( '36 ) 



The next day was fixed on by Cortes, for his vifit to Montezuma. 

 Accordingly, attended by Captains Pedro de Alvarado, Juan Velafquez 

 de Leon, Diego de Ordas, Gonzalo de Sandoval, and five foldiers, he 

 went to his palace, which as foon as Montezuma was informed of, he 

 came as far as the middle of the hall to meet us, attended by his rela- 

 tions, no other perfons being allowed to enter v/here he was, except on 

 moll important buiinefs. With great ceremony on each fide, the king 

 took Cortes by the hand, and leading him to the elevated part of the 

 faloon, placed him upon his right, and with much affability, defired 

 the reft of us to be feated. Cortes then proceeded to fay, that he came 

 to him for the fervice of the Lord God whom the chriftians adored^ 

 who was named Jefus Chrift, and who fuffered death for our fakes. 

 He alfo explained to him, that we adored the crofs as the emblem of 

 the crucifixion for our falvation, whereby the human race was redeemed^ 

 and that our Lord on the third day rofe, and is in heaven, and that it 

 is he who created heaven, and earth, and fca, and is adored by us as 

 our Creator; but that thofe things which he held to be gods, were 

 not fuch, but devils, which are very bad things, of evil countenances, 

 and worfe deeds ; and that he might judge how wicked they were, 

 and how little power they had, in as much as where ever we placed 

 croftes, they dare not fhew their faces. He therefore requefted, that he 

 would attend to what he had told him, which was, that we were all 

 brothers, the children of Adam and Eve, and that as fuch, our emperor 

 lamenting the iofs of fouls in fuch numbers as thofe which were 

 brought by his idols into everlafting flames, had fent us to apply a 

 remedy thereto, by putting an end to the worfhip of thefe falfe gods,' 

 to human facrifices, and all other crimes; and that he now came to 

 notify his Majefty's intentions, but our emperor would at a future 

 period fend holy men, fully capable of explaining them. 



Here Cortes ftopped, and Montezuma feemed to (hew an inclina- 

 tion to reply, but Cortes obferving that this was enough for the firft 

 time, propofed to us to retire, and we were preparing to do fo, when 

 we were prevented by Montezuma who fpoke to him as follows. 



♦* Malintzin, 



