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
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
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
shells of the sea of all sortes many feathers and a thousand sheepe which must be of divers colours Then the chiefe Priest tooke a yong child in his handes of the age of six or eight yeares pronouncing these wordes with the other ministers speaking to the image of Viracocha Lord we offer this vnto thee that thou maiest maintaine vs in quiet and helpe vs in our warres maintaine our Lord the Ingua in his greatnes and estate that hee may alwaies increase giving him much knowledge to governe vs. There were present at this ceremony and oath men of all partes of the Realme and of all Guacas and Sanctuaries And without doubt the affection and reverence this people bare to their Kings Inguas was very great for it is never found that any one of his subiectes committed treason against him for that they proceeded in their governments not only with an absolute power but also with good order and iustice suffering no man to be oppressed The Ingua placed governours in divers Provinces amongst the which some were superiors and did acknowledge none but himselfe others were of lesse commaund and others more particular with so goodly an order and such gravitie as no man durst bee drunke nor take an eare of Mays from his neighbour These Inguas held it for a maxime that it was necessary to keepe the Indians alwaies in action and therefore we see it to this day long cawseies and workes of great labour the which they say were made to exercise the Indians lest they should remaine idle When he conquered any new Province he was accustomed presently to send the greatest part and the chiefe of that Country into other Provinces or else to his Court and they call them at this day in Peru Mitimas and in their places hee sent others of the Nation of Cusco especially the Orciones which were as Knights of an ancient house They punished faultes rigorously And therefore such as have any vnderstanding heereof hold opinion that there can be no better government for the Indians no more assured then that of the Inguas Of the distribution the Inguas made of their Vessell CHAP. 13. TO relate more particularly what I have spoken before you must vnderstand that the distribution which the Inguas made of their vessells was so exact and distinct as he might governe them all with great facilitie although his realme were a thousand leagues long for having conquered a Province he presently reduced the Indians into Towns and Comminalties the which he divided into bandes hee appointed one to have the charge over every ten Indians over every hundred another over every thousand another over ten thousand another whom they called Humo the which was one of the greatest charges Yet above all in every Province there was a Governour of the house of the Inguas whom all the rest obeyed giving vnto him every yeare in particular account of what had passed that is of such as were borne of those that were dead and of their troups and graine The Governors went every yeare out of Cusco where they remained and returned to the great feast of Rayme at the which they brought the tribute of the whole Realme to the Court neither might they enter but with this condition All the Kingdome was divided into foure partes which they called Tahuantinsuyo that is Chinchasuyo Collasuyo Andesuyo Condesuyo according to the foure waies which went from Cusco where the Court was resident and where the generall assemblies of the realme were made These waies and Provinces being answerable vnto them were towards the foure quarters of the woâ—ld Collasuyo to the South Chinchasuyo to the North CondesuyÌ„o to the West and Andâ—suyo to the East In every towne and village there were two sortes of people which were of Hanansaya and Vrinsaya which is as much to say as those above and those below When they commanded any worke to be done or to furnish any thing to the Ingua the officers knew presently how much every Province Towne and Family ought to furnish so as the division was not made by equall portions but by cottization according to the qualities and wealth of the Countrie So as for example if they were to gather a hundred thousand Fanâ—gues of Mays they knew presently how much every Province was to contribute were it a tenth a seventh or a fift part The like was of Townes and Villages Aillos or Linages The Quipocamayos which were the officers and intendants kept the account of all with their strings and knottes without failing setting downe what every one had paied even to a hen or a burthen of wood and in a moment they did see by divers regisâ—ers what every one ought to pay Of the Edifices and maner of building of the Inguas CHAP. 14. THE Edifices and Buildings which the Inguas made in temples fortresses waies countrie houses and such like were many in number and of an excessive labour as doth appeare at this day by their ruines and remainders both in Cusco Tyaguanaco Tambo and other places where there are stones of an vnmeasurable greatnes so as men cannot conceive how they were cut brought and set in their places There came great numbers of people from all Provinces to worke in these buildings and fortresses which the Ingua caused to be made in Cusco or other partes of the Realme As these workes were strange and to amaze the beholders wherein they vsed no morter nor ciment neither any yron or steele to cut and set the stones in worke They had no engines or other instruments to carrie them and yet were they so artificially wrought that in many places they could not see the ioyntes and many of these stones are so big that it were an incredible thing if one should not see them At Tiaguanaco I did measure a stone of thirty eight foote long of eighteene broade and six thicke And in the wall of the fortresse of Cusco which is of Moallon there are stones of a geater bignes And that which is most strange these stones being not cut nor squared to ioyne but contrariwise very vnequall one with another in forme and greatnes yet did they ioyne them together without ciment after an incredible maner All this was done by the force of men who endured their labour with an invincible patience For to ioyne one stone with an other they were forced to handle and trie many of them often being vneven The Ingua appoynted every yeare what numbers of people should labour in these stones and buildings and the Indians made a division amongest them as of other things so as no man was oppressed Although these buildings were great yet were they commonly ill appoynted and vnfit almost like to the Mosquites or buildings of the Barbarians They could make no arches in their edifices noâ— morter or cyment to builde them withall when they saw arches of wood built vpon the river of Xaura the bridge being finished and the wood broken downe they all
or terrasse which they call Tloteloli where they inhabited calling it Tlatellulco which signifies place of a terrasse This was the third division of the Mexicaines since they left their Country That of Mechovacan being the first and that of Malinalco the second Those which seperated themselves and went to Tlatellulco were famous men but of bad disposition and therefore they practised against the Mexicaines their neighbours all the ill neighbourhood they could They had alwaies quarrells against them and to this day continues their hatred and olde leagues They of Tenoxtiltan seeing them of Tlatellulco thus opposite vnto them and that they multiplied feared that in time they might surmount them heerevpon they assembled in counsell where they thought it good to choose a King whome they should obey and strike terror into their enemies that by this meanes they should bee more vnited and stronger among themselves and their enemies not presume too much against them Being thus resolved to choose a King they tooke another advise very profitable and assured to choose none among themselves for the avoyding of diffentions and to gaine by their new King some other neighbour nations by whom they were invironed being destitute of all succours All well considered both to pacifie the King of Culhuacan whom they had greatly offended having slaine and flead the daughter of his predecessor and done him so great a scorne as also to have a King of the Mexicaine blood of which generation there were many in Culhuacan which continued there since the time they lived in peace amongst them they resolved to choose for their King a yong man called Acamapixtli sonne to a great Mexicaine Prince and of a Ladie daughter to the King of Culhuacan Presently they sent Ambassadors with a great present to demand this man who delivered their Ambassage in these tearmes Great Lord we your vassalls and servants placed and shut vp in the weedes and reedes of the Lake alone and abandoned of all the Nations of the world led onely and guided by our god to the place where we are which falles in the iurisdiction of your limits of Ascapusalco and of Tescuco Although you have suffered vs to live and remaine there yet will we not neither is it reason to live without a head and lord to command correct and governe vs instructing vs in the course of our life and defending vs from our enemies Therefore we come to you knowing that in your Court and house there are children of our generation linckt and alied with yours issued from our entrailes and yours of our blood and yours among â—he which we have knowledge of a grand-child of yours and ours called Acamapixtli We beseech you therefore to give him vs for Lord we will esteeme him as hee deserves seeing hee is of the linage of the Lords of Mexico and the Kings of Culhuacan The king having consulted vppon this poynt and finding it nothing inconvenient to be alied to the Mexicaines who were valiant men made them answer that they should take his grandchilde in good time adding therevnto that if he had beene a woman hee woulde not have given her noting the foule fact before spoken of ending his discourse with these wordes Let my grand-childe go to serve your God and be his lievetenant to rule and govâ—rne his creatures by whom we live who is the Lord of night day and windes Let him goe and be Lord of the water and land and possesse the Mexicaine Nation take him in good time and vse him as my sonne and grand-child The Mexicaines gave him thanks all ioyntly desiring him to marry him with his owne hand so as he gave him to wife one of the noblest Ladies amongst them They conducted the new King and Queene with all honour possible and made him a solemne reception going all in generall foorth to see the king whom they led into pallaces which were then but meane and having seated them in royall throanes presently one of the Antients and an Orator much esteemed amongest them did rise vp speaking in this manner My sonne our Lord and King thou art welcome to this poore house and citty amongest these weedes and mudde where thy poore fathers grandfathers and kinsfolkes endure what it pleaseth the Lord of things created Remember Lord thou commâ—st hither to be the defence and support of the Mexicaine Nation and to be the resemblance of our God Vitzliputzli whervpon the charge and governement is given thee Thou knowest we are not in our country seeing the land we possesse at this day is anothers neither know we what shall become of vs to morrowe or another day Consider therefore that thou commest not to rest or recreate thy selfe but rather to indure a new charge vnder so heavie a burden wherein thou must continually labour being slave to this multitude which is fallen to thy lotte and to all this neighbour people whome thou must strive to gratifie and give them contentment seeing thou knowest we live vpon their lands and within their limites And ending hee repeated these wordes Thou art welcome thou and the Queene our Mistris to this your realme This was the speech of the old man which with other orations which the Mexicaine histories do celebrate the children did vse to learne by hart and so they were kept by tradition some of them deserve well to be reported in their proper termes The king aunswering thanked them and offered them his care and diligence in their defence aide in all he could After they gave him the othe and after their maneâ— set the royall crown vpon his head the which is like to the Crowne of the dukes of Venice the name of Acamapixtli their first king signifies a handfull of reeds and therfore they carry in their armories a hand holding many arrows of reedes Of the strange tribute the Mexicaines paied to them of Azcapuzalco CHAP. 9. THe Mexicaines happened so well in the election of their new king that in short time they grew to have some form of a common-weale and to be famous among strangers wherevpon their neighbours moved with feare practised to subdue them especially the Tapaneâ—ans who had Azcapuzalco for their metropolitane citty to whome the Mexicaines payed tribute as strangers dwelling in their land For the king of AzcapuZalco fearing their power which increased soght to oppresse the Mexicanes and having consulted with his subiects he sent to tel king Acamapixtli that the ordinary tribut they payed was too little and that from thencefoorth they should bring firre trees sapines and willowes for the building of the citty and moreover they shoulde make him a garden in the water planted with diverse kindes of hearbes and pulses which they should bring vnto him yearely by water dressed in this maner without failing which if they did not he declared them his enemies and would roote them out The Mexicaines were much troubled at this commaundement holding it impossible and that this demaund was to no other end but to
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
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