{ 98 ) 



fpediive device, and they advanced, founding all their wariike inftru- 

 ments. 



Much might be written on the fubjed of this gre^t, and long 

 doubtful battle, where four hundred men flood oppofed to hofts, which 

 furrounding them from all parts, filled thefe plains, extending in every 

 diredlion for the fpace of two leagues. Many of our fmall number 

 were fick and wounded, and we knew that the enemy came upon us in 

 a determination to fweep us from the earth, and facrifice us to their 

 idols. Their firfl difcharges of arrows, ftones, and two-headed darts 

 which pierce any armour, and through the body where unproteded, 

 covered the ground ; and they continued advancing until they clofed 

 upon, and attacked us with their lances, and two-handed fwords, 

 fighting foot to foot, and encouraging each other by their cries and 

 fhouts. Our artillery, mulketry, and crofs-bows played on them, and 

 the home thrufls our infantry made with their fwords, prevented their 

 clofing upon us as much as they had done on the former occafion. Our 

 cavalry alfo charged with fuch effed:, that, next to God, it was to 

 them we owed the vidory. At one period I faw our battalion com- 

 pletely broken, nor could all the exertions of Cortes for a time rally it, 

 fuch was the preffure of the enemy upon us. By the fole effed of our 

 fwords, however, we at length forced them off from us, and were then 

 enabled to clofe and form. One circumftance that preferved us was the 

 thicknefs of the enemy, whereby full play was given to our artillery. 

 Another was, that they did not know how to bring up their forces 

 upon us without confufion, and fome of the divifions could not come 

 to the attack at all. The one compofed of the warriors of Guaxocingo, 

 was prevented from engaging by Chichimecatecle, whom Xicotenga, 

 the commander in chief, had provoked by fome infulting obfervation 

 relative to the preceding battle. This circumftance we were informed 

 of afterwards. They were alfo apprehenfive by experience of our ca- 

 valry, our cannon, and other arms; but above all was the great mercy 

 of God, who gave us force to fuftain their attacks. Two divifions as I 

 have obferved flood aloof, from difguft at what Xicotenga had faid 



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