364 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



tezuma his arguments for the truth of his religion ; but 

 although Montezuma was not difpofed to embrace it, 

 moved however by his fuggeftions, he commanded that 

 from that time forward no human victims mould be fa- 

 crificed ; and although he did not agree with the Spa- 

 ni£h general in renouncing idolatry, he continued to ca- 

 refs him, and no day palfed without his making fome 

 prefent to, and mewing new civilities to the Spaniards. 

 The order which the king gave refpe&ing the facrifices 

 were not ftri&Iy obferved, and that great harmony, 

 which had hitherto fubfifted, was difturbed by the dar- 

 ing attempts of the Spanidi general. 



Six days were hardly elapfed after the entry of the 

 Spaniards into Mexico, when Cortes, finding himfeif, as 

 it were, infulatcd in the centre of an immenfe myriad of 

 people, and confidering how dangerous their fituation 

 would become, if the mind of the king (hould ever 

 change, which event might happen, was perfuaded there 

 was no other conduct to be followed for their fecurity 

 than to make himfeif mailer of the perfon of the king ; 

 but fuch a meafure being extremely repugnant to juftice 

 and reafon, which demanded from him both refpect to 

 the majefty of that monarch, and gratitude for his great 

 beneficence, he fought for pretences to quiet his confci- 

 ence, and to fhield his honour ; for which purpofe he 

 found none fo fitting as the revolutions at Vera Cruz, 

 the intelligence of which he had kept fecret in his bread: 

 till this time, but being willing now to avail himfeif of 

 it, he revealed it to his officers, that they might take 

 into their ferious conflderation what would be mod pro- 

 per and effectual to deliver themfelves from fuch immi- 

 nent danger ; and, in order to juftify his attempt, and 

 excite the Spaniards to execute it, he made fome princi- 

 pal 



