The appearance of such a force, composed of the bitter foes of the Aztecs, would have combined against him the whole strength of that empire, and would have destroyed any hope that might remain of peaceful arrangements.
Moreover, the difficulty of feeding so large a body of men would be great, indeed; and as his authority over them would be but feeble, constant broils with the Aztecs would be the inevitable result.

He therefore, with many thanks, declined the offer; but said that he would gladly take with him a force of six thousand volunteers.
The first march was to be to Cholula, whose people had sent a warm invitation to Cortez to visit them; and Montezuma, by his last envoys, also requested them to journey forward by way of that city.
The Tlascalans had strongly urged him to refuse the invitation.

The Cholulans were, they said, a treacherous people and not to be trusted.

They were bigoted beyond the people of other cities, Cholula being the holy city of Anahuac.

It was here the god Quetzalcoatl had remained for twenty years on his way down to the coast, instructing the people in the arts of civilization.