HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



319 



The partizans of the old Xicotencatl being at laft per- 

 fuaded that the war with the Spaniards was by no means 

 advantageous to the republic, and fearing befides that 

 ,they might form an alliance with the Mexicans, unani- 

 moufly refolved to make peace, and chofe the fame 

 general who had fought againft them to mediate between 

 them. Xicotencatl, though at firfl: he refufed to do fo, 

 from being afhamed of the unhappy ifTue of the war, was 

 at laft obliged to charge himfelf with the commifTion. 

 He was accompanied to the camp by a noble and numer- 

 ous retinue, faluted Cortes in the name of the republic, 

 excufed themfelves for the hoftilities already fhewn, from 

 having believed him to be the ally of Montezuma, not 

 only on account of the fuperb prefents fent him from 

 Mexico, but alfo the large troop of Mexicans who fol- 

 lowed him ; promifed him a firm peace, and an eternal 

 alliance with the Tlafcalans, and prefented him a little 

 gold, and fome bales of fine cotton, apologizing for the 

 fcantinefs of their offers, with the poverty of their coun- 

 try occafioned by their conftant wars with the Mexicans, 

 who prevented their commerce with other provinces. 

 Cortes omitted no demonftration of refpeft towards 

 Xicotencatl ; he made an appearance of being fatisfied 

 with his excufes, but required that the peace fiiould be 

 fmcere and permanent ; for that if they ever broke it, 

 he would take fuch revenge as would make an example 

 of them to other nations. 



Peace being concluded, and Xicotencal having taken 

 his leave, Cortes ordered mafs to be celebrated as a 

 thankfgiving to the Almighty. Every one will be able 

 to imagine the difpleafure the Mexican ambaffadors muft 

 have received in feeing fuch an accommodation take 

 place. They complained of it to Cortes, and blamed 



* his 



