HISTORY OF MEXICO. 367 



ees. He commanded five of his officers and twenty-five 

 of his foldiers, in whom he placed chief confidence, to 

 repair two by two to the palace, but in fuch a manner 

 that they might all meet there at once, as if by accident ; 

 and having previoufly obtained leave of the king, he 

 went himfelf with his interpreter Marina, at the ufuai 

 hour of his vifit to him. He was introduced with the 

 other Spaniards into the hall of audience, where the 

 king, far from fufpe&ing what was to happen, received 

 them with his wonted kindnefs. He made them fit 

 down, prefented to them fome works of gold, and be- 

 fides prefented one of his daughters to Cortes. Cortes, 

 after having expreffed his gratitude, in the moft polite 

 terms, apologifed for not accepting her, alleging that 

 he was married in Cuba, and according to the Chriflian 

 Jaw, he was not permitted to have two wives ; but at 

 lad he received her into his company, to avoid giving 

 difguft to the king, and to have an opportunity of mak- 

 ing her a Chriflian, as he afterwards did. To the other 

 officers alfo he gave fome daughters of Mexican lords of 

 thofe he had in his feraglio. They converfed after- 

 wards, for fome time, on various fubje&s ; but Cortes, 

 feeing that thofe difcourfes diverted him from his object, 

 told the king that his vifit then was made to communi- 

 cate to him the proceedings of his vafTal the lord of 

 Nauhtlan : he complained of the hoflilities committed by 

 that lord on the Totonacas, on account of their friend- 

 fliip with the Spaniards ; of the war made on the Spa- 

 niards at Vera Cruz, and the death of Efcalante the go- 

 vernor, and fix foldiers of that garrifon. " I (he added) 

 " mufl give an account to my fovereign of the death of 

 <c thofe Spaniards ; and in order to be able to give him 

 " proper fatisfadtion, I have made enquiry into fo fingu- 



" lar 



