imitation: but what chiefly attracted their admiration were two large plates of a circular form, one of massive gold, representing the sun, the other of silver, an emblem of the moon. These were accompanied with bracelets, collars, rings, and other trinkets of gold; and, that nothing might be wanting that could give the Spaniards a complete idea of what the country afforded, with some boxes filled with pearls, precious stones, and grains of gold wrought, or as they had been found in the mines or rivers. Cortes received all these with an appearance of profound veneration for the monarch by whom they were bestowed; but whert he was informed that it was Montezuma's inten-. tion that foreign troops should not approach nearer to his capital, he declared, in a resolute and peremptory tone, that he could not, without dishonour, return to his own country until he was admitted into the presence of the prince whom he was appointed to visit in the name of his sovereign.

We cannot enter into a detail of all the minute circumstances which attended the negotiation. By consummate address Cortes made himself absolute and independent of the governor of Cuba: he then alienated from Montezuma several of the petty states, with their caziques; others he fought, conquered, and attached to himself by force of arms. By degrees he marched up the country, and with the addition of the natives he found himself at the head of a large army consisting of several thousand persons.

When they drew near the city, about a thousand persons, who appeared to be of distinction, came forth to meet them, adorned with plumes, and clad in mantles of fine cotton. Each of these, in his order, passed by Cortes, and saluted him in the

most

most respectful manner. They announced the approach of Montezuma himself, and soon after the harbingers came in sight. There appeared first two hundred persons in an uniform dress, marching two and two, in deep silence, barefooted, with their eyes fixed to the ground. These were followed by a company of higher rank in their most showy apparel, in the midst of whom was Montezuma, in a litter richly ornamented with gold, and feathers of various colours. Four of his principal favourites carried him on their shoulders, others supported a canopy of curious workmanship over his head. Before him marched three officers with rods of gold in their hands, which they lifted up on high at certain intervals; and at that signal all the people bowed their heads and hid their faces, as unworthy to look on so great a monarch. When he drew near, Cortes dismounted, advancing towards him with officious haste, and in a respectful posture. At the same time Montezuma alighted from his chair, and, leaning on the arms of two of his near relations, approached with a slow and stately pace, his attendants covering the street with cotton cloths, that he might not touch the ground. Cortes accosted him with profound reverence, after the European fashion. He returned the salutation, according to the mode of his country, by touching the earth with his hand and then kissing it. Nothing material passed in this first. interview. Montezuma conducted Cortes to the quarters that he had prepared for his reception, and took leave of him, saying, "You are now with your brothers in your own house; refresh yourselves after your fatigue, and be happy until I return." 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 the place allotted for their reception, by appointing a large division of his troops to be always on guard, and by posting sentinels at proper stations, with injunctions to observe the same vigilant discipline as if they were within sight of an enemy's camp.

In the evening Montezuma returned to visit his guests, and brought presents of such value as proved the liberality of the monarch to be suitable to the opulence of his kingdom. A long conference ensued, in which Montezuma told him that it was an established tradition among the Mexicans, that their ancestors came originally from a remote region, and conquered the provinces now subject to his dominion; that after they were settled there, the great captain who conducted this colony re turned to his own country, promising that at some future period his descendants should visit them, assume the government, and reform their constitution and laws; that from what he had heard and seen of Cortes and his followers, he was convinced that they were the very persons whose appearance the Mexican traditions and prophecies taught them to expect; and accordingly he had received them not as strangers, but as relations of the same blood and parentage, and desired that they might consider themselves as masters in his dominions, as both he and his subjects should be ready to comply with their will. Cortes made a reply in his usual style, and the next day he and some of his principal attendants were admitted again to an audience of the emperor. The three subsequent days were employed in viewing the city, the ap pearance of which, so far superior in the order of its buildings and the number of its inhabitants to

any

any place the Spaniards had beheld in America, and yet so little resembling the structure of an European city, filled them with surprise and ad

miration.

But how much soever the novelty of various objects might amuse or astonish the Spaniards, they felt the utmost solicitude with respect to their own situation. From a concurrence of circumstances, no less unexpected than favourable to their progress, they had been allowed to penetrate into the heart of a powerful kingdom, and were now lodged in its capital. They had been warned by their new allies of trusting to Montezuma; and now they felt the danger to which they were exposed. After revolving the matter with deep attention, Cortes fixed upon a plan no less extraordinary than daring. He determined to seize Montezuma in his palace, and to carry him prisoner to the Spanish quarters. He coramunicated his plan to his principal officers, and found means almost instantly to put it into execution. Thus was a powerful prince seized by a few strangers in the midst of his capital at noonday; and though his own soldiers and people broke out into transports of rage, yet upon seeing Montezuma cheerful and contented, they quietly dispersed. History contains nothing parallel to this. event, either with respect to the temerity of the attempt, or the success of the execution.

Montezuma was received in the Spanish quarters with great ceremonious respect: he was attended by his own domestics, and served with his usual state His principal officers had free access to him, and he carried on every function of government as if he had been at perfect liberty. The Spaniards, however, watched him with scrupulous vigilance, endeavouring at the same time to soothe

and

and reconcile him to his situation by every external demonstration of regard and attachment. But from captive princes the hour of humiliation and suffering is never far distant. Qualpopoca his son, and five of the principal officers who served under him, were brought prisoners to the capital in consequence of the orders which Montezuma had issued. The emperor gave them up to Cortes, who caused them to be tried by a Spanish courtmartial; and though they had acted no other part than what became loyal subjects and brave men, in opposing the invaders of their country, they were condemned to be burnt alive. The execution of such atrocious deeds is seldom long suspended. The unhappy victims were instantly led forth. The pile on which they were laid was composed of the weapons collected in the royal magazine for public defence.-But these were not the most shocking indignities which the Mexicans had to bear. Just before Qualpopoca was led out to suffer, Cortes entered the apartment of Montezuma followed by some officers, and a soldier carrying a pair of fetters, and, approaching the monarch with a stern countenance, told him that he had been the cause of the outrage committed, and that it was necessary he should make atonement for that guilt; then turning abruptly, without waiting for a reply, commanded the soldier to clap the fetters on his legs. The orders were instantly executed. The disconsolate monarch, considering this as a prelude to his own death, broke out into lamentations and complaint. His attendants, struck with horror, fell at his feet, bathing them with their tears; and, bearing up the fetters in their hands, endeavoured, with officious tenderness, to lighten their pressure. Nor did