HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



297 



became pacified with the intelligence, and feeling his 

 obligations to the Spanifli general for the fervice done to 

 the royal minifters, fent two princes, his nephews, ac- 

 companied with a numerous retinue of nobility and 

 others, with a prefent of works of gold worth upwards 

 of a thoufand fequins. They returned thanks in the name 

 of the king to Cortes, and at the fame time complained 

 of him for having entered fo far into friendfhip with the 

 rebellious Totonacas, that that nation had had the info- 

 lence to refufe to pay the tribute which they owed to their 

 fovereign. They added, that folely on account of fuch 

 guefts, an army had not been fent to punifh the rebellion 

 of thofe people, but that in the end they would not re- 

 main unchaftifed. Cortes, after having fignified his 

 gratitude in the mod becoming expreflions, endeavoured 

 to vindicate himfelf from the accufation of friendship with 

 the Totonacas, by the neceflity he was under of feeking 

 provifions for his troops, after he was abandoned by the 

 Mexicans. He faid alfo, that with refpect to the tribute, 

 it was impoflible that a nation could ferve two matters ; 

 that he hoped foon to be at court to fatisfy the king more 

 completely, and make him fenfible of the fincerity of his 

 conduct. 



The two princes, after having beheld with great won- 

 der and delight the military exercifes of the Spanifli 

 cavalry, returned to the court. The lord of Chempoalla, 

 who was extremely difpleafed with that embaffy, in order 

 to ftrengthen the alliance with the Spaniards, prefented 

 eight virgins richly dreffed to Cortes, that they might 

 marry with his officers ; and amongft them was one of 

 his. nieces, which he defigned for the general himfelf. 

 Cortes, who had frequently difcourfed with him on the 

 fubjeft of religion, told him, he could not accept them, 



Vol. II. P p unlefs 



