260 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



up, to prevent their receiving any alMance by water j 

 thefe however were foon opened again by order of Ax- 

 ayacatl. The whole of the day the combat lafted with 

 the utmoii: fury on both fides, until night forced the 

 TIatelolcos to retire. The Mexicans burnt the houfes 

 of the city which were the neareft to Tlatelolco, perhaps 

 on account of their (landing too much in the way in the 

 time of engagement ; but in fetting fire to them, twenty 

 were made prifoners and inftantly facrificed.- 



Axayacatl that night diftributed his army in all the 

 roads which led to Tlatelolco, and at the dawn of day 

 began to march from every quarter towards the market- 

 place, which was to be the point where they were to 

 meet. The TIatelolcos finding themfelves attacked on 

 all fides, retreated to the public market-place to colledl: 

 there all their force, and make the better refiftance ; but 

 when they reached it, they found themfelves ftill more 

 incommoded and embarralTed by their numbers. The 

 words and cries with which Moquihuix endeavoured, 

 from the top of the great temple, to encourage his troops, 

 were of no avail. The TIatelolcos were beat down and 

 killed, while thofe who fell, vented their rage in re-- 

 proaches again ft the king : " Defcend from thence, you 

 " coward," they faid, " and take arms ; it is not the 

 " part of a brave man, to ffcand calmly looking at thofe 

 " who are fighting and falling in the defence of their 



country." But thefe complaints, occafioned by the 

 fmarting of their wounds and the agonies of death, were 

 altogether unjuft, as Moquihuix neither failed in the 

 duties of a general nor of a king. It was proper for him 

 not to expofe his life fo much as the fpldiers did them- 

 felves, as he could be more ufeful to them by his counfel, 

 and could encourage them by his prefence. In the mean 



time 



