HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



209 



balls and public diverfions. Nezahualcojotl and all his 

 party did not give lefs applaufe, as no one doubted of the 

 new king being the faithful ally of the prince his relation; 

 and hoped to reap great advantages from his fuperior 

 military ilcill and bravery ; but the election was not a 

 little difpleafing to the Tepanecas and their allies, and 

 cfpecially to the tyrant. 



Itzcoatl, who was zealoufly bent on relieving the dif- 

 treffes which his nation fuffered from the oppreffive do- 

 minion of the Tepanecas, fent an ambaflador to the prince 

 Nezahualcojotl, to acquaint him of his exaltation to the 

 throne, and to give him affurances of his determination 

 to unite all his forces with the prince againft the tyrant 

 Maxtlaton. This embaffy, which was carried by a 

 grandfon of the king, was received by Nezahualcojotl, 

 after he had departed from Capollalpan ; upon which he 

 returned congratulations to his coufin, and gratefully ac- 

 cepted the aid which he proraifed. 



The whole time which the prince remained in Capol- 

 lalpan was employed in preparations for war. When it 

 appeared to him to be time to put all his defigns in exe- 

 cution, he fet out with his people and the auxiliary troops 

 of Tlafcala and Huexotzinco, having refolved to take 

 the city of Tezcuco by alTault, and punifla its inhabitants 

 for their infidelity to him during his adverfity. He made 

 a halt with his whole army in fight of the city, at a place 

 called Oztopolco. There he paiTed the night ordering 

 his troops, and making the necelTary difpofitions for the 

 attack, and in the morning marched towards the city ; 

 but before he reached it, the inhabitants, from appre- 

 henfions of the fevere chailifemcnt which threatened 

 them, came fubraiiTively to meet him ; to foften his re- 

 fentment they prefented their aged fick, their pregnant 

 Vol. I. ' D d women, 



