398 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



that it having been whifpered that the Mexicans defign- 

 ed at this feftival to ftrike a decifive ftroke on the Spa- 

 niards, to deliver themfelves from oppreflion, and fet 

 their lord and king again at liberty, whom the Spa- 

 niards had imprifoned, he prevented them, thinking, 

 according to the vulgar adage, he who attacks, con- 

 quers. However the cafe was, his conduct cannot be 

 defended neither from the charge of imprudence nor 

 cruelty (d). 



The common people were irritated by a blow which 

 touched them fo deeply, and treated the Spaniards 

 ever after as the mortal enemies of their country. 

 Some Mexican troops alfaulted their quarters with 

 fuch impetuofity, that they broke down a part of 

 the wall, undermined the palace in different places, 

 and burned their ammunition, but they were repel- 

 led by the fire of the artillery and mufketry, by 

 which the Spaniards had an opportunity of repairing 

 the wall. That night the Spaniards repofed purely 

 from the fatigues of the day, but the day after the af- 

 fault was fo furious, that they thought they mud have 

 perifhed, and certainly not one of them would have re- 

 mained alive, five or fix of them being already killed, 

 had not the king fhevvn himfelf to the crowd of aflault- 

 ers, and by his authority reftrained their fury. Refpect 



to 



(d) It is altogether incredible that the Mexicans mould upon occafion of the 

 dance, have plotted againft the Spaniards, that treafon which fome hiftorians 

 have fuppofed, and ftill more that they had actually prepared the veffels in 

 which they were to boil the flefh of the Spaniards, as Torquemada fays Thefe 

 are fables invented to juftify Alvarado. What appears the moft probable folu- 

 tion of this event is, that the Tlafcalans out of the great hatred which they 

 bore to the Mexicans, infpired Alvarado with fufpicions of this pretended trea- 

 chery. The hiftory of the conqueft furnifties us with many examples of fuch 

 kind of artful defigning condud in the Tlafcalans. 



