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exculpate himfelf in regard to what had palled, and to invite us into 

 Mexico, where, by cutting off the water, or raifing the bridges, he 

 could eafily deftroy us, or retain us for breed. The news of our late 

 fuccefles fpread rapidly, and the natives were more than ever convinced 

 that we were beings poffeffed of a preternatural power and intelligence. 

 My readers will be perhaps by this time as tired of the detail of the 

 tranfadion of Cholula, as I am of writing it. I muft however men- 

 tion the cages full of men and boys fattening for facrifice, which were 

 in this city. All thefe Cortes deflroyed, and fent the poor prifoners to 

 their homes, giving pofitive orders to the priefts to defift from the 

 pradice in future, which they promifed that they would, but what 

 fignified their promifes! 



This which I have related is the reality of the endlefs ftory of the 

 LordBifhop of Chiapa, F. Bart, de las Cafas, who fays we put thefe 

 people to death merely for paftimej but I muft obferve, that certain 

 reverend Francifcans, after the conqueft of Mexico, being fome of the 

 firft his Majefty fent to New Spain, went to Choiula on purpofe to 

 make the ftridteft enquiry ; the refult of which was, that they found 

 the affair to have happened exac^lly as I have related it. If this punifh- 

 ment had not taken place our lives would have been in the greateft danger, 

 and had we been deftroyed this country of New Spain would not , have 

 been fo eafily gained, or a fecond expedition attempted; or if it had, it 

 might have failed of fucccfs, as the natives would have defended their 

 coafts, and have thus remained for ever in their idolatry. I have heard 

 a reverend Francifcan named Fray Torribio de Motilinea fay, that if the 

 punifhment could have been avoided, and that there had been no caufe 

 given for it, it would have been better j but that fince it was done, 

 good effecfls had refulted, as the natives were thereby convinced of the 

 falfehood and deception of their idols, which they in confequence de- 

 fpiied, as a proof of which they afterwards took down the principal 

 one, putting another in its place. 



Having now paffed fourteen days in Hie city of Cholula, Cortes 



fummoned 



