himself within the power of a suspicious and vacillating despot, nor to waste his time in waiting for what events might bring forth, while his enemies, headed by Velazquez, were arranging for his overthrow. He had formed his plans long beforehand, as indicated in his first letter to the king, wherein he promised to have the great Montezuma "a prisoner, a corpse, or a subject to the royal crown of your Majesty."[1] Conquest, followed by settlement and conversion, was his aim. It would not pay him to play for a smaller stake.
Just now rumors began to circulate tending to stir anew the fears which Montezuma's friendly and hospitable demeanor had soothed. One was that the nobles had actually prevailed on the emperor to break the bridges, to arm the whole city, and to fall on the Spaniards with all available strength.[2] Soldiers were readily found who fancied that the mayordomo was less obsequious than formerly, and that he gave scantier supplies. It was also understood from Tlascaltecs that the populace appeared less friendly during the last day or two. These reports may have sprung wholly from timid minds still agitated by the warnings uttered by Tlascaltecs before the departure from Cholula, or they may have been
- ↑ He refers to this promise in the second letter to the king, saying, 'porque certifiqué á V. A. que lo habria preso ó muerto ó subdito.' Cortés, Cartas, 52.
- ↑ 'En la verdad era asi e lo tinien acordado,' affirms Tapia, Rel., in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 579. 'Estas nueuas, falsas, o verdaderas,' is the non-committing phrase of Gomara. Hist. Mex., 123. Ixtlilxochitl takes firmer ground. 'According to an original letter in my possession, signed by the three heads of New Spain, and written to his Majesty the emperor, our master, they exculpate Motecuhzoma and the Mexicans of this and other charges, declaring them inventions of the Tlascaltecs and of some Spaniards who feared that they would never see the hour when they might leave the city and place in security the riches they had obtained.' Hist. Chich., 296. Clavigero adopts the view that Cortés called for such testimony from certain chiefs among his allies, whose dislike of the Mexicans would be sure to prompt it. 'Per giustificar vieppiu il suo attentato, e muovere i suoi Spagnuoli ad eseguirlo, fece chiamar parecchie persone principali de' suoi alleati (la cui informazione dovrebbe sempre essergli sospettosa).' Storia Mess., iii. 90-1. Vetancurt has a story that, a drought prevailing at the time, the Spaniards induced the heavens by means of masses and prayers to send rain. This made the priests and idols jealous, and the emperor was prevailed on to rid himself of the Spaniards. The Tlascaltecs learned of the plot and reported it. Teatro, pt. iii. 130.
