Note 918 — Chapter XXVIII · INVALUABLE FRIENDSHIP. July-September, 1520.

With reference to the attack on Xicotencatl in the council-chamber, Herrera says, ‘Sin tener los Mexicanos otra respuesta se boluieron, con relacion de lo que passaua,’ dec. ii. lib. x. cap. xiv., a sentence which Clavigero elaborates into a flight of the envoy on observing the agitation of the people. ‘E’ però da credersi, che il Senato mandasse degli Ambasciatori Tlascallesi per portar la risposta.’ Storia Mess., iii. 149. Prescott and others also suppose that they fled; but this is unlikely, since personages so conspicuous as envoys could hardly have escaped from the centre of the republic without the knowledge of the senate, who had, beside, given them a guard, as well for their honor and protection as for preventing the undue exercise of their curiosity. Envoys enjoyed great respect among these peoples. Camargo and Ixtlilxochitl assume more correctly that the envoys were notified and dismissed.