376 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



fome expreffions of impatience, but he foon calmed again, 

 attributing his miferies to the fupreme difpenfations of 

 his gods. 



This bold a&ion was hardly performed, when Cortes 

 proceeded to execute another not lefs prefumptuous. 

 After having given orders to the guards not to admit 

 any Mexican to fee the king, he commanded Quauhpo- 

 poca, his fon, and the reft of his accomplices, to be led 

 to punimment; they were conducted by the Spaniards 

 themfelves, all armed and formed in order of battle, to 

 keep the people in awe in cafe they (hould be willing to 

 oppofe the execution of their fentence. But what could 

 that fmall troop of men have done againft the immenfe 

 multitude of Mexicans who afiembled to be fpe&ators 

 of the event ? The fire was kindled before the principal 

 palace of the king. The fuel made ufe of was a great 

 quantity of bows, arrows, darts, lances, fwords, and 

 fliields, which were taken from an armoury ; for Cortes 

 had demanded thefe of the king, that he might rid him- 

 felf of the uneafinefs which the fight of fo many arms 

 occafioned. Quauhpopoca, tied hand and foot and 

 placed upon the pile where he was to be burned, again 

 protefted his innocence, and repeated that what he had 

 done was by the exprefs order of his king; he then made 

 prayers to his gods, and encouraged his companions to 

 bear their fufferings. The fire being kindled they were 

 all in a few minutes confumed, (j) in fight of a numerous 



multitude 



(*) Solis, when he makes mention of the fentence of Cortes againft Quauh- 

 popoca, fpeaks thus " Juzgofe militarmente la caufa, y fe les dio fentencia de 

 ** muerte, con la circunftancia de que fuifien quemados publicamente fus cuer- 

 " pos." Wherein, without mentioning the fpecies of punilhment to which they 

 were condemned, he makes it be underftood, that the prifoners were not burn- 

 ed, but their dead bodies only. This is not at all confiftent with the fincerity 



which. 



