10 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



of his arm}', and invited him to make his journey to 

 Mexico by Otompan, where he was then encamped; 

 but, in fpite of his friendly intentions and obfequiouf- 

 nefs, he was made prifoncr by the Spaniards, when they 

 came off in defeat from Mexico, and was confined in 

 TIafcala until he was called to the throne. The cir- 

 cumftances of this event makes us believe, that his im- 

 prifonment was an honourable opprefiion of his liberty, 

 coloured with one of thofe fpecious pretexts, which are 

 ufually invented by artful politicians, when, on account 

 of fome particular diffidence and diflruft, they wifh to 

 render themfelves fecure. From long habit with the 

 Spaniards he had become familiarifed with their cufloms 

 and manners. On the throne he had but the appearance 

 of majefty; he was much lefs the lord of his fubjects 

 than minifter of the pleafure of the Spaniards, to whom 

 he rendered great fervices, not only in the conqueft of 

 Mexico, in which he ferved with his perfon and troops, 

 but alfo in the rebuilding of that capital, for which he 

 furnifhed fome thoufands of architects, mafons, and la- 

 bourers. He died extremely young, in 1523, and was 

 fucceeded in the fovereignty of Tezcuco by his brother 

 Don Carlos, of whom afterwards we {hall make honour- 

 able mention. By the advancement of Ixtlilxochitl, and 

 the civilities fhewn him by Cortes, the party of the Spa- 

 niards was confiderably augmented, and all thofe families 

 of Tezcuco which had abfented from fear of hoftilities 

 from thofe Grangers, finding themfelves now fecure, 

 gladly returned to their houfes. 



Cortes was refoived to keep his quarters in Tezcuco, 

 and had therefore bulled himfelf in fortifying the royal 

 palace, where his troops were lodged. He could not 

 take any meafure more conducive to his purpofes. Tez- 



