which Montezuma had formed concerning the origin of the Spaniards. Next morning, Cortes and some of his principal attendants were admitted to a public audience of the emperor. The three subsequent days were employed in viewing the city; the appearance of which, so far superior in the order of its buildings and the number of its inhabitants to any place the Spaniards had beheld in America; and yet so little resembling the structure of an European city, filled them with surprise and admiration.

How much soever the novelty of those 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, without having once met with open opposition from its monarch. The Tlascalans, however had earnestly dissuaded them from placing such perfect confidence in Montezuma, as to enter a city of such a peculiar situation as Mexico, where the prince would have them at his mercy, shut up as it were in a snare, from which it was impossible to escape. They assured them, that the Mexican priests had, in the name of the gods, counselled their sovereign to admit the strangers into the capital, that he might cut them off there at one blow. The Spaniards now perceived that the apprehensions of their allies were not destitute of foundation; that, by breaking the bridges their retreat would be rendered impracticable, and they must remain, cooped up in a hostile city, without any possibility of aid from their allies. These reflections did not escape the vigilant sagacity of Cortes. His situation was trying, but his mind was equal to it, and he fixed upon a plan no less extraordinary than daring. He determined to seize Montezuma in his palace, and carry him a prisoner to the Spanish quarters. From the superstitious veneration of the Mexicans for the person of their monarch, as well as their implicit submission to his will, he hoped, by having Montezuma in his power, to acquire the supreme direction of their affairs; or at least, with such a sacred pledge in his hands, he made no doubt of being secure from any effort of violence. This he immediately proposed to his officers. The timid startled at a measure so audacious. The resolute thought it the only resource in which there appeared to be the smallest prospect of safety, warmly approved of it, and brought over their companions so cordially to the same opinion, that it was agreed instantly to make the attempt. At his usual hour of visiting Montezuma, Cortes went to the palace accompanied by five of his principal officers, and so many trusty soldiers. Thirty chosen men followed, sauntering at some distance, as if they had no object but curiosity; small parties were posted at proVOL. IV.

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per intervals, in all the streets leading from the Spanish quarters to the court; and the remainder of his troops, with the Tlascalan allies, were under arms, ready to sally out on the first alarm. Cortes and his attendants were admitted without suspicion; the Mexicans retiring, as usual, out of respect. He addressed the monarch in a tone very different from that which he had formerly employed; reproaching him bitterly as the author of the violent assaults made upon the Spaniards by one of his officers, and demanding public reparation for the loss he had sustained by the death of some of his companions, as well as for the insult offered to the great prince, whose servants they were. Montezuma, confounded at this unexpected accusation, asserted his own innocence with great earnestness; and as a proof of it, gave orders instantly to bring Qualpopoca and his accomplices prisoners to Mexico. Cortes replied, that a declaration so respectable left no doubt remaining in his own mind; but that something more was requisite to satisfy his followers, who would never be convinced that Montezuma did not harbour hostile intentions against them, unless, as an evidence of his confidence and attachment, he removed from his own palace and took up his residence in the Spanish quarters, where he should be served and honoured as became a great monarch. The first mention of so strange a proposal bereaved Montezuma of speech, and almost of motion. At length he haughtily answered, "that persons of his rank were not accustomed voluntarily to give up themselves as prisoners; and were he mean enough to do so, his subjects would not permit such an affront to be offered to their sovereign." Cortes endeavoured alternately to soothe and intimidate him. The altercation became warm, and having continued above three hours, Velasquez de Lou, an impetuous young man, exclaimed with impatience, "why waste more time in vain? Let us either seize him instantly, or stab him to the heart." The threatening voice and fierce gestures with which these words were uttered, struck Montezuma. The Spaniards, he was sensible, had now proceeded so far, as left him in no hope that they would recede. His own danger was imminent, the necessity unavoidable. He saw both; and abandoning himself to his fate, complied with their request. His officers were called. He communicated to them his resolution. Though astonished and afflicted, they presumed not to question the will of their master, but carried him in silent pomp, all bathed in tears, to the Spanish quarters. When it was known that the strangers were conveying away the emperor, the people broke out into the wildest transports of grief and rage, threatening the Spaniards with immediate destruction, as the punishment justly due to their impious audacity. But as soon as Montezuma appeared with a seeming gaiety of countenance, and waved his hand, the tumult

was hushed; and upon his declaring it to be of his own choice, that he went to reside for some time among his new friends, the multitude, taught to revere every intimation of their sovereign's pleasure, quietly dispersed. But it is impossible, without lengthening this article beyond all due limits, to give a particular detail of all Cortes's manoeuvres for subjugating this empire. Upon various pretences he not only prevailed on Montezuma to order the Mexicans to equip a new fleet for him, but even induced him at last to acknowledge himself a vassal of the crown of Castile; and to hold his crown of him as superior, and to pay an annual tribute. Montezuma accompanied this act of submission with a magnificent present, amounting to 600,000 pesos, and his subjects brought in liberal contributions. After all these acquisitions, however, Cortes's religious zeal had nearly ruined all, by leading him to displace some of the Mexican idols, and put an image of the virgin in their stead. Mean time he met with an unexpected enemy, in his own countrymen, a fleet of 18 ships and about 1000 men being sent against him from Cuba, by Velasquez, under Pamphilo de Narvaez, whom, however, he defeated, and was soon joined by his troops. Cortes then returned to Mexico, but was attacked and wounded by the natives, whom Alvarado had irritated in his absence. Upon this he resolved to try the interposition of Montezuma, who accordingly addressed his subjects in favour of the Spani ards; but during this speech he was wounded with two arrows, and knocked down with a stone; whereupon finding that he had lost the regard of his people, he killed himself by obstinately refusing all nourishment. Upon the emperor's death, Cortes prepared for a retreat, which the Mexicans resolved to prevent. The consequence was a very bloody engagement, wherein Cortes himself had nearly lost his life, and more than one half of his army perished. Having, however, retreated to Otumba, he found an immense army of the Mexicans posted in the plain, along the road to Tlascala. Yet Cortes ventured to attack them, and notwithstanding an incredible multitude, completely defeated them on the 7th July, 1520, and his troops obtained an immense quantity of plunder. After this he entered Tlascala, where he was joyfully received. But all Cortes's efforts could not have saved him from destruction if he had not unexpectedly received a reinforcement of Spanish troops. The governor of Cuba, confident that Narvaez had been successful, sent two ships, with a supply of men and military stores. The officer appointed by Cortes on the coast decoyed them into the harbour of Vera Cruz, seized the ships, and easily persuaded the men to follow the standard of Cortes, who was soon after reinforced by the troops of other three ships from Jamaica, and a fourth from Spain. He was now at the head of about 600 men besides 10,000 Tlascalans, with

whom he began his march to Mexico, on the twenty eighth of December, six months after he had left it. Montezuma had been succeeded by his brother Queltavaca, who dying soon after of the small pox, his nephew Guatimozin, was raised to be the last monarch of Mexico. Cortes and his troops entered his territories with little difficulty; took possession of Xezcuco, the second city in the empire, on the banks of the lake, twenty miles from Mexico; and deposed the cacique, substituting another who claimed superior right, and who thus became devoted to Cortes. Here he got his fleet completed, which had been begun by Montezuma's orders. He was soon joined by a number of disaffected cities and states, who were weary of the Mexican yoke. Mean time, four ships arrived at Vera Cruz from Hispaniola with 200 more troops, arms, ammunition, and two battering cannons. On the twenty-eighth of April the fleet was launched, and Cortes prepared to attack the city. As the Spaniards under Alvarado and Olid proceeded to their posts, they broke down the aqueducts for conveying water to the capital, which distressed the Mexicans exceedingly. Guatimozin collected all his forces to oppose them, and to destroy the ships, and almost covered the lake with canoes for that purpose; but the brigantines, with irresistible impetuosity, overset their feeble opponents, and dissipated the whole Mexican armament with incredible slaughter. Cortes next formed his fleet into three divisions, from which he pushed on the attack of the city with vigour; but the obstinate valour of the Mexicans rendered all his efforts fruitless for a considerable time. At length he determined to make one great effort to get possession of the city; but by an error of the officer Alderette, the Spaniards were repulsed with great slaughter, and forty of his troops were taken and sacrificed to Mexitli, their god of war. The Mexicans elated with this success, spread a report that their god had declared, that in eight days the Spaniards should be destroyed. But Cortes effectually defeated the effect of this prophecy, and restored the confidence of his Indian allies, who put some faith in it, by remaining totally inactive till that period was expired. The consequence of this was, that he was soon after joined by 140,000 Indians. These numerous allies enabled him to shut up the city by land, while his ships prevented all access of supplies by water. Famine, infection, and mortality followed; yet in the midst of all the distress of Guatimozin, he scorned every overture of peace, till three fourths of the city were in ruins; when Guatimozin was taken prisoner with his empress and children, attempting to escape in a canoe, while his nobles were endeavouring to amuse Cortes with a negociation. When conducted to Cortes, he appeared neither with the sullen fierceness of a barbarian, nor with the dejection of a supplicant. "I have done," said he, "what became a monarch. I have defended

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my people to the last extremity. Nothing now remains but to die. Take this dagger," laying his hand on one which Cortes wore, plant it in my breast, and put an end to a life which can no longer be of use." As soon as the fate of their sovereign was known, the resistance of the Mexicans ceased; and Cortes took possession of that small part of the capital which yet remained undestroyed. Thus terminated the siege of Mexico, the most memorable event of the conquest of America. It continued 75 days, hardly one of which passed without some extraordinary effort of the one party or the other. As the struggle was more obstinate, it was likewise more equal, than any between the inhabitants of the Old and New Worlds. The great abilities of Guatimozin, the number of his troops, the peculiar situation of his capital, so far counterbalanced the superiority of the Spaniards in arms and discipline, that they must have relinquished the enterprise, if they had trusted for success to themselves alone. But Mexico was overturned by the jealousy of neighbours who dreaded its power, and by the revolt of subjects impatient to shake off its yoke. By their effectual aid, Cortes was enabled to accomplish what, without such support, he would hardly have ventured to attempt. The exultation of the Spaniards, on accomplishing this arduous enterprise, was at first excessive; but this was quickly damped by the disappointment of those sanguine hopes which had animated amidst so many hardships and dangers. Instead of the inexhaustible wealth which they expected from becoming masters of Montezuma's treasures, and the ornaments of so many temples, their rapaciousness could collect only an inconsiderable booty of 120,000 pesos, amidst ruins and desolation. Guatimozin, aware of his impending fate, had ordered what remained of the riches, amassed by his ancestors, to be thrown into the lake. The Indian auxiliaries, while the Spaniards were engaged with the enemy, had carried off the most valuable part of the spoil. The sum to be divided among the conquerors was so small, that many of them disdained to accept of the pittance which fell to their share, and all murmured and exclaimed ; some against Cortes and his confidents, whom they suspected of having secretly appropriated to their own use a large portion of the riches which should have been brought into the common stock; others against Guatimozin, whom they accused of obstinacy, in refusing to discover the place where he had hidden his treasure. Arguments, intreaties, and promises, were employed in order to soothe them; but with so little effect, that Cortes, from solicitude to check this growing spirit of discontent, gave way to a deed which stained the glory of all his great actions. Without regarding the former dignity of Guatimozin, or feeling any reverence for those virtues which he had displayed, he subjected the unhappy monarch, with his