Next day being appointed for making a visit to Montezuma, Cortes went to the royal palace accompanied by captains Alvarado, De Leon, Ordas, and Sandoval, with five soldiers.  Montezuma met him in the middle of the great hall, attended by his relations, all others being excluded from the apartment in which he happened to be, except on certain occasions of importance.  After mutual compliments of ceremony, Montezuma took Cortes by the hand, and led him to a seat on his own right hand, placed on an elevated platform in the saloon.  Cortes then said, “That he came to him in the name and for the service of the only true God, who was adored by the Christians, the Lord Christ Jesus, who had died to save us and all men.  He endeavoured to explain the mystery of the cross, as an emblem of the crucifixion, by which mankind had been redeemed.  He recounted the sufferings and death of our Lord and Saviour, who had risen on the third day and ascended to heaven, where he now reigns, the creator of the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and all that they contain.  He asserted, that those idols which the natives held as gods, were devils which dared not to remain wherever the holy cross was planted.  That as all mankind were brothers, the offspring of the same first pair, our glorious emperor lamented the loss of their souls, which would be brought by their idols into everlasting flames, and had sent us to apply a sure remedy, by abolishing the worship of idols, the bloody and inhuman sacrifices of their fellow men, and their other odious customs so contrary to the law of God:  And that our emperor would send them holy men hereafter to explain all these things more fully.”  To this Montezuma replied, “Malinatzin!  I am much indebted to your emperor for sending you so far to inform me of all these things, of which I have already heard by means of my ambassadors who have visited you in my name, and to which hitherto we have made no reply.  We have always worshipped our gods, whom we consider to be just and good, and have no doubt yours are so likewise.  It had always been his wish to see us from the first time he had heard of our arrival on his coasts, because he believed we were they of whom their ancient prophecies made mention, and his gods had now granted his desire.  That our being refused entrance into his cities was none of his fault; having been done by his subjects without orders, who were terrified by the accounts they had received of us, which reported that we were furious teules, who carried thunder and lightning along with us, that our horses eat men, and other such foolish stories.  That he now saw we were valiant and wise men, for which he highly esteemed us, and would give us proofs of his favour.”  Then changing the manner of his discourse to gaiety, he added “Malinatzin!  Your new friends the Tlascalans have informed you that I am like a god, and that every thing about me is gold, silver, and jewels.  But you now see that I am like other men, and that my houses are of