Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/298

calling, and, on his knees before the judge, heard him explain to the assembled witnesses of the ceremony the cause of his degradation. The sentence was now read to him, after which his sacerdotal garments were taken from him, and he was handed over to the secular authorities, an earnest appeal being made by the ecclesiastical judge that his punishment might be mitigated, so that neither the death penalty nor mutilation should be imposed.^[1] When the ceremony was ended, Hidalgo was again fettered and conducted to his cell.

Before daybreak on the morning of the 31st of July,^[2] Hidalgo was led forth from the prison in which he had been confined for more than three months. With his usual perfect tranquillity, he had received those sent to take him to the place of execution, and having finished his last breakfast,^[3] he rose and indicated that he was prepared to accompany them. The place selected was an enclosed court in the rear of the hospital; and as he slowly proceeded thither, impeded by his shackles, his fortitude and serenity did not for a moment desert him. Remembering that he had left some sweetmeats under his pillow, he stopped and requested that they might be brought to him. These he distributed among the soldiers that composed the firing platoons, assuring them of his forgiveness. Aware that orders had been given not to fire at his head, and as it was not yet light, he told them that in order to guide their aim he would place his hand over his heart. After being bound upon the seat of execution, raising his hand without a tremor to his breast, he reminded the soldiers that it was the mark at which

1. Id., i. 57-8. This ceremony was called the degradacion verbal y real.
2. This is the date given by Negrete. Mex. Sig. XIX., iii. 339. The 27th, as reported in the official document supplied to Cruz and bearing date of Sept. 5, 1811, is obviously a mistake, since Hidalgo was degraded on the 29th. Id., 263. Bustamante, followed by Alaman, states that Hidalgo was executed 'al tercero dia de haberse verificado la llamada degradacion.' Cuad. Hist., i. 262.
3. Observing that less milk than usual had been supplied him, he requested that he might have the same quantity as previously, observing that though it was his last, he ought not on that account to drink less of it. Ib.