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trary to the inclination of Cortes, who was not able to reflrain them. 

 We halted for this night at a town in the territory of Tezcuco, which 

 the inhabitants had abandoned. We had got intelligence by fome Mex- 

 icans we made prifoners in the laft fkirmifli, that large' bodies of the 

 enemy waited for us in front ; but it afterwards appeared that they had 

 feparated, in confequence of feuds, and indeed a civil war which exift- 

 ed between the Mexicans and thofe of Tezcuco. The fmall pox alfo, 

 vyhich was at the fame time ver}' deftrudtive in the country, contributed 

 in a confiderable degree to prevent their armies from affembling. 



On the next morning we again fet forward on, our march for Tez- 

 cuco, which was diftant about two leagues ; but we had proceeded a 

 very fhort diflance, before one of our patroles came to us with intelli- 

 gence that ten Indians were on the road, with figns of peace. The 

 whole of the country alfo through which we marched exhibited every 

 fign of moft perfect tranquillity. When thefe Indians arrived, we found 

 that they compofed an embaffy, confifting of feven chieftains of Tezcu- 

 co. A golden banner borne upon a long lance was carried before them, 

 and when they came near us the banner was lowered, and they bowed 

 their bodies. Addrefhng Cortes in the name of their lord Cocoivacin, 

 the prince of Tezcuco, they then reqiiefted to be received under our 

 protection, inviting us to their city, and prefenting to us, as a token of 

 peace, their golden banner. They utterly denied having any part in the 

 attacks with which we had been threatened^ and requeued that no injury 

 might be done to their city by us or our allies. Three of thefe embaf- 

 fadors were perfonally known to moft of us, for they were relations of 

 the good Montezuma, and captains of his guards. Cortes earneft:ly re- 

 quefted the Tlafcalan chiefs to prevent their people from pillaging, 

 5ind his wifhes were ftri<5tly attended to, excepting only in the article 

 ofprovifions. 



It clearly appeared that this embaffy was a mere pretence; never- 

 thelefs the embaffadors were affured that every protection fhould be af- 

 forded to the country, but were at the fame time told, that it could not 



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