HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



337 



nations, the allies of Cholula, who, although the fub- 

 jects of the crown of Mexico, had taken up arms with- 

 out any order from their fovereign. This was confirm- 

 ed by the affeverations of the ambaffadors, and Cortes 

 made an appearance of being perfectly fatisfied. 



It is not an eafy matter to clear up the truth in this 

 particular, neither can we avoid blaming the forwardnefs 

 of fome authors in aliening fo freely what they do not 

 know. Why fhould the Cholulans, who were allowed 

 by all to be a falfe deceitful nation, be given more credit 

 than the Mexicans, and Montezuma himfelf, who from 

 the eminence of his rank and character, w r as more wor- 

 thy of faith? The invariably pacific difpofition of that 

 monarch towards the Spaniards, having attempted no 

 hoflile ftroke on many and thofe favourable occafions 

 which occurred, to opprefs them; and the moderation 

 with which he always fpoke of them, which no authors 

 deny, make the excufe made by the Cholulans improba- 

 ble : but, on the other hand, it affumes an air of truth 

 from fome, though indirect proofs, of the enmity of 

 Montezuma, and in particular from hoftilities committed 

 upon the garrifon of Vera Cruz by a powerful feudatory 

 of the crown of Mexico. 



£$uauhpopoca, lord of Nauhtlan (called by the Spa- 

 niards Almeria), a city fituated upon the coaft of the 

 Mexican gulf, thirty-fix miles towards the north from 

 Vera Cruz, and clofe to the confines of the Mexican 

 empire in that quarter, had orders from Montezuma to 

 reduce the Totonacas to their wonted obedience, as foon 

 as Cortes had retired from that coafL He, in com- 

 pliance with thofe orders, demanded of thofe people with 

 threats, the tribute which they were accuftomed to pay 

 to their fovereign. The Totonacas, rendered infolent 



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