HISTORY OF MEXICO. 221 



Maxtlaton, afHi6i:ed at the death of his general, and 

 the defeat of his troops, paffed^that night, the laft of 

 his life, in encouraging his captains, and reprefenting 

 to them on the one hand the glory of triumphing over 

 their enemies, and on the other the misfortunes which 

 mufl: enfue if they were vanquiflied ; as the Mexicans, 

 who had hitherto been tributary to the Tepanecas, if 

 they remained victors, would compel the Tepanecas to 

 pay a tribute to them (F). 



The day at length arrived which was to decide the 

 fate of three kings. Both armies took the field, and 

 began battle with uncommon fury, which continued 

 with much fiercenefs and heat till mid-day. The Mexi- 

 cans being emboldened from the advantages obtained the 

 preceding day, as well as from a firm belief which poffefl'- 

 ed them of coming off vidlorlous, made fuch havock of 

 the enemy, that they ftrewed the field with dead bo- 

 dies, defeated them, put them to flight, and purfued 

 them into the city of Azcapozalco, fpreading death and 

 terror in every quarter. The Tepanecas, perceiving 

 that even in their houfes they could not efcape from the 

 fury of the vi£i:ors, fled to the mountains, which lie 

 from ten to twelve miles diflance from Azcapozalco. 

 The proud Maxtlaton, who, until that day, had looked 

 with contempt upon his enemies, and conceived himfelf 

 fuperior to all ftrokes of fortune, feeing the Mex- 

 icans had entered his court, and hearing the cries of the 

 vanquiihed, unable to make any refiftance, and fearing 

 to be overtaken if he attempted to fly, hid himfelf in a 



tefnazcalH, 



{b) From thefe expreffions of the tyrant it is to be inferred, that when he 

 made himfelf mafler of the crown of Azcapozalco, by the affaffination of his 

 brother Tajatzin, he refumed the impofition of that tribute on. the Mexicans, 

 which had been remitted them by his father Tezozcmoc. 



