from Cuba, under the command of Cordova, to

rge peninsula which you see in the map projecting into the gulf

clad in cotton garments; this excited the wonder of the Spaniards, who ha

ater began to fail, he sailed further along the coast in hopes of procuring a supply, but not a single river did he fin

notwithstanding, the natives rushed down upon them with such fury and in such numbers, that forty-

esence of mind and fortitude, and with much difficulty they reached their ships

wn merit and courage. He directed his course to the bay of Campeachy, to the part from which Cordova had returned, and as they advanced th

e soldiers happening to remark that this country resembled Spain in appearance, Grijalva, with universal applause, c

to superior beings; the people perfumed them as they landed with incense of gum

paniards obtained ornaments of gold, and of curious workmanship, to the amount of fi

he subjects of a great monarch, whose dominion

ortant discoveries he had made, and with all the tre

of Cuba, seriously to undertake the conquest of that country, but as he did not wish to ta

rit, on whom he had conferred many benefits; but these Cortez soon forgot, and was no s

han five hundred and eight men, only thirteen of whom were armed with muskets; thirty-two were cross

ail to make war upon a monarch whose dominions were more ex

guilar, a Spaniard, who had been eight years a prisoner among the Indians, and having learned the Yuca

tillery, the appearances of the floating fortresses which brought the Spaniards over the ocean, and the horses on which they fought, all new objects to the natives, inspire

pire, and that thirty vassals, called caziques, obeyed him; that his riches were immense, and his pow

e Ulua, where, having laid the foundation of Vera Cruz, he c

informed him that they were persons entrusted with the government of that province by a great monarch, whom they called Montezuma,

e greatest monarch of all the east, with propositions of such moment, that he could impart them to none but t

ched to Montezuma, with a full acc

a series of pictures, everything that passed, which was the Mexican mode of writing: Teutile and Pilpatoe were employed to deliver the answer of their master, but as they knew how repugnant it was to the wishes and scheme

xceeded any idea which the Span

ural objects, formed with feathers of different colours, disposed with such skill and elegance, as to resemble, in truth and beauty of imitation, the finest paintings. But what chiefly attracted their eyes were two large plates of circular form; one of massive gold, represen

consent that foreign troops should approach nearer to his capital, or even allow them to continue longer in his dominions, the Spanish general declared that he must insist on his

his soldiers that they must either conquer or perish. He then penetrated into the interior of the country

is army in sight of the immense lake on which was

most striking and beautiful: fertile and cultivated fields, stretched out further than the eye could reach, a lake resembling

his infatuation that Cortez was almost at the gates of the capital before the monarch had determined whether to receive him as a friend or oppose him as an enemy, but as no signs of hostility appear

ho appeared to be of distinction, came out to meet them,

to the mode of their country; they announced the approach o

, with large plumes of feathers, marching two and two in de

d with gold and feathers of various colours. Four of his principal favourites carried him on their shoulders; others supported a canopy of curio

heir heads and hid their faces, as un

a alighted from his chair, and leaning on the arm of two of his nearest relations, approached him with a sl

ashion. He returned the salutation, according to the mode of his

, made all his subjects believe that the

ordered for his reception, and immediately took his leav

in your own house: refresh yourselves after

of Montezuma. It was surrounded by a stone wall with towers, and its apartments an

g artillery so as to command the different avenues which led to it, and posti

d brought presents of great value not only to Cortez and his officers, but even to the private men. A lon

ng days were employed in viewing the city, the appearance of which was so far superior to any place the Spaniards had beheld

ss to the city was by artificial causeways or streets, formed of stones and earth, about thirty feet in breadth. These causeways were of considerable length: that on t

ging to the monarch, and to persons of distinction, were

astonished at these objects, they felt the u

without having once met with open opposition from its monarch; but they had pushed forward into a situatio

o revolt against Montezuma, and that the commander of the garrison had marched out with some of his troops to support the rebels, that an engagement had ensued, in which, though the Spaniards were victorious, the Spanish general with seven of his men, had bee

palace and to carry him a prisoner to the Spanish quarters. This he immediately proposed to his officers, who, as it was t

as many trusty soldiers; thirty chosen men followed, not in regular order, but sauntering at some distance, as if the

tted without suspicion, the Mexican

employed on former occasions, and a conversation ensued, very much resembling

t assault made by the Mexican general upon the Spaniards,

not to believe him, and proposed that, as a proof of his sincerity, he should

wered "That persons of his rank were not accustomed voluntarily to give themselves up as prisoners, and we

ntly, or stab him to the heart." The threatening voice and fierce gesture with which these words were uttered, struck Montezuma with a sense of his danger, and abandoning himself to his fate, he complied with their request: his

power. Being thus master of the person of the monarch, he demanded that the Mexican general who had attacked the Spaniards, his

could be committed, he then ordered these brave men, who had only acted as became loyal subjects in

on a pile composed of the weapons collected

ce him to acknowledge himself a vassal of the king of Spain. The unhappy prince yielded, and was restored to a semblance of libe

, and made so sudden and violent an attack that all the valo

hout some extraordinary exertion they were inevitably undone. Cortez therefore made a desperate sally, but after exerting his utmost efforts for a whol

which was left, namely, to try what effect the interposition

lemn occasions. At the sight of their sovereign, whom they had long been accustomed to reverence almost as a god, the Mexicans instantly forebore their hostilities; and many prostrated themselves on the ground; but when he addressed them in favour of the Spaniards, and made use of all the arguments he could think

h now perceived that he was become an object of contempt even to his own subjects, his haughty spirit revived, and scorning to prolong his life after this last humiliation, he tore the bandages from

y, and, in spite of the advantages of fire-arms, forced the Spaniards to retire, which alone saved them from de

in, defeated the Mexicans, and took Guatimozin prisoner, and

n burning coals; but he bore whatever the cruelty of his tormentors could inflict, with the invincible fortitude of an American warrior. One of his chief favourites, his fellow sufferer, being overcome by the violence of the anguish, turned a dej

h, he persevered in dut

oa the death of a felon; so what could Cortez expect? He fell into neglect and poverty when his work was done. One day he forced his way through the crowd that had collected about the carriage of the sovereign, mounted