HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



399 



to the prefence of their fovereign checked the multitude 

 from continuing the attack upon the Spanifh quarters ; 

 but it did not make them defift from other hoftilities ; 

 they burned the four brigantines which Cortes had or- 

 dered to be built, in order to fave himfelf in them pro- 

 vided he could not at any time make his efcape by the 

 roads made upon the lake, and refolved to deftroy the 

 Spaniards by famine, denying them provifions, and con- 

 triving to hinder the introduction of any to them, by 

 drawing a ditch all round their quarters. 



In this fituation the Spaniards found themfelves in 

 Mexico, when Alvarado fent advice to Cortes, requeu- 

 ing him by two different meffages, carried by the Tlaf- 

 calans, to halten his return, unlefs he chofe to let them 

 all perifh. The fame thing was defired by Montezuma, 

 who acquainted him how diftreffed he was at the infur- 

 re&ion of his vaffals, which, however, had been occa- 

 fioned by the ra£h and bloody attempt of the captain 

 Tonatiuh. 



Cortes after having given orders to tranfplant the co- 

 lony of Vera Cruz to a more convenient fituation, near 

 the port of Chalchiuhcuecan (although this was not then 

 executed), marched with his people by long journeys 

 towards the capital. In Tlafcala, he was magnificently 

 lodged in the palace of the prince Maxixcatzin. There 

 he made a review of his troops, and found them confift 

 of ninety-fix horfes, and thirteen hundred Spanifh in- 

 fantry, to which two thoufand Tlafcalans were added to 

 the republic. With this army he marched into Mexico 

 on the 24th of June. He met with no oppofition to his 

 entry, but very foon he was fenfible of a ferment among 

 the people, not only from feeing few or none of them in 

 the ftreets, but alfo by their having raifed fome bridges 



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