HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



381 



fome influence in the hoftile defigns of his nephew. Mon- 

 tezuma cleared himfelf from fufpicion by the mofl fin- 

 cere protections, and offered to interpofe his authority. 

 He fent to tell Cacamatzin to come to Mexico to vifit 

 him, and that he would find means to accommodate the 

 difference. Cacamatzin, amazed at feeing Montezuma 

 more interefted in favour of thofe who deftroyed his li- 

 berty, than of his own relation who was zealous to re- 

 ftore it to him, anfwered, that if after fuch infamous 

 treatment he had a fpark of honour left, he would be 

 afliamed of feeing himfelf made the flave of four ruffians, 

 who, while they cajoled with fair words, heaped acts of 

 affront upon him ; that fince neither zeal for the Mexi- 

 can religion and the gods of the Acolhuans, whom thofe 

 ftrangers had blafphemoufly infulted, nor the glory of 

 his anceftors, obfcured and debafed by his own pufillani- 

 mity, could move him, he himfelf was difpofed to aid his 

 religion — to vindicate his gods — to preferve the king- 

 dom, and recover the honour and liberty of him and 

 every Mexican fubjecl: ; that he would indeed fee him at 

 Mexico, not however with his hands in his bofom, but 

 wielding his fword, to wipe off and cancel with the blood 

 of the Spaniards the difgrace which flained the nation. 



Montezuma was extremely alarmed by this anfwer, 

 fearing that, either from the revenge of the Spaniards 

 or the fury of king Cacamatzin, he would become the 

 victim of the approaching ftorm ; upon which account he 

 refolved to adopt the laft refource to prevent it, and fave 

 his own life by treachery. He therefore gave fecret 

 orders to fome Mexican officers, who ferved in the guard 

 of his nephew the king of Acolhuacan, to exert their 

 utmofl efforts, and without delay, to feize his perfon and 

 conduct him with thegreateft care to Mexico, becaufe it 



was 



