1—

Diaz / From The Conquest of New Spain 51

we compared China and Europe or Chinese and European (mainlySpanish) expansion in the fifteenth century. In this chapter we look atthe Atlantic world, specifically at Europeans in Africa and the Ameri-cas. We begin with two views of the Spanish conquest of Mexico —separate accounts by the Spanish conquistadors and by the Mexicans.The third selection recounts the Dutch conquest of the Algonquin na-tion in North America (in what is today New York City) and allows usto compare the methods of the Dutch with those of the Spanish.

The final three readings examine encounters between Europeans andAfricans and the development of the Atlantic slave trade. Do Europeanstreat Native Americans differently than they do Africans? If so, why?

In selection 9 an African ruler responds to the European slavetrade. This account contrasts with the encounter of Europeans with theMexican ruler, Montezuma, in selections 6 and 7. The chapter con-cludes with an account of a European slave trader and the memoir ofan African who was enslaved. Do you notice any discrepancies in theseaccounts? Which is more believable and why?

BERNAL DIAZ

From The Conquest of New Spain

Bernal Diaz del Castillo was born in Spain in 1492, the year Colum-bus sailed to America. After participating in two explorations of theMexican coast, Diaz joined the expedition of Hernan Cortes to Mex-ico City in 1519. He wrote this history ot the conquest much later,when he was in his seventies; he died circa 1580, a municipal officialwith a small estate in Guatemala.

The conquest of Mexico did not automatically follow from the firstSpanish settlements in Santo Domingo, Hispaniola, and then Cuba inthe West Indies. The Spanish crown had given permission for tradeand exploration, not colonization. But the fortune-seeking peasant-soldiers whose fathers had fought to rid Spain of Muslims and Jews

Bernal Dfaz, The Conquest of New Spain, trans. J. M. Cohen (Baltimore: Penguin Books,1963), 217-19, 221-25, 228-38, 241-43.

52 Europeans, Americans, and Africans in the Atlantic World

were eager to conquer their own lands and develop populations of de-pendent Indians.

Cortes, of minor noble descent but a failed student at the Univer-sity of Salamanca, sailed to the Indies at the age of nineteen, where he

^/v^: enjoyed a sizeable estate on the island of Hispaniola. When he heard/*•(, stories of Montezuma's gold from an Indian woman who was given to

7£ him in tribute, he determined to find the fabled capital of the Aztec/ />) iA 'T empire, Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City). He gathered more than/*' five hundred amateur soldiers, eleven ships, sixteen horses, and sev-

eral pieces of artillery, then sailed across the Caribbean and Gulf ofMexico to a settlement he christened Veracruz, and there began thelong march from the coast up to the high central plateau of Mexico.

The Aztecs were new to central Mexico, arriving from the NorthAmerican desert only about two hundred years before the Spanish,around 1325. They settled on an island in the middle of the large lakeon the central plain, shunned by the peoples of other cities whothought themselves to be more sophisticated and cultured. In less thantwo hundred years, this band o(funcoutn\iewcomers established do-minion over almost all other city-states of Mexico, by 1500 ruling anempire that stretched as far south as Guatemala and as far east as theMayan lands of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Aztec power relied on a combination of old and new religious ideasand a military system that conquered through terror. The older reli-gious traditions that the Aztecs adopted were those of the classicalToltec culture at the center of which stood the god Quetzalcoatl —the feathered serpent, god of creation and brotherhood. The nurturingforces of Quetzalcoatl continued in Aztec society in a system of uni-versal and obligatory education and in festivals dedicated to life, cre-ativity, and procreation. But the Aztecs also celebrated a god they hadbrought with them from the north, Huitzilopochtli — a warrior godprimed for death and sacrifice. Huitzilopochtli (rendered as Huichilo-bos in this selection) was given dominant status in the Aztec pantheonby Tlacaelel, an adviser behind the Aztec throne of Montezuma'spredecessor, Itzcoatl (r. 1428-1440). Tlacaelel envisioned Huitzilo-pochtli as a force for building a powerful Aztec empire. Drawing onthe god's need for human sacrifice — a need not unknown among reli-gions of central Mexico (or Christians) — Tlacaelel built altars toHuitzilopochtli at Tenochtitlan, Cholula, and other sites. Accordingto the tenets of the religion, the war god required a never-ending sup-ply of human hearts, a need that prompted armies to ever-more re-mote sections of Central America in search of sacrificial victims andcreating an endless supply of enemies of the Aztecs. Among these, theTlaxcalans, whom the Aztecs left independent so they could be con-quered at will for war captives, proved to be an eager ally of Cortes

Diaz / From The Conquest of New Spain 53

and the Spanish. As the Aztec star waned, other Mexican peoples ea-gerly joined the Spanish-Tlaxcalan alliance.

With the help of his Indian captive and companion Dona Marina —called La Malinche by some of the Indians (thus, Montezuma some-times calls Cortes "Lord Malinche" in the selection) — Cortes wasable to communicate with the Tlaxcalans and other Indians who weretired of Aztec domination. On his march toward Tenochtitlan, Cortesstopped to join forces with the Tlaxcalans, perhaps cementing the rela-tionship and demonstrating his resolve through a brutal massacre ofthe people of Cholula, an Aztec ally and arch enemy of the Tlaxcalans.

_By the time Cortes arrived at Tenochtitlan, Montezuma knew of the

I

defeat of his allies at Cholula.This selection from Befnal Diaz begins with the Spanish entry into

Tenochtitlan. What impresses Diaz, and presumably other Spanishconquistadors, about the Mexican capital city? What parts of the cityattract his attention the most? What conclusions does he draw aboutMexican (or Aztec) civilization? Does he think Spanish civilization isequal, inferior, or superior to that of Mexico?

Thinking Historically

Diaz gives us a dramatic account of the meeting of Cortes and Mon-tezuma. What do you think each is thinking and feeling? Do you seeany signs of tension in their elaborate greetings? Why are both behav-ing so politely? What do they want from each other?

Notice how the initial hospitality turns tense. What causes this? Iseither side more to blame for what happens next? Was conflict in-evitable? Could the encounter have ended in some sort of peaceful res-olution?

Remember, we are going to compare Diaz's view with a Mexicanview of these events. From your reading of Diaz, does he seem able tounderstand the Mexican point of view? Would you call him a sympa-thetic observer?

When Cortes saw, heard, and was told that the great Montezuma wasapproaching, he dismounted from his horse, and when he came near toMontezuma each bowed deeply to the other. Montezuma welcomedour Captain, and Cortes, speaking through Dona Marina, answeredby wishing him very good health. Cortes, I think, offered Montezumahis right hand, but Montezuma refused it and extended his own.Then Cortes brought out a necklace which he had been holding. It wasmade of those elaborately worked and coloured glass beads called

54 Europeans, Americans, and Africans in the Atlantic World

margaritas, . . . and was strung on a gold cord and dipped in musk togive it a good odour. This he hung round the great Montezuma's neck,and as he did so attempted to embrace him. But the great princes whostood round Montezuma grasped Cortes' arm to prevent him, for theyconsidered this an indignity.

Then Cortes told Montezuma that it rejoiced his heart to have seensuch a great prince, and that he took his coming in person to receivehim and the repeated favours he had done him as a high honour. Afterthis Montezuma made him another complimentary speech, and orderedtwo of his nephews who were supporting him, the lords of Texcocoand Coyoacan, to go with us and show us our quarters. Montezuma re-turned to the city with the other two kinsmen of his escort, the lords ofCuitlahuac and Tacuba; and all those grand companies of Caciques1

and dignitaries who had^ximewith him returned also in his train. Andas they accompanied(their lord/)ve observed them marching with theireyes downcast so thattEey should not see him, and keeping close to thewall as they followed him with great reverence. Thus space was madefor us to enter the streets of Mexico without being pressed by thecrowd.

Who could now count the multitude of men, women, and boys inthe streets, on the roof-tops and in canoes on the waterways, who hadcome out to see us? It was a wonderful sight and, as I write, it all comesbefore my eyes as if it had happened only yesterday.

They led us to our quarters, which were in some large housescapable of accommodating us all and had formerly belonged to thegreat Montezuma's father, who was called Axayacatl. Here Mon-tezuma now kept the great shrines of his gods, and a secret chambercontaining gold bars and jewels. This was the treasure he had inheritedfrom his father, which he neyj^rjaucbe4^£erJiarjs their reason for lodg-ing us here was that, since(£hey called us; TeuleP)and considered us assuch, they wished to have us near their idols.In any case they took usto this place, where there were many great halls, and a dais hung withthe cloth of their country for our Captain, and matting beds withcanopies over them for each of us.

On our arrival we entered the large court, where the great Mon-tezuma was awaiting our Captain. Taking him by the hand, the princeled him to his apartment in the hall where he was to lodge, which wasvery richly furnished in their manner. Montezuma had ready for him avery rich necklace, made of golden crabs, a marvellous piece of work,which he hung round Cortes' neck. His captains were greatly aston-ished at this sign of honour.

1 Chiefs. [Ed.]2 Gods. [Ed.]

Diaz / From The Conquest of New Spain 55

After this ceremony, for which Cortes thanked him through our in-terpreters, Montezuma said: "Malinche, you and your brothers are inyour own house. Rest awhile." He then returned to his palace, whichwas not far off.

We divided our lodgings by companies, and placed our artillery in aconvenient spot. Then the order we were to keep was clearly explainedto us, and we were warned to be very much on the alert, both thehorsemen and the rest of us soldiers. We then ate a sumptuous dinnerwhich they had prepared for us in their native style.

So, with luck rm-fH+^-skl^ we HnlHly entered the city of. Tenochti-tlan or Mexico on(8 November in the year of our Lord 1519.

The Stay in Mexico

. . . Montezuma had ordered his stewards to provide us with everythingwe needed for our way of living: maize, grindstones, women to makeour bread, fowls, fruit, and plenty of fodder for the horses. He thentook leave of us all with the greatest courtesy, and we accompaniedhim to the street. However, Cortes ordered us not to go far from ourquarters for the present until we knew better what conduct to observe.

Next day Cortes decided to go to Montezuma's palace. But first hesent to know whether the prince was busy and to inform him of ourcoming. He took four captains with him: Pedro de Alvarado, Juan Ve-lazquez de Leon, Diego de Ordaz, and Gonzalo de Sandoval, and fiveof us soldiers.

When Montezuma was informed of our coming, he advanced intothe middle of the hall to receive us, closely surrounded by his nephews,for no other chiefs were allowed to enter his palace or communicatewith him except upon important business. Cortes and Montezuma ex-changed bows, and clasped hands. Then Montezuma led Cortes to hisown dais, and setting him down on his right, called for more seats, onwhich he ordered us all to sit also.

Cortes began to make a speech through our interpreters, sayingthat we were all now rested, and that in coming to see and speak withsuch a great prince we had fulfil led the purpose of our voyage and theorders of our lord the King. The principal things he had come to sayon behalf of our Lord God had already been communicated to Mon-tezuma through his three ambassadors, on that occasion in the sand-hills when he did us the favour of sending us the golden moon andsun. We had then told him that we were Christians and worshippedone God alone, named Jesus Christ, who had suffered His passion anddeath to save us; and that what they worshipped as gods were notgods but devils, which were evil things, and if they were ugly to look

"at, their deeds were uglier. But he had proved to them how evil and

56 Europeans, Americans, and Africans in the Atlantic World

ineffectual their gods were, as both the prince and his people wouldobserve in the course of time, since, where we had put up crosses suchas their ambassadors had seen, they had been too frightened to appearbefore them.

The favour he now begged of the great Montezuma was that heshould listen to the words he now wished to speak. Then he very care-fully expounded the creation of the world, how we are all brothers, thechildren of one mother and father called Adam and Eve; and how sucha brother as our great Emperor, grieving for the perdition of so manysouls as their idols were leading to hell, where they burnt in livingflame, had sent us to tell him this, so that he might put a stop to it, andso that they might give up the worship of idols and make no morehuman sacrifices —"lor all men are brothers — and commit no moreJobbery or sodomy. He also promised that in the course of time theKing would send some men who lead holy lives among us, much betterthan our own, to explain this more fully, for we had nnlv r.nme. t-n give.tjiem_warnmg. Therefore he begged Montezuma to do as he was asked.

AsMontezuma seemed about to reply, Cortes broke off his speech,saying to those of us who were with him: "Since this is only the first at-tempt, we have now done our duty."

"My lord Malinche," Montezuma replied, "these arguments of yourshave been familiar to me for some time. I understand what you said to myambassadors on the sandhills about the three gods and the cross, alsowhat you preached in the various towns through which you passed. Wehave given you no answer, since we have worshipped our own gods herefrom the beginning and know them to be good. No doubt yours are goodalso, but do not trouble to tell us ariy more about them at present. Re-garding the creation of the world, we have held the same belief for manyages, and for this reason are certain that you are those who our ancestorspredicted would come from thejdjrection ofjhe_sunrise. As for your greatKing, I arn in his debt and willgive him of what I possess. For, as I havealready said, two years ago I had news of the Captains who came in ships,by the road that you came, and said they were servants of this great kingof yours. I should like to know if you are all the same people."

Cortes answered that we were all brothers and servants of the Em-peror, and that they had come to discover a route and explore the seasand ports, so that when they knew them well we could follow, as wehad done. Montezuma was referring to the expeditions of FranciscoHernandez de Cordoba and of Grijalva, the first voyages of discovery.He said that ever since that time he had wanted to invite some of thesemen to visit the cities of his kingdom, where he would receive them anddo them honour, and that now his gods had fulfilled his desire, for wewere in his house, which we might call our own. Here we might restand enjoy ourselves, for we should receive good treatment. If on otheroccasions he had sent to forbid our entrance into his city, it was not ofhis own free will, but because his vassals were afraid. For they told him

Diaz / From The Conquest of New Spam

onf flashes of lightning, and killed many Indians with ourhorses, and that we were angry Teules, and other such childish stories.But now that he had seen us, he knew that we were of flesh and bloodand very intelligent, also very brave. Therefore he had a far greater es-teem for us than these reports had given him, and would share with uswhat he had.

We all thanked him heartily for his ... good will, and Montezumareplied with a laugh, because in his princely manner he spoke verygaily: "Malinche, I know that these people of Tlascala with whom youare so friendly have told you that I am a sort of god or Teule, and keepnothing in any of my houses that is not made of silver and gold andprecious stones. But I know very well that you are too intelligent to be-lieve this and will take it as a joke. See now, Malinche, my body ismade of flesh and blood like yours, and my houses and palaces are ofstone, wood, and plaster! It is true that I am a great king, and have in-herited the riches of my ancestors, but the lies and nonsense you haveheard of us are not true. You must take them as a joke, as I take thestory of your thunders and lightnings."

Cortes answered also with a laugh that enemies always speak eviland tell lies about the people they hate, but he knew he could not hopeto find a more magnificent prince in that land, and there was good rea-son why his fame should have reached our Emperor.

While this conversation was going on, Montezuma quietly sent oneof his nephews, a great Cacique, to order his stewards to bring certainpieces of gold, which had apparently been set aside as a gift for Cortes,and ten loads of fine cloaks which he divided: the gold and cloaks be-tween Cortes and the four captains, and for each of us soldiers twogold necklaces, each worth ten pesos, and two loads of cloaks. Thegold that he then gave us was worth in all more than a thousand pesos,and he gave it all cheerfully, like a great and valiant prince.

As it was now past midday and he did not wish to be importunate,Cortes said to Montezuma: "My lord, the favours you do us increase,load by load, every day, and it is now the hour of your dinner." Mon-tezuma answered that he thanked us for visiting him. We then took ourleave with the greatest courtesy, and returned to our quarters, talkingas we went of the prince's fine breeding and manners and deciding tojhow him the greatest respect in every way, and to remove our quiltedcaps in his presence, which we always did.

The great Montezuma was about forty years old, of good height,well proportioned, spare and slight, and not very dark, though of theusual Indian complexion. He did not wear his hair long but just overhis ears, and he had a short black beard, well-shaped and thin. His facewas rather long and cheerful, he had fine eyes, and in his appearanceand manner could express geniality or, when necessary, a serious com-posure. He was very neat and clean, and took a bath every afternoon.He had many women as his mistresses, the daughters of chieftains, but

58 Europeans, Americans, and Africans in the Atlantic World

two legitimate wives who were Caciques in their own right, and whenhe had intercourse with any of them it was so secret that only some ofhis servants knew of it. He was quite free from sodomy. The clothes hewore one day he did not wear again till three or four days later. He hada guard of two hundred chieftains lodged in rooms beside his own, onlysome of whom were permitted to speak to him. When they entered hispresence they were compelled to take off their rich cloaks and put onothers of little value. They had to be clean and walk barefoot, withtheir eyes downcast, for they were not allowed to look him in the face,and as they approached they had to make three obeisances, saying asthey did so, "Lord, my lord, my great lord!" Then, when they had saidwhat they had come to say, he would dismiss them with a few words.They did not turn their backs on him as they went out, but kept theirfaces towards him and their eyes downcast, only turning round whenthey had left the room. Another thing I noticed was that when othergreat chiefs came from distant lands about disputes or on business, theytoo had to take off their shoes and put on poor cloaks before enteringMontezuma's apartments; and they were not allowed to enter thepalace immediately but had to linger for a while near the door, since toenter hurriedly was considered disrespectful. . . .

Montezuma had two houses stocked with every sort of weapon;many of them were richly adorned with gold and precious stones.There were shields large and small, and a sort of broadsword, and two-handed swords set with flint blades that cut much better than ourswords, and lances longer than ours, with five-foot blades consisting ofmany knives. Even when these are driven at a buckler or a shield theyare not deflected. In fact they cut like razors, and the Indians can shavetheir heads with them. They had very good bows and arrows, anddouble and single-pointed javelins as well as their throwing-sticks andmany slings and round stones shaped by hand, and another sort ofshield that can be rolled up when they are not fighting, so that it doesnot get in the way, but which can be opened when they need it in battleand covers their bodies from head to foot. There was also a great dealof cotton armour richly worked on the outside with different colouredfeathers, which they used as devices and distinguishing marks, and theyhad casques and helmets made of wood and bone which were alsohighly decorated with feathers on the outside. They had other arms ofdifferent kinds which I will not mention through fear of prolixity, andworkmen skilled in the manufacture of such things, and stewards whowere in charge of these arms. . . .

I have already described the manner of their sacrifices. They strikeopen the wretched Indian's chest with flint knives and hastily tear outthe palpitating heart which, with the blood, they present to the idols inwhose name they have performed the sacrifice. Then they cut off thearms, thighs, and head, gating the arms and thighs at their ceremonial \banquets. The head they~hang up on a beam, and the body of the sacri- '

uiaz / rrom i ne ^onquesi oj i\ew spam

ficed man is not eaten but given to the beasts of prey. They also hadmany vipers in this accursed house, and poisonous snakes which havesomething that sounds like a bell in their tails. These, which are thedeadliest snakes of all, they kept in jars and great pottery vessels full offeathers, in which they laid their eggs and reared their young. Theywere fed on the bodies of sacrificed Indians and the flesh of the dogsthat they bred. We know for certain, too, that when they drove us outof Mexico and killed over eight hundred and fifty of our soldiers, theyfed those beasts and snakes on their bodies for many days, as I shall re-late in due course. These snakes and wild beasts were dedicated to theirfierce idols, and kept them company. As for the horrible noise when thelions and tigers roared, and the jackals and foxes howled, and the ser-pents hissed, it was so appalling that one seemed to be in hell.

I must now speak of the skilled workmen whom Montezuma em-ployed in all the crafts they practised, beginning with the jewellers andworkers in silver and gold and various kinds of hollowed objects,which excited the admiration of our great silversmiths at home. Manyof the best of them lived in a town called Atzcapotzalco, three milesfrom Mexico. There were other skilled craftsmen who worked withprecious stones and chalchihuites,3 and specialists in feather-work, andvery fine painters and carvers. We can form some judgement of whatthey did then from what we can see of their work today. There arethree Indians now living in the city of Mexico, named Marcos deAquino, Juan de la Cruz, and El Crespillo, who are such magnificentpainters and carvers that, had they lived in the age of the Apelles of old,or of Michael Angelo, or Berruguete in our own day, they would becounted in the same rank.

Let us go on to the women, the weavers and sempstresses, whomade such a huge quantity of fine robes with very elaborate feather de-signs. These things were generally brought from some towns in theprovince of Cotaxtla, which is on the north coast, quite near San Juande Ulua. In Montezuma's own palaces very fine cloths were woven bythose chieftains' daughters whom he kept as mistresses; and the daugh-ters of other dignitaries, who lived in a kind of retirement like nuns insome houses close to the great cue4 of Huichilobos, wore robes entirelyof feather-work. Out of devotion for that god and a female deity whowas said to preside over marriage, their fathers would place them in re-ligious retirement until they found husbands. They would then takethem out to be married.

Now to speak of the great number of performers whom Mon-tezuma kept to entertain him. There were dancers and stilt-walkers,and some who seemed to fly as they leapt through the air, and men

3 Green stone. [Ed.]4 Plaza or square. [Ed.]

61) . Europeans, Americans, and Africans in the Atlantic World

rather like clowns to make him laugh. There was a whole quarter fullof these people who had no other occupation. He had as many work-men as he needed, too, stonecutters, masons, and carpenters, to keephis houses in repair.

We must not forget the gardens with their many varieties of flowersand sweet-scented trees planted in order, and their ponds and tanks offresh water into which a stream flowed at one end and out of which itflowed at the other, and the baths he had there, and the variety of smallbirds that nested in the branches, and the medicinal and useful herbsthat grew there. His gardens were a wonderful sight, and requiredmany gardeners to take care of them. Everything was built of stone andplastered; baths and walks and closets and rooms like summerhouseswhere they danced and sang. There was so much to see in these gar-dens, as everywhere else, that we could not tire of contemplating hisgreat riches and the large number of skilled Indians employed in themany crafts they practised. . . .

We carried our weapons, as was our custom, both by night andday. Indeed, Montezuma was so used to our visiting him armed that hedid not think it strange. I say this because our Captain and those of uswho had horses went to Tlatelolco mounted, and the majority of ourmen were fully equipped. On reaching the market-place, escorted bythe many Caciques whom Montezuma had assigned to us, we were as-toundedjit the great number^ofpeopleand the c^iantities_o£merchan-dise, and at the orjiexlni^ss3an^ggo3^arrangerneliti~f}iat prevailed, jor.we hacjjiever seen such a_ thing befojg. The chieftains who accompa-nied us pointed everything out. Every kind of merchandise was keptseparate and had its fixed place marked for it. ...

When our Captain and the Mercedarian friar realized that Mon-tezuma would not allow us to set up a cross at Huichilobos'5 cue orbuild a church there, it was decided that we should ask his stewards formasons so that we could put up a church in our own quarters. Forevery time we had said mass since entering the city of Mexico we hadhad to erect an altar on tables and dismantle it again.

The stewards promised to tell Montezuma of our wishes, andCortes also sent our interpreters to ask him in person. Montezumagranted our request and ordered that we should be supplied with all thenecessary material. We had our church finished in two days, and across erected in front of our lodgings, and mass was said there each dayuntil the wine gave out. For as Cortes and some other captains and afriar had been ill during the Tlascalan campaign, there had been a runon the wine that we kept for mass. Still, though it was finished, we still

5 The temple of the sun god who demanded human sacrifice. [Ed.]

Diaz / From The Conquest of New Spain 61

went to church every day and prayed on our knees before the altar andimages, firstly because it was our obligation as Christians and a goodhabit, and secondly so that Montezuma and all his captains should ob-serve us and, seeing us worshipping on our knees before the cross —especially when we intoned the Ave Maria — might be inclined to imi-tate us.

It being our habit to examine and inquire into everything, when wewere all assembled in our lodging and considering which was the bestplace for an altar, two of our men, one of whom was the carpenterAlonso Yanez, called attention to some marks on one of the wallswhich showed that there had once been a door, though it had been wellplastered up and painted. Now as we had heard that Montezuma kepthis father's treasure in this building, we immediately suspected that itmust be in this room, which had been closed up only a few days before.Yanez made the suggestion to Juan Velazquez de Leon and Franciscode Lugo, both relatives of mine, to whom he had attached himself as aservant; and they mentioned the matter to Cortes. So the door wassecretly opened, and Cortes went in first with certain captains. W_hen_they saw the quantity ..of golden nhjerr.s — jewels and plates—andingots-— which JavjrijhaJLdbjimbex.they,were_quite transported Theydid noTknow what to think of such riches. The news soon spread tothe other captains and soldiers, and very secretly we all went in to see.The sight of all that wealth dumbfounded me. Being only a youth at thetime and never having seen such riches before, I felt certain that therecould not be a store like it in the whole world. We unanimously de-cided that we could not think of touching a particle of it, and that thestones should immediately be replaced in the doorway, which shouldbe blocked again and cemented just as we bad found it. We resolvedalso that not a word should be said about this until times changed, forfear Montezuma might hear of our discovery.

Let us leave this subject of the treasure and tell how four of ourmost valiant captains took Cortes aside in the church, with a dozen sol-diers who were in his trust and confidence, myself among them, andasked him to conside^tEe~neTor trap"injyhich w_e.were amght^to lookat the great strengthof The ciIy~arTHl:)Fserve the causeways and bridges,and remember the warnings we had received in every town we hadpassed through that Huichilobos had counselled Montezuma to let usinto the city and kill us there. We_ remindedjiirntriat the hearts of menare very fickle, especially among the IndiansTlmd Begged~Tiim not totrust thlTgoodwill and aJfec^ionjEa^J^fljat£zurn^waj_sjig^irig us, be-cause from one hour to another it might change. If he should take itinto his head to attack us, we said, the stoppage of our supplies of foodand water, or the raising of any of the bridges, would render ushelpless. Then, considering the vast army of warriors he possessed, weshould be incapable of attacking or defending ourselves. And since all

62 Europeans, Americans, and Africans in the Atlantic World

V

the houses stood in the water, how could our Tlascalan allies come into help us? We asked him to think over all that we had said, for if wewanted to preserve our lives we must seize Montezuma immediately,without even a day's delay. We pointed out that all the gold Mon-tezuma had given us, and all that we had seen in the treasury of his fa-ther Axayacatl, and jIL_Elie_£aQdwe ate-was turning to poison in ourbodies, for we could not sleep bymght or day, or take any resFwriile"tlTese thougrvts were in~olIF7nindsTTf'anT"o1!mi^^ less_3rastTcTadvice, we concluded, they would be seriseless beasts charmedby the gold and incapable of looking death in the eye.

When he had heard our opinion, Cortes answered: "Do not imag-ine, gentlemen, that I am asleep or that I do not share (^u'r anxietyjYou must have seen that I do. But what strength have we goFfoFsobold a course as to take this gr(eat lord in his own palace, surrounded ashe is by warriors and guards? What scheme or trick can we devise toprevent him from summoning his soldiers to attack us at once?"

Our captains (Juan Velazquez de Leon, Diego de Ordaz, Gonzalode Sandoval, and Pedro de Alvarado) replied that Montezuma must begot out of his palace by smooth words and brought to our quarters.Once there, he must be told that he must remain as a prisoner, and thatif he called out or made any disturbance he would pay for it with hislife. If Cortes was unwilling to take this course at once, they beggedhim for permission to do it themselves. With two very dangerous alter-natives before us, the_better and more profitable thing, they said, wouldbe to seize Montezuma rather than_wait for him to attack us. Once he'did so, what chance wouH"We"TTave? Some of us soldiers also remarkedthat Montezuma's stewards who brought us our food seemed to begrowing insolent, and did not serve us as politely as they had at first.Two of our Tlascalan allies had, moreover, secretly observed to Jeron-imo de Aguilar that for the last two days the Mexicans had appearedless well disposed to us. We spent a good hour discussing whether ornot to take Montezuma prisoner, and how it should be done. But ourfinal advice, that at all costs we should take him jjnsoner, was ap-proved by our Captain, ancTwe then left the matter till next day. Allnight we prayed God to direct events in the interests of His holyweservice. .