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220 those bad men who had come with evil purpose. Our emperor, continued Cortes, ruled many countries and peoples differing in courage and spirit. We came from the heart of Spain, Old Castile, and the commander now at the coast from Biscay where the people speak an impure speech. Montezuma need have no anxiety about us. We should speedily come back victorious, and for the present we begged him to stay in friendship with Tonatio, and not countenance his caciques and papas in raising any rebellion, for in case they did the rebels should on our return pay with their lives. Cortes also asked the monarch to furnish anything those who stayed behind might need in the way of food.

After this our captain embraced Montezuma twice, and Montezuma also embraced Cortes, and Donna Marina significantly said to the monarch that he ought to show some sign of grief at our departure. Upon this Montezuma said he would do all Cortes had asked him and also furnish five thousand warriors to go with us. But Cortes, knowing well that they would not be forthcoming, assured him with thanks that he needed no more than, first of all, the help of God and then of his companions. Still, he begged Montezuma to see that the image of Our Lady and the cross were always decorated with fresh boughs, the wax candles burning day and night, and that he should not permit any of his priests to