294 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



the Spaniards, that they had not even deigned to look at 

 them as they paffed by them. 



The Totonacas had hardly taken this ftep, when, en- 

 couraged by it, they almoft would have proceeded to fa- 

 crifice them that very night, had they not been diffuad- 

 ed from it by Cortes, who having conciliated by that 

 meafure the love and refpecl: of the Totonacas, intended 

 to gain the good-will of the Mexicans by liberating the 

 prifoners. His artful double conduct lays open his dif- 

 polition ; but it cannot be commended, except by thofe 

 courtiers who know no other fyftem than the art of de- 

 ceit, and who, regardlefs of honour, purfue interefl: alone 

 in their actions. Cortes gave orders therefore to his 

 guards, to take at night two of the Mexicans out of the 

 prifon, and bring them fecretly before him, fo as they 

 might not be obferved by any of the inhabitants of the 

 city. The order was obeyed, and the Mexicans found 

 themfelves fo much obliged to the Spanifli general, that 

 they made him a thoufand acknowledgments, and ad- 

 vifed him not to truft to the barbarous and perfidious 

 Totonacas. Cortes charged them to explain to their fo- 

 vereign his great difpleafure at the attempt of thofe 

 mountaineers againft his minifters; but as he had put 

 them two at liberty, he would alfo fet the others free. 

 They departed immediately for the court, efcorted by 

 fome Spaniards, in a velTel from thence to the borders 

 of the province; and Cortes, the day after, pretended 

 extreme anger at the guards through whofe neglect the 

 prifoners had efcaped ; and that the fame accident might 

 not happen again, he propofed to fecure the others in a 

 more clofe prifon; and to make this be believed, he 

 made them be conducted in chains aboard his veffels, 

 from which he foon after fet them at liberty like the firft. 



The 



