366 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



which were to be expected from the execution of it, and 

 diminishing the evils which it might occaiion. Their 

 opinions were various, Some of them rejected the pro- 

 portion of the general as ra(h and impracticable, and 

 faid, that it would be fitter to afk permiffion from the 

 king to retire from the country, fmce as he had endea- 

 voured, with fo much earneftnefs, and fuch large pre- 

 fents, to turn them from their refolution of coming to 

 Mexico, he would promptly confent to their departure. 

 Some of them thought, that although it was necelfary 

 for them to depart, yet they imagined that it would be 

 proper to do it fecretly, in order to give the Mexicans 

 no opportunity of betraying them in any manner ; but 

 the greater part of them having, it is probable, been 

 previoufly bialTed by the general, embraced his propofal, 

 rejecting the others as more dangerous and ignominious. 

 " What will they fay of us ?" they afked, " when they 

 <c fee us go fnddenly from a court where we have been 

 " crowned with honour ; who will not be perfuaded that 

 " it is fear which chafes us away ? If we ever lofe the 

 " reputation of courage, what fecurity can we promife 

 " ourfelves, either in thofe places of the Mexicans 

 €i through which we muft pafs, or among our allies, who 

 " will no longer be reftrained by refpecl: for our arms V 9 

 At laft, the refolution was formed to take Montezuma in 

 his palace, and to bring him prifoner to their quarters ; 

 a refolution mod: barbarous, however, and wild to ex- 

 cefs, fuggefted by apprehenfions for their fate, and their 

 pad uniform experience of fuccefs, which, more than any 

 thing elfe, encourages men, and leads them gradually on 

 always to fome (till more daring undertaking. 



For the execution of this dangerous plan, Cortes put 

 all his troops in arms, and Rationed them at proper pla- 

 ces. 



