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Show 66 H I s T 0 R y 0 F M E X I C 0. BOOK viii. difiances there were little towers ; the .spaniar~s the1·efore. found. every ~ thing which they could wi!h for the1r fecur~ty. The mdefat1gable and cautious general immediately difiributed hts guards, placed a battery of his cannon facing the gate of the pal.ace, and took as m:1ch care to fortify himfelf as if he had expeCl:ed to be affaulted tha~ mght b h. · That day there was a magnificent entertamment y 1s enemtes. · · · d prepared for Cortes and his officers, and ferved by the nob1ht~, an for the refi of the army were brought various and abundant prov1lions, though of an inferior quality. This day, not more memorable to the Spaniards than to the Me~icans~ was. the eighth d~y of Novem~er, IS 19, feven months after the1r arnval m the country of Anahua\;. , • .. B 0 0 K I X. Coriferences qf king Montezuma with the Spanijh general; imprifonmmt qf the kings ofMexico and Acolhuacan, and other lords; cruel puijhment qf ff<..!faubpopoca; attempts qf the governor qf Cuba agairlji Cortes, and the defeat qf Panjilo Narvaez ; the !lt'l!ing of many of the nobles, and if!furreClion qf tht! people againfl the Spaniards; battle qf Otompan, and retreat of the Spaniards to 7'/ajca!a ; eletlion if king Cuitla'buatzin ; vit1ories ~l tbe SpaniardJ' in 'l'epdacac, in Xaltatzinco, in 'l'ecamach,zlco, and 'in ff<..yazt'jttecbo!lan; hav~c made by the Jma!l-pox; death of king Cuit!ahuatzt'n, and the princes Maxizcatr.in and Cuicuitzccrtzin; elcCfion in Mexico of the king §(g.auhtemotziR. A FTER the Speniards had dined and ordered every thing neccffary for their fccurity, the king returned, acccompanied by many of the nobility to vilit them. Cortes came to meet him al~mg with his officers, and both parties entered together into the principal hall, where they quickly placed another footfi:ool clofe to that of the Spanifh general. The king prefented to him many curious pieces of work of gold, filver, and feathers, and more than five thoufc'lnd very fine drefies of cotton. Having at lafi: fat himfelf down, he made Cor.tes fit down alfo, while every other perfon remained ftanding. Cortes in lofty expreffions protefted his gratitude to him, and as he was pr.oceeding in his difcourfe Montezuma interrupted him, with thefe words: " Brave general, and you his companions, all my domeftics " and courtiers are witne!Tes of the pleafure I have received from your " happy arrival at this court; and if, hitherto, there has been any " appearance of a wi{h to oppofe it, fo much has only been done to hu" mour my fubje B:s. Your fame has enlarged objeB:s and alarmed H minds. It was reported that you were iinmortal gods; that you " c.une mounted on wild bcafis of tremendous fi.ze and fiercenefs; K 2 "and ~ - .B.._O_O__K_ _I_X_ •, St: cT. I. Fir!l conference and new prcfents of the king Montezuma, |