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Was, " That we fliould go to the head town of Tlafcala, \\^here peace 

 *' fhould be made with us by devouring our bodies, and ofFerirtg our 

 ** hearts and blood to their gods ; and that on the next morning, he 

 ** would give us his anfwerin perfon." This language, after what we 

 had experienced, it muft be confeffed founded moft terribly in our ears. 

 Cortes however* did not fuffer his apprehenfions to appear, and treated 

 the meffengers even more kindly than before, in order to induce them 

 to go again. He then enquired relative to the power of Xicotenga and 

 the nature of his command. They informed him, that the army now 

 aflembled confifted of the quotas brought by five chiefs, each of which 

 was ten thoufand men. Thefe chiefs were, Xicotenga the elder, father 

 of the general, Maxicatzin, Chichimecatecle, Tecapaneca cacique 

 Topeyanco, and a cacique named Guaxobcin. Thus fifty thoufand 

 warriors were now ranged under the banner of Xicotenga, which was, 

 a white bird with the wings fpread refembling an oftrich. Each divi- 

 fion of the troops had alfo its own marks of diftind:ion : this we found 

 to be the cafe, and that each cacique bore them in the manner of our 

 nobility in Caftille, although when we were firft informed of it by our 

 prifoners we difbelieved it. When all this was communicated to us, 

 being but mortals, and like all others fearing death, we prepared for 

 battle by confefling to our reverend fathers, who were occupied during 

 the whole night in that holy office. 



On the fifth of September 1519, having brought out otr whole 

 force not excepting the wounded, the crofs-bowmen and mufketeers 

 being diredied to fire alternately, fo that there fhould always be fome of 

 each loaded, the foldiers with fword and buckler being ordered to ufe 

 the points, paffing them clear through the bodies of their opponents, 

 and the cavalry being inflrudted to keep their ranks, and charge at half 

 fpeed, pointing their lances at the eyes of the enemy, and riding through 

 them without halting to give thrufls, with our colours flying, and four 

 of our companions as a guard upon them, we fet out upon our march. 

 We had not proceeded half a quarter of a league, when we faw the 

 troops of the enemy covering the plains. Each body difplayed its re- 



O fpe(5tive 



