Tlascalans were much
concerned that Cortes should propose to go to Mexico, and what they told
him fully confirmed all the reports he had heard of the power and
ambition of Montezuma, of the strength of his capital, and the number of
his soldiers. They warned him not to trust to his gifts and his fair
words, and when the general said that he hoped to bring about a better
understanding between the emperor and themselves, they replied that it
was impossible; however smooth his words, he would hate them at heart.
They also heartily protested against the general's going to Cholula. The
people, they said, though not brave in the open field, were crafty; they
were Montezuma's tools, and would do his bidding. That city, too, was
specially under the protection of the god Quetzalcoatl, and the priests
were confidently believed to have the power of opening an inundation
from the foundations of his shrine, which should overwhelm their enemies
in the deluge, and lastly, though many distant places had sent to
testify their goodwill, and offer their allegiance, Cholula, only six
leagues distant, had done neither. This consideration weighed more with
the general than either of the preceding ones, and he promptly
despatched a summons to the city demanding a formal tender of its
submission. It was not long before deputies arrived from Cholula profuse
in expressions of goodwill and invitations to visit their city; but the
Tlascalans pointed out that these messengers were below the usual rank
of ambassadors, which Cortes regarded as a fresh indignity. He therefore
sent a new summons, declaring that if they did not at once send a
deputation of their principal men he would treat them as rebels to his
own sovereign, the rightful lord of these realms. This soon brought some
of the highest nobles to the camp, who excused their tardy appearance,
by saying that they had feared for their personal safety in the capital
of their enemies. The Tlascalans were now more than ever averse to the
projected visit. A strong Aztec force was known to be near Cholula, and
the city was being actively prepared for defence. Cortes, too, was
disturbed by these circumstances, but he had gone too far to recede
without showing fear, which could not fail to have a bad effect on his
own men, as well as on the natives. Therefore, after a short
consultation with his officers, he decided finally to take the road to
Cholula. This ancient city lay six leagues to the south of