HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



53 



well accommodated for a retreat, and then to enter in a 

 body into the fquare of the market. 



On the day fixed for the general affault, Cortes march- 

 ed with twenty-five horfes, with all his infantry, and 

 more than an hundred thoufand allies. His brigantines, 

 with more than three thoufand canoes, formed the two 

 wings of his army on both fides of the road. He entered 

 the city without oppofition, and quickly divided his army 

 into three parts, that they might each, by three differ- 

 ent roads, arrive at the fame time in the fquare of the 

 market. The command of the firft divifion was given to 

 Julian Alderete, treafurer to the king, who was the per- 

 fon that had moft earneftly preffed Cortes to undertake 

 this expedition; and he was ordered to proceed through 

 the principal and largeft road with feventy Spaniards, 

 feven horfes, and twenty thoufand allies. Of the other 

 two roads, which led from the great road of Tlacopan 

 to the fquare of the market, the lead confined was afiign- 

 ed to the captains Andrea de Tapia, and George Alva- 

 rado, brother of P. de Alvarado, with eighty Spaniards, 

 and upwards of ten thoufand allies; and the narroweft 

 and moft difficult, the general charged himfelf with, 

 having one hundred foldiers, and the body of the auxilia- 

 ry troops, leaving the cavalry and artillery in the entry 

 to each road. The parties entered all at one time, and 

 engaged courageoufly. In the beginning the Mexicans 

 made fome refinance, but afterwards feigning cowardice, 

 they retreated, abandoning the ditches to the Spaniards, 

 in order that, allured by the hopes of victory, they might 

 run themfelves into greater dangers. Some Spaniards 

 puflied forward to the ftreets near to the fquare of the 

 market, unwarily leaving behind them a broad ditch 

 badly filled up, and when they were moft ardently ad- 

 vancing, 



