386 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



crown from the king of Mexico, but only to make his 

 fupreme dominion over that kingdom be acknowledged, 

 that Montezuma would not only continue to govern his 

 fubie&s, but would alfo exercife the fame authority over 

 all thofe people who fhould fubmit themfelves to the 

 Spaniards. Having difmiffed the affembly, Cortes or- 

 dered a public memorial of that act to be made with all 

 the folemnity which he thought neeeffary, in order to 

 fend it to the court of Spain. 



Having thus happily accomptifhed his purpofe, he re- 

 prefented to Montezuma, that fince he had acknowledg- 

 ed the dominion of the king of Caftile over thofe coun- 

 tries, it was neeeffary to manifeft his fubmifTion by the 

 contribution of fome gold and filver, in confequence of 

 the right which fovereigns had to exact fuch homage 

 from their vaffals, in order to fupport the fplendor of 

 the crown, to maintain their mmifters, the expenfes of 

 war, and the other neceffities of the ftate. Montezuma, 

 with truly royal munificence, gave him up the treafure of 

 his father Axajacatl, which was preferved, as we have 

 already faid, in the fame palace, from which nothing had 

 been taken by Cortes hitherto, although it had been ex- 

 prefsly permitted him by the king to take whatever he 

 pleafed. The whole of this treafure fell into the hands 

 of the Spaniards, together with all that had been con- 

 tributed by the feudatory lords of that crown, which 

 amounted to fo much, that, after deducting a fifth part 

 for the king of Spain, Cortes had as much as was necef- 

 fary to pay all his debts, contracted in Cuba in raifing 

 his corps and equipping the armament, and to reward 

 his officers and foldiers, leaving fliil behind enough for 

 future expenfes. For the king they appropriated, be- 

 sides a fifth part of the gold and filver, fome particular 



pieces 



