Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/638

622 On December 20th the viceroy decreed his execution, which out of respect for the church should take place beyond the capital, and without dismemberment. Early in the morning of the 22d he was taken in a coach to San Cristobal Ecatepec, a village north of the lake, with a palace then converted into a fortress, and famed as the spot where outgoing viceroys used to tender welcome to their successors. The last prayer over, Morelos himself bandaged his eyes and was led forth with arms tied, slowly dragging the heavy shackles. "Kneel!" said the officer in charge. He complied, calm as ever, murmuring: "Lord, thou knowest if I have done well; if ill, I implore thy infinite mercy!" The next moment he fell, shot in the back; passing through a traitor's death into the sphere of patriot-martyr and hero immortal.

His countrymen have placed him next to Hidalgo in the rank of patriot liberators, and justly so, for if the latter started the revolution, Morelos nobly carried on the great work, and more ably, it must be admitted. While possessing little book learning, he