HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



243 



ing fome of his riches to be fet before the ambalTadors, 

 " Bear," faid he, "this prefent to your king, and tell 

 " him, from it he may know how much my fubjeds give 

 *'me, and how great the love is which they have for 

 '*me ; that 1 willingly accept of war, by which it flrall 

 be decided whether my fubjefts are to pay tribute to 

 " the king of Mexico or the Mexicans to me." Mon- 

 tezuma immediately informed the two allied kings of 

 this infolent anfwer, and fent a confiderable army againfl 

 that lord, who was well prepared, and met them on 

 the frontiers of his ftate. As foon as the armies came 

 in fight of each other, they engaged ; but the Mixtecas 

 ruflied with fuch fury on the Mexicans, that they were 

 thrown into diforder, and forced to abandon their en- 

 terprize. 



The pride of Atonaltzin increafed with the vi£lory, 

 but forefeeing that the Mexicans would return with a 

 more numerous force, he demanded affiftance from the 

 Huexotzincas and the Tlafcalans, who readily granted it, 

 rejoicing in having an opportunity of interrupting the 

 fuccefs of the Mexican arms. Montezuma, who was much 

 troubled at the unhappy ifTue of the war, meditated the 

 re-eftablifliment of the honour of his crown, for which 

 purpofe he fpeedily colle£l:ed a numerous and formidable 

 army, refolving to command it himfelf, together with his 

 two royal allies ; but before they fet out on their march, 

 he received intelligence that the Tlafcalans and Huexot- 

 zincas had attacked Tlachquiauhco, a place in Mixteca, 

 had killed all the Mexican garrifon there, and deprived 

 fome of the citizens of their lives, and others of their 

 liberty. Montezuma, now warm with indignation, 

 marched towards Mixteca. Neither his ov/n power, nor 

 the affiftance which he received from his friends, were of 



any 



