to set vp a Crosse for remembrance of the death and passion of Iesu Christe borne of the virgin Marie The whiche their promisse was well fulfilled for after that day the Spanyardes coulde neuer heare nor finde of any moe sacrifice But yet there abode in their hartes a mortall rancor the whiche coulde not long be dissimuled Truely in this worthy facte Cortes gotte more honour than though he had ouercomen them in battayle The burning of the Lorde Qualpopoca and other Gentlemen AFter twentie dayes that Mutezuma had bene prysoner returned the messengers who had gone with the seale for Qualpopoca and brought him his Sonne and other fiftene principall persons with them the whiche by inquirie made were culpable and partakers in the counsell and death of the nine Spaniardes Qualpopoca entred into Mexico accompanied like a greate Lorde as he was beyng borne vpon his seruaunts shoulders in rich furniture As sone as he had saluted Mutezuma he his Sonne were deliuered vnto Cortes with the other fiftene Gentlemen Cortes placed them asunder and commaunded them to be put in Irons and theyr examinations taken they confessed that they had slayne those Spaniardes in battayle Cortes demaunded of Qualpopoca if he were subiect to Mutezuma why quoth he is there any other Prince to whome I might be in subiection giuing almost to vnderstand that he was a Lorde absolute Cortes answered that a farre greater Prince was the King of Spayne whose subiects vnder colour of friendship and salfeconduct he had slayne But quoth he nowe shalte thou make payment thereof And beyng agayne more straighter examined they confessed that they had slaine two Spaniards by the aduice and inducement of the greate prince Mutezuma and the residue were slayne in the warres and had assaulted their houses and entred their countrey wherefore they helde it lawfull to kill them Through the confession pronounced by their owne mouthes sentence was giuen against them and they condēned to be burned whiche sentence was openly executed in the market place in sight of all the people without any mutine or slaunder and with great silence terrour feare of the newe maner of iustice which they sawe there executed vpon so noble a man in the chiefe seate and kyngdome of Mutezuma beyng gestes and straungers The cause of the burnyng of Qualpopoca AT the time that Cortes departed from Vera Crux he left in cōmission to Pedro Hircio to procure to inhabite in that place which is called Almeria not to permit Francisco de Garray to soiourne there for so much as once he was driuen frō that coast Now Hircio to fulfill his cōmission sente to requyre those Indians with peace and friēdship and to yéeld themselues for vassals of the Emperour Qualpopoca Lorde of Nahutlan which is now called as aforesaid Almeria sent to aduertise Pedro Hircio that he could not come to yéelde his obedience for the enimies that were in the way but if it would please him to sende some of his men for the securitie of the way he would willyngly come vnto him Hircio hearing this answere sent foure of his men giuing credite to his message and for the desire he hadde to inhabite there When the soure Spanyardes came into the prouince of Nahutlan there mette with them many armed men who slew two of them and made thereof a great triumph the other two escaped sore wounded and returned with that newes to the Towne of Vera Crux Pedro Hircio beleeuing that Qualpopoca had done that iniurie armed out agaynst hym fiftie Spanyardes and ten thousand Indians of Zempoallan with two horses and two péeces of Ordinance Qualpopoca hearing this newes came with a mightie power to driue them out of his Countrey and in that encounter seauen Spanyardes were slayne and many Zempoallanezes but at the ende he was ouercome his Countrey spoyled and Towne sacked and many of his army slaine and taken captiues The prisoners declared that by the commaundement of the greate Lorde Mutezuma all this vprore was attempted by Qualpopoca it mighte well be for at the houre of death they confessed the same But some affirme they sayde so but to excuse themselues and to lay the fault to the Mexicans Hircio wrote these newes to Cortez béeyng in Chololla and through these letters Cortez apprehended Mutezuma as is afore declared Hovv Cortez put a payre of giues on Mutezuma his legges BEfore the execution of Qualpopoca and hys fellowes Cortes declared vnto Mutezuma that Qualpopoca and his company had confessed that by hys aduice and commaundemente the nine Spanyardes were slayne wherein he had done very euill they being his friendes and guestes but quoth he if it were not in respect of the loue I beare vnto you this matter shoulde not in this sort be shut vp and then knocked a payre of giues on his legges saying he that killeth ought to be killed according to the lawes of god These things did Cortes bycause he shoulde occupye himselfe in his owne griefe and sorrow and to let other mens passe Mutezuma waxed pale with countenāce of death through the great feare that he was in séeyng himselfe in Irons a new and strange thing for suche a great King excusing himselfe that he was innocent of the facte And as soone as the execution of burning was done Cortez commaunded to put away the Irons that Mutezuma ware offering him libertie and willing him to goe vnto his owne pallace who reioyced much to sée himselfe out of the Irons and gaue Cortes most hartie thankes and refused to goe home to his owne pallace surmising that the offer was but wordes or else fearing least his subiects woulde kyll him séeing him out of the Spanyardes power for permitting himselfe to be taken prisoner and so to be kept Hée sayd also that if he went from them his subiectes woulde rebell and compell him to kill the Spanyardes Truly the poore simple soule was of small hearte and courage to suffer himselfe to be taken prisoner and after his imprisonment woulde neuer procure libertie Cortes offering it vnto him and many of his noble men desired him And remayning in that order there was none in Mexico durst offende any Spanyard for feare of displeasing him for Qualpopoca came 70. leagues with only warning him that the great Lorde had sent for him shewing hym the figure of his seale yea and al the péeres of his realme that dwelte farthest off were ready to obey hys commaundementes Hovv Cortez sent to seeke for Mines of golde into diuers places COrtez had a greate desire to know howe farre the Empire of Mutezuma dyd extende and what friendship was betwixte him and other Kings and Princes Comarcans and also to gather togither a good summe of gold to send to Spayne to the Emperoure for his custome or firste parte with full relation of the Countrey people and things happened vntill that day Wherefore he prayed Mutezuma to shew him where the mynes were from whence he and his subiectes had the golde and plate Mutezuma
for espies wherof the saide Indians stoode in great feare Thē Cortez bethought him that the letter wold passe wrapped in the haire of the head of one of thē for ordinarily the Indians wear lōgheare on their solemn feasts in wars they vse their haire platted boūd about their forheads And he appointed captaine of the Vergantine wherin the messēgers wēt Iohn de Escalante Iames de Ordas for captaine of the other two ships with fiftie men if any nede should happen So shortly after she ships arriued at the place appointed Escalante set a land his messengers and abode there eight days they returne although he promised thē to abide there but sixe dayes And thē séeing that they came not he surmysed that they were either slaine or taken captiues so returned backe againe to Acusamill without his messēgers wherof al the army were sorowful chiefly Cortez thinking that the Indians had wrōg enformed him Nowe in this meane season they trymmed their shippes of the hurte receiued by the late tempest at the returne of the two ships and Vergantyne they hoysed vp sailes and departed A miraculous chaunce hovv Geronimo de Aguilao came to Cortez CAlachuni and all his subiectes were full of heauinesse as it semed with the departure of the Christians bycause they were wel vsed at their handes From Acusamil the fleete sayled to get the coast of Yucatan tothe cape called Womens point with prosperous weather there Cortez came to an Anker desirous to sée the disposition of the lande and the manner of the people but it liked him not so that the next day folowing being shrouetuisday he departed meaning to double the sayde cape and so to passe to Cotoche and to viewe it But before they hadde doubled the poynte Peter de Aluarado shotte off a piece in token that hee was in great peril wherevppon the other shippes drewe neare to knowe what hadde happened And when Cortez vnderstoode that Aluarados shippe was in so great a leake that with two pumpes they mighte not emptie the water he found no other remedy but to returne backe again to Acusamil with al his fléet The Indians of the Ilande came incontinent to the water side very ioyfull and to knowe whether they had left any thing behind thē The Christiās enformed thē of their mishap and came a shore in short time found the leake amended it The Saterday following they toke shipping again al the army excepte Hernando Cortez and fiftie of his company then the wind arose contrary and so much that they could not departe that day the furie of the winde endured al that night but in the morning it waxed calme so that they myghte proceede on their voyage But for as much as that was the Sabboth daye they determined to heare diuine seruice and after dinner to make saile When their seruice was ended and Cortez fitting at his meate there was newes brought him that a little vessell called a Canoa came vnder saile toward the shippes whiche seemed to come from Yucatan with that newes Cortez arose from his meate to behold whether the Canoa went and perceiuyng that she left the way toward the shippes he sente Andrew de Tapia with certaine others as secrete closely as might be deuised to lye in ambushe for their comming a shoare The Canoa arriued in a calme place out of the which came foure men all naked except their priuie members and the heare of their heades platted and bound aboute their foreheades like vnto women with bowes and arrowes in their hands three of them which were Indians wer afraide when they saw the Spaniards with their drawen swordes and would haue fled againe to their Canoa but the Christian feared not and desired his fellowes in the Indian tong to abide with hym And then he began to speake in the Spanish tongue in thys wise Maisters are ye Christians yea quoth they and of the Spanish nation Then he reioyced so much that the teares fell from his eyes and demaunded of them what day it was although he had a Primer wherein he dayly prayed He then besought them earnestlye to assist him with their prayers thanksgiuing vnto god for his deliuery kneling deuoutly downe vppon his knees holding vp his handes his eyes toward heauen and his face bathed with teares made his humble prayer vnto God giuing most hartie thankes that it hadde pleased hym to deliuer him out of the power of Infidels and infernal creatures and to place hym among Christians and men of his owne nation Andrew de Tapia holpe hym vppe and toke hym in hys armes and so did al the others embrace louingly salute him Then he commaunded the other thrée Indians to follow him and went talking wyth hys friendes where Cortez aboade who receyued him ioyfully and gaue vnto hym such apparel as he néeded and wyth great pleasure hauing him in his companye hee demaunded the estate of his misfortune and what was hys name who aunswered before them al saying Sir my name is Geronimo de Aguilar I was borne in the Cittie of Esifa in the Andolozia and by misfortune I was loste after this sorte In the warres of Darien and in the time of the contentions and passions of Iames de Nicuessa and Vasco Nonez Balboa I came with Captaine Valdinia in a little Caruell toward Santo Domingo to giue aduice to the Admirall and gouernour of the troubles which had happned and my comming was for men and victuals and likewise we brought twentye thousand Duckettes of the kings in Anno. 15 11. And whē we apported at Iamayca our Caruel was lost on the shallowes whiche were called the Vipars and with greate pain we entred about twenty persons into the boate with out sayle water or bread and weake prouision of oares we thus wander thirtéene or fourtéene dayes and then the currant whiche is there very great runneth alway weastward cast vs a shoare in a prouince called Maija traueling on our way seauen of our fellowes died wyth hunger famin And captain Valdinia other 4. were sacrifised to the ydols by a cruel and cursed Cacike that is to say a Lord in whose power we fell c. And after the sacrifice they were eaten among the Indians for a solemne banket and I and other sixe wer put into a Cage or coupe to be fatned for an other sacrifice And for to escape suche abhominable death we brake the prison and fledde through certaine mountaines So that it pleased God that wee mette with another Cazike who was enimy to him that first toke vs his name was Quinqus a man of more reason and better condition hee was Lord of Xamansana he accepted vs for his captiues but shortly after he dyed and then I aboad with Taxmar his heire Then deceased other fiue of our fellowes so that there remayned but onely I and one Gonsalo Guerrer a maryner who now abydeth with Nachancan the Lorde of Chetemal and
And commaunded that none of his men shoulde goe out of the house without his expresse licence vp◠payne of death The officers of the Lorte prepared a plenteous supper for them and beddyng according to their vse The talke that the Lorde of Zempoallan had with Cortez THe nexte day in the mornyng came the Lorde to visite Cortez with an honorable company and presented vnto him many garmēts wrought of Cottē wolle according to their fashion with a knot on the shoulder like vnto the Egiptian garments and certaine iewels of golde that might be worth two thousande Ducates besechyng both him and his cōpany to recreate themselues and take their reste and at that present he meante not to trouble him with any matters And so tooke his leaue for that time as he had done the day before willing him to demaunde and call for any thing that he should néede Cortez gaue him hartie thāks and so departed Then came moe Indians in number then were there Spaniardes with their courses seruice of meate ready dressed and many boughes of daintie fruits In this sorte they were feasted bāketed fiftene daies must plētuously The next day folowyng Cortez sent vnto the Spaniardes certaine olde garments of the Spanishe fashion and many other trifles besechyng him to appoynt a day of conserence at his owne pallayce worde was sent agayne that be was ready and very well contented Where vpon Cortez tooke with him fiftie of his men all armed and left the residue at his lodgyng in a good readinesse and appoynted an vnder Captayne to gouerne them The Lorde hearing of his comming came out of his Course into the streate to receyue him And hande in hand they entred togither into a lowe hall whiche they vse for the extremitie of heate in that countrey the plotte that they buylde vpon is raysed a fadome from the grounde so that they ascende vpon steppes and the walles plaistered with very white lime their tile is eyther of straw or leaues of trées very beautifull and straungely wrought and a good defence against the rayne The Lorde and Cortes satte them downe vpon thrée footed stooles made all of one péece the Lorde commaunded his seruitours to stande aside and by their interpreters they began to common of their affayres a great space in demaundes and answeres bicause Cortes desired to be well instructed of the affayres of that countrey and lykewise of that mightie kyng of Mutezuma This Cacike or Lord although he were huge and laden with fleshe yet in his demaundes and questions séemed very wise The summe of all Cortes his talke was to shewe the cause of his comming thither and who had sente him euen as he had done in Tabasco to Teudilli and others This Cacike after he had heard Cortes attentiuely he began a long communication makyng his complaynt and opening his griefe in this sorte MIghtie Sir my Antecessors liued a long tyme in great peace libertie and quietnesse but of late yéeres my countrey and Cittie was destroyed by tiranny bycause the Lordes of Mexico Tenuchtitlan with their men of Culhua did not only vsurpe my Citie but also my lands by force of armes in suche sorte that my power coulde not resiste them And in the beginnyng those Princes beganne theyr vsurpation by way and colour of religion and holinesse and afterwardes with force of armes and with this title became Lordes ouer vs. And nowe we seyng our errour haue thought it to late to preuayle agaynst them to take away our yoke of seruitude and bondage although we haue attempted it And as often as we haue so done still the victorie was theyrs and the ouerthrowe ours Nowe all suche as doe submitte themselues vnto them are taxed with certayne trioutes and reknowlegyng them for Lordes are defended by them and estéemed as friendes But if after such submission made any chaunce to speake agaynst them or rebell then they are terribly corrected yea murdered and after Sacrifice made to the Goddes of warre called Tezcatlipuca and Vitzilepuchtli of theyr carkasses then is theyr fleshe eaten in banquet and those who remayne alyue doe serue for slaues yea and the Fathers Mothers and Children are compelled to labour and toyle from the Sunne rising to the Sunne settyng with confiscation of all theyr goodes and landes And besides all this crueltie and vituperie they sende theyr officers and Serieantes to execute the premisses who without eyther pittie or mercie many tymes suffereth them to sterue with hunger And beyng thus cruelly punished of Mutezuma who nowe raigneth in Mexico who woulde not suffer to bée Vassall willingly to so good a Prince as you enformed me of the Emperour although it were but onely to bée frée from suche vexation and robbery whiche suche a mighty King coulde doe And with these wordes the teares gusshed out of his eyes and pawsing a whyle he beganne to extoll the strength magnificence and situation of Mexico planted in a greate lake of water also he exalted the riches courte Maiestie and mightie power of Mutezuma Hée sayde also howe Tlaxcallan Huexocinco and other prouinces thereaboute as also the people called Totonaquez of the Mountaynes were of contrary opinion to the Mexicans yea enimies vnto them who had intelligence what had happened in Tauasco Yea sir quoth hée if it please you I will treate suche a compact with this people that Mutezuma with al his power shall not preuayle agaynst vs. Cortes reioyced in harte to heare this newes and sayde vnto him It grieueth mée to heare of the euill vsage of Mutezuma towarde his countrey and subiectes But I assure you with Gods helpe I will deliuer you yea and reuenge all your iniuries for my commyng hither is to take away all euill customes and to helpe the oppressed to fauour the prysoner and comforte the afflicted and chiefly to abolishe tyrannie And for the good entertaynement that I haue receyued at your handes I doe remayne yours to doe you any pleasure and to defende you agaynst your enimies and the lyke will I doe for your friendes wherefore I pray you aduertise them thereof as many as are of our confederacie Cortes then tooke hys leaue saying that he had bene many dayes there and that he had greate néede to goe visite his shippes and menne who muche desired his returne and abode in Aquiahuiztlan where hée meante to soiourne for a certayne season and from thence dayly they mighte conferre of their affayres The Lorde of Zempoallan sayde that if it pleased hym to abyde with him hée woulde gladly accept it and if his businesse were suche that he might not that then he besought him to remember him Then the Lorde commaunded eyght maydens to be called who were very well apparelled after theyr maner theyr attyre was muche lyke the Morisca fashion the one of them was more costely apparelled than the others and sayde vnto Cortes all these maydens whiche you here sée are Gentlewomen noble and riche and this mayden whiche is beste
cost and charges as heretofore they haue done Therefore they moste humbly besought Cortes that hée shoulde not permitte them and their fellowes to be slaine nor yet to abide in the handes of their enimies wherein he should do singular pleasure to Mutesuma their lord otherwise if they should perish their Lord would be very sorowfull that his olde faithful and trustie seruaunts shoulde haue such a reward for their good seruice Cortez aunswered that it grieued him much that Mutesuma his friend should be misvsed wher he was no nor yet his seruauntes euill entreated and that hee woulde haue as muche care ouer them as of his owne willing them to prayse the god of heauen and to be thankful vnto him that had commaunded them to be set at liberty in the grace and friendshippe of Mutesuma he certifyed that in all haste they shoulde be dispatched for Mexico with certaine busynesse therefore quoth he get you to meate and make you strōg to take in hand that iourney trusting to your féete least ye should be taken againe to your greate perill and daunger Iwis their meate was soone eaten with the great hast they had to be gone Cortez brought them out of the towne and gaue them victuall to carry with them And charged for the liberty and curtesie shewed vnto them that they should signifye to Mutesuma their Lorde howe that he was his assured friend and that after he had vnderstanding of his fame goodnes and mighty power he much desired to sexue him yea and that he helde himselfe happy to fynde himselfe at such a time season to loose those his seruaunts and to shew therin his good wil likewyse he woulde do all that lay in him to preserue the honour and auctority of so gret a Prince as hee was also to defende his subiectes and to loke to his affaires as his owne proper although his highnesse dyd little estéeme hys friendshippe as appeared by Teudilli who departed from him without bidding him farewell and likewise absenting all the people of the sea coaste yet thys notwithstanding he would not let to do him seruice at all times when occasion shoulde serue and to procure by all meanes possible his grace fauour and friendship and that he was fully perswaded that his hyghnesse woulde not refuse his good will and friendship considering that with his acquaintance God had done much for him to méete with a seruaunte of the Emperoures for thereby he might know great secretes of holy things and also receyue greate benefytes if then he would refuse the same the fault shoulde be his but yet notwithstanding he trusted in his wisedome that considering the thing well he woulde be glad both to sée hym and talke with him and also to be friende and brother with the King of Spayne in whose most happie name both he and his company were come thither And as touching his seruauntes that remayned in prison hée woulde so vse the matter that they should escape all perill promising also to set them at libertie to pleasure him and that incontinente he woulde haue done it but onely bycause he woulde not offende the Lorde of the Towne who had friendly entertayned him with greate curtesie for which cause he would not presume to controll him in his owne house nor yet to shewe himselfe vnthankefull The messengers departed with this message very glad and ioyfull promising to accomplishe faithfully that charge committed vnto them The confederacy and rebellion done by the industrie of Cortez WHen the Cazike founde missing the two prisoners he blamed muche the guarde or watch and pretended forthwith to murther those that remayned Then came Cortez and requested that their deathe shoulde be pardoned for so muche as they were but officers obediente to their Lorde and maister and according to iustice they had committed no offence nor yet deserued anye correction in the facte whiche was seruice to their King but for so muche as they shall not flée as the other two haue done deliuer them vnto mee and I will take them to my custody and charge Vpon this request the eyghtéene prisoners were delyuered vnto Cortez who sent them aboorde his Shyppes and there commaunded them to be put in prons The Lorde and his counsellors fearing what mighte followe entred into councell what was best to doe consideryng that they certaynely beléeued that the two prisoners whiche were escaped would certifie in Mexico the shame and cruell entertaynemente done vnto them Some replyed that it was iust and requisite to sende vnto Mutezuma hys tribute with other presentes to mitigate hys anger and to excuse them and accuse the Christians who were the causes of the apprehension of his officers and to craue pardon of their erroure and ouersighte whyche they hadde committed as madde men in dishonor of the maiestie of Mexico Others aunswered agayne that it were muche better to cast off that yoke of bondage and slauery and to giue no longer obedience to the Mexicans who were both cruell and wicked tyrants and also considering that now they had on their side those halfe Gods and inuincible horsemen saying likewise that they should not wante many others their neyghbours and borderers to help and succour them In this sorte they resolued themselues fully to rebell and not to lose so good an occasion wherevppon they besoughte Hernando Cortes to bée their defendor and Captayne considering that for his sake they had begun that enterprise and whether Mutezuma shoulde prepare hys army againste them or no yet they on their parte were fully pretended to hold hym warre and to desist from seruitude God knoweth how glad Cortes was to heare this matter for he well wayed that it was the high way to hys iourneys ende yet dissimuling the cause he aunswered that they should well looke to the thing which they meant to take in hande bycause quoth he I vnderstande that Mutezuma is a mightie Prince but if ye will valiantly procéede I will be youre Captayne and safely defende you for I do more estéeme your friendship than the good will of Mutezuma whyche I nothing care for therefore lette me knowe what number of men of warre yée are able to make Sir quoth they among all our friends wée are able to make a hundred thousande menne of warre I lyke that well quoth Cortez wherefore incontinente sende youre postes with aduise vnto all your friendes in league againste Mutezuma and certifie them of this agréemente and succoure of the Christians not quoth he that I stande in néede of your help for I alone with my company are able to stande againste those of Culhua although they were as manye more but reason required that they shoulde be warned of your pretence and to be in readinesse for the same fearing least Mutezuma mighte sende his army vpon a suddayne and finde you vnprouided With this aduise and encouragement of Cortez also they themselues being a people heady and of small consideratiō they dispatched incōtinent their
the whiche there was one rounde temple dedicated to the God of the ayre called Quecalcouaâ—l for euen as the ayre goeth rounde about the heauens euen for that consideration they made his temple rounde The entraunce of that Temple had a dore made lyke vnto the mouth of a Serpent and was paynted with foule and Diuelish gestures with great teeth gummes wrought whiche was a thing to feare those that should enter in thereat especially the Christians vnto whom it represented very Hel with that ougly face and monsterous teeth There were other Teucalles in the citie that had the asâ—â—nding vp by steps in thrée places all these temples had houses by theÌ„selues with all seruice priests particular Gods. At euery dore of the great temple standeth a large Hall goodly lodgings both high and lowe round about which houses were coÌ„mon armories for the Citie for the force and strength of euery towne is the temple and therfore they haue there placed their store house of munition They had other darke houses full of idols greate small wrought of sundry mettals they are all bathed and washed with bloud and do shewe very blacke through theyr dayly sprinklyng and anoynting theÌ„ with the same when any man is sacrificed yea the walles are an inche thicke with bloud and the grounde is a foote thicke of bloud so that there is a diuelish stench The Priests or Ministers goeth dayly into those Oratories and suffer none others but great personages to enter in Yea and when any such goeth in they are bounde to offer some man to be sacrificed that those bloudy hangmen and ministers of the Diuell may washe their handes in bloud of those so sacrificed and to sprinkle their house therewith For their seruice in the kitchin they haue a ponde of water that is filled once a yéere which is brought by conduct from the pryncipal fountayne All the residue of the foresayde circuite serueth for places to breede foule with gardens of hearbes and swéete trees with Roses and floures for the Altars Such so great straunge was this temple of Mexico for the seruice of the Diuell who had deceiued those simple Indians There dothe reside in the same temple continually fiue thousand persons and all they are lodged and haue theyr liuing there for that teÌ„ple is maruellous riche hath diuers townes onely for their maintenaunce and reparation and are bounde to sustayne the same alwayes on foote They doe sowe corne and maintayne all those fiue thousande persons with bread fruyte flesh fishe and firewoodde as much as they néede for they spende more fire woodde than is spent in the kings courte these persons doe liue at their hartes ease as seruauntes and vassals vnto the Goddes Mutezuma brought Cortes to this temple bicause his men shoulde sée the same and to enforme them of his religion and holinesse wherof I will speake in an other place being the most straunge and cruellest that euer was harde off The Idols of Mexico THe Gods of Mexico were two thousand in number as the Indians reported the chiefest were Vitcilopuchtli and Tezcatlipuca whose images stoode highest in the Temple vppon the Altars they were made of stone in ful proportion as bigge as a Gyant They were couered with a lawne called Nacar These images were besette with pearles precious stones péeces of gold wrought like birds beasts fishes and floures adorned with Emeralds Turquies Calcedons and other little fine stones so that when the lawne Nacar was taken away the Images séemed very beautifull to beholde The Image had for a girdle great snakes of gold and for collors or chaynes about their neckes ten hartes of men made of golde and each of those Idolles had a counterfaite visor with eies of glasse and in their necks death painted eache of these things hadde their considerations and meanings These two Goddes were brethren for Tezcatlipuca was the God of Prouidence and Vitcilopuchtli God of the warres who was worshipped and feared more than all the rest There was another God who hadde a greate Image placed vppon the toppe of the Chappell of Idols and hée was estéemed for a speciall and singular God aboue all the rest This God was made of all kinde of séedes that groweth in that Countrey and being ground they made a certayne past tempered with childrens bloud and Virgins sacrifised who were opened with their razures in the breastes and their heartes taken out to offer as first fruites vnto the Idoll The Priestes and Ministers doe consecrate this Idoll with great pomp and many Ceremonies All the Comarcans and Citizens are presente at the consecration with great triumph and incredible deuotion After the consecration many deuoute persons came and sticked in the dowy Image precious stones wedges of golde and other Iewels After all this pomp ended no secular man mought touche that holye Image no nor yet come into his Chappell nay scarcely religious persons except they were Tlamacaztli who are Priestes of order They doe renue this Image many times wyth new dough taking away the olde but then blessed is hée that can get one péece of the olde ragges for relikes and chiefly for souldyers who thought themselues sure therwith in the warres Also at the consecration of thys Idoll a certayne vessell of water was blessed with manye wordes and ceremonyes and that water was preserued very religiously at the foote of the altar for to consecrate the King when he should be crowned and also to blesse any Captayne generall when he shoulde be elected for the warres with only giuing him a draught of that water The Charnell house or place of dead mens sculles for remembrance of death WIthout the temple and ouer againste the principall dore thereof a stones cast distant standeth the Charnell house onely of dead mens heads prisoners in warres and sacrifiâ—ed with the knife This monument was made like vnto a Theatre more larger than broade wrought of lyme and stone with ascending steppes in the walles whereof was graffed betwixt stone and stone a skul with the teeth outwards At the foote and head of this Theatre were two Towers made only of lime and skulles the téeth outwarde and this wall hauing no other stuffe séemed a straunge sight At and vppon the toppe of the Theatre were 70. polles standing the one from the other foure or fiue foote distant and eache of them was full of staues from the foote to the toppe Each of these staues had others made fast vnto them so that euery of them had fiue skulles brothed through the temples Andrewe de Tapia did certifie me that he and Gonsalo de Vmbria dyd recken them in one daye and founde a hundred thirtie and sixe thousande skulles on the polles staues and steppes The other Towers were replenished out of number a most cruell custome being only mens heads slaine in sacrifice although it hath a shewe of humanitie for the remembrance there placed of death There are also men
appoynted that when one skull falleth to set vp another in his place so that the number may neuer want Hovv Cortez tooke Mutezuma prisoner HErnando Cortez and his companye were sixe dayes in beholding and perusing the scituatien of the Citie and secretes of the same with the notable thinges before rehearsed they were often visited by Mutezuma the Gentlemen of hys Courte and abundantly prouided of things necessarye for his vse and the Indians of his company Likewise his Horses were cherished and serued with gréene barley and grasse whereof there is plentie all the yeare Likewise of corne meale roses and of all thynges that their owners would request in so much that beddes of floures were made for them in place of litter But yet notwithstanding although they were in this sorte cherished and also lodged in so riche a Countrey where they mighte fyll their purses they were not yet all contente and merrie but rather with great feare and care especially Cortes who hadde the onely care as head and chiefe Captayne for the defence of hys fellowes hée I saye was pensiue noting the scituation of the Citie the infinite number of people the state and maiestie of Mexico yea and some disquietnesse of hys owne companye who woulde come and laye vnto hys charge the snare and nette that they were in thynkyng it a thyng vnpossible that anye of them coulde escape if Mutezuma were therevnto determined or else with the least muteny in the worlde that mought be raysed in the Citie although that euery inhabitant shoulde throw but one stone at them or else to breake vp the drawbridges or withdrawing their victuals things verye easie to bée done With this greate care that he had of the preseruation of his fellowes and to remedie the perill and daunger that he stoode in he determined to appreheÌ„d Mutezuma and to builte foure Foystes to haue the lake in subiection which he hadde tofore ymagined and without the apprehension of the King he coulde not come by the Kingdome he would very gladly haue buylt the Foystes out of hand but he left off that pretence only bycause he would not delay the emprisonment of Mutezuma wherein consisted the effect of all his businesse so that forthwith he minded to put in execution his intent without gyuing any of his company to vnderstand thereof The quarrell wherewith he had armed himselfe for that purpose was that the Lorde Qualpopoca hadde slayne nine Spanyardes likewise encouraged him the greate presumption of his letters written to the Emperour Charles his king wherein he wrote that he would take Mutezuma prisoner and dispossesse him of his Empyre These causes considered he tooke the letters of Pedro Hircis wherein was written howe Qualpopoca was the cause of the death of nine Spanyardes and put those letters into his pocket and walking vp and downe his lodging tossyng too and fro these ymaginations in his brayne full of care of the great enterprise that he had in hande yea he hymselfe iudging the matter doubtfull and his head béeyng in this sort occupyed he chanced to espye one wall more whiter than the rest and beholding the same he sawe that it was a dore lately dammed vp callyng vnto him two of his seruaunts for all the residue were asléepe bycause it was late in the nighte he opened that dore and went in and there found sundry halles some with Idols some with gallant feathers Iewels precious stones plate yea and such an infinite quantitie of golde that the sight thereof amazed him and other gallant things that made him to maruell He shutte thys dore agayne as well as he moughte withoute touching any part of that treasure bycause he woulde not make any vprore therabout nor yet to delay the emprisonment of Mutezuma for that treasure was alwayes there to be had The nexte daye in the morning came certayne Spanyardes vnto hym and manye Indians of Tlaxcallon saying that the Citizens did goe about to conspire their deathe and to breake downe the bridges of the calseys to bryng their purpose the better to passe So that with this newes béeyng true or false Cortes left the one halfe of his men to defende and keepe his lodging and at euery crosse stéete he planted me and the residue he sent to the Court by two and two and thrée and three and he hymselfe came to the pallaice saying that he must talke wyth Mutezuma of matters that did emport their liues Cortes was secretely armed Mutezuma hearyng howe Cortez attended for hym came forth and receyued him taking him by the hand and placed him in his seate Thirtie Spanyardes wayted vpon Cortez and the residue aboue without at â—he dore Cortez saluted Mutezuma according to his accustomed manner and began to iest and talke merily as hée was wont to do Mutezuma beeyng carelesse of the thing that Fortune hadde prepared agaynste hym was also very merrie 〈◊〉 pleased with that conuersation He gaue vnto Cortez Iewels of golde and one of his daughters and other noble mens daughters to others of his company Cortes receyued the gift for otherwise it hadde bin a frent vnto Mutezuma But yet he enformed him that he was a married man and that he coulde not merrie with his daughter for the Christian law did not permitte the same nor yet that any Christian inought haue more than one wife vppon payne of infamy and to be marked in the forehead After all this talke ended Cortez tooke the letters of Pedro Hircio and caused them to be interpreted vnto Mutezuma makyng hys grieuous complaynte agaynste Qualpopoca who hadde slayne so many Spanyardes through hys commaundement yea and that his subiectes had published that they woulde kill the Spanyardes and breake downe the bridges Mutezuma excused himselfe earnestly as well of the one as of the other saying the report giuen out agaynste hys subiectes was false and vntrue and as for Qualpopoca who had slayne the Spanyardes he was innocent thereof and bycause that he shoulde sée the troth he called incontinent certayne of his seruauntes commaunding theÌ„ to goe for Qualpopoca and gaue vnto them his seale whiche was a stone that he ware at his wrest engraued with the figure of the God Vitzilopuchtli and the messengers departed therewith incontinent Cortez replyed and sayd My Lord your highnesse must goe with me to my lodging and there abide vntill youre messengers returne with Qualpopoca and the certaynâ—tie of the deathe of my men In my lodging youre highnesse shall rule and commaund as you do héere in Court your person shall bée well vsed wherefore take you no care for I will haue respecte vnto youre honor as to myne owne proper or the honor of my 〈…〉 you to pardon me in this my request for if I shoulde doe otherwise and dissemble with you mine own company would be offended with me saying that I doe not defende them according to duetie Wherefore commaund your householde seruauntes to repose themselues without alteration for be you assured that
fought very stoutly Thrée dayes Mutezuma remayned in extréeme payne and at the ende departed his life And bicause it shoulde appeare that his death was of the stripe that they had giuen and not by any hurte receyued at their hands he caused two gentlemē of Mexico who were prysoners to carry him out vpon their backes who certified the Citizens of the certentie of his death that at that presente tune were giuyng battery to the house But yet for all this they woulde not leaue off the combat nor yet the warres as some of our men thought they woulde but rather procéeded on their purpose with greater courage and desire of reuenge And when they retyred they made a pityfull lamentation with preparation to bury their king in Chapultepec On this sorte died Mutezuma who was holden for a God among the Indians Some say that hée desired to be Baptised at the Shrouetide before his death and they prolonged the matter thinking at Easter followyng to haue christened him with honour and triumph But as it happened it had bene better to haue done it at that time according to his request But with the comming of Pamfilo de Naruaez the thyng was also delayed and after hée was wounded it was likewyse forgotten with the troubles that they were in It was credibly enformed that Mutezuma was neuer consentyng to the death of any Spaniarde nor yet in conspiracie agaynst Cortes but rather loued him entierly yet some are of an other opinion and bothe giue good reasons to approue their arguments but the truth could not wel be knowen for at that tyme our men vnderstoode not the language and agayne Mutezuma after his death lefte none to open that secrete The Indians affirme that he was of the greatest bloud of all his linage and the greatest kyng in estate that euer was in Mexico It is also to be noted that when the kingdomes do most florish then are they niest to a chāge or else to change their Lorde as doth appeare in this history of Mutezuma Our men lost more by the death of Mutezuma than the natural Indians if we cōsider the murder and destruction that incontinent did follow Mutezuma was a man very moderate in his diet and not so vicious as other Indiās although he had many wiues He was also liberal and frée harted he was estéemed for a very wise man in my iudgement he was eyther wise in lettyng things passe after that sorte or else a very foole that did not vnderstande their doings he was as deuoute as warlyke for he had bene presente in many battayles it is reported that he wanne and had victory in nine battayles also other nine times victorie man for man in the fielde he reygned seuentene yeares and certaine moneths The combat betvveene the Spaniardes and the Indians AFter the death of Mutezuma Cortes sente vnto his Neuewes and to the other noblemen who mainteyned the warres desiryng thē to come and speake with him and they came vnto whome Cortes spake from the wall where Mutezuma was slayne saying that it were méete that they should ceasse from warre and to chose another king and also to burie the dead and that he woulde come to his buriall as his friende likewise he signified vnto them that for the loue he bare vnto Mutezuma who had intreated for them he had stayed from the finall spoyle of the cittie correction of them for their rebellion and obstinacie But now that he had not vnto whome to haue respect he woulde bothe burne their houses and chasten them if that they submitted not themselues to his friendship They answered that they woulde neyther leaue the warres nor yet estéeme his friēdship vntill they saw thēselues in their libertie and their wrongs wholly reuenged yea and that without his counsell they coulde elect the King vnto whom of right the kingdome did apertaine And sithens the Gods hath taken our welbeloued Mutezuma we will giue his body a Sepulchre as vnto such a King doth apperteyne yea and if he would goe and beare his friend Mutezuma company to the Gods that then he should come forth and they would quickly dispatch him and as for the residue they would haue rather warre thā peace yea and that they were not menne that did yéelde with wordes Also séeing their King was dead for whose respecte they ceassed to burne their houses rost their bodyes and eate their fleshe but nowe quoth they if ye depart not we will not dally long time with you Cortez finding them stoute and stubborne liked not the bargaine Againe he knewe well that their meaning was that if they hadde departed from the Citie to haue spoyled and murthered them by the way And séeing that their liues rule and gouernement consisted in strength of hand and good courage he came forth in a morning with the thrée engines foure péeces of Ordinance and fiue hūdred Spanyards and thrée thousand Tlaxcaltecas to fighte with the enimies and to burne and spoyle their houses They broughte the engines néere vnto certaine greate houses whiche stoode néere vnto a bridge casting theyr scaling ladders on the walles and so gote vp to the toppe where manye people were and there combated awhile but shortly turned to their forte againe without doing any greate hurte with one Spanyarde slayne and manye wounded and also the engines broken and spoyled yea the multitude of Indians were so thicke and flewe vppon the Ordinance in suche sorte that they had no leysure to discharge them The stones came also so thicke from the house toppes that the engines were soone at an ende And the Citizens hauing housed them againe in the forte and lodging began to amende the hurt done in their houses and to recouer the stréetes that were lost also the great Temple in the Tower whereof fiue hundred principall men hadde fortifyed themselues wyth vittayles stones and long Launces piked with yron and flint stone verye sharp but truly they did most hurt with stones This Tower was high and strong as I haue before declared and stoode néere vnto the Spanyardes forte whiche from that tower receiued muche hurt Although Cortes was somewhat sadde and heauie yet he ceassed not like a good Captayne to comfort and encourage his menne and alwayes was the firste man at any brunt or assay and hys heart coulde not permitte him to remaine penned vp in that sort wherefore he toke thrée hundred Spanyardes and went to assiege the high tower Thrée or foure dayes he ceassed not that enterprise but coulde not come to the toppe being so high a thing and manye persons in defence of the same well prouided with fitte munition for the purpose so that our men came dayly tumbling downe the stayres flying to their house with broken pates so that our Spanyardes dysmayed more and more and many murmured at the matter you may well iudge howe Cortes his heart was afflighted for the Indians encreased still in courage hauing the better hand and dayly victory from the
abode in certaine great houses in the Market place They foughte that day in many places of the Citie and at the retire one shot of a handgun whiche was the token that those which lay in ambushe should come forth The enimies folowed our men that séemed to flée with maruellous greate courage But they were not so soone passed the snare when Cortes came forth with his thirtie horsemen saying vpon them vpon them By this onely meane were sâ—â—ine aboue fiue hundred Mexicans besides the prisoners Our Indian friends had a good supper that nyght with mans fleshe whiche as yet they would not be perswaded to leaue Certaine Spaniards went vppe into a Tower of Idols and there opened a sepulchre where they found fiue hundred Castlins in golde With this ouerthrowe the Mexicans remayned in suche feare that all their threaâ—nings and triumphes were turned into mourning and euer after wheÌ„ they saw our men retire they would not folow them fearing the like danger so that this was a meane the sooner to win Mexico The hunger and infirmitie vvhich the Mexicans suffered with greate courage TWo poore soules who were vexed wyth hunger came in the nighte season out of the citie vnto Cortes his Camp who certifyed how the Citizens were in greate necessitie and so manye dead with hunger and sicknesse that there were heapes of dead bodyes in the houses only to kéepe close their extreame miserie and said also that in the night season manye came out to fishe betwéene the houses with feare of the Vergantines and others came out to séeke for wodde hearbes and rootes to eate Cortes hearing these newes determined to knowe the troth thereof so that the nexte night he commaunded the Vergantines to goe round about the Citie and he himselfe with fiftéene Horsemen a hundred footemen and manye Indian friends placed themselues betwixte certaine houses with order to his espyes to aduertise him what they shoulde sée It was no sooner day but manye poore folke came out to séeke for foode and when Cortes had intelligence thereof he made a greate slaughter among them whereas at that time of vnarmed men women and chyldren were slayne to the number of eyght hundred and she Vergantines on their side made another spoyle The pitiful noise being heard into the Citie the Citizens were astonyed and knew not what to doe fearing the like ambushe that they had séene and â—ealt the day before also wondered that at such an houre not accustomed the Spanyardes were so nigh The next day following béeing S. Iames his euen Cortes entred againe into the Citie according as he had done before and wanne the stréete of Tlacopan where he burned the riche and faire houses of king Quahutimoc whiche were motted round aboute so that nowe of foure partes of the citie thrée partes were wonne and the Spaniardes might safely passe from Cortes his campe to the campe of Aluarado by reason that all the houses were burned and beaten downe playne with the grounde But yet the poore Mexicans would say to the Indians of Tlaxcallan goe to go to make hast burne and destroy these houses for time will come that yée shall buylde them againe at your owne coste For if we haue victory then shall ye buylde them for vs and if we be ouercome then shall yée buylde them for these straungers Within foure dayes after Cortes entred the citie againe and also Aluarado on his side who to shewe hys haultie stomacke laboured all that was possible to gette two towers of the temple of Tlatelulco the whiche at the length he wan although he loste thrée horses in the coÌ„bat The next day followyng the horsemen walked vp and downe in the greate market place at pleasure the poore Mexicans beholding that sorrowful sight froÌ„ their houses And as the Spaniardes wente walking in the cittie they founde heapes of dead bodies in the houses streates and in the water they found also the barke of trées and rootes gnawen by the hungry creatures and the men so leane and yellow that it was a pitifull sighte to beholde Cortes yet agayne required them to yéelde and they although they were so leane of body were strong in harte and answered that he should not speake of any friendshippe nor yet hope of their spoyle for when no fortune would fauour them then they woulde eyther burne their treasure or throwe it into the lake where they should neuer profite therby and that they would fight while one alone shoulde remayne aliue At Cortes his nexte entry into the citie he founde the streates full of women children olde folke and many miserable sicke persons whiche were perishyng for want of foode Cortes commaunded that none of his army should doe any hurâ—e vnto such miserable creatures The principall folke who were whole and sounde they stoode in their zoties or house toppes without weapon and clothed in maÌ„tels It was thought that they kepte a certaine holy day peace was againe offered but they answered with dissimulation The next day followyng Cortes required Aluarado on his side to combat a streat of .1000 houses that was not yet won and that he would doe the like on the otherside for a little space the Citizens defended theÌ„selues but their defence endured not but were driuen to flie being not able to resiste the force of theyr contraries So that the Spanishe army wan also that streate and slewe 12000. Cittizens the murder was so great bicause the Indian friends would shewe no mercie or compassion vpon them although they were required to the coÌ„trary So that now the Mexicans hauing lost this streate also the houses that were not beateÌ„ downe could scarcely hold the people that were aliue the streates also being so full of dead carcasses and sicke bodies that our men coulde not passe but must néedes treade vpon them Cortes desirous to sée what remayned of the cittie to win went vp into a high tower and hauyng well vewed the Cittie he iudged that of eight parts one remained yet to win And the next day following he assaulted the same with speciall coÌ„maundement giuen to his army not to kil any but only such as should resist The sorrowful Citizens bewayling their vnfortunate fate destinie besought the Spaniards to make an ende and to kill them all out of hande Then certayne of the horsemen called Cortes in great hast who went vnto them incontinent hopyng of some agrement of peace and standing at the brymme of the water neare vnto a drawe bridge the Mexicans sayde oh captayne Cortes consideryng that thou art the childe of the Sunne why doest thou not entreate the Sunne thy father to make an ende of vs oh thou Sunne that canst goe rounde about the worlde in a day and a night we pray thée make an end of vs and take vs out of this miserable lyfe for we desire death to go and rest with our God Quetcauatlh who tarieth for vs After these speaches they made a lamentable crie callyng
and their prouisions were not so secretely obteyned but the matter was as secretely talked in the Courte whiche at that time was abiding in the Citie of â—â—olâ—dâ— and the procedings séeme not iust vnto the friends of Cortes The Commendador Pedro de Pina opened the matter to the Licenciat Nouez and vnto father Melgareto wherevppon they reclaymed of the Counsels determination beséeching them to stay for a season to sée what newes should come from Mexico Also the Duke of Betar tendred the cause of Hernando Cortez for that Cortez by promise of faith and troth was assured in marriage to his brothers daughter named the Lady Iâ—ne de Zuniga who aplaked the Emperoure his anger and the saide Duke became suretie to aunswere in all causee for him The matter standing in this estate there arriued in Spayne Diego de Zoto with a whole Coluerin made of siluer and 70000. castlins in golde the newes whereof was blowen ouer all Spaine And to say the troth this presente was the cause that Cortes was not put out of his office but a Iudge of residence was sent thither to take an accompt of him Now a wise and a learned man was sought for that purpose yea suche a one as could rule the matter for some souldiers are oftentimes vnmanerly whervpoÌ„ they thought the Licenciat Léwes pouce de Leon a fitte maÌ„ who had bin Lieutenante to Don Martin de Cordoua Earle of Alcaudete chiefe gouernour of the citie of Tâ—lledo This Licenciate with power sufficient was sent vnto the new Spaine who carried in his company as assistant the batcheler Marcus de Aguillar who hadde ruled in time past in a worshipfull office of Iustice in the Ilande of Santo Domingo With prosperous weather they departed from Spayne and in shorte tyme arriued at Vera Crux Cortez hauing newes of their arriuall by foote postes within two dayes And vppon Midsomer day came letters to Cortes from the Licenciate Ponce with another letter from the Emperour wherby he vnderstood the cause of their comming He returned backe incontineÌ„t an aunswere and desired to know which way he would come to Mexico eyther by the way inhabited or else the other way which is néerer The Licenciate replyed that he woulde for a while abide in Vera Crux to refresh himselfe béeyng seasicke and a man that had not héeretofore at any time passed the seas thinking that Cortes meante to haue done iustice on certain offenders yea also to haue takeÌ„ hym by the way wherefore he suspected that Cortes had sent bycause he woulde knowe whiche way he meant to come wherevpon he secretely tooke post horse with certaine GentlemeÌ„ and other religious persons that came in hys company passed through the Townes although it was the farther way and made suche hast that in fiue dayes he came to Iztacpallâ—pan refusing the entertaynement and prouision of meate and lodging that Cortes had prepared by his GentlemeÌ„ that weÌ„t both the wayes to méete him In IztacpallapaÌ„ they receyued him with great feast and maiestie but after dinner the Licenciate fell a vomiting and the most of hys companye and after the vomite they fell into a flixe They thoughte that certayne hearbes was the cause thereof whiche were in a dishe of curdes The Licenciate was somewhat gréedie of the curdes and tooke the dishe and offered it to father Thomas Ortiz no quoth the Stewarde hys reuerence shall haue another dishe no quoth father Ortiz I will none of these nor yet of anye other of whyche wordes there were afterwardes Verses made suspecting somethyng of the curdes but truely there was no hurte or anye euill thyng putte in them as héereafter shal be declared for the Comendador Proano who was then chiefe Sheriffe did eate of all those dishes yea in the same dishe that the Licenciat eate of who neyther vomited nor yet receyued any hurte or alteration But I thinke that they coÌ„myng hoate wery and hungry did eate too muche and dranke also colde water whereby their stomackes reuolted and thereof followed the flixe with vomite On the behalfe of Cortes there was presented to the Licenciat a riche present but he refused it Cortes with al the flower of Gentlemen in Mexico came to receyue him and giuyng him the right hand they went togyther vntill they came to Sainct Frances abbay where after their praiers made Cortes demauÌ„ded to sée the kings prouisions who answered that the nexte day he woulde shew them vnto him then they accompanied him to his house where he was well lodged The nexte day followyng all the magistrates of the Cittie mette the Licentiat in the cathedrall Church and by acte before the notary he presented his auctoritie from the Emperour He tooke the Vares of Iustice from the Iudges and Sargeants and incontinent restored them agayne and saide with gentle speach this rodde of the Senior gouernour I will haue for my selfe Cortes with all the other Magistrates kissed the Emperours letters and put them vpon the crowne of their heads in tokeÌ„ of great obedience saying that they woulde obserue and obey all that was therein contayned as the commaundement of their king and Lorde requyring the same to be set downe by acte and testimony After these things done they proclaymed the residence and account of iustice of Hernando Cortes to the intent that all persons who coulde accuse him of any vnrightful dealyng should come and make their complaint and to haue remedy for the same There should you then sée the stirre and talke among them euery officer fearyng his owne cause with desire to sée the ende of their businesse The death of the Licenciat Luys Ponce THe Licenciat comming one day from Saint Frances abbay from seruice fell into an extréeme burnyng feuer and lay him downe in his bedde where he remayned the space of thrée dayes as a man out of his wittes and the feuer stil encreasing so that on the seuenth day he yéelded vp the ghost In the time of his sickenesse he receyued the communion and made his laste will testament He left for substitute in his office the bacheler Marcus de Aguillar Cortes made as greate sorrow for his death as if he had bene his owne father his funeralles were celebrated with great pompe The enimies of Cortes published that he died of poyson But the Licenciat Pero Lopez and Doctor Hoieda who were his Phisitions swore that he died of a burnyng feuer and shewed a further consequence that the euenyng before he deceased he desired them to play the measures vpon a lute and as he lay in his bedde shewed with stirryng his féete the compasses and pointes of the daunce It was a thing which diuers persons saw and forthwith he lost his speach and that night towarde the dawning of the day he yéelded vp his spirite I thinke that fewe men do die dauÌ„sing as this Lawier did The number of a hundred persons came out of Spayne with the Licenciat whereof the moste parte died by sea and
presidente in Santo Domingo and the Licenciates Iohn de Salmeron Gâ—scâ— Quiroga Francisco Ceynos and Alonso Maldonado for Iudges to accompany him These Iudges gouerned well the land and caused the Citie of Angels to be inhabited which the Indians called Cuetlaxcoapan that is to say a Snake in water The reason was bycause they haue two fountaynes the one of euill water and the other of good This Citie standeth twentie leagues from Mexico in the high way to Vera Crux The Bishop set the Indians at libertie and therefore many Spanyards departed from thence who hadde inhabited there before and wente to séeke their liuing at Xalixco Hunduras Quahutemallan and other places where warre was The returne of Cortez to Mexico AT this season arriued Cortes at the riche Towne of Vera Crux and when his comming was published how he came wyth title of Marquez and had broughte hys wife with him an infinite number of Indians came to visite him and almost all the Spanyards of Mexico so that in few dayes there came a thousand persons of his owne nation who made theyr complaintes vnto him how they were vndone and that the Iudges which had bin there had destroyed both him and them and asked his iudgement whether that nowe they might kill both them and theirs Cortes hearing their odious request reprehended them and also gaue them hope shortly to reléeue their necessitie with new discoueries and in this order fearing some mutinie he held them in pleasure and pastime When the president hearde howe Cortes was visited of the Spanyaryds they commaunded forthwith euery one of them shoulde immediately returne to Mexico or else where their dwelling places were vpoÌ„ paine of death yea and they were aboute to apprehende Cortes for a stirrer of vprore and to sende him backe againe prisoner into Spayne But when he saw howe soone these Iudges were moued he commaunded to proclayme himselfe openly in Vera Crux Captayne Generall of all the dominions of the new Spayne and there caused the Emperours letters pattentes to be redde whiche thing being knowen to the Mexican Iudges it caused them to wring their noses After this diligence ended he departed toward Mexico wyth a great company of Spanyards and Indians among whom were a good company of horsemen but when he came to Tezcuco the President sent to commaund him not to enter into Mexico vpon payne of losse of his goodes and hys body to be at the Kings pleasure He obeyed their commaundemente with great wysedome being a thing conuenient to the seruice of the Emperour and proÌ„fite of the land which he had wonne wyth great toyle and laboure but yet he abode in Tezcuco with a greater maiestie and court than the President in Mexico and wrote vnto him that he should consider his good will and whole intent and not to giue occasion to the Indians to rebell and for the Spanyards he might assure hymselfe The Indians vnderstaÌ„ding the discord betwixt the President and Cortes slew as many Spanyards as they coulde get at aduantage so that in fewe dayes there wanted aboue two hundred of the Spanish nation being slayne as well in Townes as in the high wayes yea and also they had communed among themselues to rebell in déede But when the Bishop and the Iudges heard this newes they began to feare the matter and confidering that they had no better remedy nor other sure defence but only the name valor person and authoritie of Cortes they sente to desire him to come vnto Mexico wherevpon he obserued theyr commaundement and request wente toward the Citie well accompanyed with men of warre so that heshewed himselfe in estate a generall captaine All the Citizens came out to receiue him and the lady Marques his wife his entrie into the cittie was a day of great pleasure among them Then the president and iudges entred into counsell for to remedie the greate hurt whiche had bene done by the Indians Cortes toke the matter in hand and apprehended many Indiano of whom some he hurned others wer torne with dogges he did such correction that in shorte time al the countrey was quiet and the highe ways without daunger a thing worthy of great thanks The letters that the Indians vsed in Mexico THere hath not bin found letters at any time in the Weast India onely in the newe Spain were vsed certain figures which serued for letters with the which they kepte in memorie and preserued their antiquities The figures that the Mexicans vsed for letters are great by reason whereof they occupy gret volumes they ingraue them in stone or timber and paint them vpon walles and also vpon a paper made of cotten wool and leaues of the tree Metl Their bookes are great and folden vp like vnto our broade clothes and written vpon both sides There are some bokes rolled vp like a piece of flannel They pronouÌ„ce not b. g. e. f. Therfore they vse much p.e.l.x. This is the Mexical spéech and Nahual which is the best playnest and mostâ— eloquent in al newe Spayne There are some in Mexico that do vnderstand ech other by whistling whiche is ordinarily vsed among louers théeues a spéeche truely to wonder at none of our men could come to the knowledge therof The order hovv to recken Ce One Ome Two Ei Thrée Naui Foure Macuil Fiue Chicoace Sixe Chicome Seauen Chicuei Eight Chiconaui Nine Matlac Tenne Matlactlioce Eleuen Matlactliome Twelue Matlactlomei Thirtéene Matlactlinaui Fourtéene Matlactlinacui Fiftéene Matlactlichicoace Sixtéene Matlactlichicome Seuentéene Matlactlichicuei Eightéene Matlactlichiconaui Ninetéene Cempoalli Twentie Euery number is simple vntil you come to sixe and then they count sixe and one sixe and two sixe and thrée Ten is a number by himselfe then you must counte ten and one tenne and two tenne and thrée tenne and foure tenne and fiue Then you count ten fiue and one tenne fiue and two ten fiue and thrée Twenty goeth by himselfe and al the greater numbers The Mexican yeare THe Mexicans yeare is thrée hundered sixtie dayes for they haue in their yere eighteene monethes and euery moneth contayneth twentie dayes They haue other fiue odde dayes whiche goeth by themselues in the which they vsed to celebrate greate feastes of cruell and bloudy sacrifice with much deuotion And reconing after this sort they could not choose but erre for they could not make equal the punctuall course of the Sunne Yea the Christian yere is not perfit although we haue learned Astronomers But yet these simple Indians wente neare the marke The names of the moneths Tlacaxipeualiztli Tozcuztli Huei Tozeuztli Toxcalt Ecalcoaliztli Tocuilhuicintli Hueitecuilhuitl Miccailhuicintli Veymiccailhuitl Vchpaniztli Pachtli Huei Pacheli Quecholli Panquecaliztli Hatemuztli Tititlh Izcalli Coavitleuac The names of dayes Cipactli A Spade Hecatl Ayre or Winde Calli A House Cuez Pali A Lizart Coualt A Snake Mizquintli Death Macatl A wilde Hart Tochtli A Conny Atl Water Izcuyntli A Dogge Ocumatli An Ape Malinalli A Brome Acatlh A Caue Ocelotl A Tigre
whome he offereth bread flowers Papers and little Canes died in the bloudde of his owne tongue nose handes and other partes of his body After the foure dayes expired then come all the Noble men to beare him company to his palayce with great triumphe and pleasure of all the Cittie but after his consecration fewe or none dare looke him in the face And now with the declaryng of the actes and Ceremonies that the Mexican Kings are crowned I shall not néede to rehearse of other kyngs for generally they all do vse the same order sauyng that other Princes goe not vp to the toppe of the Temple but abide at the foote of the steppes to be crowned and after theyr Coronation they come to Mexico for their confirmation and then at theyr returne to their countrey they made many drunkē feasts and banquets The opinion of the Mexicans concerning the Soule THe Mexicans did beléeue that the Soule was immortal and that they receyued eyther ioy or payne according to theyr desertes liuyng in this worlde vnto which opinion all their religion did attayne and chiefly appeare at their burials They holde for an assured faith that there were nine places appointed for soules the chiefest place of glory to be neare vnto the Sunne where the soules of those whiche were good men slaine in the warres those which were sacrifised were placed and that all other sortes of euill persons their soules above on the earth were deuided after this sorte children that were dead borne went to one place those which died of age or other disease went to another those which died of sodden death to another those whiche died of woundes or contagious diseases went to an other place those which were drowned went to another those which were put to death for offence by order of iustice as for robbery and adultery to another Those which slewe their fathers mothers wiues or childrē to another place by themselues also those who slew their maysters or any religious person went to another place The common sorte of people were buried but Lordes and rich men had their bodies burned their ashes buried In their shreudes they had a greate difference for many dead bodies were buried better apparelled than when they were on liue Women were shrewded after another sorte And he that suffered death for adulterie was shrewded like vnto the God of leachery called Tlazoulteutl he that was drowned like vnto the God of water named Tlacoc and he that died with drunkennesse was shrewded like vnto the God of wyne called Ometochtli But the Souldier had an honorable shrewde like vnto the attyre of Vitzilopuchtli and the lyke order in all other sortes of deathes The buriall of Kings in Mexico WHen any Kyng of Mexico happened to fall sicke they vsed foorth-with to put a visor vppon the face of Tezcatlipuca or Vitzilopuchtli or some other Idoll whiche Visor was not taken awaye vntill they sawe whether the kyng did amend or else die But if he chaunsed to die then worde was sent throughout all his dominions to bewaile his death and also other postes were sent to call the Noble menne that were his nighest kinsmen and to warne them within foure dayes to come vnto his buriall The dead body was layde vpon a fayre matte was watched foure nightes with great lamëtation and mournyng then the body was washed and a locke of heare cut from the crowne of his head whiche was preserued as a great relicke saying that therein remayned the remembrance of his soule This done a fine Emerald was put into his mouth and his body shrewded in seuentene riche mantles of colours both riche and costly wrought Vpon the vpper mantle was sette the deuise or armes of Vitzilopuchtli or Tezcalipuca or of some other idoll in whome the kyng had greate confidence in his lyfe tyme and in his temple should the body be buried Vpō his face they put a visor paynted with foule and Diuelish gestures besette with many iewelles precious stones and pearles Then they killed his slaue whose office was to light the Lampes and make fire vnto the Goddes of his pallayce These things done they carried the dead body vnto the Temple some followed him with dolefull tune others song the death of the kyng by note for so was the custome The Noble men and Gentlemen of his housholde carried Targets Arrowes Mases and Ensignes to throwe into the fire where the body should be buried in the Temple The high Priest and all the Clergie receyued him at the Temple gate with a sorrowfull song and after he had sayde certayne wordes the body was throwen into a great fire made for the purpose with all the iewels that he had aboute him and all the other things whiche was brought to honour the burial also a dogge newly strangled with an arrowe whiche was to guyde him his way In the meane whyle that the King and dogge were burnyng the Priests sacrificed twoo hūdred persons howbeit in this Ceremonie there was no ordinary taxe for sometymes they sacrificed many moe they were opened with a rasour of flinte in the breastes and theyr hartes taken out and throwen into the fire where the Kings body was These miserable persons beyng sacrificed and their bodies throwen into a hole they beléeued assuredly that those shoulde serue for his slaues in another worlde some of them were dwarffes monstrous and deformed persons with some women They placed about the dead body of the King before his buriall Roses Floures and sundry dishes of meate and drinke and no creature durste touche the same but onely the Priests for it séemed to be an offeryng The nexte day followyng all the ashes were gathered togither and the téeth with the Emerald that was in his mouth the whiche things were put into a chest paynted on the inside with horrible figures of diuels and the locke of heare whiche was cut from his crowne and another locke of heare which was preserued from the tyme of his birth Then the chest was lockte and an image of wood made and clothed like vnto the Kings person which was set on the toppe of the chest The obsequies endured foure dayes in the whiche the wines and daughters of the king offered great offerings at the place where his body was buried and before the chest and his image On the fourth day after the buriall fiftene slaues were sacrificed for his soule and on the twentith day other fiue persons were also sacrificed likewise on the sixtie thrée and fourescore whiche was lyke vnto the yéeres minde The order of buriall of the Kings of Michuacan THe kingdeme of Michuacan is almoste as great as the Empire of Mexico and when any king of that countrey happened to be visited with sicknesse and brought to suche extremitie that hope of life were past according to the opinion of Phisitions then would he name and appoint whiche of his Sonnes shoulde inherite the estate and beyng knowen the new king or heyre incontinent
sent for all the gouernours Captaines and valiant souldiers who had any office or charge to come vnto the buriall of his Father and he that came not from thencefoorth was helde for a Traytour and so punished When the death of thē olde King was certayne then came al degrées of Estates and brought presents to the newe king for the approbation of his kyngdome but if the King were not throughly dead but at the poynt of death then the gates were shut in and none permitted to enter and when hys lyfe was departed then beganne a generall crie and mournyng and they were permitted to come where their dead kyng lay and to touche him with their handes this beyng done the carkasse was washed with swéete waters and then a fine shyrte put vpon him and a payre of shoes made of a Déere skinne put on his féete and aboute his ancles were tied certayne belles of golde about his wrestes of his handes were put Manyllias of Turkies and other bracelets of golde lykewise aboute his necke they hong other collers of precious stones and golde and rings in his eares with a greate Turkise in his neather lippe Then his body was layde vpon a large heare whereon was placed a good bedde vnder him on his one side lay a bowe with a quyuer of arrowes and on his other side lay an image made of fine mantels of his owne stature or bignesse with a greate tuffe of fine feathers shoes vpon his féete with bracelets and a coller of gold Whyle this worke was a doyng others were bufied in washyng the men and women whiche shoulde be slayne for to accōpany him into Hell these wretched folke that should be slaine were banqueted filled with drinke bycause they shoulde receyue their death with lesse paine The newe kyng did appoint those who shoulde die for to serue the king his father but yet many of them had rather bene without his seruice notwithstanding some simple soules estéemed that odious death for a thyng of immortall glory First seuen Gentlewomen of noble parentage were appoynted to die the one to haue the office of keper of his tewels which he was wont to were another for the office of cup bearer another to giue him water with a basen and ewer another to giue him alwayes the vrinall another to be his Cooke and another to serue for landres They slewe also many women slaues and frée maydens for to attende vpon the Gentlewomen and moreouer one of euery occupation within the citie When all these that were appoynted to die were washed theyr bellies full with meate drinke then they paynted their faces yellow and put garlandes of swéete floures vpon each of their heads Then they went in order of processiō before the beare whereon the dead king was caried some wente playing on instruments made of snayle shelles others played vpon bones and shelles of seaturtils others went whistlyng and the most part weping the Sonnes of the dead kyng other noble men carried vpō their shoulders the beare where the corse lay proceded with an easie pace towarde the Temple of the God Curicaueri his kinsmen went round about the bere singyng a sorowful song The officers and houshold seruants of the Court with other Magistrates and rulers of iustice bare the Standartes and diuers other armes About midnight they departed in the order aforesayde out of the Kings palayce with great light of fire brandes and with a heauy noyse of trumpets and drummes The Citizens which dwelt where the corse passed attended to make cleane the streate And when they were come to the temple they wente foure tymes rounde about a great fire made of the woodde of Pine trée whiche was prepared to burne the dead body then the beare was layd vpon the fire and in the meane while that the body was burnyng they mawled with a clubbe those whiche had the garlandes and afterwarde buried them by foure and foure as they were apparelled behind the Temple The nexte day in the mornyng the ashes bones and Iewels was gathered and layde vpon a riche mantle the whiche was carried to the temple gate where the priests attended to blesse those Diuelishe relickes whereof they made a dowe or paste and thereof an image whiche was appareled lyke a man with a visor on his face and all other sortes of Iewels that the dead King was wonte to weare so that it séemed a gallant idoll At the foote of the temple stayres they opened a graue ready made whiche was square large twoo fadome déepe it was also hāged with new mattes rounde about and a fayre bed therein in the whiche a religious man placed the idoll made of ashes with his eyes towarde the east parte and honge rounde aboute the walles Targets of golde and siluer with bow and arrowes many gallant tuffes of feathers with earthen vessels as pottes dishes platters so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe chests couered with leather apparell iewels meate drinke and armour This done the graue was shut vp made sure with beames bordes and floored with earth on the toppe All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall washed them selues and wente to dinner in the Courte or yard of the Kings house without any table and hauing dined they wiped their hands vpon certayne lockes of Cotton wol hanging downe their heads and not speaking any word except it were to aske for drinke This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie except in the Kings house and Temples nor yet any corne was ground or market kept nor none durst goe out of their houses shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of theyr King. The order of Matrimony among the Indians IN Tlaxcallan and many other Cities was vsed as a principall Ceremonie and token of marriage that the Bridegrome and his Bride against the day of marriage had their heads polled whiche was to signifie that from that day forward al childishe orders should be laide aside and from that tyme new heare myght grow to declare another kind of lyfe The chiefest knotte of marriage vsed in Michuacan was that the Bride doe looke directly vppon hir spouse for otherwise the Matrimony was not perfite nor auaylable In Mixteoapan which is a greate prouince they vse to carrie the Bridgrome to be married vpon their backes which is to be vnderstoode that he goeth against his wil but yet they take hands in token that the one shall helpe the other and then they knitte both their mantels togyther with a great knotte signifying that they ought continually while life lasteth to dwell togither The Indians called Macatecas consūme not their Matrimony in twenty dayes after their marriage but abide in fasting and prayer all that while sacrificing their bodyes and annoynting the mouthes of the Idolles wyth their owne proper bloud In Panuco the husbandes buy their wiues