HISTORY OF MEXICO. 423 



val, Alvarado, Olid, and Avila, to follow behind, to 

 guard him from attack, and immediately, with others 

 who accompanied him, he pufhed forward through that 

 quarter where his attempt appeared mod practicable 

 with fuch impetuofity, that he threw many down with 

 his lance and others with his horfe. Thus he advanced 

 through the lines of the enemy, until he came clofe up 

 with the general, who was accompanied by fome of his 

 officers, and with one ftroke of his lance extended him 

 on the ground. Juan de Salamanca, a brave foldier, 

 who attended Cortes, difmounting quickly from his 

 horfe, put an end to his life, and feizing the plume of 

 feathers on his head prefented it to Cortes (u). The 

 army of the enemy, as foon as they faw their general 

 killed, and the ftandard taken, went into confufion and 

 fled. The Spaniards, encouraged by this glorious ac- 

 tion of their chief, purfued, and made great flaughter of 

 the fugitives. 



This was one of the moft famous victories obtained 

 by the Spanifli arms in the New World ; Cortes diftin- 

 guiflied himfelf in it above all the reft ; and his captains 

 and foldiers faid afterwards, that they had never feen 

 more courage and activity difplayed than upon that day ; 

 but he received a fevere wound on the head, which dai- 

 ly growing worfe, brought his life into the utmofi: dan- 

 ger. Bernal Diaz juftly praifes the bravery of Sando- 

 val, and fhews how much that gallant officer contribut- 

 ed to this victory, encouraging them all not lefs by his 

 example than his words. The Spanifh hiltorians have 

 alfo highly celebrated Maria de Eftrada, the wife of a 



Spa- 



(#) Charles V. granted fome privileges to Juan de Salamanca, and among 

 others a fhield of arms for his houfe, which had a plume upon it in memory of 

 the one which he had taken from the general Cihuacatzin. 



