HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



369 



<c fovereign, to juftify your conduct, to honour and 

 " flielter us under the fhade of your majefty." In fpite 

 of the artful words in which Cortes endeavoured to dif- 

 guife his daring and injurious pretention, the king im- 

 mediately penetrated his meaning, and was difturbed. 

 <e When was there ever an inftance (he faid) of a king 

 " tamely fufFering himfelf to be led into prifon ? And 

 " although I was willing to debafe myfelf in fo vile a 

 u manner, would not all my vaflals immediately arm 

 " themfelves to fet me free ? I am not a man who can 

 " hide myfelf, or fly to the mountains ; without fubjecl:- 

 " ing myfelf to fuch infamy, I am here now ready to fa- 

 " tisfy your complaints." " The houfe, prince (return- 

 " ed Cortes), to which we invite you, is one of your pa- 

 <fi laces ; nor will it excite the wonder of your fubje&s, 

 " who are accuflomed to your change of habitation, to 

 " fee you now go to inhabit the palace of your deceafed 

 M father Axajacatl, from a motive of {hewing your be- 

 " nevolence towards us. In cafe your fubjects after- 

 " wards mould dare to do any thing againft you or us, 

 " we have enough of courage, ftrong arms, and good 

 " weapons, to repel their violence. In other refpecl:s 

 " I engage my faith you fhall be as much honoured and 

 " attended upon by us as by your own fubje&s." The 

 king perfevered in his refufal, and Cortes in his importu- 

 nity ; until at laft, one of the Spanifli officers, extremely 

 daring and impetuous, not brooking this delay to the 

 execution of their project, faid, in paflion, that they 

 fliould leave difcourfmg, and refolve to take him by 

 force, or put him to death. The king, who difcerned 

 in the afpecl of the Spaniard, what was his purpofe, 

 eagerly demanded of Marina what that furious ftranger 

 faid ? " I, prince (ihe anfwered with mildnefs and dif- 

 Vol. II. 3 A cretion,) 



