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quarters, and thus time paffed (?ver, and no propoiition was made con- 

 cerning peace. Our chiefs then propofed a plan of laying ambufcades. 

 Thirty cavalry and one hundred infantry of the prime of our army, to- 

 gether with one thoufand Tlafcalans were pofted in concealment, in 

 fome large houfes which had belonged to a nobleman of the city. This 

 was done during the night. Cortes with the reft of his troops, in the 

 morning went to attack a pofl: at a bridge, which Guatimotzin had or- 

 dered to be fupported by a large force. Cortes after his firft attack re- 

 treated, drawing the enemy after him, by the buildings where the troops 

 were placed in concealment. 'At the proper moment he fired two (hots 

 clofe together as a fignal to us ; we fallied out, and the enemy being 

 enclofed between us» our allies, and the party of Cortes which faced 

 about, a dreadful havoc was made of them, and from that time they 

 no more annoyed us in our retreat. Another trap was alfo laid for them 

 by Alvarado, but not with the fame fuccefs ; I was not prefent at it, 

 being ordered by Cortes to do duty for that time with his party. 



From our quarters we had to march above half a league to meet 

 the enemy ; we now therefore quitted that poft altogether, and lodged 

 ourfelves in the great fquare or Taltelulco. Here we were for three days 

 without doing any thing worth mentioning : we alfo abftained from de- 

 ftroying any more of the city, in the hopes of peace. 



Cortes at this time fent to Guatimotzin requefting him to furrender, 

 under the ftrongeft affurances of enjoying the plentitude of power and 

 honors. He accompanied this embaffy with as handfome a prefent as 

 his fituation permitted, of provifions, bread, fowls, fruit, and game. 

 Guatimotzin as he was advifed to do by thofe whom he confulted, dif- 

 fimulated, and feemed inclined to a pacification. He fent four of his 

 principal nobility, with a promife to come to an interview with Cortes 

 in three days. But this was all feigned; he employed the time in for- 

 tifying his quarter of the town, and making preparations to attack us. 

 He alfo endeavoured to amufe us by a fecond embaffy, but we were 

 now advifed of his fchemes. In faa:, from what he was told by thofe 



about 



