From Cortés, Second Letter, p. 64

On the other hand, the inhabitants of this province would often caution me not to trust these vassals of Moctezuma for they were traitors, and always acted treacherously and artfully, by which means they had subjugated the whole earth; and they warned me as true friends, and as persons who had long known those men, to beware of them. I was not a little pleased on seeing their want of harmony, as it seemed favorable to my designs, and would enable me to bring them more easily into subjection, according to the common saying, De Monte, etc. I likewise applied to this case the authority of the Evangelist, who says, "Every kingdom divided against itself shall be rendered desolate;" and I dissembled with both parties, expressing privately my acknowledgments to both for the advice they gave me, and giving to each of them credit for more friendship towards me than I experienced from the other.