brought with him certain of the chiefs of the country, who wilhed to 

 renounce the Mexican yoke, and become fubjed:s of his Majefty. 

 Thefe Cortes received moft kindly, and difmiffed to their homes 

 with a promife of fupport and protedion. He then enquired for the 

 other foldiers ; to' which Pizarro repKed that the country being rich, 

 and the people well inclined to us, he had left them to make a planta- 

 tion of cocoa and to colled: ftock and birds ; as alfo for the purpofe of 

 exploring the rivers and mines. Cortes faid nothing at the time, but 

 feverely reprimanded him in private, for going beyond his orders, and 

 employing the foldiers in fuch ridiculous purfuits. He alfo imme- 

 diately fent off a meffcnger, with orders to them to return to their head 

 quarters. 



Cortes now demanded of Montezuma a general contribution of 

 gold to be made through the whole extent of his territories, to our 

 emperor, and alfo that the king fliould deliver to us his treafure for the 

 fame purpofe, Montezuma immediately fent officers to thofe diftrids 

 where the mines were, requiring a quantity of plates of gold, of the 

 ufual fize paid in tribute, two of thefe being fent as a ftandard. He 

 at this time however remarked to Cortes, that from many of his dif- 

 trids gold was not to be expeded in any confiderable quantity, the 

 people only polTeffing fuch toys as had been tranfmitted to them from 

 their anceftors. Much gold was immediately tranfmitted from the rich 

 provinces, but when the order was received by the refradory'lord who 

 was nearly related to Montezuma, the anfwer which he returned was, 

 that he would pay no tribute, for that he had as good a right to the 

 throne of Mexico as Montezuma himfelf. This greatly enraged the 

 king, who immediately fending trufty officers with his token, the feal, 

 they apprehended and brought this chief to Mexico. When he came 

 into the prefcnce of the king he behaved with fuch infolence to him as 

 appeared to border upon madnefs, and Cortes learning thefe particulars, 

 and alfo that Montezuma had ordered him to be put to death, in- 

 terceded in his favor, and obtained leave to keep him in his cuftody. 

 As foon as he had an interview, he addreffed this chief very kindly, 



and 



