514 KECEPTION OF CORTES. 



LIB. vii. g uma ^ an( J conferring with his counsel!, they all said, that 

 without doubt, their great and antient Lord Quetzalcoatl 

 was come, who had saide, that he would returne from the 

 East, whither he was gone. The Indians held opinion, 

 that a great Prince had in times past left them, and pro 

 mised to returne. Of the beginning- and ground of which 

 opinion shall be spoken in another place. They therefore 

 sent five principal! Ambassadors with rich presents, to con 

 gratulate his comming, saying, they knewe well that their 

 great Lord Quetzalcoatl was come, and that his servant 

 Montecuma sent to visit him, for so hee accounted himselfe. 

 The Spaniards vnderstood this message by the meanes of 

 Marina, an Indian woman whom they brought with them, 

 and vnderstood the Mexicane tongue. Fernando Cortes 

 finding this a good occasion for his entry, commanded to 

 deck his chamber richly, and being set in great state and 

 pompe, he caused the Ambassadors to enter, who omitted 

 no showes of humilitie, but to worshippe him as their god. 



They delivered their charge, saying, that his servant 

 MonteQuma sent to visit him, and that he held the country 

 in his name as his lievetenant; that he knew well it was 

 the Topilcin which had beene promised them many yeares 

 since, who should returne again vnto them. And therefore 

 they brought him such garments as he was wont to weare, 

 when hee did converce amongst them, beseeching him to 

 accept willingly of them, offering him many presents of 

 great value. Cortes receiving the presents, answered that 

 he was the same they spake of, wherewith they were greatly 

 satisfied, seeing themselves to be curteously received and 

 intreated by him (for in that, as wel as in other things, this 

 valiant captaine deserved commendations) ; that if this 

 course had been continued, to win them by love, it seemed 

 the best occasion was offered that might be devised, to 

 draw this country to the Gospel by peace and love : but 

 the sinues of these cruel homicides and slaves of Satan 



