Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex.

CHAP. XII.

Of the Religious places and persons in New Spaine: wherein is also handled their Penance, Marriages, Burialls, and other Rites, per∣formed by their Priests.

WE haue alreadie mentioned the Temple of Vitziliputzli in Mexico, which requireth our further description. It a 1.1 was built of great stones in fashion of Snakes tyed one to another: and had a great circuit, called Coatepantli, that is, a circuit of Snakes. Vpon the top of euery Chappell or Oratorie, where the Idols were, was a fine pillar wrought with small stones black as ieat, the ground raised vp with white and red, which below gaue a great light: Vpon the top of the pillar were battlements wrought like Snailes, supported by two Indians of stone, sitting, holding candlesticks in their hands, which were like Croysants, garnished and enriched at the ends, with yellow and greene fea∣thers, and long fringes of the same. Within the circuit of this Court there were many

chambers of religious men, and others that were appointed for the Priests and Popes. This Court is so great and spacious, that eight or ten thousand persons did dance easily in a round, holding hands, which was an vsuall custome there, howsoeuer it seemeth incredible. There were foure gates or entries, at the East, West, North, and South, at euery b 1.2 of which beganne a faire causey of two or three leagues long. There were in the midst of the Lake wherein Mexico is built, foure large causies. Vpon euery entrie was a God or Idoll, hauing the visage turned to the causie right against the Temple gate of Vitziliputzli. There were thirtie steps of thirtie fadome long, diuided from the circuit of the Court by a street that went betweene them. Vpon the top of these steps, there was a walke of thirtie foot broade, all plastered with chalke, in the midst of which walke was a Pallisado artificially made of very high Trees, planted in order a fadome a-sunder. These Trees were very bigge and all pierced with small holes from the foot to the top, and there were rods did runne from one Tree to another, to which were tyed many dead mens heads. Vpon euery rod were many skulls, and these rankes of skulls continue from the foot to the top of the Tree. This Pallisado was full of dead mens skulls from one end to the other, which were the heads of such as had beene sacrificed. For after the flesh was eaten, the head was deliuered to the Priests, who tyed them in this sort, vntill they fell off by morsells. Vpon the top of the Temple were two stones or Chappells, and in them the two Images of Vitziliputzli and Tlaloc. These Chappells were carued and grauen very artificially, and so high, that to ascend vp to it there were an hundred and twentie staires of stone. Before these Chappells there was a Court of fortie foot square, in the midst whereof was a high stone of fiue hand breadth, pointed in fashion of a Pyramide, placed there for the sacrificing of men as is before shewed.

Gomara c 1.3 saith, that this and other their Temples were called Tencalls, which sig∣nifieth Gods house. This Temple, he saith, was square, contayning euery way as much d 1.4 as a Crosse-bow can shoot leuell: in the midst stood a mount of earth and stone fif∣tie fadome long euery way, built Pyramide-fashion, saue that the top was flat; and ten fadome square. It had two such Pyramide stones or Altars for sacrifice, painted with monstrous figures. Euery Chappell had three lofts, one aboue another, susteyned vp∣pon pillars: From thence the eie with much pleasure might behold all about the Lake. Besides this Tower, there were fortie other Towers belonging to other inferior Tem∣ples; which were of the same fashion: only their prospect was not Westward, to make difference. Some of those Temples were bigger then others, and euery one of a se∣uerall God.

There was one round Temple dedicated to the God of the Aire, called Quecalco∣natl, the forme of the Temple representing the aires circular course about the earth. The entrance of that Temple had a dore, made like the mouth of a Serpent, with foule and deuillish resemblances, striking dreadfull horrour to such as entered. All these Temples had peculiar Houses, Priests, Gods, and Seruices. At euery dore of the great Temple was a large Hall and goodly buildings, which were common Armories for the Citie. They had other darke houses full of Idols of diuers mettalls, all embrewed with bloud, the daily sprinkling whereof makes them shew black: yea, the walls were an inch thick, and the ground a foot thick with bloud, which yeelded a lothsome sent. The Priests entered daily therein, which they allowed not to others, except to Noble personages, who at their entrie were bound to offer some man to bee sacri∣ficed to those slaughter-houses of the Deuill. There did continually reside in the great Temple fiue thousand persons, which had there their meate, drinke, and lodging; the Temple enioying great reuennues and diuers Townes for the mainte∣nance thereof.

Next c 1.5 to the Temple of Vitziliputzli was that of Tescalipuca, the God of Penance, Punishments (and Prouidence) very high and well built. It had foure ascents; on the top was flat, an hundred and twentie foot broade; and ioyning to it was a Hal han∣ged with Tapestrie, and Curtins of diuers colours and workes. The dore being low and large was alwaies couered with a vaile, and none but the Priests might enter.

All this Temple was beautified with diuers Images and Pictures most curiously: for that these two Temples were as the Cathedrall Church, the rest as parishionall. They were so spacious, and had so many Chambers, that there were in them places for the Priests, Colledges, and Schooles.

Without f 1.6 the great Temple, and ouer against the principall doore, a stones cast distant was the Charnell house, or that Golgotha (before mentioned;) where vpon poles or stickes, and also in the walles (two Towers hauing no other stuffe but lime and skulles) Andrew de Tapia certified g 1.7 Gomara, that he, and Gonsala de Vmbria did reckon in one day, an hundred thirtie six thousand skulls. When any wasted, supply was made of others in their roome••

Within this great Circuit of the principall Temple were two houses, like Cloisters, the one opposite to the other, one of men, the other of women. In that of women they were Virgins only, of twelue or thirteen yeares of age, which they called the Maids of Penance: they were as many as the men, and liued chastely, and regularly, as Vir∣gins dedicated to the seruice of their God. Their charge was to sweepe and make cleane the Temple, and euery morning to prepare meate for the Idoll and his Mini∣sters, of the Almes the Religious gathered. The foode they prepared for the Idoll were small Loaues, in the forme of hands and feete, as of March-pane: and with this bread they prepared certaine sauces, which they cast daily before the Idoll, and his Priests did eate it.

These Virgins had their haire cut, and then let them grow for a certaine time: they rose at midnight to the Idols Mattins, which they dayly celebrated, performing the same exercises which the Religious did. They had their Abbesses, who employed them to make cloth of diuers fashions, for the ornaments of their Gods and Temples. Their ordinary habite was all white, without any worke or colour. They did their penance at midnight, sacrificing and wounding themselues, and piercing the tops of their eares, laying the bloud which issued forth vpon their cheekes, and after bathed themselues in a poole which was within the Monasterie. If any vvere found disho∣nest, they were put to death without remission, saying, shee had polluted the house of their God.

They held it for an ominous token, that some Religious man or woman had com∣mitted a fault, when they saw a Rat or a Mouse passe, or a Battin in the Idol-Chappell, or that they had gnawed any of the vailes, for that they say, a Cat, or a Bat would not aduenture to commit such an indignitie, if some of tence had not gone before: and then began to make inquisition, and discouering the offender, put him to death. None were receiued into this Monasterie, but the daughters of one of the six quarters, named for that purpose: and this profession continued a yeare, during which time, their fa∣thers and themselues had made a vow to serue the Idol in this manner, and from thence they went to be married.

The other Cloyster or Monasterie was of yong-men, of eighteene or twenty yeares of age, which they called Religious. Their crownes were shauen, as the Friers in these parts, their haire a little longer, which fell to the middest of their eare, except on the hinder part of the head, where they let it grow to their shoulders, and tied it vp in trusses. These serued in the Temple, liued poorely and chastely, and (as the Leuites) ministred to the Priests, Incense, Lights and Garments, swept and made cleane the holy Place, bringing wood for a continuall fire, to the harth of their God, which was like a Lampe that still burned before the Altar of their Idoll. Besides these, there were other little boyes that serued for manuall vses, as to decke the Temple with Boughs, Roses, and Reedes, giue the Priests water to wash, Rasours to sacri∣fice, and to goe with such as begged almes, to carrie it. All these had their superi∣ours, who had the governement ouer them, and when they came in publike, where women were, they carried their eyes to the ground, not daring to beholde them. They had linnen garments, and went into the Citie foure or sixe together, to aske almes in all quarters, and if they gote none, it was lawfull for them to goe into the Corne∣fields, and gather that which they needed, none daring to contradict them.

There might not aboue fiftie liue in this penance, they rose at mid-night and soun∣ded the Trumpets, to awake the people. Euery one watched by turne, least the fire before the Altar should die: they gaue the censer, with which the Priest at mid-night incensed the Idoll, and also in the morning, at noone, and at night. They h 1.8 were very subiect and obedient to their Superiours, and passed not any one point commanded. And at mid-night after the Priest had ended his censing, they retyred themselues a∣part into a secret place, where they sacrificed and drew bloud from the Calues of their legges with sharpe bodkins, therewith rubbing their Temples and vnder their Eares, presently washing themselues in a Poole appointed to that end. These yong men did not annoynt their heads and bodies with * 1.9 Petum, as the Priests did. This austeritie continued a yeare.

The Priests likewise rose at mid-night, and retyred themselues into a large place where were many lights, and there drew bloud, as the former, from their legges, then did they set these Bodkins vpon the battlements of the Court, stickt in straw, that the people might see. Neither might they vse one bodkin twice. The Priests also v∣sed great fasts of fiue or ten dayes together, before their great Feasts. Some of them to preserue their chastitie, slit their members in the midst, and did a hundred thinges to make themselues impotent, lest they should offend their Gods. They drunke no wine, and slept little, for that the greatest part of their exercises were by night.

They did vse also (that the selfe-tyrannising Catholike should not out-vie merits) to Discipline themselues with cords full of knots, wherein the people likewise came not behinde in cruell Processions, especially on the Feast of Tezcalipuca, lashing themselues with knotted Manguey-cords ouer the shoulders. The Priests fasted fiue dayes before that Feast, eating but once a day, and abstayning from their Wiues; the whips supplying those delicacies.

Gomara i 1.10 speaketh of others, besides those yong ones before mentioned, which liued in those Cloysters, some being sick, for their recouerie; some in extreme pouer∣tie, to finde reliefe; some for riches, for long life, for good husbands, for many chil∣dren, and some for vertue: euery one abode there as long as they had vowed, and af∣ter vsed their libertie. Their offices were to spinne cotton, wooll, and feathers, and to weaue cloth for their Gods, and themselues, to sweepe all the holy roomes: they might goe on Procession with the Priests, but not sing, nor goe vp the staires of the Temple: their foode was boiled flesh and hot bread, receiued of almes, the smoke whereof was offered to their Gods: they eate and lay all together, but lay in their clothes.

Touching their Priests in Mexico k 1.11 there were some high Priests or Popes, euen vnder the same name, called by the Mexicans,Papas, as they should say, Soueraigne Bishops: others, as before you haue heard, were of inferiour ranke. The Priests of Vitziliputzli succeeded by linages of certaine quarters of the Citie, deputed for that purpose: and those of other Idolls came by election, or by being offered to the Tem∣ple in their Infancie. The daily exercise of the Priests was to cast incense on the I∣dolls, which was done foure times in the space of a naturall day: at breake of day, at noone, at sunne-set, at mid-night. At mid-night all the chiefe Officers of the Temple did rise, and in stead of Bells they did sound a long time vpon Trumpets, Cornets, and Flutes, very heauily; which being ended, he that did the Office that weeke, stept forth attyred in a white Robe with a censer in his hand, full of coles, which hee tooke from the harth, burning continually before the Altar; in the other hand he had a purse full of incense, which hee cast into the censer, and entring the place where the Idoll was, he incensed it with great reuerence; then tooke hee a cloth with the which hee wiped the Altar and the Curtins. This done, they went all into a Chappell, and there did beat themselues and draw bloud with Bodkins, as is said: this was alwaies done at mid-night. None other but the Priests might intermeddle with their Sacrifices, and euery one did imploy himselfe according to his dignitie and degree. They did like∣wise preach to the people at some Feasts. They had reuennues, and great offerings.

The Mexican Priests l 1.12 were thus annoynted; they annoynted the bodie from

the foote to the head, and all the haire likewise, which hung like tresses, or a horse∣mane, for that they applied this vnction wet and moist. Their haire grew so, that in time it hung downe to their hammes, insomuch, that the weight made it burthen∣some; for they neuer cut it vntill they died, or were dispensed with for their great age, or were employed in gouernements, or some honourable charge in the Com∣mon-wealth. They carried their haire in tresses of sixe fingers breadth, which they died blacke with the fume of Sapine, Firre, or Rosine. They were alwayes died with this tincture, from the foote vnto the head, so as they were like vnto shining Ne∣gros. This was their ordinarie vnction; they had an other, when they went to sa∣crifice or incense on the toppes of mountaines, or in darke Caues, where their Idoles were, vsing also certaine ceremonies, to take away Feare, and adde Courage. This Vnction was made with diuerse venomous beasts, as Spiders, Scorpions, Salaman∣ders, and Vipers, which the boyes in the Colledges tooke and gathered together: wherein they were so expert, as they were alway furnished when the Priests called for them. They tooke all these together, and burnt them vpon the harth of the Temple which was before the Altar, vntill they were consumed to ashes. Then did they put them in Morters with much Tabacco or Petum, which maketh them loose their force; mingling likewise with these ashes, scorpions, spiders, and palmers aliue. After this, they put to it a certaine seed being grownd, which they called Ololol••chqui, whereof the Indians made drinkes to see Visions, for that the vertue of this herbe is to depriue men of sense. They did likewise grinde with these ashes blacke and hairie wormes, whose haire onelie is venomous: all which they mingled together with blacke, or the fume of rosine, putting it in small pots, which they set before their God, saying it was his meate, and therefore called it a Diuine meate. By meanes of this oyntment they became Witches, and did see and speake with the Deuill. The Priests, being slubbered with this oyntment, lost all feare, putting on a spirite of crueltie. By rea∣son whereof they did very boldely kill men in their Sacrifices, went all alone in the night time to the mountaines, and into obscure Caues, contemned all wilde beasts, beleeuing, that Lions, Tygres, Serpents, and the rest fled from them by vertue hereof.

This Petum did also serue to cure the sicke; and for children, all resorted to them as to their Sauiour, to apply vnto them this Diuine Physicke, as they called it. They vsed manifolde other superstitions to delude the people, in tying small flowers about their neckes, and strings with small bones of Snakes, commaunding them to bathe at cer∣tayne times, to watch all night at the Diuine harth, to eate no other bread but that which had beene offered to their Gods, that they should (vpon all occasions) repaire to their wisards, who with certaine graines tolde fortunes, and diuined, looking into keelers and pailes full of water. The Sorcerers & m 1.13 Ministers of the deuill vsed much to besmeare themselues. There were an infinite number of these witches, diuiners, inchan∣ters, and the like: and still there remaine of them (but secret) not daring publiquely to exercise their superstitions

The Mexicans n 1.14 had amongst them a kinde of Baptisme, which they did with cut∣ting the eares and members of yong children, hauing some resemblance of the Iewish circumcision. This ceremonie was done principally to the sonnes of Kings and No∣ble men: presently vpon their birth the Priestes did wash them, and did put a lit∣tle sword in the right hand, in the left, a Target. And to the children of the vul∣gar sort, they put the markes of their callings, and to their daughters, instruments to spinne, knit, and labour.

The o 1.15 Priests also had their office in marriages. The Bridegroome, and the Bride stood together before the Priest, who tooke them by the hands, asking them if they would marry: vnderstanding their will, he tooke a corner of the vaile, wherewith the vvoman had her head couered, and a corner of the mans gowne, which hee tied together on a knot, and so led them thus tied to the Bridegroomes house, where there was a harth kindled. Then he caused the Wife to goe seuen times about the harth, and so the mar∣ried couple sate downe together, and thus was the marriage contracted.

In other parts of New Spaine p 1.16 they vsed other marriage-rites; at Tlaxcallan the Bridegroome and Bride polled their heads, to signifie, that from thenceforth all chil∣dish courses should be laid aside. At Michuacan the Bride must looke directly vpon the Bridegroome, or else the marriage was not perfect. In Mixteopan they vsed to carrie the Bridegrome vpon their backes, as if hee were forced: and then they both ioyne hands, and knit their mantles together with a great knot. The Macatecas did not come together in twenty dayes after marriage, but abode in fasting and prayer all that while, sacrificing their bodies, and annoynting the mouths of the Idoles with their bloud. In Panuco the husbands buy their wiues for a bowe, two arrowes, and a net; and after∣wards the father in lawe speaketh not one word to his sonne in lawe for the space of a yere. When he hath a child, he lieth not with his wife in two yeres after, lest she should be with childe againe before the other bee out of daunger; some sucke twelue yeares: and for this cause they haue many wiues. No woman, while she hath her disease, may touch or dresse any thing. Adultery in Mexico was death: common women were per∣mitted, but no ordinarie stewes. The deuill did many times talke with their Priests, and with some other rulers and particular persons. Great gifts were offred vnto him whom the deuill had vouchsafed this conference. He appeared vnto them in many shapes, and was often familiar with them. He, to whom he appeared, carried about him, painted, the likenes where in he shewed himselfe the first time. And they painted his Image on their doores, benches, and euery corner of the house. Likewise, according to his Protean and diuersified Apparitions, they painted him in many shapes.

It belonged also to the office of the Priests and religious in Mexico, q 1.17 to interre the dead, and doe their obsequies. The places where they buried them were their gardens and courts of their owne houses: others carried them to the places of sacrifices, which were done in the mountaines: others burnt them, and after, buried the ashes in the temples, burying with them whatsoeuer they had of apparrell, stones & iewels. They did sing the funerall offices like Responds, often lifting vp the dead body, with many ceremonies. At these mortuaries they did eate & drinke; and if it were a person of qualitie, they gaue apparell to such as came. When one was dead, his friends came with their presents, and saluted him as if he were liuing. And if he were a King or Lord of some towne, they of∣fered some slaues to bee put to death with him, to serue him in the other world. They likewise put to death his Priest or Chaplaine (for euery nobleman had a Priest for his do∣mesticall holies) that he might execute his office with the dead. They likewise killed his cook, his butler, dwarffs, & deformed men, and whosoeuer had most serued him, though he were his brother. And to preuent pouerty, they buried with them much wealth, as gold, siluer, stones, curtins, and other rich peeces. And if they burned the dead, they vsed the like with all his seruants, and ornaments they gaue him for the other world, & last∣ly, buried the ashes with great solemnitie. The obsequies continued tenne dayes with mournefull songs, and the Priests carried away the dead with innumerable ceremonies. To the noble-men they gaue their honorable ensignes, armes, and particular blazons, which they carried before the body to the place of burning, marching as in a Processi∣on, where the Priests and Officers of the Temple went with diuers furnitures, and orna∣ments, some casting incense, others singing, and some making the drums and flutes to sound the mournefullest accents of sorrow. The Priest who did the office was decked with the markes of the Idoll which the Noble-man had represented: for all noble-men did represent Idoles and carry the name of some one.

Their r 1.18 Knighthood had these funerall solemnities. They brought the corpse to the place appointed, and environing it, and all the baggage, with pine-trees, set fire there∣on, maintaining the same with gummy wood, till all were consumed. Then came forth a Priest attired like a deuill, hauing mouths vpon euery ioynt of him, and many eyes of glasse, holding a great staffe with which he mingled all the ashes with terrible and feare∣full gestures. When s 1.19 the king of Mexico sickened, they vsed forthwith to put a visor on the face of Tezcatlipuca or Vitzilivitzli, or some other idoll, which was not taken away till he mended or ended. If he died, word was presently sent into all his dominions for publike lamentations, and noble-men were summoned to the funeralls. The bodie

was laid on a matte, and watched foure nights, then washed, and a lock of haire cut off for a relike, for therein (said they) remained the remembrance of his soule. After this an Emerald was put in his mouth, & his body shrowded in seuenteene rich mantles, costly and curiously wrought. Vpon the vpper mantle was set the Deuice or Armes of some I∣doll, whereunto he had beene most deuote in his life time, and in his Temple should the body be huried. Vpon his face they put a vizor painted with fowle and diuellish ge∣stures, beset with iewels: then they killed the slaue, whose office was to light the lamps, and make fire to the Gods of his pallace. This done, they carried the body to the Tem∣ple, some carrying targets, arrowes, mases and ensignes, to hurl•• into the funerall fire. The high-priest and his crew receiue him at the temple gate with a sorrowfull Song, and after hee hath said certaine words, the body is cast into the fire there prepared for that purpose, together with iewells: also a dogge newly strangled, to guide his way. In the meane while two hundred persons were sacrificed by the Priests, or more, to serue him, as is said. The fourth day after, fifteene slaues were sacrificed for his soule, and vpon the twentieth day, fiue; on the sixtieth, three, &c. The ashes with the locke of haire was put in a chest, painted on the inside, with diuellish shapes, together with an other locke of haire which had beene reserued since the time of his birth. On this chest was set the I∣mage of the King: the kindred offred great gifts before the same. The Kings of Mechua∣can obserued the like bloudy rites: many Gentlewomen were by the new King ap∣pointed their offices in their seruice to the deceased, and while his body was burning, were malled with clubbes, and buried foure and foure in a graue. Many women-slaues and free Maidens were slaine to attend on these Gentlewomen. But I would not bu∣rie my Reader in these direfull graues of men, cruell in life and death. Let vs seeke some Festiuall argument, if that may be more delightfull.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Acost. I.5.c.13
• b 1.2

  Gomara saith that the fourth was not a cau∣sey, but a street of the Citie.
• c 1.3

  Gomar.part.1
• d 1.4

  Pet.Mart. Dec.5.l.4. saith that in largeness•• the situation of this Temple is matchable with a Towne of fiue hun∣dred houses.
• c 1.5

  Acost.l.5.c.13
• f 1.6

  Lop. Gom. part.1.
• g 1.7

  Acost. l.5. cap.15.
• h 1.8

  Mexican Vota∣ries, no lesse strict in that threefold cord which the Popish Votaries glorie of; Pouertie, Cō∣tinencie, Obe∣dience, with o∣ther will-wor∣ship: yea, for the time, more austere.
• * 1.9

  Tobacco.
• i 1.10

  I.op. de Gom. part.1. pag.396.
• k 1.11

  Ios.Acost.l.5 cap.14.
• l 1.12

  Acost.l.5.c.26
• m 1.13

  Their wit∣ches.
• n 1.14

  Their rites vnto infants.
• o 1.15

  Their mar∣riages
• p 1.16

  Gomara.part. 1 pag 389.
• q 1.17

  Acost.li. 5.c.8.
• r 1.18

  The Mexicās honoured the best souldiers with a kinde of knighthood, of which were three Orders: one ware a red riband, which was the chief, the second was the Lion or ty∣ger knight: the grey Knight was the mea∣nest: they had great priviled∣ges. Acost. libr. 6 ca.26.
• s 1.19

  Lop.de.Gom. part, 1.pag. 383.