HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



223 



Mexico. This ambaffador humbly demanded pardon of 

 the king in the name of his country men ^ offered obedi- 

 ence to him, and promifed that all the Tepanecas would 

 acknowledge him as their lawful lord, and would ferve 

 him as vaffals. He congratulated them on their good 

 fortune in the midft of the terrible fliock which their 

 nation had fufFered of being fubjecled to fo amiable a 

 prince, who was endued with fo many excellent quali* 

 ties, and at lad concluded his addrefs with an earneft 

 prayer, that they might be granted the favour of life, 

 and hberty to return to their habitations. ItzcoatI re*- 

 ceived them with the utmoft complacency, granted 

 them all they afl<:ed, profelTcd himfelf ready to receive 

 them, not only as his fubjefis but as his children, and to 

 difcharge all the offices of a true fiither to them ; but at 

 the fame time threatened them with total extirpation if 

 they violated the fidelity which they fwore to him. Their 

 demand being granted, the fugi[ives returned to rebuild 

 their habitations and attend to their families ; and from 

 that time continued always fubjecl: to the king of Mex- 

 ico, affording in their difafler another example of thofe 

 changes and vicifTitudes common to all human affairs. 

 But the whole of the Tepanecan nation was not reduced 

 under obedience to the conqueror : Cojohuacan, a con- 

 fiderable flate and city of that people, continued for 

 fome time refractory in their condufl as will afterwards, 

 appear. 



The king Itzcoatl, after this famous conquefl, ordered 

 a ratification of the compacl entered into between the 

 nobility and the populace ; by which the laft were 

 bound to perpetual fervices, which they rendered regu- 

 larly in future ; but thofe who by their clamours and 

 ^:omplaints had been the caufe of difcouraging others 



during 



