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party had alfo orders not to march, until Cortes who commanded the 

 flotilla in perfon Ihould launch out upon the lake. 



I muft now advert to another affair which happened at this time. 

 The divifions of the two captains in chief Alvarado and De Oli being 

 prepared to fet out, in order not to be incumbered with our Indian allies 

 on the march, we fent them off one day before us, with orders to halt 

 and wait for our arrival when they came upon the Mexican territory. 

 The Tlafcalans purfuing their march, Chichimacatecle remarked the 

 abfence of the younger Xicotenga, the commander in chief. On en- 

 quiring it was found that he had fecretly gone away on the preceding 

 night to Tlafcala, there to feize and pofTefs himfelf of the property 

 and territory of Chichimacatecle, thinking this a good opportunity, in 

 the abfence of that chief and of the other warriors of his nation, and 

 fearing no oppoiition fince the death of Maxicatzin. His di (inclination 

 to the expedition had alfo been apparent from the firft. Chichimacate- 

 cle, on difcovering the defign againfl him, immediately returned to 

 Tezcuco to inform Cortes, who on hearing it difpatched five of the 

 chiefs of Tezcuco and two of Tlafcala after Xicotenga, with a meffage 

 from him to requefl: his return. His anfwer was, that if Maxicatzin 

 and his old father had believed him, they would not be now ridden by 

 Cortes in the manner they were, and he abfolutely refufed to return. 

 This anfwer being fent back to Cortes, he commanded an alguazil at- 

 tended by four of the cavalry and five chiefs of Tezcuco, to fet out im- 

 mediately, giving them orders, wherever they found Xicotenga, to 

 feize and hang him without ceremony. Alvarado interceded ftrongly 

 for him, but ultimately to no purpofe, for although Cortes appeared to 

 liften to him, the party which arrefled Xicotenga in a town fubjed: to 

 Tezcuco, there hung him under private orders of Cortes not to let him 

 go from them alive, and as fome fay with the approbation of his 

 father. 



This affair detained us one day, and on the next, the two detach- 

 ments of x^lvarado and De Oli marched bv the fame route, and halted 



Oo 2 for 



