OCR Text |
Show 92 BOOK IX. ~ s,cT. XII. Difcontcnt of the Mexicun nobles, and new fears of Montc:r.u. rna. • H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. of his father Axajacatl, which was preferved, as we have already {aid, in the fame palace, from which nothing had been taken by Cortes hitherto, although it had been exprefsly permitted him by the king to take whatever he pleafed. The whole of this treafure fell into the bnds of the Spaniards, together with all that had been contrib.uted by the feudatory lords of that crown, which amounted to fo much, that, after deduCting a fifth part for the king of Spain, Cortes had as much as was neceffary to pay all his debts, contraCted in Cuba in railing his corps and equipping the armament, and to reward his officer and fol,_ diers, leaving ftill behind enough for future expences. For the king they approprinted1, befides a fifth part of the gold and filver, fome part- icular pieces of work pr:eferved entire· on account of their wonderful workman(hip; which, accor.ding to the valuatioa made of them by Cortes,. were worth• more than' one hundred thoufand· ducats;:. but the greater part· of this wealth was. loft, as we fhall find hereafter •. The Spaniards exulted to fee themfel.ves the mafl:ers of fo much wealth atfo.fmaH a coft•; and a·kingdom fo great and. opulent, fubjeeted to their fo~ereign·with.fo lit.cle trouble; but their profperity was now at its heigh r,. and, according to the condition, of human affairs, it. was necefiary that their fucceffes ihould be chequered with adverfities. The. Mexica!l nobility;. who had hitherto preferved a refpeB:ful' filence · in) deference to·. the will of their fovereign, feeing him thus fallen and degraded, the king of Acolhuncan and other perfons of rank put in chains, and the nation fubjeCl:ed to the dominion of a frrange monarch. whom they knew not, began firfu to whifper, then to fpeak out with. more freedom, , to blame their own patience, to hold affemblies, and. at lall:,. as is rep0rted, tQ ltvy troqps to .free their king and. their nation from fuc.h ignominious oppreaion. Montezuma was fpoke1·1 to by fame of his favourites 1 , . who reprefented to him the pain his misfortunes and dif5raco ·g.lVe his., vaffals, who confidereu his p<:>wer. to .. be. almoll:' expiring and · the fplcn~ dour of his. dignity obfcured, and. the ferment. which berran to rife 0 not only among the nooles but· alfa among the com ~non people, who . were grown impatient of feeing themfelves.fubjc .~1:ed . and . co!lJemned to ta~rifice to .a fi:range king the h:1rveO: of their labonrs : they exhort• ed h1m to. d1fpel. the. fears . which had taken P.ofidlion of him, , and tO} H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. to refume his wonted authority; fince, if he would not do it, his vaffi ls would, as they were determined to drive thofe iniolent and dell:ruCtive guell:s from the kingdom. On the other hand, thi! priell:s ex.tggerated the injuries which religion fuffered, . and int1midated him with the threats which, they faid, the gods in anger had n1ade, to deny the neceffary rain to the fields, and tbei'f proteCtion to the Mexicans, if he did not difmifs thofe men who were fo difdainful of their wodhip. Montezuma moved by thofc reprefentations of his favourites, and . menaces of his gods, afhamed of being reproached for his cowardice, and affected' by the difgrace of his nephew Cacamatzin, whom he had. always loved· with particular· tendernefs, and the di!honour which had befallen his brother Cuitlahuatzin, and other perfons of the firfi: nobi:lity, although he did not confent to· the defign. of taking away. the Jives of the Spaniards, to which fome :;ldvifed him, ref0lv,ed, however, to . tell them openly, that they mull: depart from that kingdom He one. day, therefore, fent for Cortes, who being apprifed.of the. fecret aonfer'ences which die king had. had with·his minifiers, his nobles·, and priell:s., . felt many apprehenfions ;· but diffembling his uneafinefs of mind~ . he repaired· immediately to thC" king a<:compa.nied by twelve Spaniards:. Montcr.:uma received him with lef9· cordiality than. ufual, and freely laid open his refolution. "You cannot," he fa-id} " ·doubt. of the great " attachment I bear you; after fo many and clear. demonfirations .of it·. " Hitherto I· have willingly entertained you in my. oourt, have even " been fo ,defirous of the pleafure of your company and conv.erfation, , ,. as to· remain here and. live · amongft· you. Ae for my o.wn part, I ' 4 would retain· yoll· here without any change, dail~. making· you expe• " rience fome frefh proofs of my good will towards you;· but it can ... " not be done·; neither will my gods . permit it, nor wiJl my fubjeCl:s " endure it; l find, I am threatened with· the heav.iell: punilhments of' " heaven if I let you remain any longer. in my. kingdom .; .· and fuch 14 difcontent already prevail9 among my vaffals,. that. unlefs 1 quickly · " r~move the caufc:, it will be altogether impoffible to pacifY, them .. " · Wherefore it, is become: nece{fary for my: own,. as well as yours, . and "the g9od of all. the kingdom,. that you p~epareyourfelves to ·retorn to · " your native country." Cortes, although extremely mortified and . difireifcd,. diifembled yet his feelings, and affumed . great. ferenity. of · c.uun':"'- 9.3 BOOK IX. ....-y--..1 |