_Cortes_ seyng the liberalitie of _Mutezuma_, sayde vnto him: sir, my company are vnruly fellowes, and as I vnderstand, they haue founde out some of your treasure, and haue made spoyle thereof: wherfore I would know your pleasure what shal be done with thë. And in effect it was the treasure that _Cortes_ himselfe had founde out. _Mutezuma_ answered, saying, sir that treasure which they haue founde, did appertayne vnto the Goddes: But yet notwithstandyng, let them leaue the feathers, and all suche things as are neyther golde nor siluer, and all the residue take for you and them, and if you will haue more, I will prouide it for you. Hovv Cortez began to plucke dovvne _the Idols of Mexico_. VVhen _Mutezuma_ went vnto the temple, he went leaning vpon a noble mans arme, or else was leade betwéene two, and a noble personage wente alwayes before him with thrée small wandes in his hande, signifying thereby that the King in person was there at hand, and in token also of iustice and correction. If he had bene carried vpon mens shoulders then at his alighting downe he tooke one of those roddes into his owne hand. He was a Prince ful of ceremonies in al his doings, but the substaunce of his estate is already declared, from the time that _Cortes_ entred into _Mexico_ vntil this present. Those first dayes that the Spaniardes came to the Citie, & as often as _Mutezuma_ went to the temple, _Indian_ men were slayne in sacrifice. And to prohibite suche adhominable crueltie & sinne, cömitted in the presence of the Christians who wët in company of _Mutezuma_, _Cortes_ required _Mutezuma_ to commmaunde that no mans fleshe should be any more spoyled, or bloud shedde in sacrifice, and in not fulfilling his request, he would destroy bothe the temple and Cittie. Also he signified vnto him, that he himselfe woulde throw downe the idols, before his presence and all the Citizens. _Mutezuma_ replied to his demaüd, saying: It may please you to leaue of your determination, least that in so doing all the Citie fall into an vprore and rebellion to defende their good Gods, and auncient Religion, the which Gods had alwayes prouided them of water, bread, health, light, and all other things néedefull. This notwithstanding, the first time that _Mutezuma_ wente to the temple after his imprisonment, _Cortes_ and his company wente with him, and euery of them layde handes vpon the idols, & threwe them downe headlong from their seates, and Altars, and other Chapels. _Mutezuma_ with this sight was in great agonie, yea and his subiects ready to take weapon to slay them there present, but yet _Mutezuma_ commaunded his subiectes to stay from their pretence: beséechyng _Cortes_ to stay from his procéedings, at whose request _Cortes_ ceased, for he thought, as yet time serued not for the purpose and pretence: but he declared vnto them by his interpreters as followeth. The exhortation that Cortez made _to Mutezuma and to the Citizens of Mexico, concerning their Idols_.