62 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



entered the valley, they found a fettlement newly laid 

 in ruins, and faw the troops of the enemy loaded with 

 fpoils, which however they quickly abandoned as foon 

 as the Spaniards appeared, in order to be fooner ready 

 for battle. They pafled a river which crofTes the valley, 

 and flood upon its border waiting for the Spaniards. 

 Sandoval forded it intrepidly With his army, attacked 

 the enemy, put them to flight, and chafed them for nine 

 miles into a city, where they took refuge, leaving more 

 than a thoufand of them dead on the field. Sandoval 

 laid fiege to the city, and forced the enemy to abandon 

 it, and betake themfelves to a fortrefs built on the top 

 of a fteep mountain. The victorious army entered the 

 city, and, after having plundered it, fet fire to the build- 

 ings ; and becaufe it was then late in the day, and the 

 troops wearied, they referved the aflault of the fortrefs 

 till the following morning, when, however, although ex- 

 pecting to meet with a ftrong oppofition, they found the 

 fortrefs evacuated. Sandoval determined, as he return- 

 ed, to pafs through fome fettlements which had alfo de- 

 clared themfelves hoftile to the allies of the Spaniards ; 

 but he had no occafion to make ufe of arms againft 

 them, for they were fo intimidated at feeing fo great an 

 army, which was much augmented by numerous troops 

 of the Otomies, that they immediately furrendered. San- 

 doval treated them with the greateft mildnefs, and re- 

 queued of them that they would perfuade the nation of 

 the Matlatzincas to enter into friendftiip with the Spani- 

 ards, by reprefendng to them the advantages which they 

 would derive from it ; and, on the contrary, the misfor- 

 tunes which might fpring from their enmity to them. 

 Thofe expeditions proved of the utmoft importance, 

 for four days after Sandoval had returned, feveral Mat- 



latzincan. 



