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Show I, • H I S T 0 R Y 0 'F M E X I C 0. nooKVUJ. t1 . to reproach them with the crueltie.s of their .G1crificcs, and to ~ it~:~~~ate the purity of hi fyfiem of morality, the falfcnefl of their dcitic , and the exiO:ence of a fuprcme Being, who governs all natund caufcs, and watches with mofi admirable providence over the prcfervation of his creatures. Thofe exhortations, made by a pcrfon of fo great authority, and of whom the Tlafcalans had :ormed a very elevated idea, although they did not produce all the effeCl: defircd, h:td confidcrablc influence, and fo far moved the fcnatc, that they confcntet! to break the c:1gc , and ft.:t at liberty all the prifoners and llavcs which were to be iacrificed to their gods on folcmn fell:iva]s, or other pub]ic occaGons of the ilate. Thus every day the alliance with the Tlafcalans was more firmly cfhlbli!hed, in fpite of the repeated fuggc!l:ions of the Mexican ambaff tdors to break it. Cortes, though well perfuaded of the fincerity of the Tlafcal ans, had given orders .to his troops to hold then1felves al ways prepared for whatever might 11appen. The fenate was offe11deu at this, and complained bitterly of his diffidence, after fo many manifdl: proofs of their good faith ; but Cortes excufed it, by prote!ling.,. that he did not fo from any diAi.dence of the Tlafcalans, but becaufe it was the praCtice of the Spaniards : this anfwer fatisfied the fenate, and the difcipline of his foldiers pleafed them fo much, that Maxixcatzin propofed 'to introduce it among the troops of the republic. At length Cortes having procured, during the time he frayed in Tlafcala, a diil:inet information of the city of Mexic0, of the forces of that kingdom, and every other particular which could farther his projeCts, determined to continue his journey; "but before he f~t out,. he prefentecl a great number of the moil: beautiful habits which he baa received from Montezuma, to the Tlafca]ans. He was doubtful of the route he £hould purfue to that city. The Mexican amba.lfadors propofed t:hat he 1hou1d go by Cho1ula, where there was good accomtnodation prepared for all his peop]e. The Tlafc.alans oppefed that intention, by reJ)refenting the perfidy of the Cholulans, and advifed him to proceed by Huexotzinco, a ftate confederated equally with them and the Spaniards, but Cortes refolved to go by Cholula, not only to ·pleaili the ambaffadors, but alfo to lhew the Tlafcalans the little regard he paid to the force of his enemies. The ' . !(It'· H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. 47 The Cholulans had be<!n formerly the allies of the Tbfcalans; but BOOK. VJII. ~~ upon the arrival of the Spaniards were confederated with the MexicansJ s E c T. and the fworn enemies of that republic. The caufc of fo great an En1~i~vbe. enmity had been the perfidy of the Cholulans., ~ In a battle with the ~r1:cr~a~~~. Mexicans, while they were yet the allies of the Tlafcalans, being in and Cholu· the vanguard of the army, by a fuddcn evolution they put themfelves tan~. in the rear, and, attacki1Jg the Tlafcalans behind while the Mexicans were llptm their front, made a great flaughter of them. The hatred which this deteftablc treachery had raifcd in the breafis of the Tbtca-lans made them anxious for an opportunity of revenge, and no time had appeared more favourable than now, when they were become confe .. derated with the Spaniards. In order to infpire Cortes with dillike to them, and induce him to make war upon that ll:ate, they acquainted him with its conduct towards him ; that they had not fent any meffengers with compliments to him, whereas the Huexotzincas had done fo, a~- though their fl:ate was at a much greater difi:ance. They informed him alfo of the mefiage which they £1id they had received from the Cholulans, reproaching them for their alliance with the Spaniards; calling them bafe and cowardly, and threatening them, that if they thould attempt any thing again!l: their facred city they {hould all peri(h by being drowned; for among their other errors, they were perfuaded that whenever they chofe they could, by rafing the walls of the fauc-tuary of Q!lctzalcoatl, makt: fuch large rivers fpring from thence, as would in a moment overflow the city ,; and although the Tlafcalans dreaded fuch a catall:rophe, the deiire of revenge overcame their fears. Cortes, moved by thefe fugge!l:ions, fent four noble Tbfcalans to Cholula, to know why they had not paid the fame regarcl which was /hewn to him by the Huexotzincas. The Cholulans laid their excufe on, the enmity of the Tlafcalans, i~ whom they never could repofe any confidence (c). This anfwer was brought uy four common· people, (r) Torquemadn adds, that the Cho.lul:ms retained the prirteipal 1~c ffe nge r of the ·~tafcaJa., noel' w~h fa.va13c o••uelty flay ed his face ;md arms~ and cut off h1a hauda ; bL\t th1s aca. ount ie unqu.e!liunllbly loMe, for fo atrocious a woceeding could I\Ot remain unk110wn to the Spaniard•; but .nuithO{ Cortes, aerna~ Din~, ~or :my other of the fidl hid}oria!IS men.tion it. Coftcs w'Quld not have omitted it in his letter t\) Charh:a V. to juOify the fcvcnty of Ius chaf· tM'tmc~t ri the Cholulans. 8 which .. |