Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/95

Rh his pocket the cédulas and accompanying packet of unaddressed letters with which fresh adherents were to be allured, and abandoned himself to the amenities of his situation. A little later he proceeded with well filled pockets to report in Spain the futility of his mission.

In explaining to the emperor the treatment accorded to his governor, Cortés prudently throws the responsibility on the popular representatives, who decided in the case as they considered best for the crown; but he seeks to defend their course by relating that the apprehended danger from this attempt of a stranger to assume the administration did actually come to pass. The mere report of an impending change engendered conspiracy among the Indians, which, if successful, would have been more serious than any preceding revolt. It extended through the districts of Mexico and Coyuhuacan, and broke cut also in Tututepec and Meztitlan, to the north-west.

The main obstacle at Mexico was the presence of the terrible Cortés, and with a view to remove this, and to enable the warriors to assemble, it was arranged to induce the general, by means of a false report that twenty vessels had appeared off the coast, to depart for Villa Rica, and permit them to join his banner with a large force. Informed of the movement by spies, he seized the accused ringleaders, and since the safety and interests of the Spaniards demanded a severe example to similar malcontents, punishments