The naturall and morall historie of the East and West Indies Intreating of the remarkable things of heaven, of the elements, mettalls, plants and beasts which are proper to that country: together with the manners, ceremonies, lawes, governments, and warres of the Indians. Written in Spanish by the R.F. Ioseph Acosta, and translated into English by E.G.

Of the titles and dignities the Indians vsed. CHAP. 25.

THe Mexicaines have beene very curious, to divide the degrees and dignities amongst the Noble men and Lords, that they might distinguish them to whom they were to give the greatest honour. The dignity of these foure Electors was the greatest, and most honou∣rable, next to the king, and they were chosen present∣ly after the kings election. They were commonly bro∣thers, or very neare kinsmen to the king, and were cal∣led Tlacohecalcalt, which signifies prince of darts, the which they cast, being a kind of armes they vse much. The next dignitie to this, were those they doe call Tla∣catecati, which is to say, circumcisers or cutters of men. The third dignitie were of those which they called E∣Zuahuacalt, which signifies a sheader of blood. All the which Titles and Dignities were exercised by men of warre. There was another a fourth intituled, Tlilan∣calqui, which is as much to say, as Lord of the blacke house, or of darkenesse, by reason of certaine incke wherewith the Priests annoynted themselves, and did serve in their idolatries. All these foure dignities were of the great Counsell, without whose advise the king might not doe any thing of importance: and the king being dead, they were to choose another in his place out of one of those foure dignities. Besides these, there were other Counsells and Audiences, and some say

there were as many as in Spaine, and that there were divers seates and iurisdictions, with their Counsellers and Iudges of the Court, and o••hers that were vnder them, as Corrigidors, chiefe Iudges, captaines of Iustice, Lievetenants, and others, which were yet inferiour to these, with a very goodly order. All which depended on the foure first Princes that assisted the king. These foure onely had authoritie and power to condemne to death, and the rest sent them instructions of the sen∣tences they had given. By meanes whereof they gave the king to vnderstand what had passed in his Realme.

There was a good order and settled policie for the revenues of the Crowne, for there were officers divi∣ded throughout all the provinces, as Receivers and Treasurers, which received the Tributes and royall re∣venews. And they carried the Tribute to the Court, at the least every moneth; which Tribute was of all things that doe growe or ingender on the land, or in the water, aswell of iewells and apparrell, as of mear. They were very carefull for the well ordering of that which concerned their religion, superstition, and ido∣latries: and for this occasion there were a great num∣ber of Ministers, to whom charge was given to teach the people the custome and ceremonies of their Lawe. Heerevppon one day a christian Priest made his com∣plaint that the Indians were no good Christians, and did not profite in the lawe of God; an olde Indian an∣swered him very well to the purpose in these termes: Let the Priest (saide hee) imploy as much care and dili∣gence to make the Indians christians, as the ministers of I∣dolles did to teach them their ceremonies; for with halfe that care they will make vs the best christians in the worlde, for that the lawe of Iesus Christ is much better; but the Indians

learne it not, for want of men to instruct them. Wherein hee spake the very trueth, to our great shame and con∣fusion.