HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



217 



each other, namely, prefenting certain defenlive arms to 

 bim, anointing his head, and fixing feathers upon it in 

 the fame manner as is done with dead perfons ; and laftly, 

 protefting in th,e name of his king, that as he would not 

 accept the peace which was offered to him, he, and all 

 the Tepanecas would inevitably be ruined. The tyrant, 

 without manifefling any difpleafure at fuch ceremonies, 

 or at the threats ufed to him, gave Montezuma alfo 

 arms to prefent to the king of Mexi<:o, and dire£]:ed 

 him, for the fecurity of his perfon, to return in difguife 

 through a fmall outlet from his palace. He would not 

 have obferved fo flridlly at this time the rights of nations, 

 if he could have forefeen that this ambalTador, of whofe 

 life he was fo careful, was to prove the chief inftrument 

 of his downfal. Montezuma profited by his advice ; 

 but as foon as he faw himfelf out of danger he began to 

 infult the guards, reproaching them for their negligence, 

 and threatening them, with their fpeedy deftrudlion. The 

 guards ruflied violently upon him to kill him ; but he fo 

 bravely defended himfelf, that he killed one or two of 

 them, and on the approach of others he retreated preci- 

 pitately to Mexico, bearing the news that war was de- 

 clared, and that the chiefs of the two nations had chal- 

 lenged each other. 



With this intelligence the populace were again thrown 

 into confternation, and repaired to the king to requeft 

 his permiflion to abandon their city ; believing their ruin 

 was certain. The king comforted and encouraged them 

 with hopes of vidory. " But if we are conquered," 

 faid the populsice, " what will become of us ?" " If 

 that happens," anfwered the king, " we ari^ that mo- 

 ment bound to deliver ourfelves into your hands to be 

 " made facrifices at your pleafure." " So be it," replied 

 Vol. I. E e the 



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