A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 4 | Page 5

that he fell down dead.
We rescued Moron from the enemy with the utmost difficulty, even
cutting the girths and bringing off his saddle, but ten of our number
were wounded in the attempt, and believe we then slew ten of their
chiefs, while fighting hand to hand. They at length began to retire,
taking with them the body of the horse, which they cut in pieces, and
distributed through all the districts of Tlascala as a trophy of victory.
Moron died soon after of his wounds, at least I have no remembrance
of seeing him afterwards. After a severe and close conflict of above an
hour, during which our artillery swept down multitudes out of the
numerous and crowded bodies of the enemy, they drew off in a regular
manner, leaving the field to us, who were too much fatigued to pursue.
We took up our quarters, therefore, in the nearest village, named
Teoatzinco, where we found numbers of subterraneous dwellings. This
battle was fought on the 2d September 1519. The loss of the enemy on
this occasion was very considerable, eight of their principal chiefs
being slain, but how many others we know not, as whenever an Indian
is wounded or slain, he is immediately carried off by his companions.
Fifteen of them were made prisoners, of whom two were chiefs. On our
side fifteen men were wounded, one only of whom died. As soon as we
got clear of the enemy, we gave thanks to God for his merciful
preservation, and took post in a strong and spacious temple, where we
dressed our wounds with the fat of Indians. We obtained a plentiful
supply of food from the fowls and dogs which we found in the houses
of the village, and posted strong guards on every side for our security.
We continued quietly in the temple for one day, to repose after the
fatigues of the battle, occupying ourselves in repairing our cross-bows,
and making arrows. Next day Cortes sent out seven of our cavalry with
two hundred infantry and all our allies, to scour the country, which is
very flat and well adapted for the movements of cavalry, and this
detachment brought in twenty prisoners, some of whom were women,
without meeting with any injury from the enemy, neither did the
Spaniards do any mischief; but our allies, being very cruel, made great
havoc, and came back loaded with dogs and fowls. Immediately on our
return, Cortes released all the prisoners, after giving them food and

kind treatment, desiring them to expostulate with their companions on
the madness of resisting our arms. He likewise released the two chiefs
who had been taken in the preceding battle, with a letter in token of
credence, desiring them to inform their countrymen that he only asked
to pass through their country in his way to Mexico. These chiefs waited
accordingly on Xicotencatl, whose army was posted about two leagues
from our quarters, at a place called Tehuacinpacingo, and delivered the
message of Cortes. To this the Tlascalan general replied, "Tell them to
go to Tlascala, where we shall give them peace by offering their hearts
and blood to our gods, and by feasting on their bodies." After what we
had already experienced of the number and valour of the enemy, this
horrible answer did not afford us much consolation; but Cortes
concealed his fears, and treated the messengers more kindly than ever,
to induce them to carry a fresh message. By inquiry from them he got
the following account of the number of the enemy and of the nature of
the command enjoyed by its general. The army now opposed to us
consisted of the troops or quotas of five great chiefs, each consisting of
10,000 men. These chiefs were Xicotencatl the elder, father to the
general, Maxicotzin, _Chichimecatecle, Tecapaneca cacique of
Topeyanco, and a cacique named _Guaxocinga_[4]. Thus 50,000 men
were now collected against us under the banner of Xicotencatl, which
was a white bird like an ostrich with its wings spread out[5]. The other
divisions had each its distinguishing banner, every cacique bearing
these cognizances like our Spanish nobles, a circumstance we could not
credit when so informed by our prisoners. This formidable intelligence
did not tend to lessen the fears which the terrible answer of Xicotencatl
had occasioned, and we prepared for the expected battle of the next day,
by confessing our sins to our reverend fathers, who were occupied in
this holy office during the whole night[6].
On the 5th of September, we marched out with our whole force, the
wounded not excepted, having our colours flying and guarded by four
soldiers appointed for that purpose. The crossbow-men and musketeers
were ordered to fire alternately, so that some of them might be always
loaded: The soldiers