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 to Mexico, where he could be seized and kept in
confinement until his reason had returned. He should also transfer the
sovereign power over Tezcuco upon the brother, who had fled for
protection to Mexico. Moreover, Cacamatzin had already forfeited all
right to sovereign power, as he had attempted to revolutionize the whole
of New Spain, and by that means to make himself master of Motecusuma's
throne.

The monarch now no longer hesitated, and promised to send for him,
expressing, however, his doubts as to whether he would make his
appearance; but if he did he would order his officers to seize his
person. Cortes returned him many thanks for his ready compliance, and
said: "Great monarch, if you should feel desirous of returning to your
palace I myself would willingly let you go, for I now see how upright
your intentions are towards us; I feel such an excess of friendship for
you, that I would long ago have conducted you back to your palace with
every magnificence, if it had depended solely upon me, and you yourself
did not consider it good policy to stay with us, that you may not be
hurried into the rebellious movement which your nephews have set on
foot. Indeed, I myself should never have deprived you of your liberty if
I had not been compelled to give way to my officers on that point, who
think they see a guarantee of our own safety in detaining possession of
your person." Motecusuma was now the more inclined to give Cortes credit
for his good wishes towards him, and considered himself greatly indebted
to him, and more so since Orteguilla had likewise assured him, that his
imprisonment was entirely owing to our officers, and that Cortes would
not be able to act according to his own wishes in this matter.
Motecusuma, therefore, answered Cortes, "that he in every way preferred
staying with us, until he should have gained more certain intelligence
as to the real designs of his nephews." He now sent some trustworthy
personages to Cacamatzin to invite him to Mexico, under the pretence
that he was desirous of becoming reconciled to him. He told him, at the
same time, not to feel any solicitude on account of his confinement, for
it depended upon himself to leave our quarters whenever he thought
proper; and Malinche himself had twice invited him to take up his abode
in his own palace again. But he had refused to do so, that he might not
go against the commandments of his gods, who had told him, through his
priests, to continue our prisoner for a certain space of time, if he was
desirous of preserving his life. It was therefore his interest to remain
on good terms with Malinche and his brothers.

Motecusuma also sent similar messages to the other chiefs of Tezcuco,
adding, that he had invited his nephew to Mexico, to bring about
friendship between him and us again. They were therefore to thwart all
attempts the young hothead might make of commencing war upon us. On the
receipt of this message, Cacamatzin with his principal adherents met to
consult what steps they should take. He opened the assembly with a
haughty and turbulent speech, assuring them he would destroy us all
within the space of four days. His uncle was a faint-hearted old woman
for not having fallen upon us as he had been advised on our descending
the mountain of Chalco, and when all their warriors stood in readiness.
Motecusuma, indeed, had invited us into the city as if we were going to
do him some good. He gave us all the gold that was collected by tribute,
and we had even broken open the secret treasury of his ancestor
Axayacatl. We detained the monarch himself in prison, and continually
admonished him to abolish his gods and adopt ours in their stead. The
injury we had done was already great, but in order to put a stop to
this, and that such injustice might not remain unpunished, he begged of
them to lend him their powerful aid. All he had been stating they knew
to be true, and had beheld with their own eyes how Motecusuma's generals
were burnt at the stake: nothing now remained but to fall upon us in
good earnest.

These representations were accompanied, not only by promises when he
should have ascended the Mexican throne of raising them all to great
dignity, but he likewise presented them on the spot with all kinds of
valuable things; assuring them he was in perfect understanding with the
princes of Cojohuacan, Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and other places, who would
all join him with their troops. Even in Mexico itself he had drawn over
a large number of the principal personages to his side, who would rise
up in arms to assist him at a moment's notice. Nothing would be easier
than to force their way into Mexico. Some of the troops were to march
along the causeways, but the main body would be conveyed thither by
canoes and pirogues. They would nowhere meet with any opposition, for
his uncle was in confinement, and could issue no orders to the
inhabitants of Mexico. There was no reason to fear us, for his uncle's
generals had a few days ago killed several of the teules and one of
their horses, near Almeria. Both the dead horse and head of one of the
former had been shown to every one in Mexico. In the short space of one
hour they would be able to capture the whole of us and feast sumptuously
off our flesh.

As soon as Cacamatzin had done speaking, the generals stood gazing at
each other in silence, each one waiting to hear his neighbour's answer
first. At last four or five of the most distinguished personages broke
silence, declaring, if they were to commence hostilities in the very
metropolis of their monarch, without his command, it was their duty,
first of all, to apprize him of it. If he gave his consent, they would
join him heart and soul; but would consider themselves traitors, if they
acted contrary to his wishes.

This answer displeased Cacamatzin uncommonly, and in the heat of his
anger he threw three of the generals who thus opposed him into prison.
As there were a great number of his relatives, and boisterous young men,
like himself, at the meeting, the majority was for supporting him until
death. Cacamatzin, therefore, sent the following answer to Motecusuma:
"He might have spared himself the trouble of exhorting him to make
friendship with people who had insulted him, Motecusuma, so greatly, by
keeping him prisoner. They could only account for the conduct he had
pursued from our being enchanters, who had bound down both his mind and
energies by witchcraft, or that our gods, and the great Spanish woman,
whom we termed our protectress, gave us power to accomplish everything
we might wish."

Herein Cacamatzin was certainly right; for the great mercy of God and of
the blessed Virgin was certainly our greatest support. This message of
Cacamatzin closed thus: "It was his intention to pay both his uncle and
us a visit, to our sorrow, and speak words of death to us."

Motecusuma was highly incensed at this impudent answer, and that instant
sent for six of his most trustworthy generals, handed over to them hi

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