Page:The Conquest of Mexico Volume 1.djvu/501

 describe. I state with conviction that I have never seen works of art which could rival them in drawing men's eyes by their beauty."—De Orbe Novo, dec. 4, cap. 9.

Page 188 (1).—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 40. Father Sahagun thus describes these stones, so precious in Mexico that the use of them was interdicted to any but the nobles. The chalchuites are green, but opaque, and clouded with white; the nobles use them as ornaments, wearing them on their wrists strung on thread; such ornaments are an indication that the wearer is a person of standing."—Hist. de Nueva España, lib. 11, cap. 8.

Page 194 (1).—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 41.—Las Casas, Hist. de las Indias, MS., lib. 3, cap. 121.—Gomara, Crónica, cap. 28.

Page 195 (1).—The letter from the cabildo of Vera Cruz says nothing of these midnight conferences. Bernal Diaz, who was privy to them, is a sufficient authority.—See Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 42.

Page 195 (2).—Sometimes we find the Spanish writers referring to "the sovereigns," sometimes to "the emperor"; in the former case, intending Queen Joanna, the crazy mother of Charles V., as well as himself. Indeed, all public acts and ordinances ran in the name of both. The title of "Highness," which, until the reign of Charles V., had usually—not uniformly, as Robertson imagines (History of Charles V., vol. ii. p. 59),—been applied to the sovereign, now gradually gave way to that of "Majesty," which Charles affected after his election to the imperial throne. The same title is occasionally found in the correspondence of the Great Captain, and other courtiers of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella.

Page 196 (1).—According to Robertson, Cortés told his men that he had proposed to establish a colony on the coast before marching into the country; but he abandoned his design, at their entreaties to set out at once on the expedition. In the very next page, we find him organising this same colony. (History of America, vol. ii. pp. 241, 242.) The historian would have been saved this inconsistency, if he had followed either of the authorities whom he cites, Bernal Diaz and Herrera, or the letter from Vera Cruz, of which he had a copy. They all concur in the statement in the text.

Page 196 (2).—Las Casas, Hist. de las Indias, MS., lib. 3, cap. 122.—Carta de Vera Cruz, MS.—Declaracion de Montejo, MS.—Declaracion de Puertocarrero, MS. "Our general, after some urging, acquiesced," says the blunt old soldier, Bernal Diaz; "for, as the proverb says, 'You ask me to do what I have already made up my mind to.' "Tu me lo rogas, e yo me lo quiero.— Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 42.

Page 196 (3).—According to Bernal Diaz, the title of "Vera Cruz" was intended to commemorate their landing on Good Friday.—Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 42.

Page 196 (4).—Solis, whose taste for speech-making might have satisfied even the Abbé Mably (see his Treatise, De la Maniére d'écrire l'Histoire), has put a very flourishing harangue on this occasion into the mouth of his hero, of which there is not a vestige in any contemporary account. (Conquista, lib. 2, cap. 7.) Dr. Robertson has transferred it to his own eloquent pages, without citing his author, indeed, who, considering he came a century and a half after the Conquest, must be allowed to be not the best, especially when the only, voucher for a fact.

Page 197 (1).—Carta de Vera Cruz, MS.—Gomara, Crónica, cap. 30, 31.—Las Casas, Hist. de Las Indias, MS., lib. 3, cap. 122.—Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap. 80.—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 42.—Declaraciones de Montejoy Puertocarrero, MSS. In the process of Narvaez against Cortés, the latter is accused of being possessed with the devil, as only Lucifer could have gained him thus the affections of the soldiery. (Demanda de Narvaez, MS.) Solis, on the other hand, sees nothing but good faith and loyalty in the conduct of the general, who