52 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Citlaltepec, and Acolman, to Tezcuco, having made a 

 circuit in this expedition round all the lakes of the Mex- 

 ican vale, and obferved what efforts and exertions were 

 neceffary to execute the great enterprife in his mind 

 with fuccefs. 



In Tezcuco Cortes continued all the preparations for 

 the fiege. The brigantines were equipped, and a canal 

 formed, a mile and a half long, fufiiciently deep, and fur- 

 nifhed on both lides with a fence, to receive the water 

 of the lake into which the brigantines were to be launch- 

 ed, and a machine conftrufted to launch them. The 

 troops which Cortes had under his command were almoft: 

 without number, and likewife that of the Spaniards was 

 confiderably augmented by fome who a few days before 

 had arrived at the port of Vera Cruz, in a veffel from 

 Spain loaded withhorfes, arms, and ammunition. Every 

 thing appeared to promife a happy iffue, at the moment 

 the enterprife was in the greateft danger of being totally 

 fruftrated and ruined. Some Spanifli foldiers, partifans 

 of the governor of Cuba, incited either to hatred of 

 Cortes, or envious of his glory, or, what feems Mill as 

 probable, from fear of the dangers which threatened 

 them in the fiege of the capital, fecretly agreed to take 

 away his life, and thofe of his captains Alvarado, Sando- 

 val, and Tapia, and all thofe who appeared to be mod 

 attached to the party of the general. The confpirators 

 had not only determined the time and manner of fecure- 

 ly executing the blow, but elected alfo thofe on whom 

 the vacant potts of general, judge, and captains were to 

 be conferred ; when one of the accomplices, having re- 

 pented of the deed, feafonably revealed the treafon to 

 Cortes. This general immediately made Antonio de 

 Villafaiia, the chief of the confpirators, be feized, com- 

 mitted 



