HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



13 



been folicited by the Mexicans to take arms againfl: the 

 Spaniards, would never confent. Cortes, who was con- 

 tinually increafing his authority, the more he augment- 

 ed his party, required from them, as a neceffary condi- 

 tion for the obtainment of his alliance, that they fhould 

 feize all the meffengers who were fent to them from 

 Mexico, and all the Mexicans who arrived at their cities. 

 They, though not without the greateft difficulty, bound 

 themfelves to do fo, and from that time forward were 

 constantly faithful to the Spaniards. 



This confederacy was immediately followed by that 

 with Chalco, a confiderable city and flate on the eaftern 

 border of the lake of fweet water ; for Cortes knowing 

 that the Chalchefe were difpofed to adhere to his party, 

 but dared not declare themfelves for fear of the Mexican 

 garrifon in their flate, fent Sandoval there with twenty 

 horfes, two hundred Spanifh infantry, and a number of 

 allies ; but, previoufly, he ordered fome Tlafcalan troops 

 to march, who were defirous of carrying home to their 

 own country that part of the booty which they had 

 brought off from Iztapalapan, and from thence to return 

 towards Chalco, and drive the Mexicans from that ftate. 

 Sandoval gave the vanguard to the Tlafcalans ; fome 

 Mexican troops, who were in ambufli, charged fudden- 

 ly upon them, threw them into diforder, killed fome of 

 them, and took their booty ; but the Spaniards coming 

 up, defeated the Mexicans and put them to flight. Hav- 

 ing recovered their booty, the Tlafcalans continued their 

 journey in fafety, and Sandoval marched towards Chal- 

 co ; but long before he arrived at the city, the greateft 

 part of the Mexican garrifon came to meet him, which, 

 as fome hiftorians affirm, confuted of twelve thoufand 

 men. A battle was fought, which lafted two hours, and 



concluded 



