OCR Text |
Show nooK IX. '-.r-" SecT . VII. Punifhment of the lord of Nauhtlnn, nnd ntw infults co the ki ng. , H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. ards, prefented to Cortes another of his d:lUghtcrs, . whom the g~neral accepted, in order to marry her to Chriilopher Ohd, camp-mau.er to the Spanilh troops. This princefs, as well a~ the ot~ter formerly prcfented, were immediately infi:ruCl:ed tmd bapt1zecl, Without any oppo-ii tion from their father. Cortes, having no longer any doubt of the friend~y difpofiti~n of the king, which had been manifeftcd not 01~1~ by Ius extraordmn1? liberality, but alfo by the p~eafure he took in hvmg among the Spamards, after fome days of confinement allowed him to go out of .the quarters, and exhorted him to go as often as he plcafed to amufe htmfelf with the chace, of which he was immoderately fond. That debafed monarch did not refufe this miferablc ufe of his liberty; he went frequently, fometimes to the temples to perform his devotions, femetimes to the lake to catch water-fowl, fometimes to the wood of ' . Chapoltepec, or fome other place of pleafure; always guarded, how-ever, by a fl:rong company of Spanifi1 foldiers. When he went upon tbe lake, he was efcorted by a vall: number of boats, or by two brigantines, which Cortes had caufed to be built as foon as he entered that capital (r). When he reforted to the woods, he was accompanied by two thoufand Tlafcalans, befides a numerous retinue of Mexicans, who always were in attendance to ferve him; but he never pa!fed a night out of the quarters. Upwards of fifteen days had elapfcd fince the imprifonment of the king, when the two meffengers returned from Nauhtlan, condutl:ing ~auhpopoca, his fon, and fifteen other nobles, accomplices in the death of the governor Efcalante. ~auhpopoca came richly dreifed. in a litter: when he arrived at the quarters he pulled off his lhoes, according to the ceremony of the palace, and coveted himfelf with a coarfe habit; he was introduced to the audience of the king, and having obferved the ufual forms of refpeCl:, he faid, " Behold, moll: " great and powerful prince, your fervant obedient to your commands,. " and ready to comply in every thing with your de fire." " You u have conducted yourfelf not a little amifs in this p9int," r turned (r) . Jn order to fet forth at once the life of Montezuma while in priCon, we reco\mt berC' fon1e events \\ hich happened po!l:crior to othcn, \vhich 1\l'e fiill to be l'Cl~cd, , the ... H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. the king, with difdain, " by treating thofc ftr~ngers, whom l hav¢ ~Q~JC B'· " received like friends into my court, as enemies ; and your temerit,y ' '" ' " has been exceOi ve, in blaming me as the author of fuch proceedings; " you !hall therefore be puni!hed as a traitor to your [overeign:'' ~auhpopoca endeavoured to excufe himfelf, but the king would not liften to him, and made him be immediately delivered up to Cortes, with his accomplices, that, after the crime was examined ipto, he might punilh them as he fhould think proper. Cortes put the nece!E\ry queil:ions, and they openly confeifed the faCt, without at firil: blaming the king ; until being threatened with the torture, and believing their punia1ment inevitable, they declared ~hat what they had done was enjoined by the king, without whofe ord~rs they would uot have dared to attempt any thing again{\: the Spaniards. Cortes, after hearing their confefiion and pretending not to believe their excufe, condemned th::m to be burned alive before the royal palace, for being guilty of treafon to the king. He repaired immcdi. ately to the king's apartment, with three or four of his officers, and a foldier who carried irons in his hands; and, without omitting even upon this occafion the ufual ceremony and compliments, he faid to the king, " The delinquents, prince, have now been examined, and all of " them have confe!fed their guilt, and blame you as .the author of the " death of my Spaniards: I have condemned them to the punia1ment " which they, and which you alfo, deferve, agreeable to their confef" fion ; but, in confideration of the many kindne!fes you have rendered " us hitherto, and the regard .you have manifefi:ed for · my fovereign H and towards my nation, I am wming to gr{lnt you the favour of your " life, although I cannot avoid making you feel a part of the punilhment " which you merit for your crime." Upon faying this, he, in a'n ·angry tone, commanded the foldier to put the irons upon his legs, and without deigning to hear a word from him, turned about and departed. The ftupefaB:ion of the king at feeing this outrage offered to his perfon was fo great, that it left him no power of refiftance nor any words to exprefs his affliction : he remained for fome time in a ftate of · infenfibility; his domell:ics who attended fignified their grief in filent tears; and throwing themfelves at his feet, eafed the weight .of the irons with their hands, and endeavoured to prevent their contaCt with M 2 his |