406 



HISTORY OP MEXICO. 



The people remained filent for fome time, until a Mex- 

 ican (f ), more daring than the reft, raifed his voice, 

 calling the king cowardly and effeminate, and fitter to 

 manage a fpindle and a fliuttle than to govern a nation 

 fo courageous ; and reproaching him for having, from 

 his cowardice and bafenefs, fuffered himfelf to be made 

 the prifoner of his enemies : and not content with revil- 

 ing him with words, taking a bow in his hand, he fhot 

 an arrow at him. The common people, who are always 

 apt to be moved by the firfl: impulfe which is given them, 

 quickly followed his example ; reproaches and contume- 

 lious language were heard on every fide ; and fhowers 

 of ftones and arrows poured towards the quarter where 

 the king flood. The Spanifh hiftorians fay, that al- 

 though the perfon of the king was covered with two 

 fliields, he was wounded by a blow from a ftone on the 

 head, by another in the leg, and by an arrow in the arm. 

 He was immediately carried by his fervants to his cham- 

 ber, more wounded in foul by anger and vexation, than 

 hurt by the facrilegious weapons of his fubje&s. 



In the mean while, the Mexicans perfifted in their at- 

 tacks, and the Spaniards in their defence, until fome 

 nobles called Cortes to that fame place where the king 

 had received his wounds, in order to treat with him 

 about certain articles, of which we do not find any hifto- 

 rian give a proper and clear account. Cortes demand- 

 ed of them why they were inclined to treat him as an 

 enemy, having done them no wrong ? " If you would 

 " avoid farther hoftilities (faid they), depart immediately 

 c< from this city ; if not, we are refolved to die, or to 

 " kill you all." Cortes replied, that he did not com- 

 plain 



(J) Acofta fays, that the Mexican who fpoke thefe infults to the kingw&s 

 Quauhtemotzin, his nephew, and the laft king of Mexico. 



