Morisco resistance speeches in Christian sources may be invented propaganda

Evidence

One would be surprised if any individual, however independently minded, had dared at such a juncture, when tempers were so inflamed, to speak up so tellingly against the perils of the defiant course of action on which the Moriscos were embarking: “By the hope of what aid are you moved to rebel? Will it come from Africa, where [the Spaniards] have more forts and more garrisons than there are in Granada. Or from the Turks? They are so far away, that you will be gobbled up before they arrive.” C´ardenas is made to argue that all the sufferings of the war will not be justified: “Consider, by God, how much less of a loss it is to have to change your language and your style of dress, because it is not the Arabic language that makes you Muslims… . ” On balance it is more probable that this is all the invention of a Christian author and that it reflects Christian propaganda in favor of peace at any price. — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1006

Categorization

• QUESTION: The attributed speech argues language change and dress change don’t alter one’s faith — is this a genuine Morisco position or a Christian wish? Would be worth tracing whether any independent evidence records Moriscos saying this.
• XREF: Connects to the theme of forced linguistic and sartorial assimilation — echoes the complaint-about-immodesty/dress-as-identity material from the ‘Complaints About Immodesty’ article.