Page:Vol 1 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/469

Rh the uselessness and danger of his hasty project. The latter stubbornly insisted, and after a consultation with the priests it was agreed to surrender both the summit chapels of Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca to Christian worship, 'Fice limpiar aquellas capillas. . . .y puse en ellas imágenes de nuestra Señora y de otros santos.' Cortés, Cartas, 106. Andrés de Tapia is still more explicit in relating how Cortés insisted on having both chapels cleared of idols. 'El marques hizo hacer dos altares, uno en una parte de la torre, que era partida en dos huecos, é otro en otra.' Rel., in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 585-6. In testifying to the proceedings in the temple previous to the massacre by Alvarado, B. V. de Tapia states that the Indians intended to restore Huitzilopochtli to the tower, 'donde solia estar por que lo habia quitado de alli D. Hernando e puesto a nuestra Señora.' Ramirez, Proceso contra Alvarado, 36. Alvarado confirms this in different words. Id., 66-7. The only other eyewitness who refers with any detail to the above is Bernal Diaz, and he accords only a space on the summit to the Christian emblems. But his different allusions to the temple are confused and contradictory; yet he has been followed by modern writers: first, because the preceding three testimonies have not been accessible till late years; and second, because they have been content to copy Prescott, who adopts Bernal Diaz in only too many instances. The mistake appears also to rest on the finding of Huitzilopochtli's image in one of the summit chapels when it was recaptured by the Spaniards during the later siege. It is only natural that the Aztecs, on obtaining possession of their temple, should have reinstalled the war god. Peter Martyr does assume that one image was too large to be removed. dec. v. cap. iv. And Gomara intimates that idols remained. 'Pusierõ cruzes e imagines. . . .entre sus ídolos.' ''Hist. Mex''., 128. The phrase can apply to those in the court, although his statement may be founded on Martyr, as that of Ixtlilxochitl is on him: 'Y dió [Montezuma] permiso que en la capilla del templo mayor. . . . se pusiesen entre los dos ídolos de Huitzilopochtli, un crucifijo, una imagen de Nuestra Señora y una cruz.' ''Hist. Chich''., 297. As regards the casting-down of idols, Prescott, in common with most modern writers, assumes this to be a mere boast on the part of Cortés; but a careful investigation, supported by the 'solemn' assurance of Tapia, not accessible to them, confirms this statement in the main. The general probably exaggerates somewhat in saying: 'Los mas principales destos idolos. . . .derroqué yo de sus sillas y los fice echar por las escaleras abajo.' Cartas, 106. This probably strikes Oviedo, who, while repeating the account, expresses a doubt about its truth: 'Bien pudo Dios dar lugar á ello; pero para mí yo tengo por maravilla, é grande, la mucha paçiençia de Monteçuma é de los indios.' iii. 303. Solis even doubts that altar and cross were ever erected in so unclean a spot, amid idols and idolatrous pricsts: it would have been sacrilege; besides the Mexicans would never have permitted the intrusion. ''Hist. Mex''., ii. 9-12. The doubt expressed against Cortés' boast rests chiefly with Bernal Diaz, whose faulty account states that Montezuma by mere persuasion sent for the priests, and after consulting with them had a space on the temple summit quietly assigned to the Spaniards. ''Hist. Verdad''., 85. Gomara devotes several pages to the casting down of the idols, which he justly regards as a memorable feat: 'Mas honra y prez gano Cortes con esta hazaña Christiana, que si los venciera en batalla.' He applies it, however, to the occasion of the imperial prisoner's first visit to the temple. Montezuma stops Cortés in the midst of his destructive work and checks the fury of the crowd, which the general thereupon appeases with a long profound speech on theologic mysteries, carefully prepared by Gomara. ''Hist. Mex''., 126-8. The preceding points assume importance when it is considered that the usurpation of the great pyramid by Christian emblems gave the strongest impulse to the uprising soon to follow. on condition that the idols