Hovv the Indians of Potonchan brake _downe their Idols, and worshipped Christ crucified_. VVith the relation of _Tauasco_, _Cortez_ sawe that the countrey was not for Spaniardes, nor yet he toke it a thing conueniente to settle themselues where no golde nor siluer was, or other riches. And so pretended to passe forwardes to discouer westward the lande endewed with golde. But before his departure, he declared to those new conquered _Indians_, that the Lord in whose name he and hys company had taken that iourney was king of Spayne and Emperour of Christians, and the greatest Prince in the worlde, vnto whom many kings and Princes dyd homage and obey. And that hys rule and gouernemente in iustice proceeded from God, beeing iust, holy, peaceable, and sweete, and also the _Monarchie_ of the vniuersall did appertaine vnto him. And for these causes he required them to yelde themselues as his subiectes. And if they would doe so, there shoulde ensue vnto them great profite, lawes and pollicie. And as touching their religion, he declared their blindnesse & greate abuses which they vsed in worshipping many Gods, and in making sacrifice vnto them with mans bloud, yea & thinking that those images and Idols, did or coulde doe good or euill vnto them, being dübe, without life or soule, yea and y^e worke of their owne hands. He certifyed them of one god maker of heauen and earth, and all creatures whom the Christians did worshippe and serue, and that all creatures ought to doe the same. In conclusion with thys doctryne they brake downe their Idols, and receyued the crosse, _Cortez_ hauing first declared vnto them the great miseries that the son of God suffered on y^e Crosse for mankynde. And in the greatest temple of _Potonchan_, set vp a Crosse in remëbrance of the death of Christ and celebrated the feast vpon their knees, and the multitude of _Indians_ likewise, and departed to their meate. _Cortez_ desired them within two dayes to come agayne to theyr diuine seruice. And that day was Palme sunday. And so they did and brought an infinite number of men women and children of other villages with them whych was straunge to behold. And there generally gaue theyr vassalship to the king of Spaine into the handes of _Hernando Cortez_, with protestation of perpetuall friendship with the Spanish nation. So that these were the fyrste vassals that the Emperour had in the new Spayne. And this feast and ceremony ended, our men toke shipping with the palme boughes in their handes. In this doyng _Cortez_ deserued no lesse prayse than in his victorie, for he vsed wisedome with manhoode in all his doings: he lefte those _Indians_ with a newe faith, and the towne frée and without hurt, he toke none for slaues, nor yet any spoyle nor exchäged his merchaundice for any thing although he aboade there twentye dayes. The towne is called in the _Indian_ tongue _Potonchan_, that is to saye, a place that stincketh, and our menne named it, the victorie.