In June 1524, almost three years after the fall of Mexico, a meeting

In June 1524, almost three years after the fall of Mexico, a meeting

took place between Aztec leaders and wise men and Hernán

Cortés, who was surrounded by Franciscan missionaries. Although

the vanquished made an act of allegiance, they nevertheless defended

their spiritual values:

Our Lords, our very esteemed Lords:

great hardships have you endured to reach this land.

Here before you,

we ignorant people contemplate you.

Through an interpreter we reply.

Perhaps we are to be taken to our ruin, to our destruction.

But where are we to go now?

We are ordinary people,

we are subject to death and destruction, we are mortals;

allow us then to die,

let us perish now,

since our gods are already dead.

You said

that our gods are not true gods.

New words are these that you speak;

because of them we are disturbed,

because of them we are troubled.

For our ancestors

before us, who lived upon the earth,

were unaccustomed to speak thus.

From them we have inherited

our pattern of life

which in truth did they hold;

in reverence they held,

they honoured, our gods.

They taught us

all their rules of worship,

all their ways of honouring the gods.

It was the doctrine of the elders

that there is life because of the gods;

with their sacrifice, they gave us life.

It was their doctrine

that they provide our subsistence,

all that we eat and drink,

that which maintains life.

They themselves are rich,

happy are they,

things do they possess;

so forever and ever,

things sprout and grow green in their domain.

There hunger is never known,

no sickness is there,

poverty there is not.

Courage and the ability to rule

they gave to the people;

above the world

they had founded

their kingdom.

They gave the order, the power,

glory, fame.

And now, are we

to destroy

the ancient order of life?

Of the Chichimecs?

of the Toltecs,

of the Acolhuas,

of the Tecpanecs?

Hear, oh Lords,

do nothing

to our people

that will bring misfortune upon them,

that will cause them to perish.

Calm and amiable,

consider, oh Lords,

whatever is best.

We cannot be tranquil,

and yet we certainly do not believe;

we do not accept your teachings as truth,

even though this may offend you.

Is it not enough that we have already lost,

that our way of life has been taken away,

has been annihilated.