378 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



parable benefit; he was fo fallen in dignity and fpirit, 

 that he embraced Cortes with the utmoft affection, ex- 

 preffed his gratitude to him in the ftrongeft terms, and 

 that day mewed extraordinary complaifance to the Spa- 

 niards and his own vaffals. Cortes took off his guard, 

 and told the king that whenever he pleafed he might 

 return to his palace; well allured, however, the king 

 would not accept his offer; for he had frequently heard 

 him fay, that it would not be fitting for him to return 

 to his palace while the Spaniards were in his court. He 

 was unwilling to quit the quarters, on account of the 

 dangers the Spaniards would be in whenever he aban- 

 doned them ; but it is alfo probable, that his own per- 

 fonal danger likewife prevented him from refuming his 

 liberty, for he was not ignorant how much he had offend- 

 ed and difgufted his vaffals, by his debafement of fpirit 

 and excefs of fubmiflion to the Spaniards. 



It is alfo probable, that the punifhment of Quauhpo- 

 poca excited fome ferment among the nobility; for, a 

 few days after, Cacamatzin king of Acolhuacan, unable 

 to brook the authority which the Spaniards were gain- 

 ing in Mexico, ana 1 afhamed to fee the miferable fitua- 

 tion of his uncle Montezuma, fent to tell him, — that he 

 fliould remember that he was a king, and not to make 

 himfelf the fiave of thofe flrangers: but finding that 

 Montezuma refufed to attend to his counfel, refolved 

 himfelf to make war upon the Spaniards. Their ruin 

 would have been inevitable, if the efteem of Cacamat- 

 zin with the Mexican and Tezcucan fubjecls had been 

 equal to his intrepidity and refolution; but the Mexicans 

 fufpe&ed, that under fanction of zeal for the honour 

 of his uncle he difguifed fome lurking ambition and de- 

 fign to ufurp the crown of Mexico; among his own fub-* 



jecls 



