iXTKonrcTiox 



25 



In the Spanish histories one hears much concerning 

 the omens, the prophecies, and the vain appeals to the 



requenl and frantic 

 Arriving al 



pig. i ; . Cortez 

 Sword and Cross 

 zuina brings him 

 Vaticanus 3738. 



arrives with 



and Mocte- 



Gold. Codex 



gods that became more and mon 



as the invaders approached the capita 



Ixtapalapan they entered 

 upon the greal causeway 

 Leading out to the Venice- 

 like city in the lake. Ac- 

 cepting the inevitable, 

 Moctezuma and his nobles 

 met the Spaniards and 

 conducted them to the 

 Palace of Axayacatl, which 

 was prepared for their 

 habitation. This took 

 place in November, 1519. 

 The fears of Moctezuma 

 were soon fulfilled, for he was taken prisoner and held 

 a- a hostage of safety in his own capital. 



Meanwhile Velasquez, convinced of the unfaithful- 

 ness of Cortez, dispatched Xarvaez to capture the 

 rebellious agent. But Xarvaez was himself captured 

 and his soldiers went to augment the army of the victor. 



Alvarado had been left in command of the garrison at 

 Tenochtitlan during the absence of Cortez. The time 

 approached for the great feast of Tezcatlipoca and the 

 Spaniards, fearing the results of this appeal to the 

 principal Aztecan god, resolved to be the first to strike. 

 The multitude 4 assembled in the temple enclosure was 

 massacred and after this deed the soldiers fought their 

 way back to the stronghold in which they were quar- 

 d. The Aztecs were thoroughly aroused by this 

 unwarranted cruelty a- well as by the cupidity of the 

 Spaniards. Cortez hastened back to take personal 

 charge; but in spite of victories in the storming of the 

 pyramid- and in other hand-to-hand contests, the in- 



