the trafficke thereof wherein so many men are occupied The Seigniors Inguas vsed Coca as a delicate and royall thing which they offered most in their sacrifices burning it in honor of their idolls Of Maguey Tunal Cochenille Anir and Cotton CHAP. 23. MAguey is a tree of wonders whereof the Notaries or Chapetons as the Indians call them are wont to write miracles in that it yeeldeth water wine oyle vineger honny sirrope threede needles and a thousand other things It is a tree which the Indians esteeme much in new Spaine have commonly in their dwellings some one of them for the maintenaunce of life it grows in the fields and hath great and large leaves at the end whereof is a strong sharp point which serves to fasten little pins or to sowe as a needle they draw out of this leafe as it were a kinde of threed which they vse They cut the body which is big when it is tender wherein is a great hollownesse by which the substance mounts from the root and is a liquor which they drink like water being sweet fresh This liquor being sodden turnes like wine which growes to vineger suffring it to sowre and boyling it more it becomes as hony boyling it halfe it serves as sirrope which is healthfull enough and of good taste in my iudgement it is better then the sirrope of raisins Thus doe they boyle this liquor and vse it in diverse sortes whereof they drawe a good quantitie for that in some season they draw daily some pots of this liquor There are also of these trees in Peru but they are not so profitable as in new Spaine The wood of this tree is hollow and soft and serves to keepe fire like to the match of a harquebuze and preserves it long I have seene the Indians vse it to that end The Tunall is another famous tree in new Spaine if we may call a tree a heape of leaves gathered together one vpon another it is the strangest fashiond tree of all other for first there grows one leafe out of the ground then another vpon it and so one vpon one till it commeth to his perfection but as the leaves growe vp and on the sides those vnderneath doe become great and loose in a manner the forme of leaves making a bodie and braunches which are sharpe pricking and deformed so as in some places they doe call it a Thistle There are thistles or wilde Tunalls the which do carry no fruite or else it is very pricking without any profit There are likewise planted Tunalls which yeelde fruite much esteemed amongst the Indians the which they call Tunas and they are much greater then Plumbes and long They open the shell which is fatte and within it is meate and small graines like to those of figges which be very sweete they have a good taste especially the white which have a pleasing smell but the red are not vsually so good There is another sorte of Tunalls which they esteeme much more although it yeeldes no fruit yet it beares an other commoditie and profit which is of the graine for that certayne small wormes breede in the leaves of this tree when it is well husbanded and are therevnto fastned covered with a certaine small fine web which doth compasse them in daintily and this is that Indian Cochenille so famous and wherewith they die in graine They let it drie and being dried carry it into Spaine which is a great and rich marchandise The arobe of this Cochenille or graine is worth many ducats In the fleete the yeare 1587. they did bring five thousand sixe hundred seventy seven arobes which amounted to twoo hundred foure score three thousand seven hundred and fifty peeces commonly there comes every yeare as great a wealth These Tunalls grow in temperate grounds inclining to colde In Peru there growes none to this day I have seene some plants in Spaine but they deserve not estimation I will speake something likewise of the Anir although it comes not from a tree but from an hearb for that it serveth for the dying of cloth and is a marchandise which agrees with the graine it groweth in great aboundance iu new Spaine from whence there came in the fleete I mentioned 5263. arobes or thereabouts which amounted to so many peeces Cotten likewise growes vpon small shrubs and great trees like to little apples which doe open and yeelde forth this webbe which being gathered they spinne to make stuffes It is one of the things at the Indies of greatest profite and most in vse for it serves them both insteed of flaxe and wooll to make their garments It groweth in a hote soyle and there is great store in the vallies and sea coast of Peru in new Spaine the Philippines and China But the greatest store of any place that I know is in the province of Tucuman in that of saint Croix of the Sierre and at Paraguey whereas Cotten is their chiefe revenue They carry cotten into Spaine from the Iland of Saint Dominike and the yeare that I spake of there came 64000. arobes At the Indies whereas this cotten growes they make cloth which both the men and women vse commonly making table napkins thereof yea and sailes for their shippes There is some course and other that is fine and delicate they die it into diverse colours as wee doe by our woollen cloth in Europe Of Mameys Guayavos and Paltos CHAP. 24. THese Plants we have spoken of are the most profitable of the Indies and the most necessary for the life of man yet there are many other that are good to eate among the which the Mameys are esteemed being in fashion like to great peaches and bigger they have one or two stones within them and their meate is some what hard There are some sweete and others somewhat sower and have the rinde hard They make conserves of the meate of this fruite which is like to marmelade The vse of this fruite is reasonable good but the conserves they make thereof are better They grow in Ilands I have not seene any in Peru. It is a great tree well fashioned and a reasonable faire leafe The Guayavos be other trees which commonly carry an ill fruite full of sower kernells and are like to little apples It is a tree little esteemed vpon the firme land and at the Ilands for they say it smells like to the Punaises The taste and savour of this fruite is very grosse and the substance vnholesome In S. Dominique and other Ilands there are whole mountaines full of these Guayavos and they say there was no such kinde of trees before the Spaniards came there but that they broght them they know not from whence This tree hath multiplied infinitely for that there is no beast that will eate the kernells or the graine so as being thus scattered on the earth being hote and moist it multiplies in this sort In Peru the Guayavos differs from others for that the fruite is not
Discourse vpon the discoverie of Magellan by Sarmiento 154 Division of Peru into Lanos Sierres Andes 184 Division of the people 456 Division of the Cittie of Mâ—xico into foure quarters made by the commaundement of their God 512 Divinations practisâ—d by the Indians and how 406 Divorces practised amongst the Mexicaines and how 409 Death the punishment of Virgins that were incontinent 367 Death of Chimalpopoca the yoong king of Mexico slâ—ine treacherously by the Tapanecanâ— 526 Death of Moâ—esuma the lâ—st king of Mexico 576 Doctors of the holy church not to be reprooved differing in opinion of Philosophie 2 Dogges as dangerous as wolves 301 Dogges daungerous in the Ilands of Cuba Hispaniola and others 70 Drake an Englishman didde passe the straight of Magellan in our time others since 154 Duckes in great aboundaunce in the Lake of Titicaca and how they doe hunt them 171 Drought followes not the neerenesse of the Sunne 85 E. EAgle vppon a Tunall the Armes of Mexico and why 513 Earthquakes very strange and the cause 197 Earth how it is sustained 10 The Earth vnder the pole Antartike is not all covered with waters 18 The Earth in longitude is all of one temperature but not in latitude 29 The Earth with the water make one globe ibid. Eclipse of the Moone a certain proofe of the roundnesse of the heavens 6 Effectes naturall proceede from contrary causes 96 Elements participate with the motion of the first moover 138 Electours of the king of Mexico were commonly his kinsmen 485 Election of the kings of Mexico the feastes at their instalment ibid. Election of the first Kâ— of Mexico 515 Entry of the Spaniards into new Spain in the yeere 1518. 558 Entrie of Cortez into Mexico 574 Errour of imagination 23 Esaies passage expounded by the exemplification of the Gospel 208 Emerauldes more esteemed in former time then now 249 Exercises wherin they instructed their youth 487 Explication of a passage of saint Paule against the roundnes of the earth 14 Explication of the 110 Psalme vppon the same subiect 15 F. FAmiliar reasons to teach an Indian that the Sunne is no god â—42 Fasting of the Indians before the feaâ—â— of Ita not accompanying with their wives 374 A Father loosing his children was held for a great sinner hâ— would kil his childreÌ„ to save his own life 399 Fertâ—litie vnfruitefull in the Ilandes of new Spainâ— 187 Feasts of Merchants made with many sportes 424 Feast of the Idoll of Tlascalla 355 Feasts for to have raine 411 Feasts for every moneth 412 Fâ—re drawne out of two stickes rubbd one against another by the Indians 119 Fire in hell different from ours 195 Fire from heaven consumed for their sinnes 63 Fish flying 165 Fountaine casting vp hote water the which turnes into a rocke 173 Figge tree whereof the one halfe carries fruite at one season the other at another 297 â—loures of Europe grow best at the Indies 283 â—loridians had no knowledge of golde 207 Flowing and ebbing of the sea is no local motion but an alteration and fervâ—â— of the waters 162 Flowing and ebbing of the seas divers ibid. Fountaine of salt in Cuscâ— 174 Forrests wonderfull thicke at the Indies 291 Forrests of orange trees at the Indies 294 Forme of that which is discovered at Peru. 201 Frâ—â—ciâ— Hâ—â—nandes the Author of a rarâ— booke of plants rooteâ— and physicall hearbes at the Iâ—dies â—90 Fruites of Europe much incrâ—ased aâ— the Indies 294 G. GArlicke much esteemed aâ— thâ— Indieâ— 261 Gardinâ— vppon the water in the midst of a Lake 172 Gardins artificially made vppon the water tâ— remove where they please 519 Giantâ— came in anâ—ient time to Peru. 62 Golde found in three sortes 212 Gold of Caravana most famous at Pâ—ru 214 Gold and silver esteemed throughout the whole world 206 Golde silver served the Indians but for ornament 209 Gold why esteemd above other mettalles 212 Golde how refined into powlder 214 Goomes with physicall and odoâ—ifâ—rous oyles with their names 287 Gonzales Pziarre vanquished and defeated his crueltie against the Indians 475 Governors of provinces how estâ—blâ—shed by the Inguas 455 Guacas or Sanctuaries very well maintained 463 Guancos and Vicunaâ— wilde goates 70 Guayaquil an Indian oake and verie sweete 292 Guayavos an Indian fruite 277 Guaynacapa the great and valiant Ingua and his life he was worshipped as a god in his life 479 Guayras furnaces to refine gold 233 Gospel preached to the Indians when their Empire was at the hâ—ghest even aâ— to the Romans 583 H. HAtunâ—â—squi Ayâ—â—râ—y the sixâ— mâ—neth of the Indians which answereth vnto Maie 413 Harts of men pulld out and sacrificed how that ceremony beganne 509 Haire of the prieâ—â—s horribly long and annoynted with rozen 403 Heaven is round and turnâ—â— vppon two Poles prooved more by experience than demonstration 5 Heaven no farther from the earth of the one side than of the other 18 Hennes found at the Indies at the fâ—â—st discovery which they called Gualpa and their egges Ponto 306 Hercules Pillers the limites of the Roman Empire of the old world 27 Hipocrisie of Mâ—tesuma last King of Mâ—xico 554 Historie of the Indies not to bee contemned and why 495 Historie of Mâ—xico kept in the Librarie of Vatican 550 Historie of Mexico how framed 446 Horses goodly and strong at the Indies 301 Horse-shooes of silver for want of yâ—on 212 House admirably filled with all sortes of beasts like to another Noes Arke 484 Humor of the Iewes contrary to that of the Indians 76 I. IEalousie of the Indies one against an other for renowme of valour 472 Idlenesse bannished by the Inguas as dangerous for the subiects 457 Idoll carried by foure Priestes for a guide whenas the Mexicaines did seek a new land like to the children of Israel 504 Idolls of the kings Inguas reverenced as themselves 356 Iland of Suâ—atra now called Taprobaâ—a 37 Iland â—tlâ—nâ—ikâ— of Plaâ—â— a meere fabâ—e 72 Iland of fagots made with exceeding labour to passe an army vppon the sea 550 Ilandâ—s very farre from the firme land noâ— inhabiâ—ed â—9 Iâ—nmortalitie of the soule beleeved by the Indies 347 Indies what it signifieth and what we vnderstand by that word 47 Weast Indies most popular governements in the which there were but two kingdomes 453 Indians not greatly desirous of silver 76 Indians have lived in troups as those doe of Florida Brâ—sill and other places 80 Indians good swimmers 168 Indians had no proper word to signifie God 334 The Indians know all Artes necessarie for mans life without any need one of another 466 Infants sacrificed to the Sunne 336 Inguas kings of Peru worshipped after their deaths 344 The Inguas empery continued above 300. yeares 471 Inguas married their sisters 455 Inundation of Nile a naturall thing though it seeme supernaturall 88 Iustice by whome executed in Mexico 486 Indian bookes how they can be made without letters 440 Iustice severely executed by Motesuma the last king of Mexico
Tropicks as Aristotle and Plinie have maintained and before them the Philosopher Parmenides the contrarie whereof is before sufficiently prooved both for the one and the other But many through curiositie may demaund if the Ancients had no knowledge of this trueth which to vs is now so apparent seeing that in trueth it seemeth very strange that this newe worlde which is so spacious as we doe visibly see it should be hidden from the Ancients by so many ages But some at this day seeking to obscure the felicitie of this age and the glory of our Nation strive to proove that the new found world was knowne to the Ancients And in trueth wee cannot deny but there was some apparency S. Ierome writing vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians sayth We seeke with reason what the Apostle meaneth in these wordes where he saith you have walked for a season according to the course of this world whether he would have vs to vnderstand that there is an other world which neither is nor depends of this world but other worldes whereof Clement writes in his Epistle the Ocean and the worldes which are beyond the Ocean These are the wordes of S. Ierome but in trueth I cannot finde this Epistle of S. Clement cited by S. Ierome yet I beleeve vndoubtedly that S. Clement hath written it seeing S. Ierome maketh mention thereof And with reason saint Clement saith that beyond the Ocean there is an other worlde yea many worldes as in trueth there is seeing there is so great distance from one newe worlde to an other new world I meane from Peru and the West Indies to China and the East Indies Moreover Plinie who hath beene so curious a searcher out of strange things reportes in his naturall Historie that Hannon a Captaine of the Carthaginians sayled through the Ocean from the Straight of Gibraltar coasting alongst the land even vnto the confines of Arabia and that hee left this his Navigation in writing If it bee as Plinie writes it followes that Hannon sayled as farre as the Portugals do at this day passing twice vnder the Equinoctiall which is a fearefull thing And the same Plinie reports of Cornelius Nepos a very grave Authour who saith that the same course hath beene sayled by an other man called Eudaxius but by contrary wayes for this Eudaxius following the King of Latyres passed by the redde sea into the Ocean and turning backe came to the Straight of Gibraltar the which Cornelius Nepos affirmes to have happened in his time And also other grave Authors do write that a ship of Carthage driven by force of winde into the Ocean came to a Land which vntill then was vnknowne and returning to Carthage kindled a great desire in the Citizens to discover and people this land the which the Senate perceyving did forbid this navigation by a rigorous decree fearing that with the desire of new lands they should leave to love their owne Countrie By all this wee may gather that the Ancients had some knowledge of the new world yet shall you hardly finde in the bookes of ancient Writers any thing written of our America and all the West Indies but of the East Indies I say there is sufficient testimonie not only of that on the other side but also of that on this side which then was farthest off going thither by a contrary way to that at this day Is it not easie to find Molaco in ancient bookes which they called the golden Chersonese the Cape of Comori which was called the Promontorie of Coci that great famous Iland of Sumatra so well knowne by the ancient name of Taprobana What shall wee say of the two Ethiopiaes the Brachmanes and that great Land of the Chinaes Who doubtes but there was often mention made thereof in ancient bookes But of the West Indies we find not in Plinie that in this navigation they passed the Ilands of the Canaries which he calleth Fortunate the principall whereof is sayd to be called Canarie for the multitude of dogs which are in it But there is scarce any mention in ancient books of the voyages which are made at this day beyond the Canaries by the Gulph which with reason they call great Yet many hold opinion that Seneca the Tragedian did prophecie of the West Indies in his Tragedie of Medea which translated saith thus An age shall come ere ages ende Blessedly strange and strangely blest When our Sea farre and neere or'prest His shoare shall farther yet extend Descryed then shall a large Land be By this profound Seas navigation An other World an other Nation All men shall then discovered see Thule accounted heretofore The worldes extreme the Northerne bound Shall be when Southwest parts be found A neerer Isle a neighbour shoare This Seneca reports in these verses we cannot wel deny but vnderstanding it litterally it is very true for if we reckon the many yeeres he speakes of beginning from the time of the Tragedian it is above a thousand and foure hundred yeeres past and if it were from the time of Medea it is above two thousand yeeres the which we see plainely now accomplished seeing the passage of the Ocean so long time hidden hath beene found out and that they have discovered a great land and a new world inhabited more spatious then all the Continent of Europe and Asia But therein may a question with reason be made whether Seneca spake this by divination or poetically and by chance And to speake my opinion I beleeve hee did divine after the manner of wise men and well advised for that in his time they vndertooke newe voyages and navigations by sea hee knew well like a Philosopher that there was an other land contrary and opposite vnto vs which they call Antichthon And by this ground he might conceyve that the industrie and courage of man might in the ende passe the Ocean and discover new lands and another world for that in Senecaes time they had knowledge of the Voyage which Plinie speaketh of whereby they passed the great Ocean The which seemes to bee the motive of Senecaes prophecie as he giveth vs to vnderstand by these former verses after the which having described the carefull life of the Ancients free from malice he followeth thus Now is it not as earst it was For whether the Ocean will or nill He traverst is by hardy will Which pastime makes time so to passe And a little after he saith thus Now every boat dares swimme and sport On surging Seas fearing no wracke Passengers seeking what they lacke So long a voyage thinke but short Nothing is nowe more to discover No place is now left to surprise Townes now that for defence devise With new fortifications cover All in the world turn'd round about No thing in place as t' was enured Nothing vnseene nothing assured This Circle vniverse throughout The Indian whom at home heate fries Drinkes of Araxis waters cold The Persian rich in
that some are invironed with heat some with cold and others tempered with a moderate heat Plato placeth his most renowmed Atlantike Iland vnder the burning Zone then he saieth that at certaine seasons of the yeere it hath the sunne for Zenith and yet it was very temperate fruitfull and rich Plinie saieth that Taprobana which at this day they call Sumatra is vnder the Equinoctiall as in effect it is writing that it is not onely happie and rich but also peopled with men and beasts whereby we may easily iudge that although the Ancients held the heate of the burning Zone to be insupportable yet might they well vnderstand that it was not so great as they had spoken The most excellent Astrologer and Cosmographer Ptolome and the worthie Philosopher and Physitian Avicen were of a better resolution being both of opinion that vnder the Equinoctiall there were verie commodious habitations That the heat of the burning Zone is temperate by reason of the rayne and the shortnes of the dayes CHAP. 10. SInce the discoverie of this newe worlde wee have found by experience that which late Writers have held for trueth But it is a naturall thing whenas any matter beyond our conceit is made knowne vnto vs by experience we by and by examine the cause Therefore wee desire to know the reason why a Region where the sunne approacheth neerest is not onely temperate but in many parts cold Considering this matter generally I finde two general causes which maketh this Region temperate the one is that before mentioned for that this Region is very moist and subiect to raine and there is no doubt but the rayne doth refresh it for that the water is by nature cold and although by the force of the fire it be made hotte yet doth it temper this heat proceeding onely from the sunne-beames The which we see by experience in the inner Arabia the which is burnt with the Sunne having no showres to temper the violence thereof The clouds and mists are the cause that the sunne offends not so much and the showers that fall from them refresh both the ayre and the earth and moisten likewise how hot soever it be They drinke raine water and it quencheth the thirst as our men have well tried having no other to drinke So as reason and experience doth teach vs that raine of it selfe doth temper the heat and having by this meanes shewed that the burning Zone is much subiect vnto raine it appeares that there is matter in it to temper the violence of the heat To this I will adde an other reason which deserves to be knowne not only for this matter but for many others for although the Sunne be very hotte and burning vnder the Equinoctiall yet is it not long so as the heate of the day being there shorter and of lesse continuance it causeth not so violent a heate the which it behooves to specifie more particularly Such as are practised in the knowledge of the Spheare teach very well that the more the Zodiake is oblique and traversing our Hemisphere the more vnequall are the daies and nights and contrariwise where the sphere is straight and the signes mount directly there the dayes and nights are equalâ— And therefore in all that Region which is betweene the two Tropicks there is lesse inequality then without them and the more we approch the Line the lesse inequalitie we finde the which we have tryed in those parts Those of Quitto for that they are vnder the line have not throughout the whole yeere the dayes and nights more short at one season then at an other but are continually equall Those of Lima beeing distant almost twelve degrees finde some difference betwixt the dayes and the nights but very little for that in December and Ianuarie the dayes increase an houre or little lesse Those of PotoZi finde much more difference both in winter and in summer being almost vnder the Tropicke But those that live without the Tropikes find the dayes in winter shorter and in summer longer the more remote they are from the Equinoctial and come neere the Pole as we see in Germany and in England the daies are longer in summer then in Italie and in Spaine It is a thing which the Sphere doth teach and experience doth plainely shew vs. We must adde an other proposition which is likewise true and very considerable for all the effectes of nature to vnderstand the perseverance and continuation of the efficient cause to worke and moove This presupposed if any one demaund of me why vnder the Equinoctiall Line the heat is not so violent in summer as in some other Regions as in Andelousiae in the moneths of Iuly and August I will answere that in Andelousia the dayes are longer and the nights shorter and as the day being hot inflames and causeth heat so the nights being cold and moist give a refreshing According to the which at Peru there is no such great heat for that the dayes in summer are not long nor the nights short so as the heate of the day is much tempered by the freshnesse of the night And although the burning Zone be neerer the Sunne then all other Regions yet doth not the heate continue there so long It is a naturall thing that a small fire continued heats more then a greater that lastes but little especially if there bee any thing to refresh it He therefore that shal put these two properties of the Zone in one ballance that it is most rainie in the time of greatest heate and that the dayes are shortest there he shall perchance finde them to equall the other two contrarieties which bee that the Sunne is neerer and more directly over them then in other Regions That there be other reasons besides the former mentioned which shew that the burning Zone is temperate especially alongst the Ocean CHAP. 11. BEing a thing concluded that the two forenamed properties are common and vniversal to all the region of the burning Zone and yet in the same there are found some places very hote and other exceeding colde Also that the temperature is not there equall in all places but vnder one climate one part is hote another colde and the third temperate all at one season we are forced to seeke out other reasons whence this great diversitie should proceede in the burning Zone Discoursing therefore vpon this question I do finde threeapparant and certaine causes and a fourth more obscure and darke The apparant and certaine causes be The first is the Ocean the second the scituation of the land and the third the nature and propertie of many and sundry windes Besides these three which I holde for manifest I beleeve there is a fourth hidden and lesse apparant which is the propertie of the same land inhabited and the particular influence of the heavens Whoso woulde neerely consider the causes and generall reasons before mentioned shall finde them insufficient for the full resolution of this point observing that
them Their water is very cleere and breedes little store of fish and that little is very small by reason of the cold which is there Continually Notwithstanding some of these Lakes be very hote which is another wonder At the end of the vallie of Tarapaya neere to Potozi there is a Lake in forme round which seemes to have been made by compasse whose water is extreamely hote and yet the land is very colde they are accustomed to bathe themselves neere the banke for else they cannot indure the heate being farther in In the midst of this Lake there is a boiling of above twenty foote square which is the very spring and yet notwithstanding the greatnes of this spring it is never seene to increase in any sort it seemes that it exhales of it selfe or that it hath some hidden and vnknowne issue neither do they see it decrease which is another wonder although they have drawne from it a great streame to make certaine engines grinde for mettall considering the great quantity of water that issueth forth by reason whereof it should decrease But leaving Peru and passing to new Spaine the Lakes there are no lesse to be observed especially that most famous of Mexico where we finde two sortes of waters one salt Lake to that of the sea and the other cleere and sweete by reason of the rivers that enter into it In the midst of this Lake is a rocke verie delightfull and pleasant where there are baths of hote water that issue forth the which they greatly esteeme for their health There are gardinsÌ„ in the middest of this Lake framed and fleeting vpon the water where you may see plottes full of a thousand sortes of hearbes and flowers and they are in such sort as a man cannot well conceive them without sight The Citie of Mexico is seated in the same Lake although the Spaniards have filled vp the place of the scituation with earth leaving onely some currents of water great and small which enter into the Citie to carrie such things as they have neede of as wood hearbes stone fruites of the countrie and all other things When Cortez conquered Mexico he caused Brigandins to be made yet afterwards he thought it more safe not to vse them therfore they vse Canoes whereof there is great store There is great store of fish in this Lake yet have I not seene any of price notwithstanding they say the revenue of this Lake is worth three hundred thousand duckets a yeere There are many other Lakes not far from this whence they bring much fish to Mexico The Province of Mechovacan is so called for that it aboundeth greatly with fish There are goodly and great Lakes in the which there is much fish and this Province is coole and healthfull There are many other Lakes whereof it is not possible to make mention nor to know them in particular onely we may note by that which hath beene discoursed in the former booke that vnder the burning Zone there is greater abundance of Lakes then in any other parte of the world and so by that which we have formerly spoken and the little we shall say of rivers and fountaines we will end this discourse of Waters Of many and divers Springs and Fountaines CHAP. 17. THere is at the Indies as in other parts of the world great diversitie of Springs Fountaines and Rivers and some have strange properties In Guancavilica of Peru where the mines of quick-silver be there is a Fountaine that casts forth hote water and in running the water turnes to rocke of which rocke or stone they build in a mauer all the houses of the Village This stone is soft and easie to cutte for they cut it as easily with yron as if it were wood it is light and lasting If men or beasts drinke thereof they die for that it congeales in the very entrailes and turnes into stone and for that cause some horses have died As this water turnes into stone the which flowes stoppes the passage to the rest so as of necessitie it changeth the course and for this reason it runnes in divers places as the rocke increaseth At the point of Cape S. Helaine there is a spring or fountaine of pitch which at Peru they call Coppey This should be like to that which the Scripture speakes of the savage valley where they did finde pits of pitch The Mariners vse these fountaines of pitch or Coppey to pitch their ropes and tackling for that it serves them as pitch and tarre in Spaine When I sailed into new Spaine by the coast of Peru the Pilot shewed me an Iland which they call the I le of Wolves where there is another fountaine or pit of Coppey or pitch with the which they anoint their tackling There are other fountaines and springs of Goultran rozen which the Pilot an excellent man in his charge tolde me he had seene and that sometimes sailing that waies being so farre into the sea as he had lost the sight of land yet did he know by the smell of the Coppey where he was as well as if he had knowne the land such is the savour that issues continually from that fountaine At the baths which they call the baths of Ingua there is a course of water which comes forth all hote and boiling and ioyning vnto it there is another whose water is as cold as ice The Ingua was accustomed to temper the one with the other it is a wonderfull thing to see springs of so contrarie qualities so neere one to the other There are an infinit number of other hote springs specially in the Province of Charcas in the water whereof you cannot indure to hold your hand the space of an Ave Maria as I have seene tried by wager In a farme neere to Cusco springs a fountain of salt which as it runs turns into salt very white exceeding good the which if it were in another countrie were no small riches yet they make very small accoumpt thereof for the store they have there The waters which runne in Guayaquel which is in Peru almost vnder the Equinoctiall line are held to be healthfull for the French disease and other such like so as they come from many places farre off to be cured And they say the cause thereof is for that in that Countrie there is great aboundance of rootes which they call Sallepareille the vertue and operation whereof is so knowne that it communicates her propertie to the waters wherein it is put to cure this disease Bilcanota is a mountaine the which according to common opinion is in the highest part of Peru the toppe whereof is all covered with snow and in some places is blacke like coale There issueth forth of it two springs in contrarie places which presently growe to be very great bâ—rookes and so by little and little become great flouds the one goes to Calloa into the great Lake Titicaca the other goes to the lands and is that which they call
therewith and with some other discontents discovered this secret vnto his maister called Villaroel a Spaniard who then remained at Porco This Villaroel desirous to vnderstand the trueth went to Potozi finding the riches his Yanacona or servant had discovered vnto him caused the Indian Guanca to be inrolled vndertaking with him the saide veine which was called Centeno they call it vndertaking that is as much as to note and marke the mine and so much ground in circuite for him which the Lawe graunts vnto those that discover any mine or vnto those that digge them by meanes whereof having discovered them to the Iustice they remayned Lords of the mine to dig and drawe foorth the silver as being their owne paying only their duties vnto the King which is a fift parte So as the first discovery and inregistring of the mines of Potozi was the 21. of April in the yeare of our Lord one thousand five hundred fortie five in the territorie of Porco by the saide Villaroel a Spaniard and Guanâ—a an Indian Presently after they discovered another veine which they called the veine of Tinne the which is very rich although it be rough and very painfull to worke in the mettall being as hard as slint Since the thirtie day of August in the same yeere of a thousand five hundred forty and five the veine called Mendieta was inrolled and these are the foure principall veines of Potozi They say of the rich veine the first that was discovred that the metall lay above the ground the height of a launce like vnto rockes raising the superficies of the earth like vnto a crest of three hundred foote long and thirteene foote broade and that this remained bare vncovered by the deluge This veine having resisted the violence and force of the water as the hardest part The mettall was so rich as it was halfe silver and this veine continued in his bounty fiftie or three score stades which is the height of a man and then it failed In this maner the mines of Potozi were discovered by the Divine Providence who for the felicitie of Spaine would have the greatest treasure that ever was in this world discovered at such time whenas the Emperour Charles the fift of famous memorie held the Empire the kingdomes of Spaine and the Seigniorie of the Indies Presently after that the discoverie of Potozi was knowne in Peru many Spaniardes and the most parte of the Bourgeois of the silver Cittie which is eighteene leagues from Potozi came thither to take mines yea there came many Indians from divers provinces especially tha GuayZadores of Porco so as within a short space it was the best peopled habitation of all the kingdome Of the treasure which is daily drawne from the rocke or mountaine of Potozi CHAP. 7. I Have often doubted if in antient Histories there were found any so rich mines as those we have seen in our time in Peru. If there were ever rich mines in the worlde and famous for this effect they have bin those of Spaine which they of Cartbage did inioy and since the Romans the which as I have saide are not onely famous and esteemed in prophane bookes but also in the holy Scriptures Hee that maketh most particular mention of these mines at the least that I have seene is Plinie who writeth thus in his naturall Historie They finde silver almost in all provinces but that of Spaine is the best which growes and ingenders in a barren soile vppon mountaines and rockes It is a certaine and infallible thing that in places where they have once discovered any of these veines there are others not farre off which is likewise found in all other mettalls and for this the Greekes in my opinion called them mettalls It is strange that the pits or holes of these mines of Spaine the which they beganne to digge in Hannibals time are at this day and hold the names of their discoverers Amongst these mines that which Bebello discovered which holdes his name vnto this day was very famous and they say it yeelded so great riches to Hanniball that evâ—rie day they gathered three hundred pounds weight of silver and vnto this day they have alwaies continued labouring in this mine so as it is now digd 15. hundred pases deep into the mountaine Out of which pits notwithstanding the deapth the Gascoinâ—s that labour in them drawe out the water that they may worke with more ease whilest their candelles and lights last and that in such aboundaunce as it seemes to be a river Hitherto are the woordes of Pliny the which I would set downe word by word the better to content such as know what mines be seeing that what is tried at this day was then in vse And truely the riches of this mine of Hannibal vpon the Pirrenean hilles was great and famous which the Romans possessed having continued the worke even vnto Plinies time which was about three hundred yeeres The deapth of this mine was fifteene hundred pases which is a mile and a halfe and it was so rich in the beginning that it was woorth daily to the maister thereof three hundred poundes at twelve ounces to the pound But although this were a great treasure it did not approach neere to that which in our time hath bin found in Potozi for as it appeareth by the Registers of the house of contraction of that Province and as many antient men worthy of credite doe testifie whenas the licentiate Pollo governed that Province the which was many yeeres after the discovery of this mountaine they did every saterday enter a hundred and fifty and twoo hundred thousand peeces whereof the Kings fift amounted to thirty and forty thousand peeces and for every yeere a million and a halfe or little lesse So as according to that computation they didde drawe every day from this mine thirtie thousand peeces whereof there came to the King for his fift sixe thousand peeces a day There is yet another thing to be spoken of to shew the riches of Potozi that the account which hath been made was only of silver that was marked and customed And it is wel knowne in Peru that they have long vsed silver in these Realmes which they call currant which was neither marked nor customed And they holde it for certain which know these mines that in these daies the greatest parte of silver drawne at Potozi was not customed and this had course amongest the Indians and much amongst the Spaniardes as I have seene continued to mytime so as it may appeare the third part of the riches of Potozi yea the one halfe came not to light neither was it customed There is yet a more notable consideration in that which Plinie saieth they hadde digged a fifteene hundred pases in this mine of Bebellâ— and that continually they found water which is the greatest hinderaunce they have to drawe foorth theyr mettall But in this of Potozi although they have digged two hundred stades or heights of
of aboundance to be there and yet vnto this day they have not conquered that Land The Emeralds grow in stones like vnto cristall I have seene them in the same stone fashioned like a veine and they seeme by little and little to thicken and refine I have seene some that were halfe white and halfe greene others all white and some greene and very perfite I have seene some of the bignesse of a nut and there have bin some greater found but I have not knowen that in our time they have found any of the form and bignesse of the platt or iewel they have at Genes the which they esteeme and with reason to be a iewell of great price and no relique yet without comparison the Emerald which Theophrastus speakes of which the King of Babilon presented to the King of Egypt surpasseth that of Genes it was foure cubites long and three broade and they say that in Iupiters Temple there was a needle or pyramide made of foure Emeralds stones of forty cubits long and in some places foure broade and in others two and that in his time there was in Tir in Hercules Temple a pillar of an Emerald It may be as Plinie saieth it was of some greene stone somewhat like to the Emerald and they called it a false Emerald As some will say that in the Cathedrall Church of Cordoü◠there are certaine pillars of Emeraldes which remaine since it was a Mesquite for the Kings Miramamolins Moores which raigned there In the fleete the yeare one thousand five hundred eighty and seven in the which I came from the Indies they brought twoo chests of Emeraldes every one weighing at the least foure Arobes whereby wee may see the aboundaunce they have The holy Scripture commends these Emeralds as pretious iewells they number them amongest the pretious stones which the hie Priest carried on his Ephod or breast-plate as those which did beautifie the walles of the heavenly Ierusalem Of Pearles CHAP. 15. NOw that we intreat of the great riches that comes from the Indies it were no reason to forgette the Pearle which the Ancients called Marguerites and at the first were in so great estimation as none but royall persons were suffered to weare them but at this day there is such aboundance as the Negres themselves do weare chaines thereof they growe in shells or oysters in eating whereof I have found pearles in the middest of them These oisters within are of the colour of heaven very lively In some places they make spoones the which they call mother of Pearle The pearles do differ much informe in bignes figure colour and polishing so likewise in their price they differ much Some they call Ave Mariaes being like the small graines of beades others are Pater nosters being bigger Seldome shall you finde two of one greatnesse forme and colour For this reason the Romans as Pliny writeth called them Vnions Whenas they doe finde two that are alike in all poyntes they raise the price much especially for carerings I have seene some payres valued at thousands of ducats although they were not like to Cleopatraes two pearles whereof Pliny reportes either of them being woorth a hundred thousand ducats with the which this foolish Queene wonne a wager she hadde made against Marc Anthony to spend in one supper above an hundred thousand ducats so at the last course shee dissolved one of these pearles in strong vineger dranke it vp They say the other pearle was cutt in two and placed in the Pantheon at Rome at th'â—ares of the image of Venus Esope reportes of Clovis the sonne of a Comedian who in a banquet presented to every one of his ghests amongest other meates a rich pearle dissolved in vineger to make his feast the more royall and sumptuous These were the follies of those ages and those at this day are nothing lesse for that we see not onely hattes and bandes but also buskins and womens pantofles yea of base condition imbrodred all over with pearle They fish for pearles in diverse partes of the Indies the greatest aboundaunce is in the south Seas neere vnto Panama where the Ilandes of pearles be as they call them But at this day they finde greatest store and the best in the north Sea the which is neare to the rive of Hatch I did see them make their fishing the which is done with great charge labor of the poore slaves which dive sixe nine yea twelve fadomes into the sea to seeke for oysters the which commonly are fastened to the rockes and gravell in the Sea they pull them vp and bring them above the water to their canoes where theâ— open them drawing forth the treasure they have within them The water of the Sea in this parte is verie colde but yet the labor and toile is greatest in holding of their breath sometimes a quarter yea halfe an houre together being vnder the water at their fishing And to the end these poore slaves may the better continue and holde their breaths they feede them with drie meates and that in small quantitie so as covetousnesse makes them abstaine and fast thus against their willes They imploy their pearles to diverse workes and they pierce them to make chaines whereof there is great store in every place In the yeere of our Lorde one thousand five hundred eighty one I did see the note of what came from the Indies for the King there were eighteen maces of pearle besides three caskets and for particulars there were twelve hundred threescore and foure marks and besides them seaven caskets not pierced which heeretofore we would have esteemed and helde for a lie Of the Indian Bread and of Mays CHAP. 16. IN our discourse of Plants wee will beginne with those which are proper and peculiar to the Indies and after with the rest that are common to the Indies and Europe and forasmuch as plants were chiefly created for the nourishment of man and that the chiefe whereof he takes his nourishment is bread it shall be good to shew what bread the Indians vse and whereon they live for want thereof They have as we have heere a proper name whereby they note and signifie bread which at Peru they call Tanta and in other places by another name But the qualitie and substance of the bread the Indians vse differs much from ours for we finde not they had any kinde of wheat or barly nor any other kinde of graine which they vse in Europe â—o make bread withall insteede whereof they vsed other kindes of graines and rootes amongst the which Mays holds the first place and with reason in Castile they call it Indian wheat and in Italie they call it Turkey graine And even as wheat is the most common graine for the vse of man in the regions of the old world which are Europe Asia and Affrike So in the new found worlde the most common graine is Mays the which is found almost in all the kingdomes of the West
Indies as at Peru new Spaine in the new kingdome of Granado in Gautimalla in Chille and vpon the maine land I do not finde that in old time in the Ilands of Barlovente as Cuba S. Dominique Iamaique and S. Iâ—an that they vsed Mays at this day they vse much Yuca and Cacavi whereof we will presently intreate I do not thinke that this Mays is any thing inferiour to our wheat in strength nor substance but it is more hote and grosse and engenders more bloud wherevpon they that have not bin accustomed therevnto if they eat too much they swell and become scabbed It growes vpon canes or reedes every one beares one or two grapes or branches to the which the graine is fastened and although the graine be bigge yet finde they great store thereof so as in some clusters I have told seven hundred graines They must plant it with the hand one by one and not very thicke it desires a hote and moist ground and growes in great aboundance in many places of the Indies It is not strange in those countries to gather 300. Fanegues or measures for one sowen There is difference of Mays as there is of wheat one is great and very nourishing another small and drie which they call Moroche the greene leaves and canes of Mays is a good foode for their mules and horâ—es and it serves them for straw when it is dried the graine is of more nourishment for horses then barly and therefore in those countries they vse to water their horses before they eate for if they should drinke after they would swell as when they eate wheat Mays is the Indians bread the which they commonly eate boiled in the graine hote and they call it Mote as the Chinois and Iopponois eate their Rice sodden with the hote water sometimes they eate it baked There is some Mays round and bigge as that of Lucanas which the Spaniards eate rosted as a delicate meat and hath a better taste then Buarbenses or rosted peason There is another kinde of eating it more pleasant which is to grinde the Mays and to make small cakes of the flower â—he which they put in the fire and then bring them hote to the table In some places they call them Arepaâ— They make also round bowles of this paste and so trimme them that they continue long eating it as a dainty dish They have invented at the Indies for friandise and pleasure a certaine kinde of paste they doe make of this flowe mixt with sugar which they call biscuits and mellinders This Mays serves the Indians not only for bread but also for wine for they do make their drinke thereof wherewith they are sooner drunke than with wine of grapes They make this wine of Mays in diverse sortes and maners calling it in Peru Acua and by the most common name of the Indies Chicha And the strongest is made like vnto beere steeping the graine vntill it breake After they boyle it in such sort that it growes so strong as alittle overthrowes a man In Peru they call this Sora it is defended by the Law for the great inconveniences that grow thereby making men drunke But this Lawe is ill observed for that they vse it still yea they spend whole dayes and nights in drinking carowse Pliny reporteth that this maner of beverage of graine stieped and after sodden wherewith they were drunke was in old time vsed in Spaine France and other Provinces as at this day in Flanders they vse ale made of mault There is another maner of making this Acua or Chicha which is to champe the mays and make a leven thereof and then boile it yea the Indians holde opinion that to make good leven it must bee champed by old withered women which makes a man sicke to heare and yet they doe drinke it The cleanliest manner the most wholesome and that which least harmeth is to roast the Mays which the most civil Indians doe vse and some Spaniardes yea for physicke For in effect they finde it a very wholesome drinke for the reines so as you shall hardly finde any one at the Indies complaine of paine in the backe for that they do drinke of this Chicha The Spanyards and Indians eate this Mays boyled and roasted for daintinesse when it is tender in the grape like milke they putte it into the pot and make sawces that are good to eate The buds of Mays are very fatte and serve insteede of butter and oyle so as this Mays at the Indies serves both for men and beasts for bread wine and oile For this reason the Viceroy Don Francisco de Toledo saide that Peru hadde two things rich and of great norishment which were Mays and the cattell of the countrey In truth he had reason for these two things did serve them as a thousand I will aske sooner than I can answer it whence Mays was first carried to the Indies and why they do call this profitable graine in Italie Turkie graine for in trueth I doe not finde that the Antients make any mention of this graine though that mil that Plinie writes to come from the Indies into Italie tenne yeares before he didde write it hath some resemblance vnto Mays for that it is a graine as he saies that growes in reede and covers it selfe with the leafe and hath the toppe like haires being very fertile all which things agree not with mill To conclude God hath imparted to ev'ry region what is needefull To this continent he hath given wheate which is the chiefe nourishment of man and to the Indians he hath given Mays which hath the second place to wheate for the nourishment of men and beasts Of Yucas Caçavi Papas Chunes and Ris. CHAP. 17. IN some partes of the Indies they vse a kinde of bread they call Cacavi which is made of a certaine roote they call Yuca This Yuca is a great and grosse roote which they cutte in small morsells they grate or scrape it and then put it in a presse to straine making a thinne and broade cake thereof almost ' like vnto a Moores target or buckler then doe they drie it and this is the breade they eate It hath no taste but is healthfull and of good nourishment For this reason we said being at S. Dominike that it was the proper foode for great eaters for that they might eate much without any feare of surffetting They must of necessitie water this Cacavi before they eate it it is sharpe and easely watered with water or broath wherein it is very good for that it swells much and so they make Capirotades but it is hardly stieped in milke in honny of canes or in wine for that these liquors cannot pierce it as it doth bread made of wheate Of this Cacavi there is one kind more delicate than any other which is that they make of the slower called Xauxau which they do much esteeme in those partes For my parte I esteeme more a morsell of bread how hard
barres of silver and much mâ—re which is above three hundred thousand ducats without any other guard o rescort than some Indians which serve onely to guide these sheepe and to lade and vnlade them or at the most some few Spaniardes and they sleepe all night in the middest of the fieldes without other guarde and yet in so long a way and so weake a guarde they never finde want or losse of anie thing in so great a treasure of silver so safe is the way in Peru. The burthen which one of these sheepe dooth commonly carry is of foure or sixe arrobes when their voyage is long they goe not above two three or foure leagues at the most on a day Those that guide those troupes have their ordinary lodgings where they are assured to have water and pasture and there they vnlade and set vppe their tents making fire and dressing their meates which is not painefull although it be a â—leugmatike and slowe manner of travell When there is but one dayes iourney one of these sheepe will beare eight arobes in weight or more and beares this burthen eight or tenne leagues in a day as the poore souldiers were wont to doe when they marched through Peru. This kinde of cattell delights most in a cold aire and for this cause they live vpon the Sierre and die in the Lanos by reason of the heate Sometimes these sheepe are all covered with ice and frost and yet they continue sound and well The bare sheepe are pleasant to behold for they will stay vpon the way raising vppe their neckes and will looke vpon any one very wistly and so they remaine a long time without mooving or any shew of feare which giveth occasion of laughter seeing them thus to stand And yet sometimes they do growe amazed sodainely and runne away with their burthens even to the highest rockes so as not being able to come vnto them they are constraind to kil them with an harquebuze lest they should loose their barres of silver which they sometimes carry The Pacos will grow reasty vnder their burdens lying downe and will endure to be cutte in a thousand peeces before they wil rise when this humor takes them whereof the proverb growes in Peru to say that one is reastie to signifie he is obstinate for that when any of these beasts is moodie it is with excesse the remedy they have is to stay and sit downe by the Paco making much on him vntill the fit be past and that he rise and sometimes they are forced to stay two or three houres They have a disease like to scabbes which they call Carache whereof they commonly die The Antients had a remedy to bury them quicke that had the Carache lest they shoulde infect the rest being a very contagious disease and goes from one to another An Indian that hath one or two of these sheepe is not reputed poore for one of them is woorth sixe or seaven peeces of assay and more according to the time and places Of the BeZaars stone CHAP. 42. THe Bezaars stone is found in all these beasts before mentioned which are proper to Peru whereof some Authors of our time have written whole bookes which they may reade that desire to have a more particular knowledge For the present subiect it shall be sufficient to say that this stone which they call Bezaar is found in the stomacke and belly of this beast somtimes one alone sometimes two three and foure They are very different in forme greatnesse and colour for that some are small like filberds lesse others like walnuts some like pigeons egges and others as bigge as a hens egge and I have seene some as bigge as an orange in forme some are round others in fashion like to lentils and many other formes For their colour som are black some white some grey darke greene and others as if they had beene guilded It is no certaine rule to iudge the best and most fine by the colour or forme All these stones are made and fashioned of divers films and skins one vpon another In the province of Xaura and other provinces of Peru they find these stones in divers kinds of beasts both wild and tame as in the Guanacos Pacos Vicugnes and Tarugues some adde an other kind which they say are wilde goates which the Indians call Cypris These other kindes of beastes are very well knowen in Peru whereof wee have already discoursed The Guanacos or country sheepe or Pacos have commonly the lesser stones and blacke neither are they so much approoved for the vse of Physicke They draw the greatest Bezaar stones from the Vicugnes and they are grey or white or of a darke greene which are helde for the better They esteem those of the Tarugues for the most excellent whereof there are some reasonable bigge they are commonly white inclining to grey and they have the filmes commonly bigger and thicker than the rest They finde the Bezaar stone equally both in male and female All beasts that ingender it chaw the cuid and commonly feede vpon the snow and rockes The Indians reporte teach by tradition from their fathers and Antients that in the province of Xaura and in other provinces of Peru there are many herbs and venomous beasts which poison the water and the pastures where they eate and drinke and where they breathe amiddest which venomous hearbs there is one very well knowne of the Vicugne by a naturall instinct and of other beasts that ingender the Bezaar stone which eate this hearb and by meanes thereof they preserve themselves from the poisoned waters and pastures and they say that of this hearb the stone is compounded in the stomacke whence it drawes all the vertue against poyson and other woonderfull effects This is the opinion tradition of the Indians discovered by men of great experience in the kingdome of Peru which agrees with reason and with that which Plinie reports of the mountaine goates which are nourished and fed vpon poison without suffering any harme The Indians being demaunded why the sheepe kine goates and calves such as are in Castille have not the Bezaar stone seeing that they feede on the same rockes their answer is That they beleeve not that those beasts of Castille eate of that hearb or that they have found the Bezaar stone in stags and fallow diere This seemes to agree with our knowlege for that in new Spaine they find the Bezaar stone although there be no Vicugnes Pacos Tarugues nor Guanacos but only stags in some of which they finde these stones The principall vertue of the BeZaar stone is against poison and venomous diseases although there bee heerein divers opinions some hold it for a mockerie others for a miracle Howsoever it be it is most certaine that it is of a great operation when it is applied in time convenient in a maner as hearbes and to persons capable and disposed for there is no medicine that doth alwaies cure infallibly In
people did humble themselves laying earth vpon their heads which was an ordinarie ceremonie which they did observe at the chiefe feast of their gods This ceremony being ended all the people went in procession with all the diligence and speede they could going to a mountain which was a league from the city of Mexico called Chapulteper there they made sacrifices Presently they went from thence with like diligence to go to a place neere vnto it which they called Atlacuyavaya where they made their second station and from thence they went to another Burgh or Village a league beyond Cuyoacan from whence they parted returning to the Citie of Mexico not making any other station They went in this sort above foure leagues in three or foure houres calling this procession Ypayna Vitzliputzli Being come to the foote of the staires they set downe the brancard or litter with the idoll tying great cordes to the armes of the brancarde then with great observance and reverence they did drawe vp the litter with the idoll in it to the top of the Temple some drawing above and others helping belowe in the meane time there was a great noise of fluites trumpets cornets and drummes They did mount it in this manner for that the staires of the Temple were very steepe and narrow so as they could not carry vp the litter vpon their shoulders while they mounted vp the idoll all the people stoode in the Court with much reverence and feare Being mounted to the top and that they had placed it in a little lodge of roses which they held readie presently came the yong men which strawed many flowers of sundrie kindes wherewith they filled the temple both within and without This done all the Viâ—gins came out of their convent bringing peeces of paste compounded of beetes and rosted Mays which was of the same paste whereof their idoll was made and compounded and they were of the fashion of gâ—eat bones They delivered them to the yong men who carried them vp and laid them vp and laide them at the idolls feete wherewith they filled the whole place that it could receive no more They called these morcels of paste the flesh and bones of VitziliputZli Having layed abroade these bones presently came all the Ancients of the Temple Priests Levites and all the rest of the Ministers according to their dignities and antiquities for heerein there was a strict order amongst them one after another with â—heir vailes of diverse colours and workes every one according to his dignity and office having garlands vpon their heads and chaines of â—lowers about their neckes after them came their gods and goddesses whom they worshipt of diverse figures attired in the same livery then putting themselves in order about those morsells peeces of paste they vsed certaine ceremonies with singing and dauncing By meanes whereof they were blessed and consecrated for the flesh and bones of this idoll This ceremony and blessing whereby they were taken for the flesh and bones of the idoll being ended they honoured those peeces in the same sorte as their god Then came foorth the sacrificers who beganne the sacrifice of men in the manner as hath beene spoken and that day they did sacrifice a greater number than at any other time for that it was the most solemne feast they observed The sacrifices being ended all the yoong men and maides came out of the temple attired as before and being placed in order and ranke one directly against another they daunced by drummes the which sounded in praise of the feast and of the idoll which they did celebrate To which song all the most ancient and greatest noble men did answer dauncing about them making a great circle as their vse is the yoong men and maides remayning alwayes in the middest All the citty came to this goodly spectacle and there was a commaundement very strictly observed throughout all the land that the day of the feast of the idoll Vitziliputzli they should â—aâ—e no other meate but this paste with hony whereof the idoll was made And this should be eaten at the point of day they should drincke no water nor any other thing till after no one they held it for an ill signe yea for sacrilege to doe the contrary but after the ceremonies ended it was lawfull for them to eate any thing During the time of this ceremony they hid the water from their litle children admonishing all such as had the vse of reason not to drinke any water which if they did the anger of God would come vpon them and they should die which they did observe very carefully and strictly The ceremonies dancing and sacrifice ended they went to vnclothe themselves and the priests and superiors of the temple tooke the idoll of paste which they spoyled of all the ornaments it had and made many peeces as well of the idoll it selfe as of the tronchons which were consecrated and then they gave them to the communion beginning with the greater and continuing vnto the rest both men women and little children who received it with such teares feare and reverence as it was an admirable thing saying that they did eate the flesh and bones of God wherewith they were grieved Such as had any sicke folkes demaunded thereof for them and carried it with great reverence and veneration All such as did communicate were bound to give the tenth of this seede whereof the idoll was made The solemnitie of the idoll being ended an olde man of great authoritie stept vp into a high place and with alowde voice preached their lawe and ceremonies Who would not wonder to see the divell so curious to seeke to be worshipped and reverenced in the same maner that Iesus Christ our God hath appoynted and also taught and as the holy Church hath accustomed Hereby it is plainely verified what was propounded in the beginning that Sathan strives all he can to vsurp and chalenge vnto himselfe the honor and service that is due to God alone although he dooth still intermixe with it his cruelties and filthinesse being the spirite of murther and vncleanenesse and the father of lies Of Consessors and Consession which the Indians vsed CHAP. 25. THe father of lies would likewise counterfeit the sacrament of Confession and in his idolatries seeke to be honored with ceremonies very like to the maner of Christians In Peru they held opinion that all diseases and adversities came for the sinnes which they had committed for remedy whereof they vsed sacrifices moreover they confessed themselves verbally almost in all provinces and had Confessors appoynted by their superiors to that end there were some sinnes reserved for the superiors They received penaunce yea some times very sharpely especially when the offendor was a poore man and had nothing to give his Confessour This office of Confessor was likewise exercised by women The manner of these confessors forcerers whom they call Ychuiri or Ychuri hath beene most generall in the provinces of Collasuio They
leaving his sonne Chimalpopoca tenne yeares olde hee raigned thirteene yeeres and died thirty yeeres old or little more Hee was held for a good king and carefull in the service of his gods whose Images hee held kings to be and that the honour done to their god was done to the king who was his image For this cause the kings have beene so affectionate to the service of their gods This king was carefull to winne the love of his neighbours and to trafficke with them whereby hee augmented his citty exercising his men in warrelike actions in the Lake disposing them to that which he pretended as you shall see presently Of Chimalpopoca the third king and his cruell death and the occasion of warre which the Mexicaines made CHAP. 11. THe Mexicaines for successor to their deceased king did choose his sonne Chimalpopoca by common consent although he were a child of tenne yeeres old being of opinion that it was alwayes necessary to keepe the favor of the king of AzcapuZalco making his grand-childe king They then set him in his throane giving him the ensignes of warre with a bowe and arrowes in one hand and a sword with rasours which they commonly vse in the right signifying thereby as they do say that they pretended by armes to set themselves at liberty The Mexicaines had great want of water that of the Lake being very thicke and muddy and therefore ill to drincke so as they caused their infant king to desire of his grandfather the king of Azcapuzalco the water of the mountaine of Chapultepec which is from Mexico a league as is saide before which they easely obtained and by their industry made an aqueduct of faggots weeds and flagges by the which they brought water to their citty But because the Cittie was built within the Lake and the aqueduct did crosse it it did breake forth in many places so as they could not inioy the water as they desired and had great scarcitie whervpon whether they did expresly seeke it to quarrell with the Tapanecans or that they were mooved vppon small occasion in the end they sent a resolute ambassage to the king of AzcapuZalco saying they could not vse the water which he had gratiously granted them and therefore they required him to provide them wood lime and stone and to send his workmen that by their meanes they might make a pipe of stone and lime that should not breake This message nothing pleased the king and much lesse his subiects seeming to be too presumptuous a message and purposely insolent for vassals to their Lord. The chiefe of the Counsell disdaining thereat said it was too bold that not content with permission to live in an others land and to have water given them but they would have them goe to serve them what a matter was that And whereon presumed this fugitive nation shut vp in the mud They would let them know how fit they were to worke and to abate their pride in taking from them their land and their lives In these termes and choller they left the king whom they did somwhat suspect by reason of his grandchild and consulted againe anew what they were to doe where they resolved to make a generall proclamation that no Tapanecan should have any commerce or trafficke with any Mexicaine that they should not goe to their Cittie nor receive any into theirs vpon paine of death Whereby we may vnderstand that the king did not absolutely commaund over his people and that he governed more like a Consul or a Duke than a King although since with their power the commaund of Kings increased growing absolute Tyrants as you shal see in the last Kings For it hath beene an ordinarie thing among the Barbarians that such as their power hath beene such hath beene their commaund yea in our Histories of Spaine we finde in some antient kings that manner of rule which the Tapanecans vsed Such were the first kings of the Romans but that Rome declined from Kings to Consuls and a Senate till that after they came to be commaunded by Emperours But these Barbarians of temperate Kings became tyrants of which governements a moderate monarchy is the best and most assured But returne we now vnto our historie The king of Azcapuzalco seeing the resolution of his subiects which was to kil the Mexicans intreated them first to steale away the yong king his grand-childe and afterwards do what they pleased to the Mexicans All in a manner yeelded heerevnto to give the king contentment and for pitty they had of the child but two of the chiefest were much opposite inferring that it was bad counsell for that Chimalpopoca although hee were of their bloud yet was it but by the mothers side and that the fathers was to be preferred and therefore they concluded that the first they must kill was Chimalpopoca king of Mexico protesting so to doe The king of AzcapuZalco was so troubled with this contradiction and the resolution they had taken that soone after for very griefe he fell sicke and died By whose death the Tapanâ—cans finishing their consultation committed a notable treason for one night the yong King of Mexico sleeping without guard or feare of any thing they of Azcapuzalco entred his pallace and slew him sodainly returning vnseene The morning being come when the Nobles wâ—nt to salute the King as they were accustomed they found him slaine with great and cruell wounds then they cried out and filled all their cittie with teares and transported with choller they presently fell to armes with an intent to revenge their Kings death As they ranne vppe and downe full of fury and disorder one of their chiefest knightes stept foorth labouring to appease them with a grave admonition Whither goe you saide hee O yee Mexicaines quiet your selves consider that things done without consideration arâ— not well guided nor come to good end suppresse your griefe considering that although your king be dead the noble blood of the Mexicaines is not extinct in him Wee have children of our kings deceased by whose conduct succeeding to the realme you shall the better execute what you pretend having a leader to guide your enterprise go not blindely surcease and choose a king first to guide and encourage you against your enâ—mies In the meane time dissemble discreetly performing the funeralls of your deceased king whose body you see heere present for heereafter you shall finde better meanes to take revâ—nge By this meanes the Mexicans passed no farther but stayed to make the obsequies of their King wherevnto they invited the Lords of Tescuco and Culhuacan reporting vnto them this foule and cruell fact which the Tapanecans had committed moving them to have pitty on them and incensing them against their ennemies concluding that their resolution was to die or to bee revenged of so great an indignitie intreating them not to favour so vniust a fact of their enemies and that for their part they desired not their aide of armes or men but onely to