HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



371 



of doing him honour. The news this Angular event im- 

 mediately fpread through the whole capital, and the 

 people aflembled in crowds ; fome were affected fo as to 

 weep, and others threw themfelves upon the ground in 

 defpair. The king attempted to confole them, telling 

 them, that it was with his own pleafure, that he went to 

 be among his friends ; but being appreheniive of fome 

 diforder, he gave orders to his minifters to chafe the 

 rabble from the ftreets, and threatened death to any one 

 who caufed any commotion or difturbance. Having ar- 

 rived at the quarters, he careffed the Spaniards, and took 

 the apartments that pleafed him moft, which his domef- 

 tics quickly decorated with the fineft tapeftry of cotton 

 and feathers, and the beft furniture of the royal palace. 

 Cortes placed guards at the entry to thofe apartments, 

 and doubled thofe which were ufual for the fecurity of 

 their quarters. He intimated to all the Spaniards and 

 all the allies, that they were to treat him and ferve him 

 with all the refpect which was due to majefty, and per- 

 mitted the Mexicans to vifit him whenever they pleafed, 

 provided there were but few at a time ; fo that he want- 

 ed nothing that he had in his own palace but liberty. 



Here Montezuma was allowed to give free audience 

 to his vaffals, heard their petitions, pronounced fenten- 

 ces, and governed the kingdom with the afliftance of his 

 minifters and counfellors. His domeftics ferved him with 

 the fame diligence and punctuality as ufual. A band of 

 nobles waited upon him at table, ordered in ranks of four 

 at a time, carrying the dimes raifed up in their hands 

 for the fake of oftentation ; after having chofen what he 

 liked, he divided the reft among the Spaniards who aftift- 

 ed and the Mexican nobles who attended him : not con- 

 tented 



