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to all of us, but more particularly to Velafqucz de Leon who was the 

 captain of his guard, and always paid him great attention. One night 

 a foldier named Truxillo, was guilty of a certain piece of difrefpecft 

 within his hearing, at which Montezuma was highly offended, and 

 enquired of the page who the perfon was. The page told him that he 

 was a man of low birth, who knew no better. He then proceeded to 

 tell him of our different ranks and qualities, about which he was very 

 curious. On the next day he ordered Truxillo to be brought into his 

 prefence, and after having reproved him, he made him a prefent worth 

 about five crowns. The words of Montezuma made lefs impreflion on 

 the foldier than his gold, and on the next night the fellow was guilty 

 of the fame piece of impolitenefs, in order to get more. Of this Mon- 

 tezuma complained to Velafquez, who ordered the man to be relieved, 

 and feverely reprimanded him. Another foldier one night complained 

 that he was ill, curfing this dog of an Indian, meaning Montezuma, 

 who gave them fo much trouble. This being overheard by the king, 

 who difcovered what he had faid, he complained thereof to Cortes, by 

 whofe command the man was immediately whipped, notwithftanding 

 he was a very good foldier; his name was Pedro Lopez. After this 

 example ftridt difcipline and filence were kept by the guard, to the 

 great fatisfadiion of the king, who was very kind to us , knew us all^ 

 and fpoke to us by our names. I was at this time a ftripling, and 

 always behaved to him with great refpe(5l; his page had told him that 

 I had been twice upon his coafts before the arrival of Cortes, and I had 

 defired the page to mention to him, that inftead of gold or mantles, he 

 would oblige by giving me a handfome Indian girl. This requeft he 

 gracioufly complied with, calling me to him and faying, " Bernal 

 *' Diaz del Caflillo, the young woman I prefent to you is the daughter 

 " of one of my principal nobility; treat her well, and her friends will 

 " give you gold and mantles, as much as you can defire." I kiffed 

 his Majefty's hand, thanking him for his favors, and praying God to 

 profper him; to which Montezuma replied faying, " It feems to me 

 *' that Del Caftillo is of noble condition." Wherewith he ordered me 

 three plates of gold, and two loads of mantles, 



- . Y I will 



