Note 497 — Chapter XVII · CAPTURE OF THE EMPEROR. November, 1519.

‘En la verdad era así é lo tinien acordado,’ affirms Tapia, Rel., in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 579. ‘Estas nueuas, falsas, o verdaderas,’ is the non-committing phrase of Gomara. Hist. Mex., 123. Ixtlilxochitl takes firmer ground. ‘According to an original letter in my possession, signed by the three heads of New Spain, and written to his Majesty the emperor, our master, they exculpate Motecuhzoma and the Mexicans of this and other charges, declaring them inventions of the Tlascaltecs and of some Spaniards who feared that they would never see the hour when they might leave the city and place in security the riches they had obtained.’ Hist. Chich., 296. Clavigero adopts the view that Cortés called for such testimony from certain chiefs among his allies, whose dislike of the Mexicans would be sure to prompt it. ‘Per giustificar vieppiù il suo attentato, e muovere i suoi Spagnuoli ad eseguirlo, fece chiamar parecchie persone principali de’ suoi alleati (la cui informazione dovrebbe sempre essergli sospettosa).’ Storia Mess., iii. 90-1. Vetancurt has a story that, a drought prevailing at the time, the Spaniards induced the heavens by means of masses and prayers to send rain. This made the priests and idols jealous, and the emperor was prevailed on to rid himself of the Spaniards. The Tlascaltecs learned of the plot and reported it. Teatro, pt. iii. 130.