drew near, dismounted and advanced towards him in a respectful posture. Montezuma at the same time alighted from his chair, and walked over the cotton cloths which covered the street. After mutual salutations were reciprocally paid and returned, Montezuma conducted Cortes to the quarters allotted for his reception, and politely took his leave.

In this new habitation, surrounded by a stone wall with towers at proper distances, the first care of Cortes was to take precautions for his security by planting the artillery so as to command the different avenues which led to it, by appointing a large division of his troops, to be always on guard, and by posting sentinels at proper stations. In the evening Montezuma returned with the same pomp as in the first interview, surrounded by a great number of his officers, among whom were many particularly attached to his person, and zealous for the honour and independence of their country; yet awed by the impressions of superstition, they witnessed the humiliation of their sovereign without daring to interfere, and even Montezuma had the imprudence to inform Cortes what was his opi nion with respect to the Spaniards, and how he supposed Cortes and his followers were the persons whose appearance the Mexican tradition and prophecies taught them to expect, and that he was disposed to receive them as relations of the same blood and parentage. Cortes, in reply, extolled the dignity and power of his sovereign, and announced his intention in sending him into that country, favouring as much as possible the idea which Montezuma had formed concerning the origin of the Spaniards. After some days spent in viewing the city, he revolved in his mind what conduct in his situation it was proper for him to pursue; and all circumstances considered. he determined, as the most politic measure, to seize Montezuma in his palace, and to carry him as a prisoner to the Spanish quarters. When this bold measure was proposed to his officers, the timid started many difficulties and objections; but the more intelligent and resolute approved of it; and it was agreed instantly to make the attempt.

At his usual hour of visiting Montezuma, Cortes, accompanied by five principal officers, and as many trusty soldiers,

went to the palace; and they were followed by 30 chosen men: the rest of the troops were properly distributed and under arms ready to sally forth on the first alarm. Cortes, admitted to an audience, addressed Montezuma in the language of complaint and reproach; and Montezuma attempted to vindicate himself from accusation. The Spanish general thought it necessary, that Montezuma, in order to convince his followers that he entertained no hostile intentions, should leave his own palace, and take up his residence in the Spanish quarters. After much hesitation and remonstrance, and under the influence of apprehensions concerning his own safety, the emperor complied. In the Spanish quarters, to which he was conveyed amidst the murmurs of the people, he was treated with ceremonious respect. After some time, Cortes entered his apartment, accompanied by a soldier with a pair of fetters; and addressing him with a stern countenance, told him that as the persons who were about to suffer for attacking the Spaniards near Villa Rica, had charged him as the cause. of the outrage committed, it was necessary that he also should make atonement for that guilt; and he commanded the soldier to clap the fetters on his legs. The monarch sunk under the indignity, and his attendants bathed his feet with their tears. At length Cortes returned from the execution of the persons that had been found guilty, with a cheerful countenance, and ordered the fetters to be taken off. This seems to have been, on the part of Cortes, a wanton exercise of power; though it has been vindicated on the ground of policy: as it tended to press the minds of the Mexicans with a persuasion, that shedding the blood of a Spaniard, of which the persons now executed had been guilty, was the most heinous of all crimes; and nothing appeared better calculated to establish this opinion, than to condemn the first Mexicans who had ventured to commit it to a cruel death, and to oblige their monarch himself to submit to a mortifying indignity, as an expiation for being accessary to their guilt.

During the six months of Cortes's abode in Mexico, Montezuma continued in the Spanish quarters with apparent satisfaction and tranquillity; and whilst he was thus under the

power, and, as it were, in the custody of the Spanish general, Cortes enjoyed peculiar advantage for examining the state of the country, and acquainting himself with the disposition of the inhabitants. He also by these means obtained such a command of the lake as might ensure a retreat, if either from levity or disgust, the Mexicans should take up arms against him, and break down the bridges or causeways. Cortes urged Montezuma to acknowledge himself a vassal of the king of Spain, to hold his crown of him as superior, and to subject his dominions to the payment of an annual tribute. Such was the influence of the Spanish general over the Mexican monarch, that with this requisition, degrading as it was, he was so obsequious as to comply. This act of submission and homage was executed with all the formalities which the Spaniards were pleased to prescribe; and as a profession of fealty and homage, it was accompanied with a magnificent present to his new sovereign; and after his example his subjects also made very liberal contributions. The whole amount of the treasure which the Spaniards had received, by gift or extortion, from Montezuma and his subjects, is estimated at 600,000 pesos, which was divided by Cortes in the following manner: a fifth was set apart as a tax due to the king; another fifth was allotted to Cortes, as commander in chief; the sums advanced by Velasquez, Cortes, and some of the officers, towards defraying the expence of fitting out the armament, were also deducted; and the remainder was divided among the army, in proportion to the different ranks. After so many defalcations the share of a private man did not exceed 100 pe

This occasioned great murmurings among the soldiers, so that it required all the address of Cortes, and no small exertion of his liberality, to appease them.

Montezuma, though he complied in many instances with the requisitions and wishes of Cortes, was inflexible on the subject of religion. When the Spanish commander found all his attempts to shake the constancy of Montezuma ineffectual, he was so much enraged at his obstinacy, that in a transport of zeal he led out his soldiers to throw down the idols in the great temple by force. But the priests taking arms in defence

of their altars, and the people crowding to support them, Cortes was obliged to desist, and prudence overruled his zeal, The Mexicans, ever since the confinement of their sovereign, had been meditating how they might expel or destroy the Spaniards; and they thought themselves under a sacred kind of obligation to avenge their insulted deities. Montezuma, having called Cortes into his presence, observed to him that, as all the purposes of his embassy were fully accomplished, the gods had declared their will, and the people signified their desire, that he and his followers should instantly depart out of the empire. With this he required them to comply, or unavoidable destruction would fall suddenly on their heads. Cortes replied, that he had already begun to prepare for returning to his own country; but as he had destroyed the vessels in which he had arrived, some time was requisite for building other ships.

In this state of anxiety and suspence, a Mexican courier arrived with an account of some ships having appeared on the coast. This was an armament fitted out by Velasquez at Vera Cruz, and instead of bringing the aid they expected, threatened them with utter destruction. Velasquez had received information concerning Cortes by means of the vessel that had been dispatched for Spain, and which contrary to orders had touched at Cuba. He immediately exerted himself in completing an armament, consisting of 18 ships, having on board 80 horsemen, 800 foot soldiers, of whom 80 were musketeers, and 120 cross-bow-men, together with a train of 12 pieces of cannon. The command of this armament was entrusted with Pamphilo de Narvaez, who had instructions to seize Cortes and his principal officers, to send them as prisoners to Velasquez, and then to complete the discovery and conquest of the country in his name. Cortes was alarmed, and not without reason, by the news of the arrival of Narvaez; and more especially when he heard, that several provinces, in his interest, began to revolt from him, and to regard Narvaez as a deliverer no less able than willing to save them. The measures which it would be prudent for him to adopt required the utmost deliberation. After revolving every scheme that presented itself

to his mind with deep attention, he adopted that, the execution of which was the most hazardous; but which if successful, would prove most beneficial to his country; and with the de cisive intrepidity suited to desperate situations, he determined to make one bold effort for victory under every disadvantage, rather than sacrifice his own conquests and the Spanish interest in Mexico. When his attempts for negociating with the followers of Narvaez had failed, he determined to advance towards an enemy whom he had in vain endeavoured to appease. Accordingly, having left 150 men in the capital to guard the city, the wealth he had amassed, and the person of the imprisoned monarch, he advanced with a force not exceeding 250 men towards Zempoalla, of which Narvaez had taken posses sion. Having conciliated some of Narvaez's officers by liberal presents, he attacked him in the night, and availing himself of several advantages that had occurred, he obtained a decisive victory; so that before morning the officers of Narvaez capitulated, and the soldiers laid down their arms, and submitted quietly to their conquerors.

Soon after this victory, Cortes received information from the capital, that the Mexicans had taken arms against the Spaniards, and therefore he hastened back with all his forces as rapidly as possible; and in his march he was joined at Tlascala by 2,000 chosen warriors. The Mexicans had made no preparation for resisting his entrance; but immediately on his arrival he was admitted into the city without molestation, and took quiet possession of his ancient station. Emboldened by his success, he treated Montezuma with neglect and hissubjects with insult; and thus provoked the Mexicans to renew their hostility. The number who took up arms were considerable, and their courage undaunted. One body of troops succeeded another amidst bloodshed and slaughter, so that the abilities and experience of Cortes, seconded by the valour of his soldiers, were hardly sufficient to defend the fortifications that surrounded the posts where the Spaniards were stationed. Cortes prepared for a sally, with such a considerable force as might either drive the enemy out of the city,