Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/257

Rh me if there is any way I can bear you aid In this matter. I will do it with the greatest good will. I fear for your success, for you have few teules and those who have come have five times as many. And they say they are Christians, like yourselves, and subjects of your king, and possess images and set up crosses and read mass just as you do, and everywhere they are telling that you have fled from your king and they are come to capture and put you to death. I scarce know what to think of it. One thing, however, I must tell you—use great care in what you are about to do."

In his answer Cortes told the monarch, In the most cheerful way in the world and speaking through Donna Marina who was always with him, as well as Aguilar, in these conversations, that if he had not come to tell Montezuma about this, it was because of the love he bore him and he would spare him anxiety about our departure. It was all true that the teules lately arrived were subjects of our king and Christians, but it was false to say we had fled from our king. On the contrary our great monarch had sent us to visit him, Montezuma, and send report of what had been said and done. As to what he had said about those just arrived bringing many soldiers and horses and cannon, however great their number our Lord Jesus Christ, and his blessed mother. Our Lady, would lend us strength and power superior to