HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



51 



them, and defeated and put them to flight, and in re- 

 pairing the ditch, killed fome of the allies and made four 

 Spaniards prifoners, who were inftantly facrificed in fight 

 of Alvarado and his people, in the greater temple of 

 Tlatelolco. Cortes was extremely troubled at this dif- 

 after, as it muft have increafed the courage and pride of 

 the enemy, and went immediately to Tlacopan, to give 

 a fevere reprimand to Alvarado for his difobedience and 

 raftmefs; but when he was informed how courageoufly 

 he had conducted himfelf that day, and taken poffeflion 

 of the mod difficult pofts, he gave him only a kind ad- 

 monition, and inculcated his former orders refpe&ing the 

 manner of making his entry. 



The troops of Xochimilco, Cuitlahuac, and other cities 

 on the lake, which were in the camp of Cortes, willing 

 to profit by the opportunity which prefented itfelf in the 

 entries which the Spaniards made, to plunder the houfes 

 of the capital, availed themfelves of a moft abominable 

 piece of treachery. They fent a fecret embafly to king 

 Quauhtemotzin, declaring their inviolable fidelity to the 

 crown, and complaining of the Spaniards, becaufe they 

 had forced them to take arms againft their natural lord ; 

 and adding, that they defigned on their next entry to 

 unite with the Mexicans againft thofe enemies of their 

 country, to kill them all, and thus put an end to his ca- 

 lamities* The king praifed their refolution, appointed 

 them the pofts which they were to occupy, and alfo re- 

 turned them gifts in reward of their pretended fidelity. 

 Thofe traitors entered the city as ufual, and feigning at 

 firft to turn their arms againft the Spaniards, began after- 

 wards to plunder the houfes of the Mexicans, killing 

 thofe who oppofed them, and imprifoning the women 

 and children: but the Mexicans foon dete&ing their per- 



fidy. 



