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t-houfand warriors, who attacked our poft in three different bodies, but 

 our out parties had kept too good a look out to befurprifed, and a mo- 

 ment was fufficient to put us under arms. They therefore met with 

 fueh a reception as foon caufed them to turn their backs, being, as it 

 was moonhght, purfued by our cavalry with a confiderable lofs ; and 

 they returned to their poft heartily fick of a nodurnal attack. I have 

 heard it faid, that finding themfelvcs deceived by their priefis and 

 wizards, they in revenge facrificed two of them. We had but one of 

 bur allies killed, and two Spaniards wounded in this adlion, and we 

 made four prifoners ; but on the enfuing day when we came to look 

 into the fituation of our army, it was far from confolatory j we were 

 dreadfully harralTed, had loft above fifty-five foldiers by battle, fieknefs, 

 and feverity of weather, and had feveral fick ; our general was ill of a 

 fever, as was our Rev. Father Olmedo, and the expedtation of reaching 

 Mexico was now confidcred as a vifionary idea, after what we had QXr^ 

 perienced of the refiflance of the Tlafcalans. 



We had however in our army many cavaliers equally wife in 

 council as they were brave in the field, with whom Cort€s never omitted 

 eonfulting on important occafions, notwithftanding Gomara fays that 

 Cortes did this and that, as if he was the fole adtor, infonxuch that 

 even if he had been made of iron, he could not have executed all which 

 that hiflorian afcribcs to him. Let it fuffice that he did in every refpe<5t 

 like a good captain which he was, and this I fay, that in addition to 

 his other mercies God was pleafed to give us wildom to counfel and; 

 advife Cortes, upon all important occafions, for the beft, as the refult 

 proved. But to have done with praifes, we waited on Cortes ^ and r?.- 

 prefented to him the favors which heaven had fhewn to us, ajnd how 

 evidently they pointed out that we were referved for fome great end» 

 ^nd now we advifed him to releafe his prifoners, and by them to make 

 a fecond offer of amity to thefe people. Donna Marina^ whofe fpirit 

 fupported her in all dangers, and when fhe knew that we were upon; 

 the brink of deflrudion, and were in momentary apprehenfipn of being 

 devoured, was at this time of mofl effential fervice, for fhe explained to 



; thofe 



