( 297 ) 



enemy followed up their attack with ardour, and the unfortunate Guz- 

 man being feized by them was carried alive to Mexico. Cortes and the 

 ftiattered remains of his troops, purfued to the laft, arrived with great 

 difficulty at their quarters, where I will leave them for the prefent, to 

 relate what happened in the divilion commanded by Alvarado. 



After our firft attack, wherein we defeated the enemy, as we were 

 advancing, we were met by frefli troops in great parade, bearing plumes 

 of feathers, and devices on their ftandards. When we came near them 

 they threw down before us five bleeding heads, crying out to us that 

 they were thofe of Cortes and his officers, and that we (hould meet the 

 fame fate with our companions ; they then marched up, and fighting 

 us foot to foot, compelled us to retreat. We as ufual called to our allies 

 to clear the way for us, but in the prefent cafe there was no occafion; 

 the fight of the bloody heads had done it efiecStually, nor did one of 

 them remain on the caufeway to impede our retreat. Before we arrived 

 at our quarters, and while the enemy were purfuing us, we hea:rd their 

 (hrill timbals, and the difmal found of the great drum, from the top of 

 the principal temple of the god of war, which overlooked the whole 

 city. Its mournful noife was fuch as may be imagined the mufic of the 

 infernal gods, and it might be heard at the diftance of almoft three 

 leagues. They were then facrificing the hearts of ten of our compani- 

 ons to their idols. Shortly after this the king of Mexico's horn was 

 blown, giving notice to his captains that they were then to take their 

 enemies prifoners, or die in the attempt. It is impoffible to defcribe 

 the fury with which they clofed upon us when they heard this fignal. 

 Though all is as perfedl to my recolledbion as if paffing before my eyes, 

 it is utterly beyond my power to defcribe; all I can fay is, it was God's 

 will that we fliould efcape from their hands, and get back in fikty to 

 our poll. Praifed be he for his mercies, now, and at all other times ! 



Our cavalry made feveral charges this day, but our great fupport 

 was in two guns which raked the caufeway, and were commanded by 

 a gentleman named Pedro Moreno de Medrarto, who always bore a 



Qq high 



