HISTORY OF ME:^IC0. 



257 



come into the hall of audience where the nobility ex- 

 pelled them, Nezahualpilli was proclaimed king of Acol- 

 huacan, Acapipioltzin declaring it to be the lafl: will of 

 their father, who having a long journey to make, chofe 

 firft to nominate his fucceffor. All paid obedience to the 

 new king, and in the morning after, Nezahualcojotl died, 

 in the fony-fourth year of his reign, and about the 

 eightieth year of his age. His fons concealed his death, 

 and hid his body, burning it fecretly, as is probable ; 

 and inftead of rendering funeral honours to it, they cele- 

 brated the coronation of the new kin? with uncommon 



o 



feftivity and rejoicing. But in fpite of their cautious 

 fecrecy the news of his death fpread fuddenly through 

 all the land, and many lords came to the court to condole 

 with the princes. Neverthelefs the vulgar remained 

 perfuaded that their great king was tranflated to the 

 company of the gods in reward of his virtues. 



Some little time after the exaltation of Nezahualpilli 

 to the throne, the memorable war happened between the 

 Mexicans and their neighbours and rivals, the Tlatelolcos. 

 Moquihuix king of Tlatelolco, being unable to endure 

 the dazzling glory of the Mexican monarch, ufed all his 

 arts to darken it. He had married, as we have already 

 mentioned, a filler of king Axayacatl, given him by Mon- 

 tezuma in reward for the famous victory he obtained over 

 the Cotaflefe. On this unfortunate queen he frequently 

 vented his malice againfl his coufm ; nor contented with 

 that, he clandeftinely formed leagues with other dates, 

 which like himfelf bore unwillingly the Mexican yoke. 

 Thefe were Chaico, Xilotepec, Toltitlan, Tenajucan, 

 Mexicaltzinco, Huitzilopochco, Xochimilco, Cuitlahuac, 

 and Mizquic, which agreed to attack the Mexicans, in 

 their rear, after the Tlatelolcos fliould begin battle 

 Vol. I. K k with 



