( '23 ) 



were never fufFercd to pafs without punifTiment, and he then commanded 

 a mulket to be fired, as the fignal for flaiighter, which was waited for 

 by us, who were -as I have related well prepared, and falling upon the 

 multitude then inclofed within the courts, we executed their punifh- 

 ment on them in a manner that they will ever remember ; ' for a number 

 of them were killed by us inftantly, and many afterwards burned alive, 

 very contrary to the expe6lations they had formed from the promifes of 

 their gods.-}' Within two hours our allies the Tlafcalans arrived, and 

 made a defperate flaughter of them in the ftreets, and as foon as the 

 Cholulans had ceafed to make refiftance, the former ravaged the city, 

 plundering and making them flaves without our having it in our power 

 to prevent them; and on the day after, when the intelligence had 

 reached Tlafcala, frefli hordes crowded hither for the fame purpofe. 

 It was now abfolutely neceffary to reftrain them at all rifks : Cortes 

 therefore ordered the chiefs to withdraw their troops, which they im- 

 mediately did, and foon after, fome priefts and chieftains who prefided 

 over other parts of the town, which they alledged not to have been 

 engaged in the confpiracy, waited on us, and requefted a remiffion of 

 punifhment. The two priefts formerly mentioned, and the old woman 

 who was fo anxious to be the mother-^in-law of Donna Marina, came 

 alfo, and petitioned to the fame effed:. Cortes appeared greatly enraged, 

 and calling for the Mexican ambaffadors, declared in their prefence, that 

 if he did not deftroy the whole city as it defer vcd, it was out of refpe6l 

 to the great Montezuma, whofe vafTals the inhabitants were ; but that 

 for his fake he pardoned them. He then commanded the Tlafcalans to 

 deliver up thofe whom they had made prifoners : this, however un- 

 willingly, they in a great meafure complied with, many perfons being 

 fet at liberty, but after all they retained a good booty of gold, mantles, 

 cotton, fait, and flaves. An amnefty for the paft being proclaimed, 

 and Cortes having reconciled the Tlafcalans and Cholulans, the latter 

 fuggefled that they were apprehenfive our general would appoint their 

 new chief, the former one having been put to death. Cortes upon 



R 2 this 



t Above fix thoufand Cholulans were put to death on this occafion. 



