and beautifying of our persons and houses and others are fit to make vessels and yron-workes with divers fashions of instruments which the industry of man hath found out and put in practise But above all the vses of mettalls which bee simple and natural the communication and commerce of men hath found out one which is the vse of money the which as the Philosopher saieth is the measure of all things And although naturally and of it selfe it be but one onely thing yet in value and estimation wee may say that it is all things Mony is vnto vs as it were meate clothing house horse and generally whatsoever man hath neede of By this meanes all obeyes to mony and as the Wise man saith to finde an invention that one thing should be all Men guided or thrust forward by a naturall instinct choose the thing most durable and most maniable which is mettall and amongst mettals gave them the preheminence in this invention of mony which of their nature were most durable and incorruptible which is silver and golde The which have bin in esteeme not onlie amongst the Hebrewes Assirians Greekes Romans and other nations of Europe and Asia but also amongst the most retyred and barbarous nations of the world as by the Indians both East and West where gold and silver is held in great esteeme imploying it for the workes of their Temples and Pallaces for the attyring and ornament of kings and great personages And although we have found some Barbarians which know neither gold nor silver as it is reported of those of Florida which tooke the bagges and sackes wherein the silver was the which they cast vpon the ground and left as a thing vnprofitable And Plinie likewise writes of the Babitacques which abhorred gold and therefore they buried it to the end that no man should vse it But at this day they finde few of these Floridiens or Babitacques but great numbers of such as esteeme seeke and make accoumpt of gold and silver having no neede to learne it of those that go from Europe It is true their covetousnesse is not yet come to the height of ours neither have they so much worshipped gold and silver although they were Idolaters as some blinde Christians who have committed many great out-rages for gold and silver Yet is it a thing very worthy consideration that the wisedome of the Eternall Lord would inrich those partes of the world which are most remote and which are peopled with men of lesse civilitie and governement planting there great store of mines and in the greatest aboundance that ever were thereby to invite men to search out those lands and to possesse them to the end that by this occasion they might plant religion and the worship of the true God amongst those that knew it not fulfilling therein the prophecie of Isaie saying that the Church should stretch forth her boundes not onely to the right but also to the left which is vnderstood as S. Augustine saieth that the Gospell should be spread abroad not onely by those that sincerely and with a true perfect charity preach and declare it but also by those that publish it tending to temporall ends whereby wee see that the Indian land being more aboundant in mines and riches hath beene in our age best instructed in the Christian religion the Lord vsing our desires and inclinations to serve his soveraigne intentions Herevpon a Wise man said that what a father doth to marie his daughter wel is to give her a great portion in mariage the like hath God done for this land so rough and laboursome giving it great riches in mines that by this meanes it might be the more sought after At the West Indies then there are great store of mines of all sortes of mettalls as copper yron lead tinne quicke-silver silver and gold and amongst all the regions and partes of the Indies the realmes of Peru abound most in these mettalls especially with gold silver quicke silver or mercurie whereof they have found great store and daily discover new mines And without doubt according to the qualitie of the earth those which are to discover are without comparison farre more in number then those which are yet discovered yea it seemes that all the land is sowed with these mettalls more then any other in the world that is yet knowne vnto vs or that ancient writers have made mention of Of the qualitie and nature of the earth where the mettalls are found and that all these mettalls are not imployed at the Indies and how the Indians vsed them CHAP. 3. THe reason why there is so great aboundance of mettalls at the Indies especially at the west of Peru as I have saide is the will of the Creator who hath imparted his giftes as it pleased him But comming to a naturall and philosophicall reason it is very true which Philon a wise man writes saying that gold silver and mettalls grow naturally in land that is most barren and vnfruitefull And we see that in lands of good temperature the which are fertile with grasse and fruites there are seldome found any mines for that Nature is contented to give them vigour to bring forth fruites more necessarie for the preservation and maintenance of the life of beasts and men And contrariwise to lands that are very rough drie and barren as in the highest mountains and inaccessible rockes of a rough temper they finde mines of silver of quicke-silver and of gold and all those riches which are come into Spaine since the West Indies were discovered have been drawne out of such places which are rough and full bare and fruitlesse yet the taste of this mony makes these places pleasing and agreeable yea well inhabited with numbers of people And although there be as I have said many mines of all kinds of mettalls as at the Indies yet they vse none but those of gold and silver and as much quicke-silver as is necessarie to refine their gold and silver They carrie yron thither from Spaine and China As for copper the Indians have drawne of it and vsed it for their armes the which were not vsually of yron but of copper Since the Spaniards possessed the Indies they have drawne very little neither do they take the paine to seeke out these mines although there be many busying themselves in the search of richer and more precious mettalls wherein they spend their time labour They vse no other mettalls as copper and yron but only that which is sent them from Spaine or that which remaines of the refining of gold and silver We finde not that the Indians in former times vsed gold silver or any other mettall for mony and for the price of things but only for ornament as hath beene said whereof there was great quantitie in their Temples Palaces and Toombes with a thousand kindes of vessels of gold and silver which they had They vsed no gold nor silver to trafficke or
drawe them from so great ignorance For in trueth it is a matter woorthy of consideration to see how they subiect themselves to such as instruct them in the true way of life Ther is nothing among all the creatures more beutifull than the sunne which all the Gentiles did commonly worship A discreete captaine and good christian told me that he had with a good reason perswaded the Indians that the Sunne was no god He required the Caâ—ique or chiefe Lord to give him an Indian that were light to carry him a Letter which doone he saide to the Cacique Tel me who is Lord and chiefe either this Indian that carries the letter or thou that dost send him The Cacique answered without doubt I am for he dooth but what I commauâ—d him Even so replied the Captaine is it of the Sunne we see and the Creator of all things For that the Sunne is but a servant to the most high Lorde which by his commaundement runnes swiftly giving light to all nations Thus thou seest it is against reason to yeeld that honour to the Sunne which is due to the Creator and Lord of all The Captaines reason pleased them all and the Cacique with his Indians sayde it was trueth and they were much pleased to vnderstand it They report of one of the Kings Inguas a man of a subtill spirite who seeing that all his predecessors had worshipped the Sunne said that hee did not take the Sunne to be God neither could it be for that God was a great Lord who with great quiet and leasure performeth his workes and that the Sunne doth never cease his course saying that the thing which laboured so much could not seeme to be God Wherein hee spake truth Even so when they shew the Indians their blind errors by lively and plaine reasons they are presently perswaded and yeelde admirably to the trueth Of another kinde of idolatry vpon the dead CHAP. 6. THere is an other kinde of idolatry very different from the rest which the Gentiles have vsed for the deads sake whom they loved and esteemed and it seemeth that the Wise man would give vs to vnderstand that the beginning of idolatry proceeded thence saying thus The seeking of Idolles was the beginning of fornication and the bringing vp of them is the destruction of life for they were not from the beginning neither shall they continue for ever but the vanitie and idlenesse of men hath found out this invention therefore shall they shortly come to an end for when a father mourned heavily for the death of his miserable sonne he made for his consolation an Image of the dead man and bâ—ganne to worshippe him as a god who a little before had ended his daies like a mortall man commanding his servants to make ceremonies sacrifices in remembrance of him Thus in processe of time this vngratious custome waxing strong was held for a lawe and Images were worshipped by the commaundement of Kings and Tirantes Then they beganne to doe the like to them that were absent and such as they could not honour in presence being farre off they did worship in this sort cansing the Images of Kings to be brought whom they would worship supplying by this invention their absence whom they desired to flatter The curiositic of excellent workmen increased this Idolatrie for these Images were made so excellent by their Art that the ignorant were provoked to worshippe them so as by the perfection of their Arte pretending to content them that gave them to make they drew Pictures and Images farre more excellent and the common people ledde with the shew and grace of the worke did holde and esteeme him for a God whome before they had honoured as a man And this was the miserable errour of men who sometimes yeelding to their affection and sence sometimes to the flatterie of their Kings did attribute vnto stones the incommunicable name of God worshipping them for Gods All this is in the booke of Wisedome woorthy to be noted and such as are curious in the search of Antiquities shall finde that the beginning of idolatry were these Images of the dead I say idolatry which is properly the worship of Idolles and Images for that it is not certaine that this other idolatry to worship the creatures as the Sunne and the hostes of heaven or the number of Planets and Starres whereof mention is made in the Prophets hath beene after the idolatry of Images although without doubt they have made idols in honour of the Sunne the Moone and the Earth Returning to our Indians they came to the height of Idolatry by the same meanes the Scripture maketh mention of first they had a care to keepe the bodies of their Kings and Noblemen whole from any ill scent or corruption above two hundred yeares In this sorte were their Kings Inguas in Cusco every one in his Chappell and Oratorie so as the Marquise of Canette being Viceroy to root out Idolatry caused three or foure of their gods to be drawne out and carried to the city of Kings which bredde a great admiration to see these bodies dead so many yeares before remaine so faire and also whole Every one of these Kings Inguas left all his treasure and revenues to entertaine the place of worshippe where his body was layed and there were many Ministers with all his familie dedicated to his service for no King successor did usurpe the treasures and plate of his predecessor but he did gather all new for himselfe and his pallace They were not content with this Idolatry to dead bodies but also thev made their figures and representations and every King in his life time caused a figure to be made wherin he was represented which they called Guaoigui which signifieth brother for that they should doe to this Image during his life and death as much honor and reverence as to himself They carryed this Image to the warres and in procession for rayne or fayre weather making sundry feastes and sacrifices vnto them There have beene many of these Idolles in Cusco and in that territorie but nowe they say that this superstition of worshipping of stones hath altogether ceased or for the most part after they had beene discovered by the diligence of the Licentiate Pollo and the first was that of the Inguas Rocha chief of the faction or race of Hanam Cusco And we find that among other Nations they had in great estimation and reverence the bodies of their predecessors and did likewise worship their Images Of Superstitions they vsed to the Dead CHAP. 7. THe Indians of Peru beleeved commonly that the Soules lived after this life and that the good were in glorie and the bad in paine so as there is little difficultie to perswade them to these articles But they are not yet come to the knowledge of that point that the bodies should rise with the soules And therefore they did vse a wonderfull care as it is saide to preserve the bodies
that he would not kill him neither was it his intention to hurt them but their obstinate folly was guiltie of all the misery afflictions they had suffered neither were they ignorant how often he had required peace and amity at their hands He then commanded them to be intreated curteously Many strange admirable things chanced in this conquest of Mexico for I neither hold it for an vntruth nor an addition which many write that God favoured the Spaniards by many miracles for else it had bin impossible to surmount so many difficulties without the favour of heaven and to subiect this nation with so few men For although we were sinners vnworthy so great a favour yet the cause of our God the glorie of our faith the good of so many thousands soules as were in these countries whome the Lord had predestinate wrought this change which wee now see by supernaturall meanes and proper to himselfe which calles the blinde and prisoners to the knowledge of himselfe giving them light and libertie by his holy Gospel And to the end you may the better vnderstand this and give credite therevnto I will aleadge some examples which in my opinion are fit for this history Of some miracles which God hath shewed at the Indies in favour of the faith beyond the desert of those that wrought them CHAP. 27. SAint Croix of the mountaine is a very great province and farre from the Kingdome of Peru neighbour to diverse infidell nations which have not yet any knowledge of the Gospel if since my departure the fathers of our company which remane there have not instructed them Yet this province of S. Croix is christned and there are many Spaniards and great numbers of Indians baptized The maner how Christianitie entred was thus A souldier of a lewd life resident in the province of Charcas fearing punishment being pursued for his offences went farre vp into the countrie and was received curteously by this barbarous people The Spaniard seeing them in a great extremity for water and that to procure raine they vsed many superstitious ceremonies according to their vsuall maner he said vnto them that if they would do as he said they should presently have raine the which they willingly offered to performe Then the souldier made a great crosse the which he planted on a high and eminent place commanding them to worship it and to demand water the which they did A wonderful thing to see there presently fel such aboundance of raine as the Indians tooke so great devotion to the holy crosse as they fled vnto it in all their necessities and obtained all they demanded so as they brake downe their idolls and beganne to carry the crosse for their badge demanding preachers to instruct and to baptise them For this reason the province to this day hath beene called S. Croix de la Sierre But to the end we may see by whom God wrought these miracles it shall not be vnfit to shew how that this souldier after he had some yeares done these miracles like an Apostle and yet nothing reformed in his lewd course of life left the province of Charcas and continuing in his wicked courses was publikely hanged at Potozi Polo who knew him wel writes all this as a notable thing happened in his time Cabeca de Vaca who since was governour of Paraguey writes what happened vnto him in his strange peregrination in Florida with two or three other companions the onely remainder of an army where they continued ten yeares with these Barbarians traveling and searching even vnto the South sea being an author worthy of credite he saieth that these Barbarians did force them to cure certaine diseases threatning them with death if they did it not they being ignorant in any part of phisicke and having nothing to apply forced by necessitie made evangelicall medicines saying the praiers of the Church and making the signe of the crosse by meanes whereof they cured these diseases which made them so famous as they were forced to exercise this office in all townes as they passed the which were innumerable wherein our Lord did aide them miraculously and they themselves were thereat amazed being but of an ordinarie life yea one of them was a Negro Lancero was a souldier of Peru of whom they knew no other merit but to be a souldier he spake certaine good wordes vpon wounds and making the signe of the crosse did presently cure them so as they did say as in a proverbe the psalme of Lancero Being examined by such as held authority in the Church his office works were approved Some men worthy of credite report and I have heard it spoken that in the cittie of Cusco whenas the Spaniards were besieged and so straightly pressed that without helpe from heaven it was impossible to escape the Indians casting fire on the tops of the houses whether the Spaniards were retyred in which place the great Church is now built although the covering were of a kind of straw which they call Chicho and that the fire they cast was of the wood of fat slimy firre-trees yet nothing was set on fire nor burnt for that there was a woman did quench it presently the which the Indians did visibly see as they confessed afterwards being much amazed It is most certaine by the relations of many and by the histories which are written that in divers battailes which the Spaniards had as well in New Spaine as in Peru the Indians their enemies did see a horse-man in the aire mounted on a whit horse with a sword in his hand fighting for the Spaniards whence comes the great reverence they beare at the Indies to the glorious Apostle Saint Iames. Other whiles they did see in some battailes the image of our Ladie from whom the Christians have received in those partes incomparable favours and benefites if I should particularly relate all the workes of heaven as they happened it would make a very long discourse It sufficeth to have said this by reason of the favour which the Queene of glorie did to our men when they were pressed and pursued by the Mexicans the which I have set downe to the end we may know how our Lord hath had a care to favour the faith and Christian religion defending those that maintained it although happily by their workes they deserved not so great favours and benefites from heaven And therefore we ought not to condemne all these things of the first Conquerours of the Indies as some religious and learned men have done doubtlesse with a good zeale but too much affected For although for the most part they were covetous men cruell and very ignorant in the course that was to be observed with the Infidels who had never offended the Christians yet can we not deny but on their part there was much malice against God and our men which forced them to vse rigor and chastisement And moreover the Lord of all although the faithfull were sinners
their Lords and which have beene charged with the heaviest burthens as well of tributes and services as of customes and bloodie practises All that which the Mexicane Kings and those of Peru did possesse is at this day most planted with Christian religion and where there is least difficultie in the government and ecclesiasticall discipline The Indians were so wearied with the heavy and insupportable yoake of Sathans lawes his sacrifices and ceremonies whereof wee have formerly spoken that they consulted among themselves to seeke out a new law and another God to serve And therefore the law of Christ seemed vnto them and doth at this day seeme iust sweete cleane good and full of happinesse And that which is difficult in our law to beleeve so high and soveraigne Misteries hath beene easie among them for that the Divell had made them comprehend things of greater difficultie and the selfe-same things which he had stolen from our Evangelicall law as their maner of communion and confession their adoration of three in one and such other like the which against the will of the enemy have holpeâ— for the casie receiving of the truth by those who before had imbraced lies God is wise and admirable in all his workes vanquishing the adversatie even with his owne weapon hee takes him in his owne snare and kills him with his owne sword Finally our God who had created this people and who seemed to have thus long forgot them when the hourâ— was come hee would have the same divells enemies to mankinde whom they falsly held for gods should give a testimony against their will of the true law the power of Christ and the triumph of the crosse as it plainely appeares by the presages prophesies signes and prodiges heere before mentioned with many others happened in divers partes and that the same Ministers of Sathan Sorcerers Magitians and other Indians have confessed it And we cannot deny it being most evident and knowne to all the world that the Divell dareth not hisse and that the practises oracles answers and visible apparitions which were so ordinary throughout all this infidelitie have ceased whereas the Crosse of Christ hath beene planted where there are Churches and where the name of Christ hath beene confessed And if there be at this day any cursed minister of his that doth participate thereof it is in caves and on the toppes of mountaines and in secret places farre from the name and communion of Christians The Soveraigne Lord be blessed for his great mercies and for the glory of his holy name And in truth if they did governe this people temporally and spiritually in such sort as the law of Iesus Christ hath set it downe with a milde yoake and light burthen and that they would impose no more vppon them then they can well beare as the letters pattents of the good Emperour of happy memorie doe command and that they would imploy halfe the care they have to make profite of these poore mens sweats and labours for the health of their soules it were the most peaceable and happy Christan part of all the world But our sinnes are often an occasion that God doth not impart his graces so aboundantly as he would Yet I will say one thing which I holde for truth that although the first entry of the Gospel hath not beene accompanied in many places with such sinceritie and christian meanes as they should have vsed yet God of his bountie hath drawne good from this evill and hath made the subiection of the Indians a perfect remedie for their salvation Let vs consider a little what hath beene newly converted in our time to the Christian Religion as well in the East as in the West and how little suretie and perseverance in the faith and Christian Religion there hath beene in places where the new converted have had full libertie to dispose of themselves according to their free will Christianitie without doubt augments and increaseth and brings forth daily more fruite among the Indian slaves and contrariwise decreaseth and threatens a ruine in other partes where have beene more happy beginnings And although the beginnings at the West Indies have beene laboursome yet our Lord hath speedily sent good worke-men and his faithfull Ministers holy men and Apostolicall as Friar Martin of Valence of the order of S. Francis Friar Dominicke de Gerancois of the order of S. Dominicke Friar Iohn de Roa of the order of S. Austen with other servants of our Lord which have lived holily and have wrought more then humaine things Likewise Prelates and holy Priests worthy of memory of whom we heare famous miracles and the very acts of the Apostles yea in our time we have knowne and conferred with some of this qualitie But for that my intention hath beene onely to touch that which concernes the proper history of the Indians themselves and to come vnto the time that the father of our Lord Iesus Christ would communicate the light of his word vnto them I will passe no farther leaving the discourse of the Gospel at the west Indies for another time and to a better vnderstanding Beseeching the Soveraigne Lord of all and intreating his servants humbly to pray vnto his Divine Maiestie that it would please hiâ— of his bountie often to visit and to augment by the guifts of heaven this new Christendome which these last ages have planted in the farthest boundes of the earth Glory Honour Empery be to the King of worlds for ever and ever Amen FINIS Chrysost. homil 14 17. in epist and Hebre. Chrys. hom 6.13 in Genâ—s hom 12 ad pop Antioch Theodoreâ— Theophil in capitul 8. ad Hebre Lact. lib. 3. divin inst ca. 24. Iev in epist. aâ— Ephes. â—â—â— 2. â— 4. Sixtuâ— Senens lib. 5. biblio annot at 3. Aug. lib. 2. de Gen. ad lit c. 9. Id. Psal. 35. Sapien. 13. Rom. 1. Aug. lib. 2. de Genes ad lit cap. 10. Aug. ep 109. ad Ianuarium cap. 4. August lib. de Genes ad litteram cap. 19. Dan. 14. Psal. 148. Hest 13. Sap. 1.27.11.18 Psal. 91.7.23.39.97 Iob 37. Eccles. 1. Ierom. cap. 3. ad Ephes. Basil. hom li. 1. Hexam prope finem Amb. lib. 10. Hexam cap. 6. Psal. 74. Amb. 1. Hexa Iob. 9 26. Heb. 1. Aug. in Ps. 13â— Iob. 26. Iob 38. Psal. 103. Psal. 103. Heb. 8. Exo. 36. Chrisost. in 20. cap. Psal. 103. Aug. 2. de Gen. ad litterans ca. 9. Isaie 66. 2. Coriâ— â— 2 Plin. lib. 6. câ—p 22. Via lactea Plut. â—li.de placâ—tis â—hil cap. 9. 1â— Aug. lib. 16. de câ—vit cap. 9. Gâ—â—es 1. Lact. lib. 7. inâ—â— divin cap. 23. Aug. lib. 16. de â—uâ—tate c. â— 9 Arist. 1. dd Cel. ca. 3. Aug lib. Categoriacum c. 10. in tomâ— 1. Lib. 16. câ—p 9 Nazian epist. 27. ad Pâ—stumiâ—num Arist. 2. Meta â—ap 5. Lucan 10. Pharsal Soph. â—â— 3 Plin. lib. â— cap. 61. Plutarch 3. de placitis phil cap. 11. S Ierom. super ap
and inviron this great masse of the earth the which was wrought by the wisedome of that great Architect They say the earth is built vpon the waters and vpon the sea but contrariwise the earth is rather vnder the waters for according to common iudgement and imagination that which is on the other part of the earth which we inhabite seemes to be vnder the earth and so by the same reason the waters and sea which doe compasse in the earth on the other part should be vnderneath and the earth aboue yet the very truth is that what is properly beneath that is alwaies in the midst of the vniversall but the holy scripture frames it selfe to our manner of conceiving and speaking Some may demaund seeing the earth is set vpon the waters as the scripture sayeth whereon the waters are placed or what support have they And if the earth and the water make one round globe how can all this monstrous masse be sustayned To this the holy scripture answereth them in another place giving vs greatest cause to admire the power of the Creator and saith in these wordes The earth extends towards the North vpon the Vast and stayes hanging vpon nothing The which in trueth is very well spoken for that really it seemes this heape of earth and water is set vpon nothing when we describe it in the middest of the ayre as in trueth it is But this wonder which men so much admire God himselfe hath not layd open demanding of the same Iob in these termes Tell mee if thou canst who hath layd the lyne or cast the lead for the building of the world and with what morter the foundations have beene layed and ioyned Finally to make vs vnderstand the fashion and modell of this admirable frame of the world the Prophet Dauid accustomed to sing and praise his divine works saies very well in a Psalme made of this subiect in these wordes Thou which hast built the earth vpon firmenes it selfe that it cannot stagger nor move for ever and ever Meaning to shew the cause why the earth set in the midst of the ayre falleth not nor staggereth from place to place for that by nature it hath sure foundations layed by the most wise Creator to the end it might sustaine it selfe without any other support Mans imagination is therefore deceived in this place seeking other foundations of the earth and for want thereof doth measure divine things according to humaine reason So that we neede not to feare how gâ—eat or heavy soever this masse of earth then hanging in the aire seemeth to be that it can fal or turne topsy turâ—y being assured vpon this point for that the same Psalmist saieth that it shall neuer be overthrowne Truly Dauid with reason after he had beheld and sung the wonderfull workes of the Lord doth not cease to praise him in the same saying O how great wonderfull are the workes of the Lord. It appeares that all spring from his knowledge And in truth if I shall freely speake my opinion touching this point often in my trauell passing the great gulfes of the Ocean and marching by other regions of so strange lands staying to behold and consider the greatnes of these workes of the Lord I felt a wonderfull consolation of the soveraigne wisedome and greatnes of the Creator who shines in his works in comparison whereof all the Pallaces Castells and princely buildings together with all the inventions of man seeme nothing yea are base and contemptible in respect thereof O how often hath come into my minde and mouth that place of the Psalme which sayeth thus Great comfort hast thou given me O Lord by thy workes I will not cease to reioyce in the contemplation of the workes of thy hands Really and in truth the workes of God haue I know not what secret hidden grace and vertve the which although they be often beheld yet do they still cause a new taste and content whereas contrariwise the workes of man although they be built with exquisite art yet often seene they are no more esteemed but breede a distaste be they most pleasant Gardins Pallaces or stately Temples be they Piramides of proud buildings Pictures carved images or stones of rare worke and invention or whatsoever else adorned with all the beauties possible Yet is it most certen that viewing them twice or thrice with attention the eye presently turnes away being glutted with the sight thereof But if you beholde the sea with attention or some steepe mountaine growing from a plaine to a strange heigth or the fieldes clad in their naturall verdure with pleasant flowres or the raging course of some river beating continually against the rocks finally what worke of nature soever although it be often viewed yet doth it still breede a new content and never gluttes the sight the which is like vnto a stately bancket of the divine wisedom which doth alwaies cause a new consideration without any lothing Containing an answere to that which is obiected out of the holy Scripture against the roundnes of the earth CHAP. 4. REturning then to the figure of heaven I know not out of what authoritie of the holy scripture they can prove that it is not round nor his motion circular neither do I see whereas S. Paul calles the heaven a Tabernacle or a Tent which God made not man how can it be applied to this purpose for although he telleth vs that it was made by God yet must we not therefore coniecture that the heaven covereth the earth like to a roofe on the one part only neither that the heaven was framed without motion as it seemes some would inferre The Apostle in this place treated of the conformity of the auncient Tabernacle of the lawe saying therevpon that the Tabernacle of the new law of grace is heaven into the which the great Priest Iesus Christ entred once by his bloud and thereby is vnderstood that there is as great preheminence of the new aboue the old as there is difference betwixt the author of the new which is God and of the olde which was man although it be most certen that the olde was built by the wisedome of God who instructed his workeman BeZeleell Neither must we imagine that these comparisons parables and allegories doe in all thinges agree with that wherevnto they are applyed as the happy Crysostome hath learnedly spoken vpon this point The other authoritie which S. Augustine saies is alleaged of some to shew that the heaven is not round is this The heavens stretch forth like vnto a skin Whereby he concludes that it is not round but flat on the vpper part wherevnto the same Doctor doth answere verie well and familiarly giuing vs to vnderstand that that place of the Psalme is not properly to be vnderstood of the figure of heaven but onely to shew with what facilitie God built so great a heaven being no more painefull for him to
lies all to the north and by that land thereafter discovered a sea on the other side the which they called the South sea for that they decline vntill they have passed the Line and having lost the North or Pole articke they called it South For this cause they have called all that Ocean the South sea which lieth on the other side of the East Indies althogh a great part of it be seated to the north as al the coast of new Spaine Nuaragna Guatimala and Panama They say that hee that first discovered this sea was called Blasconunes of Bilbo the which he did by that part which we now call maine land where it growes narrow and the two seas approach so neere the one to the other that there is but seaven leagues of distance for although they make the way eighteene from Nombre de Dios to Panama yet is it with turning to seeke the commoditie of the way but drawing a direct line the one sea shall not be found more distant from the other Some have discoursed and propounded to cut through this passage of seaven leagues and to ioyne one sea to the other to make the passage from Peru more commodious and easie for that these eighteene leagues of land betwixt Nombre de Dios and Panama is more painefull and chargeable then 2300. by sea wherevpon some would say it were a meanes to drowne the land one sea being lower then another As in times past we finde it written that for the same consideration they gave over the enterprize to win the red sea into Nile in the time of King Sesostris and since in the Empire of the Othomans But for my part I hold such discourses and propositions for vaine although this inconvenient should not happen the which I will not hold for assured I beleeve there is no humaine power able to beat and breake downe those strong and impenetrable mountaines which God hath placed betwixt the two seas and hath made them most hard rockes to withstand the furie of two seas And although it were possible to men yet in my opinion they should feare punishment from heaven in seeking to correct the workes which the Creator by his great providence hath ordained and disposed in the framing of this vniversall world Leaving this discourse of opening the land and ioyning both seas together there is yet another lesse rash but very difficult and dangerous to search out Whether these two great gulphes do ioyne in any other part of the world which was the enterprize of Fernando Magellan a Portugall gentleman whose great courage and constancie in the research of this subject and happy successe in the finding thereof gave the name of eteâ—nall memory to this straight which iustly they call by the name of the discoverer Magellan of which straight we will intreate a little as of one of the greatest wonders of the world Some have beleeved that this Straight which Magellan had discovered in the South sea was none or that it was straightned as Don Alonso d' Arsille writes in his Auracane and at this day there are some that say there is no such straight but that they are Ilands betwixt the sea and land for that the maine land endes there at the end whereof are all Ilands beyond the which the one sea ioynes fully with the other or to speake better it is all one Sea But in turth it is most certaine there is a straight and a long and stretched out land on eyther side although it hath not yet beene knowne how farre it stretcheth of the one side of the straight towards the South After Magellan a shippe of the Bishoppe of Plaisance passed the straight Don Guiâ—ieres Carvaial whose maste they say is yet at Lima at the entrie of the palace they went afterwards coasting along the South to discover the Straight by the commandement of Don Garcia of Mendoce then governer of Chille according to that which Captaine Ladrillero found it and passed it I have read the discourse and report he made where he saieth that he did not hazard himselfe to land in the Straight but having discovered the North sea he returned back for the roughnes of the time winter being now come which caused the waves comming from the North to grow great and swelling and the sea continually foming with rage In our time Francis Drake an Englishman passed this straight After him Captaine Sarmiento passed it on the South side And lastly in the yeere 1587. other Englishmen passed it by the instruction of Drake which at this time runne along all the coast of Peru. And for that the report which the master Pilot that passed it made seemeth notable vnto me I will heere set it downe Of the Straight of Magellan and how it was passed on the South side CHAP. 11. IN the yeere of our Lord God one thousand five hundred seaventy nine Francis Drake having passed the Straights that runne alongest the coast of Chille and all Peru and taken the shippe of Saint Iean d' Anthona where there was a great number of barres of silver the Viceroy Don Francis of Toledo armed and sent foorth two good shippes to discover the Straight appoynting Peter Sarmiento for Captaine a man learned in Astrologie They parted from Callao of Lima in the beginning of October and forasmuch as vpon that coast there blowes a contrary winde from the South they tooke the sea and having sailed litle above thirty days with a favourable winde they came to the same altitude of the Straight but for that it was very hard to discover they approched neere vnto the land where they entred into a great Bay in the which there is an Archipelague of Ilands Sarimento grew obstinate that this was the Straight and staied a whole moneth to finde it out by diverse wayes creeping vppe to the high mountaines But seeing they could not discover it at the instance of such as were in the army they returned to sea The same day the weather grew rough with the which they ranne their course in the beginning of the night the Admiralls light failed so as the other shippe never see them after The day following the force of the winde continuing still being a â—ide wind the Admiralles shippe discovered an opening which made land thinking good to enter there for shelter vntill the tempest were past The which succeeded in such sort as having discovered this vent they found that it ranne more and more into the land and coniecturing that it should be the Straight which they sought they tooke the height of the Sunne where they found themselves in fiftie degrees and a halfe which is the very height of the Straight and to be the better assured they thrust out their Brigandine which having run many leagues into this arme of the sea without seeing any end they found it to be the very Straight And for that they had order to passe it they planted a hie Crosse there with letters thereon
the kingdome of Chille and that of Grenade and yet none of these kingdomes is Peru but onely that parte which lies to the South beginning at the kingdome of Quitto which is vnder the Line and runnes in length to the realme of Chille the which is without the Tropickes which were sixe hundred leagues in length and in breadth it containes no more then the mountaines which is fiftie common leagues although in some places as at Chachapayas it be broader This parte of the world which we call Peru is very remarkeable and containes in it strange properties which serveth as an exception to the generall rule of the Indies The first is that vpon all that coast it blowes continually with one onely winde which is South and Southweast contrary to that which dooth vsually blow vnder the burning Zone The second is that this winde being by nature the most violent tempestuous and vnhealthfull of all others yet in this region it is marvellous pleasing healthful and agreeable so as we may attribute the habitation of that part therevnto without the which it would be troublesome and inhabitable by reason of the heate if it were not refreshed with the winde The third propertie is that it never raines thunders snowes nor hailes in all this coast which is a matter worthy of admiration Fourthly that alittle distance from the coast it raines and snowes terribly Fiftly that there are two ridges of mountaines which runne the one as the other and in one altitude notwithstanding on the one there are great forrests and it raines the greatest part of the yeere being very hote and the other is all naked and bare and very colde so as winter and summer are divided on those two mountaines and raine and cleerenesse it selfe For the better vnderstanding hereof wee must consider that Peru is divided as it were into three partes long and narrow which they call Lanos Sierras and Andes the Lanos runnes along est the sea coast the Sierras be all hilles with some vallies and the Andes be steepe and craggie mountaines The Lanos or sea coast have some tenne leagues in breadth in some parts lesse and in some parts alittle more The Sierra containes some twentie leagues in breadth and the Andes as much sometimes more sometimes lesse They runne in length from north to south and in breadth from east to weast It is a strange thing that in so small a distance as fiftie leagues equally distant from the Line and Pole there should bee so great a contrarietie as to raine almost continually in one place and never in the other It never raines vpon the coast or Lanos although there falles sometimes a small dew which they call Guarva and in Castill Molâ—â—â—a the which sometimes thickens and falles in certaine droppes of water yet is it not troublesome nor such as they neede any covering Their coverings are of mattes with a little earth vpon them which is sufficient Vpon the Andes it raines in a manner continually although it be sometimes more cleere then other In the Sierra which lies betwixt both the extreames it raineth in the same season as it dooth in Spaine which is from September vnto Aprill but in the other season the time is more cleere which is when the Sunne is farthest off and the contrarie when it is neerest whereof we have discoursed at large in the former booke That which they call Andes and Sierra are twoo ridges of most high mountaines which runne above a thousand leagues the one in view of the other and almost equally There are an infinite number of Vicagues which breede in the Sierres and are properly like vnto wilde goates very nimble and swift There are also of those beasts which they call Guanacos and Pacos which are sheepe which we may wel terme the asses of that countrey whereof we shall speake in their place And vpon the Andes they finde Apes very gentle and delightfull and Parrots in great numbers There also they find the hearb or tree which they call Coca that is so greatly esteemed by the Indians and the trafficke they make of it is worthy much mony That which they call Sierre causeth vallies whereas it opens which are the best dwellings of Peru as is the valley of Xauxa of Andaguaylas and Yucay In these vallies there growes wheat mays and other sortes of fruits but lesse in one then in the other Beyond the Citie of Cusco the ancient Court of the Lordes of those Realmes the two ridges of mountaines seperate them selves one from the other and in the midst leave a plaine and large champian which they call the Province of Callao where there are many rivers and great store of fertile pastures there is also that great Lake of Titicaca And although it be a ful soile and in the same height and intemperature that the Sierre having no more trees nor forrests yet the want they have of bread is countervailed with the rootes they sowe the which they call Papas and they grow in the earth This roote is the Indians foode for drying it and making it cleane they make that which they call Chugno which is the bread and nourishment of those Provinces There are other rootes and small hearbes which they eate It is a healthfull soile best peopled and the richest of all the Indies for the aboundance of cattell they feed as well of those that are in Europe as sheepe neate and goates as of those of the Countrie which they call Guanacos and Pacos and there are store of Partridges Next to the Province of Callao is that of Charcas where there are hote vallies very fertile and very high rockes the which are very rich in mines so as in no part of the world shall you finde better nor fairer The reason why it raines on the Lanos along the Sea coast CHAP. 21. FOr that it is rare and extraordinarie to see a Countrie where it never raines nor thunders men desire naturally to know the cause of this strangenes The reason which some give that have neerely looked into it is that vpon that coast there rise no vapors sufficient to engender raine for want of matter but onely that there be finall and light vapors which cannot breede any other then mistes and dewes as we see in Europe oftentimes vapors do rise in the morning which are not turned into raine but into mistes only the which growes from the substance which is not grosse and sufficient enough to turne to raine They say the reason why that which happens but some times in Europe falles out continually vpon the coast of Peru is for that this region is very drie and yeeldes no grosse vapors The drinesse is knowne by the greâ— abundance of sandes having neither welles nor fountaines but of fifteene stades deepe which is the height of a man or more and that is neere vnto rivers the water whereof piercing into the land giues them meanes to make welles So as it hath been found by
what is in the other life but if hell as Divines holde be in the centre of the earth the which containes in diameter above two thousand leagues we can not iudge that this fire is from the centre for that hell fire as saint Basil and others teach is very different from this which wee see for that it is without light and burneth without comparison much more then ours And therefore I conclude that what I have saide seemes to me more reasonable Of Earthquakes CHAP. 26. SOme have held that from these Volcans which are at the Indies the earthquakes proceed being very common there but for that they ordinarily chance in places farre from those Volcans it can not be the totall cause It is true they have a certaine simpathy one with another for that the hote exhalations which engender in the inner concavities of the earth seeme to be the materiall substance of fire in the Volcans whereby there kindleth an other more grosse matter and makes these shewes of flame and smoke that come forth And these exhalations finding no easie issue in the earth move it to issue forth with great violence wherby we heare that horrible noise vnder the earth and likewise the shaking of the earth being stirred with this burning exhalation Even as gunpowlder in mines having fire put to it breakes rockes and walles and as the chesnut laid into the fire leapes and breakes with a noyse whenas it casts forth the aire which is contained within the huske by the force of the fire Even so these Earthquakes do most commonly happen in places neere the water or sea As we see in Europe and at the Indies that townes and citties farthest from the sea and waters are least afflicted therewith and contrariwise those that are seated vpon portes of the sea vpon rivers the sea coast and places neere vnto them feele most this calamitie There hath happened in Peru the which is wonderfull and worthy to be noted Earthquakes which have runne from Chille vnto Quitto and that is above hundred leagues I say the greatest that ever I heard speake of for lesser be more common there Vpon the coast of Chille I remember not well in what yeare there was so terrible an Earthquake as it overturned whole mountains and thereby stopped the course of rivers which it converted into lakes it beat downe townes and flew a great number of people causing the sea to leave her place some leagues so as the shippes remained on drie ground farre from the ordinary roade with many other heavie and horrible things And as I well remember they say this trouble and motion caused by the Earthquake ranne three hundred leagues alongest the coast Soone after which was in the yeere eighty two happened that Earthquake of Arequipa which in a maner overthrew the whole citie Since in the yeere eightie sixe the ninth of Iulie fell an other Earthquake in the cittie of Kings the which as the Viceroy did write hadde runne a hundred three score and tenne leagues alongest the coast and overthwart in the Sierre fiftie leagues The mercy of the Lord was great in this earth quake to forewarne the people by a great noyse which they heard alittle before the Earthquake who taught by former experiences presently put themselves in safetie leaving their houses streets and gardins to go into the fieldes so as although it ruined a great parte of the Cittie and of the chiefest buildings yet there died not above fifteene or twenty persons of all the Inhabitants It caused the like trouble and motion at sea as it had done at Chille which happened presently after the Earthquake so as they might see the sea furiously to flie out of her boundes and to runne neere two leagues into the land rising above foureteene fadome it covered all that plaine so as the ditches and peeces of wood that were there swamme in the water There was yet an other earthquake in the Realme and Cittie of Quitto and it seemes all these notable Earthquakes vppon that coast have succeeded one an other by order as in trueth it is subiect to these inconveniences And therefore although vpon the coast of Peru there be no torments from heaven as thunder and lightning yet are they not without feare vppon the land and so everie one hath before his eies the Heraults of divine Iustice to moove him to feare God For as the Scripture saith Fecit haec vt timeatur Returning then to our purpose I say the sea coast is most subiect to these earthquakes the reason is in my iudgement for that the water dooth stop the conduites and passages of the earth by which the hote exhalations should passe which are engendered there And also the humiditie thickning the superficies of the earth dooth cause the fumes and hot exhalations to goe close together and incounter violently in the bowells of the earth which doe afterwards breake forth Some have observed that such Earthquakes have vsually hapned whenas a rainie season falles after some drie yeâ—res Wherevpon they say that the Earthquakes are most rare where are most welles the which is approoved by experience Those of the Cittie of Mexico holde opinion that the Lake whereon it is seated is the cause of the Earthquakes that happen there although they be not very violent and it is most certaine that the Townes and Provinces farre within the land and farthest from the sea receive sometimes great losses by these Earthquakes as the Cittie of Chachapoyas at the Indies and in Italie that of Ferrara although vpon this subiect It seemes this latter being neere to a river and not farre from the Adriatic sea should rather be numbred among the sea-Townes In the yeere of our Lord one thousand five hundred eightie and one in Cugiano a Cittie of Peru otherwise called the Peace there hapned a strange accident touching this subiect A village called Angoango where many Indians dwelt that were sorcerers and idolatrers fell sodainely to ruine so as a great parte thereof was raised vp and carried away and many of the Indians smothered and that which seems incredible yet testified by men of credit the earth that was ruined and so beaten downe did runne and slide vpon the land for the space of a league and a halfe as it had beene water or wax molten so as it stopt and filled vppe a Lake and remayned so spread over the whole countrey How the land and sea imbrace one an other CHAP. 27. I Wil end with this Element of earth vniting it to the precedent of water whose order and embracing is truely of it selfe admirable These two elements have one spheare divided betweene them and entertaine and embrace one another in a thousand sortes and maners In some places the water encounters the land furiously as an enemy and in other places it invirons it after a sweete and amiable manner There are partes whereas the sea enters far within the land as comming to visite it and in other partes the
Spaine and Italie we have seene admirable effects of this stone against the Tâ—verdette which is a kinde of plague but not so muchâ—s in Peru. They do apply it beaten and put into some liquor which may make it fit for the cure of melancholy the falling sickenes pestilent feavers many other diseases Some take it in wine others in vineger with water Dezahac of League de beufe borrage and other sortes as the Phisitians and Apoticaries can tell The Bezaar stone hath no proper savour as Rasis the Arabian doth testifie Wee have seene notable trialls and there is no doubt but the Author of this vniversall world hath given great vertues to this stone The Bezaar stones which comes from the East Indies have the first place of account they are of an olive colour the second are those of Peru and the third those of New Spaine Since that these stones were in request they say the Indians have made artificiall ones and many when they see these stones greater then the ordinarie they take them to be false and counterfait triall and experience is the best mistres to know them One thing is worthy admiration that they grow and are fashioned vpon very strange things as vpon the tagge of a point vpon a pinne or a peece of wood which they finde in the centre of this stone and yet do they not hold it false for that the beast might swallow it and the stone thicken vpon it and growes one vpon another and so it increaseth I did see in Peru two stones fashioned vpon Pignons of Castille which made vs to wonder much for that in all Peru we had not seene any pines or Pignons of Castille if they were not brought from Spaine which seemes to me very extraordinary This little may suffice touching the Bezaars stone They bring other phisicall stones from the Indies as the stone of Hyiada or of Rate the bloud stone the stones of milke and of the sea Those which they call Cornerinaâ— for the heart whereof there is no neede to speake having nothing common with the subiect of beastes whereof we have intreated which gives vs to vnderstand how the great Master and Author of all hath imparted his benefites and wonderfull secrets to all partes of the world for the which he is to be glorified for ever * ⎠* A Prologue to the Bookes following HAving intreated of the Natural Historie of the Indies I wil hereafter discourse of the Morall History that is to say of the deeds and customes of the Indies For after the heaven the temperature the scituation the qualities of the new world after the elements mixtures I mean mettals plants beasts whereof we have spoken in the former Bookes as occasion did serve both Order Reason doth invite vs to continue and vndertake the discourse of those men which inhabite the new world And therefore I pretend in the following bookes to speake what I thinke worthie of this subiect And for that the intention of this Historie is not onely to give knowledge of what hath passed at the Indies but also to continue this knowledge to the fruite we may gather by it which is to helpe this people for their soules health and to glorifie the Creator and Redeemer who hath drawne them from the obscure darkenes of their infidelitie and imparted vnto them the admirable light of his Gospel And therefore I will first speake in these bookes following what concernes their religion or superstition their customes their idolatries and their sacrifices and after what concernes their policie and government their lawes customes and their deedes And for that the memorie is preserved amongst the Mexicaine Nation of their beginnings successions warres and other things worthie the relation besides that which shall be handled in the sixt booke I will make a peculiar Discourse in the seventh shâ—wing the disposition and forewarnings this Nation had of the new Kingdome of Christ our Lord which should be extâ—nded in these Countries and should conquer them to himself as he hath doâ—e in all the rest of the world The which in truth is a thing worthie of great consideration to see how the divine providence hath appointeâ— that the light of his word should finde a passage in the furthest boundes of the world It is not my proiect at this time to write what the Spanâ—ardes have done in those partes for there are bookes enow written vpon this subiect nor yet how the Lordes servants have laboured and profited for that requires a new labour I will onely content my selfe to plant this Historie and relation at the doores of the Gospel seeing it is alreadie entered and to make knowne the Naturall and Morall things of the Indies to the end that Christianitie may be planted and augmented as it is expounded at large in the bookes we have written De procuranda Indiorum salute And if any one wonder at some fashions customes of the Indies wil scorne them as fooles or abhorre them as divelish and inhumane people let him remember that the same things yea worse have beene seene amongst the Greekes and Romans who have commanded the whole world as we may easily vnderstand not onely of our Authors as Eusebius of Cesarea Clement Alexandrine and others but also of their owne as Plinie Denis Halicarnassis and Plutarke for the Prince of darkenes being the head of all Infidelitie it is no new thing to finde among Infidells cruelties filthines and follies fit for such a Master And although the ancient Gentiles have farre surpassed these of the new world in valour and naturall knowledge yet may wee observe many things in them worthie the remembrance But to conclude they shew to be barbarous people who being deprived of the supernaturall light want likewise philosophie and naturall knowledge THE FIFT BOOKE of the Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies That the Pride and Malice of the Divell hath beene the cause of Idolatrie CHAP. 1. THE Pride and Presumption of the Divell is so great obstinate that alwaies hee seekes and strives to be honoured as God and doth arrogate to himselfe all hee can whatsoever doth appertaine to the most high God hee ceaseth not to abuse the blinde Nations of the world vpon whom the cleere light of the holy Gospel hath not yet shone Wee reade in Iob of this prowd tyrant who settes his eyes aloft and amongst all the sonnes of pride he is the King The holy Scripture instructes vs plainely of his vile intentions and his overweening treason whereby he hath pretended to make his Throne equall vnto Gods saying in Esay Thou diddest say within thy selfe I will mount vp to heaven and set my chaire vpon all the starres of heaven and I will sit vpon the toppe of the Firmament and in the sides of the North I will ascend above the height of the cloudes and will be like to the most High And in Ezechiel Thy heart was lifted vp and thou
hast said I am God and have set in the chaire of God in the midst of the sea Thus doth Sathan continually persist in this wicked desire to make himselfe God And although the iust and severe chastisement of the most high hath spoiled him of all his pompe and beautie which made him grow prowd being intreated as his fellonie and indiscretion had deserved as it is written by the same Prophets yet hath he left nothing of his wickednes and perverse practises the which hee hath made manifest by all meanes possible like a mad dogge that bites the sword wherewith he is strucken For as it is written the pride of such as hate God doth alwaies increase Hâ—nce comes the continuall and strange care which this enemie of God hath alwaies had to make him to be worshipt of men inventing so many kinds of Idolatries wherby he hath so long held the gretest part of the world in subiection so as there scarce remaines any one corner for God his people of Israel And since the power of the Gospel hath vanquished and disarmed him and that by the force of the Crosse hee hath broken and ruined the most important and puissant places of his kingdome with the like tyrannie hee hath begunne to assaile the barbarous people and Nations farthest off striving to maintaine amongst them his false and lying divinitie the which the Sonne of God had taken from him in his Church tying him with chaines as in a cage or prison like a furious beast to his great confusion reioycing of the servants of God as he doth signify in Iob. But in the end although idolatrie had beene rooted out of the best and most notable partes of the worlde yet he hath retired himself into the most remote parts and hath ruled in that other part of the worlde which although it be much inferiour in nobilitie yet is it not oflesse compasse There are two causes and chiefe motives for the which the divell hath so much laboured to plantidolatry and all infidelity so as you shall hardly finde any Nation where there is not some markes thereof The one is this great presumption and pride which is such that whoso would consider how hee durst affront the very Sonne of God and true God in saying impudently that he should fall downe and worship him the which he did although he knew not certainely that this was the very God yet had he some opinion that it was the Sonne of God A most cruell and horrible pride to dare thus impudently affront his God truely he shall not finde it very strange that hee makes himselfe to be worshipped as God by ignorant Nations seeing hee would seeke to be worshipped by God himselfe calling himselfe God being an abhominable and detestable creature The other cause and motive of idolatrie is the mortall hatred hee hath conceived for ever against mankinde For as our Saviour saith hee hath beene a murtherer from the beginning and holdes it as a condition and inseparable qualitie of his wickednesse And for that he knowes the greatast misery of man is to worship the creature for God for this reason hee never leaves to invent all sortes of Idolatries to destroy man and make him ennemy to God There are two mischiefes which the divell causeth in idolatry the one that hee denies his God according to the text Thou hast left thy God who created thee The other is that hee dooth subiect himselfe to a thing baser than himselfe for that all creatures are inferior to the reasonable and the divell although hee be superior to man in nature yet in estate he is much inferior seeing that man in this life is capable of Divinitie and Eternitie By this meanes God is dishonoured and man lost in all parts by idolatry wherwith the divell in his pride is well content Of many kindes of idolatry the Indians have vsed CHAP. 2. IDolatry saieth the holy-Ghost by the Wise man is the cause beginning and end of all miseries for this cause the enemy of mankinde hath multiplied so many sortes and diversities of idolatry as it were an infinite matter to specifie them all Yet we may reduce idolatry to twoo heades the one grounded vppon naturall things the other vpon things imagined and made by mans invention The first is divided into two for eyther the thing they worship is generall as the Sunne Moone Fire Earth and Elements or else it is particular as some certayne river fountaine tree or forrest when these things are not generaly worshipped in their kindes but onely in particular In this first kind of idolatry they have exceeded in Peru and they properly cal it Guaca The second kinde of idolatry which depends of mans invention fictions may likewise be divided into two sortes one which regards onely the pure arte and invention of man as to adore the Images or statues of gold wood or stone of Mercury or Pallas which neyther are nor ever were any thing else but the bare pictures and the other that concernes that which really hath beene and is in trueth the same thing but not such as idolatry faines as the dead or some things proper vnto them which men worshippe through vanitie and flatterie so as wee reduce all to foure kindes of idolatry which the infidells vse of all which it behooveth vs to speake something That the Indians have some knowledge of God CHAP. 3. FIrst although the darkenesse of infidelitie holdeth these Nations in blindenesse yet in many thinges the light of truth and reason works somewhat in them And they commonly acknowledge a supreame Lorde and Author of all things which they of Peru called Vnachocha and gave him names of great excellence as Pachacamac or Pachayachachic which is the Creator of heaven and earth and Vsapu which is admirable and other like names Him they did worship as the chiefest of all whom they did honor in beholding the heaven The like wee see amongest them of Mexico and China and all other infidelles Which accordeth well with that which is saide of Saint Paul in the Acts of the Apostles where hee did see the Inscription of an Altare Ignoto Deo To the vnknowne God Wherevpon the Apostle tooke occasion to preach vnto them saying He whome you worship without knowing him doe I preach vnto you In like sort those which at this day do preach the Gospel to the Indians find no great difficultie to perswade them that there is a high God and Lord over all and that this is the Christians God and the true God And yet it hath caused great admiration in me that although they had this knowledge yet had they no proper name for God If wee shall seeke into the Indian tongue for a word to answer to this name of God as in Latin Deus in Greeke Theos in Hebrew El in Arabike Alla but wee shall not finde any in the Cuscan or Mexicaine tongues So as such as preach or write to the Indians
vse our Spanish name Dios fitting it to the accent or pronounciation of the Indian tongues the which differ much whereby appeares the small knowledge they had of God seeing they cannot so much as name him if it be not by our very name yet in trueth they had some little knowledge and therefore in Peru they made him a rich temple which they called Pachacamac which was the principall Sanctuarie of the realme And as it hath beene saide this word of Pachacamac is as much to say as the Creator yet in this temple they vsed their idolatries worshipping the Divell and figures They likewise made sacrifices and offrings to Viracocha which helde the chiefe place amongst the worships which the Kings Inguas made Heereof they called the Spaniards Virocochas for that they holde opinion they are the sonnes of heaven and divine even as others did attribute a deitie to Paul and Barnabas calling the one Iupiter and the other Mercurie so woulde they offer sacrifices vnto them as vnto gods and as the Barbarians of Melite which is Malté seeing that the viper did not hurt the Apostle they called him God As it is therefore a trueth conformable to reason that there is a soveraigne Lorde and King of heaven whome the Gentiles with all their infidelities and idolatries have not denyed as wee see in the Philosophy of Timee in Plato in the Metaphisickes of Aristotle and in the Aesculape of Tresmigister as also in the Poesies of Homer Virgil. Therefore the Preachers of the Gospel have no great difficultie to plant perswade this truth of a supreame God be the Nations of whome they preach never so barbarous and brutish But it is hard to roote out of their mindes that there is no other God nor any other deitie then one and that all other things of themselves have no power being nor workeing proper to themselves but what the great and only God and Lord doth give and impart vnto them To conclude it is necessarie to perswade them by all meanes in reproving their errors as well in that wherein they generally faile in worshipping more then one God as in particular which is much more to hold for Gods and to demand favour and helpe of those things which are not Gods nor have any power but what the true God their Lord and Creator hath given them Of the first kinde of Idolatrie vpon naturall and vniversall things CHAP. 4. NExt to Viracocha or their supreme God that which most commonly they have and do adore amongst the Infidells is the Sunne and after those things which are most remarkable in the celestiall or elementarie nature as the moone starres sea and land The Guacas or Oratories which the Inguas Lords of Peru had in greatest reverence next to Viracocha and the sunne was the thunder which they called by three divers names Chuquilla Catuilla and Intiillapa supposing it to bee a man in heaven with a sling and a mace and that it is in his power to cause raine haile thunder and all the rest that appertaines to the region of the aire where the cloudes engender It was a Guaca for so they called their Oratories generall to all the Indians of Peâ—â— offering vnto him many sacrifices and in Cusco which is the Court and Metropolitane Cittie they did sacrifice children vnto him as to the Sunne They did worship these three Viracocha the Sunne and Thunder after another maner then all the rest as Pollo writes who had made triall thereof they did put as it were a gauntlet or glove vpon their hands when they did lift them vp to worshippe them They did worshippe the earth which they called Pachamama as the Ancients did the goddessâ— Tellus and the sea likewise which they call Mamacocha as the Ancients worshipped Thetis or Neptune Moreover they did worship the rainebow which were the armes and blazons of the Ingua with two snakes stretched out on either side Amongst the starres they all did commonly worship that which they called Colca and we heere Cabrille They did attribute divers offices to divers starres and those which had neede of their favour did worship them as the shepheard did sacrifice to a starre which they called Vrcuhillay which they hold to be a sheepe of divers colours having the care to preserve their cattell and they imagine it is that which the Astronomers call Tyra These shepheards worshippe two other starres which walke neere vnto them they call them Catâ—chillay and Vrcuchillay and they faine them to be an Ewe and a Lambe Others worshipped a starre which they called Machacuâ—y to which they attribute the charge and power over serpents and snakes to keepe them from hurting of them They ascribe power to another starre which they called Chuguinchinchay which is as much as Tigre over Tigres Beares and Lyons and they have generally beleeved that of all the beasts of the earth there is one alone in heaven like vnto them the which hath care of their procreation and increase And so they did observe and worship divers starres as those which they called Chacana Topatarca Mamanan Mirco Miquiquicay and many other So as it seemed they approached somewhat neere the propositions of Platoes Idees The Mexicaines almost in the same maner after the supreame God worshiped the Sunne And therefore they called Hernando CorteZ as he hath written in a letter sent vnto the Emperour Charles the fift Sonne of the Sunne for his care and courage to compasse the earth But they made their greatest adoration to an Idol called Vitzilipuztli the which in all this region they called the most puissant and Lord of all things for this cause the Mexicaines built him a Temple the greatest the fairest the highest and the most sumptuous of all other The scituation beautie thereof may wel be coniectured by the ruines which yet remaine in the midst of the Cittie of Mexico But heere the Mexicaines Idolatrie hath bin more pernicious and hurtfull then that of the Inguas as wee shall see plainer heereafter for that the greatest part of their adoration and idolatrie was imployed to Idols and not to naturall things although they did attribute naturall effects to these Idolls as raine multiplication of cattell warre and generation even as the Greekes and Latins have forged Idolls of Phoebus Mercurie Iupiter Minerva and of Mars To conclude whoso shall neerely looke into it shall finde this manner which the Divell hath vsed to deceive the Indians to be the same wherewith hee hath deceived the Greekes and Romans and other ancient Gentiles giving them to vnderstand that these notable creatures the Sunne Moone Starres and Elements had power and authoritie to doe good or harme to men And although God hath created all these things for the vse of man yet hath he so much forgotte himselfe as to rise vp against him Moreover he hath imbased himselfe to creatures that are inferiour vnto himselfe worshiping and calling vpon their workes forsaking his Creator As the Wise man saieth
well in these wordes All men are vaine and abused that have not the knowledge of God seeing they could not know him that is by the things that seemed good vnto them and although they have beheld his workes yet have they not attained to know the author and maker thereof but they have beleeved that the fire winde swift aire the course of the starres great rivers with Sunne and Moone were Gods and governours of the world and being in love with the beautie of these things they thought they should esteeme them as Gods It is reason they should consider how much more faire the Creator is seeing that he is the Author of beauties and makes all things Moreover if they admire the power and effects of these things thereby they may vnderstand how much more mightie hee is that gave them their being for by the beautie and greatnes of the creatures they may iudge what the Maker is Hitherto are the wordes of the Booke of Wisedome from whence we may draw a good and strong argument to overthrow the Idolatrie of Infidells who seeke rather to serve the creature then the Creator as the Apostle doth iustly reprehend them But for as much as this is not of our present subiect and that it hath been sufficiently treated of in the Sermons written against the errors of the Indians it shall bee sufficient now to shew that they did worship the great God and their vaine and lying gods all of one fashion for their maner to pray to Viracocha to the Sunne the Starres and the rest of their Idolls was to open their hands and to make a certaine sound with their mouthes like people that kissed and to aske that which every one desired in offering his sacrifices yet was there great difference betwixt the wordes they vsed in speaking to the great Ticiviracocha to whom they did attribute the cheefe power and commandement over all things and those they vsed to others the which every one did worship privately in his house as Gods or particular Lords saying that they were their intercessors to this great Ticciviracocha This maner of worship opening the hands and as it were kissing hath something like to that which Iob had in horror as fit for Idolaters saying If I have kissed my hands with my mouth beholding the Sunne when it shines or the Moone when it is light the which is a great iniquitie and to deny the most great God Of the Idolatry the Indians vsed to particular things CHAP. 5. THe Divell hath not beene contented to make these blinde Indians to worshippe the Sunne Moone Starres Earth and Sea and many other generall things in nature but hee hath passed on further giving them for God and making them subiect to base and abiect things and for the most part filthy and infamous No man needes to woonder at this barbarous blindnes if hee remember what the Apostle speaketh of Wise men and Philosophers That having knowne God they did not glorifie him nor give him thankes as to their God but they were lost in their own imaginations and conceipts and their hearts were hardened in their follies and they have changed the glory and deity of the eternall God into shews and figures of vaine and corruptible things as men birds beasts and serpents we know well that the Egyptians did worship the Dogge of Osiris the Cow of Isis and the Sheepe of Ammon the Romans did worship the goddesse Februa of Feavers and the Tarpeien Goose and Athenes the wise did worship the Cocke and the Raven and such other like vanities and mockeries whoreof the auntient Histories of the Gentiles are full Men fell into this great misery for that they would not subiect themselves to the Lawe of the true God and Creator as Saint Athanasius dooth learnedly handle writing against Idolatry But it is wonderfull strange to see the excesse which hath beene at the Indies especially in Peru for they worshipped rivers fountaines the mouthes of rivers entries of mountaines rockes or great stones hilles and the tops of mountains which they call Apachitas and they hold them for matters of great devotion To conclude they did worship all things in nature which seemed to them remarkable and different from the rest as acknowledging some particular deitie They shewd me in Caxamalca of Nasca a little hill or great mount of sand which was the chiefe Idoll or Guaca of the Antients I demaunded of them what divinitie they found in it They answered that they did worship it for the woonder beeing a very high mount of sand in the midst of very thicke mountains of stone Wee had neede in the cittie of Kings of great store of great wood for the melting of a Bell and therefore they cut downe a great deformed tree which for the greatnesse and antiquitie thereof had beene a long time the Oratorie and Guaca of the Indians And they beleeved there was a certaine Divinity in any thing that was extraordinary and strange in his kinde attributing the like vnto small stones and mettalls yea vnto rootes and fruites of the earth as the rootes they call Papas There is a strange kinde which they call Lallahuas which they kissed and worshipped They did likewise woorshippe Beares Lions Tygres and Snakes to th end they should not hurt them and such as their gods bee such are the things they offer vnto them in their worshippe They have vsed as they goe by the way to cast in the crosse wayes on the hilles and toppes of mountaines which they call Apachittas olde shooes feathers and Coca chewed being an hearb they vse much And when they have nothing left they cast a stone as an offring that they might passe freely and have greater force the which they say increaseth by this meanes as it is reported in a provinciall Counsell of Peru. And therefore they finde in the hie wayes great heapes of stones offered and such other things The like follie â—id the Antients vse of whome it is spoken in the Proverbs Like vnto him that offereth stones vnto Mercurie such a one is hee that honoureth fooles meaning that a man shall reape no more fruit nor profit of the second than the first for that their God Mercury made of stone dooth not acknowledge any offering neyther doth a foole any honour that is doone him They vsed another offring no lesse pleasant and ridiculous pulling the haire from the eyebrowes to offer it to the Sunne hills Apachittas to the winds or to any other thing they feare Such is the miseries that many Indians have lived in and do to this day whom the divell doth abuse like very Babes with any foolish illusion whatsoever So dooth Saint Chrysostome in one of his Homilies compare them but the servants of God which labour to draw them to salvation ought not to contemne these follies and childishnesse being sufficient to plunge these poore abused creatures into eternallâ—perdition but they ought with good and cleere reasons to
yong man and cast him from the toppe of the staires as their custome was when hee came at the bottome he said to the Spaniards in his language Knightes they have slaine me the which did greatly moove our men to horror and pittie It is no incredible thing that having his heart pulled out hee might speake seeing that Galen reportes that it hath often chanced in the sacrifice of beasts after the heart hath beene drawne out and cast vpon the altar the beasts have breathed yea they did bray and cry out alowde and sometimes did runne Leaving this question how this might bee in nature I will follow my purpose which is to shew how much these barbarous people did now abhorre this insuportable slaverie they had to that insernall murtherer and how great the mercy of the Lord hath beene vnto them imparting his most sweete and agreeable law How the Divell hath laboured to imitate and counterfaite the Sacraments of the holy Church CHAP 25. THat which is most admirable in the hatred and presumption of Sathan is that he hath not onely counterfaited in idolatry and sacrifices but also in certaine ceremonies our sacraments which Iesus Christ our Lord hath instituted and the holy Church doth vse having especially pretended to imitate in some sort the Sacrament of the Communion which is the most high and divine of all others for the great error of Infidells which proceeded in this maner In the first moneth which in Peru they called Rayme and answereth to our December they made a most solemne feast called Capacrayme wherein they made many sacrifices and ceremonies which continued many daies during the which no stranger was suffered to bee at the Court which was in Cusco These daies being past they then gave libertie to strangers to enter that they might be partakers of the feastes and sacrifices ministring to them in this maner The Mamacomas of the Sunne which were a kinde of Nunnes of the Sunne made little loaves of the â—lower of Mays died and mingled with the bloud of white sheepe which they did sacrifice that day then presently they commanded that all strangers should enter who set themselves in order and the Priests which were of a certaine linage discending from Liuquiyupangui gave to every one a morcell of these small loaves saying vnto them that they gave these peeces to the end they should be vnited and confederate with the Ingua and that they advised them not to speake nor thinke any ill against the Ingua but alwaies to beare him good affection for that this peece should be a witnesse of their intentions and will and if they did not as they ought he would discover them and be against them They carried these small loaves in great platters of gold and silver appointed for that vse all did receive eate these peeces thanking the Sunne infinitely for so great a favour which hee had done them speaking wordes and making signes of great contentment and devotion protesting that during their lives they would neither do nor thinke any thing against the Sunne nor the Ingua and with this condition they received this foode of the Sunne the which should remaine in their bodies for a witnesse of their fidelitie which they observed to the Sunne and to the Iugua their King This maner of divelish communicating they likewise vsed in the tenth moneth called Coyarayme which was September in the solemne feast which they called Cytua doing the like ceremonies And besides this communion if it be lawfull to vse this word in so divelish a matter which they imparted to all strangers that came they did likewise send of these loaves to all their Guacas sanctuaries or idolls of the whole Realme and at one instant they found people of all sides which came expresly to receive them to whom they said in delivering them that the Sunne had sent them that in signe that hee would have them all to worship and honour him and likewise did sende them in honour of the Caciques Some perhappes will hold this for a fable and a fiction yet is it most true that since the Ingua Yupangi the which is hee that hath made most lawes customes and ceremonies as Numa did in Rome this maner of communion hath continued vntill that the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ thrust out all these superstitions giving them the right foode of life which vnites their soules to God whoso would satisfie himselfe more amply let him reade the relation which the Licentiate Pollo did write Don Ieronimo de Loaysa Arch-bishop of the Cittie of Kings where he shall finde this and many other things which he hath discovered and found out by his great dilligence In what maner the Divell hath laboured in Mexico to counterfaite the feast of the holy Sacrament and Communion vsed in the holy Church CHAP. 24. IT is a thing more worthy admiration to heare speak of the Feast and solemnitie of the Communion which the Divell himselfe the Prince of Pride ordayned in Mexico the which although it bee somewhat long yet shall it not be from the purpose to relate as it is written by men of credite The Mexicaines in the moneth of Maie made their principall feast to their god Vitzâ—liputZli and two daies before this feast the Virgins whereof I have spoken the which were shut vp and secluded in the same Temple and were as it were religious women did mingle a quantitie of the seede of beetes with rosted Mays and then they did mould it with honie making an idoll of that paste in bignesse like to that of wood putting insteede of eyes graines of gâ—eene glasse of blue or white and for teeth graines of Mâ—â—s set forth with all the ornâ—ment and furniture that I have said This being finished all the Noblemen came and brought it an exquisite anâ— rich garment like vnto that of the idol wherewith they did attyre it Being thus clad and deckt they did set it in an azured chaire and in a litter to carry it on their shoulders The morning of this feast being come an houre before day all the maidens came forth attired in white with new ornaments the which that day were called the Sisters of their god VitzliputZli they came crowned with garlands of Mays rosted and parched being like vnto azahar or the flower of orange and about their neckes they had great chaines of the same which went bauldricke-wise vnder their left arme Their cheekes were died with vermillion their armes from the elbow to the wrist were covered with red parrots feathers And thus attyred they tooke the idoll one their shoulders carrying it into the Court where all the yoong men were attyred in garmentes of an artificiall reâ— crowned after the same maner like vnto the women Whenas the maidens came forth with the idoll the yong men drew neer with much reverence taking the litter wherein the idoll was vpon their shoulders carrying it to the foote of the staires of the Temple where al the
holde opinion that it is a heinous sinne to conceale any thing in confession The Ychuyri or confessors discovered by lottes or by the view of some beast hides if any thing were concealed and punished them with many blowes with a stone vpon the shoulders vntill they had revealed all then after they gave him penaunce and did sacrifice They doe likewise vse this confession when their children wives husbands or their Caciques be sicke or in any great exploite And when their Ingra was sicke all the provinces confessed themselves chiefly those of the province of Collao The Confessors were bound to hold their confessions secret but in certaine cases limited The sinnes that they chiefly confessed was first to kill one another out of warre then to steale to take another mans wife to give poison or sorcery to doe any harme and they helde it to be a grievous sinne to be forgetfull in the reverence of their Guacas or Oratories not to observe the feasts or to speake ill of the Ingua and to disobey him They accused not themselves of any secret actes and sinnes But according to the report of some Priests after the christians came into that Countrey they accused themselves of their thoughts The Ingua confessed himselfe to no man but onely to the Sunne that hee might tell them to Virachoca and that he might forgive them After the Ingua had been confessed hee made a certaine bath to cleanse himselfe in a running river saying these words I have told my sinnes to the Sunne receive them O thou River and carry them to the sea where they may never appeare more Others that confessed vsed likewise these baths with certaine ceremonies very like to those the Moores vse at this day which they call Guadoy and the Indians call them Opacuna When it chaunced that any mans children died he was held for a great sinner saying that it was for his sinnes that the sonne died before the father And therefore those to whom this had chanced after they were confessed they were bath'd in this bath called Opacuna as is saide before Then some deformed Indian crookebackt and counterfet by nature came to whippe them with certaine nettles If the Sorcerers or Inchaunters by their lots and divinations affirmed that any sicke body should die the sicke man makes no difficulty to kill his owne sonne though he had no other hoping by that meanes to escape death saying that in his place he offered his sonne in sacrifice And this crueltie hath beene practised in some places even since the Christians came into that countrey In trueth it is strange that this custome of confessing their secret sinnes hath continued so long amongest them and to doe so strict penances as to fast to give apparell gold and silver to remaine in the mountaines and to receive many stripes vpon the shoulders Our men say that in the province of Chiquito even at this day they meete with this plague of Confessors or Ychuris whereas many sicke persons repaire vnto them but now by the grace of God this people beginnes to see cleerely the effect and great benefite of our confession wherevnto they come with great devotion And partely this former custome hath beene suffered by the providence of the Lord that confession might not seeme tedious vnto them By this meanes the Lord is wholy glorified and the Divell who is a deceiver deceived And for that it concerneth this matter I will reporte the manner of a strange confession the Divell hath invented at Iappâ—â— as appeares by a letter that came from thence which faith thus There are in Ocaca very great and high and stiep rockes which have prickes or poynts on them above two hundred fadome high Amongest these rockes there is one of these pikes or poyntes so terribly high that when the Xamabusis which be pilgrimes doe but looke vp vnto it they tremble and their haire stares so fearefull and horrible is the place Vpon the toppe of this poynt there is a great rod of yron of three fadome long placed there by a strange devise at the end of this rodde is a ballance tied whereof the scales are so bigge as a man may sit in one of them and the Goquis which be divells in humane shape commaund these pilgrims to enter therein one after another not leaving one of them then with an engine or instrument which mooveth by meanes of a wheele they make this rodde of yron whereon the ballance is hanged to hang in the aire one of these XamabuZisbeing set in one of the scales of the ballaunce And as that wherein the man is sette hath no counterpoise on the other side it presently hangeth downe and the other riseth vntill it meetes with and toucheth the rodde then the Goqnis telleth them from the rocke that they must confesse themselves of all the sinnes they have committed to their remembrance and that with a lowde voyce to th' end that all the rest may heare him Then presently hee beginneth to confesse whilest some of the standers by do laugh at the sinnes they doe heare and others sigh and at every sinne they confesse the other scale of the ballance falles alittle vntill that having tolde all his sinnes it remaines equall with the other wherein the sorrowfull penitent sits then the Goquis turnes the wheele and drawes the rodde and ballance vnto him and the Pilgrime comes foorth then enters another vntill all have passed A Iapponois reported this after hee was christned saying that he had beene in this pilgrimage and entred the ballance seaven times where he had confessed himselfe publikely He saide moreover that if anie one did conceale any sinne the empty scale yeelded not and if hee grew obstinate after instance made to confesse himselfe refusing to open all his sinnes the Goquis cast him downe from the toppe where in an instant he is broken into a thousand peeces Yet this christian who was called Iohn tolde vs that commonly the feare and terrour of this place is so great to all such as enter therein and the danger they see with theiâ—â—â—â— to fall out of the ballance and to be broken in peeces that seldome there is any one but discovers all his sins This place is called by another name Sangenotoâ—â—ro that is to say the place of Confession wee see plainely by this discourse how the Divell hath pretended to vfurp vnto himselfe the service of God making confession of sinnes which the Lord hath appoynted for the remedy of man a divellish superstition to their great losse and perdition He hath doone no lesse to the Heatheâ— of Iappon than to those of the provinces of Collaâ— in Peru. Of the abhominable vnction which the Mexicaine priesteâ— and other Nations vsed and of their witchcraftes CHAP. 26. GOd appoynted in the auntient Lawe the manner how they should consecrate Aarons person and the other Priests and in the Lawe of the Gospel wee have likewise the holy creame and vnction which they vse when they consecrate the
the old women do commonly vse this office of witch-craft specially those of one Province which they call Coaillo and of another towne called Manchey and of the Province of Guarochiri They likewise shew what is become of things stolne and lost There are of these kindes of Sorcerers in all partes to whom commonly doe come the Anaconaâ—â— and Cyva which serve the Spaniardes and when they have lost any thing of their masters or whâ—n they desire to know the successe of things past or to come as when they goe to the Spaniardes citties for their private affaires or for the publike they demaund if their voyage shall be prosperous if they shall be sicke if they shall die or returne safe if they shall obtaine that which they pretend and the witches or coniurers answer yea or no having first spoken with the Divell in an obscure place so as these Anaconas do well heare the sound of the voyce but they see not to whom these coniurers speake neither do they vnderstand what they say They make a thousand ceremonies and sacrifices to this effect with the which they mocke the Divell and grow exceeding drunke for the doing whereof they particularly vse an hearbe called Villea the iuyce whereof they mingle with their Chica or take it in some other sort whereby we may see how miserable they are that have for their masters the ministers of him whose office is to deceive It is manifest that nothing doth so much let the Indians from receiving the faith of the holy Gospel and to persever therein as the conferrence with these witches whereof there have bin and are still great numbers although by the grace of the Lord and diligence of the Prelates and Priestes they decrease and are not so hurtefull Some of them have beene converted and preached publikely discovering and blaming themselves their errors and deceites and manifesting their devises and lies whereof wee have seene great effects as also we vnderstand by letters from Iappon that the like hath arrived in those parts all to the glory and honour of our Lord God Of other Ceremonies and Customes of the Indians which are like vnto ours CHAP. 27. THe Indians had an infinite number of other ceremonies and customes which resembled to the ancient law of Moses and some to those which the Moores vse and some approached neere to the law of the Gospel as their bathes or Opacuna as they call them they did wash themselves in water to clense them from their sins The Mexicaines had also amongst them a kinde of baptisme the which they did with ceremony cutting the eares and members of yong children new borne counterfaiting in some sort the circumcision of the Iewes This ceremony was done principally to the sonnes of Kings and Noblemen presently vpon their birth the priestes did wash them and did put a little sword in the right hand and in the left a target And to the children of the vulgar sort they put the markes of their offices and to their daughters instruments to spinne knit and labour This ceremony continued foure daies being made before some idoll They contracted mariage after their maner whereof the Licentiate Pollo hath written a whole Treatise and I will speake somewhat thereon heereafter In other things their customes and ceremonies have some shew of reason The Mexicaines were married by the handes of their priestes in this sort The Bridegroome and the Bride stoode together before the priest who tooke them by the hands asking them if they would marrie then having vnderstoode their willes hee tooke a corner of the vaile wherewith the woman had her head covered and a corner of the mans gowne the which he tied together on a knot and so led them thus tied to the Bridegroomes house where there was a harth kindled and then he caused the wife to go seven times about the harth and so the married couple sate downe together and thus was the mariage contracted The Mexicaines were very iealous of the integritie of their wives so as if they found they were not as they ought to be the which they knew eyther by signes or dishonest wordes they presently gave notice thereof to their fathers and kinsfolkes of their wives to their great shame and dishonor for that they had not kept good guarde over them But they did much honour and respect such as lived chastely making them great banquttes and giving great presentes both to her and to her kinsfolkes For this occasion they made great offerings to their gods and a solemne banket in the house of the wife and another in the husbands When they went to house they made an inventory of all the man and wife brought together of provisions for the house of land of iewells and ornaments which inventories every father kept for if it chanced they made any devorce as it was common amongest them when they agree not they divided their goods according to the portion that every one brought every one having libertie in such a case to marry whomâ— they pleased and they gave the daughters to the wife and the sonnes to the husband It was defended vpon paine of death not to marry againe together the which they observed very strictly And although it seeme that many of their ceremonies agree with ours yet differ they much for the great abhomination they mingle therewithall It is common and generall to have vsually one of these three things either cruelty filthines or slouth for all their ceremonies were cruell and hurtefull as to kill men and to spill blood are filthy and beastly as to eate and drinke to the name of their Idolls and also to pisse in the honour of them carrying them vpon their shoulders to annoint and besmeere themselves filthily and to do a thousand sortes of villanies which were at the least vaine ridiculous and idle and more like the actions of children then of men The cause thereof is the very condition of this wicâ—ed spirit whose intention is alwaies to do ill provoking men still to murthers and filthines or at the least to vanities and fruitelesse actions the which every man may well know if he duly consider the behaviour and actions of the Divell towardes those he sets to deceive For in all his illusions we finde a mixture of these three or at least of one of them The Indians themselves since they came to the knowledge of our faith laugh and mocke at these fooleries and toyes in the which their gods held them busied whom they served more for feare least they should hurte them in not obaying them in all things then for any love they bare them Although some yea very many lived abused and deceived with the vaine hope of temporall goods for of the eternall they had no knowledge And whereas the temporall power was greatest there superstition hath most increased as we see in the Realmes of Mexico and Cusco where it is incredible to see the number of idolls they had for within the
citty of Mexico there were above three hundred Mango Ingua Yupanguâ— amongst the Kings of Cusco was hee that most augmented the service of their idolls inventing a thousand kindes of sacrifices feasts and ceremonies The like did King Iscoalt in Mexico who was the fourth king There was also a great number of superstitions and sacrifices in other Nations of the Indians as in the Province of Guatimala at the Ilands in the new Kingdome in the Province of Chille and others that were like Common-wealthes and Comminalties But it was nothing 〈◊〉 respect of Mexico and Cusco where Sathan was in â—ome or in his Ierusalem vntill he was cast out against his will and the holy Crosse planted in his place and the Kingdome of Christ our God occupied the which the tyrant did vsurpe Of some Feast celebrated by them of Cusco and how the Divell would imitate the mysterie of the holy Trinitie CHAP. 28. TO conclude that which concernes Religion there restes something to speake of the feasts and solemnities which the Indians did celebrate the which for that they are divers and many cannot be all specified The Ingnas Lords of Peru had two kindes of feasts some were ordinarie which fell out in certaine moneths of the yeere and others extraordinary which were for certaine causes of importance as when they did crowne a new King when they beganne some warre of importance when they had any great neede of water or drought or other like things For the ordinary feasts we must vnderstand that every moneth of the yeare they made feasts and divers sacrifices and although all of them had this alike that they offered a hundred sheepe yet in colour and in forme they are very divers In the first moneth which they call Rayme which is the moneth of December they made their first feast which was the principall of all others and for that cause they called it Capacrayme which is to say a rich and principall feast In this feast they offered a great number of sheepe and lambs in sacrifice and they burnt them with sweete wood then they caused gold and silver to be brought vpon certaine sheepe setting vppon them three Images of the Sun and three of the thunder the father the sonne and the brother In these feasts they dedicated the Inguas children putting the Guaras or ensignes vpon them and they pierced their eares then some olde man did whip them with slings and annoynted their faces with blood all in signe that they should be true Knights to the Ingua No stranger might remaine in Cusco during this moneth and this feast but at the end thereof they entred and they gave vnto them peeces of the paste of mays with the blood of the sacrifice which they did eate in signe of confederation with the Ingua as hath bin said before It is strange that the Divell after his manner hath brought a trinitie into idolatry for the three images of the Sunne called Apomti Churunti and Intiquaoqui which signifieth father and lord Sunne the sonne Sunne and the brother Sunne In the like maner they named the three Images of Chuquilla which is the God that rules in the region of the aire where it thunders raines and snows I remember that being in Cuquisaca an honourable priest shewed me an information which I had long in my handes where it was prooved that there was a certaine Guaca or Oratory whereas the Indians did worship an idoll called Tangatanga which they saide was one in three and three in one And as this Priest stood amazed the reat I saide that the Divell by his infernall and obstinate pride whereby he alwayes pretendes to make himselfe God did steale all that he could from the trueth to imploy it in his lyings and deceits Comming then to the feast of the second moneth which they called Camey besides the sacrifices which they made they did cast the ashes into the river following five or sixe leagues after praying it to carry them into the sea for that the Virochoca should there receive this present In the third fourth and fift moneth they offered a hundred blacke sheepe speckled and grey with many other things which I omitte for being too tedious The â—ixt moneth is called Hatâ—â—cuZ qui Aymorey which answereth to Maie in the which they sacrificed a hundred sheepe more of all colours in this moone and moneth which is when they bring Maie from the fieldes into the house they made a feast which is yet very vsuall among the Indians and they doe call it Aymorey This feast is made comming from the Chacra or farme vnto the house saying certaine songs and praying that the Mays may long continue the which they call Mamacora They take a certaine portion of the most fruitefull of the Mays that growes in their farmes the which they put in a certaine grenier which they doe call Pirua with certaine ceremonies watching three nightes they put this Mays in the richest garments they have and beeing thus wrapped and dressed they worship this Pirua and hold it in great veneration saying it is the mother of the mays of their inheritances and that by this means the mays augments is preserved In this moneth they make a particular sacrifice and the witches demaund of this Pirua if it hath strength sufficient to continue vntill the next yeare and if it answers no then they carry this Mays to the farme to burne whence they brought it according to every mans power then make they another Pirua with the same ceremonies saying that they renue it to the end the seede of Mays may not perish and if it answers that it hath force sufficient to last longer they leave it vntill the next yeare This foolish vanitie continueth to this day and it is very common amongest the Indians to have these Piruas to make the feast of Aymorey The seaventh moneth answereth to Iune and is called Aâ—caycuZ qui Intiraymi in it they made the feast that is called Intiraymi in the which they sacrificed a hundred sheepe called Guanacos and saide it was the feast of the Sunne In this moneth they made many Images of Quinua wood carved all attired with rich garmentes and they made their dancings which they do call Cayo At this feast they cast flowers in the high wayes and thither the Indians came painted and their noblemen had small plates of golde vpon their beards and all did sing wee must vnderstand that this feast falleth almost at the same time whenas the Christians observe the solempnitie of the holy Sacrament which doth resemble it in some sort as in dauncing singing and representations And for this cause there hath beene and is yet among the Indians which celebrated a feast somewhat like to ours of the holy Sacrament many superstitions in celebrating this ancient feast of Intiâ—aymi The eight month is called Chahua Huarqui in the which they did burne a hundred sheepe more all grey of the colour of Viscacha according to the former order which
banquet and dinner of the feast having first bid the idoll good morrow with a small dance which they made whilst the day did breake and that they prepared the sacrifice Then did all the Marchants assemble at this banket especially those which made it a trafficke to buy and sell slaves who were bound every yeare to offer one for the resemblance of their god This idoll was one of the most honoured in all the land and therefore the Temple where hee was was of great authoritie There were threescore staires to ascend vp vnto it and on the toppe was a court of an indifferent largenesse very finely drest and plastered in the midst whereof was a great round thing like vnto an Oven having the entrie low and narrow so as they must stoope very low that should enter into it This Temple had chambers and chappells as the rest where there were convents of Priests yong men maides and children as hath beene said and there was one Priest alone resident continually the which they changed weekely For although there were in every one of these temples three or foure Curates or Ancients yet did every one serve his weeke without parting His charge that weeke after he had instructed the children was to strike vp a drumme every day at the Sunne setting to the same end that we are accustomed to ring to evensong This drumme was such as they might heare the house sound thereof throughout all the partes of the Cittie then every man shut vp his merchandise and retired vnto his house and there was so great a silence as there seemed to be no living creature in the Towne In the morning whenas the day beganne to breake they beganne to sound the drumme which was a signe of the day beginning so as travellers and strangers attended this signall to beginne their iournies for till that time it was not lawfull to goe out of the cittie There was in this temple a court of a reasonable greatnes in the which they made great dances pastimes with games or comedies the day of the idolls feast for which purpose there was in the middest of this court a theatre of thirty foote square very finely decked and trimmed the which they decked with flowers that day with all the arte and invention that mought be beeing invironed round with Arches of divers flowers and feathers and in some places there were tied many small birds connies and other tame beasts After dinner all the people assembled in this place and the players presented themselves and played comedies some counterfeit the deafe and the rheumatike others the lame some the blinde and without handes which came to seeke for cure of the idoll the deafe answered confusedly the rheumatike did cough the lame halted telling their miseries and griefes wherewith they made the people to laugh others came foorth in the forme of little beasts some were attired like snailes others like toades and some like lizardes then meeting together they tolde their offices and every one retyring to his place they founded on small flutes which was pleasant to heare They likewise counterfeited butterflies and small birdes of diverse colours and the children of the Temple represented these formes then they went into a little forrest planted there for the nonce where the Priestes of the Temple drew them foorth with instruments of musicke In the meane time they vsed many pleasant speeches some in propounding others in defending wherewith the assistants were pleasantly intertained This doone they made a maske or mummerie with all these personages and so the feast ended the which were vsually doone in their principall feasts What profit may be drawne out of this discourse of the Indians superstitions CHAP 31. THis may suffice to vnderstand the care and paine the Indians tooke to serve and honour their Idolls or rather the divell for it were an infinite matter and of small profit to report every thing that hath passed for that it may seeme to some needlesse to have spoken â—hus much and that it is a losse of time as in reading the fables that are fained by the Romaines of Knighthoode But if such as holde this opinion will looke wel into it they shall finde great difference betwixt the one and the other and that it may be profitable for many considerations to have the knowledge of the cuâ—â—oms and ceremonies the Indians vsed first this knowledge is not only profitable but also necessary in those countries where these superstitions have beene practised to the end that Christians and the maisters of the Law of Christ may know the errours and superstitions of the Antients and observe if the Indians vse them not at this day either secretly or openly For this cause many learned and worthy men have written large Discourses of what they have found yea the Provinciall counsells have commaunded them to write and print them as they have doone in Lima where hath beene made a more ample Discourse than this And therefore it importeth for the good of the Indians that the Spaniardes being in those parts of the Indies should have the knowledge of all these things This Discourse may likewise serve the Spaniards there and all others whersoever to give infinite thankes to God our Lord who hath imparted so great a benefite vnto vs giving them his holy Lawe which is most iust pure and altogether profitable The which we may well know comparing it with the lawes of Sathan where so many wretched people have lived so miserably It may likewise serve to discover the pride envy deceipts and ambushes of the Divell which he practiseth against those hee holdes captives seeing on the one side hee seekes to imitate God and make comparison with him and his holy Lawe and on the other side hee dooth mingle with his actions so many vanities filthinesse and cruelties as hee that hath no other practise but to sophisâ—â—cate and corrupt all that is good Finally hee that shall see the darkenes and blindenes wherein so many Provinces and Kingdoms have lived so long time yea and wheâ—in many Nations and a great part of the world live yet deceived with the like trumperies he can not if he have a Christians heart but give thankes to the high God for such as hee hath called out of so great darkenes to the admirable light of his Gospel beseeching the vnspeakeable charitie of the Creator to preserve and increase them in his knowledge and obedience and likewise be grieved for those that follow still the way of perdition And that in the end hee beseech the Father of Pitty to open vnto them the treasures and riches of Iesus Christ who with the Father and Holy-ghost raignes in all Ages Amen THE SIXT BOOKE of the Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies That they erre in their opinion which holde the Indians to want iudgement CHAP. 1. HAving treated before of the religion the Indians vsed I pretend to discourse in this Booke of their customs policy and government for
we may be satisfied of this doubt when we vnderstand that by wordes pictures and these memorialles they were often advertised of that which passed For this cause there were men of great agilitie which served as curriers to goe and come whome they did nourish in this exercise of running from their youth labouring to have them well breathed that they might runne to the toppe of a high hill without wearines And therefore in Mexico they gave the prize to three or foure that first mounted vp the staires of the Temple as hath beene said in the former Booke And in Cusco when they made their solemne feast of Capacrayme the novices did runne who could fastest vp the rocke of Ynacauri And the exercise of running is generall much vsed among the Indians Whenas there chaunced any matter of importaunce they sent vnto the Lordes of Mexico the thing painted whereof they would advertise them as they did when the first Spanish ships appeared to their â—ight when they tooke Topanchan In Peru they were very curious of footemen and the Ingua had them in all parts of the realme as ordinary Posts called Chasquis whereof shall be spoken in his place Of the manner of governement and of the Kings which the Indians had CHAP. 11. IT is apparant that the thing wherein these barbarous people shew their barbarisme was in their governement and manner of commaund for the more that men approch to reason the more milde is their governement and lesse insolent the Kings and Lords are more tractable agreeing better with their subiects acknowledging them equall in nature though inferiour in duetie and care of the commonwealth But amongst the Barbarians all is contrary for that their government is tyrannous vsing their subiects like beasts and seeking to be reverenced like gods For this occasion many nations of the Indies have not indured any Kings or absolute soveraigne Lords but live in comminalties creating and appointing Captains and Princes for certaine occasions onely to whome they obey during the time of their charge then after they returne to their former estates The greatest part of this new world where there are no settled kingdomes nor established commonweales neither princes nor succeeding kings they governe themselves in this manner although there be some Lordes and principall men raised above the common sort In this sorte the whole Countrey of Chille is governed where the Auracanes those of Teucapell and others have so many yeeres resisted the Spaniardes And in like sort all the new kingdome of Grenadâ— that of Guatimalla the Ilandes all Florida Bresill Lâ—sâ—â— and other countries of great circuite but that in some places they are yet more barbarous scarcely acknowledging any head but all commaund and governe in common having no other thing but wil violence industry and disorder so as he that most may most commaunds At the East Indies there are great kingdomes well ordered and governed as that of Sian Bisnaga and others which may bring to field when they please a hundred or two hundred thousand men As likewise the Kingdome of China the which in greatnes and power surpasseth all the rest whose kings as they report have continued above two thousand yeares by meanes of their good order and government But at the West Indies they have onely found two Kingdomes or setled Empires that of the Mexicaines in new Spaine and of the Inguas in Peru. It is not easie to be said which of the two was the mightiest Kingdome for that Motecuma exceeded them of Peru in buildings and in the greatnes of his court but the Inguas did likewise exceede the Mexicaines in treasure riches and greatnes of Provinces In regarde of antiquitie the Monarchie of the Inguas hath the advantage although it be not much and in my opinion they have beene equall in feates of armes and victories It is most certaine that these two Kingdomes have much exceeded all the Indian Provinces discovered in this new world as well in good order and government as in power and wealth and much more in superstition and service of their idolls having many things like one to an other But in one thing they differed much for among the Mexicaines the succession of the kingdome was by election as the Empire of the Romans and that of Peru was hereditarie and they succeeded in bloud as the Kingdomes of Fraunce and Spaine I will therefore heereafter treate of these two governments as the chiefe subiect and best knowne amongst the Indians being fit for this discourse leaving many and tedious things which are not of importance Of the Government of the Kings and Inguas of Peru. CHAP. 12. THe Ingua which ruled in Peru being dead his lawfull sonne succeeded him and so they held him that was borne of his chiefe wife whome they called Coya The which they have alwaies observed since the time of an Ingua calld Yupangui who married his sister for these Kings held it an honour to marry their sisters And although they had other wives and concubines yet the succession of the Kingdome appertained to the sonne of the Coya It is true that when the King had a legitimate brother he succeeded before the sonne and after him his nephew and sonne to the first The Curacas and Noblemen held the same order of succession in their goods and offices And after their maner they made excessive ceremonies and obsequies for the dead They observed one custome very great full of state that a King which entred newly into his Kingdome should not inherite any thing of the movables implements and treasure of his predecessour but hee must furnish his house new and gather together gold silver and other things necessarie not touching any thing of the deceased the which was wholy dedicated for his Oratorie or Guaca and for the entertainment of the family he left the which with his of-spring was alwaies busied at the sacrifices ceremonies and service of the deceased King for being dead they presently held him for a god making sacrifices vnto him images and such like By this meanes there was infinite treasure in Peru for every one of the Inguas had laboured to have his Oratorie and treasure surpasse that of his predecessors The marke or ensigne whereby they took possession of the realme was a red rowle of wooll more fine then silke the which hung in the middest of his forehead and none but the Ingua alone might weare it for that it was as a Crowne and royall Diademe yet they might lawfully weare a rowle hanging on the one side neere vnto the eare as some Noblemen did but onely the Ingua might carry it in the middest of his forehead At such time as they tooke this roule or wreathe they made solemne feasts and many sacrifices with a great quantity of vessell of gold and silver a great number of small formes or images of sheep made of gold and silver great abundance of the stuffes of Cumby well wrought both fine and courser many
payed no tribute of that which was apportioned vnto them For all their tribute was to till and keepe in good order the landes of the Ingua and the Guacas and to lay the fruits thereof in their store-houses When the yeare was barren they gave of these fruits thus reserved to the needy for that there is alwayes superaboundance The Ingua did likewise make destribution of the cattell as of the landes which was to number and divide them then to appoynt the pastures and limites for the cattell belonging to the Guacas and to the Ingua and to everie Towne and therefore one portion of their revenues was for religion another for the Ingua the third for the Indians themselves The like order was observed among the hunters being forbidden to take or kill any females The troups of the Inguas and Guacas were in great numbers and very fruitfull for this cause they called them Capaëllama but those of the common and publike were few in number and of small valew and therfore they called them Bacchallama The Ingua took great care for the preservation of cattell for that it hath beene and is yet all the wealth of the Countrey and as it is sayd they did neither sacrifice any females nor kill them neither did they take them when they hunted If the mangie or the scurvie which they call Carache take any beast they were presently commaunded to bury it quicke lest it should infect others They did sheare their cattell in their season and distributed to every one to spinne and weave stuffes for the service of his familie They had searchers to examine if they did employ themselves in these workes and to punish the negligent They made stuffes of the wooll of the Inguas cattell for him and for his family one sorte very fine which they called Cumbi and another grosser which they likewise called Abasca There was no certaine number of these stuffes and garments appointed but what was delivered to every one The wooll that remayned was put into the storehouses whereof the Spaniards found them ful and with all other things necessary for the life of man There are few men of iudgement but doe admire at so excellent and well settled a governement seeing the Indians being neyther religious nor christians maintained after their manner this perfection nor to holde any thing proper and to provide for all their necessities entertaining with such aboundance matters of religion and that which concerned their King and Lord. Of artes and offices which the Indians did exercise CHAP. 16. THe Indians of Peru had one perfection which was to teach their young children all artes and occupations necessary for the life of man for that there were no particular trades-men as amongest vs taylers shoomakers weavers and the rest but every one learned what was needefull for their persons and houses and provided for themselves All coulde weave and make their garments and therfore the Ingua furnishing them with wooll gave them clothes Every man could till the ground and put it to profite without hyring of any labourers All built their owne houses and the women vnderstoode most they were not bred vppe in delights but served their husbands carefully Other arts and trades which were not ordinary and common for the life of man had their proper companies and workmen as goldsmiths painters potters watermen and players of instruments There were also weavers and workemen for exquisite workes which the noblemen vsed but the common people as hath beene said had in their houses all things necessary having no need to buy This continues to this day so as they have no need one of another for things necessary touching his person and family as shooes and garments and for their house to sowe and reape and to make yron woorkes and necessary instruments the Indians heerein doe imitate the institutions of the lesse auntient whereof is intreated in the life of the Fathers In trueth it is a people not greatly covetous nor curious so as they are contented to passe their time quietly and without doubt if they made choise of this manner of life by election and not by custome or nature we may say that it was a life of great perfection being apt to receive the doctrine of the holy Gospel so contrary an enimy to pride covetousnes and delights But the preachers give not alwayes good example according to the doctrine they preach to the Indians It is woorthy observation although the Indians be simple in their manner and habites yet do we see great diversitie amongest the provinces especially in the attire of their head for in some places they carried a long peece of cloth which went often about in some places a large piece of cloth which went but once about in some parts as it were litle morters or hattes in some others as it were high and round bonets some like the bottome of sacks with a thousand other differences They had a straight and inviolable lawe that no man might change the fashion of the garments of his province although hee went to live in another This the Ingua held to be of great importance for the order and good governement of his realme and they doe observe it to this day though not with so great a care as they were accustomed Of the Posts and Chasquis the Indians did use CHAP. 17. THere were many Posts and couriers which the Ingua maintened throughout his realme whom they called Chasquis and they carried commaundements to the Governours and returned their advises and advertisements to the Court These Chasquis were placed at every course which was a league and a halfe one fro an other in twoo small houses where were foure Indians of every country and they were changed monthly Having received the packet or message they ranne with all their force vntill they had delivered it to the other Chasquis such as were to runne being ready and watchfull They ranne fifty leagues in a day and night although the greatest parte of that countrey be very rough They served also to carry such things as the Ingua desired to have with speede Therefore they had always sea-fish in Cusco of two dayes old or litle more although it were above a hundred leagues off Since the Spaniardes entred they have vsed of these Chasquis in time of seditions whereof there was great need Don Martin the viceroy appoynted ordinary posts at everie foure leagues to carry and recarry dispatches which were very necessary in this realme though they runne not so swiftly as the auntients did neither are there so many yet they are well payed and serve as the ordinaries of Spaine to whom they give letters which they carry foure or five leagues Of the iustice lawes and punishments which the Inguas have established and of their marriages CHAP. 18. EVen as such as had done any good service in warre or in the governement of the common-weale were honoured and recompensed with publike charges with lands given them
originall and beginning was in the valley of Cusco where by little little they conquered the lands which we call Peru passing beyond Quitto vnto the river of Pasto towardes the North stretching even vnto Chille towardes the South which is almost a thousand leagues in length It extended in breadth vnto the South sea towardes the West and vnto the great champains which are on the other side of the Andes where at this day is to be scene the Castell which is called the Pucara of the Ingua the which is a fortresse built for the defence of the frontire towards the East The Inguas advanced no farther on that side for the aboundance of water marshes lakes and rivers which runne in those partes These Inguas passed all the other Nations of Amarica in pollicy and government and much more in valour and armes although the Canaries which were their mortall enemies and favoured the Spaniardes would never confesse it nor yeelde them this advantage so as even at this day if they fall into any discourse or comparisons and that they be a little chased and incensed they kill one another by thousands vpon this quarrell which are the most valiant as it hath happened in Cusco The practise and meanes which the Inguas had to make themselves Lords of all this Countrie was in faining that since the generall deluge whereof all the Indians have knowledge the world had beene preserved restored and peopled by these Inguas and that seven of them came forth of the cave of Pacaricambo by reason whereof all other men ought them tribute and vassalage as their progenitors Besides they said and affirmed that they alone held the true religion and knew how God should be served and honoured and for this cause they should instruct all men It is a strange thing the ground they give to their customes and ceremonies There were in Cusco above foure hundred Oratories as in a holy land and all places were filled with their mysteries As they continued in the conquests of Provinces so they brought in the like ceremonies and customes In all this realme the chiefe idolls they did worship were Viracocha Pachâ—yacâ—achic which signifies the Creator of the world and after him the Sunne And therefore they said that the Sunne received his vertue and being from the Creator as the other idolls do and that they were intercessors to him Of the first Ingua and his Successors CHAP. 20. THe first man which the Indians report to be the beginning and first of the Inguas was Mangocapa whom they imagine after the deluge to have issued forth of the cave of Tambo which is from Cusco about five or six leagues They say that he gave beginning to two principall races or families of the Inguas the one was called Hanancusco and the other Vrincusco of the first came the Lords which subdued and governed this Province and the first whom they make the head and steame of this family was called Ingaroca who founded a family or Aillo as they call them named Viçaquiquirao This although he were no great Lord was served notwithstanding in vessell of gold and silver And dying he appointed that all his treasure should be imployed for the service of his body and for the feeding of his family His successor did the like and this grew to a generall custome as I have said that no Ingua might inherite the goods and house of his predecessor but did build a new pallace In the time of this Inguarâ—ca the Indians had images of gold and to him succeeded Yaguarguaque a very old man they say he was called by this name which signifies teares of blood for that being once vanquished and taken by his enemies for griefe and sorrow he wept blood Hee was buried in a village called Paullo which is vpon the way to Omasugo he founded a family called Aocuillidanaca To him succeeded his sonne Viracocha Ingua who was very rich and made much vessell of gold and silver hee founded the linage or family of Câ—copanaca GonZales PiZarre sought out his body for the report of the great treasure was buried with him who after he had cruelly tormented many Indians in the end he found it in Xaquixaquana whereas they said PiZarrewas afterwards vanquished taken and executed by the President Guasca Gonsales Pizarre caused the body of Viracocha Ingua to be burnt the Indians did afterwardes take the ashes the which they preserved in a small vessell making great sacrifices therevnto vntill Pollo did reforme it and other idolatries which they committed vpon the bodies of their other Inguas the which hee suppressed with an admirable diligence and dexterity drawing these bodies out of their hands being whole and much imbalmed whereby he extinguished a great number of idolatries which they committed The Indians tooke it ill that the Ingua did intitle himselfe Viracocha which is the name of their God and he to excuse himselfe gave them to vnderstand that the same Viracocha appeared to him in his dreame commanding him to take this name To him succeeded Pachacuti Ingua Yupangui who was a very valiant conquerour a great Polititian and an inventer of a great part of the traditions and superstitions of their idolatrie as I will presently shew Of Pachacuti Ingua Yupangui and what happened in his time vnto Guaynacapa CHAP. 21. PAchacuti Ingua Yupangui rained seventy yeares and conquered many Countries The beginning of his conquests was by meanes of his eldest brother who having held the government in his fathers time and made warre by his consent was over-throwne in a battle against the Changuas a Nation which inhabites the valley of Andaguayllas thirty or forty leagues from Cusco vpon the way to Lima. This elder brother thus defeated retyred himselfe with few men The which Ingua Yupangui his yonger brother seeing devised and gave forth that being one day alone and melancholie Viracocha the Creator spake to him complaining that though he were vniversall Lord and Creator of all things and that hee had made the heaven the Sunne the world and men and that all was vnder his command yet did they not yeelde him the obedience they ought but contrariwise did equally honour and worship the Sunne Thunder Earth and other things which had no virtue but what he imparted vnto them giving him to vnderstand that in heaven where hee was they called him Viracocha Pachayachachic which signifieth vniversall Creator and to the end the Indians might beleeve it to be true he doubted not althogh he were alone to faise men vnder this title which should give him victory against the Changuas although they were then victorious and in great numbers and make himselfe Lord of those realmes for that he would send him men to his aide invisibly whereby he prevaâ—led in such sort that vnder this colour and conceit hee beganne to assemble a great number of people whereof he made a mighty armie with the which he obtayned the victorie making himselfe Lord of the whole
Realme taking the government from his father and brother Then afterwardes he conquered and overthrew the Changuas and from that time commanded that Viracocha should be held for vniversall Lord and that the images of the Sunne and Thunder should do him reverence and honour And from that time they beganne to set the image of Viracocha above that of the Sunne and Thunder and the rest of the Guacas And although this Ingua Yupangui had given farmes landes and cattell to the Sunne Thunder and other Guacas yet did he not dedicate any thing to Viracocha saying that he had no neede being vniversall Lord and Creator of all things He informed his souldiers after this absolute victory of the Changuas that it was not they alone that had conquered them but certaine bearded men whome Viracocha had sent him and that no man might see them but himselfe which were since converted into stones it was therefore necessary to seeke them out whome he would know well By this meanes hee gathered together a multitude of stones in the mountaines whereof he made choice placing them for Guacas or Idolls they worshipped and sacrificed vnto they called them Pâ—ruraucas and carried them to the warre with great devotion beleeving for certaine that they had gotten the victory by their help The imagination and fiction of this Ingua was of such force that by the means thereof hee obtained goodly victories He founded the family called Yuacapanaca and made a great image of golde which hee called Indijllapa which hee placed in a brancard of golde very rich and of great price of the which gold the Indians tooke great store to carry to Xaxamalca for the libertie and ransome of Atahulpa when the Marquise Francis PiZarre held him prisoner The Licentiate Polo found in his house in Cusco his servants and Mamacomas which did service to his memorie and found that the body had beene transported from Patallacta to Totocache where the Spaniards have since founded the parish of Saint Blaise This body was so whole and preserved with a certaine rosin that it seemed alive he had his eyes made of a fine cloth of golde so artificially set as they seemed very naturall eyes he had a blowe with a stone on the head which he had received in the warres he was all grey and hairy having lost no more haire than if hee had died but the same day although it were seaventy and eight yeares since his decease The foresaid Polo sent this body with some others of the Inguas to the cittie of Lima by the viceroyes commaund which was the Marquise of Canette and the which was very necessary to root out the idolatry of Cusco Many Spaniards have seene this body with others in the hospitall of Saint Andrew which the Marquise built but they were much decayed Don Phillip Caritopa who was grand-childe or great grand-childe to this Ingua affirmed that the treasure hee left to his family was great which should be in the power of the Yanaconas Amaro Toto and others To this Ingua succeeded Topaingua Yupangui to whom his son of the same name succeeded who founded the family called Cupac Aillo Of the greatest and most famous Ingua called Guaynacapa CHAP. 22. TO this latter Ingua succeeded Guaynacapa which is to say a yoong man rich and valiant and so was he in trueth more than any of his predecessors or successors Hee was very wise planting good orders thorowout his whole realme hee was a bold and resolute man valiant and very happy in warre Hee therefore obtained great victories and extended his dominions much farther then all his predecessors had done before him he died in the realme of Quitto the which he had conquered foure hundred leagues distant from his court The Indians opened him after his decease leaving his heart and entrailes in Quitto the body was carried to Cusco the which was placed in the renowmed temple of the Sunne We see yet to this day many cawseies buildings fortresses and notable workes of this king hee founded the familie of Teme Bamba This Guaynacapa was worshipped of his subiects for a god being yet alive as the olde men affirme which was not doone to any of his predecèssours When he died they slew a thousand persons of his housholde to serve him in the other life all which died willingly for his service insomuch that many of them offered themselves to death besides such as were appoynted his riches and treasure was admirable And forasmuch as the Spaniards entred soone after his death the Indians laboured much to conceale all although a great parte thereof was carried to Xaxamalca for the ransome of Atahulpa his sonne Some woorthy of credite affirme that he hadde above three hundred sonnes and grand-children in Cusco His mother called Mamaoella was much esteemed amongst them Polo sent hir body with that of Guaynacapa very well imbalmed to Lima rooting out infinite idolatries To Guaynacapa succeeded in Cusco a sonne of his called Titocussigualpa who since was called Guaspar Ingua his body was burned by the captaines of Atahulpa who was likewise sonne to Guaynacapa and rebelled in Quitto against his brother marching against him with a mighty armie It happened that Quisquits and Chilicuchi captains to Atahulpa took Guaspar Ingua in the cittie of Cusco being received for Lord and king for that hee was the lawfull successor which caused great sorrowe throughout all his kingdome especially in his Court. And as alwayes in their necessities they had recourse to sacrifices finding themselves vnable to set their Lord at libertie as well for the great power the captaines had that tooke him as also for the great army that came with Atahulpa they resolved some say by the commaundement of this Ingua to make a great and solemne sacrifice to Viracocha Pachayachachic which signifieth vniversall Creator desiring him that since they coulde not deliver their Lord he would send men from heaven to deliver him from prison And as they were in this great hope vpon their sacrifice news came to them that a certaine people come by sea was landed and had taken Atahulpa prisoner Heerevpon they called the Spaniards Viracochas beleeving they were men sent from God as well for the small number they were to take Atahulpa in Xaxamalca as also for that it chaunced after their sacrifice done to Viracocha and thereby they began to call the Spaniards Viracochas as they doe at this day And in truth if we had given them good example and such as we ought these Indians had well applied it in saying they were men sent from God It is a thing very well worthy of consideration how the greatnesse and providence of God disposed of the entry of our men at Peru which had beene impossible were not the dissention of the two brethren and their partisans and the great opinion they hadde of christians as of men sent from heaven bound by the taking of the Indians countrey to labour to winne soules vnto Almightie God Of the
last Successours Inguas CHAP. 23. THe rest of this subiect is handled at large by the Spanish Writers in the histories of the Indies and for that it is not my purpose I will speake only of the succession of the Inguas Atahulpa being dead in Xaxamalca and Guascar in Cusco and Francis Pizarre with his people having seised on the realme Mangocapa sonne to Guaynacapa besieged them in Cusco very straightly but in the end he abandoned the whole Countrey and retired himselfe to Vilca Bamba where he kept himselfe in the mountaines by reason of the rough and difficult accesse and there the successors Inguas remained vntill Amaro who was taken and executed in the market place of Cusco to the Indians incredible griefe and sorrow seeing iustice doone vpon him publiquely whome they helde for their Lorde After which time they imprisoned others of the linage of these Inguas I have knowne Don Charles grand-childe to Guaynacapa and son to Polo who was baptized and alwayes favoured the Spaniards against Mangocapa his brother when the Marquise of Canette governed in this Countrey Sarritopaingua went from Vilcabamba and came vpon assurance to the citty of Kings where there was given to him the valley of Yucay and other things to whom succeeded a daughter of his Beholde the succession which is knowne at this day of that great and rich familie of the Inguas whose raigne continued above three hundred yeeres wherein they reckon eleaven successors vntill it was wholy extinguished In the other linage of Vrincusco which as we have said before had his beginning likewise from the first Mangocapa they reckon eight successors in this sort To Mangocapa succeeded Cinchoraca to him Capac Yupangui to him Lluqui Yupangui to him Maytacapaest Tarcogumam vnto whome succeeded his sonne whome they name not to this son succeeded Don Iean Tambo Maytapanaça This sufficeth for the originall and succession of the Inguas that governed the land of Peru with that that I have spoken of their Lawes Governement and manner of life Of the manner of the Mexicaines common-weale CHAP. 24. ALthough you may see by the historie which shal be written of the kingdome succession beginning of the Mexicaines their maner of commonweale and governement yet will I speake briefly what I shall thinke fitte in generall to be most observed Whereof I will discourse more amply in the historie The first point whereby we may iudge the Mexicaine governement to be very politike is the order they had and kept inviolable in the election of their king for since their first called Acamapach vnto their last which was Moteçuma the second of that name there came none to the crowne by right of succession but by a lawfull nomination and election This election in the beginning was by the voyce of the commons although the chiefe men managed it Since in the time of Iscoalt the fourth king by the advise and order of a wise and valiant man called Tlacael there were foure certayne Electours appoynted which with two lordes or kings subiect to the Mexicaine the one of Tescuco and the other of Tucuba had power to make this election They did commonly choose yoongmen for their kings because they went alwayes to the warres and this was in a manner the chiefe cause why they desired them so They had a speciall regard that they shoulde be fit for the warres and take delight and glory therein After the election they made twoo kindes of feasts the one in taking possession of the royall estate for the which they went to the Temple making great ceremonies and sacrifices vppon the harth called Divine where there was a continuall fire before the Altare of the idoll and after some Rhethoritians practised therein made many Orations and Speeches The other feast and the most solempne was at his coronation for the which he must first overcome in battell and bring a certaine number of captives which they must sacrifice to their gods he entred in triumph with great pompe making him a solempne reception aswell they of the Temple who went all in procession sounding on sundry sortes of instruments giving incense and singing like Secular men as also the Courtiers who came forth with their devises to receive the victorious king The Crowne or royall ensigne was before like to a Myter and behinde it was cut so as it was not round for the fore parte was higher and did rise like a poynt The king of Tescuco had the privilege to crown the king of Mexico The Mexicaines have beene very duetifull and loyall vnto their kings and it hath not beene knowne that they have practised any treason against them onely their Histories report that they sought to poison their king called Ticocic being a coward and of small account but it is not found that there hath beene any dissentions or partialities amongest them for ambition thogh it be an ordinary thing in Comminalties but contrariwise they reporte as you shall see heereafter that a man the best of the Mexicaines refused this realme seeming vnto him to be very expedient for the Common-weale to have an other king In the beginning when the Mexicaines were but poore and weake the kings were very moderate in their expenses and in their Court but as they increased in power they increased likewise in pompe and state vntill they came to the greatnesse of Moteçuma who if hee had had no other thing but his house of beasts and birds it had beene a prowde thing the like whereof hath not beene seene for there was in this house all sortes of fish birds of Xacamamas and beasts as in an other Noahs Arke for sea fish there were pooles of salt-water and for river fish lakes of fresh-water birds that do prey were fedde and likewise wilde beasts in great aboundaunce there were very many Indians imployed for the keeping of these beasts and when he found an impossibilitie to nourish any sort of fish fowle or wilde beast hee caused the image or likenesse to be made richly cutte in pretious stones silver or golde in marble or in stone and for all sortes of entertainements hee had his severall houses and pallaces some of pleasure others of sorrowe and mourning and others to treate of the affairs of the realme There was in this pallace many chambers according to the qualitie of noble men that served him with a strange order and distinction Of the titles and dignities the Indians vsed CHAP. 25. THe Mexicaines have beene very curious to divide the degrees and dignities amongst the Noble men and Lords that they might distinguish them to whom they were to give the greatest honour The dignity of these foure Electors was the greatest and most honourable next to the king and they were chosen presently after the kings election They were commonly brothers or very neare kinsmen to the king and were called Tlacohecalcalt which signifies prince of darts the which they cast being a kind of armes they vse much The next dignitie to this
were those they doe call Tlacatecati which is to say circumcisers or cutters of men The third dignitie were of those which they called EZuahuacalt which signifies a sheader of blood All the which Titles and Dignities were exercised by men of warre There was another a fourth intituled Tlilancalqui which is as much to say as Lord of the blacke house or of darkenesse by reason of certaine incke wherewith the Priests annoynted themselves and did serve in their idolatries All these foure dignities were of the great Counsell without whose advise the king might not doe any thing of importance and the king being dead they were to choose another in his place out of one of those foure dignities Besides these there were other Counsells and Audiences and some say there were as many as in Spaine and that there were divers seates and iurisdictions with their Counsellers and Iudges of the Court and oâ—hers that were vnder them as Corrigidors chiefe Iudges captaines of Iustice Lievetenants and others which were yet inferiour to these with a very goodly order All which depended on the foure first Princes that assisted the king These foure onely had authoritie and power to condemne to death and the rest sent them instructions of the sentences they had given By meanes whereof they gave the king to vnderstand what had passed in his Realme There was a good order and settled policie for the revenues of the Crowne for there were officers divided throughout all the provinces as Receivers and Treasurers which received the Tributes and royall revenews And they carried the Tribute to the Court at the least every moneth which Tribute was of all things that doe growe or ingender on the land or in the water aswell of iewells and apparrell as of mear They were very carefull for the well ordering of that which concerned their religion superstition and idolatries and for this occasion there were a great number of Ministers to whom charge was given to teach the people the custome and ceremonies of their Lawe Heerevppon one day a christian Priest made his complaint that the Indians were no good Christians and did not profite in the lawe of God an olde Indian answered him very well to the purpose in these termes Let the Priest saide hee imploy as much care and diligence to make the Indians christians as the ministers of Idolles did to teach them their ceremonies for with halfe that care they will make vs the best christians in the worlde for that the lawe of Iesus Christ is much better but the Indians learne it not for want of men to instruct them Wherein hee spake the very trueth to our great shame and confusion How the Mexicaines made Warre and of their Orders of Knighthood CHAP. 26. THe Mexicaines gave the first place of honour to the profession of armes and therefore the Noblemen are their chiefe souldiers and others that were not noble by their valour and reputation gotten in warres came to dignities and honours so as they were held for noblemen They gave goodly recompences to such as had done valiantly who inioyed priviledgeâ— that none else might have the which did much incourage them Their armes were of rasors of sharpe cutting flints which they set on either side of a staffe which was so furious a weapon as they affirmed that with one blow they would cut off the necke of a horse They had strange and heavy clubbes lances fashioned like pikes and other maner of dartes to cast wherein they were very expert but the greatest part of their combate was performed with stones For defensive armes they had little rondaches or targets and some kind of morions or head-peeces invironed with feathers They were clad in the skinnes of Tigres Lions and other sauage beasts They came presently to hands with the enemie and were greatly practised to runne and wrestle for their chiefe maner of combate was not so much to kill as to take captives the which they vsed in their sacrifices as hath beene saide Moteçuma set Knighthood in his highest splendor ordaining certaine militarie orders as Commanders with certaine markes and ensignes The most honourable amongest the Knightes were those that carried the Crowne of their haire tied with a little red ribband having a rich plume of feathers from the which did hang branches of feathers vpon their shoulders roules of the same They carried so many of these rowles as they had done worthy deedes in warre The King himselfe was of this order as may be seene in Chapultepec where Moteçuma and his sonnes were attyred with those kindes of feathers cut in the rocke the which is worthy the sight There was another order of Knighthood which they called the Lions and the Tigres the which were commonly the most valiant and most noted in warre they went alwaies with their markes and armories There were other Knightes as the grey Knightes the which were not so much respected as the rest they had their haire cut round about the eare They went to the war with markes like to the other Knightes yet they were not armed but to the girdle and the most honourable were armed all over All Knightes might carry golde and silver and weare rich cotton vse painted and gilt vessell and carry shooes after their maner but the common people might vse none but earthen vessell neyther might they carry shooes nor attyre themselves but in Nequen the which is a grosse stuffe Every order of these Knightes had his lodging in the pallace noted with their markes the first was called the Princes lodging the second of Eagles the third of Lions and Tigres and the fourth of the grey Knightes The other common officers were lodged vnderneath in meaner lodgings if any one lodged out of his place he suffred death Of the great order and dilligence the Mexicaines vsed to instruct their youth CHAP. 27. THere is nothing that gives me more cause to admire nor that I finde more worthy of commendations and memory then the order and care the Mexicaines had to nourish their youth for they knew well that all the good hope of a common-weale consisted in the nurture and institution of youth whereof Plato treates amply in his bookes De Legibus and for this reason they laboured and tooke paines to sequester their children from delights and liberties which are the two plagues of this age imploying them in honest and profitable exercises For this cause there was in their Temples a private house for childeren as schooles or colledges which was seperate from that of the yong men and maides of the Temple whereof we have discoursed at largee There were in these schooles a great number of children whom their fathers did willingly bring thither and which had teachers and masters to instruct them in all commendable exercises to be of good behaviour to respect their superiors to serve and obey them giving them to this end certaine precepts and instructions And to the end they might be pleasing to Noblemen
leaving his sonne Chimalpopoca tenne yeares olde hee raigned thirteene yeeres and died thirty yeeres old or little more Hee was held for a good king and carefull in the service of his gods whose Images hee held kings to be and that the honour done to their god was done to the king who was his image For this cause the kings have beene so affectionate to the service of their gods This king was carefull to winne the love of his neighbours and to trafficke with them whereby hee augmented his citty exercising his men in warrelike actions in the Lake disposing them to that which he pretended as you shall see presently Of Chimalpopoca the third king and his cruell death and the occasion of warre which the Mexicaines made CHAP. 11. THe Mexicaines for successor to their deceased king did choose his sonne Chimalpopoca by common consent although he were a child of tenne yeeres old being of opinion that it was alwayes necessary to keepe the favor of the king of AzcapuZalco making his grand-childe king They then set him in his throane giving him the ensignes of warre with a bowe and arrowes in one hand and a sword with rasours which they commonly vse in the right signifying thereby as they do say that they pretended by armes to set themselves at liberty The Mexicaines had great want of water that of the Lake being very thicke and muddy and therefore ill to drincke so as they caused their infant king to desire of his grandfather the king of Azcapuzalco the water of the mountaine of Chapultepec which is from Mexico a league as is saide before which they easely obtained and by their industry made an aqueduct of faggots weeds and flagges by the which they brought water to their citty But because the Cittie was built within the Lake and the aqueduct did crosse it it did breake forth in many places so as they could not inioy the water as they desired and had great scarcitie whervpon whether they did expresly seeke it to quarrell with the Tapanecans or that they were mooved vppon small occasion in the end they sent a resolute ambassage to the king of AzcapuZalco saying they could not vse the water which he had gratiously granted them and therefore they required him to provide them wood lime and stone and to send his workmen that by their meanes they might make a pipe of stone and lime that should not breake This message nothing pleased the king and much lesse his subiects seeming to be too presumptuous a message and purposely insolent for vassals to their Lord. The chiefe of the Counsell disdaining thereat said it was too bold that not content with permission to live in an others land and to have water given them but they would have them goe to serve them what a matter was that And whereon presumed this fugitive nation shut vp in the mud They would let them know how fit they were to worke and to abate their pride in taking from them their land and their lives In these termes and choller they left the king whom they did somwhat suspect by reason of his grandchild and consulted againe anew what they were to doe where they resolved to make a generall proclamation that no Tapanecan should have any commerce or trafficke with any Mexicaine that they should not goe to their Cittie nor receive any into theirs vpon paine of death Whereby we may vnderstand that the king did not absolutely commaund over his people and that he governed more like a Consul or a Duke than a King although since with their power the commaund of Kings increased growing absolute Tyrants as you shal see in the last Kings For it hath beene an ordinarie thing among the Barbarians that such as their power hath beene such hath beene their commaund yea in our Histories of Spaine we finde in some antient kings that manner of rule which the Tapanecans vsed Such were the first kings of the Romans but that Rome declined from Kings to Consuls and a Senate till that after they came to be commaunded by Emperours But these Barbarians of temperate Kings became tyrants of which governements a moderate monarchy is the best and most assured But returne we now vnto our historie The king of Azcapuzalco seeing the resolution of his subiects which was to kil the Mexicans intreated them first to steale away the yong king his grand-childe and afterwards do what they pleased to the Mexicans All in a manner yeelded heerevnto to give the king contentment and for pitty they had of the child but two of the chiefest were much opposite inferring that it was bad counsell for that Chimalpopoca although hee were of their bloud yet was it but by the mothers side and that the fathers was to be preferred and therefore they concluded that the first they must kill was Chimalpopoca king of Mexico protesting so to doe The king of AzcapuZalco was so troubled with this contradiction and the resolution they had taken that soone after for very griefe he fell sicke and died By whose death the Tapanâ—cans finishing their consultation committed a notable treason for one night the yong King of Mexico sleeping without guard or feare of any thing they of Azcapuzalco entred his pallace and slew him sodainly returning vnseene The morning being come when the Nobles wâ—nt to salute the King as they were accustomed they found him slaine with great and cruell wounds then they cried out and filled all their cittie with teares and transported with choller they presently fell to armes with an intent to revenge their Kings death As they ranne vppe and downe full of fury and disorder one of their chiefest knightes stept foorth labouring to appease them with a grave admonition Whither goe you saide hee O yee Mexicaines quiet your selves consider that things done without consideration arâ— not well guided nor come to good end suppresse your griefe considering that although your king be dead the noble blood of the Mexicaines is not extinct in him Wee have children of our kings deceased by whose conduct succeeding to the realme you shall the better execute what you pretend having a leader to guide your enterprise go not blindely surcease and choose a king first to guide and encourage you against your enâ—mies In the meane time dissemble discreetly performing the funeralls of your deceased king whose body you see heere present for heereafter you shall finde better meanes to take revâ—nge By this meanes the Mexicans passed no farther but stayed to make the obsequies of their King wherevnto they invited the Lords of Tescuco and Culhuacan reporting vnto them this foule and cruell fact which the Tapanecans had committed moving them to have pitty on them and incensing them against their ennemies concluding that their resolution was to die or to bee revenged of so great an indignitie intreating them not to favour so vniust a fact of their enemies and that for their part they desired not their aide of armes or men but onely to
like women to their cittie reproching them that they were cowards and effeminate and that they durst not take armes being sufficiently provoked Those of Mexico say that for revenge they did vnto them a fowle scorne laying at the gates of their Cittie of Cuyoacan certaine things which smoaked by meanes whereof many women were delivered before their time and many fell sicke In the end all came to open warre and there was a battell fought wherein they imployed all their forces in the which Tlacaellec by his courage and policie in warre obtained the victory For having left king IZcoalt in fight with them of Cuyoacan he put himselfe in ambush with some of the most valiant souldiers and so turning about charged them behind and forced them to retire into their Citty But seeing their intent was to flie into a Temple which was verie strong He with three other valiant souldiors pursued them eagerly and got before them seising on the temple firing it so as he forced them to flie to the fields where hee made a great slaughter of the vanquished pursuing them two leagues into the Countrey vnto a litle hill where the vanquished casting away their weapons and their armes acrosse yeelded to the Mexicans and with many teares craved pardon of their overweening follie in vsing them like women offering to bee their slaves so as in the end the Mexicaines did pardon them Of this victory the Mexicanes carried away very rich spolles of garments armes gold silver iewells and rich feathers with a great number of captives In this battaile there were three of the principals of Culhuacan that came to aide the Mexicaines to winne honour the which were remarkable above all And since being knowen to Tlasaellec and having made proofe of their fidelitie he gave them Mexicaine devises and had them alwayes by his side where they fought in all places very valiantly It was apparant that the whole victory was due to the Generall and to these three for among so many captives taken two third partes were wonne by these foure which was easily knowen by a policie they vsed for taking a captive they presently cut off a little of his haire and gave it to others so as it appeared that those which had their haire cut amounted to that number whereby they wonne great reputation and fame of valiant men They were honoured as conquerors giving them good portions of the spoils and lands as the Mexicans have alwayes vsed to doe which gave occasion to those that did fight to become famous and to winne reputation by armes Of the warre and victorie which the Mexicans had against the Suchimilcos CHAP. 15 THe Nation of the Tapanecans being subdewed the Mexicaines had occasion to do the like to the Suchimilcos who as it hath beene saide were the first of the seven caves or linages that peopled this land The Mexiâ—ans sought not the occasion although they might presume as conquerors to extend their limits but the Suchimilcos didde moove them to their owne ruine as it happens to men of small iudgement that have no foresight who not preventing the mischefe they imagined fall into it The Suchimilcos held opinion that the Mexicans by reason of their victories past should attempt to subdue them and consulted heereon among themselves Some among them thought it good to acknowledge them for superiors and to applaude their good fortune but the contrary was allowed and they went out to give them battel which IZcoalt the king of Mexico vnderstanding he sent his General Tlacaelâ—ec against them with his army the battell was fought in the same field that divides their limites which two armies were equall in men and armes but very divers in their order and manner of fighting for that the Suchimilcos charged all together on a heape confusedly and Tlacaellec divided his men into squadrons with a goodly order so as he presently brake his ennemies forcing them to retire into their cittie into the which they entred following them to the Temple whither they fled which they fiered and forcing them to flie vnto the mountaines in the end they brought them to this poynt that they yeelded with their armes acrosse The Generall Tlacaellec returning in great triumph the priests went foorth to receive him with their musicke of flutes and giving incense The chiefe Captaines vsed other ceremonies and shews of ioy as they had bin accustomed to doe and the king with all the troupe went to the Temple to give thanks to their false god for the divell hath alwayes beene very desirous hereof to challenge to himselfe the honor which he deserves not seeing it is the true God which giveth victories and maketh them to rule whome he pleaseth The day following king Izcoalt went vnto the Citty of Suchimilco causing himselfe to be sworne king of the Suchimilcos and for their comfort he promised to doe them good In token whereof hee commaunded them to make a great cawsey stretching from Mexico to Suchimilco which is foure leagues to the end there might bee more commerce and trafficke amongest them Which the Suchimilcos performed and in shorte time the Mexicaine governement seemed so good vnto them as they helde themselves happy to have changed their king and commonweale Some neighbors pricked forward by envy or feare to their ruines were not yet made wise by others miseries Cuitlavaca was a citty within the lake which though the name and dwelling be chaunged continueth yet They were active to swimme in the lake and therefore they thought they might much indomage and annoy the Mexicaines by water which the King vnderstanding hee resolved to send his army presently to fight against them But Tlacaellec little esteeming this warre holding it dishonorable to lead an army against them made offer to conquer them with the children onely which he performed in this maner he went vnto the Temple drew out of the Covent such children as he thought fittest for this action from tenne to eighteene yeeres of age who knew how to guide their boates or canoes teaching them certaine pollicies The order they held in this warre was that he went to Cuitlavaca with his children where by his pollicy hee pressed the ennemy in such sorte that hee made them to flie and as he followed them the lord of Cuitlavaca mette him and yeelded vnto him himselfe his Citty and his people and by this meanes he stayed the pursuite The children returned with much spoyle and many captives for their sacrifices being solemnely received with a great procession musike and perfumes they went to worshippe their gods in taking of the earth which they did eate and drawing blood from the forepart of their legges with the Priests lancets with other superstitions which they were accustomed to vse in the like solemnities The children were much honoured and incoraged and the king imbraced and kissed them and his kinsmen and alies accompanied them The bruite of this victorie ranne throughout all the country how that Tlacaellec had
The first of his Campe that advanced himselfe to the combate was the King himselfe defying his ennemies from whome hee made shewe to fly when they charged him vntill he had drawne them into an ambuscadoe where many souldiers lay hidden vnder straw who suddenly issued forth and they which fled turned head so as they of Tiquantepec remained in the midst of them whom they charged furiously making a great slaughter of them and following their victory they razed their citty and temple punishing all their neighbours rigorously Then went they on farther and without any stay conquered to Guatulco the which is a port at this day well knowne in the South sea Axayaca returned to Mexico with great and rich spoiles where he was honourably crowned with sumptuous and stately preparation of sacrifices tributes and other things whither many came to see his coronation The Kings of Mexico received the crowne from the hands of the King of Tescuco who had the preheminence He made many other enterprises where he obtained great victories being alwaies the first to leade the army and to charge the enemy by the which hee purchased the name of a most valiant captaine not content to subdue strangers he also suppressed his subiects which had rebelled which never any of his predecessours ever could doe or durst attempt We have already shewed how some seditious of Mexico had divided themselves from that common-weale and built a cittie neare vnto them which they called Tlatelulco whereas now saint Iaques is These being revolted held a faction aparte and encreased and multiplied much refusing to acknowledge the kings of Mexico nor to yeeld them obedience The king Axayaca sent to advise them not to live divided but being of one bloud and one people to ioyne together and acknowledge the king of Mexico wherevpon the Lorde of Tlatelulco made an aunswere full of pride and disdaine defieng the king of Mexico to single combate with himselfe and presently mustred his men commaunding some of them to hide themselves in the weeds of the Lake and the better to deceive the Mexicans he commaunded them to take the shapes of ravens geese and other beasts as frogs and such like supposing by this meanes to surprise the Mexicans as they should passe by the waies and cawsies of the Lake Having knowledge of this defie and of his adversaries policie he divided his army giving a part to his generall the sonne of Tlacaellec commaunding him to charge this ambuscadoe in the Lake and he with the rest of his people by an vnfrequented way went and incamped before Tlatelulco Presently hee called him who had defied him to performe his promise and as the two Lordes of Mexico and Tlatelulco advaunced they commaunded their subiects not to moove vntill they had seene who should be conquerour which was done and presently the two Lordes incountered valiantly where having fought long in the end the Lorde of Tlatelulco was forced to turne his backe being vnable to indure the furious charge of the king of Mexico Those of Tlatelulco seeing their captaine flie fainted fled likewise but the Mexicans following them at the heeles charged them furiously yet the Lord of Tlatelulco escaped not the hands of Axayaca for thinking to save himselfe he fled to the toppe of the Temple but Axayaca folowed him so neere as he seised on him with great force and threw him from the toppe to the bottome and after set fire on the Temple and the cittie Whilest this passed at Tlatelulco the Mexicane generall was very hote in the revenge of those that pretended to defeate him by pollicie after he had forced them to yeelde and to crie for mercy the Generall sayde he would not pardon them vntil they had first performed the offices of those figures they represented and therfore he would have them crie like frogges and ravens every one according to the figure which he had vndertaken else they had no composition which thing he did to mocke them with their owne policie Feare and necessitie be perfect teachers so as they did sing and crie with all the differences of voyces that were commaunded them to save their lives although they were much grieved at the sport their enimies made at them They say that vnto this day the Mexicans vse to ieast at the Tlatelulcans which they beare impatiently when they putte them in minde of this singing and crying of beasts King Axayaca tooke pleasure at this scorne and disgrace and presently after they retourned to Mexico with great ioy This King was esteemed for one of the best that had commaunded in Mexico Hee raigned eleaven yeares and one succeeded that was much inferiour vnto him in valour and vertue Of the deedes of Autzol the eight King of Mexico CHAP. 19. AMong the foure Electors that had power to chuse whome they pleased to be king there was one indued with many perfections named Autzol This man was chosen by the rest and this election was very pleasing to all the people for besides that he was valiant all held him curteous and affable to every man which is one of the chiefe qualities required in them that commaund to purchase love and respect To celebrate the feast of his coronation hee resolved to make a voyage and to punish the pride of those of Quaxulatlan a very rich and plentifull province and at this day the chiefe of new Spaine They had robbed his officers and stewards that carried the tribute to Mexico and therwithall were rebelled There was great difficulty to reduce this Nation to obedience lying in such sort as an arme of the sea stopt the Mexicans passage to passe the which AutZol with a strange device and industry caused an Iland to be made in the water of faggots earth and other matter by meanes whereof both hee and his men might passe to the enemy where giving them battell he conquered them and punished them at his pleasure Then returned hee vnto Mexico in triumph and with great riches to bee crowned King according to their custome Autzol extended the limites of his kingdome farre by many conquests even vnto Guatimalla which is three hundred leagues from Mexico He was no lesse liberall than valiant for whenas the tributes arrived which as I have saide came in great aboundaunce hee went foorth of his pallace gathering together all the people into one place then commaunded he to bring all the tributes which hee divided to those that had neede To the poore hee gave stuffes to make apparrell and meate and whatsoever they had neede of in great aboundaunce and things of value as golde silver iewels and feathers were divided amongest the Captaines souldiers and servants of his house according to every mans merite This AutZol was likewise a great polititian hee pulled downe the houses ill built and built others very sumptuous It seemed vnto him that the city of Mexico had too litle water and that the Lake was very muddy and therefore hee resolved to let in a great course
of water which they of Cuyoacan vsed For this cause he called the chiefe man of the cittie vnto him being a famous sorcerer having propounded his meaning vnto him the sorcerer wished him to be well advised what hee did being a matter of great difficulty and that hee vnderstoode if he drew the river out of her ordinary course making it passe to Mexico hee would drowne the citty The king supposed these excuses were but to frustrate the effect of his desseigne being therefore in choler he dismissed him home and a few dayes after hee sent a provost to Cuyoacan to take this Sorcerer who having vnderstanding for what intent the kings officers came hee caused them to enter his house and then he presented himself vnto them in the forme of a terrible Eagle wherewith the provost and his companions being terrified they returned without taking him AutZol incensed herewith sent others to whome hee presented himselfe in forme of a furious tygre so as they durst not touch him The third came and they found him in the forme of a horrible serpent whereat they were much afraide The king mooved the more with these dooings sent to tell them of Cuyoacan that if they brought not the sorcerer bound vnto him he would raze their citty For feare whereof or whether it were of his owne free will or being forced by the people he suffered himselfe to be led to the king who presently caused him to be strangled and then did he put his resolution in practise forcing a chanell whereby the water might passe to Mexico whereby hee brought a great current of water into the Lake which they brought with great ceremonies and superstitions having priests casting incense along the banks others sacrificed quailes and with the bloud of them sprinckled the channell bankes others sounding of cornets accompanied the water with their musicke One of the chiefe went attired in a habite like to their goddesse of the water and all saluted her saying that shee was welcome All which things are painted in the Annales of Mexico which booke is now at Rome in the holy Library or Vaticane where a father of our company that was come from Mexico did see it and other histories the which he did expound to the keeper of his Holinesse Library taking great delight to vnderstand this booke which before hee could never comprehend Finally the water was brought to Mexico but it came in such aboundaunce that it had welneere drowned the cittie as was foretold and in effect it did ruine a great parte thereof but it was presently prevented by the industry of Autzol who caused an issue to be made to draw foorth the water by meanes whereof hee repaired the buildings that were fallen with an exquisite worke being before but poore cotages Thus he left the citty invironed with water like another Venice and very well built hee raigned eleaven yeares and ended with the last and greatest successor of all the Mexicans Of the election of great Moteçuma the last king of Mexico CHAP. 20. WHen the Spaniards entred new Spaine being in the yeare of our Lorde one thousand five hundred and eighteen Moteçuma second of that name was the last king of the Mexicaines I say the last although they of Mexico after his death chose another king yea in the life of the same Moteçuma whome they declared an enemy to his country as we shall see heereafter But hee that succeeded him and hee that fell into the hands of the Marquise de Valle had but the names and titles of Kings for that the kingdome was in a maner al yeelded to the Spaniards so as with reason we account Moteçuma for the last king and so hee came to the periode of the Mexicaines power and greatnesse which is admirable being happened among Barbarians for this cause and for that this was the season that God had chosen to reveale vnto them the knowledge of his Gospel and the kingdome of Iesus Christ I will r◠late more at large the actes of Moteçuma then of the rest Before he came to be king he was by disposition ve◠ry grave and stayed and spake little so as when he◠gave his opinion in the privy counsell whereas he assisted his speeches and discourses made every one to admire him so as even then he was feared and respected He retired himselfe vsually into a Chappell appointed for him in the Temple of Vitziliputzli where they said their Idoll spake vnto him and for this cause hee was helde very religious and devout For these perfections then being most noble and of great courage his election was short and easie as a man vpon whom al mens eyes were fixed as woorthy of such a charge Having intelligence of this election hee hidde himselfe in this chappell of the Temple whether it were by iudgement apprehending so heavy and hard a burthen as to governe such a people or rather as I beleeve throgh hypocrisie to shew that he desired not Empery In the end they found him leading him to the place of councell whither they accompanied him with all possible ioy hee marched with such a gravitie as they all sayd the name of Moteçuma agreed very wel with his nature which is as much to say as an angry Lord. The electors did him great reverence giving him notice that hee was chosen king from thence he was ledde before the harth of their gods to give incense where he offered sacrifices in drawing bloud from his eares the calves of his legges according to their custome They attired him with the royall ornaments and pierced the gristle of his nosthrils hanging thereat a rich emerald a barbarous troublous custome but the desire of rule made all paine light and easie Being seated in his throne he gave andience to the Orations and Speeches that were made vnto him which according vnto their custome were eloquent and artificiall The first was pronounced by the king of Tescuco which being preserved for that it was lately delivered very worthy to be heard I will set it downe word by word and thus hee sayde The concordance and vnitie of voyces vpon thy election is a sufficient testimonie most noble yong man of the happines the realme shall receive as well deserving to be commaunded by thee as also for the generall applause which all doe shew by meanes thereof Wherein they have great reason for the Empire of Mexico doth alreadie so farre extend it selfe that to governe a world as it is and to beare so heavie a burthen it requires no lesse dexteritie and courage than that which is resident in thy firme and valiant heart nor of lesse wisedome and iudgement than thine I see and know plainely that the mightie God loveth this Cittie seeing he hath given vnderstanding to choose what was fit For who will not beleeve that a Prince who before his raigne had pierced the nine vaultes of heaven should not likewise nowe obtaine those things that are earthlie to releeve his people
aiding himselfe with his best iudgement being therevnto bound by the duetie and charge of a king Who will likewise beleeve that the great courage which thou hast alwaies valiantly shewed in matters of importance shuld now faile thee in matters of greatest need Who will not perswade himselfe but the Mexicane Empire is come to the height of their soveraignetie seeing the Lorde of things created hath imparted so great graces vnto thee that with thy looke onelie thou breedest admiration in them that beholde thee Reioyce then O happy land to whom the Creator hath given a Prince as a firme pillar to support thee which shall be thy father and thy defence by whom thou shalt be succoured at neede who wil be more than a brother to his subiects for his pietie and clemencie Thou hast a king who iâ— regard of his estate is not inclined to delights or will lie stretched out vpon his bed occupied in pleasures and vices but contrariwise in the middest of his sweete and pleasant sleepe hee will sodainely awake for the care he must have over thee and will not feele the taste of the most savourie â—eates having his spirites transported with the imagination of thy good Tell me then O happie realme if I have not reason to saie that 〈◊〉 oughtest reioyce having found such a King And thâ—â—â—â—ble Yong man and our most mightie Lorde be confident and of â— good courage that seeing the Lorde of things created hath given thee this charge hee will also give thee forâ—â— and courage to mannage it and thou maiest well hope thâ—â— he which in times past hath vsed so great bountie towardes thee wil not now denie thee his greater gifts seeing he hath given thee so great a charge which I wish thee to enioy maâ—â— yeares King Moteçuma was very attentive to this Discourse which being ended they say he was so troubled that indevouring thrice to answer him hee could not speake being overcome with teares which ioy and content doe vsually cause in signe of great humilitie In the end being come to himselfe he spake brieâ—ly I were too blinde good king of Tescuco if I didde not know that what thou hast spoken vnto me proceeded of meere favour it pleaseth you to shew me seeing among so mâ—nie noble valiant men within this realme you have made châ—â—â—â— of the leâ—st sufficient and in trueth I finde my selfe so incapable of a charge of so great importance that I know not what to doe but to beseech the Creator of all created things that hee will favour mee and I intreate you all to pray vnto him for me These wordes vttered hee beganne againe to weepe How Moteçuma ordered the service of his house and of the warre hee made for his coronation CHA. 21 HE that in his election made such shew of humilitie and mildenes seeing himselfe king beganne presently to discover his aspiring thoughts The first was he commaunded that no plebeian should serve in his house nor beare any royall office as his predecesfours had vsed till then blaming them that would be served by men of base condition commaunding that all the noble and most famous men of his realme shoulde live within his pallace and exercise the offices of his court and house Wherevnto an olde man of great authoritie who had sometimes beene his Schoolemaister opposed himselfe advising him to be carefull what hee did and not to thrust himselfe into the danger of a great inconvenience in separating himselfe from the vulgare and common people so as they should not dare to looke him in the face seeing themselves so reiected by him He answered that it was his resolution and that he would not allow the plebeians to goe thus mingled among the Nobles as they had do one saying that the service they did was according to their condition so as the kings got no reputation and thus he continued firme in his resolution Hee presently commanded his counsell to dismisse all the plebâ—ians from their charges and offices as well those of his houshold as of his court and to provide Knightes the which was done After he went in person to an enterprise necessary for his coronation At that time a province lying farre off towards the North Ocean was revolted from the crowne whether he led the flower of his people well appointed There hee warred with such valour and dexteritie that in the end he subdued all the province and punished the rebells severely returning with a great number of captives for the sacrifices and many other spoiles All the cities made him solemne receptions at his returne and the Lords thereof gave him water to wash performing the offices of servants a thing not vsed by any of his predecessors Such was the feare and respect they bare him In Mexico they made the feasts of his coronation with great preparations of dances comedies banquets lights and other inventions for many daies And there came so great a wealth of tributes from all his countries that strangers vnknowne came to Mexico and their very enemies resorted in great numbers disguised to see these feasts as those of Tlascalla and Mechovacan the which Moteçuma having discovered he commanded they should be lodged and gently intreated and honoured as his own person He also made them goodly galleries like vnto his owne where they might see and behold the feasts So they entred by night to those feasts as the king himselfe making their sportes and maskes And for that I have made mention of these provinces it shall not be from the purpose to vnderstand that the inhabitants of Mechovacan Tlascalla and Tapeaca would never yeelde to the Mexicans but did alwaies fight valiantly against them yea sometimes the Mechovacans did vanquish the Mexicans as also those of Tapeaca did In which place the Marquise Don Ferrand Cortes after that he and the Spaniards were expelled Mexico pretended to build their first cittie the which he called as I well remember Segura de la Frontiere But this peopling continued little for having afterwards reconquered Mexico all the Spaniards went to inhabite there To conclude those of Tapeaca Tlascalla and Mechovacan have beene alwaies enemies to the Mexicans although Motoçuma said vnto Cortes that he did purposesy forbeare to subdue them to have occasion to exercise his men of warre and to take numbers of captives Of the behaviour and greatnes of Moteçuma CHAP. 22. THis King laboured to be respected yea to be worshiped as a god No Plebeian might looke him in the face if he did he was punished with death hee did never set his foote on the ground but was alwaies carried on the shoulders of Noblemen and if he lighted they laid rich tapestry whereon he did go When hee made any voyage hee and the Noblemen went as it were in a parke compassed in for the nonce and the rest of the people went without the parke invironing it in on every side hee never put on a garment twice nor did eate or drinke in one vessell
he was with him hee tolde him that the pulses of his feete and hands failed him Moteçuma troubled with these news commanded all those sorcerers to be apprehended but they vanished presently in the prison wherewith hee grewe into such a rage that hee might not kill them as hee putte their wives and children to death destroying their houses and families Seeing himselfe importuned and troubled with these advertisements he sought to appease the anger of his gods and for that cause hee laboured to bring a huge stone thereon to make great sacrifices For the effecting whereof hee sent a great number of people with engins and instruments to bring it which they could by no meanes moove although being obstinate they had broken many instruments But as they strove still to raise it they heard a voyce ioyning to the stone which said they laboured in vaine and that they should not raise it for that the Lorde of things created would no more suffer those things to be doone there Moteçuma vnderstanding this ommaunded the sacrifice to be perfourmed in that â—lace and they say the voyce spake againe Have I not told you that it is not the pleasure of the Lord of things created that it should be done and that you may well know that it is so I will suffer myselfe to be transported alittle then after you shall not moove mee Which happened so indeede for presently they carried it a small distance with great facility then afterwards they could not moove it till that after many prayers it suffered itselfe to be transported to the entry of the citty of Mexico where sodainly it fel into the Lake where seeking for it they could not finde it but it was afterwards found in the same place from whence they had remooved it wherewith they remayned amazed and confounded At the same time there appeared in the element a great flame of fire very bright in the forme of a Pyramide which beganne to appeare at midnight and went still mounting vntill the Sunne rising in the morning where it stayed at the South and then vanished away It shewed itselfe in this sort the space of a whole yeare and ever as it appeared the people cast foorth great cries as they were accustomed beleeving it was a presage of great misfortune It happened also that firâ— tooke the Temple whenas no body was within it nor neare vnto it neither did there fall any lightning or thunder wherevpon the guardes crying out a number of people ran with water but nothing could helpe so as it was all consumed and they say the fire seemed to come forth of peeces of timber which kindled more by the water that was cast vpon it There was a Comet seene in the day time running from the west to the east casting an infinite number of sparkles and they say the forme was like to a long taile having three heads The great lake betwixt Mexico and Tescuco without any wind earthquake or any other apparant signe beganne sodainely to swell and the waves grewe in such sort as all the buildings neare vnto it fell downe to the ground They say at that time they heard many voices as of a woman in paine which sayde sometimes O my children the time of your destruction is come and otherwhiles it sayde O my children whither shall I carry you that you perish not vtterly There appeared likewise many monsters with two heads which being carried before the king sodainely vanished There were two that exceeded all other monsters being very strange the one was the fishers of the lake tooke a bird as bigge as a Crane and of the same colour but of a strange and vnseene form They caried it to Moteçuma who at that time was in the pallace of teares and mourning which was all hanged with blacke for as he had many palaces for his recreation so had he also others for times of affliction where with hee was then heavily charged and tormented by reason of the threatnings his gods had given him by these sorrowfull advertisements The fishers came about noone setting this bird before him which had on the toppe of his head a thing bright and transparent in forme of a looking glasse wherein he did behold a warrelike nation comming from the east armed fighting and killing He called his Divines and Astronomers whereof there was a great number who having seene these things and not able to yeelde any reason of what was demaunded of them the bird vanished away so as it was never more seene wherevpon Moteçuma remained very heavy and sorrowfull The other which happened was a laborer who had the report of a very honest man came vnto him telling him that being the day before at his worke a great Eagle flew towardes him and tooke him vppe in his talants without hurting him carying him into a certaine cave where it left him the Eagle pronouncing these words Most mightie Lorde I have brought him whome thou hast commaunded me This Indian laborer looked about on every side to whome hee spake but hee sawe no man Then he heard a voyce which sayde vnto him Doost thou not knowe this man whome thou seest lying vpon the ground and looking thereon he perceived â— man lie very heavy asleepe with royall ensignes floures in his hand and a staffe of perfumes burning as they are accustomed to vse in that countrey whome the labourer beholding knew it was the great king Moteçuma and answered presently Great Lord this resembles our King Moteçuma The voyce saide againe Thou saiest true behold what he is and how he lies asleepe carelesse of the great miseries and afflictions prepared for him It is nowe time that hee pay the great number of offences hee hath doone to God and that he receive the punishment of his tyrannies and great pride and yet thou seest how carelesse hee lies blinde in his owne miseries and without any feling But to the end thou maiest the better see him take the staffe of perfumes hee holdes burning in his hand and put it to his face thou shalt then find him without feeling The poore laborer durstnot approach neere him nor doe as he was commaunded for the great feare they all hadde of this king But the voyce saide Have no fâ—are for I am without comparison greater than this King I can destroy him and defend him doe therefore what I commaund thee Wherevpon the laborer took the staffe of perfumes out of the kings hand and put it burning to his nose but he mooved not nor shewed any feeling This done the voice said vnto him that seeing hee had found the king so sleepy he should go awake him and tell him what he had seene Then the Eagle by the same commandement tooke the man in his tallents and set him in the same place where he found him and for accomplishment of that which it had spoken hee came to advertise him They say that Moteçuma looking on his face found that he was burnt the which he had not
felt till then wherewith he continued exceeding heavy and troubled It may be that what the laborer reported had happened vnto him by imaginary vision And it is not incredible that God appointed by the meanes of a good Angell or suffered by a bad that this advertisement should be given to the labourer for the kings chasticement although an infidell seeing that we reade in the holy Scriptures that infidells and sinners have had the like apparations and revelations as Nabucadonosor Balaam and the Pithonisse of Saul And if some of these apparations did not so expresly happen yet without doubt Moteçuma had many great afflictions and discontentments by reason of sundry divers revelations which he had that his kingdome and law should soone end Of the newes Moteçuma received of the Spaniards arrivall in his Country and of the Ambassage he sent them CHAP. 24. IN the fourteenth yeare of the raigne of Moteçuma which was in the yeare of our Lord 1517. There appeared in the North seas shippes and men landing whereat the subiects of Moteçuma wondred much and desirous to learne and to be better satisfied what they were they went aboord in their canoes carrying many refreshings of meats and stuffes to make apparrell vpon colour to sell them The Spaniards received them into their shippes and in exchange of their victualls and stuffes which were acceptable vnto them they gave them chaines of false stones red blew greene and yellow which the Indians imagined to be precious stones The Spaniards informing themselves who was their king and of his great power dismissed them willing them to carry those stones vnto their lord saying that for that time they could not goe to him but they would presently returne and visit him Those of the coast went presently to Mexico with this message carrying the representation of what they had seene painted on a cloth both of the shippes men and stones which they had given them King Moteçuma remained very pensive with this message commanding them not to reveale it to any one The day following he assembled his counsell and having shewed them the painted clothes and the chaines he cousulted what was to be done where it was resolved to set good watches vpon all the sea coastes to give present advertisement to the king of what they should discover The yeare following which was in the beginning of the yeare 1518. they discovered a fleete at sea in the which was the Marquise of Valle Don Fernande Cortes with his companions a newes which much troubled Moteçuma and conferring with his counsell they all said that without doubt their great and antient Lord Queztzalcoalt was come who had saide that he would returne from the East whither he was gone The Indians held opinion that a great Prince had in times past left them and promised to returne Of the beginning and ground of which opinion shall be spoken in another place They therefore sent five principall Ambassadors with rich presents to congratulate his comming saying they knewe well that their great Lord QueztZalcoalt was come and that his servant Moteçuma sent to visit him for so hee accounted himselfe The Spaniards vnderstood this message by the meanes of Marâ—â—a an Indian woman whom they brought with them and vnderstoode the Mexicane tongue Fernande Cortes finding this a good ocasion for his entry commanded to deck his chamber richly and being set in great state and pompe he caused the Ambassadors to enter who omitted no shewes of humilitie but to worshippe him as their god They delivered their charge saying that his servant Moteçuma sent to visit him and that he held the country in his name as his lievetenant that he knew well it was the Topilcin which had beene promised them many yeares since who should returne againe vnto them And therefore they brought him such garments as he was wont to weare when hee did converce amongst them beseeching him to accept willingly of them offering him many presents of great value Cortes receiving the presents answered that he was the same they spake of wherewith they were greatly satisfied seeing themselves to be curteously received and intreated by him for in that as wel as in other things this valiant captaine deserved commendations that if this course had beene continued to win them by love it seemed the best occasion was offered that might be devised to draw this country to the Gospel by peace and love but the sinnes of these cruel homicides and slaves of Satan required punishment from heaven as also those of many Spaniards which were not in small number Thus the high iudgements of God disposed of the health of this nation having first cutte off the perished rootes and as the Apostle saieth the wickednes and blindenes of some hath beene the salvation of others To conclude the day after this Ambassage all the Captaines and Commâ—â—ders of the fleete came vnto the Admirall where vnderstanding the matter and that this realme of Moteçuma was mightie and rich it seemed fit to gaine the reputation of brave and valiant men among this people and that by this meanes although they were few they should bee feared and received into Mexico To this end they discharged all their artillerie from their shippes which being a thing the Indians had never heard they were amazed as if heaven had fallen vpon them Then the Spaniards beganne to defie them to fight with them but the Indians not daring to hazard themselves they did beate them and intreate them ill shewing their swordes lances pertuisans and other armes wherewith they did terrifie them much The poore Indians were by reason heereof so fearefull and amazed as they changed their opinion saying that their Lord Topilcin came not in this troup But they were some gods their enemies came to destroy them Whenas the Ambassadors returned to Mexico Moâ—â—çuâ—a was in the house of audience but before he would heare them this miserable man commanded a great number of men to be sacrificed in his presence and with their bloud to sprinkle the Ambassadors supposing by this ceremony which they were accustomed to do in solemne Ambassages to receive a good answer But vnderstanding the report and information of the maner of their shippes men and armes he stoode perplexed and confounded then taking counsell thereon he found no better meanes thâ—n to labour to stoppe the entrie of these strangers by coniurations and magicke Artes. They had accustomed often to vse this meanes having great conference with the divell by whose helpe they sometimes obtained strange effects They therefore assembled together all the Sorcerers Magitians and Inchanters who being perswaded by Moteçâ—ma they tooke it in charge to force this people to returne vnto their country For this consideration they went to a certaine place which they thought fit for the invocation of their divells and practising their artes a thing worthy of consideration They wrought all they could but seeing nothing could prevaile against the Christians they went to the king telling
him that they were more then men for that nothing might hurt them notwithstanding all their coniurations and inchantments Then Moteçuma advised him of another pollicie that faining to be very well contented with their comming he commanded all his countries to serve these celestiall gods that were come into his land The whole people was in great heavinesse and amazement and often newes came that the Spaniards inquired for the King of his maner of life of his house meanes He was exceedingly vexed herewith some of the people other Negromanciers advised him to hide himselfe offering to place him whereas no creature should ever finde him This seemed base vnto him and therefore he resolved to attend them although it were dying In the end he left his houses and royall pallaces to lodge in others leaving them for these gods as he said Of the Spaniards entrie into Mexico CHAP. 25. I Pretend not to intreate of the acts and deedes of the Spaniards who conquered New Spaine nor the strange adventures which happened vnto them nor of the courage and invincible valour of their Captaine Don Fernando Cortes for that there are many histories and relations thereof as those which Fernando Cortes himselfe did write to the Emperour Charles the fift although they be in a plaine stile and farre from arrogancie the which doe give a sufficient testimony of what did passe wherein he was worthy of eternall mery but onely to accomplish my intention I am to relate what the Indians report of this action the which hath not to this day beene written in our vulgar tong Moteçuma therefore having notice of this Captaines victories that he advanced for his conquest that hee was confederate and ioyned with them of Tlascalla his capitall enemies and that he had severely punished them of Cholola his friends he studied how to deceive him or else to try him in sending a principall man vnto him attyred with the like ornaments and royall ensignes the which shuld take vpon him to be Moteçuma which fiction being discouered to the Marquise by them of Tlascalla who did accompany him he sent him backe after a milde and gentle reprehension in seeking so to deceive him wherevpon Moteçuma was so confounded that for the feare thereof he returned to his first imaginations and practises to force the christians to retyre by the invocation of coniureâ—s and witches And therefore he assembled a greater number then before threatning them that if they returned without effecting what he had given them in charge not any one should escape wherevnto they all promised to obey And for this cause all the divells officers went to the way of Chalco by the which the Spaniards should passe when mounting to the top of a hill Tezcalipuca one of their principall gods appeared vnto them as comming from the Spaniards campe in the habite of Chalcas who had his pappes bound about eight folde with a cord of reedes hee came like a man beside himselfe out of his wits and drunke with rage furie Being come to this troupe of witches and coniurers he staied and spake to them in great choller Why come you hether what doth Moteçuma pretend to doe by your meanes He hath advised himselfe too late for it is now determined that his Kingdome and honour shall be taken from him with all that he possesseth for punishment of the great tyrannics he hath committed against his subiects having governed not like a Lord but like a traitour and tyrant The inchanters and coniurers hearing these words knew it was their idoll and humbling themselves before him they presently built him an altar of stone in the same place covering it with flowers which they gathered thereaboutes but he contrariwise making no account of these things beganne againe to chide them saying What come you hether to do O yee traitours Returne presently and behold Mexico that you may vnderstand what shall become thereof And they say that turning towards Mexico to behold it they did see it flaming on fire Then the divell vanished away and they not daring to passe any farther gave notice thereof to Moteçâ—ma whereat hee remained long without speaking looking heavily on the ground then he said what shall we doe if god and our friends leave vs and contrariwise they helpe and favour our enemies I am now resolute and we ought all to resolve in this point that happen what may we must not flie nor hide our selves or shew any signe of cowardice I onely pittie the aged and infants who have neither feete nor hands to defend themselves Having spoken this he held his peace being transported into an extasie In the end the Marquiâ—e approaching to Mexico Moteçuma resolved to make of necessitie a vertue going three or foure leagues out of the cittie to receive him with a great maâ—â—â—ty carried vpon the shoulders of foure Noblemen vnder a rich canapie of gold and feathers when they mette Moteçuma discended and they saluted one another very curteously Don Fernando Cortes said vnto him that he should not care for any thing and that he came not to take away his real me noâ— to diminish his authoritie Moteçuma lodged Cortes and his companions in his royall pallace the which was very stately and he himselfe lodged in other private houses This night the souldiers for ioy discharged their artillery wherewith the Indians were much troubled being vnaccustomed to heare such musicke The day following Cortes caused Motâ—çuma and all the Nobles of his Court to assemble in a great hall where being set in a high chaire he said vnto them that hee was servant to a great prince who had sent them into these countries to doe good workes and that having found them of Tlâ—scalla to be his friendâ—s who complained of wrongs and greevances done vnto them daily by them of Mexico he would vnderstand which of them was in the blame and reconcile them that heereafter they might no more afflict and warre one against another and in the meane time he and his bretheren which were the Spaniards would remaine still there without hurting them but contrariwise they would helpe them all they could He laboured to make them all vnderstand this discourse vsing his interpterers truchmen The which being vnderstoode by the King and the other Mexicane Lords they were wonderfully well satisfied and shewed great signes of love to Cortes his company Many hold opinion that if they had continued the course they began that day they might easily have disposed of the king his kingdome and given them the law of Christ without any great effusion of bloud But the iudgements of God are great and the sins of both parties were infinite so as not having followed this course the busines was deferred yet in the end God shewed mercy to this nation imparting vnto them the light of his holy Gospel after he had shewed his iudgement and punished them that had deserved it and odiously offended his divine reverence So it is that by
some occasions many complaints griefs and iealosies grew on either side The which Cortes finding that the Indians mindes began to be distracted from them he thought it necessary to assure himself in laying hand vpon king Moteçuma who was seazed on and his legs fettered Truly this act was strange vnto all men like vnto that other of his to have burnt his ships and shut himselfe in the midst of his enemies there to vanquish or to die The mischiefe was that by reason of the vnexpected arrival of Pamphilo Narvaes at the true crosse drawing the country into mutiny Cortes was forced to absent himselfe from Mexico to leave poore Motecuma in the handes of his companions who wanted discretion nor had not moderation like vnto him so as they grew to that discention as there was no meanes to pacifie it Of the death of Moteçuma and the Spaniards departure out of Mexico CHAP. 26. WHenas Cortes was absent from Mexico he that remained his lievetenant resolved to punish the Mexicans severely causing a great number of the nobilitie to be slaine at a maske which they made in the pallace the which did so far exceede as all the people mutined in a furious rage tooke armes to be revenged and to kil the Spaniards They therefore besieged them in the pallace pressing them so neere that all the hurt the Spaniards could do them with their artillery and crosse-bowes might not terrifie them nor force them to retyre from their enterprise where they continued many daies stopping their victualls nor suffering any one to enter or issue forth They did fight with stones and cast dartes after their maner with a kinde of lances like vnto arrowes in the which there are foure or six very sharpe rasors the which are such as the histories report that in these warres an Indian with one blow of these rasors almost cut off the necke of a horse as they did one day fight with this resolution furie the Spaniards to make them cease shewed forth Motâ—cuma with another of the chiefe Lords of Mexico vpon the top of a platform of the house covered with the targets of two souldiers that were with them The Mexicanes seeing their Lord Moteçuma staied with great silence Then Moteçuma caused the Lord to advise them to pacifie themselves and not to warre against the Spaniards seeing that hee being a prisoner it could little profite him The which being vnderstood by a yong man called Quicuxtemoc whom they now resolved to make their king spake with a loude voice to Moteçuma willing him to retyre like a villaine that seeing he had bin such a coward as to suffer himselfe to be taken they were no more bound to obey him but rather should punish him as he deserued calling him woman for the more reproach and then hee beganne to draw his bowe and to shoote at him and the people beganne to cast stones at him to continue their combate Many say that Motecuma was then hurt with a stone wherof he died The Indians of Mexico affirme the contrarie that he died as I will shew hereafter Alvaro the rest of the Spaniards seeing themselves thus pressed gave intelligence to Captaine Cortes of the great danger they were in who having with an admirable dexteritie valour given order to Narvaes affaires and assembled the greatest part of his men he returned with all speede to succour them of Mexico where observing the time the Indians rest for it was their custom in war to rest every fourth day He one day advanced with great policy courage so as both he and his men entred the pallace whereas the Spaniards had fortefied themselves they then shewed great signes of ioy in discharging their artillery But as the Mexicans furie increased being out of hope to defend themselves Cortes resolved to passe away secretly in the night without bruite Having therefore made bridges to passe two great and dangerous passages about mid-night they issued forth as secretly as they could the greatest part of his people having passed the first bridge they were discovered by an Indian woman before they could passe The second who cried out their enemies fled at the which voice all the people ran together with a horrible furie so as in passing the second bridge they were so charged and pursued as there remained above three hundred men slaine hurt in one place where at this day there is a smal hermitage which they vnproperly cal of Martyrs Many Spaniards to preserve the gold iewells which they had gotten perished others staying to carry it away were taken by the Mexicans cruelly sacrificed to their idols The Mexicans found king Moteçuma dead wounded as they say with poiniards and they hold opinion that that night the Spaniards shew him with other Noblemen The Marquise in his relation sent to the Emperour writes the contrary that the Mexicans killed him that night with a son of Moteçuma which he led with him amongst other noblemen saying that all the treasure of gold stones and silver fell into the lake was never more seene But howsoever Moteçuma died miserably paied his deserts to the iust iudgement of our Lord of heaven for his pride tyranny his body falling into the Indians power they would make him no obsequies of a king no not of an ordinarie person but cast it away in great disdaine rage A servant of his having pittie of this Kings miserie who before had bene feared and worshipped as a God made a fier thereof and put the ashes in a contemptible place Returning to the Spaniards that escaped they were greatly tyred and turmoiled the Indians following them two or three daies very resolutely giving them no time of rest being so distressed for victualls as a few graines of Mays were divided amongst them for their meate The relations both of the Spaniards Indians agree that God delivered them here miraculously the Virgin Mary defending them on a little hill whereat this day three leagues from Mexico there is a Church built in remembrance thereof called our Lady of succour They retyred to their antient friends of Tlascalla whence by their aide the valour pollicie of Cortes they returned afterwards to make war against Mexico by water and land with an invention of brigantines which they put into the lake where after many combates and above threescore dangerous battailes they conquered Mexco on S. Hippolitus day the 13. of August 1521. The last king of the Mexicans having obstinately maintained the wars was in the end taken in a great canoe whereinto he fled who being brought with some other of the chiefest noblemen before Fernando Cortes this pettie king with a strange resolution and courage drawing his dagger came neere to Cortes and said vnto him Vntill this day I have done my best indevour for the defence of my people now am I no farther bound but to give thee this dagger to kill me therewith Cortes answered
would favour their cause and partie even for the good of the Infidells who should bee converted vnto the holy Gospel by this meanes for the waies of God are high and their paths admirable Of the maner how the Divine providence disposed of the Indies to give an entrie to Christian Religion CHAP. 28. I Will make an end of this historie of the Indies shewing the admirable meanes whereby God made a passage for the Gospel in those partes the which we ought well to consider of and acknowledge the providence and bountie of the Creator Every one may vnderstand by the relation and discourse I have written in these bookes as well at Peru as in New Spaine whenas the Christians first set footing that these Kingdomes and Monarchies were come to the height and period of their power The Inguas of Peru possessing from the Realme of Chille beyond Quitto which are a thousand leagues being most aboundant in gold silver sumptuous services and other things as also in Mexico Moteçuma commaunded from the North Ocean sea vnto the South being feared and worshiped not as a man but rather as a god Then was it that the most high Lord had determined that that stone of Daniel which dissolved the Realmes and Kingdoms of the world should also dissolve those of this new world And as the lawe of Christ came whenas the Romane Monarchie was at her greatnes so did it happen at the West Indies wherein we see the iust providence of our Lord For being then in the world I meane in Europe but one head and temporall Lord as the holy Doctors do note whereby the Gospel might more easily beimparted to so many people and nations Even so hath it happened at the Indies where having given the knowledge of Christ to the Monarkes of so many Kingdomes it was a meanes that afterwards the knowledge of the gospell was imparted to all the people yea there is herein a speciall thinge to bee observed that as the Lordes of Cusco and Mexico conquered new landes so they brought in their owne language for although there were as at this day great diuersitie of tongues yet the Courtlie speeche of Cusco did and doth at this day runne above a thousand leagues and that of Mexico did not extend farre lesse which hath not beene of small importance but hath much profited in making the preaching easie at such a time when as the preachers had not the gift of many tongues as in olde tymes He that woulde knowe what a helpe it hath beene for the conversion of this people in these two greate Empyres and the greate difficultie they haue founde to reduce those Indians to Christ which acknowledge no Soueraigne Lorde let him goe to Florida Bresill the Andes and many other places where they have not prevailed so much by their preaching in fiftie yeares as they have done in Peru and newe Spaine in lesse then five If they will impute the cause to the riches of the countrie I will not altogether denie it Yet were it impossible to have so great wealth and to bee able to preserve it if there had not beene a Monarchie This is also a worke of God in this age when as the Preachers of the gospell are so colde and without zeale and Merchants with the heat of covetousnes and desire of commaund search and discouer newe people whether wee passe with our commodities for as Saint Austin saith the Prophesie of Esaie is fulfilled in that the Church of Christ is extended not onely to the right hand but also to the left which is as he declareth by humaine and earthly meanes which they seeke more commonly then Iesus Christ. It was also a great providence of our Lord that whenas the first Spaniardes arrived there they founde ayde from the Indians them selves by reason of their partialities and greate diuisions This is well knowne in Peru that the division betwixt the two brothers Atahulpa and Guasca the great King Guanacapa their father being newly dead gave entry to the Marquise Don Francis Pizarre and to the Spaniards for that either of them desired his alliance being busied in warre one against the other The like experience hath beene in New Spaine that the aide of those of the province of Tlascalla by reason of their continuall hatred against the Mexicaines gave the victory and siegniory of Mexico to the Marquise Fernando Cortes and his men and without them it had beene impossible to have wonne it yea to have maintained themselves within the country They are much deceived that so little esteeme the Indians and iudge that by the advantage the Spaniards have over them in their persons horses and armes both offencive and deffencive they might easily conquer any land or nation of the Indies Chille standes yet or to say better Aranco and Tuâ—â—â—pel which are two citties where our Spaniards could not yet winne one foote of ground although they have made warre there above five and twenty yeares without sparing of any cost For this barbarous nation having once lost the apprehention of horse and shotte and knowing that the Spaniards fall as well as other men with the blow of a stone or of a dart they hazard themselves desperately entring the pikes vppon any enterprise How many yeares have they levied men in New Spaine to send against the Chychymequos which are a small number of naked Indians armed onely with bowes and arrowes yet to this day they could not bee vanquished but contrariwise from day to day they grow more desperate and resolute But what shall wee say of the Chucos of the Chiraguanas of the Piscocones and all the other people of the Andes Hath not all the flower of Peru beene there bringing with them so great provision of armes and men as we have seene What did they With what victories returned they Surely they returned very happy in saving of their lives having lost their baggage and almost all their horses Let no man thinke speaking of the Indians that they are men of nothing but if they thinke so let them go and make triall Wee must then attribute the glory to whom it appertaines that is principally to God and to his admirable disposition for if Moteçuma in Mexiço and the Ingua in Peru had bin resolute to resist the Spaniards and to stoppe their entrie Cortes and Pizarre had prevailed little in their landing although they were excellent Captaines It hath also beene a great helpe to induce the Indians to receive the law of Christ the subiection they were in to their Kings and Lords and also the servitude and slaverie they were helde in by the divells tyrannies and insupportable yoake This was an excellent disposition of the Divine Wisedome the which drawes profite from ill to a good end and receives his good from an others ill which it hath not sowen It is most certaine that no people of the West Indies have beene more apt to receive the Gospel then those which were most subiect to