182 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



increafe the reputation of their arms, engaged to affifl 

 him with their troops, as did alfo the other chiefs whom 

 he folicited. 



In the mean time Ixtlilxochitl was employed in putting 

 the affairs of his court into order, and in gaining the 

 minds of his fubjedls ; but he foon difcovered, to his 

 great difappointment, that already many had withdrawn 

 themfelves from their obedience to him, in order to 

 place themfelves under the command of the perfidious 

 Tezozomoc. To oppofe the progrefs of the enemy, he 

 commanded the princes of Coatlichan, Huexotla, and 

 fome other neighbouring ftates, to arm all the troops 

 they could without delay. The king himfelf wiftied to 

 lead his army in perfon, but he was dilTuaded from it 

 by fome of his courtiers, who reprefented the neceffity 

 of his prefence at the court, left in the diftra£i:ion of 

 affairs, fome concealed enemy, or friend of wavering 

 fidelity Ihould be tempted, by the opportunity of his ab- 

 fence, to make himfelf mafter of the capital, and drive 

 the king from his throne. Tochinteudliy fon of the 

 prince of Coatlichan, was made general of the army, 

 and in cafe of his death, or any other accident, ^auh- 

 xilotl^ prince of Iztapallocan was appointed to fucceed 

 him. The plain of C)uauhtitlan, fifteen miles north of 

 Azcapozalco, was chofen for the theatre of the war. 

 The troops of the rebels were more numerous, but 

 thofe of the king better difciplined. The royal army, 

 before it fet out for Quauhtitlan, ravaged fix of the re- 

 volted ftates, in order both to weaken the enemy^^ and 

 to leave behind them none who fliould be able to do 

 them much injury. The war was fupported with great 

 obftinacy ; the fuperior difcipline of the Tezcucans be- 

 ing counteracted by the fuperiority of numbers on the 



fide 



