Chap. III. for the Redu&ion ^NewSpAiN; lie 
terminated in a little Village, whofe Inhabitants^ without 
abandoning their Dwellings like the others, gave them 
free Entrance, neither were they wanting in their Affift- 
ance to them, with a feeming Chearfulnefs in every thing 
they were ordered ; which unexpedled Entertainment 
was a new Stratagem of the Mexicans^ that their Enemies 
might come lefs prepared to the Snare which they had 
provided for them. 
Thefe People freely fhewed their Stores of Provifion, 
and, from other neighbouring Villages, procured what 
was fufficient to make the fatigued Spaniards forget their 
paft Sufferings. Early • in the Morning the Army was 
difpofed to afeend the Mountain, which on the other 
Side declined into the Valley of Otumba^ through which 
they muff of Neceffity pafs to take the Road to flafcala. 
They obferved fome Alteration in the Indians who fol- 
lowed their March ; for their Shouts and Scoffs exprefs 
rather Satisfaction than Indignation ; and Donna Marina 
took notice, that they frequently faid go on Tyrants, 
go on, for you will quickly arrive at the Place where 
you will all perifh. Thefe Expreffions gave them Occa- 
fion to refied ; fome began to doubt that thefe Indians^ 
confiding in the Tlafcalatis^ rejoiced at the Danger to 
which the Spaniards were marching, as having received 
fome Notice that there had happened a Change in the 
Fidelity of that Nation. But Cortes, and thofe of better 
Judgment and Penetration, looked upon this Novelty 
as a Token of fome Ambufh, that was nearer than Tlaf- 
caU', for there wanted not Examples of the Simplicity 
and Eafmefs with which the Indians were wont to publifli 
the very thing which they endeavoured to conceal : An 
Error not peculiar to this People, and though a certain 
Indication of Levity, no direCl Mark of Barbarifm. 
2. They continued their March difpofed for frefli Ac- 
tion ; when the advanced Guard, having reached the 
Mountain Top, came with an Account that the Ene- 
my had poffefled themfelves of all the Valley, barring 
up the Paffage to the Road whither they were diredting 
their Courfe with a formidable Multitude. It was the 
fame Body of Mexicans which they had left at the firfi 
Ternple, reinforced with new Troops, who had difeover- 
ed, in the Morning, the fudden Retreat of the Spaniards ; 
and, notwithftanding they did not doubt but that they 
fhould be able to overtake them, yet they feared, by the 
Experience of the Night, that it would not be poffible to 
deftroy them before they reached the Territories, 
if they went on fecuring Mountains ; for which Reafon 
they fentDifpatches to Mexico for Reinforcements, that an 
Affair of fo much Importance might not mifearry for 
want of neceffary Force, which Propofal was fo well re- 
ceived in the City, that all the Nobility inftantly fet out, 
followed by the reft of the Troops which they had affem- 
bled, to join the Army, and in the Space of three or four 
Days they divided themfelves into different Roads, 
marching under Shelter of the Mountains, with fuch 
Expedition, that they got before the Spaniards, and filled 
the^ whole Valley of Otumb'a, which is a very fpacious 
Plain, where they might undifeovered wait for their Ene- 
mies, and attack them without embarralilng each other 
for want of Room. 
The Captain General of the Empire was diftinguiflied 
in the Centre of the INJultitude, borne up upon Mens 
Shoulders in a Litter fumptuoufly adorned, in fuch a 
Manner, that being a Witnefs of every One’s Behaviour, 
his Orders might be punftually executed. Upon this 
Chair, or Litter, flood ereft the Royal Standard of Mex- 
ico, which was not intrufted into any other Hand 
but his, and could only be brought into the Field in 
Cafes of the greateft Exigence. This Standard was a 
Net of Maffy Gold hanging on a Pike, and crowned 
with a Plume of Feathers of various Colours ; both the 
one and the other myfterioufiy denoting a Superiority. 
The Spanifo Army perceiving the frefli Danger for which 
they were to prepare, Cortes began to examine the Coun- 
tenances of his People, with that natural Fire iri his Look, 
■which influenced their Hearts far better than Words ; and 
finding them infpired with a generous Refentment, he 
thus addreffed them :' Our Cafe is now fiich, that 
_ "We muft either die or conquer : The Caufe of cur 
“ God fights for us ; ’’ nor had he time to fay any 
more, for the Soldiers themfelves interrupted, crying out 
for the Word of Command; and he advanced with his 
Front extended, and united the Body of the Army 
with the Wings of the Horfe, who were appointed to 
defend the Flanks, and fecure the Rear. The Fire-arms' 
and Crofs-Bows made their firft Difcharge fb opportunely, 
that the Enemy had fcarce time to make ufe of their 
miflive Weapons. The Swords and Lances did ftill 
greater damage ; the Horfe takipg care, at the fame time,* 
to break, and to put to Flight thofe Troops which en- 
deavoured to inclofe the Spanijh Army. 
They gained fome Ground by the firft Charge. The 
Spaniards gave no Stroke without a Wound, nor any 
Wound which needed a fecond Blow. The flafcalans 
threw themfelves into the thickeft of the Battle, with an 
infinite Thirft after Mexican Blood, and all had fuch 
Command of their Paffions, that they killed firft thofe 
who appeared to be Leaders. But the Mexicans fought 
with great Obftinacy, advancing, though not in the beft 
Order, yet, with furprizing Refolution,* to fupply the 
Places of thofe who fell ; and the Spaniards v/ere fatigued 
with the Slaughter, for the Battle was continually re- 
newing with frefh Men. Their whole Army feemed tb 
give way whenever the Cavalry charged them, or the 
Fire-Arms advanced ; but they returned with new Vi- 
gour to recover their loft Ground, the Multitude moving 
fb from Place to Place, that the whole Field appeared 
like a Sea of Men, the perpetual Flux and Reflux 
feeming to juftify that Comparifon. 
Cortes fought on Horfeback, carrying Death and Terror, 
wherefoever he came. But the obftinate Refiftance of 
the Indians gave him no fmallConcern ; for it was not to’ 
be hoped, but that the Strength of his Men muft abate,' 
with fuch unintermitting Adlion ; and refledling upon the 
Meafures he might take, to advantage himfeft, or to, 
make his way to the Road, he was relieved by one of 
thofe Obfervations he was accuftomed to lay up in his 
Mind. He remembered to have heard among the Mexi- 
cans, that the whole Fortune of their Battle depended, 
upon the Standard Royal ; the gaining or lofirig of 
which decided the Fortune of the Day, on cither Side 5 
and being not infenfible into what Confufion the Enemy 
was always put by the Charge of the Cavalry, he took a 
Refolution to make an Effort, for the gaining the Imperial 
Standard. To this Effed, he called for the Captains 
Sandoval, Alverado, Olid, dead. Davila, to follow and fe- 
cure his Rear, together with the reft of the Horfe which 
generally attended him; and having encouraged them with 
a fhort Harangue, and given the neceffary Inftrudlions 
how they were to proceed, he advanced, and attacked 
on that Part which appeared Weakeft, and leaft diftanc 
from the Centre. 
The Indians gave back, dreading the Shock of the Ca- 
valry, and before they could recover themfelves, the Spa- 
niards threw themfelves upon the difordered Multitude',* 
treading under Foot whole Battallions, and, without much 
Oppofition, arrived at the Place where the Imperial 
Standard was defended by the Nobles who were ap- 
pointed for its Guard ; and while the Captains were dif- 
perfing that numerous Guard, Cortes clofed with the 
Captain General of the Mexicans, who at the firft Stroke 
of his I.ance fell, being dangeroufly wounded^ on the 
other Side of his Litter : He was foon forfaken by his 
Guard, and left alone ; when Juan de Salamanca, a pri- 
vate Gentleman, leaped from his FJorfe, and put an End 
to the little Life he had left ; and feizing the Standard,* 
gave it into the Hands of Cortes. This Salamanca was a- 
Perfon of fome Diftindlion in the Army ; and, for hav- 
ing done his General fuch a Piece of Service, the Empe- 
ror conferred fome Favours upon him, giving him for 
the Creli of his Arms the Plume of Feathers which 
crowned the Mexican Standafd. 
The Mexicans no fooner faw their Imperial Standard 
in the Power of the Spaniards, than they ftfuck all the 
reft of their Colours, and betook themfelves to a preci- 
pitate Flight, feeking Shelter in the Woods and Fields 
of Maize ; The neighbouring Mountains were covered 
with the terrified Remnants of the Army, and in a few 
Moments the Field of Battle remained to the Spaniards^ 
