and with these swords they â—…t speares 〈◊〉 and a Horses neck at a blow and could makedontâ—… into iron which 〈◊〉 â—…â—…ing impossible and incredible These 〈◊〉 were joyned into the stâ—…ffes 〈◊〉 a certain kind of glew which was made of a root called 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 which is a â—…ind 〈◊〉 strong sand whereof they made a 〈◊〉 and after kâ—…ded iâ—… 〈◊〉 blood of 〈◊〉 or Reare mice and other â—…owle which did glew so strong that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 leaved again and of these Mâ—… had in 〈◊〉 house of Armoâ—… great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides these houses it is wonderfull â—…o relate yet mâ—…y others which that 〈◊〉 heathen Emperour had for his only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of medicinall herbs sweet flowers and trees of delectable savour But of one garden more especially it is said that in it there were a thousand personages made and wrought artificially of leaves and flowers And Montezuma would not permit that in this garden should be any kind of Pot-herbs or things to be sold saying that it did not appertaine to Kings to have things of profit among their delights and pleasures for that such did appertaine to Merchants Yet out of Mexico he had Orchards with many and sundry fruits and likewise pleasant houses in woods and forrests of great compasse environed with water in the which he had fountaines rivers ponds with fish rockes and coverts where were Harts Bucks Hares Foxes Wolves and such like whither he himselfe seldome went but the Lords of Mexico used to goe to sport themselves in them Such and so many were the houses of Montezuma wherein few Kings were equall with him He had dayly attending upon him in his privy guard six hundred noblemen and gentlemen and each of them three or foure servants and some had twenty servants or more according to their estate and the most credible report goes that in this manner he had three thousand men attendants in his Court all which were fed in his house of the meat that came from his table There were in those times under the Mexicall empire three thousand Lords of Townes who had many vassals but more especially there were thirty of high estate who were able to make each of them a hundred thousand men of warre And all these noble men did abide in Mexico certaine time of the yeare in the Court of Montezuma and could not depart from thence without especiall licence of the Emperour leaving each of them a sonne or brother behind them for security of rebellion and for this cause they had generally houses in the City such and so great was the Court of Montezuma Moreover he spent nothing in the buildings of all these his houses for he had certaine Townes that payed no other tribute but only to work and repair continually his houses at their own proper cost and payed all kind of workemen carrying upon their backes or drawning in sleds stone lyme timber water and all other necessaries for the worke Likewise they were bound to provide all the wood that should be spent in the Court which was five hundred mens burthens and some daies in the winter much more But especially for the Emperours chimneys they brought the barke of Oke trees which was esteemed for the light Thus was that great City formerly illustrated with a mighty Monarch his houses and attendants There were then also in Mexico three sorts of streets very broad and faire the one sort was only of water with many bridges another sort of only earth and the third of earth and water the one half being firme ground to walke upon and the other halfe for boats to bring provision to the City the most part of the houses had two doores the one toward the Cawsey and the other toward the water at the which they tooke boat to goe whither they list But this water though so neer to the houses being not good to drinke there is other water fresh and sweet brought by conduit to Mexico from a place called Chapultepec three miles distant from the City which springeth out of a little hill at the foot whereof stood formerly two statues or images wrought in stone with their Targets and Launces the one of Montezuma the other of Axaiaca his father The water is brought from thence to this day in two pipes built upon Arches of brick and stone like a fair bridge and when the one pipe is foule then all the water is conveyed into the other till the first be made cleane From this fountaine all the whole City is provided and the Water-men go selling the same water from street to street some in little boats others with earthen Tankards upon Mules or Asses backs The chiefe and principall division of this City when the Spaniards first conquered it was into two streets the one was called Tlatelulcâ—… that is to say a little Island and the other Mexico where 〈◊〉 his dwelling and Court was signifying in the language a spring And because of the Kings palace there the whole City was named Mexico But the old and first name of the City according to some Histories was Tenuchtitlan which signifieth fruit out of a stone being a compounded name of Tâ—…tl which in the language is stone and 〈◊〉 which is a sweet fruit called generally in Cuba and all other parts of Aâ—…rica by the Spaniardâ—… Tunâ—… the name of the tree whereon this fruit groweth is called Nepal And when this City begunne to be founded it was placed neer unto a â—…reat stone that stood in the midst of the lake at the foot whereof grew one of these Nepal trees which is the reason why Mexico giveth for armes and device the foot of a Nepal tree springing from a stone according to the first name of the City Tenuchtlitan But others do affirme that this City hath the name of the first founder of it called Tenuch the second sonne of Iztacmixcâ—…atl whose sonnes and descendents did first inhabit all that part of America which is now called new Spain Mexico is as much as to say a spring or fountain according to the property of the vowell or speech from whence some judge that City to be so named But others doe affirme that Mexico hath its name from a more ancient time whose first founders were called Mexiti for unto this day the Indian dwellers in one street of this City are called of Mexica And that these Mexiti tooke name of their principall idol called Mexitli who was in as great veneration as Vitzilopuchtli God of the warre But others affirme and this opinion is most received among the Spaniards that the Mexicans first were the inhabitants of nova Galicia from whence they made a violent irruption Anno Domini 720. and lingered in divers places till the yeare 902. when under the leading of Mexi their chiefe Captaine they built this City and called it after the name of their Generall They were in all seven Tribes which ruled long in an Aristocraticall state till the
the residue of his Army to follow him with as much speed as might be so that with that company which he carried with him he made way taking away the trees that were cut downe to disturbe his passage and in this order in short time passed his host without any hurt or danger but with great pain and travaile for certainly if the Mexicans had been there to defend that passage the Spaniards had not passed for it was then a very evill way though now it be a reasonâ—…ble wide open rode where Mules laden with wares from St. John de Ulhua and the Sugar farmes daily passe and the Mexicans also thought the same to be sure with the trees which were crossed the way whereupon they were carelesse of that place and attended their coming in plain ground for from Tlaxcallan to Mexico are three wayes of the which Cortez chose the worst imagining the thing that afterwards fell out or else some had advised him how that way was cleare from the enemies At the descent of this hill Cortez abode and rested himselfe till all the whole Army were come together to descend downe into the plaine for from hence they descried the fires and beacons of their enemies in sundry places and all those who had attended their â—…ing by the other two waies were now gathered together thinking to set upon them betwixt certain bridges which are in the plain made for travellers by reason of the many dikes and currents of water which issue from the lake where a great company abode expecting their coming But Cortez sent twenty Horse-men who made way among them and then followed the whole Army who â—…lew many of them without receiving any hurt Thus did the remembrance of those antiquities newly refreshed by the object of the hill and plain beneath make that cold and hard passage more comfortable and easie unto us The first Towne we came to below the hill was Quabutipec of the jurisdiction of Tezcuco where we also called to mind that this was the place neer unto which was pitched the Campe of the Indians of Culhua which was neer a hundred thousand men of warre who were sent by the Seniors of Mexico and Tezcuco to encounter Cortez but all in vain for his Horse-men broke through them and his Artillerie made such havock among them that they were soon put to flight Three leagues from hence on our right hand as we travailed we discovered Tezcuco by the side of the lake and out of the Rode yet it ministred unto us matter of a large discourse taken from the time of Cortez and the first Conquerers who found it a great City and at that time even as big as Mexico though in it Cortez met with no resistance for as he journeyed towards it foure principall persons inhabitants of it met with his forces bearing a rod of gold with a little flag in token of peace saying that Coacuacoyocin their Lord had sent them to desire him not to make any spoile in his City and Townes about it and likewise to offer his friendship praying also that it might please him with his whole Army to take his lodging in the Town of Tezcuco where he should be well received Cortez rejoycing at this message yet jealous of some treachery and mistrusting the people of Tezcuco whose forces joyned with the Mexicans and Culhuacans he had met with a little before went forward on his way and came to Quahutichan and Huaxuta which then were suburbs of the great City Tezcuco but now are petty Villages by themselves where he and all his host were plenteously provided of all things necessary and threw down the Idols This done he entred into the City where his lodging was prepared in a great house sufficient for him and all the Spaniards with many other his Indian friends And because that at his first entry he saw neither women nor children he suspectâ—…d some treason and forthwith proclaimed upon pain of death that none of his men should goe out In the evening the Spaniards went up into the Zâ—…ties and galleries to behold the City and there they saw the great number of Citizens that fled from thence with their stuffe some towards the mountaines and others to the water side to take boat a thing strange to see the great haste and stirre to provide for themselves There were at that time at least twenty thousand little boats called Canoas occupied in carrying houshold-stuffe and passengers Cortez would faine have remedied it but the night was so nigh at hand that he could not He would gladly also have apprehended the Lord but hee was one of the first that fled unto Mexico This Towne of Tezcuco to this day is famous among the Spaniards for that it was one of the first if not the first which according to the Histories of those parts is very probable that received a Christian King to rule and governe For Cortez hearing that Coacuacoyocin then King of that City and Townes adjacent was fled caused many of the Citizens to be called before him and having in his company a young gentleman of a Noble house in that countrey who had been lately christened and had to name Hernando Cortez being his God-father who loved him well said unto the Citizens that this new Christian Lord Don Hernando was sonne unto Nezâ—…valpincintli their loving Lord wherefore he required them to make him their King confidering that Coacuacoyocin was fled unto the enemies laying also before them his wicked fact in killing of Cacuzâ—… his owne brother onely to put him from his inheritance and Kingdome through the â—…uticement of Quahutimâ—…cin a mortall enemy to the Spaniards In this sort was that new Christian Don Hernando elected King and the fame thereof being blown abroad many Citizens repaired home again to visit their new Prince so that in short space the City was as well replenished with people as it was before and being also well used at the Spanirds hands they served them diligently in all things that they were commanded And Don Hornando abode ever after a faithfull friend unto the Spaniards in their warres against Mexico and in short time learned the Spanish tongue And soone after came the inhabitants of Quahutichan Huaxuta and 〈◊〉 to submit themselves craving pardon if in any thing they had offended Within two daies after Don Hernando was made King of this great City and Territorie belonging to it whose borders reach unto the borders of Tlaxcallan came certaine gentlemen of Huaxuta and Quobutichan to certifie unto him how all the power of the Mexicans was coming towards them and to know if it were his pleasure that they should carry their wives children and other goods into the mountaines or else to bring them where he was their feare was so great Cortez for the King his God-child and favourite made unto them this answer saying Bee ye of good courage and feare ye not Also I pray you to command your wives and families to make no
when Uazquez de Coronado conquered some part of it hee saw in the further Sea certaine ships not of common making which seemed to bee well laden and bare in their prowes Pelicans which could not bee conjectured to come from any Country but one of these two In Quivira there are but two Provinces knowne unto us which are Cibola and Nova Albion Cibola lyeth on the Eastside whose chief City is of the same name and denominates the whole Province The chief Town next to Cibola is called Totontaa which is temperate and pleasant being situated upon a River so called The third Town worth mentioning is called Tinguez which was burnt by the Spaniards who under the conduct of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado made this Province subject to the King of Spain Anno Dom. 1540. And since this Town of Tinguez hath been rebuilt and inhabited by the Spaniards There is a goodly Colledge of Jesuites who only preach to the Indians of that country Nova Albion lyeth on the West side towards Tartary and is very little inhabited by the Spaniards who have found no wealth or riches there Our ever Renowned and Noble Captain Sir Francis Drake discovered it entred upon it and hee named it Nova Albion because the King that then was did willingly submit himself unto our Queen Elizabeth The Country abounds with fruits pleasing both the eye and the Palate The people are given to hospitality but withall to witchcraft and adoration of devils The bounds between this Quivira and Mexico Empire is Mar Virmiglio or Californio The third Kingdome belonging to the Mexican part and Northern Tract is Iucatan which was first discovered by Francisco Hernandez de Cordova in the year 1517. It is called Iucatan not as some have conceited from Ioctan the son of Heber who they thinke came out of the East where the Scripture placeth him Gen. 12. 23. to inhabite here but from Iucatan which in the Indian tongue fignifieth what say you for when the Spaniards at their first arriving in that Country did aske of the Indians the name of the place the Savages not understanding what they meaned replyed unto them Iucatan which is what say you whereupon the Spaniards named it and ever since have called it Iucatan The whole Country is at least 900. miles in circuit and is a Peninsulâ—… It is situated over against the Isle of Cuba and is divided into three parts first Iucatan it selfe whose Cities of greatest worth are Campeche Ualladolid Merida Simaricas and one which for his greatnesse and beauty they call Caire This Country among the Spaniards is held to bee poor the chief Commodities in it are hony wax Hides and some Sugar but no Indigo Cochinil nor Mines of silver There are yet some drugs much esteemed of by the Apothecaries Cana fistula Zarzaparilla especially and great store of Indian Maiz. There is also abundance of good Wood and Timber fit for shipping whereof the Spaniards doe make very strong ships which they use in their voiages to Spain and back again In the yeer 1632. the Indians of this Country in many places of it were like to rebell against their Spanish Governour who vexed them sorely making them bring in to him their Fowles and Turkies whereof there is also great abundance and their hony and wax wherein hee traded at the rate and price which hee pleased to set them for his better advantage which was such a disadvantage to them that to enrich him they impoverished themselves and so resolved to betake themselves to the Woods and Mountaines where in a rebellious way they continued some Months untill the Franciscan Fryers who have there great power over them reduced them back and the Governour lest hee should quite lose that Country by a further rebellion granted to them not onely a generall pardon in the Kings name but for the future promised to use them more mildly and gently The second part of it is called Guatemala wherein I lived for the space of almost twelve yeers whose Inhabitants have lost formerly halfe a million of their kinsmen and friends by the unmercifull dealing of the Spaniards and yet for all the losse of so many thousands there is no part of America more flourishing then this with great and populous Indians Townes They may thank the Fryers who defend them daily against the Spaniards cruelty and this yet for their owne ends for while the Indians flourish and increase the Fryers purses flourish also and are filled This Country is very fresh and plentifull The chief Cities are Guatemala Cassuca and Chiapa whereof I shall speak more largely hereafter The third part of Iucatan is Acasamil which is an Island over against Guatemala which is now commonly called by the Spaniards Sta. Cruz whose chief Towne is Sta. Cruz. The fourth and last Country of the division of the Mexican part and Northern Tract of America which is under the Spanish Government and my best knowledge and eâ—…perience is Nicaragua which standeth South East from Mexico and above foure hundred and fifty leagues from it Yet it agreeth somewhat with Mexico in nature both of soile and Inhabitants The people are of good stature and of colour indifferent white They had before they received Christianity a setled and politick forme of Government Onely as Sâ—…n appointed no Law for a mans killing of his father so had this people none for the murtherer of a King both of them conceiting that men were not so unnaturall as to commit such crimes A theef they judged not to death but adjudged him to be slave to that man whom hee had robbed till by his service hee had made satistaction a course truely more mercifull and not lesse just then the losse of life This Countrey is so pleasing to the eye and abounding in all things necessary that the Spaniards call it Mahomets Paradise Among other flourishing trees here groweth one of that nature that a man cannot touch any of its branches but it withereth presently It is as plentifull of Parrets as our Countrey of England is of Crowes Turkies Fowles Quailes and Rabbets are ordinary meat there There are many populous Indian Townes though not so many as about Guatemala in this Countrey and especially two Cities of Spaniards the one Leon a Bishops Seat and the other Granada which standeth upon a Lake of fresh water which hath above three hundred miles in compasse and having no intercourse with the Ocean doth yet continually ebbe and flow But of this Countrey and of this City especially I shall say somewhat more when I come to speake of my travailing through it Thus I have briefly touched upon the Mexican part and so much of the Northern Tract as is under the King of Spain his Dominion leaving more particulars untill I come to shew the order of my being in and journeying through some of these Countries I will now likewise give you a glimpse of the Southern Tract and Peruan part of America Which containeth chiefly five great Countries or
reason of the unhealthfulnesse of the aire and noisome savour of the standing pooles The chief places belonging to the Spaniards are first Theonimay or Nombre de Dios on the East the second which is six leagues from Nombre de Dios is Portabel now chiefly inhabited by the Spaniards and Mulattoes and Blackmores and Nombre de Dios almostutterly forsaken by reason of its unhealthfulnesse The ships which were wont to anchor in Nombre de Dios and there to take in the Kings treasure which is yeerly brought from Peru to Panama and from thence to the North Sea now harbour themselves in Portabel which signisyeth Porto bello a faire and goodly Haven for so indeed it is and well fortified at the entrance with three Castles which can reach and command one another The third and chiefe place belonging to the Spaniards in Castella del oro is Panama which is on the Westside and upon the South Sea This City and Nombre de Dios were both built by Didacus de Niquesa And Nombre de Dios was so called because Niquesa having been crossed with many mischances and misadventures at Sea when hee came to this place greatly rejoyced and bad his men now goe on shore in Nombre de Dios in the name of God in the name of God But as I have before observed the aire being here very unhealthy the King of Spain in the yeare 1584. commanded the houses of Nombre de Dios to be pulled downe and to be rebuilt in a more healthy and convenient place which was performed by Peter Aâ—…ias in Portabel But being now upon Nombre de Dios I should wrong my Country if I should not set out to the publike view the worth of her people shewed upon this place and to this day talked on and admired by the Spaniards who doe not only remember Sir Francis Drake teach their children to dread and fear even his name for his attempts upon Carthagena and all the coast about and especially upon Nombre de Dios and from it marching as farre as the great mountaine called St. Pablo towards Panama but furthermore keep alive amongst them and in this my History it shall not die the name of one of Sir Francis Drake his followers and Captains named Iohn Oxenham whose attempt on this Coast was resolute and wonderfull This Noble and gallant Gentleman arriving with threescore and ten souldiers in his company as resolute as himselfe a little above this Towne of Nombre de Dios drew a land his ship and covering it with boughes marched over the land with his Company guided by Black-mores untill he came to a river Where he cut downe wood made him a Pinnace entred the South-sea went to the Island of Pearles where hee lay ten daies waiting for a prize which happily he got though not so happily after kept it for from that Island he set upon two Spanish ships and finding them unable to fight he speedily made them yeeld and intercepted in them threescore thousand pound weight of gold and two hundred thousand pound weight in barres or wedges of silver and returned safely again to the maine land And though by reason of a mutiny made by his owne Company he neither returned to his country nor to his hidden ship yet was it such a strange adventure as is not to be forgotten in that the like was never by any other attempted and by the Spaniards is to this day with much admiration recorded Much part of this Castella aurea as yet is not subdued by the Spaniards and so doubtlesse a great treasure lieth hiâ—… in it for that people and nation whose thoughts shall aspire to find it out In the year 1637. when I chanced to be in Panama returning homewards to my Country there came thither some twenty Indians Barbarians by way of peace to treate with the President of the Chancery concerning their yeelding up themselves to the government of the King of Spaine But as I was informed afterwards at Carthagena nothing was concluded upon for that the Spaniards dare not trust those Indians whom they have found to have rebelled often against them for their hard usage and carriage towards them These Indians which then I saw were very proper tall and lusty men and well complexioned and among them one of as red a haire as any our nation can shew they had bobs of gold in their eares and some of them little pieces of gold made like a halfe moone hanging upon their neither lips which argues store of that treasure to be amongst them Unto this country is joyning Nova Andaluzia which hath on the North side Castella del oro and on the South Peru The best Cities in it are Tocoio now by the Spaniards called St. Margarets and another called â—… Espiritu Nova Granada is situated on the South side of Carthagena and from the abundance and fertility of Granada in Spaino it hath taken its name The chiefe Townes and Cities in it are six First Tungia which is supposed to be directly under the Aequatâ—…r The second is Tochaimum The third Popaian the richest of them all The fourth Sta. Fee or St. Faith an Archbishops seat and a Court of Justice and Chancery governed like Panama and Guatemala by a President and six Judges and a Kings Attorney and two high Justices of Court who have six thousand duckats a yeer allowed them out of the Kings treasure The fifth City is Palma and the sixth Merida From Carthagena through this countrey of Granada lieth the rode way to Lima in Peru all by land This Country is very strong by reason of the situation of it much amongst stony rockes which compasse and environ it and through which there are very narrow passages Yet it is full of pleasant valleys which do yeeld much fruit Corne and Indian Maiz. There are also in it some Mines of silver and many golden sanded rivers Carthagena which is the last Province of Castella aurea hath also a very fruitfull soil in the which groweth a tree which if any one do touch he will hardly escape a poysoning The chiefe Cities in it are first Carthagena which Sir Francis Drake in the yeer 1585. surprised and as the Spaniards affirme burned most part of it and besides inestimable sums of money took with him from thence 230. peeces of Ordnance I dare say now it hath not so many yet it is reasonable well fortified though not so strong as Portabel It is a faire and gallant City and very rich by reason of the pearles which are brought to it from Margarita and the Kings revenues which from all Nova Granada are sent thither It is a Bishops seat and hath many rich Churches and Cloisters It is not governed by a Court of Justice and Chancery as S ta Fee is but onely by one Governour It hath been often moved to the Councell of Spaine to have some Galleys made to runne about those Seas and that Carthagena bee the chiefe harbour of them From
and distinguished from the true Church by seven Sacraments generally to all persons which shall have devotion to confesse with him excepting Nuns this Bishop had in that City one of the six Iudges of the Chancery his daughter a Nun called Donna Juana de Maldonado y Paz whom he loved dearly and much conferred with her in private in the Cloister whose private conferences he was jealous they should be knowne in Confession and therefore would suffer none to hear Nuns Confessions but such as were his most intimate friends and of whom he had great satisfaction alleadging this reason that such as heard Nuns Confessions ought to be very skilfull and experienced in such waies and men of age for that greater cases of Conscience were to be met with in Nuns Confessions than in others By which reason he unwisely brought an aspersion upon those Virgins who should live chast by and holily as separated from the world and inclosed and yet it seems by this Bishops opinion that within their inclosed walls sins are committed more grievous then abroad in the wide world and such as may puzzle a Ghostly Father if not skillfull and ancient and that he may and doe absolve all persons which shall confesse with him if onely God can pardon and absolve from sinne Oh how is Gods power arrogated and taken yea and abused by those sacrilegious Priests from all their sins crimes and excesses excepting such cases as are reserved to his Holinesse and to us by Canon right A wicked rule and Canon a Government certainly most cruell and tyrannicall that bindes poor wretches in some cases to goe from America to Rome at least eight thousand miles to cleare their Consciences before the Pope or else they must die without pardon and absolution from sinne many having not meanes to goe thither nor gifts to bestow upon their Pope who must be bribed to absolve them O how more sweet comfortable and safe is it for a heinous sinner and offendour even at home or in the Church grievous within his heart and keeping within himselfe to lift up a broken heart and make that poste and flie with wings of Eagles to the high Throne of Gods grace and mercy with assured confidence that there only is pardon remission and absolution granted to all such as doe truely and unfeignedly repent of their sins crimes and excesses Dated n the City of St. Iames of Guatemala the fourth day of December in the yeer of our Lord 1629. The Bishop of Guatemala By the Command of my most Illustrious Lord Peter Ramirez de Valdes Secretary Thus with full and ample Commission from the Bishop and the Provinciall was I setled in Guatemala to read and preach where although I might have continued many yeers and was offered to read Divinity having in part begun it one quarter of a yeere I continued yet but three yeers and almost an halfe for the reason I shall shew hereafter So what in that time I could observe of that City and of the Countrey round about having had occasions to travaile about it both when I lived in Guatemala and afterwards when I lived for above seven yeers in the Countrey Townes I shall truly and faithfully recommend unto my Reader This City of Guatemala called by the Spaniards Santiago or St. Iames of Guatemala is seated in a valley which is not above two miles and a halfe broad for the high mountaines doe keep it close in but in length towards the South-sea it continues a wide and champaigne Countrey opening it selfe broader a little beyond that Towne which to this day is called la Ciudad Vieja or the old City standing somewhat above three miles from Guatemala Though the mountaines on each side doe strongly environ it and especially on the East-side seem to hang over it yet none of them are hinderers to Travellers who over them have opened waies easiâ—… for man and beasts though heavily laden with wares of all sorts The way from Mexico if taken by the coast of Socomezco and Suchutepeques comes into the City North-west-ward which is a wide open and sandy rode if it be taken by Chiapa it lieth North east and entreth into the City between the mountaines as before hath been noted West-ward to the South-sea the way lieth open through the valley and a champaigne Countrey But South or South-East the entrance is over high and steepy hils which is the common Rode from Comayagua Nicaragua and the Golfo dulce or sweet Gulfe where the ships come yeerly and unlade all the Commodities which are brought from Spaine for Guatemala This also is the way followed by them who take a journey meer East-ward from this City But the chiefest mountaines which straighten in this City and valley are two called Vulcanes the one being a Vulcan of water and the other a Vulcan or mountain of fire termed so by the Spantards though very improperly a Vulcan may be said to containe water it taking its name from the heathenish God Vulcan whose profession and imployment chiefly was in fire These two famous mountaines stand almost the one over against the other on each side of the valley that of water hanging on the South-side almost perpendicularly over the City the other of fire standing lower from it more opposite to the old City That of water is higher then the other and yeelds a goodly prospect to the sight being almost all the yeer green and full of Indian Milpa's which are plantations of Indian wheat and in the small and petty Townes which lie some halfe way up it some at the foot of it there are Roses Lillies and other flowers all the yeer long in the gardens besides Plantins Apricockes and many sorts of sweet and delicate fruits It is called by the Spaniards el Vulcan del agua or the Vulcan of water because on the other side of it from Guatemala it springs with many brookes towards a Towne called Saint Christopher and especially is thought to preserve and nourish on that side also a great lake of fresh water by the Townes called Amatitlan and Petapa But on the side of it towards Guatemala and the valley it yeelds also so many springs of sweet and fresh water as have caused and made a river which runneth along the valley close by the City and is that which drives the water-mills spoken of before in â—…go This river was not known when first the Spaniards conquered that Country but since according to their constant Tradition the City of Guatemala standing higher and neerer to the Vulcan in that place and Town which to this day is called la Ciudad Vieja or the old City there lived in it then about the yeer 1534. a Gentlewoman called Donna Maria de Castilia who having lâ—…st her husband in the warres and that same yeer buried also all her children grew so impatient under these her crosses and afflictions that impiously she defied God saying What can God do more unto me now then he hath done he hath
farre under pretence of trading into the Emperours favour by gifts of Watches Clocks Dials Lockes and Cabinets and such like presents of most curious and artificiall Workmanship that they had got free accesse to his Court and counselled him to beware of Fryers which cunningly crept into his Kingodme to preach a new law perswading him by rigorous search and enquiries to root them out thus politickly for their own ends hindering the increase of Christianisme by any means or instruments save themselves and blinding the Emperors eyes with their cunning insinuations that he might not see in them what they desired he might discover in others that they might appear in sheep skins and others clothed with wolves skins and so the Fryers might have little heart to trade but enough to doe to save themselves from the stormy persecution whilst they freely might enjoy the liberty of rich trading This brand upon these cunning foxes was commanded to be printed thankes given to Diego Colliado for discovering to the Estate their crafty proceedings with not a few tenents maintained by them in Iapan even against their owne Soveraigne a fat Bishoprick was offered to the Fryer which he refusing commission was given unto him for the raising of forty Fryers out of Spain and the conducting of them to the Islands of Philippinas and that it should be free for all Preists and Fryers as well as Jesuites to passe to those parts for the preaching of Christ and the extending of Christianisme among the Heathens and Barbarians O that this my discovery made to England of those dissembling and false Preists would make us wise to know and discover under the ashes of their pretended Religion the fire of strife and contention which they kindle in Kingdomes and to rake up that covetousnesse which we may easily find in them tending to the ruine of many fair estates and to the temporall and spirituall danger of this our flourishing Kingdome CHAP. III. Shewing the manner of the Missions of Fryers and Iesuites to the India's All the Kingdomes of America that have been conquered by the Kings of Spain are divided as into severall temporall governments so into severall spirituall jurisdictions under the name of Provinces belonging unto severall religious Orders and their Provincials These though so farre distant from Europe yet live with a dependency and subordination unto the Court of Rome and are bound to send thither a strict account and relation of what most remarkable passages and successes happen there as also what want of Preachers there is in every severall Province Which is to be performed in this manner Every religious Order except the Jesuites and Dominicans whose Generall continueth till death unlesse a Cardinals cap be bestowed upon him maketh election of one of the same order to be the head Ruler or as they call him Generall over all those of the same profession every sixth year The subjects unto this Generall which are dispersed in Italy Germany Flanders France Spain East and West-India's are divided into sundry Provinces as in Spain there is one Province of Andaluzia another of Castilia nuâ—…va new Castile another of Castilia vieia old Castile another of Valencia another of Arragon of Murcia of Catalonia So likewise in America there is the Province of Mexico of Mechoacan of Guaxaca of Chiapa and Guatemala of Comayagua Nicaragua and the like Every Province of these hath a head named the Provinciall chosen by the chief of the Province every three years which election is called a Provinciall Chapter and the former a Generall Chapter which also is allotted to be in some chief City commonly in Italy France or Spain When the Provinciall Chapter is kept then by the consent of all that meet in it is there one named by name of Procurator or Diffinitor who is to goe in the name of the whole Province to the next election of the Generall and there to demand such things as his Province shall think fit and to give an account of the state of the Province from whence he is sent Thus from the West-India's are sent Procurators who commonly are the best prizes the Holland ships meet with for that they carry with them great wealth and gifts to the Generalls to the Popes and Cardinals and Nobles in Spain as bribes to facilitate whatsoever just or unjust right or wrong they are to demand Among other businesses their charge is this to make known the great want of laborers in the aboundant and plentifull harvest of the India's though not all Provinces demand Preachers from Spain as I will shew hereafter and to desire a number of thirty or forty young Preists who may be fit for any Indian language and to succeed the old standers The Order of the Province being read to the Generall or his Generall Chapter then are Letters Patents granted unto this Procurator from the Generall naming him his Vicar Generall for such a Province and declaring his sufficiency and worthy parts though none at all in him as I have beene witnesse of some the great paines hee hath taken in the new planted Indian Church and how fit hee hath been judged to convey to those parts a Mission of such as shall voluntarily offer themselves for the propagation of Christianity amongst those Barbarians Then the tauny Indian Fryer being well set out with high Commendations and fairly painted with flattering Elogies presents these his Patents and with them peradventure a little wedge of Gold a Box of Pearles some Rubies or Diamonds a Chest of Cochinill or Sugar with some boxes of curious Chocolatte or some feather works of Mechoacan some small fruits of his great paines and labour to the Pope who for his first reward gives him his Toe and Pantofle to kisse seconding this honour with a joyfull countenance to behold an Apostle judging him worthy of the best of the Indian wealth and his soule peradventure fit for the title of a Saint This complacency in the gift and the giver breeds immediately a motus proprius in his Holinesse to grant a Bull with a degree of the Popes Commissary wherein this poore Mendicant Fryer is inabled to runne over all the Cloisters of his Profession in Spain to gather up his thirty or forty yong Preachers Who for their better encouragement are at their first listing by the Popes Authority absolved á culpa à paena from all sinne and from their Purgatory and Hell due unto it by a plenary Indulgence And whosoever shall oppose or any way discourage this Popes Commissary or those that are or would be listed by him are ipso facto excommunicated with an Anathem reserved only to this Commissary or his Holiness himself O what is it to see when such a Commissaries coming is knowen how the young birds that as in Cages are shut up within the walls of a Cloister leap and cherish themselves with hopes of liberty What is it to see disordered Fryers who for their misdemeanours and leaping over their Cloister wals in the
skulles and found a hundred thirty and six thousand skulles on the poles staves and steps The other Towers were replenished out of number and there were men appointed that when one skull fell to set up another in his place so that the number might never want But all these Towers and Idols were pulled down and consumed with fire when the Spaniards wanne that City And certainly they had beene more renowned in destroying those Altars of the devill and those Idoll Gods if in their stead they had not set up new Idols and Saints of stockes and stones and built unto them as many more Churches as they found at their comming thither All therefore that hath been mentioned hitherto of Montezuma his houses and Gardens of the spacious Market place and Temples of that City was utterly destroyed and brought downe to the very ground But Cortez reedified it againe not onely for the situation and majesty but also for the name and great fame thereof Hee divided it among the Conquerours having first taken out places for Churches Market places Towne house and other necessary plots to build houses profitable for the Common-wealth Hee separated the dwellings of the Spaniards from the Indians so that now the water passeth and maketh division betwixt them Hee promised to them that were naturalls of the City of Mexico pâ—…otts to build upon inheritance freedome and other liberties and the like unto all those that would come and inhabit there which was a meanes to allure many thither Hee set also at liberty Xihuaco the Generall Captaine and made him chief over the Indians in the City unto whom hee gave a whole street He gave likewise another street to Don Pedro Montezuma who was sonne to Montezuma the King All this was done to winne the favour of the people Hee made other Gentlemen Seniors of little 〈◊〉 and streets to build upon and to inhabit and in this order the whole situation was reparted and the work began with great joy and diligence And when the fame was blowne abroad that Mexico should bee built again it was a wonâ—… to â—…et the people that resorted thither hearing of liberty and freedome The number was so great that in three miles compasse was nothing but people men and women They laboured â—…ore and did eate little by reason whereof many sickned and pestilence ensued whereof died an infinite number Their paines was great for they â—…re on their backes and drew after them stones earth timber lyme brick and all other things necessary in this sort And by little and little Mexico was built againe with a hundred thousand houses more strong and better then the old building was The Spaniards built their houses after the Spanish fashion and Cortez built his house upon the plot where Montezuma his house â—…ood which renteth now yeerely foure thousand duckats and is called now the Palace of the Marques Del Valle the King of Spain having conferred upon Cortez and his heires this title from the great Valley of Guaxaca This Palace is so stately that as I have observed before seven thousand beames of Cedar Trees were spent in it They built faire Dockes covered over with Arches for the Vergantines which Dockes for a perpetuall memory doe remaine untill this day They dammed up the streets of water where now faire houses stand so that Mexico is not as it was wont to bee and especially since the yeare 1634. the water cometh not by farre so neere the City as it was wont to come The Lake sometimes casteth out a vapour of stench but otherwise it is a wholesome and temperate dwelling by reason of the Mountaines that stand round about it and well provided through the fertility of the Countrey and commodity of the Lake So that now is Mexico one of the greatest Cities in the World in extention of the situation for Spanish and Indian houses Not many yeeres after the Conquest it was the Noblest City in all India as well in Armes as Policy There were formerly at the least two thousand Citizens that had each of them his horse in his stable with rich furniture for them and Armes in readinesse But now since all the Indians farre and neer are subdued and most of them especially about Mexico consumed and there is no feare of their rising up any more against the Spaniards all armes are forgotten and the Spaniards live so secure from enemies that there is neither Gate Wall Bulwarke Platforme Tower Armory Ammunition or Ordnance to secure and defend the City from a Domestick or forraine enemy from the latter they thinke St. Iohn de Ulhua sufficient and strong enough to secure them But for Contractation it is one of the richest Cities in in the World to the which by the North Sea commeth every yeer from Spain a Fleet of neere twenty ships laden with the best Commodities not onely of Spain but of the most parts of Christendome And by the South Sea it enjoyeth Traffique from all parts of Peru and above all it Trades with the East-India's and from thence receiveth the Commodities as well from those parts which are inhabited by Portingals as from the Countries of Iapan and China sending every yeere two great Caracas with two smaller Vessels to the Islands of Philippinas and having every yeere a returne of such like ships There is also in Mexico a Mint house where Money is dayly coyned and is brought thither in wedges upon Mules from the Mines called St. Lewis de Sacatecas standing fourescore Leagues from Mexico Northward and yet from Sacatecas forward have the Spaniards entred above a hundred Leagues conquering daily Indians where they discover store of Mines and there they have built a City called Nova Mexico new Mexico The Indians there are great Warriers and hold the Spaniards hard to it It is thought the Spaniard will not bee satisfied untill hee subdue all the Country that way which doubtlesse reacheth to our plantations of Virginia and the rest being the same continued continent laâ—…d There is yet more in Mexico a faire schoole which now is made an University which the Viceroy Don Antonio De Mendoza caused to be built At the rebuilding of this City there was a great difference betwixt an Inhabitant of Mexico and a Conquerour for a Conquerour was a name of honour and had lands and rents given him and to his posterity by the King of Spain and the Inhabitant or onely dweller payed rent for his house And this hath filled all those parts of America with proud Dons and Gentlemen to this day for every one will call himselfe a descendent from a Conquerour though hee bee as poore as Iob and aske him what is become of his Estate and fortune hee will answer that fortune hath taken it away which shall never take away a Don from him Nay a poore Cobler or Carrier that râ—…ns about the Countrey farre and neere getting his living with half a dozen Mules if hee bee called Mendoza or Guzman will sweare that
seemes the prison doores easier to open or else with helpe within they opened them and let out all the malefactors who joyned with them to assault the Palace The Viceroy seeing no helpe came to him from the City from his friends from the Judges of the Chancery from the Kings high Justices nor other Officers for the peace went up to the Zoties of his Palace with his Guard and Servants that attended on him and set up the Royall Standard and caused a Trumpet to bee sounded to call the City to ayde and assist their King But this prevailed not none stirred all the chief of the City kept within doores And when the multitude saw the Royall Standard out and heard the Kings name from the Zoties they cryed out and often repeated it Viva el Rex muerael mal govierno mueran los des comulgados that is to say Our King live long but let the evill government die and perish and let them die that are excommunicated These words saved many of them from hanging afterwards when the businesse was tried and searched into by Don Martinde Carrillo And with these words in their mouths they skirmished with them of the Zoties at least three houres they above hurling downe stones and they beneath hurling up to them and some shooting with a few Pistols and birding peeces at one another and marke that in all this bitter skirmish there was not a peece of Ordnance shot for the Viceroy had none for the defence of his Palace or Person neither had or hath that great City any for its strength and security the Spaniards living fearelesse of the Indians and as they thinke secure from being annoyed by any forraine Nation There were slain in about six houres in all that this tumult lasted seven or eight beneath in the Market place and one of the Viceroy his Guard and a page in the Zoties above The day drawing to an end the multitude brought pitch and fire and first fired the prison then they set on fire part of the Palace and burnt downe the chief gate This made some of the City of the Gentry and of the Judges to come out lest the fire should prevaile farre upon the City and to perswade the people to desist and to quench the fire Whilest the fire was quenching many got into the Palace some fell upon the Viceroyes stables and there got part of his mules and horses rich furnitures others began to fall upon some chests others to teare down the hangings but they were soone perswaded by the better sort of the City to desist from spoile or robbery lest by that they should bee discovered other searched about for Don Pedro Mexia for Tiroll and the Viceroy None of them could bee found having disguised themselves and so escaped Whither Don Pedro Mexia and Tiroll went it could not bee knowen in many dayes but certaine it was that the Viceroy disguised himselfe in a Franciscan habit and so in company of a Fryer went through the multitude to the Cloister of the Franciscans where hee abode all that yeer and there I saw him the yeere after not daring to come out untill hee had informed the King and Counsell of Spain with what hath happened and of the danger himselfe and the City was in if not timely prevented The King and Counsell of Spain took the businesse to consideration and looked upon it as a warning peece to a further mutiny and rebellion and an example to other parts of America to follow upon any such like occasion if some punishment were not inflicted upon the chief offendors Wherefore the yeere following 1625. which was when I went to those parts the King sent a new Viceroy the Marques of Serralvo to govern in the place of the Conut of Gelues and especially to aid and assist Don Martin de Carrillo a Priest and Inquisitor of the Inquisition of Valladolid who was sent with large Commission and authority to examine the foresaid tumult and mutiny and to judge all offenders that should be found in it yea and to hang up such as should deserve death I was at Mexico in the best time of the tryall and had intelligence from Don Martin de Carrillo his owne Ghostly father a Dominican Fryer of the chief passages in the examination of the businesse and the result was that if Justice should have beene executed rightly most of the prime of Mexico would have suffered for not comming in to the Royall Standard when called by the sound of the Trumpet the Judges some were put out of their places though they answered that they durst not stirre out for that they were informed that all the City would have risen against them if they had appeared in publick The chief actors were found to bee the Criolians or Natives of the Countrey who doe hate the Spanish Government and all such as come from Spain and reason they have for it for by them they are much oppressed as I have before observed and are and will bee alwayes watching any opportunity to free themselves from the Spanish yoke But the chief fomenters of the mutiny were found to bee the Bishops party the Preists and so had not Salazar and three more of them fled they had certainly been sent to the Gallies of Spain for Galley slaves this judgment was published against them There were not above three or foure hanged of so many thousands and their condemnation was for things which they had stollen out of the Viceroys Palace And because further inquiry into the rebellion would have brought in atleast half the City either for actors or counsellors or fomentors the King was well advised to grant a generall pardon The Archbishops proceedings were more disliked in the Court of Spain then the Viceroyes and was long without any preferment though at last that there might be no exceptions taken by his party nor cause given for a further stirring the embers to a greater combustion the Councel thought fit to honor him in those parts where hee was born and to make him Bishop of Zamora a small Bishoprick in Castile so that his wings were clipt and from Archbishop hee came to bee but Bishop and from threescore thousand Crownes yeerely rent he fell to foure or five thousand onely a yeere The count of Gelues was also sent to Spain and well entertained in the Court and therein made Master of the Kings horse which in Spain is a Noblemans preferment And this History shewing the state and condition of Mexico when I travelled to those parts I have willingly set down that the Reader may by it bee furnished with better observations then my self who am but a Neophyte am able to deduct Somewhat might bee observed from the Viceroyes covetousnesse which doubtlesse in all is a great sinne for as Paul well adviseth 1 Tim. 6. 10. The love of mony is the root of all evill but much more to bee condemned in a Prince or Governour whom it may blind in the exercise of Justice and
It was very populous before the arrivall of the Spaniards who in seventeen yeers slew six millions of them roasting some plucking out the eyes cutting off the arms of others and casting them living to be devoured of wilde beasts This chiefe Province of America named Mexico is further subdivided into four parts that is to say Themistitan Nova Galicia Mechoacan and Guastaehan Themistitan is the greatest and noblest of these foure for that it containeth six Cities and of them one is Mexico which giveth name to the halfe part of America and is the seat of an Arch-bishop and of the Spanish Viceroy whose greatnesse within I have before laid open the second City is La Puebla de los Angeles the City of Angels the third Villarâ—…ca the fourth Antiâ—…bero the fifth Meccioca the sixth Oitopan But all these excepting the two first are but small places named Citties formerly for that the Spaniards thought to have made them Bishops seats which they have not been able to performe by reason that Mexico and the City of Angels hath drawne to them the chiefe trading and most of the inhabitants of the other foure Especially the resort to Mexico is so great that all the Townes about which formerly were of Indians are now inhabited by Spaniards and Mestizâ—…es I may not omit about Mexico that famous place of Chapultepec which in the Heathens times was the burying place of the Emperours and now by the Spaniards is the Escuriall of America where the Viceroyes that die are also interred There is a sumptuous palace built with many fair gardens and devises of waters and ponds of fish whither the Viceroyes and the gentry of Mexico do resort for their recreation The riches here belonging to the Viceroyes Chappell are thought to be worth above a million of crownes Taenba is also a pleasant Towne full of orchards and gardens in the very way to Chapultepec South-ward is Toluco rich also for trading but above all much mentioned for the Bacon which is the best of all those parts and is transported far and neer West-ward is the Towne called La Piedad at the end of a Cawsey whither the people much resort from Mexico being drawn to the superstitious worship of a picture of Mary which hath been enriched by the chiefe of Mexico with many thousand pounds worth of gifts of chaines and crownes of gold But more Northwest-ward three leagues from Mexico is the pleasantest place of all that are about Mexico called La Soledad and by others el desierto the solitary or desert place and wildernesse Were all wildernesses like it to live in a wildernesse would be better then to live in a City This hath been a device of poor Fryers named discalced or barefooted Carmelites who to make shew of their hypocriticall and apparent godlinesse and that whilst they would be thought to live like Eremites retired from the world they may draw the world unto them they have built there a stately Cloister which being upon a hill and among rocks makes it to be more admired About the Cloister they have fashioned out many holes and Caves in under and among the rocks like Eremites lodgings with a room to lie in and an Oratory to pray in with pictures and Images and rare devices for mortification as disciplines of wyar rods of iron haire-cloths girdles with sharp wyar pointes to girdle about their bare flesh and many such like toyes which hang about their Oratories to make people admire their mortified and holy lives All these Eremeticall holes and caves which are some ten in all are within the bounds and compasse of the Cloister and among orchards and gardens full of fruits and flowers which may take up two miles compasse and here among the rockes are many springs of water which with the shade of the plantins and other trees are most coole and pleasant to the Eremites they have also the sweet smell of the rose and jazmin which is a little flower but the sweetest of all others there is not any other flower to be found that is rare and exquisite in that countrey which is not in that wildernesse to delight the senses of those mortified Eremites They are weekly changed from the Cloister and when their weeke is ended others are sent and they return unto their Cloister they carry with them their bottles of wine sweet-meats and other provision as for fruits the trees about do drop them into their mouthes It is wonderfull to see the strange devises of fountains of water which are about the gardens but much more strange and wonderfull to see the resort of Coaches and gallants and Ladies and Citizens from Mexico thither to walke and make merry in those desart pleasures and to see those hypocrites whom they looke upon as living Saints and so think nothing too good for them to cherish them in their desart conflicts with Satan None goes to them but carries some sweet-meats or some other dainty dish to nourish and feed them withall whose prayers they likewise earnestly solicite leaving them great almes of mony for their masses and above all offering to a picture in their Church called our Lady of Carmel treasures of diamonds pearles golden chaines and crownes and gownes of cloth of gold and silver Before this picture did hang in my time twenty lampes of silver the worst of them being worth a hundred pound truely Satan hath given unto them what he offered Christ in the desart All these things wil I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me all the dainties and of all the riches of America hath he given unto them in that their desart for that they daily fall downe and worship him In the way to this place there is another Towne yet called Tacâ—…baya where is a rich Cloister of Franciscans and also many gardens and orchards but above all much resorted to for the musicke in that Church wherein the Friers have made the Indians so dexterous and skilfull that they dare compare with the Cathedrall Church of Mexico These were the chiefe places of mine and my friends resort whilst I abode about Mexico which I found to be most worth a History and so thought fit â—…ere to insert them and so passe on to the other parts or Provinces of Mexico Next to this is the Province of Guastachan which lieth in the rode from St. Iohn de Ulbua to Mexico which is not so poore as Heylin maketh it for that now it doth abound with many rich farmes of Sugar and of Cochinil and reacheth as farre as the Valley of Guaxaca which is a most rich place The chiefe City of this Province was wont to be Tlaxcallan whereof I have formerly spoken but now the City of Guaxaca which is a Bishops seat and Xalappa which is also of late made a Bishops seat makes it more famous glories also in Villa Rica a Port Towne very wealthy because all the traffique betwixt the Old and New Spains do passe through it The Spaniards have
omitting of it but all without amendment thought fit to fixe in writing upon the Churches dores an excommunication against all such as should presume at the time of service to eat or drinke within the Church This excommunication was taken by all but especially by the Gentlewomen much to heart who protested if they might not eat or drinke in the Church they could not continue in it to heare what otherwise they were bound unto The chiefe of them knowing what great friendship there was between the Bishop and the Prior and my selfe came to the Prior and mee desiring us to use all meanes wee could with the Bishop for the revoking that his excommunication so heavily laid upon them and threatning their soules with damning judgement for the violation of it The good Prior and my selfe laboured all we could alleadging the custome of the Countrey the weakenesse of the sex whom it most concerned and also the weaknesse of their stomackes the contempt that might from them ensue unto his person and many inconveniences which might follow to the breeding of an uproar in the church and in the City whereof we had some probable conjecture from what already we had heard from some But none of these reasons would move the Bishop to which he answered that he preferred the honour of God and of his house before his owne life The women seeing him so hard to be intreated began to stomacke him the more and to sleight him with scornefull and reproachfull words others sleighted his excommunication drinking in iniquity in the Church as the fish doth water which caused one day such an uproare in the Cathedrall that many swords were drawne against the Preists and Prebends who attempted to take away from the maids the cups of Chocolatte which they brought unto their mistresses who at last seeing that neither faire nor soule meanes would prevaile with the Bishop resolved to forsake the Cathedrall where the Bishops own and his Prebends eies must needs be watching over them and so from that time most of the City betooke themselves to the Cloister Churches where by the Nuns and Friers they were not troubled nor resisted though fairely counselled to obey the command of the Bishop whose name now they could not brooke and to whose Prebends they denied now all such reliefe and stipend for Masses which formerly they had used to bestow upon them conferring them all upon the Fryers who grew rich by the poor impoverished Cathedrall This lasted not long but the Bishop began to stomacke the Fryers and to set up another excommunication binding all the City to resort unto their owne Cathedrall Church which the women would not obey but kept their houses for a whole month in which time the Bishop fell dangerously sick and desired to retire himselfe to the Cloister of the Dominicans for the great confidence he had in the Prior that he would take care of him in his sickenesse Physitians were sent for far and neere who all with a joynt opinion agreed that the Bishop was poisoned and he himself doubted not of it at his death praying unto God to forgive those that had been the cause of it and to accept of that sacrifice of his life which he was willing to offer for the zeale of Gods house and honour He lay not above a week in the Cloister and as soone as he was dead all his body his head and face did so swell that the least touch upon any part of him caused the skin to break and cast out white matter which had corrupted and overflowne all his body A Gentlewoman with whom I was well acquainted in that City who was noted to be somewhat too familiar with one of the Bishops Pages was commonly censured to have prescribed such a cup of Chocolatte to be ministred by the Page which poysoned him who so rigorously had forbidden Chocolatte to be drunk in the Church My self heard this Gentlewoman say of the deceased Bishop that she thought few grieved for his death that the women had no reason to grieve for him and that she judged he being such an enemy to Chocolatte in the Church that which he had drunk at home in his house had not agreed with his body And it became afterwards a Proverbe in that Country Beware of the Chocolatte of Chiapa which made me so cautious that I would not drinke afterwards of it in any house where I had not very great satisfaction of the whole Family The women of this City are somewhat light in their carriage and have learned from the Devill many entising lessons and baits to draw poore soules to sinne and damnation and if they cannot have their wills they wil surely work revenge either by Chocolatte or Conserves or some faire present which shall surely carry death along with it The Gentlewoman that was suspected nay was questioned for the death of the Bishop had often used to send me boxes of Chocolatte or conserves which I willingly received from her judging it to be a kind of gratuity for the paines I tooke in teaching her son Latin She was of a very merry and pleasant disposition which I thought might consist without sin untill one day she sent unto mee a very faire plantin wrapped up in a hankerchief buried in sweet Jazmines and roses when I untied the handkerchief I thought among the flowers I should find some rich token or some peeces of eight but finding nothing but a plantin I wondred and looking further upon it I found worked upon it with a knife the fashion of a heart with two of blind Cupids arrows sticking in it discovering unto my heart the poisoned heart and thoughts of the poisoner that sent it I thought it a good warning to be wary and cautious of receiving more presents or Chocolatte from such hands and so returned unto her againe her plantin with this short rhyme cut out with a knife upon the skinne fruta tan fria amor no cria as much as to say fruit so cold takes no hold This answer and resolution of mine was soone spread over that little City which made my Gentlewoman outragious which presently she shewed by taking away her sonne from schoole and in many meetings threatning to play me a Chiapaneca tricke But I remembred the Bishops Chocolatte and so was waâ—…y and staid not long after in that poisoning and wicked City which truly deserves no better relation then what I have given of the simple Dons and the Chocolatte-confectioning Donna's There is yet twelve leagues from this City of Chiapa another Chiapa which deserveth better commendations This consisteth most of Indians and is held to be one of the biggest Indian Townes in all America containing at least four thousand families This Towne hath many priviledges from the King of Spain and is governed chiefly by Indians yet with subordination unto the Spanish government of the City of Chiapa who doe choose an Indian Governour with other inferiour officers to rule with him This Governour
and Mutton for it and the Country Townes about is this Nine daies before Michaelmas every day Proclamation is made about the City for an Obligado or one that will bee bound to the City and Country for competent provision of Flesh meat upon forfeiture of such a summe of money to his Majesty if hee faile as shall bee agreed upon between him and the Court and to the Inhabitants of the City if hee fail in beef hee is to allow in Mutton so many pounds at the same rate as hee should have allowed beef If the Obligado faile in Mutton hee is to allow in Fowle flesh so many pounds and at the same rate as hee was to allow the Mutton and this with consideration of the family what competent allowance of flesh meat shall bee judged for a day or the dayes that the Obligado shall fail Besides this the Proclamation is made for whom offers most to his Majesty for one yeers Obligation So that sometimes it happeneth that the eight daies severall men come into the Court offering more and more till upon the ninth day and last Proclamation the Office is setled for one yeere upon him that hath offered most unto his Majesty Thus many Butchers are not allowed but one onely Obligado who also is abridged to so many pound for so much mony so that if any other besides him offer to kill or sell he may follow an action and the Court against him Thus the Obligado who commonly is a monied man buyeth by the hundred or by the thousand as for the present hee findeth the expence of the City without hee bee himself such a Grazier as hath Cattell enough of his owne Though Mutton bee not so plentifull as is Beef yet there never wants from the Valley of Mixco Pinola Petapa and Amatitlan and the Marsh and other places In the Valley forenamed I lived and was well acquainted with one Alonso Capata who had constantly going in the Valley four thousand sheep Guatemala therefore is so well stored with good provision plentifull and heap that it is hard to finde in it a begger for with halfe a Riall the poorest may buy beef for a weeke and with a few Cacao's they may have bread of Indian Maiz if not of Spanish Wheat This City may consist of about five thousand families besides a Suburb of Indians called el Barrio de Sto. Domingo where may bee two hundred families more The best part of the City is that which joyneth to this Suburb of Indians and is called also el Barrio Santo de Domingo by reason of the Cloister of Saint Dominick which standeth in it Here are the richest and best shops of the City with the best buildings most of the houses being new and ately Here is also a dayly Tianguez as they call it or petty Market where some Indians all the day sit selling fruits Herbs and Cacao but at the foure in the afternoone this Market is filled for a matter of an houre where the Indian women meet to sell their Country slap which is dainties to the Criolians as Atolle Pinole scalded Plantins butter of the Cacao puddings made of Indian Maiz with a bit of Fowle or fresh Porke in them seasoned with much red biting Chile which they call Anacatamales The trading of the City is great for by Mules it partakes of the best commodities of Mexico Guaxaca and Chiapa and Southward of Nicaragua and Costarica By Sea it hath commerce with Peru by two Sea Ports and Havens the one called la Villa de la Trinidad the Village of the Trinity which lyeth Southward from it five and twenty leagues and by another called el Realejo which lyeth five or six and forty leagues from it It hath traffique with Spain by the North Sea from Golfo dulce lying threescore leagues from it It is not so rich as other Cities yet for the quantity of it it yeelds to none There were in my time five besides many other Merchants who were judged worth twenty thousand Duckats thirty thousand fifty thousand some few a hundred thousand who were judged of equall wealth and generally reported to bee worth each of them five hundred thousand Duckats the first was Thomas de Siliezer a Biscain born and Alcalde de Corte the Kings High Justice or chief Officer at Court the second was Antonio Iustiniano a Genovois born and one that bore often Offices in the City and had many Tenements and houses especially a great and rich Farme for corn and Wheat in the Valley of Mexico The third was Pedro de Lira born in Castilia the fourth and fifth Antonio Fernandez and Bartolome Nunnez both Portingals whereof the first in my time departed from Guatemala for some reasons which here I must conceale The other foure I left there the three of them living at that end of the City called Barrio de Santo Domingo or the street of St. Dominick whose houses and presence makes that street excell all the rest of the City and their wealth and trading were enough to denominate Guatemala a very rich City The Government of all the Country about and of all Honduras Soconusco Comayagua Nicaragua Costa Rica Vera Paz Cuchutepeques and Chiapa is subordinate unto the Chancery of Cuatemala for although every Governour over these severall Provinces is appointed by the King and Councell of Spain yet when they come to those parts to the enjoyment of their charge and execution office then their actions if unjust are weighed judged censured and condemned by the Court residing in the City This Court of Chancery consisteth of a President six Judges one Kings Attourney and two chief Justices of Court The President though hee have not the name and title of Viceroy as they of Mexico and Peru yet his power is as great and absolute as theirs His Pension from the King is but twelve thousands Duckats a yeer but besides this if he be covetous hee makes by bribes and trading twice as much more nay what shee list as was seen in the Count de la Gomera President of that City and Chancery for the space of fourteen yeers who departed in old age from Guatemala to Canaria where was his house and place of birth worth Millions of Duckats After him succeeded Don Iuan de Guzman formerly President of Santo Domingo who losing his Wife and Lady in the way lost also his former spirit and courage betaking himselfe wholly to his devotions contemning wealth and riches governing with love and mildnesse which made the rest of the Judges who were all for lucre soone weary him out of his office continuing in it but five yeers His successor whom I left there when I came away was Don Gonsalo de Paz y Lorencana who was promoted from the Presidency of Panama to that place and came into it with such a spirit of covetousnesse as the like had not been seen in any former President Hee forbad all gaming in private houses in the City which there is much used though
by women not so much as in Mexico not for that hee hated it but because hee envied others what they got and gained by their Cards drawing to himselfe thereby all that gaine spending sometimes in one night foure and twenty paire of Cards appointing a Page to assist at the Tables and to see the box well paid for every paire of Cards which for his and his Court respect was seldome lesse then a crown or two for every paire Thus did hee lick up with his Cards most of the gamesters gaines and would grudge and pick quarrels with such rich men whom hee knew to affect gaming if they frequented not his Court at night time for that bewitching Recreation The Pension which the King alloweth to every Judge of Chancery is foure thousand duckats yeerly and three thousand to his Attorney all which is paid out of the Kings Exchequer abiding in that City Yet what besides they get by bribes and trading is so much that I have heard a Judge himselfe Don Luis de las Infantas say that though a Judges place at Mexico and Lima be more honourable yet none more profitable then Guatemala In my time were such causes at Chancery tried as had never been of murthers robberies and oppressions and whereas it was expected the offendants some should be hanged some banished some imprisoned some by fines impoverished bribes took all off so that I never knew one hanged in that City for the space of above eight yeers The Churches though they be not so fair and rich as those of Mexico yet they are for that place wealthy enough There is but one Parish Church and a Cathedrall which standeth in the chiefe Market-place All the other Churches belong to Cloisters which are of Dominicans Franciscans Mercenarians Augustines and Jesuites and two of Nuns called the Conception and St. Catharine The Dominicans Franciscans and Mercenarians are stately Cloisters containing neer a hundred Friers a piece but above all is the Cloister where I lived of the Dominicans to which is joyned in a great Walk before the Church the Universitie of the City The yeerly revenues which come into this Cloister what from the Indian Towns belonging to it what from a water-mill what from a farme for corne what from an Estancia or farme for Horses and Mules what from an Ingenio or farme of Sugar what from a Mine of silver given unto it the yeer 1633. are judged to be excepting all charges at least thirty thousand duckats wherewith those fat Friers feast themselves and have to spare to build and enrich their Church and Altars Besides much treasure belonging to it there are two things in it which the Spaniards in merriment would often tell me that the English nation did much inquire after when they tooke any ship of theirs at sea and that they feared I was come to spie them which were a Lampe of silver hanging before the high Altar so big as required th strength of three men to hale it up with a rope but the other is of more value which is a picture of the Virgin Mary of pure silver and of the stature of a reasonable tall woman which standeth in a Tabernacle made on purpose in a Chappel of the Rosary with at least a dozen lampes of silver also burning before it A hundred thousand duckats might soone be made up of the treasure belonging to that Church and cloister Within the walls of the Cloister there is nothing wanting which may further pleasure and recreation In the lower Cloister there is a spatious garden in the midst whereof is a fountaine casting up the water and spouting it out of at least a dozen pipes which fill two ponds full of fishes and with this their constant running give musicke to the whole Cloister and encouragement to many water-fowles and Ducks to bath and wash themselves therein Yet further within the Cloister there are other two gardens for fruits and herbage and in the one a pond of a quarter of a mile long all paved at the bottom and a low stone wall about where is a boat for the Friers recreation who often goe thither to fish and doe sometimes upon a suddaine want or occasion take out from thence as much fish as will give to the whole Cloister a dinner The other Cloisters of the City are also rich but next to the Dominicans is the Cloister of Nuns called the Conception in which at my time there were judged to live a thousand women not all Nuns but Nuns and their serving maids or slaves and yong children which were brought up and taught to worke by the Nuns The Nuns that are professed bring with them their portions five hundred duckats the least some six hundred some seven and some a thousand which portions after a few yeers and continuing to the Cloister after the Nuns decease come to make up a great yeerly rent They that will have maids within to wait on them may bringing the bigger portion or allowing yeerly for their servants diet In this Cloister lived that Donna Iuana de Maldonado Judge Iuan Maldonado de Paz his daughter whom the Bishop so much conversed withall She was very fair and beautifull and not much above twenty yeers of age and yet his love blinding him he strove what he could in my time against all the ancient Nuns and Sisters to make her Superiour and Abbesse and caused such a mutiny and strife in that Cloister which was very scandalous to the whole City and made many rich Merchants and Gentlemen run to the Cloister with their swords drawne threatning to breake in amongst the Nuns to defend their daughters against the powerfull faction which the Bishop had wrought for Donna Iuana de Maldenado which they had performed if the President Don Iuan de Guzman had not sent Iuan Maldonado de Paz the yong Nuns father to intreat her to desist in regard of her yong age from her ambitious thoughts of being Abbesse With this the mutiny both within and without ceased the Bishop got but shame and his yong Sister continued as before under command and obedience to a more religious grave and aged Nun then her selfe This Donna Iuana de Maldonado y Paz was the wonder of all that Cloister yea of all the City for her excellent voice and skill in musicke and in carriage and education yeelded to none abroad nor within she was witty well spoken and above all a Calliope or Muse for ingenious and suddain verses which the Bishop said so much moved him to delight in her company and conversation Her father thought nothing too good nor too much for her and therefore having no other children he daily conferred upon her riches as might best beseem a Nun as rich and costly Cabinets faced with gold and silver pictures and Idols for her chamber with crownes and jewels to adorne them which with other presents from the Bishop who dying in my time left not wherewith to pay his debts for that as the
contrary He was so sensuall and carnall that he would use his own slaves wives at his pleasure nay when he met in the City any of that kind handsome and to his liking if she would not yeeld to his desire he would goe to her master or mistresse and buy her offering far more then she was worth boasting that he would pull downe her proud and haughty lookes with one yeers slavery under him He killed in my time two Indians in the way to the Golfe and with his mony came off as if he had killed but a dog He would never marry because his slaves supplyed the bed of a wife and none of his neighbours durst say him nay whereby he hasted to fill that valley with bastards of all sorts and colours by whom when that rich miser dieth all his wealth and treasure is like to be consumed Besides the two Townes which denominate this valley there standeth at the East end of it close by the Rio de las Vaccas an Ermitage called Nostra Sennora del Carmel or our Lady of Carmel which is the Parish Church to all those severall farmes of Spaniards living in the valley though true it is most constantly they doe resort unto the Indian Townes to Masse and in Mixco especially the Spaniards have a rich sodality of our Lady of the Rosary and the Black-mores another In all the valley there may be between fourty and fifty Spanish farmes or houses belonging to the Ermitage and in all these houses some three hundred slaves men and women Black-mores and Mulatto's Mixco is a town of three hundred families but in it nothing considerable but the riches belonging unto the two forenamed Sodalities and some rich Indians who have learned of the Spaniards to break clods of earth and to sow wheat and to traffique with Mules unto the Golfe Besides what fowles and great store of Turkeys which in this Towne are bred there is a constant slaughter house where meat is sold to the Indians within and to the farmes without and provision is made for all the Requa's and slaves that go to the Golfe with their masters Mules Besides the six Requa's before named of Iuan Palâ—…mequè there are in this valley four brothers named Don Gaspar Don Diego Don Thomas Don Iuan de Colindres who have each of them a Requa of threescore Mules though few slaves and onely hired Indians to goe with them to traffique to the Golfe and over all the Country as far as Mexico sometimes Yet besides these there are some six more Requa's belonging to other farms which with those of the Towne of Mixco may makeup full twenty Requa's and those twenty Requa's containe above a thousand Mules which only from this valley are imployed to all parts of the Country by the rich Merchants of Guatemala But to returne againe to the Towne of Mixco the constant passage thorow it of these Requa's of rich Merchants of all passengers that goe and come from Spain hath made it very rich whereas in the Town it self there is no other commodity except it be a kind of earth whereof are made rare and excellent pots for water pans pipkins platters dishes chafing-dishes warming-pans wherein those Indians shew much wit and paint them with red white and severall mingled colours and sell them to Guatemala and the Towns about which some Criolian women will eat by full mouth fulls endangering their health and lives so that by this earthly ware they may looke white and pale The Towne of Pinola in bignesse is much like unto Mixco but a far pleasanter Town more healthy and better seated standing upon a plain whereas Mixco stands on the side on a hill which carrieth the Travellers quite out of the sight of the valley In Pinola there is also a slaughter house whete beef is dayly sold there is plenty of fowles Fruits Maiz Wheat though not altogether so bright as that of Mixco hony and the best water thereabouts it is called in the Indian tongue Panac some say from a fruit of that name which is very abundant there On the North and South side of this valley are hils which are most sown with wheat which proveth better there then in the low valley At the West end of it stand two greater Townes then Mixco and Pinola named Petapa and Amatitlan to the which there are in the midst of the valley some descents and ascents which they call Baranca's or bottomes where are pleasant streames and fountaines and good feeding for sheep and Cattel Petapa is a Towne of at least five hundred inhabitants very rich who suffer also some Spaniards to dwell amongst them from whom also those Indians have learned to live and thrive in the world This Towne is the passage from Comayagua St. Salvador Nicaragua and Costa Rica and hath got great wealth by the constant goers and comers It is esteemed one of the pleasantest Townes belonging unto Guatemala for a great Lake of fresh water neer unto it which is full of fish especially crabs and a fish called Mojarra which is much like unto a mullet though not altogether so big and eateth like it In this Towne there is a certaine number of Indians appointed who are to fish for the City and on Wednesdayes Fridayes and Saturdayes are bound to carry such a quantity to Guatemala of Crabs and Mojarra's as the Corregidor and Regidores Major and Aldermen who are but eight shall command weekly to be brought This Towne Petapa is so called from two Indian words Petap which signifieth a Mat and ha which signifieth water and a Mat being the chiefe part of an Indians bed it is as much as to say a bed of water from the smoothnesse plainnesse and calmnesse of the water of the Lake There liveth in it a principall family of Indians who are said to descend from the ancient Kings of those parts and now by the Spaniards are graced with the noble name of Guzman out of this family is chosen one to be Governour of the Towne with subordination unto the City and Chancery of Guatemala Don Bernabe de Guzman was Governour in my time and had been many yeers before and governed very wisely and discreetly till with old age he came to loose his sight and in his place entred his son Don Pedro de Guzman of whom the rest of the Indians stood in great awe as formerly they had to his father Had not these Indians been given to drunkennesse as most Indians are they might have governed a Town of Spaniards This Governour hath many priviledges granted unto him though none to weare a sword or rapier as may the Governour of Chiapa of the Indians and appoints by turnes some of the Towne to wait and attend on him at dinner and supper others to looke to his Horses others to fish for him others to bring him wood for his house spending others to bring him meat for his Horses and yet after all this his attendance he attends and waits on the
Indians soon raised and armed by those of Tlaxcallan and soone over come by a thousand onely Indians and Spaniards with Cortez pag. 30. 31. Yet further a hundred and fifty thousand overcome by foure hundred Spaniards and six hundred Indians page 31. 32. Three presents sent to Cortez viz five slaves Frankincense and feathers Fowles 〈◊〉 and Cherries to know whether heeâ—…ere a God or a man pag. 3â—… Montezuma the Emperour his great present sent to Cortez pag. 34. The Tlaxcalteca's pay no Tribute to the King of Spain as others doe save onely â—…ne Corn of Moâ—… pag. 35. A description of the foure chief streets of Tlaxcallan with the standard of the Town pag. 35. Twenty thousand persons wont to meet in one Market place of Tlaxcallan to buy and sell. pag. 35. Severe Iustice executed upon aÌ„ thief by the inhabitants of Tlaxcallan pag. 36. CHAP. XI Concluding the rest of our Iourney from Tlaxcallan to Mexico through the City of Angels and Guacocingo pag. 36. Contents The City of Angels first builded by the Command of Antonio de Mendoza in the yeer 1530. pag. 37. It was first called by the Indians Cuctlaxcoapan that is to say a snake in water Ibid. Many more particulars of the City of Angels briefly related Ibid. The Town of Guacocingo why priviledged by the Spaniards pag. 38. Tezcuco the first Town in the West-India's that received a Christian King pag. 39. How the Vergantines wherewith Cortez besieged Mexico by water were brought by Land in pieces from Tlaxcallan to Tezcuco and foure hundred thousand men fifty dayes imployed in making a sluce or Trench for the finishing of them and launching them forth to the Lake pag. 40. Cortez his Army divided into three parts in the plain of Tezcuco for the better besieging of Mexico pag. 40. 41. Cortez made use of seven thousand beames of Cedar trees for the building of his house in Mexico pag. 41. CHAP. XII Shewing some particulars of the great and famous City of Mexico in former times with a true description of it now And of the State and Condition of it in the yeare 1625. pag. 42. Contents Little substance or nourishment found in the fruits and other food of Mexico pag. 42. 43. Severall opinions concerning the difference of fresh and salt water in the Lake of Mexico p. 43 44. Montezuma his stately Palace in Mexico called Tepaâ—… with two more the one with many ponds of salt and fresh water for severall â—…orts of fowles the other for hawking fowles and fowles of rapine p. 44 45. Three thousand were the Attendants in Montezuma his Court fed with what came from his Table p. 46. Mexico called formerly Tenuchtitlan and why ibid. What Mexico properly signifieth and from whence so called p. 47. The Names of the ten Emperours that were of Mexico and Montezuma his death ibid. Quahutimoc Emperour of Mexico taken prisoner and that great City conquered by Cortez the 13. of August 1521. p. 49. Two hundred thousand little boats called Canoas belonged to Mexico to bring provision into the City p. 50. A Description of the chiefe Market of Mexico wherein a hundred thousand persons did usually meet to buy and sell. p. 50 51. A Description of the great Church of Mexico before the entring of the Spaniards p. 51 52. The Papists have continued the fashion of their Churches Altars Cloisters and many other their abuses from the Heathens p. 52 53. The Gods of Mexico two thousand in number p. 53. Mexico after the Conquest was built againe with à hundred thousand houses p. 54. Fifteen thousand Coaches are judged to be in the City of Mexico p. 56. A Popingay presented to the King of Spain worth halfe a million of Duckates ibid. A Lampe in Mexico worth foure hundred thousand Crownes ibid. The Attire of the female sex of Blackmores Mulatta's and Mestiza's in Mexico p. 56 57. The Spaniards with their gifts to the Churches and Cloisters cover their lascivious lives as is shewed by an example in Mexico p. 57. About two thousand Coaches daily meet in the Alameda of Mexico 59. Of a fruit in the India's called Nuchtli p. 60. Of some other fruits and especially of a tree called Metl p. 60 61. A memorable history of a great mutiny in Mexico caused by the too great power of an Archprelate and the Covetousnesse of the Viceroy With some observations gathered for the good of England out of the said mutiny p. 62. sequent CHAP. XIII Shewing the severall parts of this new world of America and the places of Note about the famous City of Mexico p. 68. Contents A Description of the fiery Mountain called Popocatepec p. 69. The riches belonging to the Viceroy his chappell at Chapultepec worth above a million of Crownes p. 70. A Description of a rich Desart or wildernesse three leagues from Mexico ibid. The cruelty of Don Nunio de Guzman in Mechoacan p. 71. The manner of burying the Kings of Mechocan before it was conquered by the Spaniards p. 71 72. The Spaniards themselves wonder that our English Nation is not more Active in conquering more of the Continent of America beyond Virginia p. 73. Nova Albion in America named so by Sir Francis Drake p. 74. How the Countrey of Jucatan was first named ibid. In the year 1632. the Indians of Jucatan mutinied against the Spaniards ibid. The City of Valdivia so named from a Spaniard of that name too greedy and covetous of gold p. 76. The famous Attempt of John Oxenham an English man from the Coast of Nombre de Dios to the Island of Pearles in the South sea p. 77. The Spanish Fleet of Nova Hispania taken by the Hollanders in the river of Matanzos p. 80. CHAP. XIIII Shewing my Iourney from Mexico to Chiapa Southward and the most remarkable places in the way p. 81. Contents For what reasons I stayed in America and would not goe on to the Philippina Islands in the East-India's p. 82. A Proclamation from the Viceroy in the market place of Mexico against such as should conceale harbour and hide any Fryer bound for the Philippina Islands p. 83. A double Wheat harvest every yeer in a Valley called St. Pablo p. 85. The Dominicans Cloister in Guaxaca very rich and strong p. 86. The great River Alvarado though it run from St. John de Ulhua far into the heart of the Countrey towards Guaxaca yet there is no Castle Tower or Ordnance upon it ibid. An Old Frier Master of Divinity spightfully and maliciously buried in a garden by the Friers of Guaxaca ibid. Friers in the India's may travail and call for Turkeys Capons or what they please to eat without any mony upon the Indians charges p. 87. Tecoantepeque a Sea Towne upon Mar del Zur altogether unfortified ibid. The Author lodged in a Wildernesse and affrighted with a sure apprehension of death by Wild beasts p. 88 89. The Author and his Companies dangerous passage over the mountaine of Maquilapa feeding three daies upon green sowre lemmons
most puissant of the Tribes called Navatalcaâ—… elected a King to whom they submitted themselves The first King that was thus elected was called Vitzilovitli the second Acamopitzli the third Chimalpapoca the fourth Izchoalt the fifth Montezuma the first the sixth Acacis the seventh Axaiaca the eighth Antzlol the ninth Montezuma the second who reigned when Cortez came first the tenth was Quahutimoc who lost Mexico and in whom ended that Indian Empire The most fortunate of these Kings was Izchoalt who by his cousin Tlacacllec subdued the other six Tribes and brought them under the Mexican Kings And after the death of Izchoalt Tlacacllec was by the first electours which were six in number chosen King as a man of whose vertue they had formerly made try all But he very nobly refused it saying that it was more convenient for the Common-wealth that another should be King and that 〈◊〉 should execute that which was otherwise more fit for the necessity of the State then to lay the whole burthen upon his back and that without being King he would not leave to labour for the publike as well as if he were King Upon this generous refusall they made choice of Montezuma the first The most unhappy Kings of that nation at whose birth could not but â—…e some dysastrous aspect of the Planets were the two last Montezuma the second and Quahutimoc who were both vanquished by Ferdinando Cortez who tooke Montezuma prisoner out of his owne palace and with fair words and language carried him to his lodging in Mexico and kept him there knocking a paire of gyves on his legges untill the execution of Qualpopoca Lord of Nahutlan now called Almeria who was to be burnt for killing nine Spaniards was past But this imprisonment of their Emperour stirred up the hearts of all the Mexicans to conspire against Cortez and the Spaniards against whom they fought a most fierce and bloody battaile two or three daies together crying out for their Emperour and threatning them with the cruellest death that ever man suffered Whereupon Cortez desired Montezuma to goe up into the Sotie of his house which they were battering with stones and to command his subjects to cease from their heat and fury who at Cortez his request went up and leaned over the wall to talke with them and beginning to speake unto them they threw so many stones out of the street houses and windows that one happened to hit Montezuma on the temples of his head with which blow he fell down dead to the ground and this was his end even at the hands of his owne subjects and vassals against their wills in the City of his greatest glory and in the power and custody of a forain and strange nation The Indians affirm that he was of the greatest blood of all his linage and the greatest King in estate that ever was in Mexico And from hence it may very well be noted that when Kingdomes doe most flourish then are they nighest to a change or els to change their Lord as doth appeare in this History of Montezuma whose great glory and majesty presaged the downfall of that City and people who though after the death of Montezuma they made Quahutimoc their Emperour and persisting in their furious battery against Cortez his palace caused him and all his Spaniards to flie out of Mexico yet having strengthened themselves againe in Tlaxcallan and prepared sixteen or as others say eighteen Vergantines for the lake they soone after besieged Mexico so by water and land that the Citizens were in great necessity and so many dead with hunger and sicknesse that there were heapes of dead bodies in the houses only to keep close their extreme misery who would not yeeld even when they saw their King Quahutimoc his fair houses burned and the greatest part of their City consumed with fire and beaten downe plaine with the ground so long as they could injoy any one street Tower or Temple to defend themselves and oppose the Spaniards who after many fierce and bloody fights by land and with their boates by water having wonne the chief Market place and most of the City as they went walking in the streets found heapes of dead bodies in the houses streets and in the water and the very barkes of trees and roots gnawne by the hungry creatures and the men so leane and yellow that it was a pitifull sight to behold And with this Cortez yet required them to yeeld but they although they were so leane of body were strong in heart and answered that hee should not speak of any friendship to them nor yet hope of their spoile for when no fortune would favour them then they would either burne their treasure or throw it into the Lake where they should never profit thereby and that they would fight while one alone should remain alive Cortez desirous to see what remained of the City to win went up into a high Tower and having well viewed the City hee judged that of eight parts one remained yet to win And assaulting the same the sorrowfull Citizens bewailing their unfortunate fate and destiny beseeching the Spaniards to make an end and to kill them all out of hand others standing at the brim of the water neere unto a draw-bridge cried out Oh Captain Cortez seeing that thou art the Child of the Sun why dost thou not intreat the Sun thy Father to make an end of us Oh thou Sun that canst goe round about the World in a day and a night wee pray thee make an end of us and take us out of this miserable life for we desire death to goe and rest with our God Quetcavatlâ—… who tarrieth for us Cortez seeing the great extremity that these poor wretched people were in thinking now that they would yeeld unto him sent a message to Quahutimoâ—… desiring him to consider his Subjects great extremity which yet might be greater if hee yeelded not to Peace But when the stubborn King heard this ambassage hee was so moved with ire and choler that forthwith hee commanded Cortez his Ambassadour to bee sacrificed and gave the rest of the Spaniards that went with him for answer blowes with stones staves and Arrowes saying that they desired death and no Peace Whereupon Cortez seeing the King so stubborn and refractory after so much slaughter and misery of his subjects after so many Combates and skirmishes made with the losse of almost all the City sent forthwith Sandoval with his Vergantines one way and went himself another combating the houses and forts that yet remained where hee found small resistance so that hee might doe what hee pleased One would have thought there had not been five thousand left in all the City seeing the heapes of dead bodies that lay about the streets and in the houses and yet such was this last combate that there were that day slain and taken prisoners forty thousand persons The lamentable cry and mourning of the women and children would have made a strong heart