experience that the course of rivers being turned the welles have beene dried vp vntill they returned to their ordinarie course and they give this reason for a materiall cause of this effect but they have another efficient which is no lesse considerable and that is the great height of the Sierre which comming along the coast shadowes the Lanos so as it suffers no winde to blowe from the land but above the toppes of these mountaines By meanes whereof there raines no winde but that from the Sea which finding no opposite doth not presse nor straine forth the vapors which rise to engender raine so as the shadowe of the mountaines keepes the vapors from thickning and convertes them all into mistes There are some experiences agree with this discourse for that it raines vpon some small hilles along the coast which are least shadowed as the rockes of Atico and Arequipa It hath rained in some yeeres whenas the Northern or easterly windes have blowen yea all the time they have continued as it happened in seventie eight vpon the Lanâ—s of Trugillo where it rained aboundantly the which they had not seene in many ages before Moreover it raines vpon the same coast in places whereas the Easterly or Northerne windes be ordinarie as in Guayaquil and in places whereas the land riseth much and turnes from the shadow of the mountaines as in those that are beyond Ariqua Some discourse in this maner but let every one thinke as he please It is most certaine that comming from the mountaines to the vallies they do vsually see as it were two heavens one cleere and bright above and the other obscure and as it were a graie vaile spread vnderneath which covers all the coast and although it raine not yet this mist is wonderfull profitable to bring forth grasse and to raise vp and nourish the seede for although they have plentie of water which they draw from the Pooles and Lakes yet this moisture from heaven hath such a vertue that ceasing to fal vpon the earth it breedes a great discommoditie and defect of graine and seedes And that which is more worthy of admiration the drie and barren sandes are by this deaw so beautified with grasse and flowers as it is a pleasing and agreeable sight and verie profitable for the feeding of cattell as we see in the mountaine called Sandie neere to the Cittie of Kings Of the propertie of new Spaine of the Ilands and of other Lands CHAP. 22. NEw Spaine passeth all other Provinces in pastures which breedes infinite troopes of horse kine sheepe and other cattell It aboundes in fruite and all kinde of graine To conclude it is a Countrie the best furnished and most accomplished at the Indies Yet Peru doth surpasse it in one thing which is wine for that there growes store and good and they daily multiplie and increase the which doth grow in very hote vallies where there are waterings And although there bee vines in new Spaine yet the grape comes not to his maturitie fit to make wine The reason is for that it raines there in Iulie and August whenas the grape ripens and therefore it comes not to his perfection And if any one through curiositie would take the paines to make wine it should be like to that of Genua and Lombardie which is very small and sharpe having a taste like vnto veriuice The Ilands which they call Barlovente which be Hispaniola Cuba Port Ricco others there abouts are beautified with many greene pastures and abound in cattell as neate and swine which are become wilde The wealth of these Ilands be their sugar-workes and hides There is much Cassia fistula ginger It is a thing incredible to see the multitude of these marchandizes brought in one fleete being in a maner impossible that all Europe should waste so much They likewise bring wood of an excellent qualitie and colour as Ebone others which serve for buildings and Ioyners There is much of that wood which they call Lignum Sanctum or Guage fit to cure the pox All these Ilands and others there abouts which are many have a goodly and pleasant aspect for that throughout the yeere they are beautified with grasse greene trees so as they cannot discerne when it is Autumne or Summer by reason of continuall moisture ioyned to the heate of the burning Zone And although this land be of a great circuite yet are there few dwellings for that of it selfe it engenders great Arcabutos as they call them which be Groves or very thicke Coppeses and on the plaines there are many marishes and bogges They give yet another notable reason why they are so smally peopled for that there have remained few naturall Indians through the inconsideratenesse and disorder of the first Conquerors that peopled it and therefore for the most part they vse Negros but they cost deere being very fit to till the land There growes neither bread nor wine in these Ilands for that the too great fertilitie and the vice of the soile suffers them not to seede but castes all forth in grasse very vneaqually There are no olive trees at the least they beare no olives but manie greene leaves pleasant to the view which beare no fruite The bread they vse is of Cacave whereof we shall heereafter speake There is gold in the riuers of these Ilands which some draw foorth but in small quantitie I was little lesse then a yeere in these ilands and as it hath beene told me of the maine land of the Indies where I have not been as in Florida Nicaraqua Guatimala and others it is in a maner of this temper as I have described yet have I not set downe every particular of Nature in these Provinces of the firme land having no perfect knowledge thereof The Countrie which doth most resemble Spaine and the regions of Europe in all the West Indies is the realme of Chille which is without the generall rule of these other Provinces being seated without the burning Zone and the Tropicke of Capricorne This land of it selfe is coole and fertile and brings forth all kindes of fruites that be in Spaine it yeeldes great aboundance of bread and wine and aboundes in pastures and cattell The aire is wholesome and cleere temperate betwixt heate and cold winter and summer are very distinct and there they finde great store of very fine gold Yet this land is poore and finally peopled by reason of their continuall warre with the Auricanos and their associates being a rough people and friends to libertie Of the vnknowne Land and the diversitie of a whole day betwixt them of the East and the West CHAP. 23. THere are great coniectures that in the temperate Zone at the Antartike Pole there are great and fertile lands but to this day they are not discovered neither do they know any other land in this Zone but that of Chille and some part of that land which runnes from Ethiopia to the Cape of Good Hope as
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
vnder the Equinoctiall line is sufficient to guide a ship 137 Alcos little dogges whereof the Indians are very carefull 301 Amarro Ingua put to death by the Spaniards in Cusco 481 Amber a kinde of physicall and sweet gumme 287 Almonds growing in Cocos 281 Almonds of Chacapoias helde for the rarest fruit in the world ibid. The Auntients could not make a determind voyage without the Compasse 57 Th'Antients went only with oares 60 Antient Doctors more studious of the Scriptures than of Philosophie â— Annona a fruit called by the Spaniards Almond butter by reason of some resemblance 278 Apopanaca the overseer of the Monasteries of women 367 Apachitas toppes of hilles that were worshipped 540 Arches in buildings vnknowne to the Indians 460 Aristotle not refuted by Lactantius as touching the place of the earth 22 Armes of the Mexicans 488 Army of the ayre foretelling a great ruine 561 Arte of warre much honoured by the Mexicans 488 Arte to know the Starres invented by the Phenicens 54 Ashes issuing in great aboundance out of the Vulcans 195 Advantage which the Christians had of the Indians to plant the faith there 389 S. Augustine doubts whether the heaven invirons the earth of all parts 3 Attire for the head very divers in sundry provinces at the Indies 467 Austeritie practised by the Indians to keepe themselves chaste 373 Axi a kinde of Indian pepper 168 B. BAllance wherein the Divell made the Iapponois confes themselves 401 Barkes at the Indies called Canoes 68 Battell without bloudshed made only for a ceremony at the yeelding of Tescuco 539 Balme of Palestina and that of the Indiâ—s very different 285 Bezars stone found in the stomacke of some beasts soveraigne against poison how it growes and which are the most excellent 323 Beasts carefully preserved by the Inguâ—s 464 Beasts worshipped by the Indians why 340 Beasts being venomous converted by divelish artes into good norishment 510 Beasts that are perfect cannot bee ingendred as those that are imperfect according to the order of nature 65 Beasts of sundry sorts at the Indies that are not in Europe 3â—7 Birds remaine willingly in the water and why 305 Birds some exceeding small others wonderfull great 309 Birds very profitable for the dung 311 Bisexte vnknowne to the Indians 437 Bochas and Suchâ—s notable fishes in the Lake of Titicaâ—a 170 Bâ—ncos the divelles Ministers at the Indies 370 Bridge of strawe very firme to passe over a swift streame 93 Brises and lower winds are two generall names which comprehend the windes of either side 132 Bodies being dead wonderfully well preserved 478 Burthen of the Indian sheepe and what iournies they make so laden 321 C CAcao a fruite much esteemed at the Indies serves them for mony 271 Cacavi bread made of a roote 257 Calibasses or Pompions at the Indies and of their greatnesse 264 Calculation of the Indians very witty and ready 456 Camey the second moneth of the Indians 412 Canes of sugar of great revenews 298 Canopus a star seene at the new world 16 Cap of Comorni sometimes called the promontory of Cory 37 Carthaginians did forbid the sayling to vnknowne lands and why 36 Care of the Mexicaines to teach their children their superstitious idolatry 486 Cattle in troupes without maisters in the Ilands of Cuba Iamaica and others 70 Cattle at the Indies killed onely for their hides ibid. Caymans or Lizards like vnto Crocodiles whereof Pliâ—ie speakes 165 Ceremony of the Mexicans in drawing bloud from divers parts 551 Ceremonies of the Indians in the buriall of their dead 348 Ceremonies at the sacrificing of men 382 Chachalmua the chiefe priests and their attire at their sacrifices ibid. Chasquis Indian posts that caried news to all places 452 Chica a drinke very wholesome for the backe 255 Chichimequas auntient Inhabitants of Nâ—w Spaine and of their barbarous life 501 Chicocapote a fruit like vnto mermelade 278 Chille a country of the same temperature with Spaine 87 Chinchilles small beasts that have exquisite skinnes 314 Chocholate the Indians drinke wherof they make great account 271 Cinabrium or vermilian called by the Indians Limpi 238 Coca a leafe which the Perusians vsed for money 210 Coca a small leafe whereof the Indians make great traffike it doth incourage and fortifie 271 Cocas Indian palmes and of their rare properties 280 Cochâ—nille a graine that growes vppon the Tunall trees 275 Colleges ordained at Mexico to teach their young children to pronounce Orations 447 Combate betwixt a Caymant and a Tyger 166 Comedies very ordinary in China 444 Combate betwixt an Indian and a Caymant 167 Comets in the ayre moove from East to Weast 137 Communion imitated by the slaves of Satan 393 Comparison to prove the naturall effect of raine in the burning zone 95 Crowne of the kings of Mexico like to that of the duke of Venice 518 Crimes punished with death by the Indians 469 Corriers at the Indies very swift being but footemen 452 Coya the Inguas chiefe wife whose son succeeded after the vncle 455 Crosse a notable starrâ— at the new found world 16 Crowning of the kings of Mexico perfourmed with great solemnitie and the shedding of much mans bloud 541 Covetousnes of a certaine priest thinking to drawe gold out of a vulcan 195 Councell of Lima dissolved the marriage betwixt brother and sister and why 471 Cotton growes vppon trees it serves to make linnen cloth 276 Colde in the burning zone makes Aristotles opinion ridiculous 101 Corage of men at the passage of Pongo 176 The Continent of lands is ioyned in some part or else it is very neere 68 Before the Creation there was neither time nor place a matter harde to imagine â—4 Crueltie of the Indians in their sacrifices 382 Cruell ceremony to sprinckle the Embassadours with bloud thinking thereby to have a better answer 571 Cu the great Temple of Mexico and the singularities thereof 361 Cugno a kinde of bread at the Indies made of rootes 186 Cuschargui a dried flesh which the Indians vsed 320 Cusco the auntient habitation of the kings of Peru. 128 D DAies and nights equall al the yeere vnder the liquinoctiall 83 Daies in summer very shorte at Peru. 103 Five Daies in the yeere superfluous wherein the Indians did nothing 434 Dancing and publike recreations necessary in every coÌ„mon-wealâ— 492 Dauncing in Mexâ—â—o where the King himselfe dâ—unced 489 Daâ—tes wilde beâ—sts almost like vnto moiles and of their skinnes 313 Dâ—luge pretended by the Indians whereof there is some likelâ—hood 79 Dâ—vision of the lands of Azcaâ—â—zalco after the victory obtained by â—scoalt 533 Discovery of the west Indies prophecied by Senecâ— 38 Discovery of new lands made more by tempest of weather than otherwise 62 Disseine of the Author 82 The Divell jealous against God and hates men mortally 329 The Divell didde speake in the Indies Guacas or Oratories 351 Difference of letters pictures characters 439 Difficultie to know whence the Indians come for that they have vsed no letters 79
Châ—lle beare good wine 296 Vines of the vallie of Yâ—a which doe growe and are never watered with any raine and how ibid Vines that carry grapes every moneth in the yeere ibid. Viracoâ—hâ— the name which the Indians gave to their supreme god with others of great power 333 Vuziliputzli the chiefe idoll of Mexico and his ornaments 352 Vittells set vppon the tombes of dead men to feede them 347 Voyce heard foretelling the ruine of Moteçuma 565 Volcan of Guatâ—mala more admirable than all the rest 194 Volcans how entertained 196 Voyage of Hannon the Carthaginâ—an admirable in his time 36 Vros bruâ—ish people which esteeme not themselves 94 Vtilitie of all naturall histories 117 Vnction of Vuzilovitli the second king of Mexico 521 W. WAy by which the Spaniards go to the Indies and their returne 128 Waters of Guayaquil most soveraigne for the French disease 174 Warres of the Mexicans most commonly to take prisoners 483 Westerne windes hurtefull to silke-wormes 144 Westerne windes blowe not in the burning zone 126 Whales how taken by the Indians and how they eate them 167 Windes very daungerous which kill and preserve the dead bodies without corruption 147 Windes called Brises in the burning zone which come from the east 127 Windes how many and their names 133 Windes of the land in the burning zone blow rather by night than by day and those of the sea contrary and why 142 Winde corrupts yron 144 Windes that blowe southerly make the coast habitable 125 One Winde hath diverse properties according to the place where it raignes and the cause 120 Winde doth cause strange diversities of temperature 112 Wisedome of this world weake in divine yea in humane things 31 Winter and summeâ— and the cause 90 Woods rare and sweete at the Indies 292 Words of a man which had his heart pulled out 390 Writing of the Chinois was from the toppe downeward and the Mexicans from the foote vpward 447 X. XAmabusis pilgrimes forced to confesse their sinnes vpon the toppe of a rocke 400 Y. YCa and Arica and their manner of sayling in skinnes 63 Yearâ— at the Indies divided into eighteene moneths 432 Youth very carefully instructed in Mexico 489 Yeare at Peru approaching neerer to ours than that of Mexico 437 Ytu a great feast at the Indies which they made in their necessitie 416 Yupanguâ— Ingua was in Peru like to an other Numa in Rome for the making of Lawes 261 Z. ZEphiruâ— a pleasant and wholesome winde 126 Zone which they call burning the Antients held inhabitable 30 Burning zone in some partes temperate in others colde and in others hote 101 Burning Zone peopled and pleasaunt contrary to the opinion of Philosophers 86 Burning Zone why temperate 105 In the burning Zone they saile easily from east to weast and not contrarie and why 132 In the burning Zone the neerenesse of the Sunne dooth not alwaies cause raine 100 The end of the Table Errata 111.22 for Paraguen reade Paraguay 120.30 for River reade Region 135.32 for to reade in 141.28 for the motion reade without any â—otion 148.33 for inhabited reade not inhabited 164.17 for greene reade great 198.23 for hundred reade five hundred 213.21 for Curuma reade Cucuma 229.17 for to reade and 235.11 for it reade that 241.8 for it reade his 253.12 for maces reade markes 274.8 for little reade like 278.19 for is no reade is a 351.25 for many reade in many 368.2 for possession reade profession 397.14 for to the communion reade to the people in manner of a communion 514.21 for partiall reade particular 324.32 for convenient in a maner reade in a convenient manner 335.3 for of reade to 347.25 for neither reade in their Gentle Reader from the folio 225. line 14 16 19 20. where you finde peeces reade pezoes till you come to folio 322. line 22. THE FIRST BOOKE of the Naturall and Morall Historie of the East and West Indies Of the opinions of some Authors which supposed that the Heavens did not extend to the new-found world The first Chapter THE Ancients were so farre from conceypt that this new-found world was peopled by any Nation that many of them could not imagine there was any land on that part and which is more worthie of admiration some have flatly denyed that the Heavens which we now beholde could extend thither For although the greatest part yea the most famous among the Philosophers have well knowne that the Heaven was round as in effect it is and by that meanes did compasse and comprehend within it self the whole earth yet many yea of the holy doctors of greatest authoritie have disagreed in opinion vpon this point supposing the frame of this vniversall world to bee fashioned like vnto a house whereas the roofe that covers it invirons onely the vpper part and not the rest inferring by their reasons that the earth should else hang in the middest of the ayre the which seemed vnto them voyd of sense For as we see in every building the ground-worke and foundation on the one side and the cover opposite vnto it even so in this great building of the world the Heaven should remaine above on the one part and the earth vnder it The glorious Chrysostome a man better seene in the studie of holy Scriptures then in the knowledge of Philosophie seemes to be of this opinion when in his Commentaries vpon the Epistle to the Hebrewes he doth laugh at those which hold the heavens to be round And it seemes the holy Scripture doth inferre as much terming the Heavens a Tabernacle or Frame built by the hand of God And hee passeth farther vpon this point saying that which mooves and goes is not the Heaven but the Sunne Moone and Starres which moove in the heaven even as Sparrowes and other birds moove in the ayre contrary to that which the Philosophers hold that they turne with the Heaven itselfe as the armes of a wheele doe with the wheele Theodoret a very grave Authour followes Chrysostome in this opinion and Theophilus likewise as hee is accustomed almost in all thinges But Lactantius Firmian above all the rest holding the same opinion doth mocke the Peripatetickes and Academickes which give the heaven a round forme placing the earth in the middest thereof for that it seemeth ridiculous vnto him that the earth should hang in the ayre as is before sayde By which his opinion hee is conformable vnto Epicurus who holdeth that on the other part of the earth there is nothing but a Chaos and infinite gulph And it seemeth that S. Ierome draweth neere to this opinion writing vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians in these wordes The naturall Philosopher by his contemplation pierceth to the height of heaven and on the other part he findeth a great vast in the depth and bowels of the earth Some likewise say that Procopius affirmes the which I have not seene vpon the booke of Genesis that the opinion of Aristotle touching the forme and
sayled in three yeeres is no sufficient proofe seeing the holy Scripture doth not directly affirme that this voyage continued three yeeres but that it was made once in three yeeres And although wee graunt that the voyage lasted three yeeres it might bee as it is likely that this Fleet sayling towards the East Indies was stayed in their course by the diversitie of Ports and Regions which they discovered as at this day in all the South Sea they sayle from Chile to newe Spaine the which voyage although it bee more certaine yet is it longer by reason of the turnings they are forced to make vpon the Coast and they stay in divers Portes And in trueth I doe not finde in ancient bookes that they have lanched farre into the Ocean neyther can I beleeve that this their sayling was otherwise then they vse at this day in the Mediterranean Sea which makes learned men to coniecture that in old time they did not sayle without Owers for that they went alwayes coasting along the shoare and it seemes the holy Scripture doth testifie as much speaking of that famous voyage of the Prophet Ionas where it sayes that the Marriners being forced by the weather rowed to land That we may coniecture how the first Inhabitants of the Indies came thither by force of weather and not willingly CHAP. 19. HAving shewed that there is no reason to beleeve that the first Inhabitants of the Indies came thither purposely it followeth then that if they came by Sea it was by chance or by force of weather the which is not incredible notwithstanding the vastnesse of the Ocean seeing the like hath happened in our time when as that Marriner whose name we are yet ignorant of to the end so great a worke and of such importance should not be attributed to any other Author then to God having through tempest discovered this new world left for payment of his lodging where he had received it to Christopher Columbus the knowledge of so great a secret Even so it might chance that some of Europe or Affricke in times past have bin driven by soule weather and cast vpon vnknowne lands beyond the Ocean Who knoweth not that most or the greatest part of the Regions in this newe world were discovered by this meanes the which we must rather attribute to the violence of the weather then to the spirit and industrie of those which have discovered And to the end we may know that it is not in our time onely that they have vndertaken such voiages through the greatnesse of our shippes and the valour and courage of our men we may reade in Plinie that many of the Ancients have made the like voyages he writes in this manner It is reported that Caius Caesar sonne to Augustus Caesar having charge vpon the Arabian Sea did there see and finde certaine pieces and remainders of Spanish shippes that had perished And after he saith Nepos reportes of the Northerne circuite that they brought to Quintus Metellus Caeler companion in the Consulship to Caius Affranius the same Metellus being then Proconsull in Gaule certaine Indians which had beene presented by the King of Sueden thâ— which Indians sailing from India for their trafficke were cast vpon Germanie by force of tempest Doubtles if Plinie speaketh truth the Portugales in these daies saile no further then they did in those two shipwrackes the one from Spaine to the red Sea the other from the East Indies to Germanie The same Author writes in another place that a servant of Annius Plocanius who farmed the customes of the red Sea sailing the course of Arabia there came so furious a Northerne wind that in fifteene daies he passed Caramania and discovered Hippares a port in Taprobane which at this day we call Sumatra And they report of a shippe of Carthage which was driven out of the Mediterranean Sea by a Northerne wind to the view of this new world The which is no strange thing to such as have any knowledge of the sea to know that sometimes a storme continues long furious without any intermission I my selfe going to the Indies parting from the Canaries have in fifteene daies discovered the first land peopled by the Spaniards And without doubt this voiage had been shorter if the Mariners had set vp all their sailes to the Northerne winds that blew It seemes therefore likely to me that in times past men came to the Indies against their wills driven by the furie of the winds In Peru they make great mention of certaine Giants which have been in those parts whose bones are yet seene at Manta and Port Viâ—il of a huge greatnes and by their proportion they should be thrice as big as the Indians At this day they report that the Giants came by sea to make warre with those of the Countrie and that they made goodly buildings whereof at this day they shew a well built with stones of great price They say moreover that these men committing abhominable sinnes especially against nature were consumed by fire from heaven In like fort the Indians report of Yâ—a and Arica that in old time they were wont to saile farre to the Ilands of the West and made their voiages in Seales skinnes blowne vp So as there wants no witnesses to prove that they sailed in the South sea before the Spaniards came thither Thus we may well coniecture that the new world began to be inhabited by men that have been cast vpon that coast by the violence of the Northerne winds as wee have seene in our age So it is being a matter verie considerable that the workes of nature of greatest importance for the most part have been found out accidentally and not by the industrie and diligence of man The greatest part of phisicall hearbes of Stones Plants Mettalls Perle gold Adamant Amber Diamont and the most part of such like things with their properties and vertues have rather come to the knowledge of man by chance then by art or industrie to the end wee may know that the glorie praise of such wonders should be attributed to the providence of the Creator and not to mans vnderstanding for that which we thinke to happen accidently proceedes alwaies from the ordinance and disposition of God who does all things with reason Notwithstanding all that hath bene said it is more likely that the first inhabitants of the Indies came by land CHAP. 20. I Conclude then that it is likely the first that came to the Indies was by shipwracke and tempest of wether but heerevpon groweth a difficultie which troubleth me much For suppose wee grant that the first men came from farre Countries and that the nations which we now see are issued from them and multiplied yet can I not coniecture by what meanes brute beastes whereof there is great aboundance could come there not being likely they should have bin imbarked and carried by sea The reason that inforceth vs to yeeld that the first men of the
Philosophie worthy of accoumpt The greatest part of Platoes Interpreters affirme that it is a true Historie whatsoever Critias reports of the strange beginning of the Atlantike Iland of the greatnes thereof of the warres they had against them of Europe with many other things That which gives it the more credite of a true Historie be the wordes of Critias whom Plato brings in in his time saying that the subiect he meanes to treate of is of strange things but yet true The other disciples of Plato considering that this discourse hath more shew of a fable then of a true Historie say that we must take it as an allegorie and that such was the intention of their divine Philosopher Of this opinion is Procles and Porphire yea and Origene who so much regardes the writings of Plato as when they speake thereof they seeme to bee the bookes of Moses or of Esdras and whereas they thinke the writings of Plato have no shew of truth they say they are to be vnderstood mystically and in allegories But to say the truth I do not so much respect the authoritie of Plato whom they call Divine as I wil beleeve he could write these things of the Atlantike Iland for a true Historie the which are but meere fables seeing hee confesseth that hee learned them of Critias being a little childe who among other songs sung that of the Atlantike Iland But whether that Plato did write it for a true Historie or a fable for my part I beleeve that all which he hath written of this Iland beginning at the Dialogue of Time and continuing to that of Critias cannot be held for true but among children and old folkes Who will not accoumpt it a fable to say that Neptune fell in love with Clite and had of her five paire of twinnes at one birth And that out of one mountaine hee drew three round balles of water and two of earth which did so well resemble as you would have iudged them all one bowell What shall wee say moreover of that Temple of a thousand pace long and five hundred broade whose walles without were all covered with silver the seeling of gold and within ivorie indented and inlaied with gold silver and pearle In the end speaking of the ruine thereof he concludes thus in his time In one day and one night came a great deluge whereby all our souldiers were swallowed by heapes within the earth and in this sort the Atlantike Iland being drowned it vanished in the Sea Without doubt it fell out happily that this Iland vanished so suddenly seeing it was bigger then Asia and Affrike and that it was made by enchantment It is in likesort all one to say that the ruines of this so great an Iland are seene in the bottome of the sea and that the Mariners which see them cannot saile that way Then he addes For this cause vnto this day that Sea is not navigable by reason of the bancke which by little little is growne in that drowned Iland I would willingly demand what Sea could swallow vp so infinite a continent of land greater then Asia and Affrike whose confines stretched vnto the Indies and to swallow it vp in such sort as there should at this day remaine no signes nor markes thereof whatsoever seeing it is well knowne by experience that the Mariners finde no bottome in the Sea where they say this Iland was Notwithstanding it may seeme indiscreete and farre from reason to dispute seriously of those things which are reported at pleasure or if we shall give that respect to the authoritie of Plato as it is reason we must rather vnderstand them to signifie simply as in a picture the prosperitie of a Citie and withall the ruine thereof For the argument they make to prove that this Atlantike Iland hath bene really and indeede saying that the sea in those parts doth at this day beare the name of Atlantike is of small importance for that wee knowe Mount Atlas whereof Plinie sayes this sea tooke the name is vpon the confines of the Mediterranean Sea And the same Plinie reportes that ioyning to the said Mount there is an Iland called Atlantike which he reportes to be little and of small accompt That the opinion of many which holde that the first race of the Indians comes from the Iewes is not true CHAP. 23. NOw that wee have shewed how vnlikely it is that the first Indians passed to the Indies by the Atlantike Iland there are others holde opinion that they tooke the way whereof Esdras speakes in his fourth booke in this manner And whereas thou sawest that he gathered an other peaceable troope vnto him thou shalt know those are the ten tribes which were caried away captives out of their own land in the time of king Ozeas whom Salmanazar king of the Assyrians tooke captives and ledde them beyond the river so were they brought into an other land but they tooke this counsell to themselves to leave the multitude of the heathen and go forth into a farther countrie where never mankind dwelt that they might there observe their statutes which they could not keepe in their owne land and they entred by the narrowe passages of the river Euphrates for then God shewed his wonders and stayed the springs of the flood vntill they were passed over for the way vnto that Countrie is very long yea of a yeere and a halfe and this Region is called Arsareth then dwelt they there vntill the latter time and when they come forth againe the most Mightie shall hold still the springs of the river againe that they may goe through for this cause sawest thou this multitude peaceable Some will apply this text of Esdras to the Indies saying they were guided by God whereas never mankinde dwelt and that the land where they dwelt is so farre off as it requires a yeere and a halfe to performe the voyage beeing by nature very peaceable And that there are great signes and arguments amongst the common sort of the Indians to breed a beleefe that they are descended from the Iewes for commonly you shall see them fearefull submisse ceremonious and subtill in lying And moreover they say their habites are like vnto those the Iewes vsed for they weare a short coat or waste-coat and a cloake imbroidered all about they goe bare-footed or with soles tied with latchers over the foot which they call Oiotas And they say that it appeares by their Histories as also by their ancient pictures which represent them in this fashion that this attire was the ancient habite of the Hebrewes and that these two kinds of garments which the Indians onely vse were vsed by Samson which the Scripture calleth Tunicam and Sidonem beeing the same which the Indians terme wast-coat and cloake But all these coniectures are light and rather against them then with them for wee know well that the Hebrewes vsed letters whereof there is no shew among the Indians they were great
steede whereof they vse counting with their Quipocamayes the which is peculiar vnto them But which reckoning all they can report is not past 400. yeeres Instructing my selfe carefully of them to know from what land and what nation they passed to that where they â—ow live I have found them so farre vnable to give any reason thereof as they beleeve confidently that they were created at their first beginning at this new world where they now dwell But we have freed them of this error by our faith which teacheth vs that all men came from the first man There are great and apparant coniectures that these men for a long time had neither Kings nor common weales but lived in troupes as they do at this day in Florida the Chiriquanas those of Bresill and many other nations which have no certaine Kings but as occasion is offered in peace or warre they choose their Captaines as they please But some men excelling others in force and wit began in time to rule and domineere as Nembroth did so increasing by little and little they erected the kingdomes of Peru and Mexico which our Spaniards found and although they were barbarous yet did they farre surpasse all the other Indians Behold how the foresaid reason doth teach vs that the Indians began to multiply for the most part by savage men and fugitives which may suffice touching the beginning of these men we speake of leaving the rest vntill we treate of their Historie more at large THE SECOND BOOKE of the Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies That it is not out of purpose but necessarie to treate of the 〈…〉 CHAP. 1. FOR the well conceiving of things at the Indies it is necessarie to know the nature and disposition of that Region which the Ancients did call the burning Zone the which they held inhabitable seeing the greatest part of this new world which hath bin of late discovered lies and is scituate vnder this region in the midst of heaven And it seemes to me greatly to purpose which some do say that the knowledge of things at the Indies depends of the well vnderstanding the nature of the Equinoctiall for that the difference which is betwixt the one and the other world proceeds in a maner from the qualities of this Equinoctiall And we must note that all the space betwixt the two Tropickes must be properly taken and held for this middle line which is the Equinoctiall so called for that the Sunne running his course therein makes the daies nights even throughout the world yea they that dwell vnder this line inioy throughout the yeare the same equalitie of daies and nights In this Equinoctiall line we finde so many admirable qualities that with great reason mans vnderstanding doth studie and labour to search out the causes not moved therevnto so much by the doctrine of ancient Philosophers as by reason and certaine experience For what reason the Ancients held that the burning Zone was inhabitable CHAP. 2. EXamining this subiect from the beginning no man can denie that which we plainely see that the Sunne when it drawes neere doth heate and when it retyres groweth cold The daies and nightes with the Winter and Summer be witnesses heereof whose varietie with the heate and cold growes by the neerenes and distance of the Sunne Moreover it is certaine the more the Sunne approacheth and casteth his beames prependicularly the more the earth is scorched and burnt the which we see plainely in the heate of the South and in the force of Summer whereby we may iudge in my opinion that the farther a Countrie is distant from the course of the Sunne the more cold it is So we finde by experience that the Countries and Regions which approach neerest to the North are coldest and contrariwise those that lie neere the Zodiake where the Sunne keepes his course are most hot For this cause Ethiopia passeth Affrike and Barbarie in heate Barbarie exceedes Andalousia Andalousia Castile and Arragon surpasse Biscaie and Fraunce And the more they decline to the North the colder they are and so by consequence those which approach neerest to the Sunne and are beaten perpendicularly with his beames they do most feele the heate thereof Some vrge another reason to this effect which is that the motion of the heaven is very â—odaine and light towards the Tropikes but neere the Poles it is slow and heavie whereby they conclude that the region which the Zodiake circles and conteines is set on fire with heate for three causes and reasons the one for the neerenes of the Sunne the other for that his beames reflect directly and the third for that it doth participate and feele this swift and sodaine motion of the heaven See what reason and discourse teacheth vs touching the cause of heat and cold vpon the regions of the earth But what shall we say of the two other qualities wet and drie Even the same For the drought seemes to grow by the neerenes of the Sunne and moistnes being retired farre off for that the night being colder then the day is likewise more moist and the day which is drier is also hotter Winter whilst the Sun runnes his course farther off is more cold and rainie and Summer when the Sunne is neere is more hotte and drie for even as the fire hath the propertie to parch and burne so hath it to drie vp the moistnes These things therefore considered Aristotle and other Philosophers attribute vnto the regions of the South which they call burning an excessive heat and a drouth likewise And therefore they said this region is wonderfully scorched and drie so by consequence hath neither waters nor pastures whereby of necessitie it must be contrarie and vnfit for mans life That the burning Zone is very moist contrary to the opinion of the Ancients CHAP. 3. ALl that we have propounded seemes vndoubtedly true and to purpose and yet the conclusion they would draw from it is directly false for that the Region of the South which they call the burning Zone is peopled and inhabited by men and wee our selves have stayed long there beeing very commodious pleasant and agreeable If therefore it be so as we cannot denie it that from a true proposition we cannot draw a false conclusion and yet this conclusion should be false as indeed it is we must of necessitie returne backe the same way to examine this proposition more strictly whence the error should proceede we will first shew the trueth as assured experience doth teach vs then will we proove it although it be verie difficult and will endevour to give a reaâ—on following the termes of Philosophie The last point that wee propounded that the drought is greatest whenas the Sunne is neerest to the earth seemeth certaine and infallible and yet it is very false fâ—r there is never greater aboundance of raine in the burning Zone then whenas the Sunne goeth directly over them and is very neere Truely it is an admirable
others PoullaZes which in my opinion are of the kinde of ravens are of a strange lightnes and have a very quicke sight being very fit to clense Citties for that they leave no carion nor dead thing They passe the night on trees or vpon rockes and in the morning they come to the cities and townes sitting on the toppes of the highest buildings where they attend their prey Their yong have white feathers as they report of ravens and so change into blacke The Guacamayac be birdes bigger then Parrets resemble them somthing they are esteemed for the varietie of their feathers which be very faire pleasing In new Spaine there are aboundance of birdes with excellent feathers so as there be not any found in Europe that comes neere them as we may see by the images of feathers they bring from thence the which are with great reason much valued and esteemed giving cause of admiration that with the feathers of birdes they should make so excellent a worke and so perfectly equall as they seeme properly to be the true coloures of a painter and have so lively and pleasing a regard as the Painter cannot exceede it with his pencill and colours Some Indians which are good and expert workemen in this Art will represent perfectly in feathers whatsoever they see drawne with the pencill so as the Painters of Spaine have in this point no advantage over them Don Philip the Prince of Spaine his schoolemaster did give vnto him three figures or poâ—traitures made of feathers as it were to put in a Breviary His Highnes did shew them to King Philip his father the which his Maiesty beholding attentively said that hee had never seene in so small a worke a thing of so great excellency and perfection One day as they presented to Pope Sixtus quintus another square bigger then it wherein was the figure of St. Francis and that they had told him it was made of feathers by the Indians he desired to make triall thereof touching the table with his fingers to see if it were of feathers for that it seemed strange to see them so properly fitted that the eye could not iudge nor discerne whether they were naturall colours of feathers or artificiall done with the pencill It is a goodly thing to see the lustre which a greene an orange tawny like gold and other fine colours do cast and beholding them another way they seeme dead colours They make the best and goodliest figures of feathers in the Province of Mechovacan and in the village of Pascaro The manner is with small delicate pinsors they pul the feathers from the dead fowles and with a fine paste they cunningly ioyne them together They take the smal delicate feathers of those birds which in Peru they call Tâ—mineyâ—s or others like vnto them which have the most perfect colours in their feathers The Indians besides these images did vse feathers in many other most excellent workes especially for the ornament of Kings and Noblemen their Temples and Idolls There are also other great birdes which have excellent and fine feathers whereof they make plumes of sundry colours especially when they go to warre inriching them with gold and silver very artificially which was a matter of great price They have the same birdes still but they are not so curious neither do they make so many gentill devises as they were wont There are other birdes at the Indies contrarie to these of so rich feathers the which besides that they are ill favovred serve to no other vse but for dung and yet perchance they are of no lesse profite I have considered this wondering at the providence of the Creator who hath so appointed that all creatures should serve man In some Ilands or Phares which are ioyning to the coast â—of Peru wee see the toppes of the mountaines all white and to sight you would take it for snow or for some white land but they are heapes of dung of sea fowle which go continually thither and there is so great aboundance as it riseth many elles yea many launces in height which seemes but a fable They go with boates to these Ilands onely for the dung for there is no other profit in them And this dung is so commodious and profitable as it makes the earth yeelde great aboundance of fruite They cal this dung Guano whereof the valley hath taken the name which they call Limaguaâ—a in the valleys of Peru where they vse this dung and it is the most fertile of all that countrie The quinces poungranets and other fruites there exceede all other in bountie and greatnes and they say the reason is for that the water wherewith they water it passeth by a land compassed with this dung which causeth the beautie of this fruite So as these birdes have not only the flesh to serve for meate their singing for recreation their feathers for ornament and beautie but also their dung serves to fatten the ground The which hath bin so appointed by the soveraigne Creator for the service of man that he might remember to acknowledge and be loyall to him from whom all good proceedes Of Beasts for the Chases CHAP. 38. BEsides the Beasts of Chase whereof we have spoken which be common to the Indies and Europe there are others which I doe not remember to have seene heere vnlesse perhappes they have been brought from thence There are beasts called Sainos made like small hogges which have this singular to themselves to have their navill vppon the ridge of their backes these go by troupes through the woods they are cruell and nothing fearefull but contrariwise they assaile and have their tallents sharpe as rasors wherewith they make dangerous wounds and incisions if such as hunt them put not themselves in safetie Such as hunt them for the more safer killing of them they climbe vp into trees whither the Sainos or hogges come presently in troupes biting the tree when they cannot hurte the man and then with their launces they kill what they will They are very good to eate but they must of necessitie cut off the round peece where the navil growes vpon the backe for otherwise within a day they corrupt There is another kinde of little beast like to sucking pigges and they call them Guadatinaias I am in doubt whether there were any swine at the Indies â—efore the Spaniardes came thither like to these in â—paine for that in the discoverie of the Ilands of Soloman it is said they found hennes and swine of Spaine But howsoever it be it is most certaine that this cattell hath greatly multiplied at the Indies They eate the flesh fresh and hold it to be as holesome and as good as if it were of mutton as in Carthagene in some partes they are become wilde and cruell the which they hunt like wilde boares as we see in S. Dominique and other Ilands where the beasts live in the forrests In some places they feede them with the graine of Mays and they
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
which they honoured after death to this end their successors gave them garments and made sacrifices vnto them especially the Kings Inguas being accompanied at their funeralls with a great number of servants and women for his service in the other life and therefore on the day of his decease they did put to death the woman he had loved best his servants and officers that they might serve him in the other life Whenas Guanacapa died who was father to Atagualpa at what time the Spaniards entred they put to death aboue a thousand persons of all ages and conditions for his service to accompany him in the other life after many songs and drunkennes they slew them and these that were appointed to death held themselves happy They did sacrifice many things vnto them especially young children and with the bloud they made a stroake on the dead mans face from one eare to the other This superstition and inhumanitie to kill both men and women to accompanie and serve the dead in the other life hath beene followed by others and is at this day vsed amongst some other barbarous Nations And as Pollo writes it hath beene in a maner generall throughout all the Indies The Reverent Beda reportes that before the Englishmen were converted to the Gospel they had the same custome to kill men to accompany and serve the dead It is written of a Portugall who being captive among the Barbarians had beene hurt with a dart so as he lost one eye and as they would have sacrificed him to accompany a Nobleman that was dead hee said vnto them that those that were in the other life would make small account of the dead if they gave him a blind man for a companion that it were better to give him an attendant that had both his eyes This reason being found good by the Barbarians they let him go Besids this superstition of sacrificing men to the dead beeing vsed but to great Personages there is another far more general common in all the Indies which is to set meate and drinke vpon the grave of the dead imagining they did feede thereon the which hath likewise beene an error amongst the Ancients as saint Augustine writes and therefore they gave them meate and drinke At this day many Indian Infidells doe secretly draw their dead out of the churchyard and burie them on hilles or vpon passages of mountaines or else in their owne houses They have also vsed to put gold and silver in their mouth hands and bosome and to apparell them with new garments durable and well lined vnder the herse They beleeve that the soules of the dead wandred vp and downe and indure colde thirst hunger and travell and for this cause they make their anniversaries carrying them clothes meate and drinke So as the Prelates neitheir Synodes above all things give charge to their Priests to let the Indians vnderstand that the offerings that are set vpon the sepulchre is not to feede the dead but for the poore and ministers and that God alone dooth feede the soules in the other life seeing they neither eate nor drinke any corporall thing being very needefull they should vnderstand it lest they should convert this religious vse into a superstition of the gentiles as many doe Of the manner of burying the dead among the Mexicaine and sundrie other Nations CHAP. 8. HAving reported what many nations of Peru have done with their dead it shall not be from the purpose to make particular mention of the Mexicaines in this poynt whose mortuaries were much solempnised and full of notable follies It was the office of the priests and religious of Mexico who lived there with a strange observance as shall be saide heereafter to interre the dead and doe their obsequies The places where they buried them was in their gardens and in the courts of their owne houses others carried them to the places of sacrifices which were doone in the mountaines others burnt them and after buryed the ashes in theyâ— Temples and they buryed them all with whatsoever they had of apparel stones and jewells They did put the ashes of such as were burnt into pots with them the jewells stones and earerings of the dead how rich and pretious soever They did sing the funerall offices like to answeres and did often lift vp the dead bodies dooing many ceremonies At these mortuaries they did eate and drinke and if it were a person of qualitie they gave apparrell to all such as came to the interrement When any one dyed they layd him open in a chamber vntill that all his kinsfolkes and friendes were come who brought presents vnto the dead and saluted him as if he were living And if hee were a King or Lord of some towne they offered him slaves to be put to death with him to the end they might serve him in the other world They likewise put to death his priest or chaplaine for every Noble man had a priest which administred these ceremonies within his house and then they killed him that hee might execute his office with the dead They likewise killed his cooke his butler his dwarfes and deformed men by whome he was most served neyther did they spare the very brothers of the dead who had most served them for it was a greatnesse amongest the Noble men to be served by theyr brethren and the rest Finally they put to death all of his traine for the entertaining of his house in the other world and lest poverty should oppresse them they buried with them much wealth as golde silver stones curtins of exquisite worke bracelets of gold and other rich peeces And if they burned the dead they vsed the like with all his servants and ornaments they gave him for the other world Then tooke they all the ashes they buryed with very great solemnity The obsequies continued tenne dayes with songs of plaints and lamentations and the priests caried away the dead with so many ceremonies and in so great number as they coulde scarce accoumpt them To the Captaines and Noblemen they gave trophees and markes of honour according to their enterprises and valor imployed in the warres and governements for this effect they had armes and particular blasons They carried these markes or blazons to the place where hee desired to be buried or burnt marching before the body and accompanying it as it were in procession where the priests and officers of the Temple went with diverse furnitures and ornaments some casting incense others singing and some sounding of mournefull flutes and drummes which did much increase the sorrow of his kinsfolkes and subiects The priest who did the office was decked with the markes of the idoll which the noble man had represented for all noble men did represent idolles and carried the name of some one and for this occasion they were esteemed and honoured The order of knighthoode did commonly carry these foresaide markes He that should be burnt being brought to the place appoynted they
and then they did glut and defile themselves like to the Moores This sacrifice was most fit for them to withstand their enemies gods and although at this day a great part of these customes have ceased the wars being ended yet remaines there some relikes by reason of the private or generall quarrels of the Indians or the Caciques or in their Citties They did likewise offer and sacrifice shelles of the sea which they call Mollo and they offered them to the fountaines and springs saying that these shells were daughters of the sea the mother of all waters They gave vnto these shells sundrie names according to the color and also they vse them to divers ends They vsed them in a maner in all kinde of sacrifices and yet to this day they put beaten shells in their Chica for a superstition Finally they thought it convenient to offer sacrifices of every thing they did sow or raise vp There were Indians appointed to doe these sacrifices to the fountaine springs and rivers which passed through the townes or by their Chacras which are their farmes which they did after seede â—ime that they might not cease running but alwaies water their groundes The sorcerers did coniure to know what time the sacrifices should be made which being ended they did gather of the contribution of the people what should be sacrificed and delivered them to such as had the charge of these sacrifices They made them in the beginning of winter at such time as the fountaines springs and rivers did increase by the moistures of the weather which they did attribute to their sacrifices They did not sacrifice to the fountaines and springs of the desarts To this day continues the respect they had to fountaines springs pooles brookes or rivers which passe by their Citties or Chacras even vnto the fountaines and rivers of the desarts They have a speciall regard and reverence to the meeting of two rivers and there they wash themselves for their health anointing themselves first with the flower of Mays or some other things adding therevnto divers ceremonies the which they do likewise in their bathes Of the Sacrifices they made of men CHAP. 19. THe most pittifull disaster of this poore people is their slavery vnto the Devill sacrificing men vnto him which are the Images of God In many nations they had vsed to kill to accompany the dead as hath beene declared such persons as had been agreeable vnto him and whome they imagined might best serve him in the other world Besides this they vsed in Peru to sacrifice yong children of foure or six yeares old vnto tenne and the greatest parte of these sacrifices were for the affaires that did import the Ingua as in sickenes for his health and when he went to the warres for victory or when they gave the wreathe to their new Ingua which is the marke of a King as heere the Scepter and the Crowne be In this solemnitie they sacrificed the number of two hundred children from foure to ten yeares of age which was a cruell and inhumane spectacle The manner of the sacrifice was to drowne them and bury them with certaine representations and ceremonies sometimes they cutte off their heads annointing themselves with the blood from one eare to an other They did likewise sacrifice Virgines some of them that were brought to the Ingua from the monasteries as hath beene saide In this case there was a very great and generall abuse If any Indian qualified or of the common sorte were sicke and that the Divine tolde him confidently that he should die they did then sacrifice his owne sonne to the Sunne or to Virachoca desiring them to be satisfied with him and that they would not deprive the father of life This cruelty is like to that the holy Scripture speakes of which king Moab vsed in sacrificing his first borne sonne vpon the wall in the sight of all Israel to whome this act seemed so mournfull as they would not presse him any further but returned to their houses The holy Scripture also shewes that the like kinde of sacrifice had beene in vse amongst the barbarous nations of the Cananeans and Iebuseans and others whereof the booke of Wisedome speakes They call it peace to live in so great miseries and vexations as to sacrifice their owne children or to doe other hidden sacrifices as to watch whole nights doing the actes of fooles and so they keepe no cleanenesse in their life nor in their marriages but one through envy takes away the life of an other an other takes away his wife and his contentment and all is in confusion blood murther theft deceipt corruption infidelitie seditions periuries mutinies forgetfulnesse of God pollution of soules change of sexes and birth inconstancie of marriages and the disorder of adultery and filthinesse for idolatry is the sincke of all miseries The Wise man speaketh this of those people of whome David complaines that the people of Israel had learned those customes even to sacrifice their sonnes and daughters to the divell the which was never pleasing nor agreeable vnto God For as hee is the Authour of life and hath made all these things for the commoditie and good of man so is hee not pleased that men should take the lives one from another although the Lord did approove and accept the willingnesse of the faithfull patriarke Abraham yet did hee not consent to the deede which was to cut off the head of his sonne wherein wee see the malice and tyranny of the divell who would be herein as God taking pleasure to be worshipt with the effusion of mans blood procuring by this meanes the ruine of soule and body together for the deadly hatred he beareth to man as his cruell enemy Of the horrible sacrifices of men which the Mexicaines vsed CHAP. 20. ALthough they of Peru have surpassed the Mexicaines in the slaughter and sacrifice of their children for I have not read nor vnderstood that the Mexicaines vsed any such sacrifices yet they of Mexico have exceeded them yea all the nations of the worlde in the great number of men which they had sacrificed and in the horrible maner thereof And to the end we may see the great miserie wherein the Divell holdes this blind Nation I will relate particularly the custome and inhumane maner which they have observed First the men they did sacrifice were taken in the warres neyther did they vse these solemne sacrifices but of Captives so as it seemes therein they have followed the custome of the Ancients For as some Authors say they called the sacrifice Victima for this reason because it was of a conquered thing they also called it Hostia quasi ab hoste for that it was an offering made of their enemies although they have applied this word to all kindes of sacrifices In truth the Mexicaines did not sacrifice any to their idolls but Captives and the ordinarie warres they made was onely to have Captives for their sacrifices and therefore when they
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
not dissemble nor hide their offences By this meanes they all demanded no other thing of their god but to have their offences concealed powring foorth many teares with great repentaunce and sorrow offering great store of incense to appease their gods The couragious and valiant men and all the olde souldiers that followed the Arte of Warre hearing this flute demaunded with great devotion of God the Creator of the Lorde for whome wee live of the sunne and of other their gods that they would give them victorie against their ennemies and strength to take many captives therewith to honour their sacrifices This ceremonie was doone ten dayes before the feast During which tenne dayes the Priest did sound this flute to the end that all might do this worship in eating of earth and demaund of their idol what they pleased they every day made their praiers with their eyes lift vp to heaven and with sighs and groanings as men that were grieved for their sinnes and offences Although this contrition was onelie for feare of the corporal punishment that was given them and not for any feare of the eternall for they certainely beleeved there was no such severe punishment in the other life And therefore they offered themselves voluntarily to death holding opinion that it is to all men an assured rest The first day of the feast of this idoll TeZcalipuca being come all they of the Citty assembled together in a court to celebrate likewise the feast of the Kalender whereof wee have already spoken which was called Toxcoalth which signifies a drie thing which feast was not made to any other end but to demaund raine in the same manner that we solemnise the Rogations and this feast was alwayes in Maie which is the time that they have most neede of raine in those countries They beganne to celebrate it the ninth of Maie ending the nineteenth The last day of the feast the Priestes drew foorth a litter well furnished with curtins and pendants of diverse fashions This litter had so many armes to holde by as there were ministers to carry it All which came forth besmeered with blacke and long haire halfe in tresses with white strings and attyred in the livery of the idoll Vpon this litter they set the personage of the idoll appoynted for this feast which they called the resemblance of their God TeZcalipâ—â—â— and taking it vpon their shoulders they broght it openly to the foote of the staires then came forth the yong men and maidens of the Temple carrying a great cord wreathed of chaines of roasted mays with the which they invironed the Litter putting a chaine of the same about the idolles necke and a garland vppon his head They called the cord Toxcalt signifying the drought and barrennesse of the time The yoong men came wrapped in redde curtines with garlands and chains of roasted mays The maides were clothed in new garments wearing chaines about their neckes of roasted mays and vpon their heads myters made of rods covered with this mays they had their feete covered with feathers and their armes and cheekes painted They brought much of this roasted mays and the chiefe men put it vpon their heads and about their neckes taking flowers in their handes The idoll beeing placed in his litter they strewd round about a great quantitie of the boughes of Manguey the leaves whereof are large and pricking This litter being set vpon the religious mens-shoulders they carryed it in procession within the circuite of the Court twoo Priests marching before with censors giving often incense to the idoll and every time they gave incense they lifted vp their armes as high as they could to the idoll and to the Sunne saying that they lifted vp their praiers to heaven even as the smoke ascended on high Then all the people in the Court turned round to the place whither the idoll went every one carrying in his hand new cords of the threed of manguey a fadome long with a knotte at the end and with them they whipped themselves vppon the shoulders even as they doe heere vppon holy Thurseday All the walles of the Court and battlements were full of boughs and flowers so fresh and pleasaunt as it did give a great contentment This procession being ended they brought the idoll to his vsual place of abode then came a great multitude of people with flowres dressed in diverse sortes wherewith they filled the temple and all the court so as it seemed the ornament of an Oratory All this was putte in order by the priests the yoong men administring these things vnto them from without The chappell or chamber where the idoll remayned was all this day open without any vaile This done every one came and offered curtines and pendants of Sandally precious stones iewells insence sweete wood grapes or eares of Mays quailes and finally all they were accustomed to offer in such solemnities Whenas they offered quailes which was the poore mans offering they vsed this ceremonie they delivered them to the priestes who taking them pulled off their heads and cast them at the foote of the Altare where they lost their bloud and so they did of all other things which were offered Every one did offer meate and fruite according to their power the which was laid at the foote of the altar and the Ministers gathered them vp and carried them to their chambers This solemne offering done the people went to dinner every one to his village or house leaving the feast suspended vntill after dinner In the meane time the yong men and maidens of the temple with their ornaments were busied to serve the idoll with all that was appointed for him to eate which meate was prepared by other women who had made a vow that day to serve the idoll And therefore such as had made this vow came by the point of day offering themselves to the Deputies of the Temple that they might command them what they would have done the which they did carefully performe They did prepare such varietie of meates as it was admirable This meate being ready and the houre of dinner come all these virgins went out of the Temple in procession every one carrying a little basket of bread in her hand and in the other a dish of these meates before them marched an old man like to a steward with a pleasant habite he was clothed in a white surples downe to the calves of his legges vpon a dublet without sleeves of red leather like to a iacket hee carried wings insteede of sleeves from the which hung broade ribbands at the which did hang a small Calibasse or pumpion which was covered with flowers by little holes that were made in it and within it were many superstitious things This old man thus attyred marched very humbly and heavily before the preparation with his head declining and comming neere the foote of the staires he made a great obeisance and reverence Then going on the one side the virgins drew neere with the meate
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
remained discontented and vexed therewith so as to make shew of the hatred they had conceived against them they say that they changed their maner of life and their language At the least it is most certaine that the Meâ—hovacans have been alwaies enemies to the Mexicaines and therefore they came to congratulate the Marquise De Valle after his victory obtained when he had conquered Mexico Of that which happened in Malinalco Tula and in Chapultepec CHAP. 5. FRom Mechovacan to Mexico are above fifty leagues and vpon the way is Malinalco where it happened that complaining to their idoll of a woman that was a notable witch which came in their company carrying the name of their sister to their god for that with her wicked artes she did them much harme pretending by certaine meanes to be worshipped of them as their goddesse the idoll spake in a dreame to one of those old men that carried the arke commaunding him to comfort the people making them new and great promises and that they should leave this his sister with her family being cruell and bad raising their campe at mid-night in great silence leaving no shew what way they passed So they did and the witch remaining alone with her family in this sort peopled a towne which they call Malinalco the inhabitants whereof are held for great sorcerers being issued from such a mother The Mexicaines for that they were greatly diminished by these divisions and by the number of sicke wearied persons which they had left behind meant to repaire themselves and to stay in a place called Tula which signifies a place of reedes There their idoll commanded them to stoppe a great river that it might cover a great plaine and by the meanes he taught them they did inviron a little hill called Coatepec making a great lake the which they did plant â—ound about with willows elmes sapines and other trees There beganne to breede much fish and many birdes came thither so as it became a very pleasant place The scituation of this place seeming pleasant vnto them and being wearied with travell many talked of peopling there and to passe no farther wherewith the divell was much displeased threatning the priests with death commanding them to returne the river to hir course saying that he would that night chastise those which had beene disobedient as they had deserved And as to do ill is proper to the Divell and that the divine Iustice doth often suffer such to be delivered into the hands of such a tormentor that choose him for their god It chanced that about mid-night they heard a great noise in one part of the campe and in the morning going thither they found those dead that had talked of staying there The maner of their death was that their stomackes were opened and their hearts pulled out And by that meanes this good god taught these poore miserable creatures the kindes of sacrifices that pleased him which was in opening the stomacke to pull out the heart as they have since practised in their horrible sacrifices Seeing this punishment and that the plaine was dried the lake being emptied they asked counsell of their god what to doe who commanded them to passe on the which they did by little and little vntill they came to Chapultepec a league from Mexico famous for the pleasantnes thereof They did fortisie themselves in these mountaines fearing the Nations which inhabited that Country the which were opposite vnto them especially for that one named Copill sonne to this sorceresse left in Malinalco had blamed and spoken ill of the Mexicaines for this Copill by the commandement of his mother awhile after followed the Mexicaines course labouring to incense the Tapanecas and other neighbours against them even vnto the Chalcas so as they came with a strong army to destroy the Mexicaines Copill in the meane space stoode vpon a little hill in the middest of a lake called Acopilco attending the destruction of his enemies and they by the advise of their idoll went against him tooke him suddenly and slew him carrying his heart to their god who commanded them to cast it into the lake faining that thereof did grow a plant called Tunal where since Mexico was built They came to fight with the Chalcas and other Nations having chosen for their Captaine a valiant man called Vitzilonilti who in an incounter was taken and slaine by the enemies But for all this they were not discouraged but fought valiantly and in dispight of their enemies they brake the squadrons and carrying their aged their women and yong children in the midst of their battaile they passed on to Atlacuyavaya a towne of the Culhuans whom they found solemnising of a feast in which place they fortified The Chalcas nor the other Nations did not follow them but grieved to be defeated by so small a number of men they being in so great multitudes retyred to their townes Of the Warres the Mexicaines had against them of Culhuacan CHAP. 6. THe Mexicaines by the advise of their idoll sent their messengers to the Lord oâ— Culhuacan to demand a place to dwell in who after he had imparted it to his people granted them the place of Ticaapan which signifies white waters to the end they should all perish there being full of vipers snakes and other venomous beasts which bred in a hill neere adioyning But being perswaded and taught by their divell they accepted willingly what was offered and by their divelish art tamed these beastes so as they did them no harme yea they vsed them as meat eating them with delight and appetite The which the Lord of Culhuacan seeing that they had tilled and sowed the land he resolved to receive them into the Cittie and to contract amity with them But the god whom the Mexicaines did worship as he is accustomed to do no good but ill said vnto his priestâ— that this was not the place where he would have them stay and that they must go forth making warres Therefore they must seeke forth a woman and name her the goddesse of Discord Wherevpon they resolved to send to the King of Culhuacan to demand his daughter to be Queene of the Mexicaines and mother to their god who received this Ambassage willingly sending his daughter presently gorgeously attyred and well accompanied The same night she arrived by order of the murtherer whome they worshipped they killed her cruelly and having flâ—aâ—d her artificially as they could do they did clothe a yong man with her skinne and therevpon her apparrell placing him neere their idoll dedicating him forâ— goddesse and the mother of their god and ever after did worship it making an idoll which they called Toâ—cy which is to say our grandmother Not content with this crueltie they did maliciously invite the King of Culhuacan the father of the yong maid to come and worshippe his daughter who was now consecrated â— goddesse who comming with great presents and well accompanied with his people he was led
bee lookers on of what should passe and that for their maintenance they would not stoppe nor hinder the comerce as the Tapanecans had done At these speeches they of Tescuco and Culhuacan made them great shewes of good will and that they were well satisfied offâ—ing them their citties and all the commerce they desired that they might provide vittaile and munition at their pleasure both by land water After this the Mexicanes intreated them to stay with them and assist at the election of their King the which they likewise granted to give them contentment Of the fourth King called Izcoalt and of the warre against the Tapanecans CHAP. 12. THe Electors being assembled an old man that was held for a great Orator rose vp who as the histories report spake in this manner The light of your eyes O Mâ—xicaines is darkened but not of your hearts for although you have lost him that was the light and guide of the Mexicaine Common-weale yet that of the heart remaines to consider that although they have slaine one man yet there are others that may supply with advantage the want we have of him the Mexicaine Nobilitie is not extinguished thereby nor the blood royall decaied Turne your eyes and looke about you you shall see the Nobilitie of Mexico set in order not one nor two but many and excellent Princes sonnes to Acamapixtli our true and lawfull King and Lord. Heere you may choose at your pleasure saying I will this man and not that If you have lost a father heere you may finde both father and mother make account O Mexicaines that the Sunne is eclipsed and darkened for a time and will returne suddenly If Mexico hath beene darkened by the death of your King the Sun will soone shew in choosing another King Looke to whom and vpon whom you shall cast your eyes and towards whom your heart is inclined and this is hee whoâ— your god Vitzliputzli hath chosen And continuing a while this discourse he ended to the satisfaction of all men In the end by the consent of this Counsell Izcoalt was chosen King which signifies a snake of rasors who was sonne to the first King Acamapixtli by a slave of his and although he were not legitimate yet they made choyce of him for that he exceeded the rest in behaviour valour and magnanimitie of courage All seemed very well satisfied and above all these of Tescuco for their king was mâ—rried to a sister of Iscoalts After the King had beene crowned and set in his royall seat another Orator stept vp discoursing how the king was bound to his Common-weale and of the courage he ought to shew in travell speaking thus Bâ—hold this day we depend on thee it may be thou wilt let fall the burthen that lies vpon thy souldiers and suffer the old man and woman the orphlin and the widowe to perish Take pittie of the infants that go creeping in the ayre who must perish if our enemies surmount vs vnfold then and stretch forth thy cloake my Lord to beare these infants vpon thy shoulders which be the poore and the common people who live assured vnder the shadowe of thy wings and of thy bountie Vttering many other words vpon this subiect the which as I have said they learne by heart for the exercise of their children and after did teach them as a lesson to those that beganne to learne the facultie of Orators In the meane time the Tapanecans were resolute to destroy the Mexicaines and to this end they had made great preparations And therefore the new King tooke counsell for the proclaiming of warre and to fight with those that had so much wronged them But the common people seeing their adversaries to exceede them farre in numbers and munition for the warre they came amazed to their King pressing him not to vndertake so dangerous a warre which would destroy their poore Cittie and Nation wherevpon being demaunded what advise were fittest to take they made answer that the King of AzcapuZalco was very pittifull that they should demand peace and offer to serve him drawing them forth those marshes and that he should give them houses and lands among his subiects that by this meanes they might depend all vppon one Lord. And for the obtaining heereof they should carry their god in his litter for an intercessor The cries of the people were of such force having some Nobles that approved their opinion as presently they called for the Priests preparing the litter and their god to performe the voyage As this was preparing and every one yeelded to this treatie of peace and to subiect themselves to the Tapanecans a gallant yong man and of good sort stept out among the people who with a resolute countenance spake thus vnto them What meanâ—s this O yee Mexicaines are yee mad How hath so great cowardise crept in among vs Shall we go and yeeld our selves thus to the Azcapuzalcans Then turning to the King he said How now my Lord will you endure this Speake to the people that they may suffer vs to finde out some meanes for our honour and defence and not to yeelde our selves so simply and shamefully into the hands of our enemies This yong man was called Tlacaellec nephew to the King he was the most valiant Captaine and greatest Counsellor that ever the Mexicaines had as you shall see heereafter Izcoalt incouraged by that his nephew had so wisely spoken retained the people saying they should first suffer him to try another better meanes Then turning towards his Nobilitie he said vnto them You are all heere my kinsmen and the best of Mexico hee that hath the courage to carrie a message to the Tapanecans let him rise vp They looked one vpon another but no man stirred nor offered himselfe to the word Then this yong man Tlacaellec rising offered himselfe to go saying that seeing he must die it did import little whether it were to day or to morrow for what reason should he so carefully preserve himselfe he was therefore readie let him command what he pleased And although all held this for a rash attempt yet the King resolvâ—d to send him that he might thereon vnderstand the will and disposition of the King of Azcapuzalco and of his people holding it better to hasten his nephâ—ws death then to hazard the honour of his Comâ—on-weale Tlacaelies being ready tooke his way and being come to the guards who had commandement to kill any Mexicaines that came towards them by cunning or otherwise he pâ—rswaded them to suffer him to passe to the king who wondered to see him and hearing his ambassage which was to demand peace of him vnder honâ—st conditions answered that hee would impart it to his subiects willing him to returne the next day for his answer then Tlacaâ—llec demanded a pasport yet could he not obtaine any but that he should vse his best skill With this he returned to Mexico giving his words to the guards to returne And although the King
subdued the city of Cuitlavaca with children the news and consideration whereof opened the eyes of those of Tescâ—co a chiefe and very cunning Nation for their manner of life So as the king of Tescuco was first of opinion that they should subiect themselves to the king of Mexico and invite him therevnto with his cittie Therefore by the advise of his Counsell they sent Ambassadors good Orators with honorable presents to offer themselves vnto the Mexicans as their subiects desiring peace and amitie which was gratiously accepted but by the advise of Tlacaellec he vsed a ceremony for the effecting thereof which was that those of Tescuco should come forth armed against the Mexicans where they should fight and presently yeelde which was an act and ceremony of warre without any effusion of bloud on either side Thus the king of Mexico became soveraigne Lord of Tescuco but hee tooke not their king from them but made him of his privie counsell so as they have alwayes maintained themselves in this manner vntill the time of Motecuma the second during whose raigne the Spaniards entred Having subdued the land and citty of Tescuco Mexico remained Lady and Mistris of all the landes and citties about the Lake where it is built Izcoalt having enioyed this prosperitie and raigned twelve yeeres died leaving the realme which had beene given him much augmented by the valour and counsell of his nephew Tlacaellec as hath afore beene saide who held it best to choose an other king then himselfe as shall heereafter be shewed Of the fift King of Mexico called Moteçuma the first of that name CHAP. 16. FOrasmuch as the election of the new King belonged to foure chiefe Electors as hath been said and to the King of Tescuco and the King of Tacubu by especiall priviledge Tlacaellec assembled these six personages as he that had the soveraigne authoritie and having propounded the matter vnto them they made choise of Moteçuma the first of that name nephew to the same Tlacaellec His election was very pleasing to them all by reason whereof they made most solemne feasts and more stately then the former Presently after his election they conducted him to the Temple with a great traine where before the divine harth as they call it where there is continuall fire they set him in his royall throne putting vpon him his royall ornaments Being there the King drew blood from his eares and legges with a griffons tallents which was the sacrifice wherein the divell delighted to be honoured The Priests Antients and Captaines made their orations all congratulating his election They were accustomed in their elections to make great feasts and dances where they wasted many lightes In this Kings time the custome was brought in that the King should go in person to make warre in some province and bring captives to solemnize the feast of his coronation and for the solemne sacrifices of that day For this cause King Moteçuma went into the province of Chalco who had declared themselves his enemies from whence having fought valiantly he brought a great number of captives whereof he did make a notable sacrifice the day of his coronation although at that time he did not subdue all the province of Chalco being a very warlike nation Many came to this coronation from divers provinces as well neere as farre off to see the feast at the which all commers were very bountifully entertained and clad especially the poore to whom they gave new garments For this cause they brought that day into the Cittie the Kings tributes with a goodly order which consisted in stuffes to make garments of all sorts in Cacao gold silver rich feathers great burthens of cotten cucumbers sundry sortes of pulses many kindes of sea fish and of the fresh water great store of fruites and venison without number not reckoning an infinite number of presents which other kings and Lords sent to the new king All this tribute marched in order according to the provinces and before them the stewards and receivers with divers markes and ensignes in very goodly order so as it was one of the goodliest things of the feast to see the entry of the tribute The King being crowned he imploied himselfe in the conquest of many provinces and for that he was both valiant and vertuous hee still increased more and moâ—e vsing in all his affaires the counsell and industry of his generall Tlacaellec whom he did alwaies love and esteeme very much as hee had good reason The warre wherein hee was most troubled and of greatest difficultie was that of the province of Chalco wherein there happened great matters whereof one was very remarkable which was that they of Chalcas had taken a brother of Moteçumaâ—s in the warres whome they resolved to choose for their king asking him very curteously if he would accept of this charge He answered after much importunity still persisting therein that if they meant plainely to choose him for their king they should plant in the market place a tree or very high stake on the toppe whereof they should make a little scaffold and meanes to mount vnto it The Chalcas supposing it had beene some ceremony to make himselfe more apparent presently effected it then assembling all his Mexicaines about the stake he went to the toppe with a garland of flowers in his hand speaking to his men in this maner O valiant Mexicaines these men will choose mee for their King but the gods will not permit that to be a King I should committee any treason against my countrie but contrariwise I wil that you learne by me that it behoveth vs rather to indure death then to ayde our enemies Saying these words he cast himselfe downe and was broken in a thousand peeces at which spectacle the Chalcas had so great horror and dispits that presently they fell vpon the Mexicaines and slew them all with their launces as men whom they held too prowde and inexorable saying they had divelish hearts It chanced the night following they heard two owles making a mornefull cry which they did interpret as an vnfortunate signe and a presage of their neere destruction as it succeeded for King Moteçuma went against them in person with all his power where he vanquished them and ruined all their kingdome and passing beyond the mountaine Meâ—ade hee conquered still even vnto the North sea Then returning towards the South sea hee subdued many provinces so as he became a mighty King all by the helpe and counsell of Tlacaellec who in a manner conquered all the Mexicaine nation Yet hee held an opinion the which was confirmed that it was not behoovefull to conquer the province of Tlascalla that the Mexicaines might have a fronter enemy to keepe the youth of Mexico in exercise and allarme and that they might have numbers of captives to sacrifice to their idols wherein they did waste as hath beene said infinite numbers of men which should bee taken by force in the warres The honour must be given to
Moteçuma or to speake truly to Tlacaellec his Generall for the good order and policy setled in the realme of Mexico as also for the counsells and goodly enterprises which they did execute and likewise for the numbers of Iudges and Magistrates being as well ordered there as in any common-weale yea were it in the most flourishing of Europe This King did also greatly increase the Kings house giving it great authoritie and appointing many and sundry officers which served him with great pompe and ceremony Hee was no lesse remarkable touching the devotion and service of his idolls increasing the number of his Ministers and instituting new ceremonies wherevnto hee carried a great respect Hee built that great temple dedicated to their god Vitziliputzli whereof is spoken in the other booke He did sacrifice at the dedication of this temple a great number of men taken in sundry victories finally inioying his Empire in great prosperitie hee fell sicke and died having raigned twenty eight yeares 〈◊〉 to his successor Ticociâ— who did not resemble him neither in valour nor in good fortune How Tlacaellec refused to be King and of the election and deedes of Ticocic CHAP. 17. THE foure Deputies assembled in counsell with the lords of Tcscucâ— Tacuba where Tlacaellec was President in the election where by all their voices Tlacaellec was chosen as deserving this charge better then any other Yet he refused it perswading them by pertinent reasons that they shuld choose another saying that it was better and more expedient to have another king and he to be his instrument and assistant as hee had beene till then and not to lay the whole burthen vpon him for that he held himselfe no lesse bound for the Common-weale then if hee were king It is a rare thing to refuse principalitie and commaund and to indure the paine and the care and not to reape the honour There are few that will yeeld vp the power and authority which they may hold were it profitable to the common-weale This Barbarian did heerein exceed the wisest amongst the Greekes and Romans and it may be a lesson to Alexander and Iulius Caesar whereof the one held it little to command the whole world putting his most deere and faithfull servants to death vpon some small iealosies of rule and empire and the other declared himselfe enemy to his country saying that if it were lawfull to do any thing against law and reason it was for a kingdome such is the thirst and desire of commaund Although this acte of Tlacaelâ—eâ—â— might well proceede from too great a confidence of himselfe seeming to him though he were not king yet in a maner that he commanded kings suffering him to carry certaine markes as a Tiara or ornament for the head which belonged onely to themselves Yet this act deserves greater commendation and to be well considered of in that he held opinion to be better able to serve his Common-weale as a subiect then being a soveraigne Lord. And as in a comedie he deserves most commendation that represents the personage that importes most bee it of a sheepheard or a peasant and leaves the King or Captaine to him that can performe it So in good Philosophy men ought to have a special regard to the common good and apply themselves to that office and place which they best vnderstand But this philosophie is farre from that which is practised at this day But let vs returne to our discourse and say that in recompence of his modestie and for the respect which the Mexicaine Electors bare him they demanded of Tlacaellec that seeing hee would not raigne whom he thought most fit Wherevpon hee gave his voice to a sonne of the deceased king who was then very yong called Ticocic but they replied that his shoulders were very weake to beare so heavy a burthen Tlacaellec answered that his were there to helpe him to beare the burthen as he had done to the deceased by meanes whereof they tooke their resolution and Ticoâ—ic was chosen to whom were done all the accustomed ceremonies They pierced his nosthrils and for an ornament put an Emerald therein and for this reason in the Mexicane bookes this king is noted by his nosthrills pierced Hee differed much from his father and predecessor being noted for a coward and not valiant He went to make warre for his coronation in a province that was rebelled where he lost more of his own men then hee tooke captives yet he returned saying that hee brought the number of captives required for the sacrifice of his coronation and so hee was crowned with great solemnitie But the Mexicaines discontented to have a king so little disposed to warre practised to hasten his death by poison For this cause hee continued not above foure yeares in the kingdome whereby wee see that the children do not alwaies follow the blood and valour of their fathers and the greater the glorie of the predecessors hath beene the more odious is the weakenes and cowardise of such that succeed them in command and not in merit But this losse was well repaired by a brother of the deceased who was also sonne to great Moteçuma called Axayaca who was likewise chosen by the advice of Tlacacllec wherein hee happened better then before Of the death of Tlacaellec and the deedes of Axayaca the seventh King of Mexicaines CHAP. 18. NOw was Tlacaellec very old who by reason of his age he was carried in a chaire vpon mens shoulders to assist in counsell when busines required In the end hee fell sicke whenas the king who was not yet crowned did visit him often sheading many teares seeming to loose in him his father and the father of his countrie Tlacaellec did most affectionately recommend his children vnto him especially the eldest who had shewed himselfe valiant in the former warres The king promised to have regard vnto him and the more to comfort the olde man in his presence he gave him the charge and ensignes of Captaine Generall with all the preheminences of his father wherewith the olde man remained so well satisfied as with this content he ended his daies If hee had not passed to another life they might have held themselves very happy seeing that of so poore and small a cittie wherein hee was borne he established by his valour and magnanimitie so great so rich and so potent a kingdome The Mexicans made his funerall as the founder of that Empire more sumptuous and stately then they had done to any of their former kings And presently after Axayaca to appease the sorrow which all the people of Mexico shewed for the death of their captaine he resolved to make the voyage necessary for his coronation Hee therefore led his army with great expedition into the province of Tequantepec two hundred leagues from Mexico where he gave battaile to a mighty army and an infinite number of men assembled together as well out of that province as from their neighbours to oppose themselves against the Mexicans
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