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was now advanced to the front, and we all faid, ** If it muft be fo, 

 *■* forward in God's name." Our general then inftruded the cavalry- 

 how to charge by threes in front, not halting to give thrufts with their 

 lances, but pointing them at the height of the face ; and he taught 

 them how, if the enemy feized the lance, to wreft it out of their hands 

 by the action of the horfe, and holding the butt-end of the lance under 

 the arm. 



Having advanced about two leagues, we arrived at a kind of forti- 

 fication built of lime and ftone, and fome cement of fo ftrong a nature 

 that nothing but tools of iron could have any effecft on it. It was alfo 

 extremely well conftrudted for defence. We halted to examine this 

 work, which the people informed us was built by the Tlafcalans, on 

 whofe territory it flood, as a defence againft the incurfions of the Mexi- 

 cans. After paufing fome time in ferious contemplation of this objed, 

 Cortes ordered us to march on, faying, *' Gentlemen follow your ftan- 

 ** dard the holy crofs, wherewith we fhall conquer;" to which we 

 .one and all replied " That we were ready, for God was our true 

 *♦ fupport." 



After we had proceeded fome diftance, our advanced guard faw 

 about thirty of the enemy, fent out to obferve us. Cortes ordered fome 

 of the cavalry to endeavour to take them prifoners, while we advanced 

 at a quick ftep to fupport the advanced party. Our cavalry attacked 

 them, but the enemy defended thcmfelves fo well with their fwords> 

 wounding the horfes feverely, that our people were obliged to kill five, 

 it being impofTible to make them prifoners. A body of three thoufand 

 warriors which had been placed in ambufcade now fallied out with 

 great fury, and began to (hoot at the cavalry, who were affembled in a 

 body ; but as we at this time brought our artillery and mulketry to bear 

 upon them, they were after a time compelled to fall back, though re- 

 gularly, and fighting during their retreat. They left feventeen dead on 

 the field, and one of our foldiers died a few days after of his wounds. 

 Evening was now drawing on, and we did not follow them, but pur- 



fuing 



