being presently made with these numbers of knots and handfuls of coards it remaynes for a certaine testimonie and register I did see a handfull of these strings wherein an Indian woman carried written a generall confession of all her life and thereby confessed her selfe as well 〈◊〉 I could haue done it in written Paper I asked her what those strings meant that differed from the rest she answered me they were certaine circumstances which the sinne required to be fully confessed Beside these Quippos of threed they haue another as it were a kind of writing with small stones by meanes whereof they learne punctually the words they desire to know by heart It is a pleasant thing to see the old and the impotent with a Wheele made of small stones learne the Paâ—er noster with another the Aue Maria with another the Creed and to remember what stone signifies Which was conceiued by the Holy Ghost and which Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate It is a pleasant thing to see them correct themselues when they doe erre for all their correction consisteth onely in beholding of their small stones One of these Wheeles were sufficient to make me forget all that I doe know by heart There are a great number of these Wheeles in the Church-yards for this purpose But it seemes a kind of Witch-craft to see another kinde of Quippos which they make of graines of Mays for to cast vp a hard account wherein a good Arithmetician would bee troubled with his Penne to make a diuision to see how much euery one must contribute they doe draw so many graines from one side and adde so many to another with a thousand other inuentions These Indians will take their graines and place fiue of one side three of another and eight of another and will change one graine of one side and three of another So as they finish a certaine account without erring in any point and they sooner submit themselues to reason by these Quippos what euery one ought to pay then wee can doe with the Penne. Heereby wee may judge if they haue any vnderstanding or bee brutish for my part I thinke they passe vs in those things whereunto they doe apply themselues IT shall be good to adde hereunto what we haue obserued touching the Indians Writings for their manner was not to write with a continued line but from the top to the bottome or in circle-wise The Latines and Greekes doe write from the left hand vnto the right which is the vulgar and common manner wee doe vse The Hebrewes contrariwise beganne at the right to the left and therefore their Bookes began where ours did end The Chinois write neither like the Greekes nor like the Hebrewes but from the top to the bottome for as they bee no Letters but whole words and that euery figure and Character signifieth a thing they haue no neede to assemble the parts one with another and therefore they may well write from the toppe to the bottome Those of Mexico for the same cause did not write in line from one side to another but contrary to the Chinois beginning below they mounted vpward They vsed this manner of writing in the account of their dayes and other things which they obserued Yet when they did write in their Wheeles or Signes they began from the middest where the Sunne was figured and so mounted by their yeeres vnto the round and circumference of the Wheele By words Pictures and these Memorialls the Kings were often aduertised of that which passed For this cause there were men of great agilitie which serued as Curriers to goe and come whom they did nourish in this exercise of Running from their youth labouring to haue them well breathed that they might runne to the top of a high Hill without wearinesse And therefore in Mexico they gaue the Prize to three or foure that first mounted vp the stayres of the Temple as hath beene said in the former Booke And in Cusco when they made their Solemne Feast of Capacrayme the Nouices did runne who could fastest vp the Rocke of Ynacauri And the exercise of running is generall much vsed among the Indians When as there chanced any matter of importance they sent vnto the Lords of Mexico the thing painted whereof they would aduertise them as they did when the first Spanish ships appeared to their sight and when they tooke Topanchan In Peru they were very curious of Footmen and the Ingua had them in all parts of the Realme as ordinary Posts called Chasquis whereof shall bee spoken in his place Many Nations of the Indies haue not indured any Kings or absolute and souereigne Lords but liue in Comminalties creating and appointing Captaynes and Princes for certayne occasions onely to whom they obey during the time of their charge then after they returne to their former estates The greatest part of this New World where there are no setled Kingdomes nor established Common-weales neither Princes nor succeeding Kings they gouerne themselues in this manner although there bee some Lords and principall men raised aboue the common sort In this sort the whole Countrey of Chille is gouerned where the Aâ—racanes those of Teucapell and others haue so many yeeres resisted the Spaniards And in like sort all the new Kingdome of Granado that of Guatimalla the Ilands all Florida Bresill Luson and other Countreyes of great circuit but that in some places they are yet more barbarous scarcely acknowledging any head but all command and gouerne in common hauing no other thing but will violence industry and disorder so as hee that most may most commands They haue onely found two Kingdomes or setled Empires that of the Mexicans in New Spaine and of the Inguas in Peru. It is not easie to be said which of the two was the mightiest Kingdome for that Moteçuma exceeded them of Peru in Buildings and in the greatnesse of his Court but the Inguas did likewise exceed the Mexicans in treasure riches and greatnesse of Prouinces In regard of Antiquitie the Monarchie of the Inguas hath the aduantage although it be not much and in my opinion they haue beene equall in feats of Armes and Victories It is most certaine that these two Kingdomes haue much exceeded all the Indian Prouinces discouered in this New World as well in good order and gouernment as in power and wealth and much more in Superstition and Seruice of their Idols hauing many things like one to another But in one thing they differed much for among the Mexicans the succession of the Kingdome was by election as the Empire of the Romanes and that of Peru was hereditary and they succeeded in bloud as the Kingdomes of France and Spaine THe Ingua which ruled in Peru being dead his lawfull Sonne succeeded him and so they held him that was borne of his chiefe Wife whom they called Coya The which they haue alwayes obserued since the time of an Ingua called Yupangui who married his sister for these Kings held it an honour to marrie their Sisters And although they had other Wiues and Concubines yet the succession of the Kingdome appertayned to the Sonne of Coya It is true that when the King had a legitimate Brother he succeeded before
Inhabitants haue a peculiar Language and are Merchants and Artificers who are so couetous that they eate that which is bad and drinke worse Some Nestorian Christians are found there who also haue their Churches The Countrey inlargeth it selfe fiue dayes Iourney Samarchan is a great and famous Citie in that Countrey where are goodly Gardens and a fertile Plaine It is subiect to the Nephew of the Great Cham. In it the Christians dwell with the Saracens whence little agreement is betwixt them It is reported that in this manner a Miracle hapned the brother of Great Cham named Zagatai gouerned that Countrey about one hundred yeares agoe being perswaded to become a Christian the Christians through his fauour built a Church in honour of Saint Iohn Baptist with such cunning that the whole Roofe thereof was supported by one Pillar in the midst vnder which was set a square stone which by fauour of their Lord was taken from a building of the Saracens Zagathais Sonne succeeded after his death in the Kingdome but not in the faith from whom the Saracens obtayned that the Christians should be compelled to restore that stone And when they offered a sufficient valuable price the Saracens refused to receiue any other composition then the stone But the Pillar lifted vp it selfe that the Saracens might take away their stone and so continueth Departing againe from this Citie you come into the Prouince Charchan about fiue dayes Iourney in length This Prouince hath plentie of all victuals beeing subiect to the Dominion of the Nephew of Great Cham. The Inhabitants worship Mahumet yet among them certaine Nestorian Christians dwell They are great Artificers and haue most of them great legges and a great Wenne or Bunch in the throat by reason of the waters which they drinke The Prouince Cotam followeth betweene the East and the North-east It is subiect to the Dominion of the Nephew of Great Cham and hath many Cities and Townes The chiefe Citie thereof is called Cotam The Prouince is extended eight dayes Iourney in length There is no want therein of any thing appertayning to the maintenance of life It hath plentie of Cotton Flaxe Hempe Corne and Wine But the people are not warlike yet good Artificers and Merchants They acknowledge Mahumet Proceeding further through the same Countrey you meet with the Prouince Peim extended fiue dayes Iourney in length It is subiect to Great Can and hath many Cities and Castles The chiefe Citie thereof is called Peim neere which runneth a Riuer wherein precious stones are found to wit Iasper stones and Chalcedonie The Inhabitants of the Countrey worship Mahumet and are Artificers and Merchants There is a custome in this Prouince that when any marryed man goeth into another place and returneth not home within twentie dayes it shall be lawfull for the Wife to marrie another Husband and the men also wheresoeuer they goe doe the like All those Prouinces aforesaid to wit Caschar Cotam Peim to the Citie of Lop are in the bounds of Great Turkie Ciarcian is subiect to the Tartars the name of the Prouince and chiefe Citie it hath many Cities and Castles Many precious stones are found there in the Riuers especially Iaspers and Chalcedonies which Merchants carrie euen to Ouchach to sel and make great gain From Peim to this Prouince and quite thorow it also it is al Sand with many bad waters and few good When any Armie passeth through this Prouince all the Inhabitants thereof with their Wiues Children Cattel and all their houshold stuffe flie two dayes Iourny into the sands where they know good waters are and stay there and carrie their Corne thither also to hide it in the sands after Haruest for like feares The wind doth so deface their steps in the sand that their Enemies cannot find out their way Departing from this Prouince you are to trauell fiue dayes Iourney thorow the sand where no other water almost then that which is bitter is to be found vntill you come vnto the Citie named Lop. Lop is a great Citie from whence is the entrance of a great Desart called also Lop seated betweene the East and the North-east The Inhabitants are Mahumetans subiect to the Great Can. In it Merchants who desire to passe ouer the Desart cause all necessaries to be prouided for them And when victuals beginne to faile in the Desart they kill the Asses and Camels and eate them They most willingly vse Camels because they are sustayned with little meate and beare great burthens They must prouide victuals for a moneth to crosse it ouer-thwart for to goe thorow the length would aske a yeares time They goe thorow the sands and barren Mountaines and daily find water yet is it sometimes so little that it can scarsly suffice fiftie or one hundred men with their beasts and in three or foure places the water is salt and bitter the rest which are eight and twentie good In it are neither beasts nor birds They say that there dwell many spirits which cause great and meruailous Illusions to Trauellers to make them perish For if any stay behind that he cannot see his company he shall be called by name and so going out of the way is lost In the night they heare the noyse as it were of a company which taking to bee theirs they perish likewise Other apparances as of their companions or of enemies haue caused some to miscarrie Consorts of Musicall Instruments are sometimes heard in the Ayre likewise Drummes and noyses of Armes They goe therefore neere together hang Bels on their beasts neckes and set markes if any stay Hauing passed ouer the Desart you come vnto the Citie Sachion betwixt the East and North-east subiect to the Great Can in the Prouince of Tanguth where among the Worshippers of Mahumet a few Nestorian Christians are found Many Idolaters are also there who haue their proper Language The Inhabitants of this Citie liue not of Merchandize but the fruits of the Earth This Citie hath many Monasteries consecrated to diuers Idols in the which many Sacrifices are offered and great reuerence And when a Sonne is borne vnto a man hee presently commendeth him to some Idoll and in honour thereof nourisheth a sheepe that yeere in his house which he presenteth before it together with his Sonne the next Festiuall Day of that Idoll with many Ceremonies and great reuerence Afterward the flesh of the sheepe is boyled and left so long before the Idoll while their Prayers are finished which they make for the conseruation of their Sonne and the Idoll hath sucked out the sauour of the meate after which their fancie all his kindred being gathered together eate that flesh at home with great deuotion and ioy but orderly keepe the bones in certayne vessels The Priests haue the feete head inwards skinne and some part of the flesh for their share In celebrating the Funerals of such as were of esteeme the dead bodies are burned
the things which she bringeth with her and all her house-hold stuffe But besides her they may marrie I say they may keepe and doe keepe as many as they are able as many Wiues as they will which for the most part they buy and afterward when they will sell them away againe They may not only not marrie with any Kinswomen of their Wiues but with none of that surname though they haue no shew of Alliance The sonnes of the Concubines doe likewise inherit and there is little or no difference in their state and honour to be the Sonne of the lawfull Wife or of the other neyther make they any question of it The thing wherein the Chinois are most obseruant Ceremonious and Superstitious is in their Burials Funerals and Mournings for herein they shew their obedience and loue to their Parents whereof their bookes are full It is a very ordinary thing to haue great respect to their Father and Mother and the disobedient are grieuously punished Many graue men and Mandarins begge leaue of the King to leaue their Offices which they haue and to goe home to keepe their Father and Mother company yeelding for a reason that they be old and that they would goe to serue them And it is a Petition in the sight of all men so iust that they grant it very vsually When the Father or the Mother dieth all the Sonnes and Daughters from the King to the meanest Peasant doe mourne for three yeares The mourning colour which among vs is blacke Bayes among them is white Linnen whereof they make all their apparell euen to the Cap. The first monethes they weare a very rough Sack-cloth girded with a Coard like the bare-footed Friers And though he be neuer so great a Mandarin without any exception saue only the Mandarins of the Warre assoone as hee heareth newes of the death of any of his Parents he is to leaue his Office and Dignitie and all other Employment whatsoeuer of Gouernment and Examinations of obtayning his degree and is to goe home for three yeares to burie his Father or Mother and to mourne and bewaile them The graue men which haue an house for this purpose doe not straitway burie their dead but keepe them two or three yeares in the house in a Chamber which they keepe for this Office and it is not the worst in the house and very vsually or euery day they go thither to make them a thousand Ceremonies and Reuerences and to burne Incense and other sweet sauours and to set ouer the place where they be laid meate to eate and at seuerall times many of those Bonzi doe meet and with great Ceremonies begin their Seruice and Prayers and their Sonnes Kinsefolkes and Wiues make lamentation The Mandarins do not only leaue their Offices and change their Weeds but also all the things which they did vse Many sit not in Chaires but vpon low Stooles they visit or suffer themselues to be seene very seldome they change euen the very Paper wherein they write wherein they haue a piece of another colour in token of mourning when they name themselues in their Letters they vse not the name which they did at other times but others proper to the partie as when he nameth himselfe hee calleth himselfe disobedient signifying that by his disobedience to his Parents he did not preserue them aliue They vse no kind of Musikce and many change their ordinarie Diet into courserfood Vpon the Funerall day they prouide great company many Kinsfolkes and Friends meete together all clad in white with many Bonzi according to euery mans abilitie which sing with dolefull Instruments And by their apparell which they weare and their time in singing hee that knew them not would take them for Clerkes reuested singing plaine Song for they much resemble them They make many Beeres with men of Paper or of white Silke many Banners and other Ensignes The place whither the Corps goeth is adorned with many figures the Corps is put into a very great Coffin This Nation holdeth a great part of their felicitie for them and their Successours to consist in these things of their Funerals especially in two the Coffin or Chist wherein the Corps is to be layed and the place of their buriall The stuffe to make the Coffin of wherein themselues are to bee buried and the making of the Coffin they leaue not to others to doe after their deathes neither then may the body looke for much cost to make one of these Coffins neither in this as a thing of great importance will they trust no not their owne Sons but they themselues at leisure seeke some kind of Wood that is least corruptible and Plankes which are commonly foure sixe or eight fingers thicke which because they bee so thicke and the Chists or Coffins very closely shut they can keepe their Corps in their Houses without any euill smell Some spend in making their Coffin seuenty eighty and an hundred Duckets They hold it for a felicity to be able to get one of these that is good on the contrary for a great disgrace not to haue a Coffin to burie himselfe in and they are very few which faile in that one point The Sepulchre and place thereof is the thing for choosing whereof they vse great Sorcerie or casting of Lots and doe it with great heedfulnesse and with the helpe of some that are skilfull in this Art For they hold opinion that in making a good choice of the place dependeth a great part of their owne good fortune and of their Posteritie And oftentimes they are a yeare in resoluing whether it shall looke toward the North or to any other part And therefore the greatest and most contentious Sutes which are in China are about places of Burials These places of Burials are alwayes without the wals in the fields or Mountaynes wherein they build Vaults very well made and strong of Bricke stone or other matter wherein they lay the Coffin and then close it vp very surely And afterward now and then they come thither to performe certain Ceremonies to bring things to eat They hold it very vnluckie to burie a dead man in the Citie and if they know it though he were the greatest man that is in China they will not suf-him to bewaile his dead Friends much especially those which are women There are many which beleeue the passing of the soules from one bodie into another and therefore after the death of their Father and Mother they will neuer kill any liuing beast yeelding for a reason why they will not doe so lest some of them should be their Mother or Father or some other other person And likewise many of them fast because that whereas some of them bee poore they desire afterward to be borne againe in a rich and honourable Family Although it bee true that the most part of them beleeue not in Idols and it offendeth them
their Neighbours Stone Timber Lime in exchange of Fish Frogs and young Kids and for Ducks Water-hens Courlieus and diuers other kindes of Sea fowles All which things they did fish and hunt for in this Lake whereof there is great abundance They went with these things to the Markets of the Townes and Cities of the Tapanecans and of them of Tescuco their neighbours and with policy they gathered together by little and little what was necessarie for the building of their Citie so as they built a better Chappell for their Idoll of lime and stone and laboured to fill vp a great part of the Lake with rubbish This done the Idoll spake one night to one of his Priests in these termes Say vnto the Mexicans that the Noblemen diuide themselues euery one with their Kinsfolks and Friends and that they diuide themselues into foure principall quarters about the house which you haue built for my rest and let euery quarter build in his quarter at his pleasure The which was put in execution and those be the foure principall quarters of Mexico which are called at this day Saint Iean Saint Mary the round Saint Paul and Saint Sebastian After this the Mexicans being thus diuided into these foure quarters their god commanded them to diuide amongst them the gods he should name to them and that they should giue notice to euery quarter principall of the other foure particall quarters where their gods should bee worshipped So as vnder euery one of these foure principall quarters there vvere many lesse comprehended according to the number of the Idols which their god commanded them to worship which they called Calpultetco which is as much to say as God of the quarters In this manner the Citie of Mexico Tenoxtiltan was founded and grew great This diuision being made as aforesaid some old Men and Ancients held opinion that in the diuision they had not respected them as they deserued for this cause they and their Kinsfolke did mutinie and went to seeke another residence and as they went through the Lake they found a small piece of Ground or Terrasse which they call Tloteloli where they inhabited calling it Tlatellulco which signifies Place of a Terrasse This was the third diuision of the Mexicans since they left their Country That of Mechonacan being the first and that of Malinalco the second Those which separated themselues and went to Tlatellulco were famous men but of bad disposition and therefore they practised against the Mexicans their neighbours all the ill neighbourhood they could They had alwayes quarrels against them and to this day continues their hatred and old leagues They of Tenoxtiltan seeing them of Tlatellulco thus opposite vnto them and that they multiplyed feared that in time they might surmount them hereupon they assembled in counsell where they thought it good to choose a King whom they should obey and strike terrour into their Enemies that by this meanes they should bee more vnited and stronger among themselues and their Enemies not presume too much against them Being thus resolued to choose a King they tooke another aduice very profitable and assured to choose none among themselues for the auoyding of dissentions and to gayne by their new King some other neighbour Nations by whom they were inuironed being destitute of all succours All well considered both to pacifie the King of Culhuacan whom they had greatly offended hauing slaine and slayed the daughter of his predecessor and done him so great a scorne as also to haue a King of the Mexican blood of which generation there were many in Culhuacan which continued there since the time they liued in peace amongst them they resolued to choose for their King a young man called Acamapixtli sonne to a great Mexican Prince and of a Lady daughter to the King of Calhuacan Presently they sent Ambassadors with a great Present to demand this man who deliuered their Ambassage in these termes Great Lord wee your Vassals and Seruants placed and shut vp in the Weedes and Reedes of the Lake alone and abandoned of an the Nations of the World led onely and guided by our god to the place where wee are which falls in the iurisdiction of your limits of Ascapusalco and of Tescuco Although you haue suffered vs to liue and remayne there yet will wee not neither is it reason to liue without a Head and Lord to command correct and gouerne vs instructing vs in the course of our life and defending vs from our Enemies Therefore wee come to you knowing that in your Court and House there are Children of our generation linckt and allied with yours issued from our entrailes and yours of our bloud and yours among the which wee haue knowledge of a Grand-child of yours and ours called Acamapixth Wee beseech you therefore to giue him vs for Lord wee will esteeme him as hee deserues seeing hee is of the Linage of the Lords of Mexico and the Kings of Culhuacan The King hauing consulted vpon this point and finding it nothing inconuenient to bee allied to the Mexicans who were valiant men made them answere That they should take his grand-child in good time adding thereunto that if he had beene a woman hee would not haue giuen her noting the foule fact before spoken of ending his discourse with these wordes Let my grand-child goe to serue your god and be his Lieutenant to rule and gouerne his Creatures by whom we liue who is the Lord of Night Day and Windes Let him goe and be Lord of the Water and Land and possesse the Mexican Nation take him in good time and vse him as my sonne and grand-child The Mexicans gaue him thankes all ioyntly desiring him to marry him with his owne hand so as hee gaue him to wife one of the noblest Ladies amongst them They conducted the new King and Queene with all honor possible and made him a solemne reception going all in generall forth to see the King whom they led into Palaces which were then but meane and hauing seated them in Royall Thrones presently one of the Ancients and an Orator much esteemed amongst them did rise vp speaking in this manner My sonne our Lord and King thou art welcome to this poore House and Citie amongst these weeds and mud where thy poore fathers Grand-fathers and Kinsfolks endure what it pleaseth the Lord of things created Remember Lord thou commest hither to be the defence and support of the Mexican Nation and to be the resemblance of our god Vitzliputzli whereupon the charge and gouernment is giuen thee Thou knowest wee are not is our Country seeing the Land we possesse at this day is anothers neither know we what shall become of vs to morrow or another day Consider therefore that thou commest not to rest or recreate thy selfe but rather to indure a new charge vnder so heauy a burden wherein thou must continually labour being slaue to this multitude which is fallen to thy lot and to all this
chosen and the rest returne home sorrowfull And when they will depart they are not suffered to carrie any away with them but faithfully restore them to their Parents The Mayden also requireth some toy or small Present of him who hath defloured her which shee may shew as an argument and proofe of her deflouring And shee that hath beene loued and abused of most men and shall haue many such fauours and toyes to shew to her Wooers is accounted more noble and may more easily and honourably be married And when shee will goe honourably attired shee hangeth all her Louers fauours about her necke and the more acceptable shee was to many of so much the more honour is shee adiudged worthie But when they are once married to husbands they are now no more suffered to be coupled with strange men And the men of this Countrie are very wary that they offend not one another in this matter They are Idolaters and cruell men thinking it no sinne if they rob and exercise theft They liue by hunting and the fruits of the earth Many beasts also are found with them yeelding Muske called by them Gudderi They haue a proper Language and haue no money not the Paper money of Can but spend Corals for money and are clothed with the skins of beasts or course Hempe This Countrey appertayneth to the Prouince of Tebeth for Tebeth is a very large Prouince and hath beene sometime diuided into eight Kingdomes hauing many Cities and Townes with many Mountaynes Lakes and Riuers where Gold is found The women weare Corall about their neckes and hang it about the neckes of their Idols as a precious thing In this Countrey there are very great Dogs as big as Asses which take wilde Beasts specially wilde Oxen called Beyamini They are exceeding Necromancers causing tempests lightnings thunderbolts and many other wonders There are many sorts of Spices neuer brought into these parts This Thebeth is as all the former Prouinces subiect to the Can. On the West of the Prouince of Tebeth bordereth the Prouince of Caindu sometimes gouerned by her owne Kings now by the Gouernours of the Can. By the West you must not vnderstand that the Countries are in the West but that wee departing from those parts which are betwixt the East and North-east come hither Westward and therefore reckon them Westward The people are Idolaters haue many Cities the chiefe called by the name of the Prouince Caindu built in the entry of the Prouince There is a great salt Lake in which is store of Pearles white not round so abundant that the price of them would become little worth if they were suffered to be carried away at mens pleasures Whereupon it is prouided vpon payne of death that none should presume to fish for Pearle in this Lake without the licence of great Can. There is also a Mountaine in which is found a Minerall of Turkesse stones confined to the like licence Many Gadderi are also in this Prouince which yeeld Muske That Lake also which ingendreth Pearle in such plentie aboundeth with Fishes and the whole Countrey is full of wilde Beasts that is to say of Lions Beares Stags Deere Ounces Roe-buckes and diuers kinds of Birds Cloues are found there in great plentie which are gathered from small Trees which haue boughs and leaues like the Bay-tree but somewhat longer and straighter white flowers and little as are the Cloues and when they are ripe they are blacke and duskie Ginger Cinamon and diuers other Spices grow there in great plentie which are not brought vnto our Countries Wine groweth not in it but in stead thereof they make excellent Drinke of Corne Rice and diuers other Spices The Inhabitants of this Countrey worship Idols by which they are so besotted that they thinke they deserue their fauour if they prostitute their wiues sisters and daughters to bee abused by Trauellers For when any Stranger commeth amongst them euery housholder seeketh to giue him entertainment and goe their way leauing the femals and house to the Strangers will and returne not vntill they depart And the women presently hang vp some signe till he be gone that when the Master of the familie returneth he may know he is there still and goe away againe staying without till he be departed which hee doth for the glorie of his Idols hoping they will be more gracious vnto him Certaine twigs of Gold are their money vsing weights and according to the weight of the twig is the value of the money And this money is the greater money without stampe They haue also a lesser which they make after this manner They boyle Salt in a Caldron an houres space of which being congealed they make little lumps like two-pennie loaues which being made solid is signed with the Princes Stampe and make great profit thereof in sauage places remote from Cities which haue store of Muske and Gold and want Chapmen These bartar their Gold for Salt to vse in their meats Leauing this Prouince they proceed fifteene dayes iourney further and in the meane space meet with Castles and many Villages whose Inhabitants haue the same customes that the Prouince of Caindu hath and at length they come vnto a Riuer called Brius where the Prouince of Caindu is bounded In this Riuer Gold is found in great plentie which they call Di Paiola washed in vessels to seuer it from the sands and earth On the bankes thereof Cinamon groweth in great abundance This Riuer runneth to the Ocean Hauing passed ouer the Riuer Brius they come westward to the Prouince Caraian which contayneth seuen Kingdomes It is subiect to the Great Câ—n whose sonne named Sentemur is made King of that Kingdome who is rich wise and iust The Inhabitants thereof are Idolaters You ride fiue dayes and finde it all well peopled They liue of their Beasts and Fruits The Countrey breedeth excellent Horses and it hath a peculiar and difficult language At the end of those fiue dayes is the chiefe Citie called Iaci and it is great and famous hath in it many Merchants and Artificers and many sorts of People Idolaters Christians Nestorians and Saracens but the most Idolaters It hath Corne and much Rice although they eate no bread of Corne because it is not wholâ—ome but they make bread of Rice They make drinke also of it and diuers Spices very pleasant They vse white Porcelanes in stead of money and for ornaments which are found at the Sea Much Salt is made in this Citie of the water of salt Wells whereof the King hath great profit The men of this Countrey care not if any man come to their Wiues so they giue their consent There is also a Lake there very full of Fish contayning an hundreth miles in compasse Those men eate raw flesh of Hennes Beefe Mutton and Buffals but prepared after this manner They first breake it into small pieces and after season it with
Emperour passed the people assembled themselues by thousands praysing and singing his Victories We arriued at the last at Samarcand with all our spoyles in very great magnificence where after we had beene the space of one moneth or two in Feastings and Manificences the Emperour with his accustomed Deuotion hauing in great solemnitie vowed a Church and Hospitall vnto his God the most magnificent that might bee deuised Whereupon to performe the same he began to search out all sorts of Handicrafts men for to honour this Citie the which hee had a desire to make one of the stateliest Cities in the World And in one of the corners thereof he began and did build there his Temple and Hospitall making an account to increase yet this Citie as large againe as it was and to people the same with so many seuerall kinds of people and Nations as hee had brought with him giuing libertie vnto them all to frame and build their Houses causing money to be distributed to do the same and giuing all kinds of Priuiledges and Freedomes vnto the Prisoners for to giue them a greater desire to build and settle themselues there and hauing caused the streets and places to be plotted and hauing appointed a place for euery one to build vpon hee tooke no other pleasure neither had he any other care then the preseruing the good will of his most famous Souldiers whose name hee hauing caused to bee written in a generall Muster-booke the which 〈◊〉 commanded to be made from day to day they not thinking thereof receiued honours and good turnes of the Prince in recompence of their so great seruices Now he declared the death of the Emperour his Vncle vnto his Councell of which he before had receiued Intelligence but kept it close and forgot no Ceremony due vnto the honour of the said Emperour outwardly shewing the griefe he conceiued for his death where after hee had rested some eight dayes hee determined to goe vnto Quinzai for to see the Empresse and hauing left Baiazet in the custodie of the Gouernour of Zachetay the Emperour set forward with his ordinary Court which was of forty thousand Horse and threescore thousand Foot-men The Emperour being come vnto Cambalu receiued newes of the Battell Odmar had wonne against the King of Chinas Captayne Generall and how he pursued his Victory hauing taken three or foure great and rich Cities the which did yeeld themselues vnto him and that againe the Chinois did desire peace The Emperour sent the Articles he required which were that before all other things the King of China should pay the Arrerages of the Tribute the which hee had agreed with the Emperour First he should come in person to doe homage vnto his Majesty and acknowledge himselfe as Vassall vnto his Empire That the Army should withdraw it selfe during his Voyage and he should deliuer vp vnto him all his Cities sauing three such as the Emperour should nominate and that the things should be restored vnto the same estate they were in before the Warre when the Emperour made the first peace that hee should pay the Army for sixe moneths and should also satisfie all the expences of the War seeing he had begunne it and was Author of the breach of peace Then the Emperour gratified Odmar sending vnto him for Wife one of his Sisters with all magnificence that might be for to make him the more affectioned vnto him I will declare how the Emperour was receiued at Cambalu by his Subjects with all the magnificence possible the Emperour for to gratifie them hauing restored their Priuiledges the which he had taken from them for the Rebellion they had committed with Calix so as the Emperour went ouer all gratifying his Subjects for this new Succession that was lately fallen vnto him all the Companies comming vnto him for in these Countreyes they haue no certayne dwellings they are alwayes wandring in troupes wheresoeuer they goe thither the Empresse hauing left Prince Axalla to gouerne at Quinzai came vnto him The Prince remayned there almost two moneths hauing in this place giuen order for all the Affaires he had Cambalu was also neere vnto mount Althay where they vse to bury the Scythian Emperours whom we doe call the great Cham. The Emperor caused the body of the Emperour his Vncle to be brought thither and himselfe would conduct it with all pompe honouring not only his body but also all that hee had loued in the World and although it was not the custome to cause women for to assist the Funerals yet would he affoord this honour vnto the Empresse that she should assist the bringing of the body going neere vnto the same This he did the more to make appeare how much he honoured the memory of the late Emperour in his Wife being his Daughter and also to the end that if God did take him away his children being small shee should haue the greater authority and bee the better acknowledged worthy to gouerne in the minoritie of his Children and also for that shee had beene brought vp alwayes in authority euen since shee was marryed The Prince desiring thereby the more to acknowledge the honour the Emperour his Vncle had done him by adopting him as his Sonne and in hauing left him so great and large an Empire as that was whereof he left vnto him the possession Now the Emperour loued her onely hauing no other affection in such pleasure but only the happinesse of a faire Off-spring the which he hoped for Now the body of the late Emperour being come vnto Cambalu he determined to conduct it vnto the buriall according vnto the accustomed Ceremony and to put the body with the Kings and Emperours his Ancestors After he had from point to point performed the last Will and Testament of the late Emperour he returned from thence vnto Cambalu where he spent all Winter in Tilt and Turnying going a hunting making his abode there because he was in a place neerest vnto the Kingdome of China to know how matters passed there hauing now brought thither his last Affaires purposing to goe thither in person the next Winter if Odmar did not make an end of the Wars alreadie begunne and if the King of China did not submit himselfe wholly vnder his obedience hauing determined not to depart from Cambalu vntill this Countrey were pacified the marke he shot at being only to keepe that which his valour was able to conquer through his good fortune being desirous to spend the rest of his life in enjoying the fruits of his trauels and for to publish his prayses vnto his people and with Millions to maintayne them in peace He had also a purpose to bring vnto an end that which hee had determined to doe at Samarcand Now Axalla was at Quinzai as well vnto the contentment of all the men of Warre as the Inhabitants who desired much to see their Prince and hauing caused Prince Axalla in their behalfe to beseech it that it would
Citie where these fellowes bee I informed my selfe of them and learned the truth These Moores as they told me in times past came in great Ships fraught with merchandise from Pachin ward to a Port granted vnto them by the King as hee is wont to all them that trafficke into this Countrey where they being arriued at a little Towne standing in the hauens mouth in time conuerted vnto their Sect the greatest Loutea there When that Loutea with all his family was become Moorish the rest began likewise to doe the same In this part of China the people bee at libertie euery one to worship and follow what him liketh best Wherefore no bodie tooke heed thereto vntill such time as the Moores perceiuing that many followed them in superstition and that the Loutea fauoured them they began to forbid wholly the eating of Swines-flesh But all this Countrey men and women choosing rather to forsake Father and Mother then to leaue off eating of Porke by no meanes would yeeld to that proclamation For besides the great desire they all haue to eate that kind of meate many of them doe hue thereby and therefore the people complained vnto the Magistrates accusing the Moores of a conspiracie pretended betwixt them and the Loutea against their King In this Countrey as no suspition no not one trayterous word is long borne withall so was the King speedily aduertised thereof who gaue commandement out of hand that the aforesaid Loutea should bee put to death and with him the Moores of most importance the other to be layd first in Prison and afterward to bee sent abroad into certaine Cities where they remayned perpetuall slaues vnto the King To this Citie came by hap men and women threescore and odde who at this day are brought to fiue men and foure women for it is now twentie yeeres agoe this happened Their off-spring passeth the number of two hundred and they in this Citie as the rest in other Cities whither they were sent haue their Moscheas whereunto they all resort euery Friday to keepe their Holiday But as I thinke that will no longer endure then whiles they doe liue that came from thence for their posteritie is so confused that they haue nothing of a Moore in them but abstinence from Swines-flesh and yet many of them doe eate thereof priuily They tell me that their natiue Countrey hath name Camarian a firme land wherein bee many Kings and the Indish Countrey well knowne vnto them It may so be for as soone as they did see our seruants our seruants were Preuzaretes they iudged them to bee Indians many of their words sounded vpon the Persicke tongue but none of vs could vnderstand them I asked them whither they conuerted any of the Chinish Nation vnto their Sect they answered me that with much adoe they conuerted the women with whom they doe marrie yeelding me no other cause thereof but the difficultie they finde in them to bee brought from eating Swines-flesh and drinking of Wine I haue learned morâ—ouer that the Sea whereby these Moores that came to China were wont to trauell is a very great gulfe that falleth into this Countrey out from Tartaria and Persia leauing on the other side all the Countrey of China and land of the Mogorites drawing alwayes toward the South and of all likelyhood it is euen so because that these Moores the which wee haue seene bee rather browne then white whereby they shew themselues to come from some warmer Countrey then China is neere to Pachin where the Riuers are frozen in the winter for cold and many of them so vehemently that Carts may passe oâ—er them Wee did see in this Citie many Tartars Mogorites Bremes and Laoynes both men and women The Tartars are men very white good Horse-men and Archers confining with China on that side where Pachin standeth separated from thence by great Mountaines that are betwixt these Kingdomes Ouer them bee certaine wayes to passe and for both sides Castles continually kâ—pt with Souldiers in time past the Tartars were wont alwayes to haue warres with the Chineans but these fourescore yeeres past they were quiet vntill the second yeere of our Imprisonment The Mogores bee in like manner white and Heathen wee are aduertised that of one side they border vpon these Tartars and confine with the Persicke Tartares on the other side whereof wee saw in them some tokens as their manner of cloathes and that kinde of Hat the Saracens doe weare The Mooresâ—ffirmed â—ffirmed that where the King lyeth there bee many Tartars and Mogorites â—hat brought into China certaine Blewes of great value As for the Bremes wee haue seene â—n this Citie Chenchi certaine men and women amongst whom there was one that came not long since hauing as yet her hayre tyed vp after the Pegues fashion this woman and other moe with whom a blacke Moore damosell in our company had conference and did vnderstand them well enough had dwelt in Peghu This new come woman imagining that wee meant to make our abode in that Citie bid vs to bee of good comfort for that her Countrey was not distant from thence aboue fiue dayes iourney and that out of her Countrey there lay a high way for vs home into our owne Being asked the way shee answered that the first three dayes the way lyeth ouer certaine great mountaines and wildernesse afterward people to bee met withall againe Thence two dayes iourney more to the Bremes Countrey Wherefore I doe conclude that Chenchi is one of the confines of this Kingdome separated by certaine huge Mountaines as it hath beene already sayd that lye out towards the South In the residue of these mountaines standeth the Prouince Sian the Laoyns Countrey Cambaia Chinapa and Cochinchina This Citie chiefe of other sixteene is situated in a pleasant Playne abounding in things necessarie Sea-fish onely excepted for it standeth farre from the Sea of fresh Fish so much store that the Market-places are neuer emptie The walls of this Citie are very strong and high one day did I see the Louteas thereof goe vpon the walls to take the view thereof borne in their seates I spake of before accompanied with a troupe of Horse-men that went two and two It was told me they might haue gone three and three Wee haue seene moreouer that within this aforesaid Citie the King hath more than a thousand of his kindred lodged in great Palaces in diuers parts of the Citie their gates bee red and the entrie into their houses that they may be knowne for that is the Kings colour These Gentlemen according to their nearnesse in bloud vnto the King as soone as they bee married receiue their place in Honour this place neither encreaseth nor diminisheth in any respect as long as the King liueth the King appointeth them their Wiues and Familie allowing them by the moneth all things necessarie abundantly as hee doth to his Gouernours of Shires and Cities howbeit
the left hand an Arab Dagger on the right the other part of their habite Iaponian The pompe of all sorts and the Ordnance attended them to the Vatican there the Italian Garrison and Heluetian Guard with their Peeces and military Musicke receiued them Then were they lead into the Hall and after all things there finished the Legates carried the Popes traine at his departure And on the fiue and twentieth day festiuall for the Annuntiation the Pope going on solemne Procession these Legates rode in the last place What should I say more sayth our Authour it cannot be told how all magnifie the mercy of God which brings farre more at this time from the East and West to the Catholike Church then the Deuill hath seduced in the North. These Iaponian Lords returned into India 1586. as Valignanus writeth and were much endangered by a tempest Their returne into Iapon is signified by the Letters of Michael to the Archbishop of Ebora testifying their arriuall the one and twentieth of Iuly 1590. at Nangasach with the said Valignanus and by the Letter of Don Sancius Sonne and Successour to Bartholmew Prince of Omur to Pope Xistus the fifth with thankes for the wood of the Crosse and the Sword sent his Father which should be kept amongst his principall Iewels Protasius also the King of Arima wrote to the Great and most holy Pope Xistus or Sixtus in this manner On the sixteenth of the sixth Moone which was the one and twentieth of Iuly 1690. heere arriued the Father Visitour of the Societie of Iesus with Cingiua Don Michael my kins-man Don Mancius and other companions which I had sent to Rome to put their heads vnder your Holinesse feet Whose comming did as much reioyce me as if a thousand Autumnes had comne to me and ten thousand yeeres had beene added to my life Don Michael related with what honour and fauour hee was entertayned of your Holinesse of King Philip and other Catholike Princes for which I render those thankes which Pen and Paper cannot expresse He deliuered me Letters also which your Holinesse vouchsafed mee fauourably reckoning mee amongst the Christian Kings Hee brought me also part of the holy Wood of the true Crosse a Hat and a Sword which your Holinesse is wont to send to Christian Kings and Princes Which fauour and studies are such and so esteemed of mee that I haue determined to consecrate them to eternall memory and to place them amongst my chiefe Treasures and the Ornaments and Monuments of my posteritie And this honour conferred on mee is such that greater cannot be in this life and it redounds vnto a future good life I had determined according to the order prescribed of your H. in his Letters and as the fauour and so great benefits bestowed on mee deserued to haue receiued the said Presents with all the celebritie and pompe that might be in my Kingdome but the Father Visitour shewed mee that respect was to be had of the tyrannie and great hatred wherewith Quabacondono the Lord of all Iapon persecuteth the Fathers and Christians these three yeeres together and this feast to be deferred till he returneth from Meaco whither hee is going in Embassage from the Vice-roy of India to Quabacondono c. The ninth yeere of the Era called Tenscio the tenth of the eighth Moone which is the two and twentieth of September An. 1590. At your Highnesse feet Arimano Sciurino Daibu Don Protasius This Quabacondono as L. Froes writeth was now growne the greatest Monarch that euer Iapon had hauing ascended thereunto from a base estate which was as hee hath diuers times with his owne mouth confessed to cut wood and to carrie it to the Market to sell for his daily food Nobunanga his Predecessor had growne to great height such as many ages had not there seene In Frenoiama eight hundred yeeres before a King of Iapon had builded 3800. Temples with houses adioyned for the Bonziâ— which employed themselues in the studie of the Lawes and Sects for whose quietnesse he remoued the Husbandmen and builded them two streets allowing to their maintenance about the third part of the Customes or Rents of the Vomen Kingdome Thus became it a fountaine of their superstitions In time those Temples dispersed in sixteene Vallies were lessened to 800. and the Bonzian discipline and studies melted into pleasures hardned into Armes and ranged into robberies so that they fired Meaco with great slaughter and opposed Nobunanga who hauing destroyed the Militarie Bonzi called â—coxos and taken away their Castles inuaded Frenoiama professing he feared not their Gods On the top of a Hill was the Temple of Quanon to whom prayers and pilgrimages were made for health wealth and long life and yeerely solemnities and Playes with huge pompe and cost were made in his honour to which the Gibon feast at Meaco succeeded with frequency of men deuices of work-men and such order that it may appeare that Satan there imitates the anniuersary solemnitie of Corpus Christi amongst vs. Thither the Bonzi had gotten but it and they and their streets were destroyed and foure hundred Temples with their furniture burned At Facusangin also were a thousand houses of the Bonzi by themselues besides Monasteries which he destroyed Xinguea the King of Cainochun had forced his Father to exile and imprisoned his elder Brother and then seized on the Kingdome after which he shaued his beard and haire and became a Bonzo and would needs repaire Frenoiama and stiling himselfe Chiefe in the house of the Kings and of Religions gathered an Armie Nabunanga wrote to him calling himselfe Tamer of Deuils and enemie of Sects Hee proceeded first against the Bonzi with these terrours and after would needs himselfe be worshipped but eighteene dayes after in a conspiracy of his owne against him he was slaine and his dispersed Quabacondono succeeded and in greatnesse of attempts and ambition exceeded This Quabacondono is a title which Faxiba assumed and is as much as Treasurer These titles are giuen by the Vo or Dairi descended of the ancient Kings and now enioying a strange Empire which is to giue titles of honour for which all great men haue their Factors with him and is esteemed as a God not suffered to tread on the ground that were deposition nor often seene and gets much treasure out of those Titles which he so often changeth that the King of Bungo was by the Iesuites obserued foure and thirty times to haue altered his appellations There is a high Priest who with Papall power authorizeth Sects confirmeth and consecrateth the Tundi or Bishops which are nominated by the Kings and enioyeth Royall reuenues The Quingue is the third person and hath power ouer Iudgements and Warres But the Lords of Tensa that is such as haue power to get into their hands Meaco and the Region adioyning are really chiefe Lords and command the State though in seeming ceremonie as the Turkes to
of the Emperour for their seruice in his Warres to the summe of seuen hundred Rubbels a yeere and none aboue that summe But in this number the Lord Borris Federowich Godenoe is not to bee reckoned that is like a Transcendent and in no such predicament with the rest being the Emperours Brother in law his Protector for direction for Command and authoritie Emperour of Russia His yeerely reuenue in Land and Pension amounteth to the summe of 93700. Rubbels and more as appeareth by the particulars Hee hath of inheritance which himselfe hath augmented in Vasma Dorogobose sixe thousand Rubbels a yeere For his office of Connick or Master of the Horse twelue thousand Rubbels or Marcks raised out of the Conaslue Sloboday or the liberties pertayning to that Office which are certayne Lands and Townes neere about the Mosco Besides all the meadow and pasture ground on both sides the banke of the Riuer Mosko thirtie verst vp the streame and fortie verst downwards For his pension of the Emperour besides the other for his Office fifteene thousand Rubbels Out of the Prouince or Shire of Vagha there is giuen him for a peculiar exempted out of the Chetfird of Posolskoy two and thirtie thousand Rubbels besides a rent of Furres Out of Rezan and Seuer another peculiar thirtie thousand Rubbels Out of Oâ—â—er and Turiock another exempt place eight thousand Rubbels For rent of Bath-stoaues and Bathing-houses without the walls of Mosko fifteene hundred Rubbels Besides his Pomâ—st or Lands which hee holdeth at the Emperours pleasure which farre exceedeth the proportion of land allotted to the rest of the Nobilitie One other there is of the house of Glinskoy that dispendeth in Land and Pension about fortie thousand Rubbels yeerely Which hee is suffered to enioy because he hath marryed Borris his wiues Sister being himselfe very simple and almost a naturall The ordering of him and his Lands are committed to Borris In the third ranke are the Voyauodey or such Nobles asure or haue beene Generals in the Emperours warres Which deliuer the honour of their Title to their posterities also who take their place aboue the other Dukes and Nobles that are not of the two former sorts viz. of the Vdelney knazâ—y nor of the Boiarens These three degrees of their Nobilitie to wit the Vdelney knazâ—y the Boiarens and the Voiauodey haue the addition of Vich put vnto their sirname as Borris Federowish c. which is a note of Honour that the rest may not vsurpe And in case it bee not added in the naming of them they may sue the Bestchest or penaltie of dishonour vpon them that otherwise shall tearme them The fourth and lowest degree of Nobilitie with them is of such as beare the name of Knazâ—y or Dukes but come of the younger Brothers of those chiefe Houses through many discents and haue no inheritance of their owne saue the bare name or title of Duke onely For their order is to deliuer their names and titles of their Dignities ouer to all their Children alike whatsoeuer else they leaue them So that the Sonnes of a Voiauodey or Generall in the field are called Voiauodey though they neuer saw the field and the Sonnes of a Knez or Duke are called Knazâ—y though they haue not one groat of inheritance or liuelyhood to maintayne themselues withall Of this sort there are so many that the plentie maketh them cheape so that you shall see Dukes glad to serue a meane man for fiue or sixe Rubbels or Marcks a yeere and yet they will stand highly vpon their Bestchest or reputation of their Honours And these are their seuerall degrees of Nobilitie The second degree of persons is of their Sina Boiarskey or the sonnes of Gentlemen which all are preferred and hold that Name by their seruice in the Emperours warres beâ—â—g Souldiers by their very stocke and birth To which order are referred their Dyacks or Secretaries that serue the Emperour in euery head Towne being joyned in Commission with the Dukes of that place The last are their Commons whom they call Mousicks In which number they reckon their Merchants and their common Artificers The very lowest and basest sort of this kinde which are held in no degree are their Countrey people whom they call Christianeis Of the Sina Boiarskey which are all Souldiers wee are to see in the description of their Forces and Militarie prouisions Concerning their Mousicks what their condition and behauiour is in the Title or Chapter Of the Common people THe whole Countrey of Russia as was sayd before is diuided into foure parts which they call Chetfirds or Tetrarchies Euery Chetfird contayneth diuers Shires and is annexed to a seuerall Office whereof it takes the name The first Chetfird or Tetrarchie beareth the name of Pososkoy Chetfird or the Iurisdiction of the office of Ambassages and at this time is vnder the chiefe Secretarie and officer of the Ambassages called Andreas Schalcaloue The standing fee or stipend that hee receiueth yeerely of the Emperour for this seruice is one hundred Rubbels or Marcks The second is called the Roseradney Chetfird because it is proper to the Roserade or high Constable At this time it pertayneth by vertue of Office to Basilie Shalcaloue Brother to the Chancellour but it is executed by one Zapon Abramoue His pension is an hundred Rubbels yeerely The third is the Chetfird of Pomestnoy as pertayning to that Office This keepeth a Register of all Lands giuen by the Emperour for seruice to his Noblemen Gentlemen and others giueth out and taketh in all Assurances for them The officer at this time is called Eleazar Wellusgine His stipend is fiue hundred Rubbels a yeere The fourth is called Cassauskoy Dworets as being appropriate to the Office that hath the iurisdiction of the Kingdomes of Cazan and Astracan with the other Townes lying vpon the Volgha now ordered by one Druzhine Penteleous a man of very speciall account among them for his wisedome and promptnesse in matters of policie His pension is one hundred and fiftie Rubbels a yeere From these Chetfirds or Tetrarchies is exempted the Emperours inheritance or Vochin as they call it for that it pertayned from ancient time to the House of Beala which is the sirname of the Imperiall bloud This standeth of sixe and thirtie Townes with their bounds or Territories Besides diuers peculiar Iurisdictions which are likewise deducted out of those Chetfirds as the Shire of Vagha belonging to the Lord Borrise Federowich Godonoe and such like These are the chiefe Gouernours or Officers of the Prouinces not resident at their charge abroad but attending the Emperour whither soeuer hee goeth and carrying their Offices about with them which for the most part they hold at Mosko as the Emperours chiefe seate The parts and practice of these foure Offices is to receiue all Complaints and Actions whatsoeuer that are brought out of their seuerall Chetfirds and Quarters and to informe them to the Emperours Councell Likewise to send
reprouing him for it and imputing cowardise vnto him he threw himselfe downe as aforesaid At which time the Mexicans had the victorie And thenceforth the Towne of Tlatilulco was subiect to the Lord of Mexico paying tribute and acknowledging subiection Axayacaci was very valiant and warlike in armes and was viciously giuen to women hauing had many wiues and sonnes he was also proud and warlike whereby all his subiects feared him extremely hee did maintaine and hold for good all the Lawes and Ordinances that his predecessor Gueguemotizuma had made according as hath beene mentioned in his Historie and hee continued the space of twelue yeeres in the said Lordship of Mexico at the end whereof he dyed and departed out of this present life A B C A twelue yeeres B Axayacaci C by armed force subdued these Townes following not as before expressed in picture Tlatilulco Atlapulco Xalatlanhio Tlacotepec Motopec Capulnac Ocoyâ—â—ac Quanhpanoayan Xochiacan Teotenanco Caliymayan Cinacantepec Tulucan Xiquipilco Tenancinco Tepeyacac Tlaximaloyan Oztoma Xacotitlan Ocuilan Oztoticpac Matlatlan Cuezcomatlyacac Tecalco Cuetlaxtlan Puxcauhtlan Alcuilizapan Tlaolan Mixtlan Cuecaloztoc Tetzapotitlan Miquizetlan Tamuoc Taupatel Tuchpan Tenexticpac Quauhtlan IN the yeere 1482. after the end and death of Axayacaci succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico Tiçoçicatzi sonne of the said Axayacaci and during the time of his raigne he conquered and got by force of armes fourteene Townes The said Tiçoçicatzi was very valiant and warlike in armes and before that he succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico he had done dangerous feates of valiantnesse in his owne person in the warres whereby hee obtayned the title of Tlacatecatl which they esteemed for a Title of great honour and estate and it was a degree whereâ—y that the Lordship of Mexico being vacant he which had the same degree and title succeeded in the place of the same Dominion of Mexico which title in like manner his Predecessors Brothers and Father and Grand-father had whereby they came to bee Lords of Mexico Also the said Ticocicatzi by the estate and authoritie of the said Lordship of Mexico had many Wiues and Sonnes which hee had by them and he was a graue and seuere man in commanding and was feared and reuerenced of his Subjects hee was likewise enclined to good and vertuous things and was good for his Commonwealth He commanded the Lawes and Statutes to bee kept and approoued for good that his Predecessors had amplified and kept since the time of Gueguemotezuma And he was zealous in punishing and chastning the euâ—ll vices and offence that his Subjects committed And so the Mexican Commonwealth was well ordered and gouerned the time of his life which was the space of fiue yeeres at the end whereof he dyed and departed this present life A B C A Fiue yeeres B Ticocicatzi C by armes subdued these Townes Tonahymoquezayan Toxico Ecatepec Zilan Tecaxic Tuluca Yancuitlan Tlapan Atezcahuacan Mazatlan Xochiyetla Tamapachco Ecatlyquapochco Miquetlan IN the yeere 1486. after the death of Tizizocatzi succeeded Ahuizozin brother to his Predecessor Tizozicatzi in the Signorie of Mexico And during the time of his Lordship he conquered by force of armes fiue and fortie Townes according as hereafter are pictured and named The said Ahuizozin was like to his Predecessor and Brother Tizizocatzi in valiantnesse and feates of warre whereby he got the title of Tlacatecatl which signifieth a great Captaine and from the same title he came to be Lord of Mexico The said Ahuizozin was by nature of a good inclination and giuen to all vertue and likewise in the course of his life hee had his Commonwealth ruled and gouerned well and he fulfilled and kept the Lawes and Statutes that his Predecessors had maintayned since the time of Gueguemotezuma And as the state of the Lordship of Mexico was brought to great Majestie and had the greatest part of this New Spaine subiect acknowledging their seruice and by the great and rich tributes which they gaue the said Mexican Lordship came to much renowme and mightinesse And he like a mightie and great minded Prince gaue great things and preferments to his seruants and he was temperate of condition and mercifull whereby his seruants loued him exceedingly and yeelded him great reuerence And likewise hee had many wiues and children by them because it was a thing adioyned to the Lordship and a point of great estate He was of a merrie condition whereby his seruants did feast him continually in his life time with great and diuers kindes of feasts and musick and songs and instruments as well in the night as in the day for in his place the Musicians and Singers neuer ceased with many Instruments of musicke The course of his life in that Signiorie was sixteene yeeres at the end whereof he dyed and passed out of this present life A B C A sixteene yeeres B Ahuizozin C conquered by armes the townes following Tziccoac Tlappan Molanco Amaxtlan Zapotlan Xaltepec Chiapan Tototepec Xochtlan Xolochiuhylan Cozaquanâ—tenanco Coçohuipilecan Coyâ—acac Acatepec Huexolotlan Acapulco Xiuâ—huacan Apancalecan Tecpatepec Tepechiapco Xicochimalco Xiuhteczacatlan Tequantepec Coyolapan Yztactlalocan Teocuitlatlan Huehaetlan Quanhxayacatitlan Yzhuatlan Comitlan Nanâ—zintlan Huipilan Cahualan Ystatlan Huiztlan Xolotlan Quanhnacaztlan Macatlan Ayanhtochiuitlatla Quanhtlan Cuâ—calcuitlapila Mapachtepâ—c Quauhpilolan Tlacoâ—â—pec Mizquitlan IN the yeere 1502. after the end and death of Ahuiçoçin succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico Motezuma Mexico was now growne into great Majestie Renowme and Authoritie and he by his grauitie and seueritie enlarged exceedingly the State and Dominion of Mexico yea a great deale more then his Predecessors Motexzeuma was the sonne of Axayaçaçi which had beene Lord of Mexico and before hee came to the said Lordship hee had the deserts of a worthy Captaine and a valiant man in warres whereby hee had the title of Tlacatecatl and so hee succeeded in the Lordship of Mexico as is before rehearsed and being in the said Lordship he did greatly increase the Mexican Empire bearing the rule ouer all the Townes in this New Spaine insomuch that they gaue and payed him great tributes of much riches and valâ—e He was feared very much of all his seruants and likewise of his Captaines and Principals insomuch that not one when they had any businesse with him for the great reuerence they had him iâ— durst for feare looke him in the face but that they held downe their eyes and their head low and enclined to the ground and many other extraordinarie respects and ceremonies they did vnto him for the Maiestie he represented vnto them not mentioned here for auoyding of tediousnesse After Mâ—tâ—zuma had succeeded in the said Lordship hee conquered foure and fortie Townes hereafter named and hee subdued them vnder his Lordship and Empire and in their acknowledging of seruitude all the continuance of his life they payed him many and great tributes as hereafter by their pictures and declarations is made manifest Moteçuma was by nature wise and an Astrologer and a Philosopher
the Sonne and after him his Nephew and Sonne to the first The Curacas and Noblemen held the same order of succession in their goods and Offices And after their manner they made excessiue Ceremonies and obsequies for the dead Being dead they presently held him for a God making Sacrifices vnto him Images and such like By this meanes there was infinite Treasure in Peru for euery one of the Inguas had laboured to haue his Oratorie and Treasure surpasse that of his Predecessors The marke or ensigne whereby they tooke possession of the Realme was a red roll of Wooll more then fine silke the which hung in the middest of his forehead and none but the Ingua alone might weare it for that it was as a Crowne and Royall Diademe yet they might lawfully weare a Roll hanging on the one side neere vnto the eare as some Noblemen did but onely the Ingua might carrie it in the middest of his forehead At such time as they tooke this Roll or Wâ—eathe they made solemne Feasts and many Sacrifices with a great quantitie of vessell of Gold and Siluer a great number of small formes or Images of sheepe made of Gold and Siluer great abundance of the stuffes of Cumby well wrought both fine and courser many shels of the Sea of all sorts many feathers and a thousand sheepe which must bee of diuers colours Then the chiefe Priest tooke a young Childe in his hands of the age of sixe or eight yeeres pronouncing these words with the other Ministers speaking to the Image of Viracocha Lord we offer this vnto thee that thou mayest mayntayne vs in quiet and helpe vs in our warres mayntaine our Lord the Ingua in his greatnesse and estate that hee may alwayes increase giuing him much knowledge to gouerne vs. There were present at this Ceremonie and Oath men of all parts of the Realme and of all Guacas and Sanctuaries And without doubt the affection and reuerence which this people bare to their Kings Inguas was very great for it is neuer found that any one of his subjects committed Treason against him for that they proceeded in their gouernments not only with an absolute power but also with good order and Iustice suffering no man to bee oppressed The Ingua placed Gouernours in diuers Prouinces amongst the which some were Superiours and did acknowledge none but himselfe others were of lesse command and others more particular with so goodly an order and such grauitie as no man durst be drunke nor take an eare of Mays from his Neighbour These Inguas held it for a Maxime that it was necessary to keepe the Indians alwayes in action and therefore we see it to this day long cawsâ—es and workes of great labour the which they say were made to exercise the Indians lest they should remayne idle When hee conquered any new Prouince hee was accustomed presently to send the greatest part and the chieâ—e of that Countrey into other Prouinces or else to his Court and they call them at this day in Peru Mitimas and in their places he sent others of the Nation of Cusco especially the Oâ—eiones which were as Knights of an ancient house They punished faults rigorously And therefore such as haue any vnderstanding hereof hold opinion that there can be no better gouernment for the Indians nor more assured then that of the Inguas TO relate more particularly what I haue spoken before you must vnderstand that the distribution which the Inguas made of their vassals was so exact and distinct as hee might gouerne them all with great facilitie although his Realme were a thousand leagues long for hauing conquered a Prouince he presently reduced the Indians into Townes and Comminaltieâ— the which he diuided into bands he appointed one to haue the charge ouer euery ten Indians ouer euery hundred another ouer euery thousand another and ouer ten thousand another whom they called Humo the which was one of the greatest charges Yet aboue all in euery Prouince there was a Gouernour of the house of the Inguas whom all the rest obeyed giuing vnto him euery yeere particular account of what had passed that is of such as were borne of those that were dead and of their troupes and graine The Gouernours went euery yeere out of Cusco where they remayned and returned to the great Feast of Rayme at the which they brought the tribute of the whole Realme to the Court neither might they enter but with this condition All the Kingdome was diuided into foure parts which they called Tahuantinsuyo that is Chinchasuyo Collasuyo Andâ—suyo and Condesuyo according to the foure wayes which went from Cusco where the Court was resident and where the generall assemblies of the Realme were made These waies and Prouinces being answerable vnto them were towards the foure quarters of the world Collasuyo to the South Chinchasuyo to the North Condesuyo to the West and Andesuyo to the East In euery Towne and Village there were two sorts of people which were of Hanansaya and Vrinsaya which is as much to say as those aboue and those below When they commanded any worke to be done or to furnish any thing to the Ingua the Officers knew presently how much euery Prouince Towne and Family ought to furnish so as the diuision was not made by equall portions but by Cottization according to the qualities and wealth of the Countrey So as for example if they were to gather a hundred thousand Fanegues of Mays they knew presently how much euery Prouince was to contribute were it a tenth a seuenth or a fift part The like was of Townes and Villages Aillosâ— or Linages The Quipocamayos which were the Officers and Intendants kept the account of all with their strings and knottes without fayling setting downe what euery one had payed euen to a Henne or a burthen of wood and in a moment they did see by diuers Registers what euery one ought to pay THe Edifices and Buildings which the Inguas made in Temples Fortresses wayes Countrey houses and such like were many in number and of an excessiue labour as doth appeare at this day by their ruines and remaynders both in Cusco Tyaguanaco Tambo and other places where there are stones of an vnmeasurable greatnesse as 〈◊〉 cannot conceiue how they were cut brought and set in their places There came great numbers of people from all Prouinces to worke in these Buildings and Fortresses which the Ingua caused to bee made in Cusco or other parts of the Realme As these Workes were strange and to amaze the beholders wherein they vsed no Morter nor Ciment neither any Iron or Steele to cut and set the stones in worke They had no Engines or