134 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



into the hall of audience, where they were received by 

 the lord himfelf, and his counfellors, who were all feated 

 in their places. After having made a profound rever- 

 ence to the lord, they fat down upon their heels in the 

 middle of the hall, and without faying a word, or lifting 

 up their eyes, they waited until a fign was made for them 

 to fpeak. When the fignal was given, the moft refpecta- 

 ble amongft the ambaffadors, after having made another 

 bow to the lord, delivered his embaffy with alow voice, 

 in a ftudied addrefs, which was attentively heard by the 

 lord and his counfellors, who kept their heads fo much 

 inclined, that they appeared almofl to touch their knees. 

 When the ambaffadors had finifhed their interview, they 

 returned to the houfe where they were lodged. In the 

 mean while, the lord entered into confultation with his 

 counfellors, and communicated his anfwer to the ambaffa- 

 dors by means of his miniflers ; provided them abun- 

 dantly with provifions for their journey, made them alfo 

 fome prefents, and caufed them to be efcorted out of the 

 city by the fame perfons who had received them upon 

 their arrival. If the lord, to whom the embaffy was 

 fent, was a friend to the Mexicans, it was confidered as 

 a great difhonour not to accept his prefents ; but if he 

 was an enemy, the ambaffadors could not receive them 

 without the exprefs order of their matter. All thefe 

 ceremonies were not invariably obferved in embaflies, 

 nor were all embaffies fent to the lords of cities or ftates ; 

 for fome of them, as we fhall mention hereafter, were 

 fent to the body of the nobility, or to the people. 



The couriers whom the Mexicans frequently employ- 

 ed, made ufe of different enfigns according to the nature 

 of the intelligence, or affair with which they were 

 charged. If it was the news of the Mexicans having 



loft 



