Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/221

Rh the first thing and make sacrifice to his gods. He then took his breakfast, which was a light meal, for he ate only chili peppers and no meat. After this he gave audience for an hour to those caciques who, as I have told, came from a distance to lay disputes before him and have his judgment. The rest of the day he spent in amusement, particularly with his wives. So Montezuma passed his time with us, now and then laughing, now and then reflecting on his imprisonment.

After the execution of the Mexican warriors and Montezuma had worn our fetters, our captain determined to despatch a man of good presence, who was also an excellent musician, Alonzo de Grado, to Vera Cruz with the powers of lieutenant. Grado was one of those who had always opposed our going on to Mexico, and who fomented dissatisfaction during our stay in Tlaxcala and insisted on our return to the coast. If he had been as good a soldier as he was a man of good address, his conduct of affairs would have been different. Even Cortes, In giving him the appointment said rather jokingly, "Alonzo de Grado, you now are having fulfilled your wish of going to Vera Cruz. There you will labor at building the fortress. But keep out of warlike expeditions, and don't get killed as Juan de Escalante did." In saying this Cortes winked his eye at us soldiers who were standing round, as much as to say that we