34 



HISTORT OF MEXICO. 



Antilles. In order to encourage them, he made them 

 an harangue fimilar to that which he had delivered to 

 them when he left Tlafcala. He fent meffengers to this 

 republic, to Cholula, Huexotzinco, and other cities, to 

 let them know that the brigantines were now completed, 

 and requeuing them to fend within ten days as many 

 chofen troops as they could mufter, for that now the 

 time was come for giving fiege to that proud city, which 

 had for fo many years oppreffed their liberty. Five 

 days before the feaft of Pentecoft, the army of Tlafcala 

 arrived at Tezcuco, confiding, according to what Cortes 

 affirms, of more than fifty thoufand men, under the com- 

 mand of feveral famous chiefs, among which came the 

 young Xicotencatl and the brave Chichimecatl ; who 

 were met by Cortes and his people. The troops of 

 Huexotzinco and Cholula paffed thither through the 

 mountains of Chalco, agreeably to the orders given 

 them. In the two following days came other troops 

 from Tlafcala and other neighbouring places, which, to- 

 gether with thofe abovementioned, made more than two 

 hundred thoufand men, as is atteited by their leader and 

 conductor Alfonfo d'Ojeda. 



On the Monday of Pentecoft, twentieth of May, 

 Cortes muttered his people in the greater market-place 

 of Tezcuco, to make a divifion of his army, to appoint 

 the commanders, to affign to each the ftation where they 

 were to form their camp, and the troops which were to 

 be immediately under them, and to publifh afrefh the 

 military proclamation formerly publifhed in Tlafcala. 

 He ordered Pedro de Alvarado to remain in camp in the 

 city of Tlacopan, to prevent any aiMance coming 

 through that quarter to the Mexicans, and affigned him 

 thirty horfes and one hundred and fixty-eight foot fol- 



diers^ 



