mon, and solemnized the ordinance of the
mass. The sacrament was administered to Cortez and his captains, and,
with the imposing accompaniments of martial music and pealing
artillery, thanksgivings were offered to God.

Bernal Diaz gives the following quaint and graphic account of these
festivities:

"After having returned thanks to God, Cortez determined to
celebrate his success by a festival in Cuyoacan. A vessel had
arrived at Villa Rica with a cargo of wine, and hogs had been
provided from the island of Cuba. To this entertainment he
invited all the officers of his army, and also the soldiers
of estimation. All things being prepared, on the day
appointed we waited on our general.

"When we came to sit down to dinner, there were not tables
for one half of us. This brought on great confusion among
the company, and, indeed, for many reasons, it would have
been much better let alone. The _plant of Noah_ was the
cause of many fooleries and worse things. It made some leap
over the tables who afterward could not go out at the doors,
and many rolled down the steps. The private soldiers swore
they would buy horses with golden harness. The cross-bowmen
would use none but golden arrows. All were to have their
fortunes made.

"When the tables were taken away, the soldiers danced in
their armor with the ladies, as many of them as there were,
but the disproportion in numbers was very great. This scene
was truly ridiculous. I will not mention the names; suffice
it to say, a fair field was open for satire. Father Olmedo
thought what he observed at the feast and in the dances too
scandalous, and complained to Sandoval. The latter directly
told Cortez how the reverend father was scolding and
grumbling.

"Cortez, discreet in all his actions, immediately went to
Father Olmedo, and, affecting to disapprove of the whole
affair, requested that he would order a solemn mass and
thanksgiving, and preach a sermon to the soldiers of the
moral and religious duties. Father Olmedo was highly pleased
at this, thinking it had originated spontaneously from
Cortez, and not knowing that the hint had been given him
by Sandoval. Accordingly, the crucifixes and the image of
Our Lady were borne in solemn procession, with drums and
standards. The Litany was sung during the cere