SPANISH NORTH AMERICA. accommodation, and that of their allies. Here Cortez planted the artillery, posted centinels, and ordered his troops to preserve the same strictness of discipline as if they had been encamped in the face of an enemy. During some time the greatest harmony subsisted between the Spaniards and the Mexicans; and Montezuma made presents of such value not only to Cortez and his officers, but also to the private men, as demonstrated the opulence of his kingdom. The Spaniards, however, soon began to reflect on their situation, shut up in Mexico, and surrounded with the waters of its lake. They perceived, that by breaking down the bridges placed at intervals in the causeways, or by destroying part of the causeways themselves, their retreat might be rendered impracticable. The Ilascalans had earnestly dissuaded Cortez from venturing to enter a city of so peculiar a situation as Mexico, where he would be shut up as in a snare, out of which it would be impossible to escape. These allies also assured him that the Mexican priests had, in the name of the gods, counselled their sovereign to admit the Spaniards into his capital, where he might with perfect security cut them off at one blow. The mind of Cortez, however, was equal to his trying situation, and he formed a plan no less extraordinary than daring. He resolved to scize Montezuma in his palace, and to carry him prisoner to the Spanish quarters. From the veneration of the Mexicans for the person of their monarch, and from their implicit obedience to his will, he hoped, by having Montezuma in his power, to have the supreme direction of affairs, or, at least, by having so sacred a pledge in his hands, he made no doubt of being secure from aggression. Before Cortez entered Mexico, an engagement had taken place near Vera Cruz between the Mexicans and a detachment of the Spanish garrison of that place; and although the Spaniards were victorious, one of them happened to be taken prisoner. This unfortunate captive was immediately beheaded, and his head, after being carried in triumph to different cities, in order to convince the people that their invaders were not immortal, was at last sent to Mexico. Although Cortez had received intelligence of this affair in his route, it had not deterred him from entering that city; but reflecting on his precarious situation, he resolved to make it a pretext for seizing the emperor. At his usual hour of visiting Montezuma, he went to the palace, accompanied by five of his principal officers, and as many trusty soldiers. Thirty chosen. men followed after, not in regular order, but sauntering at intervals, as if they had no other object than curiosity. Small parties were posted at proper intervals between the Spanish quarters and the court, and the rest of the troops were under arms ready to sally out on the first alarm. Cortez, with his attendants, being admitted as usual, he reproached the monarch with being the author of the violent assault made on the Spaniards near Vera Cruz by one of his officers. Montezuma, confounded at this unexpected reproach, asserted his innocence; and as a proof, gave orders to bring the officer and his accomplices prisoners to Mexico. Cortez professed him. self convinced of Montezuma's innocence, but told him, that to produce the same conviction on the minds of his followers, it was necessary that he should give a proof of his confidence and attachment, by removing from his palace, and taking up his residence in the Spanish quarters, where he should be honoured as became a great monarch. Montezuma remon. strated against the strange proposal. His remonstrances, however, were in vain he saw that Cortez was determined, and he found himself under the necessity of compliance. His officers were called, and he communicated to them his resolution of going to reside among his new friends at their quarters. Although astonished and afflicted, they durst not presume to question the will of their master. He was therefore carried in silent and sorrowful pomp to the Spanish quar ters; but when it was known that the strangers were carrying away the emperor, the people broke out into the wildest transports of rage, and threatened the Spaniards with immediate destruction. But as soon as Montezuma waved his hand, and declared that it was an act of his own choice, the multititude, accustomed to revere every intimation of the sovereign's pleasure, quietly dispersed. Cortez having the emperor in his power, now governed the empire in his name, and Montezuma was only the organ of his will, although he was attended as usual by his ministers, accommodation, and that of their allies. Here Cortez planted the artillery, posted centinels, and ordered his troops to preserve the same strictness of discipline as if they had been encamped in the face of an enemy. During some time the greatest harmony subsisted between the Spaniards and the Mexicans; and Montezuma made presents of such value not only to Cortez and his officers, but also to the private men, as demonstrated the opulence of his kingdom. The Spaniards, however, soon began to reflect on their situation, shut up in Mexico, and surrounded with the waters of its lake. They perceived, that by breaking down the bridges placed at intervals in the causeways, or by destroying part of the causeways themselves, their retreat might be rendered impracticable. The Ilascalans had earnestly dissuaded Cortez from venturing to enter a city of so peculiar a situation as Mexico, where he would be shut up as in a snare, out of which it would be impossible to escape. These allies also assured him that the Mexican priests had, in the name of the gods, counselled their sovereign to admit the Spaniards into his capital, where he might with perfect security cut them off at one blow. The mind of Cortez, however, was equal to his trying situation, and he formed a plan no less extraordinary than daring. He resolved to seize Montezuma in his palace, and to carry him prisoner to the Spanish quarters. From the veneration of the Mexicans for the person of their monarch, and from their implicit obedience to his will, he hoped, by having Montezuma in his power, to have the supreme direction of affairs, or, at least, by having so sacred a pledge in his hands, he made no doubt of being secure from aggression. Before Cortez entered Mexico, an engagement had taken place near Vera Cruz between the Mexicans and a detachment of the Spanish garrison of that place; and although the Spaniards were victorious, one of them happened to be taken prisoner. This unfortunate captive was immediately beheaded, and his head, after being carried in triumph to different cities, in order to convince the people that their invaders were not immortal, was at last sent to Mexico. Although Cortez had received intelligence of this affair in his route, it had not deterred him from entering that city; but reflecting on his precarious situation, he resolved to make it a pretext for seizing the emperor. At his usual hour of visiting Montezuma, he went to the palace, accompanied by five of his principal officers, and as many trusty soldiers. Thirty chosen men followed after, not in regular order, but sauntering at intervals, as if they had no other object than curiosity. Small parties were posted at proper intervals between the Spanish quarters and the court, and the rest of the troops were under arms ready to sally out on the first alarm. Cortez, with his attendants, being admitted as usual, he reproached the monarch with being the author of the violent assault made on the Spaniards near Vera Cruz by one of his officers. Montezuma, confounded at this unexpected reproach, asserted his innocence; and as a proof, gave orders to bring the officer and his accomplices prisoners to Mexico. Cortez professed himself convinced of Montezuma's innocence, but told him, that to produce the same conviction on the minds of his followers, it was necessary that he should give a proof of his confidence and attachment, by removing from his palace, and taking up his residence in the Spanish quarters, where he should be honoured as became a great monarch. Montezuma remon. strated against the strange proposal. His remonstrances, however, were in vain he saw that Cortez was determined, and he found himself under the necessity of compliance. His officers were called, and he communicated to them his resolution of going to reside among his new friends at their quarters. Although astonished and afflicted, they durst not presume to question the will of their master. He was therefore carried in silent and sorrowful pomp to the Spanish quar ters; but when it was known that the strangers were carrying away the emperor, the people broke out into the wildest transports of rage, and threatened the Spaniards with immediate destruction. But as soon as Montezuma waved his hand, and declared that it was an act of his own choice, the multititude, accustomed to revere every intimation of the sovereign's pleasure, quietly dispersed. Cortez having the emperor in his power, now governed the empire in his name, and Montezuma was only the organ of his will, although he was attended as usual by his ministers, however, now appeared to have reserved on the extermination of their enemies. They resumed their arms, ad attacked the Spanish quarters in such formidable numbers, and with such undaunted courage, that although the artillery pointed against their tumultuous crowds swept down multitudes at every discharge, the impetuosity of the attack did not abate. Fresh bodies of men incessantly rushed forward to occupy the places of the slain, and all the valour of the Spaniards was barely sufficient to prevent them from forcing their way into the fortifications. A Cortez was astonished at the desperate ferocity of a people, who seemed at first to submit so patiently to a foreign yoke, He made from the quarters two desperate sallies; but al though numbers of Mexicans fell, and part of the city was burned, he gained no permanent advantage; and besides being wounded himself, lost twelve of his soldiers, a serious affair at that time, when, in his circumstances, the life of a Spaniard was so valuable. No resource was now left but to make use of the influence of the captive emperor in order to quell the insurrection. Montezuma was brought in regal pomp to the battlement, and was compelled to address the people. But their fury rose above all restraint. Volleys of arrows and stones poured in upon the ramparts, and the unfortunate prince being wounded in the head by a stone, fell to the ground. The Mexicans, as soon as they saw their emperor fall, were struck with sudden remorse, and fled with precipitation and horror, as if they supposed themselves pursued by the vengeance of heaven for their crime. Montezuma was carried by the Spaniards to his apartments, but being now become weary of life, he tore the bandages from his wounds, and obstinately refusing to take any nourishment, expired in a few days. The Spaniards endeavoured to convert him to the Christian faith; but he rejected all their solicitations with disdain. Christianity indeed was preached to this unfortunate prince by very improper apostles; and it could scarcely be supposed that he should embrace its doctrines on the recommendation of persons, whose whole conduct appeared to be a series of injustice and violence, and from whom he had received such injurics. |