortified in the upper area of the great 

 temple ; but, in fpite of their obftinate refiftance, they 

 were vanquifhed and killed by thofe who attacked them. 

 The Spanifti army in its retreat fet fire to the largefl: and 

 moft beautiful houfes on the road of Iztapalapan, though 

 not without the utmoft danger, on account of the impe- 

 tuofity with which the Mexicans attacked the rear, and 

 the annoyance they fufFered from the terraces. Alva- 

 rado and Sandoval made great havoc of the Mexicans 

 with their troops, and the allies received on this day 

 great encomiums from the Spanifh general. 



The forces of the Spaniards were daily fo much in- 

 creafed with frelh fupplies, and with the alliance of new 

 cities and whole provinces, that although there were 

 not in their three camps at firft more than ninety thou- 

 fand men, in the fpace of a few days they amounted 

 to two hundred and forty thoufand. The new king of 

 Tezcuco, in order to manifeft his gratitude to Cortes, 

 endeavoured to gain the whole nobility of his kingdom 

 to his party, and equipped an army of fifty thoufand 

 men, which he fent to the affiflance of the Spaniards, 

 under the command of a prince, his brother, a youth, 

 of whofe bravery all ancient hiftorians give tefthnony, 



and, 



