HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



387 



pieces of work preferved entire on account of their won- 

 derful workmanfhip, which, according to the valuation 

 made of them by Cortes, were worth more than one 

 hundred thoufand ducats : but the greater part of this 

 wealth was loft, as we fhall find hereafter. 



The Spaniards exulted to lee themfelves the matters 

 of fo much wealth at lb fmall a coft ; and a kingdom fo 

 great and opulent, fubje&ed to their fovereign with fo 

 little trouble ; but their profperity was now at its 

 height, and, according to the condition of human affairs, 

 it was neceffary that their fucceffes fhouid be chequered 

 with adverfities. The Mexican nobility, who had hither- 

 to preferved a refpe&ful filence in deference to the will 

 of their fovereign, feeing him thus fallen and degraded, 

 the king of Acolhuacan and other perfons of rank put in 

 chains, and the nation fubje&ed to the dominion of a 

 ftrange monarch whom they knew not, began firft to 

 whifper, then to fpeak out with more freedom, to blame 

 their own patience, to hold affemblies, and at laft, as is 

 reported, to levy troops to free their king and their na- 

 tion from fuch ignominious oppreffion. Montezuma was 

 fpoken to by fome of his favourites, who reprefented to 

 him the pain his misfortunes and difgrace gave his vaf- 

 fals, who confidered his power to be almoft expiring and 

 the fplendour of his dignity obfcured, and the ferment 

 which began to rife not only among the nobles but alfo 

 among the common people, who were grown impatient 

 of feeing themfelves fubjected and condemned to facrifice 

 to a ftrange king the harveft of their labours : they ex- 

 horted him to difpel the fears which had taken poffefiion 

 of him, and to refume his wonted authority ; fince, if he 

 would not do it, his vaffals would, as they were deter- 

 mined to drive thofe infolent and deftruclive guefts from 



the 



