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Show BOOK Vllf. ~ II I ' T 0 I y o r 1\.1 E ~ I ' 0. her(c)f in llcr houi\; from the chnger whi h tlm;;ltened th Spaniards; 1 . h 1\1 ·trJ·JI" took oc alion to inform h Tfdf of the who! plan upon w 11c · " ' d (' of the confpira y, and immediately told ortcs of it .. I Ie hear~ rom the mouth of the tun pcrfon, that the Cholnbn~, With the a~dhn ·e f I r ...1 Mt ){i ·ms (r·) who wcr ·~.:ncampconeclr the 1ty, h~td 0 twenty t 10 ll!<HllL • · · ' · h 1 r: d' · d . .conccrte to ma o:, tcl .e, ",, ll tl1e Sp·,\ Jli<1rds. Not c Jltcn.t cd WJt t 1.e le tl- · he c11, 1·ged M·trin ·l to nfc all her art tu bnng two pncfis to S! C To XXVII. Slaughter made inCho. lui a. covertes, ·• ' · · 1 1 · d 11· 1 0 confirmeu all that hiHl been ~.:ommumcated to 1er 11s we mg, w 1 • by her female friend. . . Cortes, finding himfclf in fuch hazard of utter dell:rucbon, refol~ d to adopt the mo!l cflcB:u:-~1 means for his fafety. He ordered th~ pnncipal perfons of the ity into his prefence, and tol_d them, that tf they had any qu:-~rrcl againi}: the Spaniat:ds, to decl.are 1t fra.nkly,. as became· men of honour, and he would give them fu1table fattsfachon. They replied, that they were already flti sficd with his conduCt, and ready to ferve him; that whenever he chofe to depart, he fhould be abundantly provided with every thing that was necefiitry for his ~ourney, and al.f0 troops of war for his fc~urity. Cortes accepted their offer, and .fixe.d the next day for his departure. The Cholulans were content, as It: appeared that every thing would turn out f~vourable to their t.reacherous defign; but in order to enfure that fbll more, they f.:1.cnficed to their gods ten children, five of ach fex. Cortes called together his officers, unfolded to them the perfidious intentions of the Cholulans,. and ordered them to give their fentiments. Some were of opinion that their danger !hould be !hunned, by retreating to the city ofHuexotzinco, which was hardly nine miles di!lant, or to Tbfcah; but tile majority referred themfdvcs to the determination of the general. orles gave the orders which fecmcd to him moft fuited to his purpofe, protefiing. that they could never be fecurc in Mexico unlefs they punifhed that deceitful city with fevcrity. He ordered the auxiliary troops of Tlaf..:. cala to ll:orm the city at fun-rife the next day, and to cut off every citizen without pardon to any one except women and children. The day at length arrived, which wreaked difitll:er on Cholula. The Spaniards prepared their horfes, their artillery, their arms, and formed (1') Bernal Dinz f.-Lys, that the Mc:xi an army, nccording to what he knew, confified of twenty thoufand men. orrcs affirms, that the lords of Cholula eonfc1fcd to him, tHat that army was not compofcd of lcfs'than fifty thouf11nd men, them- I , I H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. themfdves in onler, in a fquare of their dwelling, which was dcfigned Jtr the principal theatre of the approaching tragedy. The Cholulans repaired thither at break of day. The chiefs, with about forty nobles, and the baggage men entered into . the halls and chambers to lift up the equipage, when fuddenly guards were placed to prevent their efcape. The Cholulctn troops, or at leafr great part of them, entered into the fquarc along with the principal lord of that city, at the requefi, it is probable, of ortes himfclf, who, mounting on horfeback, fpoke to them in thi manner: " Cholulans, I have endeavoured " to make you my friend ~ ; I have entered peaceably into your city, " and here you have received no wrong from me, nor any of my " friends; but, on the contrary, that you might have no fubjeB: of " comphtint, I confented that the auxiliary troops of the Tlafcalans " f11ould not be admitted here : befides, I have req uefl:ed you to fty free} y, " if we had done you any injury, that you might have fatisfaftion; but " you have, with detefiable perfidy, under the appearance of friend" {hip, laid <l fcheme to betray me, and deilroy me and my people. I " know the whole depth of your bloody deligns." Then calling afide four or five holulans, he afk.ed them what had induced them to refolve on fo execrable an attempt? They replied, that the .Mexican .ambaffitdor, to render an a_2 reeable fcrvice to their fovereign, had enticed them to meditate their dell:ruftion. Cortes then, with a counte. nance full of i.ndignation, thus addrefied the amba!radors who were prefent: " Thofe wretche , to excuf~..: their crimes, impute the trea" chery to you and your king; but I neither believe you capable of " fuch inf~1my, nor can I perfuade myfelf that the great monarch Mon" tezuma would treat me like a cruel enemy, at the very time he i~ " o-iving me the fincereft proofs of his friendD1ip; and as he could op-o . . . " pofe me with open force, that he would employ traitors. to anttcipate " him '! Be afi"ured, that I will pay regard to your perfons 111 the flaugh" ter and blood we f11a1l f11ed. To-day, thofe traitors fl1all peria1, " and their city fhall be convulfed. I call he:wen and earth to witnefs, " that it is their perfidy which arms our hands for revenge, unnatural " to our hearts." · laving fpoke this, and made the fignal of attack by.the ?ifcharge. of <a muD{et, the Spaniards fell with fuch fur;' upon thofe mtferable VIC-II 2 tims, BOOK VIII. ~ |