380 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



and mod certain proofs, would make him facrifice all the 

 interefts of his family and his country to the ambition 

 of thofe Grangers. 



In fpite of thofe reprefentations war was refolved up- 

 on, and immediately they began to make preparations for 

 it with the utmoft fecrecy ; but ftill not fufficient to pre- 

 vent the intelligence of it from reaching Montezuma and 

 Cortes : this general became extremely uneafy at it, but 

 reflecting that all his daring defigns had fucceeded, he 

 refolved to ward off the blow, by marching with his 

 troops to make an aflault upon Tezcuco. Montezuma 

 difTuaded him from fo dangerous a ftep, informing him 

 of the ftrength of that capital and the immenfe number 

 of its inhabitants. Cortes determined, therefore, to 

 fend an embaflfy to that king, calling to his recollection 

 the friendfhip formerly agreed upon between them in 

 Ajotzinco when he came to meet him in the name of his 

 uncle, and alfo to tell him to reflect that it was not eafier 

 to undertake war than difficult to fucceed in it, and that 

 it would turn out to better account for him to keep up a 

 good correfpondence with the king of Caftile and the 

 Spanifh nation. Cacamatzin anfwered, that he could 

 not regard men as friends who injured his honour, 

 wronged his blood, difdained his religion, and oppreflfed 

 his country ; that he did not know who the king of Caf- 

 tile was, nor was it of any importance for him to know 

 it ; that if they would efcape the ftorm which was now 

 ready to pour upon them, they mould immediately quit 

 Mexico, and return to their native country. 



Notvvithftanding this firm anfwer, Cortes repeared his 

 embaffy ; but being again anfwered in the fame tone, he 

 complained to Montezuma ; and, in order to engage him 

 in the affair, he feigned to fufpect even him of having 



fome 



