The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

¶ Of newe Spayne cauled Noua Hispania, or Mexico.

NEwe Spayne is that parte of the continent or firme lande that lyeth West and South frome the lande of Floryda. This was subdued to thempire of Castile by the ryght noble gentel∣man Ferdinando Cortese the marquesse of the vale of Quaxaca. In this lande are many pro∣vinces cōteynyng in thē in maner innumerable cities, amonge whichthat is the chiefe which the Indiās caule Mexico or Te¦mixtitan,* 1.1 cōsystyng of more thē fiue hundreth thousand inha¦bitauntes. It standeth in the myddest of a lake of salte wa∣ter as doth Uenece in the sea. The lake conteyneth fortie Per¦sian myles cauled Parasange, euery one consystynge of .xxx. furlons, and more as sum say. In these regions is founde great plentie of golde, syluer,* 1.2 and precious stones, with in∣numerable other thynges both necessary for the lyfe of man and pleasaunt: as sylke,* 1.3 bombasine cotton,* 1.4 alame,* 1.5 Safferne, Woade,* 1.6 with dyuers other thynges wherwith clothe & sylke is dyed. There is also such abundance of suger,* 1.7 that cer∣teyne Spanysshe shippes are yearely fraighted therwith and brynge the same into Siuile from whense it is caryed in ma∣ner to all partes of Chrystendome. Thinhabitauntes of Mex∣ico are subtyle people, and vse much craft in theyr bargening They haue not the vse of golde and syluer monye:* 1.8 but vse in the steade therof the halfe shelles of almonds, whiche kynde of Barbarous money they caule Cacao or Cacanguate. In ma∣ner al kyndes of corne are there very good cheape:* 1.9 especially barly and wheate. They haue great plentie of hartes, wylde bores, Lyons, Leopardes, and Tygers, which beastes wan∣der

in maner in euery place. The region is moste commodious for haukynge and huntynge for the great abundaunce it hath of beastes and foules.* 1.10 But the people exercise all theyr cun∣nynge in makynge the images of theyr Idolatry, and in pain¦tyng.* 1.11 Theyr women are valiant: and sumptuous in theyr ap¦parell and other tyrementes. For they so vychely frynge and byset the same with perles,* 1.12 precious stones, and golde, that nothynge can be more excellent. They haue a kynde of pa∣per greatly differyng from owrs. In this they expresse theyr mindes by certeyn figures. For they haue nor otherwise thuse ofletters. The nation is desyrous of warre: and dooth not longe keepe the condicions of peace vnuiolated:* 1.13 But delyteth rather in ciuile and most cruell battayle amonge them selues then to lyue in peace and quietnesse. Suche as in the warres faule by any meanes into the handes of theyr enemies, eyther by submission or otherwyse, are partely sacrificed to the I∣doles,* 1.14 and the residue gyuen to the souldiers to bee eaten, in lyke maner as wee rewarde dogges and haukes with parte of theyr pray. They haue innumerable Idoles which euery one maketh for his particular god after the phantasie of his own brayne, and gyueth therto diuine honour. Albeit at this day they doo by lyttle and lyttle leaue of theyr barbarous fierce∣nesse: and with owre religion embrase better maners. For they nowe professe the fayth of Chryst, and in his name pray vnto God the father.

Vnderstande here that as touchynge these regions cauled new Spayne, yow may reade at large in the booke here before entiteled of the landes and Ilandes lately founde. This booke foloweth im∣mediatly after the Decades, althowgh the printer haue also wryt∣ten the thyrde decade ouer the head of that booke which intreateth principally of the regions nowe cauld newe Spayne. Of the con∣quest of this Mexico, Francisco Lopez hath written a large booke in the Spanysshe tounge.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The citie of Mexico or Te¦mixtitan
• * 1.2

  Golde and syluer.
• * 1.3

  Sylke.
• * 1.4

  Cotton.
• * 1.5

  Alam.
• * 1.6

  woade.
• * 1.7

  Sugar.
• * 1.8

  Shelles for money.
• * 1.9

  Corne Beastes.
• * 1.10

  haukyng and huntynge.
• * 1.11

  Paintynge.
• * 1.12

  women sump¦tuously appa∣reled.
• * 1.13

  A warlike na∣tion.
• * 1.14

  Captiues sa∣crificed to I∣doles.