of the Chappell of Idols, and hée was estéemed for a speciall and
singular God aboue all the rest. This God was made of all kinde of
séedes that groweth in that Countrey, and being ground, they made a
certayne past, tempered with childrens bloud, and Virgins sacrifised,
who were opened with their razures in the breastes, and their heartes
taken out, to offer as first fruites vnto the Idoll. The Priestes
and Ministers doe consecrate this Idoll with great pomp and many
Ceremonies. All the _Comarcans_ and Citizens are presente at the
consecration, with great triumph and incredible deuotion. After the
consecration, many devoute persons came and sticked in the dowy Image
precious stones, wedges of golde, and other Iewels. After all this pomp
ended, no secular man mought touche that holye Image, no nor yet come
into his Chappell, nay scarcely religious persons, except they were
_Tlamacaztli_, who are Priestes of order. They doe renue this Image
many times wyth new dough, taking away the olde, but then blessed is
hée that can get one péece of the olde ragges for relikes, and chiefly
for souldyers, who thought themselues sure therwith in the warres. Also
at the consecration of thys Idoll, a certayne vessell of water was
blessed with manye wordes and ceremonyes, and that water was preserued
very religiously at the foote of the altar, for to consecrate the King
when he should be crowned, and also to blesse any Captayne generall,
when he shoulde be elected for the warres, with only giuing him a
draught of that water.
The Charnell house or place of dead
_mens sculles for remembrance of death_.
VVithout the temple, and ouer againste the principall dore thereof, a
stones cast distant, standeth the Charnell house onely of dead mens
heads prisoners in warres and sacrifised with the knife.
This monument was made like vnto a Theatre, more larger than broade,
wrought of lyme and stone, with ascending steppes, in the walles
whereof was graffed betwixt stone and stone a skul with the téeth
outwards.
At the foote and head of this Theatre, were two Towers, made only of
lime and skulles, the téeth outwarde, and this wall hauing no other
stuffe, séemed a straunge sight. At and vppon the toppe of the Theatre,
were 70. polles, standing the one from the other foure or fiue foote
distant, and eache of them was full of staues from the foote to the
toppe. Each of these staues had others made fast vnto them, so that
euery of them had fiue skulles broched through the temples. _Andrewe de
Tapia_ did certifie me, that he and _Gonsalo de Vmbria_ dyd recken them
in one daye, and founde a hundred thirtie and sixe thousande skulles
on the polles, staues, and steppes. The other Towers were replenished
out of number, a most cruell custome, being only mens heads slaine in
sacrifice, although it hath a shewe of humanitie for the remembrance
there placed of death. There are also men appoynted, that when one
skull falleth, to set vp another in his place, so that the number may
neuer want.
Hovv Cortez tooke Mutezuma
_prisoner_.
_Hernando Cortez_ and his companye, were sixe dayes in beholding and
perusing the scituation of the Citie, and secretes of the same, with
the notable thinges before rehearsed: they were often visited by
_Mutezuma_, & the Gentlemen of hys Courte, and abundantly prouided of
things necessarye for his vse, and the _Indians_ of his company.
[Sidenote: A svveete bedde.]
[Sidenote: Determination of Cortez.]
Likewise his Horses were cherished and serued with gréene barley and
grasse, whereof there is plentie all the yeare: Likewise of corne,
meale, roses, and of all thynges that their owners would request, in
so much that beddes of floures were made for them in place of litter.
But yet notwithstanding, although they were in this sorte cherished,
and also lodged in so riche a Countrey, where they mighte fyll their
purses, they were not yet all contente and merrie, but rather with
great feare and care, especially _Cortes_, who hadde the onely care as
head and chiefe Captayne for the defence of hys fellowes, hée (I saye)
was pensiue, noting the scituation of the Citie, the infinite number of
people, the state and maiestie of _Mexico_, yea and some disquietnesse
of hys owne companye, who woulde come and laye vnto hys charge the
snare and nette that they were in, thynkyng it a thyng vnpossible that
anye of them coulde escape, if _Mutezuma_ were therevnto determined,
or else with the least muteny in the worlde, that mought be raysed in
the Citie, although that euery inhabitant shoulde throw but one stone
at them, or else to breake vp the drawbridges, or withdrawing their
victuals, things verye easie to bée done. With this greate care that he
had of the preseruation of his fellowes, and to remedie the perill and
daunger that he stoode in, he determined to apprehëd _Mutezuma_, and
to builde foure Foystes to haue the lake in subiection, which he hadde
tofore ymagined, and without the apprehension of the King, he coulde
not come by the Kingdome: he would very gladly haue buylt the Foystes
out of hand, but he left off that pretence, only bycause he would not
delay the emprisonment of _Mutezuma_, wherein consisted the effect of
all his businesse, so that forthwith he minded to put in execution his
intent, without gyuing any of his company to vnderstand thereof.
[Sidenote: Treasory of Mutezuma.]
The quarrell wherewith he had armed himselfe for that purpose, was,
that the Lorde _Qualpopoca_ hadde slayne nine _Spanyardes_: likewise
encouraged him the greate presumption of his letters written to
the Emperour _Charles_ his king, wherein he wrote that he would
take _Mutezuma_ prisoner, and dispossesse him of his Empyre. These
causes considered, he tooke the letters of _Pedro Hircio_, wherein
was written, how _Qualpopoca_ was the cause of the death of nine
_Spanyardes_, and put those letters into his pocket, and walking vp
and downe his lodging, tossyng too and fro these ymaginations in his
brayne, full of care of the great enterprise that he had in hande,
yea he hymselfe iudging the matter doubtfull, and his head béeyng in
this sort occupyed, he chanced to espye one wall more whiter than the
rest, and beholding the same, he sawe that it was a dore lately dammed
vp, & callyng vnto him two of his seruaunts (for all the residue were
asléepe) bycause it was late in the nighte, he opened that dore,
and went in, and there found sundry halles, some with Idols, some
with gallant feathers, Iewels, precious stones, plate, yea and such
an infinite quantitie of golde, that the sight thereof amazed him,
and other gallant things that made him to maruell. He shutte thys
dore agayne as well as he moughte, withoute touching any part of that
treasure, bycause he woulde not make any vprore therabout, nor yet to
delay the emprisonment of _Mutezuma_, for that treasure was alwayes
there to be had.
The nexte daye in the morning came certayne _Spanyardes_ vnto hym,
and manye _Indians_ of _Tlaxcallon_, saying that the Citizens did goe
about to conspire their deathe, and to breake downe the bridges of the
calseys, to bryng their purpose the better to passe. So that with this
newes, béeyng true or false, _Cortes_ left the one halfe of his men to
defende and kéepe his lodging, and at euery crosse stréete he planted
më, and the residue he sent to the Court by two and two, and thrée and
thrée, and he hymselfe came to the pallaice, saying that he must talke
wyth _Mutezuma_ of matters that did emport their liues. _Cortes_ was
secretely armed. _Mutezuma_ hearyng howe _Cortez_ attended for hym,
came forth and receyued him, taking him by the hand, and placed him in
his seate. Thirtie _Spanyardes_ wayted vpon _Cortez_, and the residue
abode without at the dore.
_Cortez_ saluted _Mutezuma_ according to his accustomed manner, and
began to rest and talke merily as hée was wont to do. _Mutezuma_
béeyng carelesse of the thing that Fortune hadde prepared agaynste
hym, was also very merrie, and pleased with that conuersation. He gaue
vnto _Cortes_ Iewels of golde, and one of his daughters, and other
noble mens daughters to others of his company. _Cortes_ receyued the
gift, for otherwise it hadde bin a frent vnto _Mutezuma_. But yet he
enformed him, that he was a married man, and that he coulde not marrie
with his daughter, for the Christian law did not permitte the same, nor
yet that any Christian mought haue more than one wife, vppon payne of
infamy, and to be marked in the forehead.
After all this talke ended, _Cortez_ tooke the letters of _Pedro
Hircio_, and caused them to be interpreted vnto _Mutezuma_, makyng hys
grieuous complaynte agaynste _Qualpopoca_, who hadde slayne so many
_Spanyardes_ through hys commaundement, yea and that his subiectes had
published, that they woulde kill the _Spanyardes_, and breake downe the
bridges.
_Mutezuma_ excused himselfe earnestly, as well of the one as of the
other, saying, the report giuen out agaynste hys subiectes was false
and vntrue, and as for _Qualpopoca_ who had slayne the _Spanyardes_,
he was innocent thereof: and bycause that he shoulde sée the troth,
he called incontinent certayne of his seruauntes, commaunding thë
to goe for _Qualpopoca_, and gaue vnto them his seale, whiche was a
stone that he ware at his wrest, engraued with the figure of the God
_Vitzilopuchtli_, and the messengers departed therewith incontinent.
_Cortez_ replyed and sayd: My Lord, your highnesse must goe with me
to my lodging, and there abide, vntill youre messengers returne with
_Qualpopoca_, and the certaynetie of the deathe of my men: In my
lodging youre highnesse shall rule and commaund as you do héere in
Court, your person shall bée well vsed, wherefore take you no care,
for I will haue respecte vnto youre honor, as to myne owne proper, or
the honor of my Kyng, beséeching you to pardon me in this my request,
for if I shoulde doe otherwise, and dissemble with you, mine own
company would be offended with me, saying that I doe not defende them,
according to duetie. Wherefore commaund your householde seruauntes to
repose themselues without alteration, for be you assured, that if any
hurte come vnto me, or vnto anye of mine, youre person shall pay the
same with life, considering that it lyeth in youre hand to goe quietly
with me.
_Mutezuma_ was sore amazed, saying, Sir, my person is not fytte to be
a prisoner, yea, and though I woulde permitte the same, my subiectes
would not suffer.
They abode arguing the matter néere foure houres, and at length
_Mutezuma_ was content to goe, hauing promise that he should rule and
gouerne as he was wont to do. _Cortes_ cömaunded a place in his lodging
to be trimmed for him, and he went forthwith thither with _Cortes_.
There came many noble men barefooted, wéeping and lamenting the case,
carrying their best garmentes vnder their armes, and brought a rich
seate, whereon _Mutezuma_ was placed, & they carried hym vpon their
shoulders.
[Sidenote: A sorovvful pastime.]
When it was blowen abroade in the Citie that _Mutezuma_ was carried
prisoner to the _Spanyards_ lodging, all the Citie was on an vprore:
but yet _Mutezuma_ did comfort the Gentlemen that carried and followed
him wéeping, praying them to ceasse their lamentation, saying that he
was not prisoner, nor yet went with the Chrystians againste his will,
but for his onely pleasure. _Cortes_ appointed a _Spanish_ garde for
him, with a Captayne, the which he dayly changed, and had _Spanyards_
always in his cöpany to make him pastime. Also poore _Mutezuma_ was
cötented with their conuersation, & gaue thë stil rewards. He was
serued with his owne seruäts _Indiäs_, as at home in his pallace.
_Cortes_ always intreated him to put off sadnes, & to be merrie,
permitting him to dispatch suters, & to deale in all affayres of his
estate, & to comune and talke openly or secretely with his noble më as
he was wont to do, and that was but onely a bayte to bring them to
the hooke. There was neuer Greeke nor Romayne, nor any other nation
since the name of Kings was ordeyned, dyd gyue y^e lyke enterprise, as
_Hernando Cortez_ did, in taking _Mutezuma_ prisoner in his owne house,
béeing a most mighty King, & in a most strong fort among infinite
people, he hauyng but only 450. companions.
The recreation of Hunting, vvhiche
_Mutezuma vsed_.
_Mvtezuma_ had not only al the libertie that he desired in the Citie,
béeyng prisoner among the _Spanyardes_, but also _Cortes_ permitted him
to hunt and hauke, or to go to the temple, for he was very deuoute, and
a great hunter.
When he went a hunting, he was carried vpon mens shoulders with eyght
or ten _Spanyards_ in his guard, and thrée thousande _Mexicans_, who
were Gentlemen, his seruants, and hunters, of whome he hadde a great
number, some to séeke the game, others to beate the couertes, and
others to marke. Some of those Hunters were only for hares and connyes,
other for all sorts of Déere, Wolues, foxes, and such like. They were
very perfite with theyr bowes, and good markemë, for he that missed
his marke at fourescore pases distant was punished. It was strange to
sée the number of people that wente with him on hunting, and to sée
the slaughter of beasts killed, with hande, staues, nettes, and bowes,
some of those beastes were tame, and other braue and fearefull, as
Lyons, Tigers, and Ounces. It is a harde thing to take a fierce Lion
in hunting as they do, being in manner a naked people, and the beast
couragious and strong, but yet the Prouerbe saith, slight and cunning
is better than strength.
It is a more straunge thyng to take any foule that flieth in the ayre
as their Fauconers doe, for after they haue once marked and set eye
vpon any foule, the Faulconers of _Mutezuma_ will vnder take to catch
him, although the foule be neuer so swifte of wing, beyng at the least
so commaunded by the King. It happened one day that _Mutezuma_ stoode
in his gallerie with his Guarde of Spanyardes, who had espied a fayre
Hauke soryng in the ayre, oh quoth they what a fayre Hauke flieth
yonder, _Mutezuma_ hearyng their talke, called vnto him certayne of
his Faulconers, commaundyng them to followe that Hauke & to bring him
vnto him. The Faulconers wente to fulfill his request, and followed
that foule with such diligence, that in shorte space they brought the
Hauke vnto him, who presented the same vnto the Spanyards, a thing
truely almoste incredible, but yet certified by worde and wrytings of
the present witnesses. Their chiefest and most pleasant pastime of
Hauking was, of Kightes, Rauens, Crowes, Pies, and other birdes of
hardie stomake and slowe in flight, greate and small of all sortes, for
the which he had Egles, Buyters, and other foule of rapyne marueylous
swifte of wing, and suche as would mounte very high in the ayre, with
the whiche they murdered Hares, Wolues, and (as some say) Hartes.
He had other foulers, that vsed Nettes, Snares, and sundry engins.
_Mutezuma_ vsed much to shoote in a tronke, and with his bow killed
many wilde beastes. His houses of pleasure as I haue before declared,
stoode sixe myles from the Citie in pleasant wooddes: and alwayes when
he went a huntyng after the tyme that he was prysoner, the same day he
would returne agayne to _Cortes_ his lodging, although he banketed &
feasted with the Spaniardes at his places of sporting and pastime, and
would alwayes at his returne to his lodgyng giue some present vnto thë,
that had accompanied him that day.
_Cortes_ seyng the liberalitie of _Mutezuma_, sayde vnto him: sir, my
company are vnruly fellowes, and as I vnderstand, they haue founde out
some of your treasure, and haue made spoyle thereof: wherfore I would
know your pleasure what shal be done with thë. And in effect it was the
treasure that _Cortes_ himselfe had founde out. _Mutezuma_ answered,
saying, sir that treasure which they haue founde, did appertayne vnto
the Goddes: But yet notwithstandyng, let them leaue the feathers, and
all suche things as are neyther golde nor siluer, and all the residue
take for you and them, and if you will haue more, I will prouide it for
you.
Hovv Cortez began to plucke dovvne
_the Idols of Mexico_.
VVhen _Mutezuma_ went vnto the temple, he went leaning vpon a noble
mans arme, or else was leade betwéene two, and a noble personage
wente alwayes before him with thrée small wandes in his hande,
signifying thereby that the King in person was there at hand, and in
token also of iustice and correction. If he had bene carried vpon
mens shoulders then at his alighting downe he tooke one of those
roddes into his owne hand. He was a Prince ful of ceremonies in al
his doings, but the substaunce of his estate is already declared,
from the time that _Cortes_ entred into _Mexico_ vntil this present.
Those first dayes that the Spaniardes came to the Citie, & as often as
_Mutezuma_ went to the temple, _Indian_ men were slayne in sacrifice.
And to prohibite suche adhominable crueltie & sinne, cömitted in the
presence of the Christians who wët in company of _Mutezuma_, _Cortes_
required _Mutezuma_ to commmaunde that no mans fleshe should be any
more spoyled, or bloud shedde in sacrifice, and in not fulfilling
his request, he would destroy bothe the temple and Cittie. Also he
signified vnto him, that he himselfe woulde throw downe the idols,
before his presence and all the Citizens.
_Mutezuma_ replied to his demaüd, saying: It may please you to leaue of
your determination, least that in so doing all the Citie fall into an
vprore and rebellion to defende their good Gods, and auncient Religion,
the which Gods had alwayes prouided them of water, bread, health,
light, and all other things néedefull. This notwithstanding, the first
time that _Mutezuma_ wente to the temple after his imprisonment,
_Cortes_ and his company wente with him, and euery of them layde handes
vpon the idols, & threwe them downe headlong from their seates, and
Altars, and other Chapels. _Mutezuma_ with this sight was in great
agonie, yea and his subiects ready to take weapon to slay them there
present, but yet _Mutezuma_ commaunded his subiectes to stay from their
pretence: beséechyng _Cortes_ to stay from his procéedings, at whose
request _Cortes_ ceased, for he thought, as yet time serued not for the
purpose and pretence: but he declared vnto them by his interpreters as
followeth.
The exhortation that Cortez made
_to Mutezuma and to the Citizens of Mexico,
concerning their Idols_.
All creatures in the world (mightie prince, and yée Gentlemen and
religious persons whether it be yée here or we in Spayne, or whatsoeuer
other nation that it may be) haue I say, all one begynnyng and ending
of mortall lyfe, whiche is had from God: we are al formed and made of
one mettall, and haue all soules and senses, euen so doubtlesse as we
are like in proportion of body and soule, yea and kinsfolke in bloud,
although that by the prouidence of the same our God, some are borne
fayre and beautifull, and other some fowle and disfigured: some of one
colour, and some of another: some prudent and wise, and other some
fonde and foolishe, without eyther iudgement or vertue: in the which
his maruellous works God sheweth himselfe iuste, holy and almightie,
giuyng those seuerall giftes, to the entent that the wise and learned
mought teache the rude and ignorant, and to guyde the blinde into the
right way of saluation, by the steppes of true and vnfayned religion.
Therfore I and my fellowes, as your gestes and kinsmen, according to
equitie doe procure and wish the same vnto you. A man and his life
consisteth in thrée things as yée shal vnderstande, that is body,
soule, and goodes: as for your goodes and ritches, whiche is the least
that wée desire, for yée know well that we haue taken nothing forcible
from you, but onely those things whiche yée haue fréely and liberally
giuen vs. Likewise we haue not hurt, misused or molested your persons,
wiues or chyldren, nor yet do meane any such thing, your soules health
onely is the thing we séeke, for your saluation, and that we nowe
pretende to shewe, and to giue vnto you perfite notice of the true and
euerlasting God. There is none of naturall iudgement can denie, but
that there is one God, but yet through ignoraunce and deceyte of the
Diuell, will also thinke that there are many Goddes, and not acerte
vnto the true God. But I doe say and moste assuredly certifie you, that
there is no other true God, but onely he whome we Christians doe serue,
adore, and worshippe, the which is one eternall, without beginnyng and
without ende, the onely creator & gouernour of things created: he
alone made the Heauens, the Sunne, the Moone, and Starres, the whiche
his creatures ye doe worship: he (I say) founded and made the Sea, and
the sundry and maruelous fishes therein: he planted and made the lande
with all the monstrous beastes therein, foules likewise in the ayre,
Plantes, Hearbes, Stones and suche like. Al the whiche creatures ye as
blinde and ignorant do hold for Goddes.
[Sidenote: It vvas maruel that Cortes vvas not taken for an heretike.]
Our almighty God after he had finished and made all the former workes
with his own blessed hands, made one man & one woman, and being so
formed and wrought, he put a soule and breath into each body, and
then deliuered the worlde vnto them, shewyng them Paradise and glory.
So that of that manne and woman, we all mortall menne procéeded in
generation, and in this sorte are the handy worke of God, kinsmen and
brethren. Nowe if we will come vnto God our father, it is néedefull
and necessary that we be good, vertuous, pitifull, innocent and vnder
obedience, the whiche yée can not be if you worshippe statues, images,
idols, and vse bloudy sacrifice of mans fleshe. Is there any of you
that woulde willingly be slayne? no truely: why then doe you slea
other so cruelly, and where you can put no soules, why doe you take
them from thence? there is none of you, nor your false Gods, that can
make soules, nor can forge mens bodies of fleshe and bone, for if yée
coulde, there is none of you woulde be without children, accordyng to
your owne appetite and desire, in fashion, beautie and workemanship.
But where our God of heauen dothe make al creatures, he vseth therein
his owne discretion, and giueth chyldren to whome hée pleaseth: and
therefore is he GOD alone, and for these causes shoulde yée haue,
estéeme, and worshippe him for suche a mightie God, desiryng of him by
prayers to giue rayne and temperature, that the earth may bryng foorth
Corne, Fruite, Hearbes, Fleshe, Foule, and all other necessaries for
the sustentation of lyfe. All these thyngs the harde stones giueth not
vnto you, no nor yet your dry woodden images & colde mettall, neyther
yet the small séedes wherewith your seruaunts and slaues, with theyr
filthy handes doe make these images and foule statues, the whiche yée
doe worshippe. O what fonde people and madde religious persons, who
worship theyr owne workemanshippe, doe ye thynke that they are Gods
that rotte and moldre away, and haue no lyfe, and can neyther helpe nor
kill: Therefore I say vnto you, that nowe and hereafter there is no
cause that yée shoulde haue any moe idolles, nor yet any moe slaughters
for sacrifice, no nor yet to make any moe prayers or supplications vnto
them, beyng bothe Blinde, Deafe, and Dumme.
Will yée knowe who is God, and where he is: lifte vp your eyes vnto
Heauen, and then shall you vnderstande that aboue is a Godhead or
Deitie that moueth the heauens, and gouerneth the course of the Sunne,
ruleth the Lande and replenisheth the Sea, who prouideth for Man and
Beast bothe Corne and Water. This God whome yée nowe imagine in your
hartes, him (I say) serue and worshippe, not with death of menne or
blouddy sacrifice abominable, but with deuotion and humble prayer as we
Christians doe. And consider well, that to teach and instruct you these
things, was the cause of our commyng hither.
With this exhortation, _Cortes_ aplaked the yre of the Priestes and
Citizens: theyr idols beyng throwen downe, _Mutezuma_ tooke order that
no moe shoulde be sette vp, commaundyng to swéepe and make cleane the
Chappels of the stinking bloud that was in thë, forbidding sacrifice
of mans flesh. _Mutezuma_ and his officers made a solëpne vowe and
promise to permitte no more slaughter of men, and to set vp a Crosse
for remembrance of the death and passion of Iesu Christe borne of
the virgin Marie. The whiche their promisse was well fulfilled, for
after that day the Spanyardes coulde neuer heare nor finde of any moe
sacrifice: But yet there abode in their hartes a mortall rancor, the
whiche coulde not long be dissimuled.
Truely in this worthy facte _Cortes_ gotte more honour than though he
had ouercomen them in battayle.
The burning of the Lorde Qualpopoca
_and other Gentlemen_.