repayre continually his houses at their owne proper cost and payde all kind of workemen carrying vpon their backes or drawing in sleddes stone lyme timber water and all other necessaries for the worke Likewise they were bounde to prouide all the fierwod that should be spent in the Court whiche was a great thing and did amount to 230. huÌ„dred waight a day which was fiue hundred mens burthens and some dayes in the winter much more And for the Kings Chimneys they brought the barke of Oke trées whiche was best estéemed for the light thereof for they were greate sorcerers Mutezuma had 100. cities with their prouinces of whome he receiued rentes tributes vassalage where he mainteined garrison of souldiers had treasorers in each of theÌ„ His dominioÌ„ did extend from the North sea to the South sea 600. miles in loÌ„gitude within the maine laÌ„d although in very déed ther were some towns as TlaxcalloÌ„ Mechuacan Panuco and Teocantepec whiche were his enimies and payde him neyther tribute nor seruice but yet the ransome was muche when any of them were taken Also there were other kings and noble men as of Tezcuco and Tlacopan which were not in subiection vnto him but onely in homage and obedience for they were of his owne lignage vnto whome Mutezuma married hys daughters The scituation of Mexico MExico at the time when Cortes entred was a Citie of sixtye thousande houses The Kings house and other noble mens houses were great large and beautifull the others were small and roynish without eyther dores or windowes and although they were small yet there dwelled in some of them two thrée yea and tenne persons by reason whereof the Citie was wonderfully replenished with people This Citie is built vpon the water euen in the same order as Venice is All the body of the Citie standeth in a greate large lake of water There is thrée sortes of stréetes very broade and fayre the one sorte are onely of water with many bridges an other sort of onely earth and the thirde of earth and water that is to saye the one halfe earth to walke vpon and the other halfe for boates to bring prouision of all sorts These stréetes are kepte alwayes cleane and the moste parte of the houses haue two dores the one towarde the calsey and the other towarde the water at the whiche they take boate to gos where they list And although this Citie is founded vppon water yet the same water is not good to drynke wherefore there is broughte by conduit water from a place called Chapultâ—pec thrée myles distant from the Citie which springeth out of a little hill at the foote whereof standeth two Statues or couered Images wrought in stone with their Targettes and Launces the one is of Mutezuma and the other of Axaiaca his father The water is broughte from thence in two pypes or Canalls in greate quantitie and when the one is foule then all the water is conuayed into the other til the first be made cleane From this fountayne al the whole Citie is prouided so that they goe selling the same water from stréete to stréete in little boates and doe paye a certayne tribute for the same This Citie is deuided into two stréetes the one was called Tlatelulco that is to say a litle Iland and the other Mexico where Mutezuma his dwelling and courte was is to be interpreted a spring This stréete is the fayrest and most principall and bycause of the Kings pallace there the Citie was named Mexico although the old and first name of the Citie was Tenuchtitlan whiche doth signifie fruite out of stone for the name is compounded of Tetl which is stone and Nuchtli which is fruite called in Cuba Tunas The trée that beareth this fruite is named Nopal and is nothing almost but leaues of a foote broade and round and thrée ynches thicke some more and some lesse according to the growth full of thornes whiche are venemous the leafe is gréene and the thorne or pricke russet After that it is planted it encreaseth growing leafe vnto leafe and the foote thereof commeth to bée as the body of a frée and one leafe dothe not onely produce another at the poynt but at the sides of the same leaues procéedeth other leaues And bycause héere in Spayne is of the same trées and fruite it néedeth no further description In some prouinces where water is scante they vse to drynke the iuice of these leaues The fruite thereof called Nuchtli is lyke vnto fygges and euen so hathe hys little kernels or graynes within but they are somewhat larger and crowned lyke vnto a Medler There are of them of sundrye coloures some are gréene without and Carnationlike within which haue a good tast Others are yellowe and others white and some speckled the best sort are the white it is a fruite that will last long Some of them tasteth of peares and other some of Grapes it is a colde and a fresh fruite and best estéemed in the heate of Sommer The Spanyardes doe more estéeme them than the Indians The more the grounde is laboured where they growe the fruite is so muche the better There is yet another kinde of this fruite redde and that is nothing estéemed although his tast is not euill but bycause it dothe coloure and dye the eaters mouth lippes and apparell yea and maketh his vryne looke like pure bloud Many Spanyardes at their first comming into India and eating this fruite were in a maze and at their wittes ende thinking that all the bloud in their bodyes came out in vryne yea and manye Phisitions at theyr first comming were of the same beliefe for it hathe happened when they haue bin sent for vnto such as haue eaten this fruite they not knowing the cause and beholding the vryne by and by they ministred medicine to staunch bloud surely a thing to laugh at to sée the Phisitions so deceyued Of this fruite Nuchtli and Tetl which is a stone is compounded Tenuchtlitan When this Citie was begunne to bée founded it was placed néere vnto a great stone that stoode in the middest of the lake at the foote whereof grewe one of these Nopal trées and therefore Mexico giueth for armes and deuise the foote of a Nopal trée springing from a stone according to the Cities name Others do affirme that this Citie hathe the name of his first founder called Tenuch béeyng the seconde sonne of Iztacmixcoatl whose sonnes and descendentes did first inhabite thys lande of Ananac called nowe newe Spayne Howsoeuer the opinions are certayne it is that the scituation is called Tenuchtlitan and the dwellers there Tenuchea Mexico Mexico is as much to say as a spring or fountayne according to the propertie of the vowell and spéech Others doe affirme that Mexico hathe his name of a more auntiente time whose firste founders were called Mexiti for vnto this day the Indian dwellers in one strete of this citie are called of Mexica The Mexiti tooke name of their principallest
pray Some thynk it is a Gryphon and not an Egle. The Gryphons in time paste say they did cause the vale of Auacatlan to be dispeopled for they were greate deuourers of menne and that theyr abidyng was in the Mountaynes of Teoacan they approue that these Mountains were called Cuitlachtepelt of Cuitlachtli which is a Gryphon bigger than a Lion but the Spaniardes dyd neuer sée any of them The Indians by theyr olde Pictures doe paynt those Gryphons to haue a kynde of heare and no feathers and also affirme that with theyr talandes téeth they breake mens bones They haue the courage of a Lion and the countenaunce of an Egle they paynte him with foure féete and téeth with a kinde of downe more lyke woolle than feathers with his beake talandes and wings And in all those things the picture agreeth with our paynting and wryting in suche sorte that a Gryphon is no approued naturall Foule nor yet beast Plinie iudgeth this tale of Gryphons to be lies There are also other Lordes that giue the Gryphon in their armes flying with a harte in his Talandes A house of Foule vvhiche vvere onely preserued for their feathers MVtezuma had another house with very good lodgings and fayre gallaries buylt vpō pillers of Iaspe whiche extendeth towarde a goodly garden in the whiche there are ten pondes or moe some of salte water for sea foule other some of fresh water for riuer foule and lake foule which pondes are deuised with sluyses to emptie to fill at their pleasure for the cleannesse of the feathers There is such a number of foule that scarcely the ponds may holde them and of suche diuers kindes bothe in feathers and makyng as sure it was an admiration for the Spaniardes to beholde for the moste of them they knew not nor yet had at any tyme séene the lyke And to euery kynde of foule they gaue suche bayte as they were wont to féede of in the fieldes or Riuers There did belong to that house thrée hundred persons of seruice some were to clense the pondes other some did fishe for bayte other some serued them with meate other did loose them and trimme theyr feathers others had care to looke to their egges others to sette them abroode others cured them when they were sicke and the principallest office was to plucke the feathers for of them was made riche Mantels Tapissarie Targattes Tuffes of feathers and many other things wrought with Golde and Siluer a most perfite worke A house of foule for havvking and other straunge things THere is another house with large quarters lodgings which is called a house for foule not bycause there are more thā in the other but bycause they bee bigger and to hauke withal and are foule of rapine wherfore they are estéemed as more nobler than al the others There are in this house many high halles in the whiche are kept men women and Children in some of them are kept suche as are borne white of colour which doth very seldome happen in other some are dwarfes crokebackes burstenmen counterfaites and monstrous persons in greate number they say that they vsed to deforme them when they were children to sette forth the kings greatnesse euery of these persons were in seuerall Halles by themselues In the lower Halles were greate Cages made of Tymber in some of them were Lyons in other Tygres in other Ownzes in others Wolues in conclusion there was no foure footed beaste that wanted there onely to the effect that the mightie Mutezuma might say that hee had such things in his house They were fed with their ordinary as Gynea cockes Deare Dogges and such like There was also in other Halles great Earthen vessels some with earth and some with water wherin were snakes as grosse as a mans thigh Vipers Crocodrilles whiche they cal Caymanes or Lizarts of twenty foote long wyth suche Scales and head as a Dragon hathe Also other little Lisarts and other venemous beastes and Serpentes as well of the water as of the land a terrible fight for the lokers on There were also other Cages for foule of rapyne of all sortes as Hawkes Kyghtes Boyters and at the least nine or ten kind of Haukes This house of foule had of dayly allowance fiue hundred Gynea cockes and thrée hundred men of seruice besides the Falconers and Hunters which are infinite There were many other sortes of Foules that our men knowe not which séemed by theyr beake and talents good to Hauke withal To the Snakes and other venemous beastes they gaue the bloude of men sacrifised to féede them and some saye they gaue vnto them mannes fleshe whych the greate Lysarts doe eate very well The Spaniardes saw the floure couered with bloud like a iealy in a slaughter house it stonke horribly It was straunge to sée the officers in this house howe euery one was occupied Our men tooke greate pleasure in beholding suche straunge thyngs but they coulde not awaye wyth the roaryng of the Lyons the fearefull hissing of the Snakes and Adders the dolefull howling and barking of the Wolues the sorowfull yelling of the Ownzes Tigres when they would haue meate Moste certaine in the nighte season it séemed a Dongeon of Hell and a dwelling place of the Deuill and euen so it was in déede for neare at hande was a Hall of a hūdred fiftie foote long and thirtie foote broad where was a Chappel with the Roofe of siluer and gold in leafe Wainescotted and decked with greate store of pearle and stone as Agattes Cornerines Emeraldes Rubies and diuerse other sortes and thys was the Oratory where Mutezuma prayed in the nighte season and in that chappell the Diuell did appeare vnto hym and gaue him answere accordyng to his prayers He had other houses lyke vnto Barnes onely for the feathers of foules and for mantels whiche procéeded of his rentes and tributes a thing muche to be séene vpon the dores was sette his armes whiche was a Connie Here dwelled the chiefe officers of his house as Tresorer Controller Receyuers and other officers appertainyng to the Kings reuenewes Mutezuma had no house wherein was not an oratory for the Deuill whome they worshipped for the Iewels there And therefore those houses were great and large The Armory of Mutezuma MVtezuma had some houses of Armour vpon the dores wherof stoode a bow and arrowes In these houses was greate store of all kinde of munition whiche they vse in their wars as Bowes Arrowes Slings Launces Dartes Clubbes Swordes and Bucklers and gallant Targettes more trimme than strong Skulles and Splintes but not many and al made of woodde gilte or couered with leather The woodde whereof they make their Armour and Targettes is very harde and strong for they vse to toaste it at the fire and at their arrowe endes they inclose a litle péece of flinte stone or a péece of a fishe bone called Libisa and that is venemous for if any hée hurte therewith and the head remayne in the
duetie hoping not to haue come to this estate and place where now I stande And considering that you may doe with me what you please I beséeche you to kill me and that is my only request Cortes comforted him with faire words giuyng him hope of life and seniory and tooke him vp into a zotie requiring him to commaund his subiectes to yeelde and render themselues he obeyed his request At that time there was about thrée score and tenne thousande persons who in seing their Prince threwe downe their weapons and submitted themselues The taking of Mexico IN the order before declared wanne Hernando Cortes the famous cittie of Mexico on tuesday being the .xiij. of August An. 1521. in remembraunce wherof and of the great victory euery yéere on that day they make a sumptuous feast solemne procession wherin is carried the standart royall with the whiche the cittie was won The siege endured thrée moneths had therein .200000 Indians 900. Spaniardes .80 horses .17 péeces of ordinaunce 13. Vergantines 6000. Canoas In this siege were slayne fiftie Spaniardes sixe horses no great number of the Indians their friends There was slaine on the coÌ„trary side a hundred thousand and some affirme many moe but I speake not of them that died with hunger and pestilence At the defence of the citie were al the nobilitie by reason wherof many were slayne The multitude of people was great who eate litle dranke salte water and slepte among the dead bodies where was a horrible stenche for these causes the disease of pestilence fell among them and thereof died an infinite number Wherevpon is to be considered their stedfaste determination for although they were afflicted with such hunger that they were dryuen to eate boughes ryndes of trées and to drinke salte water yet woulde they not yéelde themselues But at the laste they woulde haue submitted them and then their kyng Quahutimoc woulde noâ— bycause at the begynnyng they refused his will and counsell and also with their generall deaths should appeare no cowardise for they kept the dead bodies in theyr houses to kéepe that secrete from theyr enimies Here also is to bée noted that although the Mexicans eate mans fleshe yet they eate none of their owne Cittie or friendes as some doe thynke for if they had there woulde not so many haue died with hunger The Mexican women were highly commended not onely bycause they aboade with their husbandes and Fathers but also for the greate paynes they tooke with the sicke and wounded persons yea and also they laboured in makyng slings cuttyng stones fitte for the same and throwyng stones from the soties for therein they dyd as muche hurte as their men The Cittie was yéelded to the spoyle and the Spanyardes tooke the Golde Plate and Feathers the Indian friends had all the rest of cloth and other stuffe Cortes commaunded greate bonfiers to be made in token of victory and also to mortifie the horrible stenche of the dead bodies whome he lykewise commaunded to be buried and some of the prysoners menne and women he caused to be marked in the face for the Kings slaues and pardoned all the residue He commaunded the Vergantines to bée brought ashore and appoynted one Villa fuerte with .80 men to guarde theÌ„ fearyng least the Mexicans shold set fire or otherwise destroy them In this businesse he occupied himselfe foure dayes then remoued his campe to Culhuacan where he rendred hartie thanks to all the Gentlemen his friendes promysing to gratifie their good and faythfull seruice desiryng them to departe home to theyr houses coÌ„sidering the warre was at an end wherevpon they departed almost all in generall both rich and iocond with the spoyle of Mexico and also to remayne in the fauour and grace of Cortes Maruellous signes and tokens of the destruction of Mexico NOt long before Hernando Cortes came vnto the newe Spayne did many nightes after the midnighte appeare in the aire and in the same port and place where Cortes entred into that land great lightning of fire whiche amounted vpward and suddaynely vaded away The Mexicans at that time saw flames of fire toward the orient where now Vera Crux standeth with a great and thicke smoke that séemed to touche the heauen and earthe thys sight was fearefull vnto them They also saw the figures of armed men fighte in the aire one with another a new and strange sight for them and a thing that filled their heads with ymaginations for when there was a prophecie spoken of among them how that white men with beardes should come and rule their kingdome in the time of Mutezuma The Lordes of Tezcuco and Tlacopan were much amazed saying that the sword whiche Mutezuma hadde was the armes of those folke whose figures they had séene in the ayre with their apparell and attire Mutezuma had muche adde to pacifie them fayning that the weapâ—n and apparell was of hys forefathers and bycause they should sée the troth thereof he gaue them the sworde and willed them to breake it if they coulde and they prouing to breake the same and could not they maruelled thereat and also were resolued of their opinions It shoulde séeme that a little before these things happened some of Mutezuma his subiectes founde a chest of apparell and a sworde in it on the sea coast which came floting out of some shippe that had wracked there about and broughte it to their prince Others affirme that the cause of alteration among the noble men was when they saw the sword and apparell that Cortes had sent vnto Mutezuma by Teudilli séeing it a thing so like the attire of the figures whiche they had séene in the ayre but howsoeuer it was they beléeued with these new tokens that their Kingdome shoulde haue an ende when they saw those straungers come into their Countrey The same yeare that Cortes came into Mexico appeared a vision vnto a certaine Malli which is to say a slaue taken in the warres to be sacrificed who at the time of his deathe and Sacrifice bewayled his sorrowfull ende calling vppon the God of Heauen who at that instante sawe in spirite a vision and heard a voyce bidding hym not to feare that death for the God whome he had called vpon would haue mercy vpon hym willing hym also to say vnto the pristes and ministers of the Idols that their wicked sacrifice and bloudsheding was néere at an ende and that there was a people at hand that should take away all that wicked and abhominable religion This Malli was sacrificed in the middest of the market place of Tlatelulco where at this daye is the place of execution They remembred and noted well the wordes of the Malli and the vision whiche they called a breath from heauen The earth also brake open out of the whiche issued a maruellous greate streame of water with many greate fishes which they iudged and held for a strange pronostication The Mexicans did reporte that when on a time Mutezuma
he married with a rich gentlewoman of that countrey by whom he hath children and is made a Captaine and wel estéemed with the Cazike for the victories that he hath had in the wars against the other Lords I sent vnto him your worships letter desiring him that he would come with me hauing so fit a passage but he refused my request I belieue for verye shame bycause hee had his nose ful boared of holes his eares sagged hys face handes painted according to the vse of the countrey or else he abode there for the loue he bare to his wife and children All those whiche stoode by hard this Historie were amased to heare Geronimo de Aguilar report howe those Indians did sacrifise eate mans flesh They also lamented the miserie death of his fellowes and highly praysed God to sée him frée frō his bondage from such cruel barbarous people to haue likewise so good an enterpreter with thē for vndoubtedly it semed a miracle y Aluarados ship fel into a leak for with the extremity they returned back again to that Iland wheras with contrarie winde they were constrayned to abide the cōming of Aguilar And certainly he was y mean speech of al their procéedings And therfore haue I bin so prolixious in the rehearsal of this matter as a notable point of this historie Also I wil not let to tell how the mother of Geronimo de Aguilar became mad c. When she hard the hir son was captiue among people the vsed to eate mās flesh euer after whē she saw any flesh spitted or roasted she would make an open outcrie saying oh I miserable woman behold this is the flesh of my deare beloued sonne who was all my comfort The Iland of Acusamil THe Indians naturall of that countrey do cal their Ilande Acusamil corruptlye Cosumel Iohn de Grijalua was that first Spaniard that apported there and named it the holy Roode bycause hee fell in sighte therof on holy roade daye It cōtayneth ten leagues in length thrée leagues in breadth although some say more some lesse it standeth twentye degrées on this side the equator and fiue leagues from the womēs cape it hath thrée villages in the which liueth nere thousand mē The houses are of stone and brick and couered with straw bowes some with tile Their temples and towers are made of lime stone very wel built thei haue no other fresh water but out of welles and raine water Calachuni is their chiefe Lord they are browne people goe naked if any weare cloth it is made of cotten wool only to couer their priuie mēbers they vse lōg hear platted bound about their foreheads they are great fishermē so the fish is their chiefest foode sustenance they haue also Maiz which is for bread also good fruites hony but somewhat soure and plots for bées which contayn 1000 hiues They knew not to what vse wax serued but whē they saw our mē make cādels therof they wōdred therat Their dogges haue Foxe faces and barke not these they gelde and fatten to eate This Iland is ful of high moūtaines at the feete of them good pastures many Deare and wilde Boares Connyes and Hares but they are not great The Spaniardes with their handguns and crossebowes prouide them of that victual fresh salt and dried The people of this Iland are Idolaters they doe sacrifice children but not manye And many times in stead of children they sacrifice dogges They are poore people but very charitable and louing in their false religion and beliefe The religion of the people of Acusamil THe temple is like vnto a square Toure broad at the foote steps round about it from the middest vpward very straight the top is hollow couered with straw it hath foure windowes with frontals and galleries In that holow place is their chappel wheras their Idols do stand The temple that stoode by the sea side was such a one in the which was a maruellous straunge Idol and differed muche from all the rest although they haue manye and of diuerse fashions The body of this Idol was great and hollow and was fastened in that wall with lime hee was of earth And behinde this Idols backe was the Vesterie where was kept ornaments other things of seruice for the temple The priests had a little secret dore hard adioyning to the Idol by which dore they crept into the hollow Idol and answered the people that came with prayers peticiōs And with this deceit the simple soules beleued al that the Idol spake honored the god more thā al the rest with many perfumes swéete smelles and offered bread and fruite with sacrifice of Quayles bloud and other birds and dogges and sometime mans bloud And through the fame of this Idoll and Oracle many Pilgrimes came to Acusamil from many places At the foote of this Temple was a plotte like a Churchyard well walled and garnished with proper pinnacles in the middest whereof stoode a Crosse of ten foote long the which they adored for God of the rayne for at all times whē they wanted rayne they would goe thither on Procession deuoutely and offered to the Crosse Quayles sacrificed for to appease the wrath that the God séemed to haue agaynste them and none was so acceptable a sacrifice as the bloud of that little birde They vsed to burne certaine swéete gūme to perfume that God withall and to be sprinckle it with water and this done they beléeued assuredly to haue rayne Suche is the Religiō of those Indians of Acusamil They could neuer know the original how that God of Crosse came amōgst them for in all those parties of India there is no memorie of anye Preaching of the Gospell that had bin at any time as shall be shewed in another place The Battell and vvinning of Potenchan COrtez procéeded with his Fléete very ioyfull bycause he had found one of his Ships which hée thought had bin lost aported at the riuer de Grijalua whiche in the Indian tong is called Tauases and anckred at the riuers mouth fearing to enter in with the bigger vessels ouer the barre and incontinente came manye Indians to gaze at them and theyr Shippes who were armed with feathers and suche lyke armour as they vse séeming a farre off trimme fellowes They wondered not muche to sée oure Shyppes and menne bycause they hadde séene before Iohn de Grijalua in the same Riuer The behauiour of that people and scituation of the Countrey liked Cortez verye well so that leauyng sufficiente garde in hys Shyppes he manned hys Vergantynes and Boates and carried with hym certayne pieces of Ordinance and with force of oares he entred the Riuer agaynste the streame whiche was verye greate and hauyng rowen little more than halfe a league they espyed a greate Towne walled wyth Timber and the houses made of mudwall couered with strawe The Towne wall was verye
two princes Cuetlauac and Cacama his neuewes did leade him by eache arme all thrée were riche appareled al of one fashion except Mutezuma whiche had a payre of shoes of golde besette with pretious stones and the soles were tied to the vpper part with latchets as is painted of the Antikes His Gentlemen wente by two and two laying downe and taking vp mantels and couerlets vpon the ground bicause his féete should not touche the same then followed him as in procession 200. noble men barefooted with garments of a richer liuery than the first thrée thousand Mutezuma came in the middest of the streate and the others came behinde him as nigh the wal as they mought their faces towards the grounde for it was a great offence to looke him in the face Cortes alighted from his horse and according to our vse went to embrace him but the Princes who led him by the armes would not suffer him to come so nigh for they held it for sin to touch him but yet saluted ech one the other Cortes put about Mutezuma his necke a coller of Margarites Diamondes other stones al of glasse Mutezuma receyued it thankfully wente before with one of the princes his Neuewes cōmaunded the other to lead Cortes by the hand next after him in the middest of the streat and procéeding forwarde in this order then came the Gētlemen in the richest liuery to welcome him one by one touchyng the ground with their handes after returned to their standyng And if the Citizens had come as they requested all that day would not haue serued for salutatiōs The coller of glasse pleased well Mutezuma and bycause he woulde not take without giuyng a better thing as a great prince he commaunded to be brought twoo collers of redde prawnes which there are muche estéemed and at euery one of them hanged eight shrimpes of gold of excellent workemanship of a finger length euery one he put these collers with his owne hands about Cortes his necke the which was estéemed a most great fauour yea and the Indians marueled at it At this time they were come to the streate ende whiche was almost a mile long broade straight and very fayre and full of houses on eche side in whose dores windowes and tops was such a multitude of Indians to beholde the strangers that I knowe not who wondered most our men to sée such a number of them or else they to sée our men their ordinance horses a thing so straunge vnto them They were brought vnto a great court or house of idols which was the lodging of Axaiaca at the dore whereof Mutezuma tooke Cortes by the hande and brought him into a fayre hall and placed him vpon a riche carpet saying vnto him Sir nowe are you in your owne house eate and take your rest pleasure for I wil shortly come and visite you againe Such as you heare was the receiuing of Hernando Cortes by Mutezuma a most mightie King into his great and famous Citie of Mexico the eight day of Nouember 1519. The Oration of Mutezuma to the Spanyardes THe house where the Spaniardes were lodged was great and large with many fayre chambers sufficient for them all it was nete cleane matted and hanged with cloth of Cotten and feathers of many colours pleasant to behold When Mutezuma was departed frō Cortes he began to sette his house in order and placed the ordinaunce at his dore and hauing all his things in good sorte he went to a sumptuous dinner that was prepared for him As soone as Mutezuma had made an ende of his dinner hearyng that the straungers were rysen from the table and reposed a while then came he to Cortes salutyng him and satte downe by him He gaue vnto him diuers iewels of gold plate feathers and many garmēts of Cotten both riche well wouen wrought of straunge colours a thing truely that did manifest his greatnesse and also cōfirme their imagination This gifte was deliuered honorably and then began his talke as foloweth Lorde and Gentlemen I doe much reioyce to haue in my house such valiant men as ye are for to vse you with curtesie and entreate you with honour according to your descrte and my estate And where heretofore I desired that you shoulde not come hither the onely cause was my people had a greate feare to sée you for your gesture grimme beards did terrifie them yea they reported that yée had such beastes as swallowed men and that your cōming was frō heauen bringing with you lightning thunder thūderbolts wherwith you made the earth to trēble to shake and that yée slew therewith whom ye pleased But now I do sée know that you are mortall mē that ye are quiet hurt no man also I haue séene your horses which are but your seruauntes and youre Gunnes lyke vnto shootyng Trunkes I do now hold all for fables and lyes which hath bin reported of you and I do also accept you for my néere kinsmen My father tolde me that hée had heard his forefathers say of whome I doe descende that they helde opinion howe they were not naturals of thys lande but come hither by chance in companye of a mighty Lorde who after a while that they hadde abode héere they returned to their natiue soyle After manye yeares expyred they came agayne for those whome they had left héere behind them but they would not goe wyth them bycause they had héere inhabited and hadde wyues and children and great gouernement in the land Nowe these myghtie Lords séeyng that they were so stubborne and woulde not returne with them departed from them sore displeased saying that he woulde sende his children that should both rule and gouerne them in iustice peace and auntient Religion and for this consideration wée haue alwayes expected and beléeued that suche a people should come to rule and gouerne vs and cōsidering from whence you come I doe thinke that you are they whome we looked for and the notice which the greate Emperour Charles had of vs who hath now sent you hither Therefore Lorde and Captayne be well assured that we wyll obey you if therebe no fayned or deceytefull matter in your dealings and will also deuide wyth you and youres all that we haue And although this which I haue sayde were not only for youre vertue fame and déedes of valiant Gentlemen I would yet do it for your worthinesse in the battayles of Tauasco Teocazinco and Chololla béeyng so few to ouercome so many Now agayne if ye ymagine that I am a God and the walles and roufes of my houses and all my vessell of seruice to be of pure golde as the men of Zempoallan Tlaxcallan and Huexozinco haue enformed you it is not so and I iudge you to be so wise that you giue no credit to such fables You shall also note that through your commyng hither manye of my subiectes haue rebelled and are become my mortall enimies but yet
I purpose to breake their wings Come féele you my body I am of fleshe and bone a mortal man as others are and no God although as a King I doe estéeme my selfe of a greater dignitie and prehemineÌ„ce than others My houses you do also sée which are of tymber and earthe and the principallest of Masons worke therefore nowe you do both knowe and sée what odious lyars those talebearers were But troth it is that golde plate feathers armour iewels and other riches I haue in the treasory of my forefathers a long time prâ—serued as the vse of Kings is all the which you yours shal enioy at all times And now it may please you to take your rest for I know that you are wéery of your iourney Cortez with ioyfull countenance humbled himselfe séeyng some teares fall from Mutezuma his eyes saying vnto him vppon the trust I haue hadde in youre clemencye I insisted to come both to sée and talke wyth your highnesse and now I know that all are lyes which hath bin tolde me The like youre highnesse hath hearde reported of vs assure youre selfe that the Emperoure Kyng of Spayne is your naturall Lorde whome yée haue expected for he is the onely heyre from whence youre lynage dothe procéede and as touching the offer of youre highnesse treasure I do most hartyly thanke you After all this communication Mutezuma demaunded whether the bearded men whiche came with him were eyther his vassals or his flaues bycause he would entertayne eache one according to his estate Cortes aunswered that they were all his bréethren friendes and fellowes except some that were his seruauntes Then he departed and wente home to his Pallace and there enformed himselfe particularlye who were Gentlemen and who were not and according therevnto sent euery one particular gift or present To the Gentlemen he sente the rewarde by his Controller and to the Marriners other seruitors by a Page of his housholde The Maiestie and order vvherevvith Mutezuma was serued MVtezuma was a man of a small stature and leane his couloure tawnie as all the Indians are He hadde long heare on hys heade sixe little heares vppon him as though they hadde bin put in with a bodkin His thinne bearde was blacke Hée was a man of fayre condition and a doer of Iustice well spoken graue and wise beloued and feared among his subiectes Mutezuma doth signifie sadnesse To the proper names of Kings and Lords they do adde this sillable C. whiche is for curtesie and dignitie as we vse lord The Turke vseth Zultan The Moore or Barbarian calleth his Lorde Mulley and so the Indians say Mutezumazin His people hadde him in such reuerence that he permitted none to sit in his sight nor yet in his presence to weare shoes nor looke him in the face except very few Princes He was glad of the conuersation of the Spanyardes and would not suffer them to stande on foote for the great estimation he had of them and if he lyked any of the Spanyardes garments he woulde exchange his apparell for theirs He changed his owne apparell foure times euery day and he neuer clothed himselfe agayne with the garmentes whiche he hadde once worne but all suche were kept in his Guardrobe for to giue in presents to his seruantes and Embassadors and vnto valiante souldyers which had takeÌ„ any enimie prisoner and that was estéemed a great reward and a title of priuiledge The costly maÌ„tels wherof had bin diners sent to Cortes were of the same Guardrobe Mutezuma went alwayes very net and fine in hys attire He bathed him in his hotehouse foure times euerye day He went seldome out of his Chamber but when hée went to his meate He eate alwayes alone but solemnelye and with great abundance His table was a pillowe or else a couple of coulloured skynnes His Chayre was a fourefooted stole made of one péece and hollowe in the middest well wroughte and paynted His table clothes napkins and towels were made of Cotten woll verye white and newe for he was neuer serued but once wyth that naperie Foure hundred Pages broughte in hys meate all sonnes of greate Lordes and placed it vppon a table in his great Hall. The meate béeyng broughte in then came Mutezuma to beholde the dishes and appoynted those dishes that liked him best and chasing dishes were prepared to kéepe that moate warme and seldome would eate of any other dish except the Lord Stewarde or Controller should highly commende any other dishe Before he sate downe came twentie of his wiues of the fayrest and best estéemed or else those that serued wéekely by turne broughte in the bason and ewer wyth greate humblenesse This done he sate him downe and then came the Lord Steward and drewe a wodden nette before him bycause none shoulde come nigh his table And this noble man alone placed the dishes and also tooke them away for the Pages who broughte in the meate came not néere the table nor yet spake any word nor no man else While the Lord Mutezuma was at his meate excepte some Iester they al serued him barefooted There assisted alwayes somewhat a farre off sixe auntiente and noble men vnto whome he vsed to giue of the dish that best lyked him who receyued the same at his hande with greate reuerence and eate it incontinent without loking in his face whiche was the greatest humilitie that they coulde vse before him He had musike of Fiddle Flute and of a Snayle shell and a Caudron couered with a skinne and suche other strange instrumentes They hadde very euill voyces to sing Always at dinner time he had Dwarfes crookebackes and other deformed counterfets all for maiestie and to laugh at who hadde their meate in the Hall among the Iesters and Idyots whiche were fedde with parte of the meate that came from Mutezuma hys table all the rest of the meate was giuen to thrée thousand of the Guard who attended ordinarily in the yarde or court and therefore they say that there was broughte for his table thrée thousande dishes and as manye pottes of wine suche as they vse and that continually the buttrey and Pantrey stoode open whiche was a wonder to sée what was in them The platters dishes and cuppes were al of earth whereof the King was serued but once and so froÌ„ meale to meale new He had likewise his seruice of golde and plate verye riche but he vsed not to bée serued with it they say bycause he woulde not be serued twice therewith the whiche he thoughte a base thing Some affirme that yong children were slayne and dressed in diuers kind of dishes for Mutezuma his table but it was not so only of mans flesh sacrifised he fedde nowe and then The table being taken vp then came againe the Gentlewomen to bring water for his hands with the like reuereÌ„ce as they vsed at the first and then went they to dinner with the other wiues so that then the Gentlemen and Pages waited as their course fell The
well to be eaten as for Medicine for bothe men wemen and chyldren haue great knowledge in hearbes for through pouertie and necessitie they séeke them for theyr sustenaunce and helpe of theyr infirmities and diseases They spende little among Phisitions although there are some of that Arte and many Poticaries who doe bryng into the markette oyntments Siroppes waters and other drugges fitte for sicke Persons they cure all diseases almost with hearbes yea as muche as for to kill lyse they haue a proper hearbe for the purpose The seuerall kyndes of meates to be solde is without number as Snakes without head tayle little Dogges gelte Moules Rattes Long wormes Lyse yea and a kinde of earth for at one season in the yiere they haue Nettes of mayle with the which they rake vp a certayne duste that is bredde vpon the water of the lake of Mexico and that is knéeded togither like vnto oas of the sea they gather much of this victuall kéepe it in heapes make therof cakes like vnto brickebats they sell not only this ware in the market but also send it abroad to other fayres markets a far of they eat this meate with as good stomake as we eate chéese yea and they holde opinion that this skuÌ„me or fatnesse of the water is the cause that such great number of foule coÌ„meth to the lake which in the winter season is infinite They sel in this market venison by quarters or whole as Does Hares Connies and Dogges and many other beastes whiche they bring vp for the purpose and take in huntyng There are a great number of shoppes that sell all kinde of orfall and tripes It is a wonder to sée how so much meate ready dressed coulde be spent There is also fleshe and fishe rosted boyled and baked Pies and Eustardes made of diuers sortes of egges the great quantitie of bread is without number Also corne of all sortes threshed and vnthreshed The greate store of sundry kyndes of fruytes is maruellous whiche are there solde bothe gréene and ripe there is one sorte as bigge as Almondes called Cacao whiche is bothe meate and curxant money There are diuers kind of colours to be solde whiche they make of Roses floures fruites barkes of trées and other things very excellent they sell there Honie of sundry kindes oyle of Chian made of a séede like vnto mustarde séede and oynting any paynted clothe therewith the water can not hurte it they also dresse ther with their meate although they haue both butter and larde Theyr sundry sortes of wines shal be declared in an other plate it woulde be a prolirious thing to rehearse all the things that are to be solde in that markette There are in this fayre many Artificers as Packers Barbars Cutlers many others although it was thought that among these Indians were none such All the things recited and many others which I speake not of are solde in euery market of Mexico all the sollers paye a certaine summe for theyr shops or staÌ„dings to the King as a custome they to be preserued and defended from théeues and for that cause there goe certayne Sergeants or officers vp downe the market to espie out malefactours In the middest of the market standeth a house whiche may be seene-throughout the fayre there sitteth twelue auncâ—ent men for iudges to dispatch lawe matters their buying and selling is to chaunge one ware for another as thus one giueth a hen for a bundell of Maiz other giue mantels for salte or money whiche is Cacao and this is theyr order to choppe and chaunge they haue measure and strike for all kynde of corne and other earthen measures for Hony and Wine and if any measure be falsified they punish the offenders and breake their measures The great Temple of Mexico THe Temple is called Teucalli that is to say Gods house Teutl signifieth God Calli is a house a vowell very fitte if that house had bene of the true god The Spaniards that vndersâ—aÌ„d not the language do pronounce and call those Temples Cues and the God Vitzilopuchtli Vchilobâ—s There are in Mexico many parishe churches with towres wherein are chappels and Altares where the images idols do stande those chappels do serue for burial places of their founders and the Parishioners are buried in the Churchyarde All their teÌ„ples are of one fashion therefore it shal be nowe sufficient to speake of the cathedral church And euen as those teÌ„ples are al in generall of one making in that citie Idoe beleue that the lyke was neuer séene nor harde off This temple is square doth containe euery way as much ground as a crossebow can reach leuell it is made of stone with foure dores that abutteth vpon the thrée calseys and vpon an other parte of the Cittie that hath no calsey but a fayre streate In the middest of this Quadern standeth a mount of earth and stone square lykewise and fiftie fadom long euery way buylte vpward like vnto a pyramide of Egipt sauyng the toppe is not sharpe but playne and flatte and ten fadom square vpon the weast side are steppes vp to the toppe and were in number and huÌ„dreth and fourtene whiche beyng so many high and made of good stone dyd séeme a beautifull thing It was a straunge sight to beholde the Priestes some goyng vp and some downe with ceremonies or with men to be sacrificed Vpon the toppe of this Temple are two great Alters a good space distant the one from the other and so nigh the edge or brimme of the wall that scarcely a man mought go behind them at pleasure The one Alter standeth on the â—ight hande the other on the left they were but of fiue foote highe eche of them had the hacke part made of stone paynted with moÌ„strous and foule figures the Chappell was fayre well wrought of Masons worke timber euery Chappell had thrée loftes one aboue another susteyned vpon pillers with the height thereof it shewed like vnto a fayre tower and beautified the Cittie a farre of from thence a man mought sée all the eittie and townes rounde aboute the lake whiche was vndoubtedly a goodly prospect And bycause Cortes his company should sée the beautie thereof Mutezuma brought him thither and shewed hym all the order of the Temple euen from the foote to the toppe There was a certaine plot or space for the idoll priests to celebrate their seruice without disturbance of any Their general prayers were made toward the rising of the sunne Vpon ech alter standeth a great idoll Beside this tower that standeth vpoÌ„ the pyramide there are fourtie towers great small belonging to other little teÌ„ples which stand in the same circuite the which although they were of the same making yet theyr prospect was not westwarde but otherwayes bicause there should be a difference betwirte the great temple them Some of these Temples were bigger than others and euery one of a seuerall God among
the host vnto whom in general he spake as followeth The exhortation of Cortez to his Souldiers MY louyng brethren I gyue moste hartie thankes vnto Iesu Christ to sée you now whole of your woundes and frée from diseases likewise I muche reioyce to sée you in good order trimly armed yea and with suche desire to sette agayne vpon Mexico to reuenge the death of our fellowes and to winne that greate Citie the whiche I truste in God shal be brought to passe in shorte time hauing the friendship of Tlaxcallan and other prouinces who haue as great desire to sée the ouerthrowe of the Mexicans as we our selues for therein they gette both honour libertie safegarde of life Also it is to be considered that if the victory should not be ours they poore soules should be destroyed and remaine in perpetuall captiuitie Also the Culhuacans do abhorre them worse than vs for receyuing vs into their houses and countrey therefore sure I am that they will sticke vnto vs vnfaynedly I muste néedes confesse their vnfayned friendship for presente workes doe testifie the same They will not onely be a meane to bryng others their neyghbours to our seruice but also haue now in readinesse .100000 mē of warre to sende with vs besides a great nūber of Tamemez or carriers to carrie al our prouision Ye also are now the same which alwaies heretofore ye haue bene for I as witnesse beyng your captayne haue had the victory of many battayles fighting with a .100 yea 200000. enimies we got also by strength of arme many strōg cities yea brought in subiection many prouinces not beyng so many in number as we are nowe for when we came firste into this countrey we were not so many as now presently we are Agayne in Mexico they feare our cōming it should also be a blot vnto our honour that Quahutimoc should inherite the kingdome that cost our friēd Mutezuma his life Likewise I esteme al that we haue done is nothing if we winne not Mexico our victories shoulde also be sorowfull if we reuenge not the death of our déere fellowes The chiefe and principall cause of our cōming into this countrey was to set forth the faith of Iesu Christ therwithal doth folow honour profite which seldome times do dwell togither In those fewe dayes that we were in Mexico we put downe the idols we caused sacrifice and eatyng of mans fleshe to bée layde aside and also in those dayes wée beganne to conuerte some to the fayth It is not therefore nowe reason to leaue of so laudable an enterpryse so well begonne Lette vs now goe whither holy fayth doth call vs and where the sinnes of our enimies deserueth so great a punishment and if yée well remember the Citizens of that citie were not cōtent to murder such an infinite number of men women children before the idols in their filthy sacrifice for honour of their Diuelishe Goddes but also to eate their fleshe a thyng inhumayne and much abhorred of God and al good men doth procure and especially Christians to defende and punishe suche odious customes Besides all this they committe that horrible sinne for the whiche the fiue cities with Sodom were burned by fire from heauen Why then what greater occasion should any man wishe for in earth than to abolish such wickednesse and to plant among these bloudy tirants the fayth of Iesu Christ publishing his holy gospel Therfore now with ioyfull hartes lette vs procéede to serue God honour our nation to enlarge our Princes dominions and to enriche our selues with the goodly pray of Mexico to morrow God willyng we will beginne the same All his men answeared with chéerefull countenaunce that they were ready to departe when it pleased him promising their faithful seruice vnto him It should séeme the rather with the desire of that pleasure and greate treasure whiche they had eyght moneths enioyed before Cortes commaunded to proclayme throughout his army certaine ordinaunces of warre for the good gouernement of his hoste whiche he had written among others and were these that followeth That none should blaspheme the holy name of Iesus That no Souldier should fight with his fellowe That none shoulde play at any game his horse nor armour That none should force any woman That none should robbe or take any Indian captiue without his speciall licence and counsellers That none should wrōg or iniurie any Indian their friēds he also taxed yron worke and apparell for cause of the excessiue prices that they were there solde for The exhortation made by Cortez to the Indians of Tlaxcallan THe nexte daye following Cortes called before him all the Lordes Captaynes and principall persons of Tlaxcallan Huexocinco Chololla Chalco and of other townes who were there presente at that time saying as followeth My Lords and friendes you know the iourney which I haue nowe in hande to morrowe God willing I will departe to the warre and siege of Mexico and enter into the land of youre enimies and mine And the thing that now I do require and also pray is that you remayne faithfull and constant in your promise made as hithervnto you haue done and so I trust you will continue And bycause I can not bring so soone my purpose to passe according to youre desire and mine without the Vergantines which are now a making and to be placed in the lake of Mexico therefore I praye you to fauoure these workemen whiche I leaue héere with suche loue and friendship as héeretofore you haue done and to giue them all things necessary for their prouision and I do faithfully promise to take away the yoke of bondage which the inhabitantes of Culhua haue layde vpon you and also will obteyne of the Emperoure great libertie and priviledges for you All the Indians shewed countenance of obedience and the chiefest Gentlemen aunswered in few words saying we will not onely fulfyll youre request but also when your vessels are finished we will bring them to Mexico and we all in generall will goe with you and truly serue you in your warres Hovv Cortez tooke Tezcuco COrtez departed from Tlaxcallan wyth hys Souldyers in good order whyche was a goodly sight to beholde for at that time he had eyghtie thousand men in his host and the most of them armed after their manner which made a gallant shew but Cortes for diuers causes would not haue them all with him vntill the Vergantines were finished and Mexico beséeged searing wante of vittayle for so greate an armye yet notwithstanding hée tooke twentie thousand of them besides the Carriers and that night came to Tezmoluca which stādeth sixe leagues from Tlaxcallan and is a Village apperteyning to Huexocinco where he was by the principall of the Towne wel receyued The next day he iourneyed foure leagues into the territorie of Mexico and there was lodged on the 〈◊〉 of a hill where many had perished with colde had it not bin for the store of woodde which they found there In the
came triumphantly with victory of Xochnuxco said vnto the Lorde of Culhuacan Now quoth he Mexico is strong and inuincible for I haue in subiection Xochnuxco and other prouinces so that now I am without feare of any enemie The Lord of Culhuacan aunswered saying trust not good King too muche for one force forceth another with the whiche aunswere Mutezuma was not a little offended But when Cortes hadde taken them both prisoners then he called to remembrance the former talke and held that saying for a prophesie The building vp agayne of Mexico COrtes pretended to reedifie againe the Citie of Mexico not onely for the scituation and maiestie but also for the name great fame thereof and also to builde vp that which he hadde beaten downe by reason whereof he trauelled to make this Citie greater better and to be more replenished with people He named and appoynted Iudges Aldermen Attourneys Towne-clearke Notaries Skauengers and Seriants with all other officers necessarie for the common weale of a Citie He deuided the Citie among the Conquerors hauing first taken out places for Churches market places townehouse and other necessarie plottes to builde houses profitable for the common weale He also separated the dwellings of the Spanyards from the IndiaÌ„s so that the water passeth and maketh deuision betwixt them Hée procured many Indians to come to the building of the Citie for auoiding charges although therein he had somewhat to do by reason that many kinsmen of Quahutimoc were not as yet come vnder obedience He made Lorde of Tezcuco Don Carolus Iztlixuchitl by the consent of the Citie in place of Don Hernando his brother who was deceassed and commaunded many of hys vassals to labour in the workes bycause they were Carpenters masons and builders of houses He promised also to them that were naturals of the Citie of Mexico plottes to build vpon inheritance fréedome and other liberties and the like vnto all those that woulde come and inhabite there whiche was a meane to allure many thither He sette also at libertie Xihuaco the generall Captayne and made him chiefe ouer the Indians in the Citie vnto whome he gaue a whole stréete He gaue likewyse another stréete to Don Pedro Mutezuma who was sonne to Mutezuma the king All this was done to winne the fauoure of the people He made other Gentlemen Seniors of little Ilands and stréetes to builde vpon and to inhabite and in this order the whole scituation was reparted and the worke began with great ioy and diligence but when the fame was blowen abroade that Mexico should be built againe it was a wonder to sée the people that resorted thither hearing of libertie fréedome the number was so greate that in a whole league compasse was nothing but people both men and women They laboured sore and eate little by reason whereof many sickned and pestilence followed whereof dyed an infinite number Their paines was great for they bare on theyr backes and drew after them stones earth timber lyme bricke and all other things necessary in this sort and by little and little Mexico was built againe with a hundred thousande houses more stronger and better than the olde building was The Spanyardes also built their houses after the Spanish fashion Cortes built his house vpon the plotte where Mutezuma his house stoode whiche renteth now yéerely foure thousand duckates a yeare Pamfilo de Naruaez accused him for the same saying that he hadde spoyled the woddes and mountaynes and spente seauen thousand beames of Ceder trées in the worke of his own house The number seemeth more héere than there for where all the Mountaynes are replenished with Ceder trées it is a small matter There are Gardines in Tezcuco that haue a thousand Ceder trées for walles and circuite yea and there are Ceder trées of a hundred tweÌ„ty foote long and twelue foote in compasse from ende to end They built faire dockes couered ouer with arches for the Vergantines whereas for a perpetuall memorie all the thirtéene Vergantines do remayne vntil this day They dâ—mmed vp the stréetes of water where now faire houses stand so that Mexico is not as it was wont to be yea and since the yeare of 1524. the lake decreaseth and sometime casteth out a vapour of stench but otherwise it is a wholesome and temperate dwelling by reason of the Mountaynes that standeth round about it and well prouided through the fertilitie of the Countrey and commoditie of the lake so that now is Mexico one of the greatest Cities in the world and the most noble in all India as well in armes as policie There are at the least two thousande Citizens that haue each of them his horse in his stable with riche furniture for them There is also great contractation and all sortes of occupations Also a money house where money is dayly coyned a fayre schole whiche the Vizeroy Don Antonio de Mendosa caused to be made There is a greate difference betwixte an inhabitant of Mexico and a Conqueror for a Conqueror is a name of honor and hathe landes and rentes and the inhabitante or onely dweller payeth rente for hys house When this Citie was a building not throughlye furnished Cortes came from Culhuacan to dwell there The fame of Cortes and maiestie of Mexico was blowen abroade into farre prouinces by meanes whereof it is now so replenished as I haue before declared yea hath so many Spanyards who haue conquered aboue 400. leagues of land being all gouerned by the princely seate of Mexico Hovv the Emperour sent to take accompt of Cortes of his gouernement in the newe Spayne IN these dayes Cortes was the man of the greatest name of all the Spanish nation although many had defamed him and especially Pamfilo de Naruaez who was in the Court of Spaine accusing him And where of long time the Counsell of India had receyued no letters from him they suspected yea and beléeued whatsoeuer euil was spoken of him Wherevppon they prouided the Admirall Don Diego Colon for Gouernour of Mexico who at that time went to lawe wyth the king pretending the said office and many others with condition to carrie at his owne coast a thousand men to apprehend Cortes They prouided also for Gouernour of Panuco one Nonio de Gusman and Simon de Alcazaua portingall for gouernour of Honduras To kindle more thys mischiefe and to set this businesse forward one Iohn de Ribera the Attourney of Cortes was a sitte and an earnest instrument againste his maister and the cause was for falling out with Martin Cortes father vnto Hernando Cortes about foure thousand Duckates which Cortes had sent by him to his father which money the said Ribera his Attourney kept to his owne vse and therefore raised many slaunders against his maister yea and credite was giuen to his tales but on a night he had a morsell of bacon gyuen him vppon a skaffolde wherewith he was choked in the chiefe time of his businesse These newe officers
dayes after this last Sunne appeared all the Gods did dye and that in processe of time the Gods whiche nowe they haue and worshippe were borne And through these false opinions our Diuines did soone conuert them to the knowledge of the true lawes of God. The nation of the Indians called Chichimecas IN the lande nowe called newe Spayne are dyuers and sundry generations of people but they holde opinion that the stocke of most antiquitie is the people nowe called Chichimecas whiche procéeded out of the house of Aculhuacan which standeth beyond Xalixco about the yeare of our Lorde 720. Many of this Generation did inhabite aboute the lake of Tenuchtitlan but their name ended by mixture in marriage with other people At that time they hadde no King nor yet did builde eyther house or Towne Their only dwellings was in caues in the Mositaynes They went naked they sowed no kind of graine nor vsed bread of any sorte They did mainteyne themselues with rootes hearbes and siluester fruites and béeing a people cunning in shooting with the bowe they kylled deare hares connyes and other beastes and foule which they eate also not sodden or rosted but rawe and dryed in the Sunne They eate also Snakes Lizardes and other filthye beastes yea and at this day there are some of this generation that vse the same dyet But although they liued suche a bestiall life being a people so barbarous yet in their diuelish religion they were verye deuout They worshipped the Sunne vnto whome they vsed to offer Snakes Lizards such other beasts They likewise offered vnto their God all kinde of foule from the degrée of an Eagle to a little Butterflie They vsed not sacrifice of māslaughter nor had any Idolles no not so muche as of the Sunne whome they helde for the sole and only god They married but with one woman in no degrée of kinred They were a stoute and a warlike people by reason whereof they were Lordes of the land The Coronation of the Kings of Mexico ALthough one brother was heire to an other among the Mexicans and after their deceasse did inherite the Sonne of the eldest brother yet they tooke no possession of the state nor name of King vntil they were annoynted and Crowned openlye As soone as any King of Mexico deceassed and his funerals ended then were called to Parliamente the Lorde of Tezcuco and the Lorde of Tlacopan who were the chiefest estates and then in order all other noble men who owed any seruice to the Mexican Empire And béeyng come togither if any doubt of the inheritāce of the crowne happened then the matter was decided with al hast then the newe King being knowen he was stripped starke naked except a cloth to couer his priuie partes and in thys sorte was carried among them to the greate Temple of Vitzilopuchtli with greate silence and without any ioy or pleasure Two Gentlemen of the Citie whose office it was ledde him vppe the staires of the Temple by the armes and before him wente the Princes of Tezcuco and Tlacopan who that day did weare their robes of Coronation wherevpon was paynted their armes and title Verye fewe of the Laytie wente vp into the Chappels but only those that were appoynted to attire the newe king and to serue in other Ceremonies for all the residue stoode vpon the steppes and belowe to beholde the Coronation These Magistrates being aboue in the Chappell came with great humilitie and reuerence knéelyng downe vpō their knées before the Idoll of Vitzilopuchtl and touched the earth with one finger and then kissed the same Then came the high prieste clothed in his pontificall vestmentes with many others in his company who did weare surplices and withoute speaking any worde they paynted or couloured the Kings person with ynke made for the purpose as blacke as any cole After thys Ceremonye done they blessed the annoynted Kyng and sprinckled him foure times with a certayne holly water that was made at the time of consecration of the God made of dowe or paste with a sprinckle made of boughes of Cane leaues Ceder willow leaues Then they put vpon his head a cloth painted with the bones and skulles of dead men and next they clothed him with a black garment and vpon the another blewe and both were paynted with the figures of dead mens skulles bones Then they put about his necke certaine laces whereat did hang the armes of the Crowne And behind his backe they did hang certain little bottels ful of powders by vertue wherof he was deliuered from pestilence and diseases according to their opiniō yea therby witches nor witchcrafts could not hurt him nor yet euill menne deceyue him In fyne with those relickes he was sure from all perill and daunger Vpon his lefte arme they bounde a litle bagge of incense and then brought vnto him a chaffyng dishe of imbers made of the barke of an Oke trée Then the king arose and with his owne hande threw of the same incense into the chaffing dishe and with great reuerence brought the same to the God Vitzilopuchtli and after he had smoked him therewith he satte him downe then came the high Priest and tooke his othe to mainteyne the religion of the Goddes to kéepe also all the lawes and customes of his predecessours to maynteyne iustice and not to agrauiate any of his vassals or subiects and that he should be valiant in the warres that he shoulde cause the Sunne to giue his light the clowdes to yéelde rayne the riuers to runne and the earth to bring foorth all kinde of grayne fruytes and other néedefull hearbes and trées These and many other impossible things the newe kyng did sweare to performe and then he gaue thankes to the high priest and commended himself to the Goddes and to the lookers on and they who brought him vp in the same order carieth him downe agayne Then all the people cried the Goddes preserue the newe kyng and that he may raigne many yéeres in health with al his people But then some began to daunce other to play on their instrumēts shewing outwardly their inwarde ioyes of harte And before the king came to the foote of the steppes all the noble men came to yéelde their obedience and in token of louing and faythfull subiectes they presented vnto him feathers strings of snayle shelles collours and other Iewelles of golde and siluer also mantels paynted with death bare him company vnto a great hal within the compasse of the temple and there lefte him The king sitteth downe vnder his cloth of estate called Tlacatecco and in foure daies departeth not out of the circuyte of the temple the which he spendes in prayers sacrifice and penaunce he eates then but once a day and euery day he bathes himselfe and agayne in the night in a great ponde of water and then lettes himselfe bloud in his eares and senseth therewith the God of Water called Tlaloc he likewise senseth the other idols vnto