HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



313 



rifon of Iztamaxtitlan, fet fire to five or fix hamlets, 

 and made four hundred prifoners, whom, after having 

 carefied and entertained them, he fet at liberty, charg- 

 ing the principal perfons among them to go and offer 

 peace, in his name, to the chiefs of that nation. They 

 immediately went to the young Xicotencatl, who was 

 encamped, with a large army, fix miles diftant from 

 that hill. This fiery youth anfwered, that if the Spa- 

 niards wifhed to treat of peace, they might go to the 

 capital, where they would be facrificed as victims to 

 their gods, and their flefli be made food for the Tlaf- 

 calans; that, as to himfelf, he would come the next 

 day in perfon, to give them a decifive anfwer. This 

 refolution being communicated to the Spaniards by the 

 fame mefienger, raifed fuch an alarm amongfl them, that 

 they prepared themfelves that night for death by the 

 confeffion of the facrament, without, however, omitting 

 the necelTary difpofitions for their defence. 



The following day, the 5th of September, the Tlaf- 

 calan army appeared not lefs terrible, from the immenfe 

 multitude of their numbers, than beautiful to view, 

 from the infinite variety of their plumes, and other mi- 

 litary ornaments. It was divided into ten fquadrons, 

 each of ten thoufand men ; every one carried its proper 

 flandard. In the rear-guard, according to the cuftom 

 of that nation, was placed the common flandard of the 

 republic, which, as we have already mentioned, was a 

 golden eagle with expanded wings. The prince Xico- 

 tencatl, in order to make it underftood how little he va- 

 lued the arms of the Spaniards, and that he fcorned to 

 take them by famine, but meant to conquer them by 

 battle, fent them a refreshment of three hundred tur- 

 kies and two hundred balkets of TamalM, to recruit 



Vol. II. R r their 



