HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



375 



whofe orders they would not have dared to attempt any- 

 thing againft the Spaniards. 



Cortes, after hearing their confeffion and pretending 

 not to believe their excufe, condemned them to be burn- 

 ed alive before the royal palace, for being guilty of trea- 

 fon to the king. He repaired immediately to the king's 

 apartment, with three or four of his officers, and a fol- 

 dier who carried irons in his hands ; and, without omit- 

 ting even upon this occafion the ufual ceremony and com- 

 pliments, he faid to the king, w The delinquents, prince, 

 " have now been examined, and all of them have con- 

 " feffed their guilt, and blame you as the author of the 

 " death of my Spaniards: I have condemned them to 

 " the punifliment which they, and which you alfo, de- 

 " ferve, agreeably to their confefjion; but, in confidera-f 

 " tion of the many kindneffes you have rendered us 

 " hitherto, and the regard you have manifefted for my 

 " fovereign and towards my nation, I am willing to grant 

 " you the favour of your life, although I cannot avoid 

 cc making you feel a part of the punifliment which you 

 w merit for your crime." Upon faying this, he, in an 

 angry tone, commanded the foldier to put the irons upon 

 his legs, and without deigning to hear a word from him, 

 turned about and departed. The ftupefa&ion of the 

 king at feeing this outrage offered to his perfon was fo 

 great, that it left him no power of refiftance nor any 

 words to exprefs his affliction: he remained for fomc 

 time in a ftate of infenfibility; his domeftics who attend- 

 ed fignified their grief in filent tears; and throwing 

 themfelves at his feet, eafed the weight of the irons 

 with their handSj and endeavoured to prevent their con- 

 tact with his legs by placing bandages of cotton between 

 them. As he returned to himfelf, he broke out into 



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