_Cortes_, slew as many Spanyards as they coulde get at aduantage,
so that in fewe dayes there wanted aboue two hundred of the Spanish
nation, being slayne as well in Townes, as in the high wayes, yea and
also they had communed among themselues to rebell in déede. But when
the Bishop and the Iudges heard this newes, they began to feare the
matter, and considering that they had no better remedy, nor other sure
defence, but only y^e name valor, person, and authoritie of _Cortes_,
they sente to desire him to come vnto _Mexico_, wherevpon he obserued
theyr commaundement and request, & wente toward the Citie, well
accompanyed with men of warre, so that he shewed himselfe in estate a
generall captaine. All the Citizens came out to receiue him and the
lady Marques his wife: his entrie into the cittie was a day of great
pleasure among them. Then the president and iudges entred into counsell
for to remedie the greate hurt whiche had bene done by the _Indians_.
_Cortes_ toke the matter in hand, and apprehended many _Indians_,
of whom some he burned, others wer torne with dogges, he did such
correction, that in shorte time al the countrey was quiet, and the
highe ways without daunger, a thing worthy of great thanks.
The letters that the Indians vsed in
_Mexican_.
There hath not bin found letters at any time in the Weast _India_,
onely in the newe Spain were vsed certain figures which serued for
letters, with the which they kept in memorie, and preserued their
antiquities. The figures y^t the _Mexicans_ vsed for letters are great,
by reason whereof they occupy gret volumes: they ingraue them in stone
or timber, and paint them vpon walles, and also vpon a paper made of
cotten wool, and leaues of the tree _Metl_. Their bookes are great and
folden vp like vnto our broade clothes, and written vpon both sides.
There are some bokes rolled vp like a piece of flannel. They pronoüce
not .b.g.e.f. Therfore they vse much .p.e.l.x. This is the Mexical
spéech, and _Nahual_, which is the best, playnest, and moste eloquent,
in al newe Spayne. There are some in _Mexico_ that do vnderstand ech
other, by whistling, whiche is ordinarily vsed among louers, & théeues,
a spéeche truely to wonder at, & none of our men could come to the
knowledge therof.
The order hovv to recken.
_Ce_ One
_Ome_ Two
_Ei_ Thrée
_Naui_ Foure
_Macuil_ Fiue
_Chicoace_ Sixe
_Chicome_ Seauen
_Chicuei_ Eight
_Chiconaui_ Nine
_Matlac_ Tenne
_Matlactlioce_ Eleuen
_Matlactliome_ Twelue
_Matlactlomei_ Thirtéene
_Matlactlinaui_ Fourtéene
_Matlactlinacui_ Fiftéene
_Matlactlichicoace_ Sixtéene
_Matlactlichicome_ Seuentéene
_Matlactlichicuei_ Eightéene
_Matlactlichiconaui_ Ninetéene
_Cempoalli_ Twentie
Euery number is simple, vntil you come to sixe, and then they count,
six and one, sixe and two, sixe and thrée. Ten is a number by himselfe,
then you must counte ten and one, tenne and two, tenne and thrée, tenne
and foure, tenne and fiue.
Then you count ten fiue and one, tenne fiue and two, ten fiue and
thrée. Twenty goeth by himselfe, and al the greater numbers.
The Mexican yeare.
The _Mexicans_ yeare is thrée hundered sixtie dayes, for they haue in
their yere eightéene monethes, and euery moneth contayneth twentie
dayes. They haue other fiue odde dayes, whiche goeth by themselues, in
the which they vsed to celebrate greate feastes of cruell and bloudy
sacrifice, with much deuotion. And reconing after this sort, they could
not choose but erre, for they could not make equal the punctuall course
of the Sunne. Yea the Christian yere is not perfit, although we haue
learned Astronomers. But yet these simple _Indians_ wente neare the
marke.
The names of the moneths.
_Tlacaxipeualiztli._
_Tozcuztli._
_Huei Tozeuztli._
_Toxcalt._
_Ecalcoaliztli._
_Tocuilhuicintli._
_Hueitecuilhuitl._
_Miccailhuicintli._
_Veymiccailhuitl._
_Vchpaniztli._
_Pachtli._
_Huei Pachtli._
_Quecholli._
_Panquecaliztli._
_Hatemuztli._
_Tititlh._
_Izcalli._
_Coavitleuac._
The names of dayes.
_Cipactli_ A Spade
_Hecatl_ Ayre or Winde
_Calli_ A House
_Cuez Pali_ A Lizart
_Coualt_ A Snake
_Mizquintli_ Death
_Macatl_ A wilde Hart
_Tochtli_ A Conny
_Atl_ Water
_Izcuyntli_ A Dogge
_Ocumatli_ An Ape
_Malinalli_ A Brome
_Acatlh_ A Caue
_Ocelotl_ A Tigre
_Coautli_ An Egle
_Cozcaquahutl_ A Bussard
_Olin_ A Temple
_Tepatlh_ A Knife
_Quiauitl_ Rayne
_Xuchitl_ A Rose
Althoughe these twentie names serue for the whole yere, and are but
the dayes of euery moneth, yet therfore euery moneth beginneth not
with _Cipactli_, which is the first name, but as they followe in
order, and the fiue odde dayes is the cause thereof. And also bycause
theyr wéeke is of thirtéene dayes, which changeth the names, as by
example, _Cecipactli_ can go no further thä vnto _Matlactlomeiacatl_,
which is thirtéene, and then beginneth an other wéeke: and we do not
say _Matlactlinaui Ocelotl_, whiche is the fourtéenth day, but we say
_Ceocelotl_ whiche is one, and then recken the other sixe names, vnto
twenty. And when al the twentie dayes are ended, begin againe to
recken from the first name of the twentie, but not frö one, but from
viij. And bicause ye may better vndrestand the matter, here is the
example.
_Cecipactli._
_Omehecatl._
_Ei Calli._
_Naui Cuezpali._
_Macuilcouatl._
_Chicoacen Mizquinth._
_Chicome Macatl._
_Chicuei Tochtli._
_Chiconauiatl._
_Matlaciz Cuintli._
_Mailactlioce Ocumatli._
_Matlactliome Malinalli._
_Matlactlomei Acatlh._
The next wéeke following doth begin his dayes from one. And that one is
the fouretéenth name of the moneth and of the dayes, and saith.
_Ceocelotl._
_Omecoautli._
_Eicozcaquahutli._
_Naui Olui._
_Macuil Tecpatl._
_Chicoacen Quiauitl._
_Chicome Xuchitl._
_Chicoei Cipactli._
In this second wéeke, _Cipactli_ came to fal on the eighte day, being
in the first wéeke the first day.
_Cemacatl._
_Ometochtli._
_Eiatl._
_Nauizi cunitli._
_Macuil Ocumatli._
And so proceede on to the thirde wéeke, in the which this name
_Cipactli_ entreth not, but _Macatl_, which was the seuenth day in
the first wéeke, & had no place in y^e second, and is the first in
the third. This reconing is no darker, than ours, which we haue in
a.b.c.d.e.f.g. For they also change with time, and runne in such sort,
that .a. whiche was the firste letter of this moneth, commeth to be the
fift daye of the nexte moneth, and the thirde moneth he counteth to be
the third day, and so orderly doth the other sixe letters.
The accounting of yeares.
These _Mexicans_ had another order to recken theyr yeares, which
exceded not aboue foure in number, as one, two, thrée, foure, wherewith
they accounte a hundred, fiue hundred, a thousand, and as many moe
as they lust. Those foure figures or names are, _Tochtli_, _Acatlh_,
_Tecpatlh_, _Calli_, and do signifye, a Conny, a Caue, a Knife, and a
House, saying.
_Ce Totchtli_ One yeare
_Ome Acatlh_ Two yeares
_Ei Tecpatlh_ Thrée yeares
_Naui Calli_ Foure yeares
_Macuil Tochtli_ Fiue yeares
_Cicoacen Acatlh_ Sixe yeares
_Cicome Tecpatlh_ Seauen yeares
_Chicuei Calh_ Eight yeares
_Chiconaui Tochtli_ Nine yeares
_Matlactli Acatlh_ Tenne yeares
_Matlactlioce Tecpatlh_ Eleuen yeares
_Matlactliome Calli_ Twelue yeares
_Matlactliomei Tochtli_ Thirtéene yeares
So that the reconing passeth not aboue thirtéene, whiche is one wéeke of
the yeare, and endeth where he began.
Another Weeke.
_Ce Acatlh_ One yeare
_Ome Tlepatlh_ Two yeares
_Ei Calli_ Thrée yeares
_Naui Tochtli_ Foure yeares
_Macuil Acatlh_ Fiue yeares
_Chicoacen Tecpatlh_ Sixe yeares
_Chicome Calli_ Seuen yeares
_Cichuei Tochtli_ Eight yeares
_Chiconaui Acatlh_ Nine yeares
_Matlactli Tecpatlh_ Tenne yeares
_Matlactlioce Calli_ Eleuen yeares
_Matlactliome Tochtli_ Twelue yeares
_Matlactliomei Acatlh_ Thirtéene yeares
The third vveeke of yeares.
_Ce Tecpatlh_ One yeare
_Ome Calli_ Two yeres
_Ei Tochtli_ Thrée yeres
_Naui Acatlh_ Foure yeres
_Macuil Tecpatlh_ Fiue yeres
_Chicoacan Calli_ Sixe yeares
_Chicome Tochthi_ Seauen yeares
_Chicuei Acatlh_ Eight yeares
_Chiconaui Tecpatlh_ Nine yeares
_Matlactli Calli_ Tenne yeares
_Matlactliome Tochtli_ Eleuen yeares
_Matlactliome Acatlh_ Twelue yeares
_Matlactliomei Tecpatlh_ Thirtéene yeares
The fourth Weeke.
_Ce Calli_ One yeare
_Ome Tochtii_ Two yeares
_Ei Acatlh_ Thrée yeares
_Naui Tecpatlh_ Foure yeares
_Macuil Calli_ Fiue yeares
_Chicoacen Tochtli_ Sixe yeares
_Chicome Acatlh_ Seauen yeares
_Chicuei Tecpatlh_ Eight yeares
_Chiconaui Calli_ Nine yeares
_Matlactli Tochtli_ Tenne yeares
_Matlactlioce Acatlh_ Eleuen yeares
_Matlactliome Tecpatlh_ Twelue yeares
_Matlactliomei Calli_ Thirtéene yeares
Ech of these wéekes, which our men cal Indition, doth conteyne
thirtéene yeares, so that all the foure wéekes make two and fiftie
yeares, which is a perfit number in the reconing, and is called the
yeare of grace, for from fiftie two yeres, to fiftie two yeares, they
vsed to make solemne feastes, with strange Ceremonies, as hereafter
shall be declared. And when fiftie two yeares are ended, then they
beginne againe, by the same order before declared, vntil they come to
as many moe, beginning at _Ce Tochtli_, and so forwarde. But alwayes
they begin at the Conny figure. So that in the forme of reconing they
kepe & haue in mëmorye, things of 850. yeares, and by this Cronicle
they know in what yere euerye thing hapned, and how long euery king
raygned: howe many children they had, and all things else that
importeth to the estate of the gouernement of the lande.
The Indians beleeued that fiue ages
_were past, which they called Sunnes_.
The _Indians_ of _Culhua_ did beléeue that the Gods had made y^e world,
but they knew not how, yet they beléeued that since the creation of the
world four Sunnes were past, and that the fift and last is y^e Sunne
that now giueth light to the world.
They helde opinion that the firste Sunne perished by water, and at the
same time all liuing creatures perished likewise.
The second Sunne (say they) fell from the heauës, with whose fall all
liuing creatures were slayne, and then (said they) were manye Giantes
in that Countrey, and certayne monstrous bones, which our men found in
opening of graues, by proportion whereof, some shoulde séeme to be men
of twenty spannes high.
The third Sunne was consumed by fire, whiche burned day and night, so
that then all liuing creatures were burned.
The fourth Sunne finished by tempest of ayre or winde, which blew
downe houses, trées, yea and y^e mountaynes and Rockes were blowë
asunder, but the lignage of mankinde perished not, sauing that they
were conuerted into Apes. And touching the fift Sunne, which now
raigneth, they know not how it shall consume. But they say that when
the fourth Sunne perished, all the worlde fell into darkenesse, and so
remained for the space of fiue and twenty yeares continually, and at
the fiftenth yeare of that fearefull darkenesse, the Gods did forme
one man and a woman, who brought forth children, and at the end of the
other tenne yeares, appeared the Sunne whiche was newly borne vppon
the figure of the _Conny_ day, and therfore they begin their account
of yéeres at y^t day, & reckoning from the yeare of oure Lorde 1552.
their age or Sunne is 858. so that it appeareth that they haue vsed
many yeares their writing in figures: and they had not onely this vse
from _Cetochtli_, whiche is the beginning of their yeare, moneth, and
day of their fifth Sunne, but also they hadde the same order and vse in
the other foure Sunnes which were past: but they let many things slippe
out of memorie, saying, that with the newe Sunne, all other things
should be likewise new. They held also opinion, that thrée dayes after
this last Sunne appeared, all the Gods did dye, and that in processe
of time the Gods whiche nowe they haue, and worshippe, were borne. And
through these false opinions, our Diuines did soone conuert them to the
knowledge of the true lawes of God.
The nation of the Indians called
_Chichimecas_.
In the lande nowe called newe _Spayne_, are dyuers and sundry
generations of people: but they holde opinion, that the stocke of most
antiquitie, is the people nowe called _Chichimecas_, which procéeded
out of the house of _Aculhuacan_, which standeth beyond _Xalixco_,
about the yeare of our Lorde .720. Many of this Generation did inhabite
aboute the lake of _Tenuchtitlan_, but their name ended by mixture in
marriage with other people. At that time they hadde no King, nor yet
did builde eyther house or Towne. Their only dwellings was in caues in
y^e Moütaynes. They went naked, they sowed no kind of graine, nor vsed
bread of any sorte. They did mainteyne themselues with rootes, hearbes,
and siluester fruites: and béeing a people cunning in shooting with the
bowe, they kylled deare, hares, connyes, and other beastes and foule,
which they eate also, not sodden or rosted, but rawe, and dryed in the
Sunne. They eate also Snakes, Lizardes, and other filthye beastes, yea
and at this day there are some of this generation that vse the same
dyet. But although they liued suche a bestiall life, & being a people
so barbarous, yet in their diuelish religion they were verye deuout.
They worshipped the Sunne, vnto whome they vsed to offer Snakes,
Lizards, & such other beasts. They likewise offered vnto their God all
kinde of foule, from the degrée of an Eagle, to a little Butterflie.
They vsed not sacrifice of mäslaughter, nor had any Idolles, no not
so muche as of the Sunne, whome they helde for the sole and only God.
They married but with one woman, & in no degrée of kinred. They were a
stoute and a warlike people, by reason whereof, they were Lordes of the
land.
The Coronation of the Kings of Mexico.
Although one brother was heire to an other among the _Mexicans_, and
after their deceasse, did inherite the Sonne of the eldest brother, yet
they tooke no possession of the state nor name of King vntil they were
annoynted and Crowned openlye.
[Sidenote: The oyntment.]
As soone as any King of _Mexico_ deceassed, and his funerals ended,
then were called to Parliamente the Lorde of _Tezcuco_, and the Lorde
of _Tlacopan_, who were the chiefest estates, and then in order all
other noble men, who owed any seruice to the Mexican Empire. And béeyng
come togither, if any doubt of the inheritäce of y^e crowne happened,
then the matter was decided with al hast: then the newe King being
knowen, he was stripped starke naked, except a cloth to couer his
priuie partes, and in thys sorte was carried among them, to the greate
Temple of _Vitzilopuchtli_ with greate silence, and without any ioy
or pleasure: Two Gentlemen of the Citie whose office it was, ledde him
vppe the staires of the Temple by the armes, and before him wente the
Princes of _Tezcuco_ and _Tlacopan_, who that day did weare their robes
of Coronation, wherevpon was paynted their armes and title. Verye fewe
of the Laytie wente vp into the Chappels, but only those that were
appoynted to attire the newe king, and to serue in other Ceremonies,
for all the residue stoode vpon the steppes and belowe, to beholde the
Coronation. These Magistrates being aboue in the Chappell, came with
great humilitie and reuerence, knéelyng downe vpö their knées before
the Idoll of _Vitzilopuchtli_, and touched the earth with one finger
and then kissed the same. Then came the high prieste clothed in his
pontificall vestmentes, with many others in his company, who did weare
surplices: and withoute speaking any worde, they paynted or couloured
the Kings person, with ynke made for the purpose, as blacke as any
cole. After thys Ceremonye done, they blessed the annoynted Kyng, and
sprinckled him foure times with a certayne holly water, that was made
at the time of consecration of the God, made of dowe or paste, with a
sprinckle made of boughes of Cane leaues, Ceder, & willow leaues. Then
they put vpon his head, a cloth painted with the bones and skulles of
dead men, and next they clothed him with a black garment, and vpon
y^t another blewe, and both were paynted with y^e figures of dead
mens skulles & bones. Then they put about his necke certaine laces,
whereat did hang the armes of y^e Crowne. And behind his backe they did
hang certain little bottels ful of powders, by vertue wherof he was
deliuered from pestilence and diseases, according to their opiniö: yea
& therby witches, nor witchcrafts could not hurt him, nor yet euill
menne deceyue him. In fyne, with those relickes he was sure from all
perill and daunger. Vpon his lefte arme they bounde a litle bagge of
incense, and then brought vnto him a chaffyng dishe of imbers made of
the barke of an Oke trée. Then the king arose, and with his owne hande
threw of the same incense into the chaffing dishe, and with great
reuerence brought the same to the God _Vitzilopuchtli_, and after he
had smoked him therewith, he satte him downe, then came the high Priest
and tooke his othe to mainteyne the religion of the Goddes, to kéepe
also all the lawes and customes of his predecessours, to maynteyne
iustice, and not to agrauiate any of his vassals or subiects, and that
he should be valiant in the warres, that he shoulde cause the Sunne
to giue his light, the clowdes to yéelde rayne, the riuers to runne,
and the earth to bring foorth all kinde of grayne, fruytes, and other
néedefull hearbes and trées. These and many other impossible things
the newe kyng did sweare to performe: and then he gaue thankes to the
high priest, and commended himself to the Goddes and to the lookers
on, and they who brought him vp in the same order, carrieth him downe
agayne. Then all the people cried, the Goddes preserue the newe kyng,
and that he may raigne many yéeres in health with al his people. But
then some began to daunce, other to play on their instrumëts, shewing
outwardly their inwarde ioyes of harte. And before the king came to the
foote of the steppes, all the noble men came to yéelde their obedience,
and in token of louing and faythfull subiectes they presented vnto
him feathers, strings of snayle shelles, collours, and other Iewelles
of golde and siluer, also mantels paynted with death, & bare him
company vnto a great hal within the compasse of the temple, and there
lefte him. The king sitteth downe vnder his cloth of estate, called
_Tlacatecco_, and in foure daies departeth not out of the circuyte of
the temple, the which he spendes in prayers, sacrifice and penaunce,
he eates then but once a day, and euery day he bathes himselfe, and
agayne in the night in a great ponde of water, and then lettes himselfe
bloud in his eares, and senseth therewith the God of Water, called
_Tlaloc_: he likewise senseth the other idols, vnto whome he offereth
bread, flowers, Papers and little Canes died in the bloudde of his owne
tongue, nose, handes, and other partes of his body. After the foure
dayes expired, then come all the Noblemen to beare him company to his
palayce with great triumphe and pleasure of all the Cittie, but after
his consecration fewe or none dare looke him in the face.
And now with the declaryng of the actes and Ceremonies that the
_Mexican_ Kings are crowned, I shall not néede to rehearse of other
kyngs, for generally they all do vse the same order, sauyng that other
Princes goe not vp to the toppe of the Temple, but abide at the foote
of the steppes to be crowned, and after theyr Coronation they come to
_Mexico_ for their confirmation, and then at theyr returne to their
countrey, they made many drunkë feasts and banquets.
The opinion of the Mexicans
_concerning the Soule_.
The _Mexicans_ did beléeue that the Soule was immortal, and that they
receyued eyther ioy or payne according to theyr desertes & liuyng in
this worlde, vnto which opinion all their religion did attayne, and
chiefly appeare at their burials. They helde for an assured faith,
that there were nine places appointed for soules, & the chiefest place
of glory to be neare vnto the Sunne, where the soules of those whiche
were good men slaine in the warres, & those which were sacrifised
were placed, and that all other sortes of euill persons their soules
abode on the earth, & were deuided after this sorte, children that
were dead borne went to one place, those which died of age or other
disease went to another, those which died of sodden death to another,
those whiche died of woundes or contagious diseases went to an other
place, those which were drowned went to another, those which were put
to death for offence by order of iustice, as for robbery and adultery
to another: Those which slewe their fathers, mothers, wiues or childrë,
to another place by themselues, also those who slew their maysters or
any religious person went to another place. The common sorte of people
were buried, but Lordes and rich men had their bodies burned & their
ashes buried. In their shreudes they had a greate difference, for
many dead bodies were buried better apparelled than when they were on
liue. Women were shrewded after another sorte. And he that suffered
death for adulterie was shrewded like vnto the God of leachery, called
_Tlazoulteutl_, he that was drowned like vnto the God of water named
_Tlacoc_, and he that died with drunkennesse was shrewded like vnto
the God of wyne called _Ometochtli_. But the Souldier had an honorable
shrewde like vnto the attyre of _Vitzilopuchtli_, and the lyke order in
all other sortes of deathes.
The buriall of Kings in
_Mexico_.
VVhen any Kyng of _Mexico_ happened to fall sicke, they vsed forth-with
to put a visor vppon the face of _Tezcatlipuca_, or _Vitzilopuchtli_,
or some other Idoll, whiche Visor was not taken awaye, vntill they
sawe whether the kyng did amend, or else die: But if he chaunsed to
die, then worde was sent throughout all his dominions to bewaile his
death, and also other postes were sent to call the Noble menne that
were his nighest kinsmen, and to warne them within foure dayes to come
vnto his buriall.
The dead body was layde vpon a fayre matte, & was watched foure
nightes, with great lamëtation and mournyng: then the body was
washed, and a locke of heare cut from the crowne of his head, whiche
was preserued as a great relicke, saying that therein remayned the
remembrance of his soule. This done, a fine Emerald was put into his
mouth, and his body shrewded in seuentene riche mantles, of colours,
both riche and costly wrought. Vpon the vpper mantle was sette the
deuise or armes of _Vitzilopuchtli_ or _Tezcalipuca_, or of some other
idoll, in whome the kyng had greate confidence in his lyfe tyme, and in
his temple should the body be buried. Vpö his face they put a visor,
paynted with foule and Diuelish gestures, besette with many iewelles,
precious stones, and pearles. Then they killed his slaue, whose office
was to light the Lampes and make fire vnto the Goddes of his pallayce.
These things done, they carried the dead body vnto the Temple: some
followed him with dolefull tune, others song the death of the kyng by
note, for so was the custome.
The Noble men and Gentlemen of his housholde carried Targets, Arrowes,
Maces, and Ensignes to throwe into the fire where the body should be
buried in the Temple. The high Priest and all the Clergie receyued him
at the Temple gate, with a sorrowfull song, and after he had sayde
certayne wordes, the body was throwen into a great fire made for the
purpose, with all the iewels that he had aboute him, and all the other
things whiche was brought to honour the burial: also a dogge newly
strangled with an arrowe, whiche was to guyde him his way. In the meane
whyle that the King and dogge were burnyng, the Priests sacrificed
twoo hüdred persons, howbeit in this Ceremonie there was no ordinary
taxe, for sometymes they sacrificed many moe: they were opened with
a rasour of flinte in the breastes, and theyr hartes taken out and
throwen into the fire where the Kings body was. There miserable persons
beyng sacrificed, and their bodies throwen into a hole, they beléeued
assuredly that those shoulde serue for his slaues in another worlde:
some of them were dwarffes, monstrous and deformed persons, with some
women. They placed about the dead body of the King before his buriall,
Roses, Floures and sundry dishes of meate and drinke, and no creature
durste touche the same, but onely y^e Priests, for it séemed to be an
offeryng.