was a mark of great favor.[1] Cortés sought to decline for himself the favor, on the ground that he could not marry. Montezuma nevertheless insisted, and he yielded not unwillingly.[2]
Assuming a serious tone, the latter now produced the letter from Villa Rica, and informed the emperor that he had received an account of the outrageous conduct of Quauhpopoca, resulting in the death of some of his men, and that he, the sovereign, had been accused of being the instigator. Montezuma gave an indignant denial,[3] and Cortés hastened to assure him that he believed the charge to be false, but as commander of a party he had to account for the men to his king, and must ascertain the truth. In this Montezunma said he would aid him; and calling a trusted officer, he gave him a bracelet from his wrist bearing the imperial signet — a precious stone graven with his likeness[4] — bidding him to bring Quauhpopoca and his accomplices, by force, if necessary.[5] Cortés expressed himself pleased, but added that, in order to cover his responsibility as commnmander, and to convince his men
- ↑ 'Y otras hijas de señores á algunos de mi compañía.' Cortés, Cartas, 89. But the customary mark of favor was to give them from his harem. See Native Races, ii.
- ↑ 'Per non dar disgusto al Re, e per avere occasione di farla Cristiana,' is Clavigero's excuse for the acceptance. Storia Mess., iii. 93. Brasseur de Bourbourg, and some other writers, assume that Cortés declined; but the original authorities all say or intimate that he accepted. Even Cortés himself writes in his letter to the emperor, 'después. . . .de haberme él dado algunas joyas de oro y una hija suya,' etc. Cartas, 89. 'Le persuadió,' says Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., 296. Gomara is even more explicit, and Herrera says that Montezuma insisted, 'porque queria tener nietos de hombre tan valeroso.' dec. ii. lib. viii. cap. ii. The affair is perhaps less important in itself than as index to the character of Cortés, who could accept so intimate an offer with one hand while he prepared a blow with the other. It might also be made to indicate that Montezuma could have had no base designs against him when he made the uncalled-for offer of intrusting a daughter (if such she was) to his keeping. Still the imperial character would not have suffered had it been shown that this was but an artifice to lull his intended victim into a false security.
- ↑ Some authors, like Herrera and Torquemada, say that he denied all knowledge of the occurrence, calling it an invention of enemies.
- ↑ Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., 297. Q͏̄ tenia la figura de Vitzilopuchtli,' Gomara, 123; and so says Bernal Diaz. Tapia states that Montezuma told Cortés to send two Spaniards with the messengers; but he doubtless declined to risk two lives on such a trip. Rel., in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 583-4.
- ↑ 'Ingrato rey!' exclaims Gallo, in commenting upon this surrender of a devoted officer. Hombres Ilust. Mex., i. 318.
