HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



321 



fenate, they continued the mofl faithful allies of thd 

 Spaniards, as will appear in the fequel. The fenate 

 defired to have Cortes at Tlafcala with all his troops, to 

 confirm more effectually their ftipulated friendfhip, and 

 to treat ferioufly of a confederacy againff the Mexicans, 

 and had already, by means of their meffengers, invited 

 that general to accept of accommodation in their city ; 

 profeffing the utmoft regret at feeing fuch illuftrious 

 friends of the republic fuffering fo many inconveniences. 



The alliance with the Tlafcalans was not the only fruit 

 which the Spaniards reaped from their victories. In the 

 fame camp where he had received the Tlafcalan ambaffa- 

 dor, he was favoured with two other embaiXies from the 

 republic of Huexotzinco, and the prince Ixtlilxochitl. 

 The Huexotzincas, who had formerly been vaifals of the 

 crown of Mexico, and the enemies of the Tlafcalans, had 

 delivered themfelves from the dominion of the Mexicans, 

 and confederated with the Tlafcalans their neighbours, 

 and now they imitated their example in making offers of 

 alliance and confederacy to the Spaniards. The prince 

 Ixtlilxochitl fent ambaffadors to Cortes, to congratulate 

 him on his victories over the Tlafcalans, and to invite him 

 to make a journey to Teotlalpan, where he propofed to 

 unite his forces with thofe of the Spaniards againfl the 

 king of Mexico. Cortes, as foon as he was informed of 

 the rank, pretenfions, and forces of that prince, readily 

 accepted his alliance, and engaged to afffft to place him 

 upon the throne of Acolhuacan. 



At the fame time the ambaffador, who was expected 

 from Mexico, returned from that court with a prefent of 

 jewels and gold, worth fifteen hundred fequins, two 

 hundred coftly habits of feathers, and new fuggeftions 

 from that monarch to divert the Spanifti general from his 



Vol. II. S s journey 



