200 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



The day appointed for this religious tragic fcene being 

 come, the king appeared drelTed in the manner they ufu- 

 ally reprefented their God Huitzilopochtli, and all thofe 

 who were to accompany him were dreffed alfo in their 

 beft habits. This religious ceremony began with a fo- 

 lernn ball ; and while it lafted the priefts facrificed the 

 unhappy viftims one after another, referving the king to 

 the 1 aft. It was hardly poffible fuch a tranfaflion could 

 remain unknown to the tyrant ; he knew it by anticipa- 

 tion, and that he might prevent his enemy efcaping from 

 his revenge by voluntary death, he fent a body of troops 

 to take him before he was facrificed. They arrived when 

 there hardly remained two vi£lims, after whom the king 

 himfelf was to follow. This unhappy prince was feized 

 by the Tepanecas, and conducted inftantly to Azcapo- 

 izalco, where he was put into a ftrong cage of wood, 

 which was the prifon ufed by thefe nations, as we fliall 

 mention hereafter, under cuftody of ftrong guards. In 

 this event many circumftances appear difficult to be cre- 

 dited : but we relate it as we find it told by the hiftori- 

 ans of Mexico. It is certainly much to be wondered at, 

 that the Tepanecas fliould have dared to enter into that 

 city and attempt fo dangerous an a6i: ; and that the Mexi- 

 cans fliould not have armed themfelves in defence of their 

 king ; but the power of the tyrant may have, of itfelf, 

 been fufficient to encourage the Tepanecas and intimi- 

 date the Mexicans. 



The taking of Chimalpopoca prifoner, excited frefli 

 defire in the mind of Maxtlaron to get the prince Neza- 

 hualcojotl alfo into his power j to affe^l this more eafily 

 he fent for him under pretence of being willing to come 

 to an agreement with him, refpe^llng the crown of 

 Acolhuacan. The difcerning prince immediately pene- 

 trated 



