Many of Montezuma's subjects and relatives were amazed and outraged by the way he was giving this foreign conqueror shelter, food, and basically, handing him the country and Kingship. But Cortés used a combination of strongarm and pretty speeches to convince all he came in contact with of his noble mission. [As a commenter pointed out when I crossposted this in another blog, there were other factors (like tribal strife and fueding) that contributed to Cortes' amazing headway through the land, but I still say that Cortés deadliest weapons were his political skills. Read the book and see what you think. It is by Sr. Díaz's historical account I am making this assessment. -Nezua]

Almost everyone. At one point, when Cortés was dealing with Narváez, another Spaniard who was sent to rein in Cortés, someone whispered in Montezuma's ear. Or acted without him. Or overruled him. Or woke him up. Whatever it was, exactly, Cortés marched back to the realm of Moctezuma and found that the natives were up in arms against him.

The frustration in reading this account of history by Bernal Díaz is not just in watching a ruthless, arrogant, cruel, deceptive conqueror assault innocent indigenous poeple and all they hold dear. It is mostly in watching the aid that was given to Cortés by those who ought to have been opposing him. And although Spain did, in the end, conquer Mexico, it was not before Cortés was driven out bleeding and with few men by many Mexican warriors. They drove out Cortés and killed most of his men despite Moctezuma's wishes, as they found him to be lost and fallen under the spell of Cortés' silver tongue. Before they fell on Cortés, however, they stoned their own once-revered King, Moctezuma, to death for his capitulation.

Actions have consequences, the three stones said.