148 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



making laws in Tezcuco belonged always to the kings, 

 who made thofe which they publifhed, be rigoroufly ob- 

 ferved. Amongll the Mexicans, the firfl: laws were 

 made, from what we can difcover, by the body of the 

 nobility ; but afterwards the kings became the leghlators 

 of the nation, and while their authority was confined 

 within moderate limits, they were zealous in the obfcr- 

 vance of thofe laws which they or their anceftors had 

 promulgated. In the lafl years of the monarchy defpo- 

 tifm altered, and changed them at caprice. We mall 

 here enumerate thofe which were in force at the time the 

 Spaniards entered into Mexico. In fome of them much 

 prudence and humanity and a ftrong attachment to good 

 cuftoms will be difcovered ; but in others an excefs of 

 rigour which degenerated into cruelty. 



A traitor to the king or the ftate was torn in pieces, 

 and his relations who were privy to the treafon, and did 

 not difcover it, were deprived of their liberty. 



Whoever dared in war, or at any time of public 

 rejoicing, to make ufe of the badges of the kings of 

 Mexico, of Acolhuacan, or Tacuba, or of thofe of the 

 Qhuacoatl, was punifhed with death, and his goods con- 

 fifcated. 



Whoever maltreated an ambaffador, minifter, or couri- 

 er belonging to the king, fuifered death - f but ambaffa- 

 dors and couriers were forbid on their part part to leave 

 the high road, under pain of loJing their privileges. 



The punifliment of death was inflicted alfo on thofe 

 perfons who occafioned any fedition amongfl the people ; 

 on thofe who carried off, or changed the boundaries 

 placed in the fields by public authority ; and likewife on 

 judges who gave a fentence that was unjuft, or contrary 

 to the laws, or made an unfaithful report of any caufe 



to 



