338 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



from the favour of their new allies, anfwered with arro- 

 gance, that they would no longer pay homage to him 

 who was no longer their king. Quauhpopoca, perceiv- 

 ing that his requefts had no influence in bringing again 

 under fubordination men who had fo much confidence 

 in their new allies, and no refpecl: for their fovereign, 

 having put himfelf at the head of the Mexican troops 

 which were in the garrifons of thofe frontiers, began to 

 make incurfions into the fettlements of Totonacapan, 

 punifhing them by hoftilities for their rebellion. The 

 Totonacas made their complaints to Juan de Efcalante, 

 governor of the garrifon of Vera Cruz, and intreated him 

 to put a ftop to the cruelty of the Mexicans, engaging 

 alfo to affift him with a large number of troops, Efca- 

 lante fent an embaflfy to the Mexican chief to difluade 

 him from hoftilities, which he imagined could not be ap- 

 proved of by the king of Mexico, who had (hewn fo much 

 defire to favour the Spaniards, the protestors of the To- 

 tonacas. Quauhpopoca anfwered, that he knew better 

 than him whether the punifliment of thofe rebels was 

 or was not agreeable to the Mexican king; that if the 

 Spaniards intended to fupport them, he, with his troops, 

 would meet him on the plain of Nauhtlan, that arms 

 might decide their conteft. The governor could not 

 brook this anfwer; upon which he marched immediately 

 to the appointed place with two horfes and two fmall 

 pieces of cannon, fifty Spanifli infantry, and about ten 

 thoufand Totonacas. Upon the firft onfet of the Mexi- 

 cans, the Totonacas were indandy thrown into confu- 

 fion, and the greater part took to flight; but to the 

 utter fliame of their cowardice, the fifty Spaniards cou- 

 rageoufly continued the battle, doing no little damage to 

 the Mexicans. They, having never experienced the 



violence 



