198 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



lifted his eyes to behold his murderers, when they were 

 clofed in death. So unexpe£i:ed a tragedy diflurbed, and 

 fliocked the whole meeting ; but Maxtlaton quieted them 

 by explaining the treafon which was defigned againft 

 him ; and protefting, that what he had done, was only 

 to prevent the blow which threatened himfelf. By thefe 

 and fmiilar difcourfes, he fo far altered their minds, that 

 in place of revenging the death of their lawful lord, they 

 proclaimed the treacherous tyrant, king ; but, although 

 injuftice raifed him to the throne, it was only to preci- 

 pitate him from a greater height. 



His indignation againft the king of Mexico was ftill 

 greater ; but it did not appear prudent to make any at- 

 tempt againft his life until he fliould feel himfelf firmly 

 feated on the throne. In the mean while he vented his 

 rage by doing injuries to his perfon, and offering outrages 

 to his dignity. A little time after his intrufion on the 

 kingdom, the prefent which it was ufual to make, as a 

 mark of acknowledgement of the high power of the king 

 of Azcapozalco, was fent to him by the king of Mexico. 

 This prefent, which confifted of three baikets of white- 

 fifti, craw-fifti, frogs, and fome pulfe, was carried by re- 

 fpe£^able perfons from the court of Chimalpopoca, with 

 a polite addrefs, and particular expreffions of fubmillion 

 and refpe£l. Maxtlaton (hewed himfelf pleafed ; but as 

 it was proper, according to the cuftom of thofe nations, 

 to return fome gift, and being defirous, at the fame time, 

 of gratifying his pique, after confulting with his confi- 

 dents, he caufed to be delivered to the Mexican ambafiFa- 

 dors for their king a Cueitl^ that is a woman's gown, and 

 a Huepilli, which is a woman's fhift, intimating by thefe 

 that he efteemed their king an efieminate coward : an 

 infult the raoft grofs to thofe nations, as nothing was fo 



much 



