438 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



he carefully examined them, difcovered the innocence 

 and fidelity of both parties, and obferved, that the late 

 difafters had made the Spaniards more timorous, and 

 that fear, as ufual, had induced them to carry their 

 fufpicion farther than was proper or neceffary. He 

 gave kind treatment and made prefents to the Quauh* 

 qaechollans and the Huexotzincas ; and, accompanied 

 by them, he marched for Cholula, with a hundred Spa- 

 nifh infantry and ten horfes, having refolved to execute 

 this enterprife in perfon. He found the Spaniards in 

 Cholula apprehenfive, but he foon encouraged them, 

 and then marched for Quauhquechollan, with all his ar- 

 my, which confifted now of three hundred Spaniards 

 and upwards of a hundred thoufand allies : fuch was 

 the readinefs of thofe people in taking arms to free them- 

 felves from the yoke of the Mexicans. Before he ar- 

 rived at Quauhquechollan, Cortes was informed by the 

 chief of that city, that all the purpofed meafures had 

 been taken ; that the Mexicans were confiding in their 

 centinels potted upon the towers of the city, and on the 

 road ; but that the centinels had already been fecretly 

 feized and confined by the citizens. 



The Quauhquechollans no fooner faw the army which 

 was coming to their afiiflance, than they attacked the 

 quarters of the Mexican officers with fuch fury, that, 

 before Cortes entered the city, they prefented him forty 

 prifoners. When the general entered, three thoufand 

 citizens were aflaulting the principal dwelling of the 

 Mexicans, who, though greatly inferior in number, de- 

 fended themfelves fo bravely that they could not take the 

 houfe, although they had rendered themfelves maflers 

 of the terraces. Cortes made the aflault, and took it ; 

 but in fpite of the efforts he made to feize any one of 

 them, from whom he might learn fome intelligence of 



the 



