The herald., 1895-04-07
,os ANGELES: SUNDAY MORNING. APR1
CHAPTER XVII
Of How the Captains Threatened the Life Of
Montezuma Unless He Went Peacefully to
Our Quarters, and Of How the Great Lord
of Mexico Became Cortes' Prisoner

As it was determined to take Monte
yuma prisoner and the manner of doing
it was all arranged Cortes took with him
five Captains, Pedro de Alvarado. Gonzalo
de Sandoval, Juan Velasquez Fde Leon.
Francisco de Lugo, Alonzo de Avla and
Dona Marina and Geronimo Aguilar.
lie gave instructions that we should be
ready and armed at all points and our
horses saddled and bridled, and as to
our being armed it is not necessary for
me to mention this occasion in partic-
ular, for by both day and night we
always carried our arm or and weapons.
and even when We went to see Monte
yuma we went armed cap pie, so that
on the present occasion when Cortes wen t
with the five Captains all armed it was
no new thing. When everything waa
ready Cortes sent word that he was going
to the palace to pay Montezuma a visit,
which had been customary. Montezuma
knew or suspected that Cortes came to
see him in relation to the affairs of
Almeria, but Notwithstanding he sent
word that he was very welcome and
after Cortes had entered and made the
usual salutations he said through our in
terpreters Lord Montezuma L marvel
much that being such great and valiant
prince, and after protesting friendship
for us, you would send to order your
Captains on the coast near Tuzpan to take
up arms against my Spaniards, and you
have even dared to instruct them to rob
the towns which are under the protection
of our lord, the King of Spain, demanding
of them tribute beforehand.
They have also gone so far as to kill
one of my brothers and one of my horses,
(Cortes' said nothing of the death of
Escalante and the six soldiers, for as yet
Montezuma knew nothing of IT'D And
Cortes further said that .'holding your
majesty for such close and sincere friend
wrote to my Captains to serve and oblige
you in every way possible. while your
majesty on the contrary has not done SO,
and so it was at Cholula your majesty had
large body of warriors lying in ambush
to attack us, and if l have hitherto over
looked this it was because of the great es-
TEEN | held you in. And in like manner
at the present time your Captains and
vassals are planning in secret to attack
us by your sanction. AS do not desire
to commence the war. nor destroy this
city, Iprefer that you should now silently
and without any Outcry come with us to
our quarters where you will be treated
with all due respect as BELTS your station,
and If you make any outcry or resistance
You Will be Instantly slain by my Cap
tains.''
When Montezuma heard this he was
terrified and almost tainted with fear.
He replied that he had never given orders
to the Mexicans to rise against us, and
that he would Immediately call on his
Captains and learn the truth, and if
found guilty he would punish them, (and
he took off his bracelet with the figure. of
Huitzlipotzli engraved upon it, which
was his royal signet and used only in
grave and important cases, to enforce in
stant compliance with his commands).
but as to leaving his palace and going
with us as prisoner, he said that it
would be uniting his station to do it
and that he did not desire to leave his pal
ace. Cortes replied with good reasons
and then Montezuma responded with bet
ter ones, SO that nearly half an hour was
consumed in the arguments and Juan
Nelasquez de Leon and the other Cap
tains, seeing so much time wasted in ar
gument when instead they ought by this
time to have him prisoner, said to Cortes
in very angry manner: "What is the
use OF your worship arguing so? Either
he comes with us as our prisoner or we
stab him to death. Tell him, therefore,
that if he makes any resistance we will
kill him, for it is better once for all that
we make our own lives secure or lose
them.'
AS Juan Velasquez de Leon had harsh
voice and spoke in loud and threatening
tone, and seeing the other Captains look
ing E sternly and menacingly at him,
Montezuma asked Dona Marina what
was the meaning of the angry words and
threatening looks. She, who well under
stood the condition of things, rep led !:
Lord Montezuma. | advise YOU to 60 at