( 'S6 ) 



which he entered, not directly, but making a circuit by the wall ; and 

 having come, with his eyes call down upon the ground, into the pre- 

 fence of the king, he made three profound bows, and addrefled him, 

 calling him, '* Lord, my lord, great lord.'* He then difplayed before him 

 a^cloth, whereon was painted and reprefented the bufinefs on which he 

 came, the particulars of which he pointed out to him with little rods, 

 or wands, delicately wrought and polifhed. During this time two old 

 lords flood by the king, and as foon as they had attentively confidered 

 all the particulars, they gave their opinions upon it to Montezuma, 

 who difpatched the affair with a few words. The perfon who had 

 brought it, then, without making any reply, withdrew from the king's 

 prefence, making three profound bows, and keeping his face towards 

 the throne till out of fight ; and as foon as he was out of the royal 

 apartments, he put on his rich drefs, and walked about the city. 



The mefTengers, who, as it has been mentioned, were difpatched 

 with the royal fignet, to arrefl and bring to Mexico the officers of 

 whom our general had complained, foon returned with them. On 

 their arrival and being brought into their monarch's prefence, I do not 

 know what paffed, but he immediately fent them to Cortes to do with 

 them as he thought fit. Being examined when the king was not by, 

 they avowed all that had happened, and faid they did it by the orders 

 of Montezuma^ which were, that they fhould if neceffary recur fo 

 force, to obtain the tribute due, and attack the Spaniards if they ap- 

 peared in fapport of his refradloiy fubjed:s. Montezuma being charged 

 by Cortes with this which now appeared, he endeavoured to exculpate 

 liimfelf as well as he could; but Cortes told him, that although his 

 participation in the guilt of his officers was evident, and although the 

 orders of our monarch were to punifh with death all who inflided 

 death, yet fuch was his regard for him, that he would fooner lofe his 

 own life than do his Majefty an injury. All thefe affurances however 

 ^uld not remove the fears of Montezuma. 



As to the officers, Cortes fentenced them to be burnt alive in front 



of 



