HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



309 



are not the lefs contrary to the good faith reciprocally 

 due between men. — The fenate agreed to the counfel of 

 Temiloltecatl ; but before the meffengers were difpatched 

 with their anfwer, the propofed orders were given to 

 Xicotencatl. This was an intrepid youth, an enemy to 

 peace, and enthufiaftic for military glory, who eagerly 

 accepted of the commiflion, as it furnifhed him with a 

 mod eligible opportunity to difplay his bravery. 



Cortes, after having waited eight days for the deter- 

 mination of the fenate, imagining that the delay was the 

 confequence of that flownefs attending the majefly of 

 potentates, and not doubting, from what the Chempo- 

 allefe had told him of being well received by the Tlaf- 

 calans, left Iztacmaxtitlan with all his army, which, be- 

 fides the Totonacas and Spaniards, was compofed of a 

 confiderable number of Mexican troops of the garrifon 

 of Xocotla, and marched in regular order as ufual to the 

 great wall, which on that quarter feparates the Hates of 

 Tlafcala from thofe of Mexico ; the defcription and di- 

 menlions of which we have given in the preceding book, 

 where we treated of the fortifications of the Mexicans. 

 It was conftru&ed by the Tlafcalans to defend themfelves 

 from the invafions of the Mexicans on their eaftern fron- 

 tiers, in the fame manner as they had formed ditches and 

 entrenchments for the fame purpofe in the quarter of 

 the weft. The entrance of the walls, which was wont 

 to be guarded by the Otomies, at this time when it was 

 moll: necefTary, upon fome account or other, of which we 

 are ignorant, was left without any garrifon, by which 

 accident the Spanifli army entered without any oppofi- 

 tion into the territory of the republic, which they could 

 not otherwife have done without fpilling a great deal of 

 blood. 



This 



