Chap. I n. for the ReduBion of S p A 1 llj 
Iztapalapa^ fix Leagues forward, that he might deprive 
the Mexicans of the Shelter for their Canoes, and partly 
to give the confederate Indians fome Employmenti 
I'he City of Iztapalapa was fituated upon the fame 
Caufway by which the Spaniards made their firft: Entry 
into Mexico % and difpofed after fuch a Manner^ that the 
greateft Part of the Building was within the very Lake^ 
whofe Water was brought into that Part of the Town, 
which was built upon the Bank, by Trenches, to let it 
in as Occafion required. Cortes charged himfelf with 
the Care of this Expedition, and took with him the Cap- 
tains Alverado and Olid^ with tliree hundred Spaniards^ 
and ten thoufand Tlafcalans y and though the young 
King of Tezcuco was defirous to accompany him, Jie 
would not permit it, telling him his Prefence would be 
more ufeful in the City ; the military Government of 
which he left to Sandoval^ and, with both of them, fuch 
Inftrudtions as he thought necelfary for the Security of 
their Quarters, and to keep things in order in his Abfence. 
They prefently began their March by the Caufway, de- 
figning to polTTs themfelves firft of that Part of the 
City which was built upon it, and diflodge the Inhabi- 
tants from the other Part, with the Artillery and Fire- 
arms: But the Enemy was informed of their Motions, 
and the Army was no fooner come within fight of the 
Place, than they difcovered a Body of about eight thou- 
fand Meni at a little Diftance from the Walls, who came 
out to defend them with fo much Refolution, that, 
though they found themfelves inferior in Number, they 
ftood the Engagement, and fought with Bravery enough 
to retire with Reputation, which they did in a little time 
to the City ; where, without ftaying to defend the En- 
trance, or fiiut up the Gates, they inftantly difappeared, 
throwing themfelves into the Lake in diforder. 
, Cortes was fenfible that this kind of Retreat had the Ap- 
pearance of a Stratagem, to draw him into fome greater 
Danger, and therefore marched his Army into the City 
with all polTible Precaution, but he found the Houfes ut- 
terly abandoned ; and, though the Noife and Cries of 
the Enemy continued in that Part, which ftood in the 
Water, he refolved, with the Advice of his Captains, to 
maintain himfelf in the Poll where he was, and lodge 
within the Walls, without attempting any thing farther, 
the Day being far fpent : But it fcarce began to be 
dark, when they perceived the Canals every where to 
overflow, the Water running impetuoufly over the lower 
Grounds. 
Cortes immediately underftood that the Enemy’s De- 
fign was to drown this Part of the City, which they 
might cafily do by opening the Sluices of the great Lake 5 
and, as the Danger was inevitable, he was obliged to give 
Orders, inftantly to quit the Place ; and, though they 
made all the hafte polfible, the Water came above their 
Knees. Cortes was very much mortified, that he had 
not prevented this Stratagem of the Indians ; as if it was 
polfible, with the utmoft Vigilance, to provide againft 
ail Accidents. He drew out his Army into the Road of 
I’ezcuco^ to which Place he thought to retire, deferring 
the Enterprize ol Iztapalapa to a more favourable Op- 
portunity j for it was imprafticable, at this time, with- 
out a greater Force on the Lake-fide, and fome Velfels, 
to drive the Mexicans from the Place. The Troops lodg- 
ed that Night on a little Hill free from the Water, 
where, neverthelefs, they fuffered very much, being wet 
and without any Defence againft the Cold; but in'^ fuch 
good Heart, that there was not the leaft Murmuring 
among the Soldiers. 
At the firft Appearance of Day, he continued his Re- 
treat, and haftened the March of his Men. As foon as 
it was broad Day, they difcovered a formidable Body of 
Enemies in purfuit of the Army. Cortes^ notwithftand- 
ing this, marched on, but more flowly, though the Sol- 
diers proved but very unwillingly, being animated with 
a Spirit of Vengeance againft their Enemies. When Cor- 
/ri thought convenient, he ordered his Troops , to halt 
and face about; and the Enemies began the Attack with 
the fam.e Precipitation that they purfued ; but the Spanip 
Crofs-bows, and the Bows of the Mafcalans^ gave a 
Check to their firft Fury ; and at the fame time the 
Elorfe charged fhems niakiiig Room for the cdilfedefafe 
Troops, who entirely broke tliat diforderly -Multitude^ 
and obliged them to leave the Field with confiderable 
Lofs. 
Cortes purfued hiS March Without ftoppingj tb reach 
his Quarters before Night. But the Enemy, no lefs di- 
ligent in rallying than retiring^ advanced a fecond and 
third time to the Attack, without being terrified with 
the great Slaughter they had fuftained ; till fuch timie as§ 
fearing to approach too near Tezcuco^ where the whole 
Strength of the Spaniards lay, they marched back to Iz- 
tapalapa^ fufficiently chaftized for their Boldriefs; having 
loft, in the three Attacks, fix thoufand Men : And the? 
Cortes had fome vmunded, he loft only two flafcalans 
and one Horfe, who, covered with Arrows and Cuts, 
yet lived to bring off his Mafter. Cortes^ and all his Ar- 
my, a little before Night, entered the City of f ezcuco^ ' 
with the Glory of three Viblories obtained by the Way, 
which gave Reputation to the Expedition, and covered 
the Difgrace of the Retreat. 
Whilft Cortes remained in Tezcuco^ he received fre- 
quent Vifits from the Neighbouring Caziques ; among 
the reft there came Meffengers from the Provinces of 
Chaleo and Otumha^ with an Account that there Was a 
powerful ^ Army of Mexicans upon their Frontiers, who 
had Commiffion to deftroy them, for having imade an 
Alliance with the Spaniards. They defired Succour to affift 
them in their Defence : This Requeft appeared necelfary, 
for it imported Cortes very much, not to fuffer the 
cans to fix themfelves in a Place where they might cut 
off his Communication with Rlafcala. He immediately 
difpatched Sandoval and Lugo.^ with two hundred Spa- 
niards, fifteen Horfe, and a fufficient Number of Rlaf- 
calatts ; among whom, there were fome who had obtain- 
ed his Permiffion to retire to their own Country, and fe- 
cure the Spoils they had obtained in the War. Thefe 
Wretches marched with the Baggage of the Army, and, 
as Avarice, regulated the Weight of their Burdens, they 
had fo overloaded themfelves, that they could not keep 
up with the Troops, but were forced to ftop frequently 
to take Breath. 
The Mexicans being informed of this, fell upon them 
in one of their refting Places ; Sandoval and Lugo return- 
ed immediately to their Relief, and fell upon the Enemy 
fo vigoroufly, with their whole Force, that they turned 
their Backs as foon as attacked : Five or fix flafcalansi 
who were difarmed and embarraffed with their Burdens, 
periflied upon this Occafion, but the Spaniards recovered 
all the Booty, with fome Addition. They continued 
their March, till the Army, having paffed the Province of 
Chaleo, approached the Frontiers of Llafcala. The Mex- 
icans had affemibled all the Troops of the neighbouring 
Provinces, to chaftize the Rebels of Chaleo and Otumba ; 
and, knowing that the Spaniards were coming to the Re- 
lief of thofe two Nations, they reinforced themfelves 
with Part of the Troops quartered about the Lake ; and, 
having thus a very formidable Army, pofted themfelves 
on the Road the Spaniards were to pafs, to try their 
Strength in the Field. Sandoval ■and. Lugo, having given 
what Orders they thought necelfary, advanced in order 
of Battle, without altering their Pace : But, on Sight of 
the Enemy, the Spaniards and flafcalans halted, to ex- 
amine more narrowly the Intention of that Body of 
Troops. 
14. The Mexicans had the Advantage in Numbers, 
and advanced in Crowds, and made the firft Difcharge, 
Without any Effeft. The two Captains, taking Advan- 
tage of their Confufion, ordered the Horfe to advance, 
whofe Attack immediately made Room for the Spaniards 
and flafcalans, breaking this diforderly Multitude with 
great Slaughter. The Flight of the Enemy foon became 
univerfal ; and the Troops of Chaleo and Otumba, which 
had fa Hied out on the Noife of the Battle, coming up at 
the fame time, the Chace was fo bloody, that the Mexi- 
can Army was entirely defeated, with little or no Lofs.- 
Eight of the moft confiderable Prifoners were relerVed, 
in order to get fame Information from them ; and the 
Army palfed that Night to the City of Chaleo, whofe 
Cazique went before to prepare Quarters with great 
abundance ^ 
» 
