124 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Tzontecomatl^ and were of the mofl noble houfe of C/- 

 iin. It was the moft cultivated and mofl: civilized of all 

 the nations which were in that country fince the Tolte- 

 cas. It may be eafily fuppofed, how great a rumour was 

 occalioned by fuch a novelty, in that kingdom, and what 

 difquiet fo great a multitude of unknown people raifed 

 among the Chechemecas ; nor does it feem probable, 

 that they would have been permitted to enter the king- 

 dom, without having previoufly given information of 

 their condition, and the motives of their vifit. The 

 king was at this time in Tezcuco, where he had removed 

 his court, either being tired of Tenayuca, or allured by 

 the advantageous fituation of that new place. Here the 

 three princes arrived, and being prefented to the king, 

 after a profound bow, and that ceremony of refpe^l fo 

 familiar to thefc nations of kiffing the hand after having 

 touched the earth with it, they addrelTed him in words to 

 this purpofe. " We are come, mighty king, from the 

 kingdom of Teoacolhuacan, a little di fiance only from 

 your native country : we are all three brothers, and 

 fons of a great lord ; but being acquainted with the 

 " happinefs which the Chechemecas enjoy under the rule 

 " of a prince fo humane, we have preferred to the ad- 

 vantages which we had in our native country, the 

 honour of becoming your fubje6ls. We pray you, 

 therefore, to give us place in your happy land, where 

 we may live dependent on your authority and fubje6l 

 to your command." The Chechcmecan fovereign was 

 pleafed with the lordly air and courtly manners of thefe 

 noble youths, but fl:ill more with the flattering vanity of 

 feeing humbled, in his prefence, three princes allured 

 from fuch difl:ant countries by the fame of his clemency 

 and his power. He replied with complaifance to their 



addrefs. 



