Part 31
The order of buriall of the Kings _of Michuacan_.
The kingdome of _Michuacan_ is almoste as great as the Empire of _Mexico_, and when any king of that countrey happened to be visited with sicknesse, and brought to suche extremitie, that hope of life were past, according to the opinion of Phisitions, then would he name and appoint whiche of his Sonnes shoulde inherite the estate, and beyng knowen, the new king or heyre, incontinent sent for all the gouernours, Captaines, and valiant souldiers, who had any office or charge to come vnto the buriall of his Father, and he that came not, from thencefoorth was helde for a Traytour and so punished. When the death of the olde King was certayne, then came al degrées of Estates and brought presents to the newe king, for the approbation of his kyngdome, but if the King were not throughly dead, but at the poynt of death, then the gates were shut in, and none permitted to enter, and when hys lyfe was departed, then beganne a generall crie and mournyng, and they were permitted to come where their dead kyng lay, and to touche him with their handes: this beyng done the carkasse was washed with swéete waters, and then a fine shyrte put vpon him, and a payre of shoes made of a Déere skinne put on his féete, and aboute his ancles were tied certayne belles of golde, about his wrestes of his handes were put Manyllias of Turkies, and other bracelets of golde, lykewise aboute his necke they hong other collers of precious stones and golde, and rings in his eares, with greate Turkise in his neather lippe. Then his body was layde vpon a large beare, whereon was placed a good bedde vnder him: on his one side lay a bowe with a quyuer of arrowes, and on his other side lay an image made of fine mantels of his owne stature or bignesse with a greate tuffe of fine feathers, shoes vpon his féete, with bracelets and a coller of gold. Whyle this worke was a doyng, others were busied in washyng the men and women whiche shoulde be slayne for to accöpany him into Hell: these wretched folke that should be slaine were banqueted & filled with drinke, bycause they shoulde receyue their death with lesse paine. The newe kyng did appoint those who shoulde die for to serue the king his father, but yet many of them had rather bene without his seruice, notwithstanding some simple soules estéemed that odious death for a thyng of immortall glory. First seuen Gentlewomen of noble parentage were appoynted to die, the one to haue the office of keper of his iewels which he was wont to were, another for the office of cup bearer, another to giue him water with a basen and ewer, another to giue him alwayes the vrinall, another to be his Cooke, and another to serue for landres. They slewe also many women slaues, and frée maydens for to attende vpon the Gentlewomen, and moreouer one of euery occupation within the citie. When all these that were appoynted to die were washed & theyr bellies full with meate & drinke, then they paynted their faces yellow, and put garlandes of swéete floures vpon each of their heads. Then they went in order of processiö before the beare whereon the dead king was caried, some wente playing on instruments made of snayle shelles, others played vpon bones and shelles of seaturtils, others went whistlyng and the most part weping: the Sonnes of the dead kyng & other noble men carried vpö their shoulders the beare where y^e corse lay, & proceded with an easie pace towarde the Temple of the God _Curicaueri_: his kinsmen went round about the bere, singyng a sorowful song. The officers and houshold seruants of the Court w^t other Magistrates and rulers of iustice bare the Standartes and diuers other armes.
About midnight they departed in the order aforesayde out of the Kings palayce with great light of fire brandes and with a heauy noyse of trumpets and drummes. The Citizens which dwelt where the corse passed, attended to make cleane the streate. And when they were come to the temple, they wente foure tymes rounde about a great fire made of the woodde of Pine trée, whiche was prepared to burne y^e dead body: then the beare was layd vpon the fire, and in the meane while that the body was burnyng, they mawled with a clubbe those whiche had the garlandes, and afterwarde buried them by foure and foure, as they were apparelled behind the Temple.
The nexte day in the mornyng, the ashes, bones and Iewels was gathered and layde vpon a riche mantle, the whiche was carried to the temple gate, where the priests attended to blesse those Diuelishe relickes, whereof they made a dowe or paste, and thereof an image whiche was appareled lyke a man, with a visor on his face, and all other sortes of Iewels that the dead King was wonte to weare, so that it séemed a gallant idoll. At the foote of the temple stayres, they opened a graue ready made, whiche was square, large, & twoo fadome déepe, it was also häged with new mattes rounde about, and a fayre bed therein, in the whiche a religious man placed the idoll made of ashes, with his eyes towarde the east parte, and honge rounde aboute the walles Targets of golde and siluer, with bow and arrowes, & many gallant tuffes of feathers with earthen vessels, as pottes, dishes & platters, so that the graue was filled vp with houshold stuffe, chests couered with leather, apparell, iewels, meate, drinke, and armour. This done, the graue was shut vp & made sure with beames, bordes, and floored with earth on the toppe.
All those Gentlemen which had serued or touched any thing in the buriall, washed them selues, and wente to dinner in the Courte or yard of the Kings house without any table, and hauing dined, they wiped their hands vpon certayne lockes of Cotton wol, hanging downe their heads, and not speaking any word, except it were to aske for drinke. This Ceremonie endured fiue dayes, and in all that time no fire was permitted to be kindled in the Citie, except in the Kings house and Temples, nor yet any corne was ground, or market kept, nor none durst goe out of their houses, shewing all the sorrow that might be possible for the death of theyr King.
The order of Matrimony among _the Indians_.
In _Tlaxcallan_ and many other Cities, was vsed as a principall Ceremonie and token of marriage, that the Bridegrome and his Bride, against the day of marriage, had their heads polled, whiche was to signifie, that from that day forward, al childishe orders should be laide aside, and from that tyme new heare myght grow, to declare another kind of lyfe. The chiefest knotte of marriage vsed in _Michuacan_ was, that the Bride doe looke directly vppon hir spouse, for otherwise the Matrimony was not perfite nor auaylable.
In _Mixteoapan_ which is a greate prouince, they vse to carrie the Bridgrome to be married vpon their backes, which is to be vnderstoode, that he goeth against his wil, but yet they take hands, in token that the one shall helpe the other, and then they knitte both their mantels togyther with a great knotte, signifying that they ought continually, while life lasteth, to dwell togither.
The _Indians_ called _Macatecas_, consüme not their Matrimony in twenty dayes after their marriage, but abide in fasting and prayer all that while, sacrificing their bodyes, and annoynting the mouthes of the Idolles wyth their owne proper bloud.
In _Panuco_ the husbandes buy their wiues for a bowe, two arrowes, and a nette, and afterwarde the father in lawe speaketh not one worde to his sonne in law for the space of a whole yeare. And when the husbande hapneth to haue any child, he lyeth not any more with his wife in two yeares after, for feare least she might be with childe againe before the former childe were out of daunger, although some doe sucke vntyll twelue yeares of age, and for this consideration they haue many wiues. Likewise there is an order among them, that no woman may touch or dresse any thing being with theyr menstruall ordinarie.
Diuorcement was not permitted without a iust cause and authoritie of Iustice, among those who were openly married, but the other sort might be as easily forsaken as taken.
In _Mechuacan_ was not permitted any diuorcemente, excepte the partie made a solemne othe, that they loked not the one on the other stedfastly and directly at the time of their marriage. But in _Mexico_ they must proue how the wife is barraine, foule, & of a naughty cödition: but if they put away their wiues without order and commaundemente of the Iudge, then the heare of the offenders head is burned in the market place, as a shame or punishment of a man without reason or witte.
The payne of adultery was death, as well for the mä as the woman: but if the adulterer were a Gentleman, his head was decked with feathers after that he was häged, and his body burned, and for this offence was no pardon, eyther for man or woman, but for the auoyding of adultery they do permitte other common women, but no ordinary stewes.
Of the Iudges and order of Iustice.
In _Mexico_ were twelue Iudges, who were all noble men, graue, and well learned in the Mexican lawes. These men liued only by the rentes that properly apperteyne to the maintenance of Iustice, and in anye cause iudged by thë, it was lawfull for the parties to appeale vnto other twelue Iudges, who were of the princes bloud, and alwayes abode in the Court, and were mainteyned at the Kings owne cost and charge. The inferior Iudges came ordinarily once euery moneth to cösult with the higher. And in euery fourescore dayes came the Iudges of euery prouince within the Mexican Empire, to consult with the Iudges of _Mexico_, but all doubtfull causes were reserued to the King, onely to passe by his order and determination. The Painters serued for notaries, to paint al the cases which were to be resolued, but no sute passed aboue fourescore dayes without finall ende and determination. There were in that citie twelue Sergeants, whose office was to arrest, and to cal parties before the Iudges. Their garments were painted mantels, wherby they were knowen a farre off. The prisons were vnder ground, moyst and darke, the cause whereof, was to put the people in feare to offend. If anye witnesse were called to take an oth, the order was, that he shoulde touche the grounde with one of his fingers, and then to touch his tong with the same, whiche signifyed that hée had sworne and promised to speake the troth wyth hys tög, taking witnes therof, of y^e earth which did mainteine him. But some do interprete the oth, y^t if the partie sware not true, that then he mighte come to such extremitie, as to eate earthe. Sometime they name and call vppon the God of the crime, whose cause the matter touched.
The Iudge that taketh bribes or giftes, is forthwith put out of his office, whiche was accounted a most vyle and shamefull reproch. The _Indians_ did affirme, that _Necaualpincintli_ did hang a Iudge in _Tezcuco_, for giuing an vniust sentence, he himselfe knowing the contrary. The murther is executed without exception.
The woman with child that wilfully casteth hir creature, suffereth deathe for the same, bycause many women did voluntary vse that fact, knowing their children could not inherite. The punishment of adultery was death.
The Théefe for the firste offence was made a slaue, and hanged for the second. The traytor to the King and cömon weale, was put to death with extreame tormëts.
The woman taken in mans apparel dyed for the same, and likewise the man taken in womans attire. Euerye one that challëged another to fight except in the warres, was cödemned to die. In _Tezcuco_ the sinne of _Zodomy_ was punished with death, & that law was instituted by _Necaualpincintli_, & _Necaualcoio_, who were Iudges, which abhorred y^e filthy sinne, & therfore they deserued great praise, for in other prouinces y^e abhominable sin was not punished, although they haue in those places cömon stewes, as in _Panuco_.
The order of cruell Sacrifice _vsed among the Indians_.
At the ende of euery twenty dayes, is celebrated a festiuall feast called _Tonalli_, which falleth continually the last daye of euerye moneth, but the chiefest feast in the yeare, when most men are sacrificed & eaten, is at the ende of euerye fiftye two yeares. But the _Tlaxcaltecas_ and other common weales, do celebrate this feast euery fourth yeare.
The last day of the first moneth is called _Tlacaxipeualiztli_, on the which day were slaine a hundred slaues, which were taken in the warres, and after the sacrifise, their flesh was eaten in this order. Al the Citizens, gathered themselues togither in the high Temple, and thë the Ministers or Priestes came and vsed certaine ceremonies, the which being ended, they toke those whyche were to be sacrifised, by one and one, and layd them vpon their backes vpon a large stone, and then the slaue being on liue, they opened him in the breast, with a knife made of flinte stone, and toke out his hart, whiche they threw immediately at the foote of the Aulter, as an offering, and anoynted with the fresh bloude, the face of the God _Vitzilopuchtli_, or any other Idol. This done, they pluckt of the skinnes of a certaine number of them, the which skinnes so many auntient persons put incontinët vppon their naked bodies, al fresh & bloudy, as they wer fleane from the deade carcasses. And being open in the backe part and shoulders, they vsed to lace them, in such sorte that they came fitte vppon the bodies of those that ware them, and being in this order attired, they came to daunce among many others. In _Mexico_ the king him selfe did put on one of these skinnes, being of a principall captiue, and daunced among the other disguised persons, to exalte and honor the feast, and an infinite number followed him to behold his terrible gesture, although some hold opinion that they followed him to cötemplate his greate deuotion. After the sacrifise ended, the owner of the slaues did carry their bodies home to their houses, to make of their fleshe a solemne feaste to all their friendes, leauing their heades and hartes to the Priests, as their dutie and offering. And the skinnes were filled with cotten wool, or strawe, to be hong in the temple, and kings pallayce, for a memorie.
The slaues when they went to their sacrifice, were apparelled in the habite or deuise of the Idol vnto whom ech of them did commende himselfe: and moreouer they decked them with feathers, garlands and floures. Many of these sort of people, do go to the slaughter with ioyfull countenannce, dauncing, demaunding almes through the Citie for their sacrifice, all the whiche almes is due vnto the priestes. When the gréene corne was a foote aboue the ground, they vsed to go vnto a certain hil whiche was appointed for such deuotion, and there sacrifised two children, a boy, and a girle of thrée yeares of age, to the honor of _Tlaloc_ god of water, beséeching him therefore deuoutlye, to haue alwayes a care to prouide them water: these children were frée borne, and therfore theyr hartes were not taken out of their bodies, but after that their throtes were cut, their bodies were wrapped in a new mantel, and then buried in a graue of stone.
The feaste of _Tozoztli_ was, when the fields of _Maiz_ were growen two foote high, then a certaine summe of merchandise was gathered among the dwellers in the towne, wherewith were bought foure little slaues betwixt the age of fiue and seuen, and they were likewise sacrificed to the god _Tlaloc_, for continuall shoures of rayne. And those dead bodies were shut vp in a caue appointed for the same purpose. The beginning of this sacrifice of foure children was, at the time when in foure yeres space it rayned not, in the whiche season y^e springs were dryed vp, and al gréene things perished: wherfore they were forced to leaue the countrey, and went to inhabite at _Nicaragua_. In the moneth and feast of _Hueitozotli_, when the corne fields of _Maiz_ waxed ripe, then euery one in generall gathered his handful of _Maiz_, and brought it vnto the temple for an offering, with a certaine drinke called _Atuli_, whiche is made of the same _Maiz_. They brought also the swéete gum _Copalli_ to sense the gods which do cause the corne to growe: and all that night they ceassed not dauncing without drunkennesse. At the beginning of summer they celebrate an other feast called _Tlaxuchimcaco_, with all kinde of Roses and swéete floures that might be gotten, and thereof they vsed to make garlands to set vpon the Idols heades, and so spente all that day in dauncing. And to celebrate the feast called _Tecuilhuitli_, al the gentlemen, and principall persons of ech prouince, do come vnto the Citie, on the euening of the feast, and then they apparell a woman with the attire of the Gods of salt, who daunced among a great company of hir neighboures. But on the nexte day she was sacrificed with all the Ceremonies and solemnitie accustomed, and al that day was spent in gret deuotion, burning of incense in the fire pannes of the temple.
The merchants who had a temple by themselues dedicated to the god of gaines, made their feast vppon the day called _Miccailhuitl_, wherein they slewe many slaues in sacrifice, which they had bought, and banqueted that feast with mans flesh, dauncing al the day. The feast of _Vchpaniztli_ they sacrificed a woman, and afterward hyr bodye was slayne, and hir skinne put vppon an _Indians_ backe, who daunced two days a row with al the townsmen, which were apparelled in their best attire to celebrate y^e feaste. The day of _Hatamutztli_ y^e feast is kept in _Mexico_, where they enter into y^e lake w^t a great nüber of _Canoas_, & there they drown a boy & a girle in a litle boat, which they cause to be sonke, in such sorte, that neuer after that boat appeareth again: and they hold opinion y^t those children were in company with the Goddes of the lake. So that, that daye was spente in feasting in the temples, and annoynting the Idols chéekes, with gum called _Vlli_. There were some Images that had their faces two ynches thicke with that gum.
The order of certaine religious _women_.
On the backe side of euerye greate Temple, in euerye Cittie was made a greate Hall or lodgyng, standing alone, where as manye women did eate, drincke, lodge, & leade their liues. And although suche houses had no orders, they aboad there sure ynough. These women which lay in the houses of the Goddes, were of sundry intentions. But none of them came to abide there al their life time, although among them wer some olde women. Some entered into those religious houses being sicke and disseased, hoping there to recouer theyr health: others came thither through pure néede, and necessitie, to be there relieued: other some came thither to be good and vertuous: and some entered into the religion, hoping that the Goddes woulde giue vnto them riches, and long life. But generallye their comming thyther was, to haue good husbandes, and manye chyldren: eche of them vowed the time that shee woulde or ment to abide in that order, and after that time expired they marryed.
The first thing that they did comming into the religion, was to polle their heads, to be knowen frö others. Their offices were to spinne cotton wool and feathers, and to weaue cloth, for to apparel the Goddes and themselues, to swepe the yarde and lodgings of the temple (for the stayres and high chappels, the ministers themselues did make cleane) they vsed also to let them bloud in certaine partes of the body, to offer to the Diuellish Idols. On euery festiual day they went on procession with the priestes, but it was not lawful for them to presume to go vppe the stayres of the temple, nor yet to sing. They liued on almes, for their kinsefolke being rich, did mayntaine them with almes as a charitable seruice done vnto the Goddes: their foode was boyled flesh, and hote bread, to the intent that they should offer therof to the Goddes, that they might tast of the smoke of that victual: they vsed to eate in communitie, and lay altogither in one dormitorye, as a flocke of shéepe: they lay alwayes in theyr clothes, for honestie sake, and also to be the sooner ready in the morning to serue the Gods, & to go to their worke. And yet I know not why they shold put off their clothes, for they went almost naked. On the holy dayes they vsed to daunce before the Gods, and she that either talked or laughed with any religious or secular person, was reprehended for the same. And if any of them committed whoredome, then both the man & the woman were slain, yea they belieued that all suche offenders fleshe woulde rotte and consume away, and especially those which had lost their Virginity in the time of their religion. So that with feare of punishmente and infamie, they were good women al the while that they aboade there.
Hovv the Diuell appeared to _the Indians_.
The Diuell did many times talke wyth the priestes, and with other rulers and perticular persons, but not with al sorts of men. And vnto him to whom the Diuel had appeared, was offered & presented great giftes. The wicked spirit appeared vnto thë in a thousand shapes, and fashions, & finally he was conuersant and familiar among them very often. And the fooles thought it a greate wonder, that Gods would be so familiar with mortal men. Yea they not knowing that they were Diuels, and hearing of them many things before the had hapned, gaue great credite and beliefe to their illusions and deceites. And bycause he commaunded them, they sacrificed suche an infinite number of creatures. Likewise he, vnto whom he had apeared, carried about him painted, the likenesse wherin he shewed himself the first time. And they painted his image vpon their dores, benches, and euery corner of the house. And as he appeared in sundry figures & shapes, euen so they painted him, of infinite fashions, yea and some foule, grieslye, & feareful to beholde, but yet vnto them, it semed a thing delectable. So this ignorant people giuing credite to y^e condëned spirite, were growen euen to y^e highest hil of crueltie, vnder the coulour of deuout & religious persons, yea they had suche a custome, that before they would eat or drink, they wold take therof a little quantitie, & offer it vnto the sun and to the earth. And if they gathered corne, fruite, or roses, they would take a leafe before they would smel it, & offer the same. And he that did not obserue these & such other ceremonies, was iudged one y^t had not god in his hart, yea & (as they say) a man out of the gods fauour.
The Viceroys of Mexico.