a man in deapth yet did they never finde any water which is the greatest happinesse of this mountaine But the mines of Pâ—râ—o whose mettall is good and very rich are at this day left for the discommoditie of water which they have found in their worke for they are two insupportable labours in searching of the mettall first to digge and breake the rockes and then to drawe out the water all together The first of them that is to cut through the rockes is paine enough yea very hard and excessive finally at this day the King receives for his fift yeerely from the mines of Potozi a million of silver besides the wealth that growes by quickesilver and other royall prerogatives which is a great treasure Some men of iudgement having cast vp the accomptes say that what hath beene brought into the custome house of Potozi vnto the yeere of our Lord one thousand five hundred eighty and five amounteth vnto a hundred thousand millions of peeces of essay whereof every Peece is woorth thirteene rialls and a fourth parte not reckoning the silver which hath bin caried away without custome or that hath beene entred in other roiall custome houses or the silver that hath beene wrought in the country which is not entred the which is innumerable although the first Registers of Entries are not so exactly kept as at this day for that in the beginning and first discoveries they made their receit by Romans so great was their aboundance But by the instructions and remembraunces of Don Francisco de Toledo the Viceroy in the yeare of our Saviour Christ one thousand five hundred seaventy and foure they find seventy and sixe millions to that yeere and from that yeare to eighty five inclusive it appeares by the royall registers there were thirty five millions more entred They sent this accompt to the Viceroy from Potozi in the yeere I have mentioned being then in Peru and since the wealth that hath come from Peru by ship hath amounted to much more In that fleete where I came in the yeare one thousand five hundred eighty seaven there were eleven millions transported in the two fleets of Peru Mexico whereof two thirds were in that of Peru and almost the one halfe for the King I thought good to set this downe particularly to shew the power which his heavenly Maiestie hath given to the Kings of Spaine heaping so many Crowns and Kingdomes vpon them who by the especiall favour of heaven have ioyned the East with the Weast Indies invironing the whole worlde with their Power This digression shall serve to shew the riches of Potozi we will now shew how they labour in the mines and how they refine their mettalls How they labour in the mines of Potozi CHAP. 8. BOctius complaining of the first inventer of mines spake well Heus primus quis fuit ille Auri qui ponder a testi Gemmasque latere volentes Preciosa pericula fodit Alas who was the first So curious and accurst Who digged out of the mine Mans minde to vndermind Heavie weights of golde ore Better concealde before And pearle crept into ground Pale for feare to be found Galing gold wringing rings Precious but perilous things With reason he calleth them precious dangers for the great labour and perill wherewith they draw out these mettalls which men so much esteeme Plinie saies that in Italie there are many mines but the Ancients would not suffer their people to worke in them onely to preserve the people They brought these mettalls from Spaine and made the Spaniards labour in the mines as tributaries The like doth Spaine now with the Indies for there remaining many mines of mettall yet in Spaine they will not seeke them nor suffer any to worke in them by reason of the inconveniencies which happen daily but they bring them from the Indies where they digge it with much labour and perill This rocke of Potozi containes as I have said foure principall veines that is the Rich veine that of Centeno that of Tinne and that of Mendieta All these veines are of the East part of the mountaine as looking to the Sunne rising for on the West part there is not any The foresaid veines runne from North to South which is from Pole to Pole In the largest place they have six foote and in the narrowest a spanne bredth There are others of divers fashions that runne out of the said veines like as out of the great armes of trees there commonly sprowt foorth lesse â—verie veine hath divers mines which are partes and portions of the same distinct and divided betwixt divers Masters by whose names they are commonly called The great mine containes fourescore yardes neither may it be more by the law and the least containes foure All these mines are at this day very deepe In the rich mine they reckon 78. mines which are 80. yards deep or a hundred stades or height of a man and in some places two hundred In the veine of Centeno are 24. mines whereof some are 70. or 80. stades deepe and so of the other veines of this mountaine For a remedie to this great profunditie they have invented mines which they call Socca bones which are caves or ventes made at the foote of the mountaine the which go crossing til they incounter with the veines for wee must vnderstand that although the veines runne North to South as hath been said yet is it in declining from the toppe to the foote of the mountaine which may be as they beleeve by coniecture above twelve hundred stades And by this account although the mines extend in such a profunditie yet there remaines six times as much space vnto the bottome or roote the which they say are most rich and aboundant as the body and spring of all veines Although vnto this day we have seene the contrary by experience for the higher the veine is to the superficies of the earth the more rich they finde it and the deeper it goes the poorer it is and of the baser aloy They then invented the Soccabons by which they enter to worke in the mines very easily with lesse charge paine and danger They have eight foote in breadth and a stade in height the which they shut with doores By them they drawe forth their mettall very easily paying to the proprietary of the Soccabon the fift part of all the mettall they draw forth There are nine already made and others are begunne They were twenty and nine yeeres in making of one Soccabon as they call it of the venome that flowes from the rich veine It was begunne in the yeere 1550. the eleventh yeere of the discoverie and was ended in the yeere 1585. the eleventh of August This Soccabon crossed the rich veine thirtie five stades from the roote or spring and from thence where it met to the mouth of the mine were a hundred thirty five stades So as they must descend all this depth to labour in the mine This
we may be satisfied of this doubt when we vnderstand that by wordes pictures and these memorialles they were often advertised of that which passed For this cause there were men of great agilitie which served as curriers to goe and come whome they did nourish in this exercise of running from their youth labouring to have them well breathed that they might runne to the toppe of a high hill without wearines And therefore in Mexico they gave the prize to three or foure that first mounted vp the staires of the Temple as hath beene said in the former Booke And in Cusco when they made their solemne feast of Capacrayme the novices did runne who could fastest vp the rocke of Ynacauri And the exercise of running is generall much vsed among the Indians Whenas there chaunced any matter of importaunce they sent vnto the Lordes of Mexico the thing painted whereof they would advertise them as they did when the first Spanish ships appeared to their â—ight when they tooke Topanchan In Peru they were very curious of footemen and the Ingua had them in all parts of the realme as ordinary Posts called Chasquis whereof shall be spoken in his place Of the manner of governement and of the Kings which the Indians had CHAP. 11. IT is apparant that the thing wherein these barbarous people shew their barbarisme was in their governement and manner of commaund for the more that men approch to reason the more milde is their governement and lesse insolent the Kings and Lords are more tractable agreeing better with their subiects acknowledging them equall in nature though inferiour in duetie and care of the commonwealth But amongst the Barbarians all is contrary for that their government is tyrannous vsing their subiects like beasts and seeking to be reverenced like gods For this occasion many nations of the Indies have not indured any Kings or absolute soveraigne Lords but live in comminalties creating and appointing Captains and Princes for certaine occasions onely to whome they obey during the time of their charge then after they returne to their former estates The greatest part of this new world where there are no settled kingdomes nor established commonweales neither princes nor succeeding kings they governe themselves in this manner although there be some Lordes and principall men raised above the common sort In this sorte the whole Countrey of Chille is governed where the Auracanes those of Teucapell and others have so many yeeres resisted the Spaniardes And in like sort all the new kingdome of Grenadâ— that of Guatimalla the Ilandes all Florida Bresill Lâ—sâ—â— and other countries of great circuite but that in some places they are yet more barbarous scarcely acknowledging any head but all commaund and governe in common having no other thing but wil violence industry and disorder so as he that most may most commaunds At the East Indies there are great kingdomes well ordered and governed as that of Sian Bisnaga and others which may bring to field when they please a hundred or two hundred thousand men As likewise the Kingdome of China the which in greatnes and power surpasseth all the rest whose kings as they report have continued above two thousand yeares by meanes of their good order and government But at the West Indies they have onely found two Kingdomes or setled Empires that of the Mexicaines in new Spaine and of the Inguas in Peru. It is not easie to be said which of the two was the mightiest Kingdome for that Motecuma exceeded them of Peru in buildings and in the greatnes of his court but the Inguas did likewise exceede the Mexicaines in treasure riches and greatnes of Provinces In regarde of antiquitie the Monarchie of the Inguas hath the advantage although it be not much and in my opinion they have beene equall in feates of armes and victories It is most certaine that these two Kingdomes have much exceeded all the Indian Provinces discovered in this new world as well in good order and government as in power and wealth and much more in superstition and service of their idolls having many things like one to an other But in one thing they differed much for among the Mexicaines the succession of the kingdome was by election as the Empire of the Romans and that of Peru was hereditarie and they succeeded in bloud as the Kingdomes of Fraunce and Spaine I will therefore heereafter treate of these two governments as the chiefe subiect and best knowne amongst the Indians being fit for this discourse leaving many and tedious things which are not of importance Of the Government of the Kings and Inguas of Peru. CHAP. 12. THe Ingua which ruled in Peru being dead his lawfull sonne succeeded him and so they held him that was borne of his chiefe wife whome they called Coya The which they have alwaies observed since the time of an Ingua calld Yupangui who married his sister for these Kings held it an honour to marry their sisters And although they had other wives and concubines yet the succession of the Kingdome appertained to the sonne of the Coya It is true that when the King had a legitimate brother he succeeded before the sonne and after him his nephew and sonne to the first The Curacas and Noblemen held the same order of succession in their goods and offices And after their maner they made excessive ceremonies and obsequies for the dead They observed one custome very great full of state that a King which entred newly into his Kingdome should not inherite any thing of the movables implements and treasure of his predecessour but hee must furnish his house new and gather together gold silver and other things necessarie not touching any thing of the deceased the which was wholy dedicated for his Oratorie or Guaca and for the entertainment of the family he left the which with his of-spring was alwaies busied at the sacrifices ceremonies and service of the deceased King for being dead they presently held him for a god making sacrifices vnto him images and such like By this meanes there was infinite treasure in Peru for every one of the Inguas had laboured to have his Oratorie and treasure surpasse that of his predecessors The marke or ensigne whereby they took possession of the realme was a red rowle of wooll more fine then silke the which hung in the middest of his forehead and none but the Ingua alone might weare it for that it was as a Crowne and royall Diademe yet they might lawfully weare a rowle hanging on the one side neere vnto the eare as some Noblemen did but onely the Ingua might carry it in the middest of his forehead At such time as they tooke this roule or wreathe they made solemne feasts and many sacrifices with a great quantity of vessell of gold and silver a great number of small formes or images of sheep made of gold and silver great abundance of the stuffes of Cumby well wrought both fine and courser many
Spaine and Italie we have seene admirable effects of this stone against the Tâ—verdette which is a kinde of plague but not so muchâ—s in Peru. They do apply it beaten and put into some liquor which may make it fit for the cure of melancholy the falling sickenes pestilent feavers many other diseases Some take it in wine others in vineger with water Dezahac of League de beufe borrage and other sortes as the Phisitians and Apoticaries can tell The Bezaar stone hath no proper savour as Rasis the Arabian doth testifie Wee have seene notable trialls and there is no doubt but the Author of this vniversall world hath given great vertues to this stone The Bezaar stones which comes from the East Indies have the first place of account they are of an olive colour the second are those of Peru and the third those of New Spaine Since that these stones were in request they say the Indians have made artificiall ones and many when they see these stones greater then the ordinarie they take them to be false and counterfait triall and experience is the best mistres to know them One thing is worthy admiration that they grow and are fashioned vpon very strange things as vpon the tagge of a point vpon a pinne or a peece of wood which they finde in the centre of this stone and yet do they not hold it false for that the beast might swallow it and the stone thicken vpon it and growes one vpon another and so it increaseth I did see in Peru two stones fashioned vpon Pignons of Castille which made vs to wonder much for that in all Peru we had not seene any pines or Pignons of Castille if they were not brought from Spaine which seemes to me very extraordinary This little may suffice touching the Bezaars stone They bring other phisicall stones from the Indies as the stone of Hyiada or of Rate the bloud stone the stones of milke and of the sea Those which they call Cornerinaâ— for the heart whereof there is no neede to speake having nothing common with the subiect of beastes whereof we have intreated which gives vs to vnderstand how the great Master and Author of all hath imparted his benefites and wonderfull secrets to all partes of the world for the which he is to be glorified for ever * ⎠* A Prologue to the Bookes following HAving intreated of the Natural Historie of the Indies I wil hereafter discourse of the Morall History that is to say of the deeds and customes of the Indies For after the heaven the temperature the scituation the qualities of the new world after the elements mixtures I mean mettals plants beasts whereof we have spoken in the former Bookes as occasion did serve both Order Reason doth invite vs to continue and vndertake the discourse of those men which inhabite the new world And therefore I pretend in the following bookes to speake what I thinke worthie of this subiect And for that the intention of this Historie is not onely to give knowledge of what hath passed at the Indies but also to continue this knowledge to the fruite we may gather by it which is to helpe this people for their soules health and to glorifie the Creator and Redeemer who hath drawne them from the obscure darkenes of their infidelitie and imparted vnto them the admirable light of his Gospel And therefore I will first speake in these bookes following what concernes their religion or superstition their customes their idolatries and their sacrifices and after what concernes their policie and government their lawes customes and their deedes And for that the memorie is preserved amongst the Mexicaine Nation of their beginnings successions warres and other things worthie the relation besides that which shall be handled in the sixt booke I will make a peculiar Discourse in the seventh shâ—wing the disposition and forewarnings this Nation had of the new Kingdome of Christ our Lord which should be extâ—nded in these Countries and should conquer them to himself as he hath doâ—e in all the rest of the world The which in truth is a thing worthie of great consideration to see how the divine providence hath appointeâ— that the light of his word should finde a passage in the furthest boundes of the world It is not my proiect at this time to write what the Spanâ—ardes have done in those partes for there are bookes enow written vpon this subiect nor yet how the Lordes servants have laboured and profited for that requires a new labour I will onely content my selfe to plant this Historie and relation at the doores of the Gospel seeing it is alreadie entered and to make knowne the Naturall and Morall things of the Indies to the end that Christianitie may be planted and augmented as it is expounded at large in the bookes we have written De procuranda Indiorum salute And if any one wonder at some fashions customes of the Indies wil scorne them as fooles or abhorre them as divelish and inhumane people let him remember that the same things yea worse have beene seene amongst the Greekes and Romans who have commanded the whole world as we may easily vnderstand not onely of our Authors as Eusebius of Cesarea Clement Alexandrine and others but also of their owne as Plinie Denis Halicarnassis and Plutarke for the Prince of darkenes being the head of all Infidelitie it is no new thing to finde among Infidells cruelties filthines and follies fit for such a Master And although the ancient Gentiles have farre surpassed these of the new world in valour and naturall knowledge yet may wee observe many things in them worthie the remembrance But to conclude they shew to be barbarous people who being deprived of the supernaturall light want likewise philosophie and naturall knowledge THE FIFT BOOKE of the Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies That the Pride and Malice of the Divell hath beene the cause of Idolatrie CHAP. 1. THE Pride and Presumption of the Divell is so great obstinate that alwaies hee seekes and strives to be honoured as God and doth arrogate to himselfe all hee can whatsoever doth appertaine to the most high God hee ceaseth not to abuse the blinde Nations of the world vpon whom the cleere light of the holy Gospel hath not yet shone Wee reade in Iob of this prowd tyrant who settes his eyes aloft and amongst all the sonnes of pride he is the King The holy Scripture instructes vs plainely of his vile intentions and his overweening treason whereby he hath pretended to make his Throne equall vnto Gods saying in Esay Thou diddest say within thy selfe I will mount vp to heaven and set my chaire vpon all the starres of heaven and I will sit vpon the toppe of the Firmament and in the sides of the North I will ascend above the height of the cloudes and will be like to the most High And in Ezechiel Thy heart was lifted vp and thou
hast said I am God and have set in the chaire of God in the midst of the sea Thus doth Sathan continually persist in this wicked desire to make himselfe God And although the iust and severe chastisement of the most high hath spoiled him of all his pompe and beautie which made him grow prowd being intreated as his fellonie and indiscretion had deserved as it is written by the same Prophets yet hath he left nothing of his wickednes and perverse practises the which hee hath made manifest by all meanes possible like a mad dogge that bites the sword wherewith he is strucken For as it is written the pride of such as hate God doth alwaies increase Hâ—nce comes the continuall and strange care which this enemie of God hath alwaies had to make him to be worshipt of men inventing so many kinds of Idolatries wherby he hath so long held the gretest part of the world in subiection so as there scarce remaines any one corner for God his people of Israel And since the power of the Gospel hath vanquished and disarmed him and that by the force of the Crosse hee hath broken and ruined the most important and puissant places of his kingdome with the like tyrannie hee hath begunne to assaile the barbarous people and Nations farthest off striving to maintaine amongst them his false and lying divinitie the which the Sonne of God had taken from him in his Church tying him with chaines as in a cage or prison like a furious beast to his great confusion reioycing of the servants of God as he doth signify in Iob. But in the end although idolatrie had beene rooted out of the best and most notable partes of the worlde yet he hath retired himself into the most remote parts and hath ruled in that other part of the worlde which although it be much inferiour in nobilitie yet is it not oflesse compasse There are two causes and chiefe motives for the which the divell hath so much laboured to plantidolatry and all infidelity so as you shall hardly finde any Nation where there is not some markes thereof The one is this great presumption and pride which is such that whoso would consider how hee durst affront the very Sonne of God and true God in saying impudently that he should fall downe and worship him the which he did although he knew not certainely that this was the very God yet had he some opinion that it was the Sonne of God A most cruell and horrible pride to dare thus impudently affront his God truely he shall not finde it very strange that hee makes himselfe to be worshipped as God by ignorant Nations seeing hee would seeke to be worshipped by God himselfe calling himselfe God being an abhominable and detestable creature The other cause and motive of idolatrie is the mortall hatred hee hath conceived for ever against mankinde For as our Saviour saith hee hath beene a murtherer from the beginning and holdes it as a condition and inseparable qualitie of his wickednesse And for that he knowes the greatast misery of man is to worship the creature for God for this reason hee never leaves to invent all sortes of Idolatries to destroy man and make him ennemy to God There are two mischiefes which the divell causeth in idolatry the one that hee denies his God according to the text Thou hast left thy God who created thee The other is that hee dooth subiect himselfe to a thing baser than himselfe for that all creatures are inferior to the reasonable and the divell although hee be superior to man in nature yet in estate he is much inferior seeing that man in this life is capable of Divinitie and Eternitie By this meanes God is dishonoured and man lost in all parts by idolatry wherwith the divell in his pride is well content Of many kindes of idolatry the Indians have vsed CHAP. 2. IDolatry saieth the holy-Ghost by the Wise man is the cause beginning and end of all miseries for this cause the enemy of mankinde hath multiplied so many sortes and diversities of idolatry as it were an infinite matter to specifie them all Yet we may reduce idolatry to twoo heades the one grounded vppon naturall things the other vpon things imagined and made by mans invention The first is divided into two for eyther the thing they worship is generall as the Sunne Moone Fire Earth and Elements or else it is particular as some certayne river fountaine tree or forrest when these things are not generaly worshipped in their kindes but onely in particular In this first kind of idolatry they have exceeded in Peru and they properly cal it Guaca The second kinde of idolatry which depends of mans invention fictions may likewise be divided into two sortes one which regards onely the pure arte and invention of man as to adore the Images or statues of gold wood or stone of Mercury or Pallas which neyther are nor ever were any thing else but the bare pictures and the other that concernes that which really hath beene and is in trueth the same thing but not such as idolatry faines as the dead or some things proper vnto them which men worshippe through vanitie and flatterie so as wee reduce all to foure kindes of idolatry which the infidells vse of all which it behooveth vs to speake something That the Indians have some knowledge of God CHAP. 3. FIrst although the darkenesse of infidelitie holdeth these Nations in blindenesse yet in many thinges the light of truth and reason works somewhat in them And they commonly acknowledge a supreame Lorde and Author of all things which they of Peru called Vnachocha and gave him names of great excellence as Pachacamac or Pachayachachic which is the Creator of heaven and earth and Vsapu which is admirable and other like names Him they did worship as the chiefest of all whom they did honor in beholding the heaven The like wee see amongest them of Mexico and China and all other infidelles Which accordeth well with that which is saide of Saint Paul in the Acts of the Apostles where hee did see the Inscription of an Altare Ignoto Deo To the vnknowne God Wherevpon the Apostle tooke occasion to preach vnto them saying He whome you worship without knowing him doe I preach vnto you In like sort those which at this day do preach the Gospel to the Indians find no great difficultie to perswade them that there is a high God and Lord over all and that this is the Christians God and the true God And yet it hath caused great admiration in me that although they had this knowledge yet had they no proper name for God If wee shall seeke into the Indian tongue for a word to answer to this name of God as in Latin Deus in Greeke Theos in Hebrew El in Arabike Alla but wee shall not finde any in the Cuscan or Mexicaine tongues So as such as preach or write to the Indians
banquet and dinner of the feast having first bid the idoll good morrow with a small dance which they made whilst the day did breake and that they prepared the sacrifice Then did all the Marchants assemble at this banket especially those which made it a trafficke to buy and sell slaves who were bound every yeare to offer one for the resemblance of their god This idoll was one of the most honoured in all the land and therefore the Temple where hee was was of great authoritie There were threescore staires to ascend vp vnto it and on the toppe was a court of an indifferent largenesse very finely drest and plastered in the midst whereof was a great round thing like vnto an Oven having the entrie low and narrow so as they must stoope very low that should enter into it This Temple had chambers and chappells as the rest where there were convents of Priests yong men maides and children as hath beene said and there was one Priest alone resident continually the which they changed weekely For although there were in every one of these temples three or foure Curates or Ancients yet did every one serve his weeke without parting His charge that weeke after he had instructed the children was to strike vp a drumme every day at the Sunne setting to the same end that we are accustomed to ring to evensong This drumme was such as they might heare the house sound thereof throughout all the partes of the Cittie then every man shut vp his merchandise and retired vnto his house and there was so great a silence as there seemed to be no living creature in the Towne In the morning whenas the day beganne to breake they beganne to sound the drumme which was a signe of the day beginning so as travellers and strangers attended this signall to beginne their iournies for till that time it was not lawfull to goe out of the cittie There was in this temple a court of a reasonable greatnes in the which they made great dances pastimes with games or comedies the day of the idolls feast for which purpose there was in the middest of this court a theatre of thirty foote square very finely decked and trimmed the which they decked with flowers that day with all the arte and invention that mought be beeing invironed round with Arches of divers flowers and feathers and in some places there were tied many small birds connies and other tame beasts After dinner all the people assembled in this place and the players presented themselves and played comedies some counterfeit the deafe and the rheumatike others the lame some the blinde and without handes which came to seeke for cure of the idoll the deafe answered confusedly the rheumatike did cough the lame halted telling their miseries and griefes wherewith they made the people to laugh others came foorth in the forme of little beasts some were attired like snailes others like toades and some like lizardes then meeting together they tolde their offices and every one retyring to his place they founded on small flutes which was pleasant to heare They likewise counterfeited butterflies and small birdes of diverse colours and the children of the Temple represented these formes then they went into a little forrest planted there for the nonce where the Priestes of the Temple drew them foorth with instruments of musicke In the meane time they vsed many pleasant speeches some in propounding others in defending wherewith the assistants were pleasantly intertained This doone they made a maske or mummerie with all these personages and so the feast ended the which were vsually doone in their principall feasts What profit may be drawne out of this discourse of the Indians superstitions CHAP 31. THis may suffice to vnderstand the care and paine the Indians tooke to serve and honour their Idolls or rather the divell for it were an infinite matter and of small profit to report every thing that hath passed for that it may seeme to some needlesse to have spoken â—hus much and that it is a losse of time as in reading the fables that are fained by the Romaines of Knighthoode But if such as holde this opinion will looke wel into it they shall finde great difference betwixt the one and the other and that it may be profitable for many considerations to have the knowledge of the cuâ—â—oms and ceremonies the Indians vsed first this knowledge is not only profitable but also necessary in those countries where these superstitions have beene practised to the end that Christians and the maisters of the Law of Christ may know the errours and superstitions of the Antients and observe if the Indians vse them not at this day either secretly or openly For this cause many learned and worthy men have written large Discourses of what they have found yea the Provinciall counsells have commaunded them to write and print them as they have doone in Lima where hath beene made a more ample Discourse than this And therefore it importeth for the good of the Indians that the Spaniardes being in those parts of the Indies should have the knowledge of all these things This Discourse may likewise serve the Spaniards there and all others whersoever to give infinite thankes to God our Lord who hath imparted so great a benefite vnto vs giving them his holy Lawe which is most iust pure and altogether profitable The which we may well know comparing it with the lawes of Sathan where so many wretched people have lived so miserably It may likewise serve to discover the pride envy deceipts and ambushes of the Divell which he practiseth against those hee holdes captives seeing on the one side hee seekes to imitate God and make comparison with him and his holy Lawe and on the other side hee dooth mingle with his actions so many vanities filthinesse and cruelties as hee that hath no other practise but to sophisâ—â—cate and corrupt all that is good Finally hee that shall see the darkenes and blindenes wherein so many Provinces and Kingdoms have lived so long time yea and wheâ—in many Nations and a great part of the world live yet deceived with the like trumperies he can not if he have a Christians heart but give thankes to the high God for such as hee hath called out of so great darkenes to the admirable light of his Gospel beseeching the vnspeakeable charitie of the Creator to preserve and increase them in his knowledge and obedience and likewise be grieved for those that follow still the way of perdition And that in the end hee beseech the Father of Pitty to open vnto them the treasures and riches of Iesus Christ who with the Father and Holy-ghost raignes in all Ages Amen THE SIXT BOOKE of the Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies That they erre in their opinion which holde the Indians to want iudgement CHAP. 1. HAving treated before of the religion the Indians vsed I pretend to discourse in this Booke of their customs policy and government for
subdued the city of Cuitlavaca with children the news and consideration whereof opened the eyes of those of Tescâ—co a chiefe and very cunning Nation for their manner of life So as the king of Tescuco was first of opinion that they should subiect themselves to the king of Mexico and invite him therevnto with his cittie Therefore by the advise of his Counsell they sent Ambassadors good Orators with honorable presents to offer themselves vnto the Mexicans as their subiects desiring peace and amitie which was gratiously accepted but by the advise of Tlacaellec he vsed a ceremony for the effecting thereof which was that those of Tescuco should come forth armed against the Mexicans where they should fight and presently yeelde which was an act and ceremony of warre without any effusion of bloud on either side Thus the king of Mexico became soveraigne Lord of Tescuco but hee tooke not their king from them but made him of his privie counsell so as they have alwayes maintained themselves in this manner vntill the time of Motecuma the second during whose raigne the Spaniards entred Having subdued the land and citty of Tescuco Mexico remained Lady and Mistris of all the landes and citties about the Lake where it is built Izcoalt having enioyed this prosperitie and raigned twelve yeeres died leaving the realme which had beene given him much augmented by the valour and counsell of his nephew Tlacaellec as hath afore beene saide who held it best to choose an other king then himselfe as shall heereafter be shewed Of the fift King of Mexico called Moteçuma the first of that name CHAP. 16. FOrasmuch as the election of the new King belonged to foure chiefe Electors as hath been said and to the King of Tescuco and the King of Tacubu by especiall priviledge Tlacaellec assembled these six personages as he that had the soveraigne authoritie and having propounded the matter vnto them they made choise of Moteçuma the first of that name nephew to the same Tlacaellec His election was very pleasing to them all by reason whereof they made most solemne feasts and more stately then the former Presently after his election they conducted him to the Temple with a great traine where before the divine harth as they call it where there is continuall fire they set him in his royall throne putting vpon him his royall ornaments Being there the King drew blood from his eares and legges with a griffons tallents which was the sacrifice wherein the divell delighted to be honoured The Priests Antients and Captaines made their orations all congratulating his election They were accustomed in their elections to make great feasts and dances where they wasted many lightes In this Kings time the custome was brought in that the King should go in person to make warre in some province and bring captives to solemnize the feast of his coronation and for the solemne sacrifices of that day For this cause King Moteçuma went into the province of Chalco who had declared themselves his enemies from whence having fought valiantly he brought a great number of captives whereof he did make a notable sacrifice the day of his coronation although at that time he did not subdue all the province of Chalco being a very warlike nation Many came to this coronation from divers provinces as well neere as farre off to see the feast at the which all commers were very bountifully entertained and clad especially the poore to whom they gave new garments For this cause they brought that day into the Cittie the Kings tributes with a goodly order which consisted in stuffes to make garments of all sorts in Cacao gold silver rich feathers great burthens of cotten cucumbers sundry sortes of pulses many kindes of sea fish and of the fresh water great store of fruites and venison without number not reckoning an infinite number of presents which other kings and Lords sent to the new king All this tribute marched in order according to the provinces and before them the stewards and receivers with divers markes and ensignes in very goodly order so as it was one of the goodliest things of the feast to see the entry of the tribute The King being crowned he imploied himselfe in the conquest of many provinces and for that he was both valiant and vertuous hee still increased more and moâ—e vsing in all his affaires the counsell and industry of his generall Tlacaellec whom he did alwaies love and esteeme very much as hee had good reason The warre wherein hee was most troubled and of greatest difficultie was that of the province of Chalco wherein there happened great matters whereof one was very remarkable which was that they of Chalcas had taken a brother of Moteçumaâ—s in the warres whome they resolved to choose for their king asking him very curteously if he would accept of this charge He answered after much importunity still persisting therein that if they meant plainely to choose him for their king they should plant in the market place a tree or very high stake on the toppe whereof they should make a little scaffold and meanes to mount vnto it The Chalcas supposing it had beene some ceremony to make himselfe more apparent presently effected it then assembling all his Mexicaines about the stake he went to the toppe with a garland of flowers in his hand speaking to his men in this maner O valiant Mexicaines these men will choose mee for their King but the gods will not permit that to be a King I should committee any treason against my countrie but contrariwise I wil that you learne by me that it behoveth vs rather to indure death then to ayde our enemies Saying these words he cast himselfe downe and was broken in a thousand peeces at which spectacle the Chalcas had so great horror and dispits that presently they fell vpon the Mexicaines and slew them all with their launces as men whom they held too prowde and inexorable saying they had divelish hearts It chanced the night following they heard two owles making a mornefull cry which they did interpret as an vnfortunate signe and a presage of their neere destruction as it succeeded for King Moteçuma went against them in person with all his power where he vanquished them and ruined all their kingdome and passing beyond the mountaine Meâ—ade hee conquered still even vnto the North sea Then returning towards the South sea hee subdued many provinces so as he became a mighty King all by the helpe and counsell of Tlacaellec who in a manner conquered all the Mexicaine nation Yet hee held an opinion the which was confirmed that it was not behoovefull to conquer the province of Tlascalla that the Mexicaines might have a fronter enemy to keepe the youth of Mexico in exercise and allarme and that they might have numbers of captives to sacrifice to their idols wherein they did waste as hath beene said infinite numbers of men which should bee taken by force in the warres The honour must be given to
of water which they of Cuyoacan vsed For this cause he called the chiefe man of the cittie vnto him being a famous sorcerer having propounded his meaning vnto him the sorcerer wished him to be well advised what hee did being a matter of great difficulty and that hee vnderstoode if he drew the river out of her ordinary course making it passe to Mexico hee would drowne the citty The king supposed these excuses were but to frustrate the effect of his desseigne being therefore in choler he dismissed him home and a few dayes after hee sent a provost to Cuyoacan to take this Sorcerer who having vnderstanding for what intent the kings officers came hee caused them to enter his house and then he presented himself vnto them in the forme of a terrible Eagle wherewith the provost and his companions being terrified they returned without taking him AutZol incensed herewith sent others to whome hee presented himselfe in forme of a furious tygre so as they durst not touch him The third came and they found him in the forme of a horrible serpent whereat they were much afraide The king mooved the more with these dooings sent to tell them of Cuyoacan that if they brought not the sorcerer bound vnto him he would raze their citty For feare whereof or whether it were of his owne free will or being forced by the people he suffered himselfe to be led to the king who presently caused him to be strangled and then did he put his resolution in practise forcing a chanell whereby the water might passe to Mexico whereby hee brought a great current of water into the Lake which they brought with great ceremonies and superstitions having priests casting incense along the banks others sacrificed quailes and with the bloud of them sprinckled the channell bankes others sounding of cornets accompanied the water with their musicke One of the chiefe went attired in a habite like to their goddesse of the water and all saluted her saying that shee was welcome All which things are painted in the Annales of Mexico which booke is now at Rome in the holy Library or Vaticane where a father of our company that was come from Mexico did see it and other histories the which he did expound to the keeper of his Holinesse Library taking great delight to vnderstand this booke which before hee could never comprehend Finally the water was brought to Mexico but it came in such aboundaunce that it had welneere drowned the cittie as was foretold and in effect it did ruine a great parte thereof but it was presently prevented by the industry of Autzol who caused an issue to be made to draw foorth the water by meanes whereof hee repaired the buildings that were fallen with an exquisite worke being before but poore cotages Thus he left the citty invironed with water like another Venice and very well built hee raigned eleaven yeares and ended with the last and greatest successor of all the Mexicans Of the election of great Moteçuma the last king of Mexico CHAP. 20. WHen the Spaniards entred new Spaine being in the yeare of our Lorde one thousand five hundred and eighteen Moteçuma second of that name was the last king of the Mexicaines I say the last although they of Mexico after his death chose another king yea in the life of the same Moteçuma whome they declared an enemy to his country as we shall see heereafter But hee that succeeded him and hee that fell into the hands of the Marquise de Valle had but the names and titles of Kings for that the kingdome was in a maner al yeelded to the Spaniards so as with reason we account Moteçuma for the last king and so hee came to the periode of the Mexicaines power and greatnesse which is admirable being happened among Barbarians for this cause and for that this was the season that God had chosen to reveale vnto them the knowledge of his Gospel and the kingdome of Iesus Christ I will r◠late more at large the actes of Moteçuma then of the rest Before he came to be king he was by disposition ve◠ry grave and stayed and spake little so as when he◠gave his opinion in the privy counsell whereas he assisted his speeches and discourses made every one to admire him so as even then he was feared and respected He retired himselfe vsually into a Chappell appointed for him in the Temple of Vitziliputzli where they said their Idoll spake vnto him and for this cause hee was helde very religious and devout For these perfections then being most noble and of great courage his election was short and easie as a man vpon whom al mens eyes were fixed as woorthy of such a charge Having intelligence of this election hee hidde himselfe in this chappell of the Temple whether it were by iudgement apprehending so heavy and hard a burthen as to governe such a people or rather as I beleeve throgh hypocrisie to shew that he desired not Empery In the end they found him leading him to the place of councell whither they accompanied him with all possible ioy hee marched with such a gravitie as they all sayd the name of Moteçuma agreed very wel with his nature which is as much to say as an angry Lord. The electors did him great reverence giving him notice that hee was chosen king from thence he was ledde before the harth of their gods to give incense where he offered sacrifices in drawing bloud from his eares the calves of his legges according to their custome They attired him with the royall ornaments and pierced the gristle of his nosthrils hanging thereat a rich emerald a barbarous troublous custome but the desire of rule made all paine light and easie Being seated in his throne he gave andience to the Orations and Speeches that were made vnto him which according vnto their custome were eloquent and artificiall The first was pronounced by the king of Tescuco which being preserved for that it was lately delivered very worthy to be heard I will set it downe word by word and thus hee sayde The concordance and vnitie of voyces vpon thy election is a sufficient testimonie most noble yong man of the happines the realme shall receive as well deserving to be commaunded by thee as also for the generall applause which all doe shew by meanes thereof Wherein they have great reason for the Empire of Mexico doth alreadie so farre extend it selfe that to governe a world as it is and to beare so heavie a burthen it requires no lesse dexteritie and courage than that which is resident in thy firme and valiant heart nor of lesse wisedome and iudgement than thine I see and know plainely that the mightie God loveth this Cittie seeing he hath given vnderstanding to choose what was fit For who will not beleeve that a Prince who before his raigne had pierced the nine vaultes of heaven should not likewise nowe obtaine those things that are earthlie to releeve his people
would favour their cause and partie even for the good of the Infidells who should bee converted vnto the holy Gospel by this meanes for the waies of God are high and their paths admirable Of the maner how the Divine providence disposed of the Indies to give an entrie to Christian Religion CHAP. 28. I Will make an end of this historie of the Indies shewing the admirable meanes whereby God made a passage for the Gospel in those partes the which we ought well to consider of and acknowledge the providence and bountie of the Creator Every one may vnderstand by the relation and discourse I have written in these bookes as well at Peru as in New Spaine whenas the Christians first set footing that these Kingdomes and Monarchies were come to the height and period of their power The Inguas of Peru possessing from the Realme of Chille beyond Quitto which are a thousand leagues being most aboundant in gold silver sumptuous services and other things as also in Mexico Moteçuma commaunded from the North Ocean sea vnto the South being feared and worshiped not as a man but rather as a god Then was it that the most high Lord had determined that that stone of Daniel which dissolved the Realmes and Kingdoms of the world should also dissolve those of this new world And as the lawe of Christ came whenas the Romane Monarchie was at her greatnes so did it happen at the West Indies wherein we see the iust providence of our Lord For being then in the world I meane in Europe but one head and temporall Lord as the holy Doctors do note whereby the Gospel might more easily beimparted to so many people and nations Even so hath it happened at the Indies where having given the knowledge of Christ to the Monarkes of so many Kingdomes it was a meanes that afterwards the knowledge of the gospell was imparted to all the people yea there is herein a speciall thinge to bee observed that as the Lordes of Cusco and Mexico conquered new landes so they brought in their owne language for although there were as at this day great diuersitie of tongues yet the Courtlie speeche of Cusco did and doth at this day runne above a thousand leagues and that of Mexico did not extend farre lesse which hath not beene of small importance but hath much profited in making the preaching easie at such a time when as the preachers had not the gift of many tongues as in olde tymes He that woulde knowe what a helpe it hath beene for the conversion of this people in these two greate Empyres and the greate difficultie they haue founde to reduce those Indians to Christ which acknowledge no Soueraigne Lorde let him goe to Florida Bresill the Andes and many other places where they have not prevailed so much by their preaching in fiftie yeares as they have done in Peru and newe Spaine in lesse then five If they will impute the cause to the riches of the countrie I will not altogether denie it Yet were it impossible to have so great wealth and to bee able to preserve it if there had not beene a Monarchie This is also a worke of God in this age when as the Preachers of the gospell are so colde and without zeale and Merchants with the heat of covetousnes and desire of commaund search and discouer newe people whether wee passe with our commodities for as Saint Austin saith the Prophesie of Esaie is fulfilled in that the Church of Christ is extended not onely to the right hand but also to the left which is as he declareth by humaine and earthly meanes which they seeke more commonly then Iesus Christ. It was also a great providence of our Lord that whenas the first Spaniardes arrived there they founde ayde from the Indians them selves by reason of their partialities and greate diuisions This is well knowne in Peru that the division betwixt the two brothers Atahulpa and Guasca the great King Guanacapa their father being newly dead gave entry to the Marquise Don Francis Pizarre and to the Spaniards for that either of them desired his alliance being busied in warre one against the other The like experience hath beene in New Spaine that the aide of those of the province of Tlascalla by reason of their continuall hatred against the Mexicaines gave the victory and siegniory of Mexico to the Marquise Fernando Cortes and his men and without them it had beene impossible to have wonne it yea to have maintained themselves within the country They are much deceived that so little esteeme the Indians and iudge that by the advantage the Spaniards have over them in their persons horses and armes both offencive and deffencive they might easily conquer any land or nation of the Indies Chille standes yet or to say better Aranco and Tuâ—â—â—pel which are two citties where our Spaniards could not yet winne one foote of ground although they have made warre there above five and twenty yeares without sparing of any cost For this barbarous nation having once lost the apprehention of horse and shotte and knowing that the Spaniards fall as well as other men with the blow of a stone or of a dart they hazard themselves desperately entring the pikes vppon any enterprise How many yeares have they levied men in New Spaine to send against the Chychymequos which are a small number of naked Indians armed onely with bowes and arrowes yet to this day they could not bee vanquished but contrariwise from day to day they grow more desperate and resolute But what shall wee say of the Chucos of the Chiraguanas of the Piscocones and all the other people of the Andes Hath not all the flower of Peru beene there bringing with them so great provision of armes and men as we have seene What did they With what victories returned they Surely they returned very happy in saving of their lives having lost their baggage and almost all their horses Let no man thinke speaking of the Indians that they are men of nothing but if they thinke so let them go and make triall Wee must then attribute the glory to whom it appertaines that is principally to God and to his admirable disposition for if Moteçuma in Mexiço and the Ingua in Peru had bin resolute to resist the Spaniards and to stoppe their entrie Cortes and Pizarre had prevailed little in their landing although they were excellent Captaines It hath also beene a great helpe to induce the Indians to receive the law of Christ the subiection they were in to their Kings and Lords and also the servitude and slaverie they were helde in by the divells tyrannies and insupportable yoake This was an excellent disposition of the Divine Wisedome the which drawes profite from ill to a good end and receives his good from an others ill which it hath not sowen It is most certaine that no people of the West Indies have beene more apt to receive the Gospel then those which were most subiect to