362 SUBSEQUENT CAREER OF CORTÉS. [Book VII.

day, enlightened by a purer Christianity , it mayseem difficult to reconcile gross deviations from mor-als with such devotion to the cause of religion. Butthe religion taught in that day was one of form andelaborate ceremony. In the punctilious attention todiscipline, the spirit of Christianity was permitted toevaporate. The mind, occupied with forms, thinkslittle of substance. In a worship that is addressedtoo exclusively to the senses, it is often the case,that morality becomes divorced from religion, and themeasure of righteousness is determined by the creedrather than by the conduct.

In the earlier part of the History, I have given adescription of the person of Cortés . 37 It may bewell to close this review of his character by theaccount of his manners and personal habits left us byBernal Diaz , the old chronicler , who has accompaniedus through the whole course of our narrative, andwho may now fitly furnish the conclusion of it. Noman knew his commander better; and, if the avowedobject of his work might naturally lead to a dispar-agement of Cortes, this is more than counterbal-anced by the warmth of his personal attachment,and by that esprit de corps which leads him to takea pride in the renown of his general.

1 “ In his whole appearance and presence,” saysDiaz , “ in his discourse, his table, his dress, in every-

ing in this couplet the double glo- by every devout Spaniard ■ of the

ry of Cortés. It is the light in sixteenth century.

which the Conquest was viewed 37 Ante, Vol. I. p. 258.