_How the lord, after he had assumed the fringe of sovereignty, was
married to his sister the Coya, which is the name of the queen, and how
it was permitted that he should have many women, although among them all
the Coya alone was the legitimate and principal wife._
In former chapters I have briefly explained how those who were to become
nobles were armed as knights, as well as the nature of the ceremonies
that took place when the Incas were crowned as kings, by taking the
crown, which is the fringe falling as far down as their eyes. And it was
ordained by them that he who became king should take his sister, being
the legitimate daughter of his father and mother, as his wife; in order
that the succession of the kingdom might by that means be confirmed in
the royal house. It appeared to them that by this means, even if such a
woman, being sister of the king, should not be chaste, and should have
intercourse with another man, the son thus born would still be hers, and
not the son of a strange woman. They also considered that if the Inca
married a strange woman, she might do the same and conceive in adultery,
in such a way that, it not being known, the child would be received as a
natural born son of the lord. For these reasons, and because it seemed
desirable to those who ordained the laws, it was a rule among the Incas
that he amongst them all who became emperor should take his sister to
wife. She had the name of _Coya_, which means the Queen, as when the
King of Spain marries any princess, who before had her own name, she is
called Queen so soon as she enters the kingdom, so they called those of
Cuzco _Coya_. If by chance he who became lord had no sister, it was
permitted that he should marry the most illustrious lady there was, and
she was held to be the principal among all his women. For none of these
lords had less than 700 women for the service of their house and for
their pleasure. So that they all had many children by these women, who
were well treated, and respected by the people. When the king was
lodging in his palace or wherever he might be, the women were watched
and guarded by porters and _camayos_,[87] which is the name of the
guards. If any had intercourse with a man she was punished with death,
and the man suffered the same penalty.
The sons whom the lords had by these women, as soon as they were grown
up, received lands and fields, which they call _chácaras_,[88] and they
were given clothes and other necessaries from the government stores for
their use. But it was not thought fit that they should have lordships,
because, in the event of any troubles in the kingdom, it was not desired
that they should be in a position to be looked upon as legitimate sons
of the king. Thus none of them was entrusted with the rule over a
province, although in time of war many were captains and were preferred
to those who were of purer lineage. The legitimate lord who inherited
the kingdom favoured them; but if they joined in any revolt they were
cruelly punished. None of them was allowed to speak to the king, even if
he was a brother, without first putting a light burden on his shoulders
and taking off his shoes, as was the custom with all other subjects.