the ship of D. Hernando Cortés._
They commenced to climb up to the ship on the ladders, and brought
the presents that Montezuma had commanded them to carry. When they
were in front of the captain D. Hernando Cortés, all kissed the ground
[deck] in his presence, and spoke in this wise: “May the god whom we
come to adore in the name of his servant Montezuma, who for him rules
and governs the city of Mexico, know, and who says that the god has
come after much hardship.” And at once they took out the ornaments
they had brought, and placed them in front of the captain D. Hernando
Cortés, adorning him with them, placing first the crown and mask
which has been described above, and all the other things: they put
around his neck the collars of (precious) stones with the jewels of
gold which they had brought, and put on his left arm the shield above
described, and all the other things were placed in front of him in the
order they were accustomed to put their presents. The captain said,
“Is there something more?” And they said to him, “We have not brought
anything else than these things that are here.” The captain at once
ordered them to be tied, and ordered shots of artillery fired, and the
messengers who were tied hand and foot, when they heard the thunder of
the bombardment, fell on the floor like dead, and the Spaniards lifted
them from the floor, and gave them wine to drink, with which they
strengthened them and revived them. After this captain D. Hernando
Cortés said to them, through the interpreter: “Listen to what I say
to you. I have been told that the Mexicans are valiant men, that they
are great conquerors and great warriors, and are very skillful at
arms: they tell me that one Mexican alone is enough to conquer from
ten to twenty of his enemies. I wish to prove whether this is true,
and whether you are so strong as I have been told.” Then he ordered
swords and shields to be given them that they might fight with as many
Spaniards, so that he might see who might win, and the Mexicans then
said to captain Cortés, “May it please your grace to listen to our
excuse, for we are not able to do what you command, and it is because
our Lord Montezuma has sent us to do nothing else than to salute you
and give you this present, we cannot do anything else, nor are we
able to do what you order us, for if we did we should offend our Lord
Montezuma, and he would order us killed.” And the captain responded:
“You will have to do by all means what I say. I have to see what kind
of men you are, for over yonder in our country we have been told that
you are very courageous men: arm yourselves with these arms and be
ready that we encounter one another tomorrow on the (battle) field.