( 'SS ) 



afked Donna Marina the meaning of it. She with her ufual readinefs 

 anfwered by requefting that he would immediately confent to what was 

 propofed to him, and go where he fliould meet all refped: and honor, 

 as fhe perceived that if he hefitated, they were refolved to put him to 

 inftaht death. He then addreffed Cortes and faid, " I have a legitimate 

 fon, and two legitimate daughters; take them as hoftages for me, 

 but do not expofe me as .a prifoner to my own people.'* Cortes 

 however replied faying nothing but what was originally propofed could 

 do, and that remonftrances were unavailing. At length he was forced 

 to confent, upon which our captains addreffed him with every declara- 

 tion of efteem and refped:, earneftly defiring that he would not be 

 offended at what had paffed, and that he would tell his officers and 

 guards that he went by his own free will, and by the advice of his gods 

 and priefts. His magnificent ftate litters were now brought, and at- 

 tended by his ufual guards he proceeded to our quarters, where our pofts 

 and centinels being duly placed, he was received and entertained with 

 every mark of refped: . He was foon waited on by the princes of his- 

 family and the chief nobility of Mexico, who came to know the caufe- 

 of the ftep that he had taken, and alfo if it was his wiih that they 

 fliould attack us ; but he replied, that it was his intention to ftay with 

 us for a few days, and that whatever further commands he had for. 

 them, he would fignify in due time; but charged them to do nothing 

 to difturb the city. 



Thus was the feizure of the great Montezuma efFed:ed. He was 

 attended while with us in the fame manner as in his own palace, his 

 wives, family, and o]fficers, were with him, and he bathed every day; 

 he appeared calm and refigned, and had always in his prefence twenty 

 counfellors or chiefs. AmbalTadors came to him on afiairs of im-. 

 portance from diftant countries, either to deliver tribute, orwithbufi-, 

 nefs which he difpatched. I recoiled: that however great the prince or 

 chief might be, before he entered the king's prefence he took of his, 

 rich drefs, and put on a plain one of the coarfe manufadure of nequen, 

 and in this habit, and barefooted, approached the royal apartments, 



X a which 



