432 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



did not require fo unworthy an act, and a crime fo 

 enormous, as the facrifice of their guefts and friends ; 

 but when the ambaffadors were fought for, to have the 

 anfwer of the fenate delivered to them, it was found they 

 had already departed in fecret from Tlafcala: for having 

 obferved the people a little unquiet upon their arrival, 

 they were afraid that fome attempt might have been 

 made againft the refpect due to their character. It is 

 therefore probable that the fenate fent Tlafcalan mef- 

 fengers with their anfwer to the court. The fenators 

 endeavoured to conceal from the Spaniards the purport of 

 the embalTy,and all that had happened in the fenate ; but, 

 in fpite of their fecrecy, Cortes knew it, and with juftice 

 thanked Maxixcatzin for his good offices, and engaged 

 to confirm him in the favourable idea he entertained of 

 the bravery and friendfliip of the Spaniards. 



The fenate, not content with thofe proofs of its great 

 fidelity, acknowledged frefh obedience to the Catholic 

 king; and what was Mill more flattering to their guefts, 

 the four chiefs of the republic renounced idolatry, and 

 were baptized, while Cortes and his officers flood their 

 godfathers, and the function was celebrated by Olmedo 

 with great rejoicing and jubilee through all Tlafcala. 



Cortes was now freed from the danger to which his 

 life was expofed from the blow he had received on his 

 head in the laft battle; and the reft of the Spaniards, 

 except a few who died, were cured of their wounds by 

 the affiftance of the Tlafcalan furgeons. During the 

 time of his ficknefs, Cortes thought of nothing elfe than 

 the means he muft ufe to conduct his undertaking of the 

 conqueft of Mexico to a profperotis end ; and to further 

 this, he had ordered a confiderable quantity of timber 

 to be cut for the conftru&ion of thirteen brigantines; but 



while 



