^90 



HISTORY OF MEXICO* 



from the capital of that empire. The Huexotzincas, 

 Cholulans, and other neighbouring ftates, who were 

 formerly allied with the republic, growing jealous after- 

 wards of its profperity, exafperated the Mexicans againfl: 

 it, by infinuating that the TIafcalans were defirous of 

 making themfelves mailers of the maritime provinces on 

 the Mexican gulf, and that by their commerce with thofe 

 provinces, they were daily increaiing their power and 

 their wealth, and were gaining the minds of the people 

 with whom they had tralEck^ The commerce of the 

 TIafcalans, of which the Huexotzincas complained, was 

 both juflifiable and necelTary ; becaufe, befides that the 

 greater part of the people of thefe coafls were originally of 

 Tlafcala, and confidered each other as kindred and rela- 

 tions ; the TIafcalans were under the neceifity of provid- 

 ing themfelves from thence with what cocoas, cotton, and 

 fait they wanted. Neverthelefs the reprefentations of the 

 Huexotzincas had fuch influence on the Mexicans, that 

 fmce the time of Montezuma I. all the kings of Mexico 

 had treated the TIafcalans as the greatefl: enemies of the 

 empire, and had always maintained Urong garrifons on 

 the frontiers of Tlafcala, to obfl:ru<fb their commerce with 

 the maritime parts. 



The TIafcalans finding themfelves deprived of their 

 freedom of commerce, and confequently of the means of 

 obtaining fome of the neceffaries of life, refolved to fend 

 an embalfy to the Mexican nobility, (probably in the 

 time of king Axayacatlj complaining of the wrong done 

 them through the falfe infmuations of their rivals. The 

 Mexicans who were become infolent from profperity, re- 

 plied, that the king of Mexico was lord of all the world, 

 and all mortals were his vaillils ; and that as fuch, the 

 TIafcalans fliould render him due obedience, and acknow- 

 ' ledge 



