stricts or provinces, whether independent or feudatories. The title
of Emperador (Emperor), how generally applied to the Mexican ruler, is
never conferred on him by Cortes, nor any other implying royality,
although in the beginning of this despatch, he assures Charles V. that
the country is extensive enough to constitute an empire.

[5] Two hundred and fifty pounds weight.

[6] I am not ignorant that it has been asserted that Montezuma received
the rite of baptism at the hands of his Christian captors. See
Bustamante's notes on Chimalpain's Translation of Gomara (_Historia de
las Conquistas de Hernando Cortes_. Carlos Maria de Bustamante.
Mexico, 1826, p. 287). But the objection raised by Torquemada--the
silence of some of the best authorities, such as Oviedo, Ixlilxochitl,
_Histoire des Chichimeques_, and of Cortes himself; and, on the other
hand, the distinctly opposing testimony of Bernal Diaz (see cap. 127),
and the statement of Herrera, who asserts that Montezuma, at the hour
of his death, refused to quit the religion of his fathers. ("No se
queria apartar de la Religion de sus Padres." _Hist. de las Indias_,
dec. II. lib. x, cap. 10), convinces me that no such baptism took place.

[7] These gates they had made themselves. The Aztecs had not learned
the art of making gates or doors. The exits and entrances of their
houses were closed, if at all with portieres.

[8] It is growing very old and is badly decayed. The newspapers report
that efforts are being made by experts to try a course of treatment
which will preserve this venerable and interesting forest relic,
already nearly four hundred years old, but it is not believed that
success will attend their endeavors.

[9] "Tlaltelulco" was the quarter of the town where the market was
situated.

[10] Archbishop Lorenzana, in his note on this passage, greatly extols
the pious fervor of Cortes, who, he says, "whether in the field or on
the causeway, in the midst of the enemy or toiling by night or day,"
never omitted the celebration of the mass.

[11] They were Andres de Tapia and George de Alvarado, a brother of the
more famous Pedro, Tonatiuh.

[12] Antonio de Quinones was the captain and Francisco de Olea, the
youth, according to Gomara; who says that the latter cut off at one
blow the arms of the men that had seized Cortes, and was himself
immediately slain by the enemy. Cortes was then rescued by
Quinones.--_Cron. Nuev. Esp._ cap., 138.

[13] I w