estéemed, or else those that serued wéekely by turne, broughte in the
bason and ewer, wyth greate humblenesse. This done, he sate him downe,
and then came the Lord Steward, and drewe a wodden nette before him,
bycause none shoulde come nigh his table. And this noble man alone
placed the dishes, and also tooke them away, for the Pages who broughte
in the meate came not néere the table, nor yet spake any word, nor no
man else.
While the Lord _Mutezuma_ was at his meate, excepte some Iester, they
al serued him barefooted. There assisted alwayes somewhat a farre
off, sixe auntiente and noble men, vnto whome he vsed to giue of the
dish that best lyked him, who receyued the same at his hande with
greate reuerence, and eate it incontinent, without loking in his
face, whiche was the greatest humilitie that they coulde vse before
him. He had musike of Fiddle, Flute, and of a Snayle shell, and a
Caudron couered with a skinne, and suche other strange instrumentes.
They hadde very euill voyces to sing. Always at dinner time he had
Dwarfes, crookebackes, and other deformed counterfets, all for maiestie
and to laugh at, who hadde their meate in the Hall among the Iesters
and Idyots, whiche were fedde with parte of the meate that came from
_Mutezuma_ hys table, all the rest of the meate was giuen to thrée
thousand of the Guard, who attended ordinarily in the yarde or court,
and therefore they say that there was broughte for his table thrée
thousande dishes, and as manye pottes of wine, suche as they vse, and
that continually the buttrey and Pantrey stoode open, whiche was a
wonder to sée what was in them. The platters, dishes, and cuppes, were
al of earth, whereof the King was serued but once, and so frö meale to
meale new. He had likewise his seruice of golde and plate verye riche,
but he vsed not to bée serued with it, (they say) bycause he woulde not
be serued twice therewith, the whiche he thoughte a base thing. Some
affirme, that yong children were slayne and dressed in diuers kind of
dishes for _Mutezuma_ his table, but it was not so, only of mans flesh
sacrifised he fedde nowe and then. The table being taken vp, then came
againe the Gentlewomen to bring water for his hands, with the like
reuerëce as they vsed at the first, and then went they to dinner with
the other wiues, so that then the Gentlemen and Pages waited as their
course fell.
The footeplayers that played
_before Mutezuma_.
VVhen his table was taken vp, and his seruitors gone to meate,
_Mutezuma_ sate stil: then came in the suiters that hadde any
affayres to deale with him, barefoted, for all the persons did vse
that reuerence, excepte some Princes his kinsmen, as the Lordes of
_Tescuco_, and _Tlacopan_, and a fewe others: and béeing colde weather,
they vsed to weare olde ragged clothes vppon theyr riche garmentes.
Al suiters vsed to make thrée or foure curtesies, not loking toward
his face, and speaking vnto him their heads downewardes, and in that
order retyred backe agayne. _Mutezuma_ aunswered his suiters very
grauely, with lowe voyce, and in fewe words, and not to al suiters,
for others his secretaries or counsellers that stoode by, answered for
him, and hauyng their aunswere, they returned backewardes, not turning
their tayles to the prince. After these businesses done, hée vsed some
recreation, hearing Iesters or songs, wherein he delighted much, or
else to looke vpon the players, who play with their féete, as we doe
with oure handes. These haue a cudgell like vnto a pastlers rowler,
whiche they tosse high and lowe, as it were a bal in the ayre, straunge
to beholde. They vse other playes to passe the tyme, in such an order,
that it séemed maruellous to the lookers on. _Cortez_ broughte into
_Spayne_ some of these players. Also they vse _Matachines_, in suche
sorte they do play, that they stand each vppon others shoulders, and
he that standeth highest, sheweth many feates. Sometime _Mutezuma_ did
beholde the players, who played at a game called _Patoliztli_, whiche
is muche like oure Tables, and they play with beanes, squared like
dice, which they call _Patolli_, and throw them out of both their hands
vpon a matte, or else vpon the ground, where are made certaine strikes,
vpon which they set downe the chance that is throwen: and at this game
they play all that they haue, and many tymes they valew theyr owne
bodyes, and play that into captiuitie, and to remayne a slaue, I meane
such as are common gamesters of small estate.
The Tennis play in Mexico.
Sometimes _Mutezuma_ went to the Tennis Courte. Their ball is called
_Villamaliztli_, and is made of the gumme which commeth from a trée
called _Vlli_. This trée groweth in a hote Countrey. The gumme being
kneded togither, and so made roüd, is as blacke as pitch, and somewhat
heauie, and very harde for the hande, but yet good and light to
rebound, and better than our windballes. They play not at chases,
but at bädie, or at check, that is, if the ball touch the wall, it
loseth. They maye strike the ball with any part of their body, but
there is alwayes a penaltie if they only strike not with the buttoke
or side, whiche is the finest play: wherefore they vse a skynne vpon
eache buttocke. They play so many to so many for a packe of mantels,
or according to the abilitie of the players. Also they play for golde
and feathers, and sometime for their owne bodyes, as they vse at
_Patolli_, which is there permitted & lawfull. The Tennis Court is
called _Tlachco_, and is a Hall long and narrow, but wyder vpwards,
than downewardes, and higher on the sides than at y^e ends, which is an
industrie for their play. The house is always white and smooth in the
side walles: they haue certain stones like vnto mylstones, w^t a little
hole in the middest that passeth through the stone, the hole is so
small, that scarcely the ball maye passe through, but hée that chanceth
to strike the ball into the hole, whiche seldome happeneth, winneth
the game, and by an auntiente lawe and custome among Tennis players,
he ought to haue the clokes of all those that stande and beholde the
play, on that side that the ball went in, and in some Tennis Courtes,
the halfe of the garmentes of them that stande lookyng on. The winner
is then bounde to make certayne sacrifice to the God of the Tennis
play, and to the stone where the ball entred. The beholders of the play
woulde saye, that suche a wynner should be a thiefe and an adulterer,
or else that he shoulde dye quickly.
They vsed in the Temple of the Tennis play two Images of the God of
the ball, which stoode vpon the two lower walles. Their Sacrifice
was celebrated at midnighte, with many Ceremonies and Witchcraftes,
and songs for that purpose. Then came a Prieste from the Cathedrall
Churche, wyth other Religious persons to blesse the Sacrifice, saying
certayne diuelishe prayers, and throwing the ball four tymes in the
Tennis Court. In thys order was the Tennis play consecrated, and
after thys consecration it was lawfull to play, or else not, for this
dilligence was firste to be done when any Tennis Court or play was
newly built.
The owner of the Tennis Courte also woulde neuer suffer any to play,
vntill he had first offered something to the Idoll, theyr superstition
was so great.
_Mutezuma_ broughte the _Spanyardes_ to behold this pastyme, and gaue
thë to vnderstande, y^t he delyghted much in thys game, and also to sée
our men play at Cardes and Dyce.
The number of vviues that Mutezuma
_had in his house_.
_Mvtezuma_ had many houses as wel in _Mexico_ as without, for his
recreation and pleasure, as also for his ordinary dwelling. To write of
al it should be tedious, but where his continual abyding was, he named
_Tepac_, that is to say, Pallace. And that Pallace had twenty dores or
gates which had their outcomming into the cömon streates.
It hath thrée courtes, and in the one standeth a fayre fountaine, many
halles, and a hundred chambers of twentie-thrée, and thirtie foote
long, an hundered bathes & hothouses: and although the building was
without nayles, yet very good workmanship.
The walles were made of masons work, and wrought of Marble, Iaspe, and
other blacke stone, with vaines of redde, like vnto rubies and other
stones, whiche glistered very fayre: the Rooffes wer wrought of Tymber,
and curiously carued: the Timber was Cedre, Cipers, & Pynetree: the
chambers were painted and hong with cloth of cotten, and clothe made of
Conneys haire and feathers. The beddes were poore and of no vallew, for
they were nothing but Mantels layde vpon mattes, or vpon Hay, or else
mattes alone: fewe men lay within those houses.
There were a thousande women, and some affyrme y^t there were thrée
thousand, accounting gentlewomen, seruaunts and slaues: the most were
noble mens daughters, _Mutezuma_ toke of them for himselfe, those that
liked him best, and the others he gaue in mariage to Gentlemen his
seruaunts.
The saying was that he had at one tyme a hundreth & fiftie women hys
wiues with childe, who through the perswasion of the Deuill tooke
Medicines to caste theyr creatures, bycause they knewe that they
shoulde not inherite the state: these hys wiues had many olde women for
their Guarde, for no man was permitted to looke vpon them.
The shielde of armes that is sette in his pallayce, and likewyse
carried to the warres, is an Eagle soryng vpon a Tiger hys talents
bente as takyng pray. Some thynk it is a Gryphon and not an Egle. The
Gryphons in time paste, say they, did cause the vale of _Auacatlan_ to
be dispeopled, for they were greate deuourers of menne, and that theyr
abidyng was in the Mountaynes of _Teoacan_: they approue that these
Mountains were called _Cuitlachtepelt_, of _Cuitlachtli_, which is a
Gryphon bigger than a Lion: but the Spaniardes dyd neuer sée any of
them.
The _Indians_ by theyr olde Pictures doe paynt those Gryphons to haue
a kynde of heare and no feathers, and also affirme, that with theyr
talandes & téeth they breake mens bones. They haue the courage of a
Lion and the countenaunce of an Egle: they paynte him with foure féete,
and téeth, with a kinde of downe more lyke woolle than feathers, with
his beake, talandes and wings.
And in all those things the picture agreeth with our paynting and
wryting, in suche sorte that a Gryphon is no approued naturall Foule,
nor yet beast. _Plinie_ iudgeth this tale of Gryphons to be lies. There
are also other Lordes that giue the Gryphon in their armes, flying with
a harte in his Talandes.
A house of Foule, vvhiche vvere onely
_preserued for their feathers_.
_Mvtezuma_ had another house, with very good lodgings and fayre
gallaries, buylt vpö pillers of Iaspe, whiche extendeth towarde a
goodly garden, in the whiche there are ten pondes or moe, some of salte
water for sea foule, & other some of fresh water for riuer foule and
lake foule, which pondes are deuised w^t sluyses to emptie & to fill
at their pleasure for the cleannesse of the feathers. There is such
a number of foule, that scarcely the ponds may holde them, and of
suche diuers kindes bothe in feathers and makyng, as sure it was an
admiration for the Spaniardes to beholde, for the moste of them they
knew not, nor yet had at any tyme séene the lyke. And to euery kynde
of foule they gaue suche bayte as they were wont to féede of in the
fieldes or Riuers. There did belong to that house thrée hundred persons
of seruice: some were to clense the pondes: other some did fishe for
bayte: other some serued them with meate: other did loose them and
trimme theyr feathers: others had care to looke to their egges: others
to sette them abroode: others cured them when they were sicke: and the
principallest office was to plucke the feathers: for of them was made
riche Mantels, Tapissarie, Targattes, Tuffes of feathers, and many
other things wrought with Golde and Siluer: a most perfite worke.
A house of foule for havvking and other
_straunge things_.
There is another house with large quarters & lodgings, which is called
a house for foule, not bycause there are more thä in the other, but
bycause they bee bigger and to hauke withal, and are foule of rapine,
wherfore they are estéemed as more nobler than al the others.
There are in this house many high halles, in the whiche are kept men,
women and Children: in some of them are kept suche as are borne white
of colour, which doth very seldome happen: in other some are dwarfes,
crokebackes, burstenmen, counterfaites, and monstrous persons, in
greate number: they say that they vsed to deforme them when they were
children, to sette forth the kings greatnesse: euery of these persons
were in seuerall Halles by themselues.
In the lower Halles were greate Cages made of Tymber: in some of them
were Lyons, in other Tygres, in other Ownzes, in others Wolues: in
conclusion, there was no foure footed beaste that wanted there, onely
to the effect that the mightie _Mutezuma_ might say that hee had such
things in his house.
They were fed with their ordinary, as Gynea cockes, Deare, Dogges, and
such like.
There was also in other Halles great Earthen vessels, some with earth,
and some with water, wherin were snakes, as grosse as a mans thigh,
Vipers, Crocodrilles, whiche they cal _Caymanes_, or _Lizarts_ of
twenty foote long, wyth suche Scales and head as a Dragon hathe: Also
other little Lisarts, and other venemous beastes and Serpentes as well
of the water as of the land, a terrible sight for the lokers on.
There were also other Cages for foule of rapyne of all sortes, as
Hawkes, Kyghtes, Boyters, and at the least nine or ten kind of Haukes.
This house of foule had of dayly allowance fiue hundred Gynea cockes,
and thrée hundred men of seruice, besides the Falconers and Hunters,
which are infinite. There were many other sortes of Foules that our men
knowe not, which séemed by theyr beake and talents good to Hauke withal.
To the Snakes and other venemous beastes they gaue the bloude of men
sacrifised, to féede them, and some saye they gaue vnto them mannes
fleshe, whych the greate Lysarts doe eate very well. The Spaniardes saw
the floure couered with bloud like a iealy in a slaughter house, it
stonke horribly.
It was straunge to sée the officers in this house howe euery one was
occupied. Our men tooke greate pleasure in beholding suche straunge
thyngs, but they coulde not awaye wyth the roaryng of the Lyons, the
fearefull hissing of the Snakes and Adders, the dolefull howling and
barking of the Wolues, the sorowfull yelling of the Ownzes & Tigres,
when they would haue meate.
Moste certaine, in the nighte season it séemed a Dongeon of Hell, and
a dwelling place of the Deuill, and euen so it was indéede, for neare
at hande was a Hall of a hüdred & fiftie foote long, and thirtie foote
broad, where was a Chappel with the Roofe of siluer and gold in leafe
Wainescotted, and decked with greate store of pearle and stone, as
Agattes, Cornerines, Emeraldes, Rubies, and diuerse other sortes, and
thys was the Oratory where _Mutezuma_ prayed in the nighte season, and
in that chappell the Diuell did appeare vnto hym, and gaue him answere
accordyng to his prayers.
He had other houses lyke vnto Barnes, onely for the feathers of foules,
and for mantels whiche procéeded of his rentes and tributes, a thing
muche to be séene: vpon the dores was sette his armes, whiche was a
Connie.
Here dwelled the chiefe officers of his house, as Tresorer, Controller,
Receyuers and other officers appertainyng to the Kings reuenewes.
_Mutezuma_ had no house wherein was not an oratory for the Deuill,
whome they worshipped for the Iewels there. And therefore those houses
were great and large.
The Armory of Mutezuma.
_Mvtezuma_ had some houses of Armour, vpon the dores wherof stoode
a bow and arrowes. In these houses was greate store of all kinde of
munition whiche they vse in their wars: as Bowes, Arrowes, Slings,
Launces, Dartes, Clubbes, Swordes and Bucklers, and gallant Targettes
more trimme than strong, Skulles and Splintes, but not many, and al
made of woodde, gilte or couered with leather. The woodde whereof they
make their Armour and Targettes, is very harde and strong, for they
vse to toaste it at the fire, and at their arrowe endes they inclose
a litle péece of flinte stone, or a péece of a fishe bone called
_Libisa_, and that is venemous, for if any bée hurte therewith and
the head remayne in the wounde, it so festereth, that it is almost
incurable.
Theyr swordes are of woodde, and the edge thereof is flint stone,
inclosed or ioyned into a staffe, with a certaine kynde of glew whiche
is made of a roote called _Zacole_ and _Teuxalli_, whiche is a kinde
of strong sande, whereof they make a mixture, and after kneade it
with bloud of Battes or Rearemice and other foule, which doth glewe
maruelous strong, and lightly neuer vncleaueth: of this stuffe they
make nayles, pearcers, & ogars, wherwith they bore timber & stone:
with theyr swordes they cut speares, yea and a horse necke at a blowe,
and make dentes into iron, whiche séemeth a thing vnpossible and
incredible. In the Citie no man may weare weapon, but onely in warres,
huntyng, and among the kings Guarde.
The Gardens of Mutezuma.
Besides the foresayde houses hée had many others for hys onely
recreation and passetyme, with excellent fayre gardens of medicinall
hearbes, swéete floures, and trées of delectable sauour, whiche were
many, and a thing to gyue prayse to God the maker and creator of all.
In that Garden were a thousande personages, made and wrought
artificially of leaues and flowers. _Mutezuma_ woulde not permitte that
in this Garden shoulde be any kynde of potte Hearbes, or thyngs to be
solde, saying, that it dyd not appertayne to Kings to haue thyngs of
profite among theyr delytes and pleasures, for suche thyngs (sayde hée)
dyd appertayne to Merchants.
Yet notwithstanding he had Orchards with many and sundry fruites,
but they stoode farre from the Cittie, and whyther seldome times hee
wente: he had likewise out of _Mexico_ pleasaunte houses in wooddes
and forrestes, of greate compasse, enuyroned with water, in the which
he hadde fountaynes, riuers, pondes with fishe, warrantes of Conneys,
rockes & couert where were Harts, Buckes, Hares, Foxes, Wolues, and
such like, with wildernesse for euery sort.
To these places the Lords of _Mexico_, vsed to goe and sporte
themselues, suche and so manye were the houses of _Mutezuma_, wherein
fewe Kings were equall with him.
The court and Guarde of
_Mutezuma_.
He had dayly attending vppon hym in hys priuye garde sixe hundred noble
men and gentlemen, and eche of them thrée or foure seruants, and some
hadde twenty seruaunts or moe, according to his estate: and in this
maner he had thrée thousand men attendant in his court, and some affirm
more, al the which were fed in his house of the meate that came from
his table.
The seruing men alwayes abode belowe in the court all the daye, and
wente not from thence tyll after Supper.
It is to be thought that his Guard was the greater, bycause the
straungers were there, although in effecte of troth it is most
certayne, that all the Lords that are vnder the _Mexicall_ Empire (as
they say) are thirtie persons of high estate, who are able to make each
of them a hundred thousand men. There are thrée thousand Lordes of
Townes, who haue many vassals.
These noble menne did abide in _Mexico_ certayne tyme of the yeare,
in the Court of _Mutezuma_, and could not departe from thence without
especiall licence of the Emperoure, leauing each of them a sonne or
brother behinde them for securitie or Rebellion, and for this cause
they had generally houses in the Citie: such and so great was the court
of _Mutezuma_.
The great subiection of the Indians
_to their King_.
There is not in all the dominions of _Mutezuma_ any subiect that payeth
not tribute vnto him. The noblemen paye theyr tribute in personall
seruice. The husbädmen called _Maceualtin_, with body & goodes. In this
sort they are eyther tenauntes, or else heyres to their possessions.
Those which are heyres, do pay one third part of all their fruite and
commoditie that they doe reape or bring vp, as Dogges, Hennes, Foule,
Conyes, Gold, Siluer, Stones, Salt, Waxe, Honey, Mantels, Feathers,
Cotten, and a certayne fruite called _Cacao_, that serueth for money,
and also to eate. Also all kinde of grayne, and garden Herbes and
fruites, whereof they do maynteyne themselues.
The Tenantes doe paye monethly or yearely as they can agrée, and
bycause their tribute is greate, they are called slaues, for when
they maye haue licence to eate egges, they thinke it a greate fauour.
It was reported that they were taxed what they shoulde eate, and all
the residue was taken from them. They went very poorely clothed, yea
and the most of their treasure was an earthë potte, wherein they
boyled theyr herbes, a couple of Milstones to grinde their Corne, and
a matte to lye vppon. They did not onely pay this rente and tribute,
but also serued with their bodyes at all times when the great King
should commaunde. They were in such great subiectiö to their prince,
that they durst not speake one word, although their daughters shoulde
be taken from them to be vsed at their pleasure. It was reported, that
of euerye thrée sonnes, they deliuered one to be sacrifised, but y^e
report was false, for if it had bin true, the Townes had not bin so
replenished with people as they were: and also the noble men did not
eate mans flesh, but only of those whiche were sacrifised, and they
were slaues or prisoners taken in the warres. Assuredly they were
cruell butchers, and slewe yearely for that bloudy sacrifice many
menne, and some children, but not so many as was reported. All the
aforesayde rentes they brought to _Mexico_ vpon theyr backes and in
boates, I meane so much as was necessary for the prouision of the house
and Courte of _Mutezuma_, all the residue was spente among souldyers,
and bartred for golde, plate, precious stones, and other riche Iewels,
estéemed of Princes, all the whiche was broughte to the treasory. In
_Mexico_ was large and greate barnes and houses to receyue and kéepe
the Corne for prouision of the Citie, with officers and vnderofficers,
who did receyue the same, and kepte accompte thereof in bookes of
paynted figures. Also in euerye Towne was a receyuer, who bare in his
hand a rodde or a bushe of feathers, and those gaue vp their accomptes
in _Mexico_. If any such had bin taken with deceypt and falsehoode,
death was his reward, yea and his kinred punished with penalties, as of
a lignage of a Traytor to his Prince. The Husbandmenne, if they payd
not well their tribute, were apprehended for the same, and if they were
founde to bée poore through sicknesse and infirmitie, then they were
borne withall, but if they were found to be lazie and slouthfull, they
should be vsed accordingly: but in conclusion, if they payde if not at
a daye appoynted, then they shoulde bée solde for slaues to pay their
dette, or else be sacrificed.
There were many other prouinces, whiche paid a certayne portion, and
reknowledged seruice, but this tribute was more of honor than profite.
In this sort _Mutezuma_ had more than sufficiente to prouide his house
& warres, and to heape vp greate store in his treasory. Moreouer, he
spente nothing in the buildings of his houses, for of long time he
had certayne townes that payd no other tribute, but only to worke and
repayre continually his houses at their owne proper cost, and payde all
kind of workemen, carrying vpon their backes, or drawing in sleddes,
stone, lyme, timber, water, and all other necessaries for the worke.
Likewise they were bounde to prouide all the fierwod that should be
spent in the Court, whiche was a great thing, and did amount to 230.
hüdred waight a day, which was fiue hundred mens burthens, and some
dayes in the winter much more. And for the Kings Chimneys they brought
the barke of Oke trées, whiche was best estéemed for the light thereof,
for they were greate sorcerers. _Mutezuma_ had 100. cities with their
prouinces, of whome he receiued rentes, tributes, & vassalage, where
he mainteined garrison of souldiers, & had treasorers in each of thë.
His dominiö did extend from the North sea to the South sea, & 600.
miles in lögitude within the maine läd, although in very déed ther were
some towns, as _Tlaxcallö_, _Mechuacan_, _Panuco_, and _Teocantepec_,
whiche were his enimies, and payde him neyther tribute nor seruice: but
yet the ransome was muche, when any of them were taken.
Also there were other kings and noble men, as of _Tezcuco_ and
_Tlacopan_, which were not in subiection vnto him, but onely in homage
and obedience, for they were of his owne lignage, vnto whome _Mutezuma_
married hys daughters.
The scituation of Mexico.