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Show 42 BOOK VIII. .. H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. thofc appearances of peace were deftgncd ~or no. other purpou: th~~ ro infpire him with contidenc~ to cuter tl.1e1r capttal, that they 1mght there, without hazard, execute that wlHch th ey had not hct:n auk to r.ccompldh by arms in the fiehl ; that it W<lS fit he fho:tld contra~ the cundutl: of their fcnatc with that of the conrt of Mex1co : the flafcalans after having, with the femb1au ce of peace, granted th~m perxniilion to enter their country, had yet not dcfiftcd from maktug war upon them, untii they found all their aims anti O!)polition fru:i~l~fs. l' rom the Mexicans, on the contrary, they had fuffered no hofttlJtJe s, had rather met with the moft different reception, the greatcfl: refpeCl: and attention in every place of their dominions where they had palled, and from their fovereign the moO: diO:inguilhed proofs of benevolence and friendlhip. Cortes anfwered, that he never me:mt by fuch connexion to do wrong to the court of Mexico, to which he acknowledged himfelf under high obligations ; as he was delirous of peace with all parties ; that befides he did not fear any thing from the Tlafcalans, if they chofe to become his enemies ; that as for him and the other Spaniards, it was the fame thing whether they were a,ttacked in a city or in the country, by night or by day, as th~y were £killed to conquer at all times, and in all places; that even on account of that very infinuation which they had thrown out agai'nft the Tlafcalans, he was ddirous of repairing to their city, to have an opportunity there of taking ex~mplary vengeance on their perfidy. The Tlafcatms were extremely diftant from any fuch difingenoufnefs ' as was imputed to them by the Mexicans ; for from that moment in which peace was decreed by the fenate, they continued the moft faithful allies of the Spaniards, as will appear in the fequel. The fenate ·defired to h:wc Cortes at Tbfc:1h with all his troops, to confirm more effeCtually their ftipulated friemHhip, and to treat feriouOy of a confederacy againft the Mexicans, and had already, by means of their mef.· f-engers, invited that general to accept of accommodation )n their city; })rofeiling the utlnoO: regret at feeing fuch illuftrious friends of the republic; fuffering fo m:my incoAvenienccs. Tl:le alliance with the Tlafcalans was not the <Dnly fruit which the Spaniards reaped from their vietories. In the fa1ne catnp where he had received the Tlafcahn :1mbafi~dor, he was fcw.gured wioh two other ernbaf- • H I S T 0 R Y 0 F t;rv1 E X I· C 0. embaffies from the republic of Huexotzinco, and the prince htlilxochitl. The H uexotzinc:.1s, who . had formerly b~en vaffals of the crown of Mexico, and the enemies of the Tiafcah ns, had delivered themfelves from the dominion of the Mexicans, and confederaled with the Tlafcalans their neighbours, and now they imitated their example in making offers of alliance and confederacy to the Spaniards. The prince Ixtlilxochitl fcnt ambaffildors to C rtes, to congratulate him on his vitl:ories over the Tlafcalans, and to invite him to make a journey to Teotlalpan, where he propofed to unite his forces with thofe of the Spaniards againft the king of Mexico. Cortes, as foon as he was informed of the rank, pretenGons, and forces of that prince, readj.ly accepted his alliance, and engaged to affift to place him upon the throne of Acolhuacan. At the fame time the ambalf.1dor, who was e~eeted from Mexico, returned fmm that court with a prefent of jewels and gold, worth fif" teen hundred fequins, two hundred cofily habits of feathers, and new: · fuggeftions from that monarch to divert the Spaniili general from his journey to Mexico, and from any friendlhip with the Tlafcalans. Such were the vain efforts of pufillanimity in Montezuma, while the .great quantity of gold he daily expended in prefents to thofe ftrangers, was but fo much more in purchafe of the chains which were foon to fetter his liberty. Six days had elapfed fince the peace made with Tlafcala, when the four lords of that republic, in order to induce the Spaniards to remove to Tlafcala, made themfelves be tranfported in portable chairs or litters, with a numerous attendance to their ~amp. The mutual demonftrations of joy and refpeCt were extraordinary on both fides. That famous fenate, not contented with ratifying the alliance, of their own accord acknowledged Qbedience to the Catholic king, which was the mere acceptable to the Spaniards, the more the Tlafcalans had prized their liberty, which they had enjoyed from time immemorial. They ~omplained with much iliew of affection, of the diffidence of Cortes, aad prevailed upon him by their entreaties to rcflllvc upon his deparmre for TlaCcahl the next day. There was now: a deficiency ·of fifty-five Spaniards of the number who- had c.nlift¢d in. Cuba, and thofe remaining were for the moft part G 2 wounded ... 43 BOOK VIII. ~ S!i.cT. XX.ll. S £ CT. XJCIII. Subn~.iffion of thM'fl'ublic of Tlafcala to the Catholic king. • |