316 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



crue to the ftate of Acolhuacan, if the eleftion was re- 

 tarded : he was of opinion, that the crown fell to the 

 prince Cacamatzin; fince, befides his prudence and his 

 courage, he was the firfl-born of the firft Mexican prin- 

 cefs whom the late king married. All the other coun- 

 fellors concurred in this opinion, which was in itfelf fo 

 juft and came from a perfon of fuch authority. The 

 princes who waited in a hall adjoining for the refolution 

 of the council, were defired to enter there to hear it. 

 When they were all introduced, the principal feat was 

 given to Cacamatzin, who was a youth of twenty-two 

 years, and his brothers Coanocotzin, who was twenty, 

 and Ixtlilxochitl who was eighteen, were placed on 

 each fide of him. The fame aged counfellor, who had 

 firfl: addrelTed the afTembly, then rofe, and declared that 

 the refolution of the council, which included alfo that of 

 the kingdom, was to give the crown to Cacamatzin, on 

 account of the right of primogeniture. Ixtlilxochitl, 

 who was an ambitious and enterpriling youth, oppofed 

 it, by faying, that if the king was really dead, he would 

 certainly have named his fuccelTor ; that his not having 

 done it was a clear evidence of his life, and while the law- 

 ful fovereign was living it was criminal in his fubje61:s to 

 name a fucceffor. The council who knew the difpofition 

 of Ixtlilxochitl, durfl not openly contradict him, but 

 defired Coanocotzin to deliver his opinion. This prince 

 approved and confirmed the determination of the coun- 

 cil, and pointed out the inconveniences which would 

 enfue if the execution of it was delayed. He was con- 

 tradifled, and taxed with being light and inconfiderate 

 by Ixtlilxochitl, and that he could not perceive while he 

 embraced fuch an opinion that he was favouring the de- 

 figns of Montezuma, who was much inclined to Caca- 

 matzin, 



