( '58 ) 



related, were four in number.-f Their names were Quetzalpopoca who 

 was the principal, Coatl, Quiabuitle, and another whom I have for- 

 gotten, nor is it of much importance. As foon as this chaftifement 

 was known through the different provinces of New Spain, it ftruck 

 univerfal terror, and the people on the coaft returned to their fubmiflion,. 

 Now let the curious confider upon our heroic ad:ions ; firft, in deftroy- 

 ing our fliips and therewith all hope of retreat, fecondly, in entering 

 the city of Mexico after the alarming warnings that we had received, 

 thirdly, in daring to make prifoner the great Montezuma king of all 

 that country, in his own capital, and in the centre of his own palace, 

 furrounded by his numerous guards, and fourthly, in publicly burning 

 his officers in front of his palace, and putting the king in irons during 

 the execution. Now that I am old, I frequently revolve, and refledt 

 upon the events of that day, which appear to me as frefh as if they had 

 jufl paffed, fuch is the impreffion they have made upon my mind. I 

 fay, that it was not we who did thefe things, but that all was guided 

 by the hand of God, for what men on earth would otherwife have 

 ventured, their numbers not amounting tcJ four hundred and fifty, to 

 have feized and put in irons a mighty monarch, and publicly burned 

 his officers for obeying his orders, in a city larger than Venice, and at 

 a diftance of a thoufand and five hundred leagues from their native 

 country!!! There is much matter for reflediion in this, and it merits to 

 be detailed otherwife than in the dry manner in which I relate it. 



Cortes now thought it neceffary to appoint a commandant at Villa 

 Rica. For this purpofe he chofe Alonzo de Grado, an indifferent 

 foldier, but a perfon of good underftanding, who fpoke well, and was 

 of a handfome appearance; he was alfo a mufician, and an excellent 

 penman. He was always in oppofition to Cortes relative to our advance 

 to Mexico, and was the principal orator on thofe occafions. Cortes 



when 



+ They were feveiiteeh in all : Quetzalpopoca lord of Nauhtlan, his fon, and 

 fifteen other noblemen. 



