barous cruelty. To put the monarch of a great kingdom in irons, and, after fuch ignominious treatment, fuddenly to release him, feems to be a display of power no lefs inconfiderate than wanton. According to the common relation, no account can be given either of the one action or the other, but that Cortes, intoxicated with fuccefs, and prefuming on the afcendant which he had acquired over the minds of the Mexicans, thought nothing too bold for him to undertake, or too dangerous to execute. But, in one view, thefe proceedings, however repugnant to juftice and humanity, may have flowed from that artful policy which regulated every part of Cortes's behaviour towards the Mexicans. They had conceived the Spaniards to be an order of beings fuperior to men. It was of the utmost confequence to cherish this illufion, and to keep up the veneration which it infpired. Cortes wished that shedding the blood of a Spaniard should be deemed the most heinous of all crimes; and no thing appeared better calculated to establish this opinion, than to condemn the firft Mexicans who had ventured to commit it to a cruel death, and to oblige their monarch himself to fubmit to a mortifying indignity, as an expiation for being acceffary to a deed fo atrocious.

1520.] The rigour with which Cortes punished the unhappy perfons who firft prefumed to lay violent hands upon his followers, feems accordingly to have made all the im preffion that he defired. The spirit of Montezuma was not only overawed, but fubdued. See NOTE CXI.

64

During fix months that Cortes remained in Mexico, the monarch continued in the Spanish quarters, with an appearance of as entire fatisfaction and tranquillity, as if he had refided there, not from constraint, but through choice. His minifters and officers attended him as ufual. He took cognizance of all affairs; every order was iffued in his name, The external afpect of government appearing the fame, and all its ancient forms being fcrupuloufly obferved, the people were fo little fenfible of any change, that they obeyed the mandates of their monarch with the fame fubmiffive reverence as ever. Such was the dread which both Montezuma and his fubjects had of the Spaniards, or fuch the veneration in which they held them, that no attempt was made to deliver their fovereign from confinement; and though Cortes, relying on this afcendant which he had acquired over their minds, permitted him not only to vifit his temples, but to make hunting excurfions beyond the lake, a guard of a few Spaniards carried with it fuch a terror as to intimidate the multitude, and fecure the captive monarch f.

Thus, by the fortunate temerity of Cortes in feizing Montezuma, the Spaniards at once fecured to themselves more extenfive authority in the Mexican empire than it was poffible to have acquired in a long courfe of time by open force; and they exercised more abfolute fway in the name of another than they could have done in their own. The arts of polished nations, in fubjecting fuch as are lefs improved, have been nearly the fame in every period. The system ! Cortes, Relat. p. 236. E. B. Diaz. ́. 97, 98, 99. R. 2

of

of fcreening a foreign ufurpation, under the fanction of authority derived from the natural rulers of a country, the device of employing the magiftrates and forms already established as inftruments to introduce a new dominion, of which we are apt to boast as sublime refinements in policy peculiar to the prefent age, were inventions of a more early period, and had been tried with fuccefs in the Weft, long before they were practifed in the East.

Cortes availed himfelf to the utmost of the power which he poffeffed by being able to act in the name of Montezuma. He fent fome Spaniards, whom he judged best qualified for fuch commiffions, into different parts of the empire, accompanied by perfons of distinction, whom Montezuma appointed to attend them both as guides and protectors. They vifited most of the provinces, viewed their foil and productions, furveyed with particular care the dif tricts which yielded gold or filver, pitched upon feveral places as proper ftations for future colo nies, and endeavoured to prepare the minds of the people for fubmitting to the Spanish yoke. While they were thus employed, Cortes, in the name and by the authority of Montezuma, dégraded fome of the principal officers in the empire, whofe abilities or independent fpirit excited his jealoufy, and fubítituted in their place perfons leis capable or more obfequious.

One thing ftill was wanting to complete his fecurity. He wished to have fuch command of the lake as might infure a retreat, if, either from levity or difguft, the Mexicans fhould take arms against him, and break down the bridges or

caufe

caufeways. This, too, his own addrefs, and the facility of Montezuma, enabled him to accom plish. Having frequently entertained his prisoner with pompous accounts of the European marine and art of navigation, he awakened his curiofity to fee those moving palaces which made their way through the water without oars. Under pretext of gratifying this defire, Cortes perfuaded Montezuma to appoint fome of his fubjects to fetch part of the naval ftores which the Spaniards had depofited at Vera Cruz to Mexico, and to employ others in cutting down and preparing timber. With their affistance, the Spanish carpenters foon completed two brigantines, which afforded a frivolous amusement to the monarch, and were confidered by Cortes as. a certain refource, if he should be obliged to retire.

Encouraged by fo many inftances of the monarch's tame fubmiffion to his will, Cortes ventured to put it to a proof ftill more trying. He urged Montezuma to acknowledge himself at vaffal of the king of Caftile, to hold his crown of him as fuperior, and to fubject his dominions to the payment of an anuual tribute. With this requifition, the last and most humbling that can be made to one poffeffed of fovereign authority, Montezuma was fo obfequious as to comply. He called together the chief men of his empire, and in a folemn harangue, reminding them of the traditions and prophecies which led them to expect the arrival of a people fprung from the fame ftock with themselves, in order to take poffeffion of the fupreme power, he declared his belief that the Spaniards were this promised

race; that therefore he recognized the right of their monarch to govern the Mexican empire i that he would lay his crown at his feet, and obey him as a tributary. When uttering thefe words, Montezuma difcovered how deeply he was affected in making fuch a facrifice. Tears and groans frequently interrupted his difcourfe Overawed and broken as his fpirit was, it ftill retained fuch a fenfe of dignity, as to feel that pang which pierces the heart of princes when eonftrained to refign independent power. The first mention of fuch a refolution ftruck the, affembly dumb with astonishment. This was fol lowed by a fullen murmur of forrow, mingled with indignation, which indicated fome violent eruption of rage to be near at hand. This Cortes forefaw, and feafonably interpofed to prevent it, by declaring that his mafter had no intention to deprive Montezuma of the royal dignity, or to make any innovation upon the conftitution and laws of the Mexican empire. This affurance, added to their dread of the Spanish power, and to the authority of their monarch's example, extorted a reluctant confent from the affembly. The act of fubmiffion and homage was executed with all the formalities which the Spaniards were pleased to prescribe 1.

Montezuma, at the defire of Cortes, accom. panied this profeffion of fealty and homage with a magnificent prefent to his new fovereign; and, after his example, his fubjects brought in very liberal contributions. The Spaniards now colSee NOTE CXII. Cortes, Relat. 238. D. B. Diaz. c. 101. Gomara, Cron. c. 92. Herrera, dec. 2. lib. x. c. 4.

lected