HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



41 



ment, and did fo much damage to the Mexicans with 

 their artillery and horfes, that they were compelled to 

 retreat to their city ; and becaufe, by that part of the 

 lake which was to the weft of the road, they were much 

 annoyed by the veffels of the Mexicans, Cortes made 

 one of the ditches be enlarged, that the brigantines might 

 pafs there, which immediately charged impetuoufly upon 

 them, purfued them as far as the capital, and fet fire to 

 fome houfes of the fuburbs. 



In the meanwhile, Sandoval having fuccefsfully termi- 

 nated, though not without infinite peril, the expedition 

 of Iztapalapan, marched with his troops towards Cojo- 

 huacan. On his way thither, he was attacked by the 

 troops of Mexicaltzinco, but he defeated them, and fet 

 fire to the city. Cortes, apprifed of his march, and alfo 

 of a great ditch which had been recently made in that 

 road, fent two brigantines to facilitate the pafiage to the 

 army. It marched towards Cojohuacan, and Sandoval 

 came with ten cavalry to the camp of Cortes. When 

 he arrived there he found the Spaniards in combat with 

 the Mexicans : the fatigue of the journey and the battle 

 of Mexicaltzinco was not fufficient to reftrain him from 

 engaging : he joined battle with his ufual courage, but 

 while fighting he was pierced in the leg by a dart, and 

 many other Spaniards were wounded with him. Thofe 

 advantages, if we may call them fo, are little in compan- 

 ion with the lofs which the Mexicans fuftained that day, 

 or the dread which the fire of the artillery excited in 

 them ; which was fo great, that for fome days they durft 

 not come near the Spanifti camp. The Spaniards con- 

 tinued for fix days in continual fkirmifties ; the brigan- 

 tines failing round the capital, fet fire to many houfes 

 of the fuburbs, and in their expeditions difcovered a 



Vol. III. G large 



