for a bowe two arrowes and a nette and afterwarde the father in lawe speaketh not one worde to his sonne in law for the space of a whole yeare And when the husbande hapneth to haue any child he lyeth not any more with his wife in two yeares after for feare least she might be with childe againe before the former childe were out of daunger although some doe sucke vntyll twelue yeares of age and for this consideration they haue many wiues Likewise there is an order among them that no woman may touch or dresse any thing being with theyr menstruall ordinarie Diuoremcent was not permitted without a iust cause and authoritie of Iustice among those who were openly married but the other sort might be as easily forsaken as taken In Mechuacan was not permitted any diuorcemente excepte the partie made a solemne othe that they loked not the one on the other stedfastly and directly at the time of their marriage But in Mexico they must proue how the wife is barraine foule of a naughty cōdition but if they put away their wiues without order and commaundemente of the Iudge then the heare of the offenders head is burned in the market place as a shame or punishment of a man without reason or witte The payne of adultery was death as well for the mā as the woman but if the adulterer were a Gentleman his head was decked with feathers after that he was hāged and his body burned and for this offence was no pardon eyther for man or woman but for the auoyding of adultery they do permitte other common women but no ordinary stewes Of the Iudges and order of Iustice IN Mexico were twelue Iudges who were all noble men graue and well learned in the Mexican lawes These men liued only by the rentes that properly apperteyne to the maintenance of Iustice and in anye cause iudged by thē it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges who were of the princes bloud and alwayes abode in the Court and were mainteyned at the Kings owne cost and charge The inferior Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to cōsult with the higher And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery prouince within the Mexican Empire to consult with the Iudges of Mexico but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King onely to passe by his order and determination The Painters serued for notaries to paint al the cases which were to be resolued but no sute passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall ende and determination There were in that citie twelue Sergeants whose office was to arrest and to cal parties before the Iudges Their garments were painted mantels wherby they were knowen a farre off The prisons were vnder ground moyst and darke the cause whereof was to put the people in feare to offend If anye witnesse were called to take an oth the order was that he shoulde touche the grounde with one of his fingers and then to touch his tong with the same whiche signifyed that hée had sworne and promised to speake the troth wyth hys tōg taking witnes therof of the earth which did mainteine him But some do interprete the oth that if the partie sware not true that then he mighte come to such extremitie as to eate earthe Sometime they name and call vppon the God of the crime whose cause the matter touched The Iudge that taketh bribes or giftes is forthwith put out of his office whiche was accounted a most vyle and shamefull reproch The Indians did affirme that Necaualpincintli did hang a Iudge in Tezcuco for giuing an vniust sentence he himselfe knowing the contrary The murther is executed without exception The woman with child that wilfully casteth hir creature suffereth deathe for the same bycause many women did voluntary vse that fact knowing their children could not inherite The punishment of adultery was death The Théefe for the firste offence was made a slaue and hanged for the second The traytor to the King and cōmon weale was put to death with extreame tormēts The woman taken in mans apparel dyed for the same and likewise the man taken in womans attire Euerye one that challēged another to fight except in the warres was cōdemned to die In Tezcuco the sinne of Zodomy was punished with death that law was instituted by Necaualpincintli Necaualcoio who were Iudges which abhorred the filthy sinne therfore they deserued great praise for in other prouinces the abhominable sin was not punished although they haue in those places cōmon stewes as in Panuco The order of cruell Sacrifice vsed among the Indians AT the ende of euery twenty dayes is celebrated a festiuall feast called Tonalli which falleth continually the last daye of euerye moneth but the chiefest feast in the yeare when most men are sacrificed eaten is at the ende of euerye fiftye two yeares But the Tlaxcaltecas and other common weales do celebrate this feast euery fourth yeare The last day of the first moneth is called Tlacaxipeualiztli on the which day were slaine a hundred slaues which were taken in the warres and after the sacrifise their flesh was eaten in this order Al the Citizens gathered themselues togither in the high Temple and thē the Ministers or Priestes came and vsed certaine ceremonies the which being ended they toke those whyche were to be sacrifised by one and one and layd them vpon their backes vpon a large stone and then the slaue being on liue they opened him in the breast with a knife made of flinte stone and toke out his hart whiche they threw immediately at the foote of the Aulter as an offering and anoynted with the fresh bloude the face of the God Vitzilopuchtli or any other Idol This done they pluckt of the skinnes of a certaine number of them the which skinnes so many auntient persons put incontinēt vppon their naked bodies al fresh bloudy as they wer sleane from the deade carcasses And being open in the backe part and shoulders they vsed to lace them in such sorte that they came fitte vppon the bodies of those that ware them and being in this order attired they came to daunce among many others In Mexico the king him selfe did put on one of these skinnes being of a principall captiue and daunced among the other disguised persons to exalte and honor the feast and an infinite number followed him to behold his terrible gesture although some hold opinion that they followed him to cōtemplate his greate deuotion After the sacrifise ended the owner of the slaues did carry their bodies home to their houses to make of their fleshe a solemne feaste to all their friendes leauing their heades and hartes to the Priests as their dutie and offering And the skinnes were filled with cotten wool or strawe to be hong in the temple and kings pallayce for a memorie The slaues when they went to their sacrifice were apparelled in the habite or deuise of the Idol vnto whom ech of them did commende
a better port or scituation Also that we make a wall or Castell for oure defence if néede shou'de happen for the people of this land hath little ioy of our comming and abiding héere It was then considered that frō that place they might the sooner haue friendshippe and contractation with the Indians and Townes nexte adioyning as Zempoallan and others whyche were enimies to Mutezuma and béeyng in this order once placed they myghte discharge their Shyppes and sende them incontinent to Cuba Santo Domingo Iamayca Borriquen and other Ilandes or else to Spayne for more men armour and Horsses and for clothing and victuals Moreouer it was thought iust and méete to sende relation of all their procéedings to the Emperoure theyr King and maister with the demonstration of golde syluer and other riches which they had in their power And bycause all these things should be done in good order Cortez determined as Captayne generall to appoint a Counsell Aldermen and Iudges And also ordeyne all other offices that shoulde be necessary and néedefull to rule and gouerne a Citie whych he then pretended to edifie and erecte the whiche Magistrates should fully commaund vntill such time that the Emperour should otherwise prouide in matters conuenient for his seruice After this diligence put in vre he solemnely tooke possession of all the land in the name of the Emperour Charles King of Castill with all the actes and ceremonies as to such a matter apperteyned And demaunded of Francisco Fernandez notarie appoynted that he shoulde gyue vnto him by testimonie in writing all the actes done therein All his company aunswered that they did very well allowe hys procéedings and praysed and also approued hys determination besieching hym to procéede accordingly sithence they were come to serue and obey hym Then Cortez named Judges Aldermen Attorney Serieant Notary and Towneclearke and all other officers apperteyning to the good gouernement of a Citie in the name and behalfe of the Emperoure hys naturall Lord and delyuered incontinent to the Iudges white roddes to beare in their handes in token of Iustice and named the newe Citie to be builte The ryche Towne De la vera Crux bycause that one goodfriday they had entred into that land After these things finished Cortez began before the saide Notary another act in presence of the iudges who were Alounso Fernandez Portocarero and Frācisco de Monteio in whose handes he made cession and dyd desyst from all rule and offices whiche heretofore he had receiued which was his gouernership captaineship and general discouerer recetued in the Chauncerie of Santo Domingo at the handes of the presidentes who were there chiefe of the kings counsell and presidents likewise be protested not to vse the power and auctority of the gouernour of Cuba Admirall of India for so much the now none of them had any rule or gouernement in that Countrey which he and his fellowes had newely discouered and begun to enhabite in the name of the king of Castil as his naturall subiectes The which auctoritie he likewise required to be set downe in recorde and to haue a copie of the same Hovv the soudiours chose Cortez for Captaine generall and chiefe ruler in Iustice AL the newe officers toke possession and charge of their offices and entred into the towne house to counsel according to the vse and custome of Castill In the which congregation or counsel then holden many matters were had in question as touching the good gouernemente of the common weale And among many other things they al agréed to electe Hernando Cortez for captaine generall and chiefe Iustice and to giue vnto him full power and authority for all matters appertayning to the wars and conquest vntill such time as the Emperour should otherwise prouide with this determination the next day following al the Aldermen Iudges and Counsellers went vnto Cortez and sayde vnto him Sir we haue greate néede of a guide and captaine for the warres to procéede vppon the conquest of this countrey wherfore vntil such time as the Emperour shall prouide therein they all besought hym to accepte that office and charge approuing him a man most fit for the same both to rule and gouerne for the great experience that they had séene of his courage wisdome and pollicie and by Vertue of their offices did cōmaund him to accept the same saying that in so doing God and the king shoulde bee faithfully serued And they woulde thankfully gratify the same knowing that at his hands they should be ruled with iustice vsed with humility be preserued with diligence and strength And for that purpose they had chosen him for that office giuing vnto him their ful whole authority submitting thēselues vnder his hands iurisdiction defence Cortez accepted the charge at smal entreating for he desired nothing so much And being in this sort elected general the counsel said vnto him Sir you do wel vnderstād that vntil such time as we shal bee better planted in this countrey we haue not wherwith to maintaine our selues but only with suche things as are abord our shippes Therfore it may please you to commaund it to be brought a shore and that you take therof what shal seme good vnto you for your houshold and familie and the residue may be taxed at a reasonable price and so to be deuided among them for payment they wold al binde thēselues or else the presently it should be deducted out of the stocke after that the kings sift parte were subtracted Likewise they desired him to value his ships and artillery bycause they would make like payment for the same and that frō thence forwards the ships should serue in common for to passe to the Ilāds for bread wine clothes weapons horses and other things which should be néedeful for the new towne and army for therby shey mought be better cheape prouided than if merchants should prouide them consideryng alway they seke for excessiue gaine saying that if it would please hym to accepte thys offer and request they would thankfully requite the same Cortez aunswered that at the time he made his preperation and furniture in Cuba he ment not to sel his prouision as others vsed to do but he would and did frankely giue it vnto them although hee had spent his goods and indetted himselfe therin And incontinent he commaunded the maisters of the ships and pursers to bring a lād al their victual to the town house requiring the Aldermen to deuide it equally to euerye man his part without making any difference of him or of any other for quoth he in time of neede of victuals that yongest hath as muche allowaunce as the eldest And although I am indetted and do owe more than seauen M. Duckets I giue this victuall al franckly vnto you And as cōcerning the ships I wil do the which shal be most cōuensēt for you al. And quoth he I wil determin nothing to be done with thē but wil first giue you aduertisemēt
cost and charges as heretofore they haue done Therefore they moste humbly besought Cortes that hée shoulde not permitte them and their fellowes to be slaine nor yet to abide in the handes of their enimies wherein he should do singular pleasure to Mutesuma their lord otherwise if they should perish their Lord would be very sorowfull that his olde faithful and trustie seruaunts shoulde haue such a reward for their good seruice Cortez aunswered that it grieued him much that Mutesuma his friend should be misvsed wher he was no nor yet his seruauntes euill entreated and that hee woulde haue as muche care ouer them as of his owne willing them to prayse the god of heauen and to be thankful vnto him that had commaunded them to be set at liberty in the grace and friendshippe of Mutesuma he certifyed that in all haste they shoulde be dispatched for Mexico with certaine busynesse therefore quoth he get you to meate and make you strōg to take in hand that iourney trusting to your féete least ye should be taken againe to your greate perill and daunger Iwis their meate was soone eaten with the great hast they had to be gone Cortez brought them out of the towne and gaue them victuall to carry with them And charged for the liberty and curtesie shewed vnto them that they should signifye to Mutesuma their Lorde howe that he was his assured friend and that after he had vnderstanding of his fame goodnes and mighty power he much desired to sexue him yea and that he helde himselfe happy to fynde himselfe at such a time season to loose those his seruaunts and to shew therin his good wil likewyse he woulde do all that lay in him to preserue the honour and auctority of so gret a Prince as hee was also to defende his subiectes and to loke to his affaires as his owne proper although his highnesse dyd little estéeme hys friendshippe as appeared by Teudilli who departed from him without bidding him farewell and likewise absenting all the people of the sea coaste yet thys notwithstanding he would not let to do him seruice at all times when occasion shoulde serue and to procure by all meanes possible his grace fauour and friendship and that he was fully perswaded that his hyghnesse woulde not refuse his good will and friendship considering that with his acquaintance God had done much for him to méete with a seruaunte of the Emperoures for thereby he might know great secretes of holy things and also receyue greate benefytes if then he would refuse the same the fault shoulde be his but yet notwithstanding he trusted in his wisedome that considering the thing well he woulde be glad both to sée hym and talke with him and also to be friende and brother with the King of Spayne in whose most happie name both he and his company were come thither And as touching his seruauntes that remayned in prison hée woulde so vse the matter that they should escape all perill promising also to set them at libertie to pleasure him and that incontinente he woulde haue done it but onely bycause he woulde not offende the Lorde of the Towne who had friendly entertayned him with greate curtesie for which cause he would not presume to controll him in his owne house nor yet to shewe himselfe vnthankefull The messengers departed with this message very glad and ioyfull promising to accomplishe faithfully that charge committed vnto them The confederacy and rebellion done by the industrie of Cortez WHen the Cazike founde missing the two prisoners he blamed muche the guarde or watch and pretended forthwith to murther those that remayned Then came Cortez and requested that their deathe shoulde be pardoned for so muche as they were but officers obediente to their Lorde and maister and according to iustice they had committed no offence nor yet deserued anye correction in the facte whiche was seruice to their King but for so muche as they shall not flée as the other two haue done deliuer them vnto mee and I will take them to my custody and charge Vpon this request the eyghtéene prisoners were delyuered vnto Cortez who sent them aboorde his Shyppes and there commaunded them to be put in prons The Lorde and his counsellors fearing what mighte followe entred into councell what was best to doe consideryng that they certaynely beléeued that the two prisoners whiche were escaped would certifie in Mexico the shame and cruell entertaynemente done vnto them Some replyed that it was iust and requisite to sende vnto Mutezuma hys tribute with other presentes to mitigate hys anger and to excuse them and accuse the Christians who were the causes of the apprehension of his officers and to craue pardon of their erroure and ouersighte whyche they hadde committed as madde men in dishonor of the maiestie of Mexico Others aunswered agayne that it were muche better to cast off that yoke of bondage and slauery and to giue no longer obedience to the Mexicans who were both cruell and wicked tyrants and also considering that now they had on their side those halfe Gods and inuincible horsemen saying likewise that they should not wante many others their neyghbours and borderers to help and succour them In this sorte they resolued themselues fully to rebell and not to lose so good an occasion wherevppon they besoughte Hernando Cortes to bée their defendor and Captayne considering that for his sake they had begun that enterprise and whether Mutezuma shoulde prepare hys army againste them or no yet they on their parte were fully pretended to hold hym warre and to desist from seruitude God knoweth how glad Cortes was to heare this matter for he well wayed that it was the high way to hys iourneys ende yet dissimuling the cause he aunswered that they should well looke to the thing which they meant to take in hande bycause quoth he I vnderstande that Mutezuma is a mightie Prince but if ye will valiantly procéede I will be youre Captayne and safely defende you for I do more estéeme your friendship than the good will of Mutezuma whyche I nothing care for therefore lette me knowe what number of men of warre yée are able to make Sir quoth they among all our friends wée are able to make a hundred thousande menne of warre I lyke that well quoth Cortez wherefore incontinente sende youre postes with aduise vnto all your friendes in league againste Mutezuma and certifie them of this agréemente and succoure of the Christians not quoth he that I stande in néede of your help for I alone with my company are able to stande againste those of Culhua although they were as manye more but reason required that they shoulde be warned of your pretence and to be in readinesse for the same fearing least Mutezuma mighte sende his army vpon a suddayne and finde you vnprouided With this aduise and encouragement of Cortez also they themselues being a people heady and of small consideratiō they dispatched incōtinent their
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
on the lande It was suspected to be a pestilence for one of them infected another There were in his company many Gentlemen ech of them had an office There was a Frier who was a very slaunderous fellow reported that Cortes had poysoned the Licenciat and also that the Licenciat had an expresse order from the Emperour to cut of Cortes his head as sone as he had taken the Vare of Iustice from him The subtle Frier had thought to haue gotten money of the one and thankes of the other and at the ende had nothyng Hovv Cortez came into Spayne WHere one Alonso de Estrada gouerned the state of Mexico as substitute of Marcus de Aguillar accordyng to the Emperours commaundement Cortes considered with himselfe that it was not possible for him to haue agayne his office except he wente personally to the Emperours court where he had many aduersaries and fewe friendes so that he was afflicted on euery side yet he in fine determined to goe into Spayne as well for businesse of importaunce of his owne as also matters touchyng the Emperour and his new kingdoms whereof I will reherse particularly some As touchyng his owne causes first he beyng a man of good yéeres went to marry hoping to haue children vnto whom he might leaue the profite of his labour and payne also to appeare before the King his maister face to face and to enforme his Maiestie what Landes and Kyngdomes hée had wonne and brought vnto his royall crowne To signifie lykewise vnto hym of the dissention among the Spanyardes hys subiectes in Mexico and to answere for himselfe to any false reportes whiche had bene made agaynst hym And finally to receyue a condigne rewarde for hys worthie and faythfull seruice Cortes beyng in these imaginations there was brought a letter vnto him from the reuerend father Garcia de Loaisa ghostly father vnto the Emperour and afterwarde was ordeyned Cardinall in the whiche letter he conuited him earnestly to come vnto Spayne to the entent that the Emperours Maiestie mighte bothe sée and know him assuring him of his friendshippe After the receyte of this letter he made al the hast possible to departe vpon his iourney ceasing from his voyage whiche he had in hande for to inhabite the riuer De las Palmas Before his departure he dispatched twoo hundred Spaniardes thrée score and ten horsemen with many Mexicans for the countrey of Chichimea to inhabite there finding the lande riche of siluer mines as it was reported giuyng vnto those men expresse order that if the people of that prouince did not entertayne them with friendship that then they should accept theÌ„ as enimies and forthwith to make warre and to take them for slaues for that they are a barbarous people He wrote his letter to Vera Crux to prepare with all spéede twoo good shippes and for that purpose he sent Pero ruiz de Esquiuel who was a Gentleman of Siuill But he wente not on the iourney for a moneth after they founde him buried in a little Iland of the lake with one hande out of the graue whiche was eaten with dogges and foule he was buried in his dublet and his hose he had one onely wounde in his forehead And a Negro his slaue who wente in his company was neuer hearde of nor yet the Canas and Indians that wente with him so that the truth of his death was neuer knowen Cortes made an Inuentary of his moueable goodes whiche was valued at twoo hundred thousande Castlins of golde he left for gouernour of his owne estate the Licenciat Altamiranâ— his kinsman with other two friends he furnished twoo shippes and proclaymed frée passage and victuals vnto all those that would goe in his coÌ„pany he shipped for his owne account a thousand fiue hundred markes of siluer twentie thousand Castlins in good gold and ten thousand Castlins of base golde He tooke in his company Gonsalo de Sandoual Andres de Tapia and other of the chiefest of the conquerours He brought with him a Sonne of Mutezumas another Sonne of Maxixcas who was become a Christian named Don Lorenso with many other Indian Gentlemen of Mexico Tlaxcallan and other cities eight players with a cudgell twelue tenis players with certaine men women of that countrey who were white of colour and other dwarfes deformed persons He brought also wilde beasts as Tigres other strange beastes called Aiotochtli and one Tlaquaci Moreouer he brought a great number of mantels made of feathers Conny heare Targets bushes or tuffes of galant feathers and looking glasses of stone In fine he came lyke a great Lorde arriued in Spayne in the ende of the yéere 1528. the Courte being then in Tolledo The newes of his arriuall was blowen through out all Spayne and euery one desirous to sée him The honour vvhiche the Emperour shewed vnto Hernando Cortes with rewarde THe Emperour receyued Cortes magnifically and to giue him the greater honour he went visited him at hys owne lodging The Emperour beyng in a readinesse to passe into Italy to be there crowned with the Emperiall crowne Cortes went in his maiesties company vnto the Citie of Saragoza whereas his Maiestie calling to remembrance his worthy seruice valour of his person made him Marques del valle de Huaxacac according to his desire on the .vj. of Iuly An. 1528 and Captayne generall of the newe Spayne with all the prouinces and coast of the south sea chiefe discouerer and inhabiter of the same coaste and Ilandes with the twelfth parte of all that after that tyme should be discouered for a sure inheritaunce to him and his discendentes he offered vnto him also the habite of the order of Knighthoode of Saint Iames the whiche offer Cortes refused bycause there was no rent gyuen with the habite but he besought his Maiestie to graunt vnto him the gouernmeÌ„t of Mexico the whiche request the Emperour denied bycause that no Conquerour shoulde thinke that the office of gouernment and iustice is due vnto hym for the like demaunde was desired of the kyng Don Fernando by Cristouâ—l Colon who firste discouered the India and also the great Captaine Gonsalo Hernandoz de Cordoua who conquered Naples Cortes deserued muche and also the Emperour gaue him much to honour him as a most bountifull and gratefull King who neuer taketh away that whiche once he giueth He likewise gaue vnto Cortez all the kyngdome of Michuacan but hée had rather haue had diuers other townes whiche he demaunded many other great fauours and rewardes he receyued at the Emperours handes but the principall are those before declared The Mariage of Cortez WHen it was knowen in Spayne that the lady Catherin Xuares wife vnto Cortes was deceassed in India by intercessours he was assured vnto the Duke of Beiar his brothers daughter who was named the Lady Iane of Zuniga hyr fathers name was Don Carolus de Arrellano Earle of Aguilar This Lady was a bewtifull Dame and hyr brethrene noble personages
sent for all the gouernours Captaines and valiant souldiers who had any office or charge to come vnto the buriall of his Father and he that came not from thencefoorth was helde for a Traytour and so punished When the death of thē olde King was certayne then came al degrées of Estates and brought presents to the newe king for the approbation of his kyngdome but if the King were not throughly dead but at the poynt of death then the gates were shut in and none permitted to enter and when hys lyfe was departed then beganne a generall crie and mournyng and they were permitted to come where their dead kyng lay and to touche him with their handes this beyng done the carkasse was washed with swéete waters and then a fine shyrte put vpon him and a payre of shoes made of a Déere skinne put on his féete and aboute his ancles were tied certayne belles of golde about his wrestes of his handes were put Manyllias of Turkies and other bracelets of golde lykewise aboute his necke they hong other collers of precious stones and golde and rings in his eares with a greate Turkise in his neather lippe Then his body was layde vpon a large heare whereon was placed a good bedde vnder him on his one side lay a bowe with a quyuer of arrowes and on his other side lay an image made of fine mantels of his owne stature or bignesse with a greate tuffe of fine feathers shoes vpon his féete with bracelets and a coller of gold Whyle this worke was a doyng others were bufied in washyng the men and women whiche shoulde be slayne for to accōpany him into Hell these wretched folke that should be slaine were banqueted filled with drinke bycause they shoulde receyue their death with lesse paine The newe kyng did appoint those who shoulde die for to serue the king his father but yet many of them had rather bene without his seruice notwithstanding some simple soules estéemed that odious death for a thyng of immortall glory First seuen Gentlewomen of noble parentage were appoynted to die the one to haue the office of keper of his tewels which he was wont to were another for the office of cup bearer another to giue him water with a basen and ewer another to giue him alwayes the vrinall another to be his Cooke and another to serue for landres They slewe also many women slaues and frée maydens for to attende vpon the Gentlewomen and moreouer one of euery occupation within the citie When all these that were appoynted to die were washed theyr bellies full with meate drinke then they paynted their faces yellow and put garlandes of swéete floures vpon each of their heads Then they went in order of processiō before the beare whereon the dead king was caried some wente playing on instruments made of snayle shelles others played vpon bones and shelles of seaturtils others went whistlyng and the most part weping the Sonnes of the dead kyng other noble men carried vpō their shoulders the beare where the corse lay proceded with an easie pace towarde the Temple of the God Curicaueri his kinsmen went round about the bere singyng a sorowful song The officers and houshold seruants of the Court with other Magistrates and rulers of iustice bare the Standartes and diuers other armes About midnight they departed in the order aforesayde out of the Kings palayce with great light of fire brandes and with a heauy noyse of trumpets and drummes The Citizens which dwelt where the corse passed attended to make cleane the streate And when they were come to the temple they wente foure tymes rounde about a great fire made of the woodde of Pine trée whiche was prepared to burne the dead body then the beare was layd vpon the fire and in the meane while that the body was burnyng they mawled with a clubbe those whiche had the garlandes and afterwarde buried them by foure and foure as they were apparelled behind the Temple The nexte day in the mornyng the ashes bones and Iewels was gathered and layde vpon a riche mantle the whiche was carried to the temple gate where the priests attended to blesse those Diuelishe relickes whereof they made a dowe or paste and thereof an image whiche was appareled lyke a man with a visor on his face and all other sortes of Iewels that the dead King was wonte to weare so that it séemed a gallant idoll At the foote of the temple stayres they opened a graue ready made whiche was square large twoo fadome déepe it was also hāged with new mattes rounde about and a fayre bed therein in the whiche a religious man placed the idoll made of ashes with his eyes towarde the east parte and honge rounde aboute the walles Targets of golde and siluer with bow and arrowes many gallant tuffes of feathers with earthen vessels as pottes dishes platters so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe chests couered with leather apparell iewels meate drinke and armour This done the graue was shut vp made sure with beames bordes and floored with earth on the toppe All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall washed them selues and wente to dinner in the Courte or yard of the Kings house without any table and hauing dined they wiped their hands vpon certayne lockes of Cotton wol hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any corne was ground or market kept nor none durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of theyr King. The order of Matrimony among the Indians IN Tlaxcallan and many other Cities was vsed as a principall Ceremonie and token of marriage that the Bridegrome and his Bride against the day of marriage had their heads polled whiche was to signifie that from that day forward al childishe orders should be laide aside and from that tyme new heare myght grow to declare another kind of lyfe The chiefest knotte of marriage vsed in Michuacan was that the Bride doe looke directly vppon hir spouse for otherwise the Matrimony was not perfite nor auaylable In Mixteoapan which is a greate prouince they vse to carrie the Bridgrome to be married vpon their backes which is to be vnderstoode that he goeth against his wil but yet they take hands in token that the one shall helpe the other and then they knitte both their mantels togyther with a great knotte signifying that they ought continually while life lasteth to dwell togither The Indians called Macatecas consūme not their Matrimony in twenty dayes after their marriage but abide in fasting and prayer all that while sacrificing their bodyes and annoynting the mouthes of the Idolles wyth their owne proper bloud In Panuco the husbandes buy their wiues