hem a present consisting in
gold and cotton stuffs. These men were commissioned to thank Cortes for
the liberation of his two tax-gatherers, but at the same time to make
heavy complaints respecting these tribes who had presumed to revolt from
him, merely because we had taken them under our protection, and now
refused all further obedience and to pay tribute. At present he was
merely withheld from putting his threat into execution of exterminating
them totally, out of consideration for us, since we inhabited their
dwellings; for, in our persons he recognized that people whose arrival
in this country had been foretold by his ancestors, and who were of the
same lineage with himself. However, they would not long rejoice in their
treachery, and he should know how to deal with them at some future
period.

Cortes received these messengers very kindly and accepted their
present, which was worth above 2000 pesos. He assured them that he as
well as all the rest of us were friendly disposed, and ready to serve
Motecusuma, and that it was in this spirit we had taken the three other
tax-gatherers under our protection, who were now immediately brought
forth from our vessels, clothed and delivered up to the ambassadors.
Neither did Cortes on his part suppress the complaints he had to make
against Motecusuma, for he told them, that Quitlalpitoc, his governor,
had passed a night in our quarters, and had been uncourteous enough not
to call upon him. He was, certainly, convinced that such behaviour had
not been commanded by Motecusuma, but had emanated from the natural
ill-breeding of the man. Honorable treatment, however, had so much worth
in our estimation, that for this reason only had we paid a visit to the
townships where we now were. Motecusuma, therefore, ought to pardon the
people for our sakes. But as to their complaints respecting the refusal
to pay tribute, it was to be imagined that they could not serve two
masters at once, as they had, during our stay here, sworn allegiance to
our emperor. For the rest, he and his companions would shortly wait upon
Motecusuma himself, when these matters could be altogether amicably
adjusted.

After this and other declarations, Cortes presented both these
distinguished young personages and their four venerable companions, who
were men of the first consequence, with blue and green coloured beads,
paying them the greatest possible respect.

As the meadows in this neighbourhood were well adapt