412 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



ordinary in thofe terrible engagements which we fliall 

 prefently relate. 



On one of thofe days, probably the thirtieth of June, 

 died 5 in the quarters of the Spaniards, the king Monte- 

 zuma, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, in the eigh- 

 teenth of his reign, and the feventh month of his im- 

 prifonment. With regard to the caufe and the circum- , 

 ftances of his death, there is fo great a difference and 

 contradiction among hiftorians, it is altogether impoffible 

 to afcertain the truth. The Mexican hiftorians blame 

 the Spaniards, and the Spanifh hiftorians accufe the 

 Mexicans of it (k). We cannot be perfuaded that the 

 Spaniards fhould refolve to take away the life of a king 

 to whom they owed fo many benefits, and from whofe 

 death they could only expect new misfortunes. His lofs 

 was lamented, if we are to credit Bernal Diaz, an eye- 

 witnefs and moft faithful writer, not lefs by Cortes and 

 every one of his officers and foldiers, than if he had been 

 their father. He fliewed them infinite favour and kind- 

 nefs, whether it had been from natural inclination or 

 fear ; he always appeared to them to be their friend at 

 heart, at lead there is no reafon to believe the contrary, 

 nor was it ever known that he fpoke like an enemy of 

 them, as they themfelves protefted. 



His good and bad qualities may be gathered from an 

 account of his actions. He was circumfpect:, magnifi- 

 cent, 



(k) Cortes and Gomara affirm, that Montezuma died of the blow from the 

 ftone with which his people hit him on the head. Solis fays his death was oc- 

 cafioned by his not having his wound dreffed. Bernal Diaz adds to this omiffion 

 and negledt, his voluntary abftinence from food. The chronicler Herrera fays, 

 that the wound was not mortal, but that he died of a broken heart. Sahagun, 

 and other Mexican hiftorians, affirm, that the Spaniards killed him, and one of 

 them mentions the circumftance of a foldier having pierced him with an eel- 

 fpear. 



