however, first relate the battle in which Escalante and the six
other Spaniards lost their lives.

[67] This passage fully proves the kind disposition of the monarch, for
he even overcame his religious scruples to please the very men who came
to take his kingdom from him. (p. 244.)

CHAPTER XCIV.

_Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with Escalante and
the Totonaque tribes._

The reader will remember, some chapters back, how we lay quartered in
the township of Quiahuitzlan, and that several of the confederate
tribes, friendly with Sempoalla, assembled around us there. Above thirty
townships, on this occasion, at the command of Cortes, refused to pay
any further tribute to Motecusuma, and threw off his yoke. It was during
that time also that the Mexican tax-gatherers were imprisoned by the
Sempoallans, at our instigation. After all this had taken place we broke
up our quarters at Sempoalla and began our march towards Mexico, leaving
Juan de Escalante behind, as governor of Vera Cruz, who received
particular instructions to protect our allies.

Motecusuma had garrisons in every province of his empire, which were
always stationed on the confines. Such garrisons, for instance, lay in
Xoconoctico, for the protection of Guatimala and Chiapa, another in
Coatzagualco, a third in Mechoacan, and a fourth on the confines of
Panuco, between Tuzapan and a township lying on the north coast, which
was called Almeria.[68] When the garrison of the latter place demanded
the tribute of Indians with the provisions from the neighbouring
townships, they refused to pay it, (as they were in alliance with
Sempoalla, and had assisted Escalante in the building of the fortress,)
and gave for reason that Malinche had so commanded it, and that the
powerful Motecusuma had consented thereto.

The Mexican chiefs, however, were not to be put off with this answer,
and declared they would destroy every township which refused to pay the
tribute, and carry off the inhabitants as slaves, as they were bound to
obey the commands which Motecusuma had recently issued.

On hearing these threats the Totonaque tribes applied to Escalante for
assistance against the Mexicans, who were coming to plunder them.
Escalante accordingly sent off messengers to the Mexican chiefs,
commanding them to leave those tribes at peace, as that was the wish of
their monarch, Motecusuma, with whom we stood on very friendly terms;
and if they refused