HISTORY OF MEXICO, 271 



alTiftance. When the Atlixchefe ambaffadors arrived 

 at HuexotzincOj they found a famous captain named 

 T oltecatl playing at foot-ball, whofe great courage was 

 ftill lefs remarkable than the extraordinary flrength of 

 his arm. As foon as he was informed concerning the 

 Mexican army, he quitted play to repair with auxiliary 

 troops to Atlixco, and entering into the battle unarmed 

 to fliew his bravery, and the contempt he entertained of 

 his enemies, he knocked down the firft Mexican he met 

 with his fill:, and took his arms from him, with which 

 he began to make great flaughter. The Mexicans being 

 unable to overcome the refiflance of their enemies, aban- 

 doned the field and returned to Mexico covered with ig- 

 nominy. The Huexotzincas, in reward of the fingular 

 bravery of Toltecatl, made him the chief of their repub- 

 lic. This ftate however was afterwards fubje6i:ed to the 

 dominion of the Mexicans whom they again provoked 

 by frefti infults y but as the conquered nations only bore 

 the yoke while they could not fliake it off, whenever the 

 Huexotzincas found themfelves able to refift, they re- 

 belled j and the greater part of the provinces fubdued 

 by the Mexican arms did the fame, which forced the 

 Mexican army to keep in continual motion, to regain 

 what their king occafionally loft in this way. Toltecatl 

 accepted the dignity and poft conferred upon him ; but 

 a year hjad hardly elapfed when he was conlirained to 

 abandon not only his charge but his country. The 

 priefts and other minifters of the temples making an 

 abufe of their authority, entered into private houfes and 

 took away the maize and turkeys which they found in 

 them, and committed other excelTes unbecoming their 

 dignity. Toltecatl endeavoured to put a flop to fuch 

 injuilice j but the priefts rofe in arms. The populace 



fupported 



