Chap. III. 
for the ReduEiion ^ N E w S p a i N. 77 
S E C T I O N IX. 
7he Continuation of Hernan CortesV Expedition^ his Alliances with federal Indian 
Nations^ hts Succefs in quelhng various Seditions in his ovon Army^ and his Prepa-- 
ration for his March to Mexico, by burning his whole Fleet. 
I, Phe State of the Mexican 'Empire at this Time^ and the Caufes of Motezuma’i Apprehenfons, which dip 
fufe themf elves through the whole Indian Nation. 2. Phe Anfwer fent by him to Cories, and the Refolu- 
tion taken by the Spanidi General thereupon., which produces a Rupture with the Indians. 3, Cortes de-^ 
feats a Confpiracy formed againf him., embraces the Friendfsip of the Zempoallans, and under Colour of 
fettling a Colony injhtutes a new Government among ft his Spaniards. 4. Refigns up his Commifion to the 
new Magiflrates, receives it again, and quafhes another Confpiracy. 5, Fhe Army continues its March 
to Zempoalia, where Cortes brings the Cazique to have a peife Si Confidence in him and in his People. 6, 
Be profecutes his Journey ^ to Quiabillan, gains over the Cazique of that Country alfo, and perfuades him to 
feize Motezumab Commifioners. j. He encreafes the Number of his Allies, founds the City of Vera Cmz, 
and gives Audience to f ref Embaffadors from the Emperor 0/^’ Mexico. 8. Fhe Spaniards, by an artful 
Contrivance, are drawn in by their Indian Confederates to attack the Inhabitants of Zimpazingo, with 
whom, coming to a better Underflanding, they foon make Peace. 9. Cortes returns to his own Colony at 
Vera Cmz, fends Deputies to Spain to juflify his ConduSi, and prevents fome Difputes that might have hap- 
pened from Sharers in his Difcoveries. 
I. ^ I HE RE cannot occur, in any Hiflory, a more 
furprizing Event than that the Rumour of the 
Approach of Cortes, with his Handful of Spaniards, fliould 
ftrike fo great an Empire as that of Mexico really was, 
with fo much Terror and Amazement. The nearer he came 
the more Motezuma was alarmed ; the more frequent Coun- 
cils he held, and in each of thefe difcovered more and 
more Uneafmefs and Apprehenfion, which quickly in- 
fefted his Grandees; for in all Countries, and in all 
Ages, Courtiers are, in fome Meafure, Copies of their 
Monarchs, efpecially in arbitrary Governments; and 
therefore, we need not wonder that his Fear lirft diffufed 
itfelf among his Nobility, and from them, through the 
whole Mafs of his Subjefts, fo that the Confufion be- 
came general, and the approaching Deftrudlion of their 
Government, mdght in very legible Charadters be read in 
the Faces of the whole Nation. But to conceive this 
Ead clearly, to underftand it perfedly, and to form from 
thence juft Notions both of its Caufes and Confequences, 
it is abfolutely requifite that we Ihould take a View of 
the State of this Country, and of its Government at this 
Jundlure, which will, indeed, require Time and Room ; 
but,^ the Importance of the Matter confidered, I hope 
it will appear that neither can be better employed. 
The Empire of Mexico was then at its greateft Height 
of Glory, having under its Dominion almoft all the 
Provinces which had been difcovered in North America, 
which were governed by Motezuma himfelf, or by the 
petty Kings or Caziques, his Tributaries. The Length of 
it extended from Eaft to Weft above five hundred 
Leagues, and the Breadth from North to South, in fome 
Places, was two hundred ; a Country populous, rich, 
and plentiful. On the Eaft it was bounded by the Atlan- 
tic Sea (now called the North Sea) and extended along all 
that great Space of Land, between Panuco and Tucatan: 
on the Weft it reacheth the other Sea, being waflied by 
the Afiatic Ocean (or Gulph of Anian ) from Cape Men- 
docino, to the fartheft Part of New Galicia. On the South 
it ftretched out farther, running along the South Sea from 
Acapulco to Guatimala, approaching by the Way of Ni- 
caragua to the Ifthmus or narrow Neck of Land, which 
unites the two Americas. On the North it extends as far 
as Panuco, including that Province, but was ftreightened 
confiderably by the Mountains poffelTed by the Chi- 
chmecas and Otemies, a barbarous People, without Go- 
vernment, living in the Holes ol Rocks, feeding upon 
the Game they kill in hunting, and the Fruits of fuch 
Trees as grow wild ; but fo dextrous in the ufe of their 
Arrows, and in making their Advantage of the Paffes of 
nie Mountains, that they had often withftood the whole 
Power Ol Mexico, being fatisfied with not being conquer- 
ed, and only defiring to preferve their Liberty amonerft 
the wild Beafts. ^ ^ 
Vgl. II, Nu MS. 
This Empire grew to this vaft Greatnefs in little 
more than one hundred and thirty Years ; for the Mex- 
icans, a warlike Nation, were always making room with 
their Arms, among thofe who inhabited that Part of the 
World. They were, at firft, governed by a valiant Cap- 
tain, who made them Soldiers and fenfible of military 
Honour. Afterwards they chofe a King, giving the 
fupreme Dominion to him, who had the greateft Repu- 
tation for Valour, being acquainted with no Virture but 
Fortitude, or if acquainted with other Virtues, they look- 
ed upon them as much inferior : They always obferv- 
ed this Cuftom, without regard to hereditary Succeffion ; 
yet, where Merit was equal, they preferred the Royal 
Blood ; and the fame Wars by which their Kings ac- 
quired their Titles to the Crown, enlarged the Mo- 
narchy. 
At firft Juftice fupported their Arms, for the Opprefiion 
of their Neighbours forced them to Defence ; but their 
Power afterwards increafing, Juftice was laid afide, and 
Tyranny took place. Motezuma was the eleventh King, 
and the fecond of that Name, a fingular Perfon, and 
much efteemed among the Mexicans before he began to 
reign. He was of Royal Blood, and a Soldier in his 
Youth ; he raifed his Charader by feveral heroic Adi- 
ons, and gained the Reputation of a valiant Captain : 
He returned to the Court, and finding himfelf applaud- 
ed and refpeded as the firft Man of his Nation, "he en- 
tertained Hopes of grafping the Scepter at the next Elec- 
tion. He then employed all his Skill in gaining Friends, 
to which end he made ufe of many Arts. He affeded 
great Obedience towards the King, and extraordinary 
Modefty and Compofure in his Words and Adions ; care- 
fully preferving fuch an auftere Gravity in his Counte- 
nance, that the Indians were wont to fay the Name of 
Motezuma became him well, which, in their Language, 
fignifies a furly Prince, though he endeavoured to tem- 
per his Severity by his Liberality. 
He alfo gained the Charader of being zealous for his- 
Religion : And to this end he built an Apartment in 
the moft frequented Temple, to which he retired in the 
Sight of all the People, and ftayed there many Hours. 
He gained fo much Veneration by thefe outward Appear- 
ances, that when the King his Predeceflbr died, the Eled- 
ors gave him their Votes unanimoufly, and the People 
received him with great Acclamations ; he made a fhew 
of refufing, fuffering himfelf to be courted to comply 
with his own De fires, and feemed to accept the Crown 
with Reludancy : But no fooner was he pofieffed of it, 
than all that Artifice which he had forced upon his na- 
tural Temper ceafed, and he difcovered thofe Vices that 
had been hitherto covered with the Shew of Virtues. 
The firft Adion by which he manifefted his Pride, 
was the difearding all who belonged to the Royal Fa- 
X mily. 
74. 
