HISTORY OF MEXICO. 71 



made a prifoner ; he was an uncle of the king of Tez- 

 cuco ; him he charged, though wounded, to go to 

 Tlatelolco to confer on the fubjecl: with the king : but 

 he faw no other fruits of his embaffy than the clamours 

 of the people repeated, with which they demanded their 

 deaths. Some Mexican troops made a defperate affault 

 on the Spaniards, but they were fo enfeebled by the 

 want of common fuftenance, that their efforts made lit- 

 tle impreilion, and the repulfe of their enemies was too 

 ftrong to be withflood. 



Cortes returned the day following to the city, expect- 

 ing every moment that the Mexicans would furrender ; 

 and, without allowing any hurt to be done them, he di- 

 rected his way to fome perfons of eminence ftationed in 

 an intrenchment, who were known to him from the firfL 

 time he had been at that court, and demanded of them 

 why they would defend themfelves fo obflinately, being 

 unable for more refiflance, and finding themfelves in fuch 

 a ilate that with one blow he could take away every life 

 among them. They anfwered, that they faw mod clearly 

 that their ruin was inevitable, and they would willingly 

 have prevented it, but it did not lie with them to deter- 

 mine the point. They offered however to petition the 

 king to liften to proportions of peace. They accordingly 

 went immediately to the palace, and in a ftiort time af- 

 ter returned, faying that it was fo late in the day, the 

 king could not come, but that they did not doubt he 

 would meet with Cortes in the fame place to-morrow. 

 There was in the centre of this place a large fquare ter- 

 race, where the Mexicans made their theatrical repre- 

 fentations, as we have already mentioned. Cortes or- 

 dered tapeitries and little ftools or chairs to be placed on 

 this theatre, on purpofe to hold the deiired conference, 

 and a good entertainment to be provided for the king 



and 



