( '75 I 



The king at this time made a propofal of marriage to Cortes, of- 

 fering him one of the princeffes his daughters. This offer Cortes re- 

 ceived as it merited, and fuggefted the propriety of her being previoufly 

 initiated into the myfteries of our holy rehgion, by being baptized ; to 

 which the king who was on all occafions compliant, immediately 

 affented. He however continued as attached as ever to his worfhip and 

 facrifices, which put Cortes and his captains to a dilemma; but it was ' 

 thought moft confiftent with their duties as chriftians to incur the 

 danger of infurred;ion, and deftroy the idols of the Mexicans, in order 

 to plant the true crofs in their place, or if that was found impoffible, 

 we refolved to content ourfelves for the prefent with making a chapel 

 for the chriftian worfhip in the temple. Seven officers and foldiers at- 

 tended Cortes, when he waited on Montezuma to fignify to him our 

 refolution. When it was made known to him, and he faw the violence 

 with which the meafure was determined to be carried into effedt, he 

 earneftly begged permiffion to confult his priefts, and Cortes appearing 

 touched with his fituation, made figns to the officers and foldiers to 

 retire, and leave the king with him and the reverend father. He then 

 told him, that in order to accommodate the matter more to his fatisfac- 

 tion, he would endeavour to prevail with his officers, for the prefent 

 to offer no violence to the idols, provided a part of the great temple was 

 appropriated to the purpofe of a chapel, and an altar and crucifix allowed 

 to be placed there j which being once done, his Majefty would in a 

 fhort time be convinced of the errors and falfehood of his worfhip. To 

 this Montezuma with much agitation, and the appearance of deep for- 

 row, heavily confentedj and in confequence, an altar and crucifix 

 being ereded, mafs was folemnly faid, and a perfon was appointed to 

 take care of the chapel. 



The time of our flay in this city was one feries of alarms, fuffi- 

 cient in themfelves to have deflroyed the lives of thofe who were not 

 fupported by the divine interpofition. It appeared, that in confequence 

 of our iatc meafure, and the reprefentations of the priefls ad:ing upon 

 the prejudices of the people, our dangers were now thickening on us. 



Their 



