280 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



On the firfl: day of Eafler, after the Spaniards had land- 

 ed, and difembarked their cavalry and artillery, and had, 

 with the affiftance of the Mexicans, made barracks of the 

 branches of trees upon that fandy {hore, where at pre- 

 fent ftands the city of new Vera Cruz, two Mexican 

 governors of that coaft, named Teuhtlile and Cuitlalpi- 

 toc (/'), arrived there with a great retinue of attendants. 

 Ceremonies of civility and refpecl being exchanged on 

 both fides, before any conference took place, Cortes, not 

 lefs for the fake of profpering his future defigns, than of 

 giving that idolatrous nation fome idea of the Chriftian 

 religion, ordered that mafs fliould be celebrated in their 

 prefence. On this occafion, therefore, it was fung with 

 all polEble folemnity for the firfl time in the dominions of 

 Mexico. 



He invited them afterwards to dine with him and his 

 officers, in order to obtain their good will towards him 

 by courtefies. As foon as they rofe from table, he led 

 them afide to communicate his pretenfions to them. He 

 told them that he was a fubjecl: of Don Carlos of Auf- 

 tria, the greateft king of the Eaft, whofe bounty, grand- 

 eur, and power, he extolled with moft magnificent 

 praifes ; and added, that this great monarch knowing 

 of that land, and of the lord who reigned there, 

 fent him to make him a vifit in his name, and to 

 communicate to him in perfon fome affairs of great 

 importance; and that therefore he would be glad to 



know 



impoffible for the ambaffadors to have arrived there on Thurfday. B elides, 

 there is no memory of fuch an event in any author, it rather appears from the 

 account of Bernal Diaz to be totally falfe, and that the Mexicans were now fen- 

 fible of their error into which they had been led by the firft fleet which had 

 appeared there. 



( /*) Bernal Diaz writes Tendlli inftead of Teuhtlile, and Pitalpitoque in place 

 of Cuitlalpitoc. Herrera calls it Pitafyitoe, and Solis, and Robertfon, who 

 thought to amend it, Pilpatoe. 



