o them the object
for which he had summoned them.

'You all know,' said he, 'our ancient tradition--how the great Being,
who once ruled over the land, declared that he would one day return and
reign again. That time has now arrived. The white men have come from the
land beyond the ocean, where the sun rises, sent by their master to
reclaim the obedience of his ancient subjects. I am ready, for my part,
to acknowledge his authority. You have been faithful vassals of mine all
the years that I have sat upon the throne of my fathers; I now expect
that you will show me a last act of obedience, by acknowledging the
great king beyond the waters to be your lord also, and that you will pay
him tribute as you have hitherto done to me.' As he spoke the tears fell
fast down his cheeks, and his nobles were deeply affected by the sight
of his distress. Many of them, coming from a distance, and not having
realised what was taking place in the capital, were filled with
astonishment on beholding the voluntary abasement of their master, whom
they had reverenced as the all-powerful lord of the whole country. His
will, they told him, was their law now as ever, and if he thought the
sovereign of the strangers was the ancient lord of their country, they
were willing to swear allegiance to him as such. Accordingly the oaths
were administered with all due solemnity, and a full record of the
proceedings was drawn up by the royal notary to be sent to Spain. Cortes
now seemed to have accomplished most of the great objects of his
expedition, but towards the conversion of the natives he had made no
progress, and still the horrible sacrifices took place day by day. The
general could bear it no longer, but told the emperor that the
Christians could not consent to hold the services of their religion shut
in within the narrow walls of the garrison. They wished to spread its
light abroad and share its blessings with the people. To this end they
requested that the great teocalli should be given up to them as a fit
place where their worship might be conducted in the presence of the
whole city. Montezuma listened in consternation.

'Malinche,' said he, 'why will you push matters to an extremity that
must surely bring down the vengeance of our gods and stir up an
insurrection among my people, who will never endure this profanation of
their temple?'

Cortes, seeing that he was much agitated, pretended that the demand had
come from his followers, and that