lOO 
T'he Expedition <^Hernan Cortes, Book I, 
know you denied your having ordered ^alpopoca to 
“ kill my Companions, you have not done therein as 
became fo great a Prince, and fmce you have occa- 
“ honed the Death of my Men, as alfo of ^alpopoca^ 
“ his Son, and fo many of his People, had I not Regard 
“ to the Affeftion you have fhewn to my King, and in 
his Name to me, I fhould think you ought to pay 
“ for it with your Life •, for both , the divine and hu- 
“ man Law, appoints that a Murderer, as you are, 
“ fhould die ; However, that you may not go altogether 
“ unpunihied, and that you and your People may be 
“ fenfible how advantageous it is to deal fmcerely, I will 
“ order you to be put in Irons. ” Motezuma was very 
much furprized at this Reproof, and could fcarce utter 
his Words for Confufion, but only faid that he was inno- 
cent, and he might do what he would with him. Cor- 
tes went from him in a very angry Manner, and immedi- 
ately after he was fettered. 
It was thought that Cortes ufed this Policy to divert 
him from the Cjrief he might juftly conceive at the Exe- 
cution of ^alpopoca in his own Sight. It is impoffible 
to exprefs how much Motezuma was concerned, when he 
faw himfelf in Irons ; he affirmed he was innocent, and 
lamented his Condition ; his Kindred and Nobility 
were aftonifhed, and in that Confternation they wept, 
and kneeled down, bearing up his Fetters with their 
Elands, and thrufling fine Cloths through the Links, that 
they might not touch his Fleffi, nor could they think 
what to do •, for if they had had recourfe to Arms, they con- 
cluded that their Lord would certainly be put to Death, 
which added to their Terror. When ^alpopoca^2& ex- 
ecuted, Cortes^ thinking he had gained his Point, went in 
the Afternoon to Motezuma^ and, fainting him with an 
Air of Kindnefs, ordered his Fetters to be taken off, tel- 
ling him, that though, according to the Confeffion of the 
People executed, he deferved to be more feverely puniffi- 
ed, yet for the Love he bore him, and becaufe he could 
not believe fo great a Prince guilty of fuch a foul Add- 
on, he had com.mxanded him to be fet free. Motezuma 
was as much rejoiced at thofe Words, as he had been be- 
fore dejedted, upon being removed and put into Irons. 
He embraced Cories^ returned him Thanks, and bellow- 
ed many Favours that Day, as well on the Spaniards 
as his own People. 
By this Means both Parties v/ere fatisfied with each 
other, and Motezuma came by Degrees to have fuch a 
Confidence in Cortes^ that he reprefented to him the Ex- 
pediency of granting him Leave to go to vifit fome of 
his Temples, that his Subjedls might not look upon 
him to be longer a Prifoner, which was granted, upon 
Condition that human- Sacrifices were abolifhed. As Cor- 
tes perceived that this Confidence in Motezuma had gain- 
ed upon- him extremely, he laid hold of this Opportunity 
to demand his Affiftance, for the accompliffiing of vari- 
ous things he had in view, which were very neceffary to 
him, and which, however, he could not accompliffi, but 
by the Emperor’s Affiffance. 
The firft of thefe was, the Knowledge of the gold 
Mines, where they were, to whom they belonged, how 
wrought, and what Quantities of that precious Metal, 
Were obtained from them. Motezuma gave him very 
clear and diftinCt Anfwers to all thefe Inquiries, and, for 
his farther Satisfa6lion, allowed fuch of his People aS he 
could truft, to go to the Mines, both within and without 
his Dominions. In the next Place, Cortes was willing to have 
a Map of the Sea-coafts of the Mexican Empire, that he 
might be the better able to fix upon fome Port, to which 
Succours and Supplies might be fent him •, he was, ac- 
cording to his Defire, furniffied with a very accurate and 
extenfive Defcription of the maritime Provinces under 
'Motezuma’ s, Dominion, finely painted after their Manner, 
which anfwcred his Purpofe perfeblly. The laft thing 
that he aimed it was, the obtaining of a fufficient Quan- 
tity of Gold to be fent to Spain, in order to maintain his 
Credit there, and fecure the King’s Favour. In obtaining 
this, he met with no Difficulty, the Emperor and the 
great Men of his Court, readily yielding him their Affift- 
ance. 
9. But in the Midft of this Tranquility, there arofe a 
new and very unlooked for Difturbance, which neither 
Motezuma nor Cortes could forefee or prevent. It was 
occafioned by the Emperor’s Nephew, Cacamazin, who 
mortally hated the Spaniards ; and going to Tezcuco, told 
his chief Counfellors how much he loved them, defir- 
ing they would refle6l how they were kept under by a 
handful of Strangers, who dared to confine his Uncle 
Motezuma, to whom the greateft Refpeft was due *, that 
it was intolerable fo fmall a Number, and thofe of ano- 
ther Religion, fhould turn them out of their Houfes, and, 
what was ftill worfe, fet up their Gods in the Temples, in- 
ftead of thofe of the Country ; that it was high time to 
ftand up for Religion, Liberty, Honour, and their King, 
without delaying till the Strangers had Succours from 
their own Country, from 'Tlafcda, and from other Parts •, 
and therefore they ffiould make ready, for he was refolv- 
ed to fall upon the Intruders ; yet if they differed from 
him in Opinion, they might tell him fo, and he would be 
advifed by them. 
They approved of the Defign, and offered to ftand by 
him ; but fome ancient Men, who had no mind to flat- 
ter him, faid, he fhould confider what he did, that Cor- 
tes was brave, had gained feveral Victories, and they be- 
lieved there was very great Friendfhijp between him and ' 
Motezuma, for if he would have drove him out of Mexico 
he might have done it ; they advifed him therefore not 
to be carried away by the Fire of Youth, or the Ambi- 
tion of Rule, fince there v/ere other Heirs as near as he. 
However, War was agreed on, and Preparations were made 
with the greateft Privacy, that nothing might be known 
by Motezuma or Cortes but, notwithftanding their Care, 
they foon had Notice of it. 
Cortes perceiving the View of this turbulent Youth, and 
fufpefling that Motezuma’ s want of Refolution, or great 
Affe6lion for the Spatiiards, encouraged him to undertake 
the Defign, fent Word to theEiuperor that he had much 
Caufe to fufpeft him, becaufe, fince what had happened 
about ^ualpopoca, his Nephew, Cacamazin, was confpir- 
ing againft him ; and therefore he defired him to put a 
Stop to thofe Proceedings, other wife all would light upon 
himfelf. Motezuma was much furprized at this Mef- 
fage, and affirmed he knew nothing of what his Nephew 
was doing •, that he was very well pleafed there, and 
would fend for his Nephew Cacamazin, and if he refufed 
to come, would order him to be brought by Force, and 
delivered up into his Hands to be punifhed, if convict- 
ed of that Crime. Cacamazin was then preparing for 
War, and the People readily came in to him, becaufe he 
gave out that he would refcue the Kiiig. 
This Affair put the Spaniards upon their Guard, and 
Cortes defigned, for making an Example, and eftabliffiing 
his own Reputation, to go himfelf to Tezcuco, and attack 
Cacamazin in his own Houfe *, but Motezuma prevented 
it, alledging that the City was ftrong, and the People of 
Culua at his Nephew’s Command, and therefore it was 
better to take another Courfe. Cortes followed his Ad- 
vice, and fent to bid Cacaw.azin remember their Friend- 
fhip, that he ffiould confider it was an eafy Matter to be- 
gin a War, but not fo to put an End to it ; and that it 
would be for his Advantage to keep on good Terms with 
the King of Spain and his SubjeCls. He anfwered plain- 
ly, He would entertain no Friendfhip with thofe that 
oppreffed the Country, and overthrew their Religion; 
that he knew not who the King of Spain was, nor did 
he defire to be informed ; and that if he would not 
have him make War, he ffiould immediately depart 
Mexico. Cortes again advifed him to defift, and defired 
Motezuma to lay his Commands upon him. 
The Emperor fent for him, which he was fo far from 
regarding, that he faid. If his Uncle were the Man he 
ought to be, he would not fuffer himfelf to be confined ; 
and fince Motezuma was fo m.ean-fpirited, he was refolv- 
ed to reftore the Monarchy to its former Splendor, which 
had been loft through his Cowardice. Cortes, upon this, 
refolved to march out to meet Cacamazin, though the 
Danger was great, confidering the Multitude of Ene- 
mies within and without : But ftill Motezuma hindered 
him, contriving with fome of his Nephew’s Command- 
ers, that they ffiould deliver him into his Hands. Thefe 
being 
