But _Mamexi_ and the others of _Zempoallan_ willed hym to refuse that offer and counsell in any wise, alleadgyng that it was an onely pretence to separate them from the friendship of that prouince, whose people were good, honorable, and valiant, and that _Iztacmixtlitans_ perswasion was to prohibite theyr helpe and succoure agaynst _Mutezuma_, willing hym earnestly to giue no credite vnto hys sayings, for he and his allyes are false Traytors, and meante to bryng hym into some snare, where they myghte kill both him and his company, and féede vppon theyr fleshe. _Cortes_ for a space was amazed at y^e talke of y^e one and the other, but in conclusion he accepted the councell of _Mamexi_, for that he hadde conceyued a better opinion of the _Zeampoallanezes_ his allyed friendes, than of the others. And setting all feare asyde, he tooke the way to _Tlaxcallon_, byddyng _Iztacmixtlitä_ farewell, and with thrée hundred Souldyers on a ranke, he entred the way in the wall, and procéeded in good order all the way forwardes, carrying the Ordinance ready charged, and he himselfe the leader of all his army, yea and sometimes he woulde be halfe a league before them, to discouer and make the way playne. And hauing gone the space of thrée leagues from that circuite, he commaunded his footemen to make hast, bycause it was somewhat late, and he with his Horsemen went to descrye the way forwardes, who ascendyng vp a hyll, two of the formost horsemenne mette with fiftéene _Indians_ armed with swordes and Targets and tuffes of feathers, whiche they vse to weare in the warres. These fiftéene were spyes, and when they sawe the Horsemen, they beganne to flye with feare, or else to gyue aduise. Then approched _Cortez_ with other thrée horsemen, calling to them to stay, but by no meanes they woulde abyde: then syxe Horsemen ranne after them, and ouertooke them, & ioyned all togither, with determination rather to dye than to yéelde, shewing them signes to stande still: yet the Horsemen comming to lay handes on them, they prepared themselues to battayle, and foughte, defendyng themselues for a whyle. In thys fyghte the _Indians_ slewe two of theyr Horses, and as the _Spanyardes_ doe witnesse, at two blowes they cutte off a Horse head, bridle and all. Then came the rest of the Horsemenne, and the army approched, for there were in syghte néere fiue thousande _Indians_ in good order, to succoure theyr fiftéene fyghting menne, but they came too late for that purpose, for they were all slayne wyth the anger that was taken for the killyng of the two Horses, and woulde not render themselues in tyme: yet notwythstandyng theyr fellowes foughte, vntyll they espyed oure armye commyng, and the Ordinance, then they returned, leauyng the fielde to oure menne, but oure Horsemenne followed them, and slewe aboute 70. persons of them, withoute receyuing anye hurte. [Sidenote: A subtill message.]