“The Gold and Jewels that Mutezuma gave unto Cortes for tribute”

After certaine dayes that Mutezuma and his counsel had yielden their obedience, Cortes sayde unto him, how that the Emperour was at great costes & charges in his warres, wherefore it should be necessary that his newe vassals shoulde begin to serve in some thing, and to pay their tribute, willyng him to sende throughout his dominion to see what coulde be gathered of Gold, and that he himselfe should beginne first to pay tribute to the example of others. Mutezuma answered that he was contented so to doe, willyng that some of his men shoulde goe unto the house of foule [the treasury] for the same. There went many, and there sawe golde in planches like brickebattes, Jewels, and peeces wrought in a hall, and two chambers which were opened unto the[m]. The Spaniardes wondering at the sight, would not touch any thing, without giving firste advertisement to Cortes, who incontinent went thither, and caused it all to be carried to his lodging: besides this treasure Mutezuma gave unto him rich clothes of cotton and feathers marvelously woven in figures & colours, it seemed without comparison, for the Spaniardes had never seene the like.

--Francisco López de Gómara (trans. Thomas Nicholas), The Pleasant Historie of the Conquest of the Weast India, now called new Spayne (1552; 1578).