Part 30
_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.
The nexte day followyng, all the ashes were gathered togither, and the téeth with the Emerald that was in his mouth, the whiche things were put into a chest, paynted on the inside with horrible figures of diuels, and the locke of heare whiche was cut from his crowne, and another locke of heare which was preserued from the tyme of his birth. Then the chest was lockte, and an image of wood made and clothed like vnto the Kings person, which was set on the toppe of the chest. The obsequies endured foure dayes, in the whiche the wiues and daughters of the king offered great offerings at the place where his body was buried, and before the chest and his image.
On the fourth day after the buriall, fiftene slaues were sacrificed for his soule, and on the twentith day other fiue persons were also sacrificed, likewise on the sixtie thrée, and fourescore, whiche was lyke vnto the yéeres minde.