could place implicit confidence, and of whose wisdom and
courage he entertained the highest respect. In this council it was
resolved we should despatch a most friendly and flattering message to
Motecusuma, as near as possible to the following effect: "We had now, in
compliance with the commands of our sovereign, journeyed over many seas,
and through far distant countries, solely for the object of paying our
personal respects to him, the monarch of Mexico, and of disclosing
things to him which would prove of the greatest advantage to him. We
chose the road over Cholulla because his ambassadors had proposed that
route, and had assured us that the inhabitants were his subjects. We met
with the best of receptions, and were well treated during the first two
days of our stay there, when we discovered that a vile conspiracy had
been set on foot to destroy us all; which, however, could not prove
otherwise than a failure, as we were endowed with the faculty of knowing
things beforehand, and it was utterly impossible to do anything without
our knowledge: we had, therefore, punished a number of those who had
concocted that treacherous movement, but we had, at the same time,
abstained from punishing all those who had taken part in it, in
consideration that the Cholullans were his subjects, and from the deep
veneration we entertained for his person, and the great friendship we
bore him. It was, however, to be regretted that the caziques and papas
should have unanimously declared that all had been done at his commands,
and planned by his own ambassadors. Of this, however, we had not
believed a single word, as it seemed impossible to us that so great a
monarch, who always styled himself our friend, could have consented
thereto. On the contrary, we expected from him that, in case his gods
had whispered to him to treat us hostilely, he would have attacked us in
the open field, although it was all the same to us whether we were to
fight about in a town or in the open field, or during night or daytime,
as we easily overthrew those who ventured to attack us. As we were fully
convinced of his friendship, and were very desirous to make his personal
acquaintance, and to discourse with him, we intended marching to Mexico
to lay our monarch's commission before him."

When Motecusuma received this message, and found that we in no way
considered him implicated in the occurrence which had taken place at
Cholulla, he again, as we were told, began t