Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

Description of Mexico as it flourished in those times.

MExico at the time when Cortes entred, was a Citie of sixtie thousand houses. The Kings house, and o••her Noblemens houses were great, large, and beautifull, the other were small and meane, without either doores or windowes: and although they were small, yet there dwel∣leth in some of them, two, three, yea and ten persons, by reason whereof, the Citie was wonder∣fully [ 10] replenished with people.

This Citie is built vpon the water, euen in the same order as Venice is. All the body of the Citie standeth in a great large Lake of water.* 1.1 There are three sorts of streetes very broad and faire, the one sort are onely water, with many Bridges: another sort of onely earth: and the third of earth and water: that is to say, the one halfe earth to walke vpon, and the other halfe for Boates to bring prouision of all sorts. These streetes are kept alwayes cleane, and the most part of the houses haue two doores, the one towards the Cawsey, and the other towards the water, at the which they take Boate to goe where they list. And although this Citie is founded vpon water, yet the same water is not good to drinke, whereof there is brought by conduit wa∣ter from a place called Capultepec, three miles distant from the Citie, which springeth out of a [ 20] little hill, at the foote whereof standeth two Statues or couered Images wrought in stone, with their Targets and Lances, the one is of Mutezuma, and the other of Axaiaca his Father. The water is brought from thence in two Pipes or Canals in great quantity, and when the one is foule, then all the water is conueied into the other, till the first be made cleane. From this Fountaine all the whole Citie is prouided, so that they goe selling the same water from streete to streete in little Boates, and doe pay a certaine tribute for the same.

This Citie is diuided into two streetes, the one was called Tlatelulco, that is to say, a little Iland, and the other Mexico, where Mutezuma his dwelling and Court was, and is to be inter∣preted a Spring. This streete is the fairest and most principall, and because of the Kings Pallace there, the Citie was named Mexico, although the old and first name of the Citie was Tenuch∣titlan, [ 30] which doth signifie Fruite out of stone, for the name is compounded of Tetl, which is, Stone, and Nuchtl••, which is a Fruite in Cuba and Hispaniola called Tunas; the Tree (or to speake properly, the Thistle) that beareth this fruite, is named Nopal,* 1.2 and is nothing almost but leaues of a footebroad and round, and three inches thicke, some more, and some lesse, according to the growth, full of thornes which are venemous: the leafe is greene, and the thorne or pricke rus∣set. After that is planted, it encreaseth, growing leafe vnto leafe, and the foote thereof com∣meth to be as the body of a tree, and one leafe doth onely produce another at the point, but at the sides of the same leaues proceede other leaues. In some Prouinces where water is scant, they vse to drinke the iuice of these leaues. The fruite thereof called Nuchtli, is like vnto Figges, and euen so hath his little kernels or graines within, but they are somewhat larger, and crowned [ 40] like vnto a Medler. There are of them of sundry colours, some are greene without, and Car∣nationlike within, which haue a good taste. Others are yellow, and others white, and some speckled: the best sort are the white: it is a fruite that will last long. Some of them haue the taste of Peares, and othersome of Grapes: it is a cold and a fresh fruite, and best esteemed in the heate of Summer. The Spaniards doe more esteeme them then the Indians. The more the ground is laboured where they grow, the fruite is so much the better. There is yet another kinde of this fruite red, and that is nothing esteemed, although his taste is not euill, but because it doth co∣lour and dye the eaters mouth, lippes, and apparell, yea, and maketh his vrine looke like pure bloud. Many Spaniards at their first comming into India, and eating this Fruite, were in a maze, and at their wits end, thinking that all the blood in their bodies came out in vrine: yea and many Phisitions at their first comming were of the same beliefe: for it hath happened, when [ 50] they haue bin sent for vnto such as haue eaten this fruite, they not knowing the cause, and be∣holding the vrine, by and by they ministred medicine to stanch the bloud: a thing ridiculous, to see the Phisitians so deceiued. Of this fruite Nuchtli and Tetl, which is a Stone, is compoun∣ded Tenuchtlitan. When this City was begun to be founded, it was placed neere vnto a great Stone that stood in the middest of the Lake, at the foote whereof grew one of these Nopal trees, and therefore Mexico giueth for armes and deuise the foot of a Nopal tree springing from a stone, according to the Cities name.

Mexico is as much to say, as a Spring or Fountaine, according to the property of the vowell and speech. Others doe affirme, that Mexico hath his name of a more ancient time,* 1.3 whose first [ 60] Founders were called Mexiti, for vnto this day the Indian dwellers in one streete of this City are called of Mexico. The Mexiti tooke name of thir principallest Idoll called Mexitli, who was in as great veneration as Vitzilopuchtli, god of the warre. Mexico is enuironed with sweet water, and hath three wayes to come vnto it by cawsie, the one is from the West, and that cawsie is a mile and a halfe long. Another from the North, and containeth three miles in length. Eastward

the Citie hath no entrie. But Southward the Cawsey is sixe miles long, which was the way that Cortez entred into the Citie.* 1.4 The Lake that Mexico is planted in, although it seemteh one, yet it is two, for the one is of water saltish, bitter, and pestiferous, and no kinde of fish liueth in it. And the other water is wholesome, good, and sweet, and bringeth forth small fish. The salt wa∣ter ebbeth and floweth,* 1.5 according to the winde that bloweth. The sweet water standeth higher, so that the good water falleth into the euill, and reuerteth not backward, as some hold opinion. The salt Lake contayneth fifteene miles in breadth, and fifteene in length, and more then fiue and fortie in circuit; and the Lake of sweet water contayneth euen as much, in such sort, that the whole Lake contayneth more then thirtie leagues, and hath about fiftie townes situated round about it, many of which townes doe contayne fiue thousand housholds, and some ten thou∣sand, yea and one towne called Tezcuco, is as bigge as Mexico. All this Lake of water springeth [ 10] out of a Mountaine that standeth within sight of Mexico. The cause that the one part of the Lake is brackish or saltish, is, that the bottome or ground is all salt, and of that water great quan∣titie of salt is daily made.

In this great Lake are aboue two hundred thousand little boates, which the Indians call A∣calles,* 1.6 and the Spaniards call them Canoas, according to the speech of Cuba and Santo Domingo, wrought like a kneading trough: some are bigger then other some, according to the greatnesse of the body of the tree whereof they are made. And where I number two hundred thousand of these boats, I speake of the least, for Mexico alone hath aboue fiftie thousand ordinarily to carry and bring vnto the Citie victuall, prouision, and passengers, so that on the market day all the streets of water are full of them. [ 20]

* 1.7The Market is called in the Indian tongue Tlanquiztli: euery Parish hath his Market place to buy and sell in: but Mexico, and Tlatelulco onely, which are the chiefest Cities, haue great Faires and places fit for the same, and especially Mexico hath one place where most dayes in the yeere is buying and selling, but euery fourth day is the great Market ordinarily: and the like custome is vsed throughout the Dominions of Mutezuma. This place is wide and large, compassed round about with doores, and is so great, that a hundred thousand persons come thither to chop and change, as a Citie most principall in all that Region. Wherefore the resort is from farre parts vnto that place. Euery occupation and kinde of merchandise hath his proper place appointed, which no other may by any meanes occupie or disturbe.* 1.8 Likewise pesterous wares haue their [ 30] place accordingly (that is to say) stone, timber, lime, bricke, and all kinde of stuffe vnwrought, being necessarie to build withall. Also Mats both fine and course of sundrie workmanship, also Coales,* 1.9 Wood, and all sorts of earthen vessell, glased and painted very curiously: Deere skinnes both raw and tanned in haire and without haire, of many colours, for Shoomakers, Bucklers, Targets, Ierkins, and lining of woodden Corselets: also skinnes of other beasts and fowle in fea∣thers readie dressed of all sorts, the colours and strangenesse thereof was a thing to behold. The richest merchandise was Salt, and Mantels of cotton wooll of diuers colours, both great and smal, some for beds, others for garments and clothing, other for tapissarie to hang houses, other cotten cloth for lining breeches, shirts, table clothes, towels, napkins, and such like things.

There were also Mantels made of the leaues of the tree called Metl, and of Palme tree, and Cony haire, which are well esteemed, being very warme, but the Couerlets made of feathers [ 40] are the best: they sell threed made of Cony haire, pieces of linnen cloth made of cotton wooll, also skaines of threed of all colours: also it is strange to see the great store of fowle, some wilde, some tame, some water fowle, and other some of rapine. All the brauerie of the Market, is the place where gold and feathers ioyntly wrought is sold, for any thing that is in request is there liuely wrought in gold and feathers,* 1.10 and gallant colours. The Indians are so expert and perfect in this science, that they will worke or make a Butter-flie, any wild Beast, Trees, Roses, Flowers, Herbs, Rootes, or any other thing, so liuely, that it is a thing maruellous to behold. It hapneth many times that one of these workmen in a whole day will eate nothing, onely to place one fea∣ther in his due perfection, turning and tossing the feather to the light of the Sunne, into the [ 50] shade or darke place, to see where is his most naturall perfection, and till his worke be finished he will neither eate nor drinke. There are few Nations of so much patience. The Art or Science of Gold-smiths, among them is the most curious, and very good workmanship engrauen with tooles made of flint,* 1.11 or in mold. They will cast a platter in mold with eight corners, and euery corner of seuerall metall, that is to say, the one of gold, and the other of siluer, without any kind of solder: they will also found or cast a little caldron with loose handles hanging thereat, as wee vse to cast a bell: they will also cast in mold a fish of metall with one scale of siluer on his backe, and another of gold: they will make a Parret or Popinjay of metall, that his tongue shall shake, and his head mooue, and his wings flutter: they will cast an Ape in mold, that both hands and feet shall stirre, and hold a spindle in his hand seeming to spin, yea and an Apple in his hand, as though he would eate it. Our Spaniards were not a little amazed at the sight of these things. For [ 60] our Gold-smiths are not to be compared vnto them. They haue skill also of Amell worke, and to set any precious stone. But now as touching the Market, there is to sell Gold, Siluer, Copper, Leade, Latton, and Tin, although there is but little of the three last metals mentioned. There are

pearles, precious stones, diuers and sundrie sorts of shells, and bones, spunges and other Pedlers ware, which certainly are many and strange sorts, yea, and a thing to laugh at their Haberdash toyes and triffles. There are also many kinde of Hearbs, Roots, and Seedes, as well to bee eaten, as for medicine, for both men, women, and children, haue great knowledge in hearbs, for through pouertie and necessitie, they seeke them for their sustenance and helpe of their infirmities and dis∣eases. They spend little among Physicians, although there are some of that Art, and many Apo∣thecaries, who doe bring into the market Ointments, Sirrops, Waters, and other drugs, fit for sicke persons: they cure all diseases almost, with hearbs; yea, as much as for to kill Lice, they haue a proper hearbe for the purpose.

[ 10] The seuerall kindes of meates to bee sold are without number, as Snakes without head and taile, little Dogs gelt, Molls, Rats, long Wormes, Lice, yea and a kinde of earth,* 1.12 for at one sea∣son in the yeere they haue Nets of maile, with the which they rake vp a certaine dust that is bred vpon the water of the Lake of Mexico, and that is kneaded together like vnto Oas of the Sea: they gather much of this victuall, and keepe it in heapes, and make thereof Cakes like vnto brick-bats: they sell not onely this ware in the Market, but also send it abroad to other Faires and Markets afarre off: they eate this meate with as good stomacks as wee eate cheese, yea and they hold opinion that this skum or fatnesse of the water, is the cause that such great number of fowle commeth to the Lake, which in the winter season is infinite. All the Sellers pay a certaine summe for their shops or standings to the King, as a custome, and they to bee preserued and de∣fended [ 20] from theeues: and for that cause there goe certaine Sergeants or Officers vp and downe the Market to espie out malefactors. In the middest of the Market standeth a house which may bee seene throughout the Faire, and there sitteth twelue ancient men for Iudges to dispatch Law matters: their buying and selling is to change one ware for another, as thus,* 1.13 one giueth a Hen for a bundell of Maiz, other giue Mantels for Salt, or money which is Cacao, and this is their order to chop and change: they haue measure and strike for all kinde of Corne, and other earthen mea∣sures for Hony and Wine, and if any Measure bee falsified, they punish the offenders, and breake their measures.

The Temple is called Teucalli, that is to say, Gods House; Teutl, signifieth God;* 1.14 and Calli is a House, a name very fit, if that house had beene of the true God. The Spaniards that vnderstand [ 30] not the language, doe pronounce and call those Temples Cues, and the God Vitzilopuchtli, Vchi∣lobos. There are in Mexico many Churches with Towres for their Parishes and Streets, where∣in are Chappels and Altars where the Images and Idols doe stand, and those Chappels doe serue for buriall places of their Founders; for others are buried in the ground about them or Church∣yards. All their Temples are of one fashion, therefore it shall bee now sufficient to speake of the principall Church. This Temple is square, and doth contayne euery way as much ground as a Crosse-bow can reach leuell: it is made of stone, with foure doores that abutteth vpon the three Cawseys, and vpon another part of the Citie, that hath no Cawsey but a faire street. In the middest of this Quaderne standeth a mount of earth and stone, square likewise,* 1.15 and fiftie fathom long euery way, built vpward like vnto a Pyramide of Egypt, sauing the top is not sharpe, but [ 40] plaine and flat, and ten fathom square: vpon the West side, were steps vp to the top, in number an hundreth and fourteene, which being so many, high, and made of good stone, did seeme a beautifull thing. It was a strange sight to behold the Priests, some going vp, and some downe with ceremonies, or with men to be sacrificed.* 1.16 Vpon the top of this Temple are two great Al∣tars, a good space distant the one from the other, and so nigh the edge or brim of the wall, that scarsly a man may goe behinde them at pleasure. The one Altar standeth on the right hand, and the other on the left: they were but of fiue foot high, each of them had the backe part made of stone, painted with monstrous and foule figures, the Chappell was faire and well wrought of Masons worke and timber, euery Chappell had three lofts, one aboue another, sustayned vpon pillars, and with the height thereof it shewed like vnto a faire Towre, and beautified the Citie [ 50] afarre off: from thence a man may see all the Citie and Townes round about the Lake, which was vndoubtedly a goodly prospect. And because Cortes and his companie should see the beautie thereof; Mutezuma brought him thither, and shewed him all the order of the Temple, euen from the foot to the top. There was a certaine plot or space for the Idoll Priests to celebrate their seruice without disturbance of any. Their generall prayers were made toward the rising of the Sunne. Vpon each Altar standeth a great Idoll. Beside this Towre that standeth vpon the Py∣ramide,* 1.17 there are fourtie Towres great and small belonging to other little Temples which stand in the same circuit, the which although they were of the same making, yet their prospect was not Westward, but other wayes, because there should be a difference betwixt the great Temple and them. Some of these Temples were bigger then others, and euery one of a seuerall God,* 1.18 [ 60] among the which there was one round Temple, dedicated to the God of the aire, called Quecal∣couatl, for euen as the aire goeth round about the Heauens, euen for that consideration they made his Temple round. The entrance of that Temple had a doore,* 1.19 made like vnto the mouth of a Serpent, and was painted with foule and deuillish gestures, with great teeth and gums wrought, which was a thing to feare those that should enter in thereat, and especially the Christians

vnto whom it represented very Hell, with that vgly face and monstrous teeth.

There were other Teucalles in the Citie, that had the ascending vp by steps in three places: all these Temples had houses by themselues with all seruice, and Priests and particular Gods. At euery doore of the great Temple standeth a large Hall and goodly Lodgings, both high and low round about,* 1.20 which houses were common Armories for the Citie, for the force and strength of euery Towne is the Temple, and therefore they haue there placed their store-house of munition. They had other darke houses full of Idols,* 1.21 great and small, wrought of sundrie metals, they are all bathed and washed with bloud, and doe shew very blacke through their daily sprinkling and anointing them with the same, when any man is sacrificed: yea, and the walls are an inch thicke with bloud,* 1.22 and the ground is a foot thick of bloud, so that there is a deuillish stinch. The Priests [ 10] or Ministers goe daily into those Oratories,* 1.23 and suffer none others but great personages to enter in. Yea, and when any such goeth in, they are bound to offer some man to bee sacrificed, that those bloudie Hangmen and Ministers of the Deuill may wash their hands in bloud of those so sacrificed, and to sprinkle their house therewith.

For their seruice in the Kitchin they haue a Pond of water that is filled once a yeere, which is brought by conduit from the principall Fountaine. All the residue of the foresaid circuit serueth for places to breede fowle, with Gardens of herbs and sweet trees, with Roses and flowers for the Altars. Such, so great and strange was this Temple of Mexico, for the seruice of the Deuill who had deceiued those simple Indians. There doth reside in the same Temple continually fiue thousand persons,* 1.24 and all they are lodged and haue their liuing there, for that Temple is maruel∣lous rich, and hath diuers Townes onely for their maintenance and reparation, and are bound to [ 20] sustaine the same alwayes on foot. They doe sowe Corne, and maintayne all those fiue thou∣sand persons with bread, fruit, flesh, fish, and fire-wood, as much as they neede, for they spend more fire-wood then is spent in the Kings Court: these persons doe liue at their hearts ease, as seruants and vassals vnto the Gods.

* 1.25The Gods of Mexico were two thousand in number, as the Indians reported, the chiefest were Vitzilopuchtli, and Tezcatlipuca, whose Images stood highest in the Temple vpon the Al∣tars: they were made of stone in full proportion as bigge as a Giant. They were couered with a lawne, called Nacar. These Images were beset with pearles, precious stones, and pieces of gold, wrought like birds, beasts, fishes, and flowres, adorned with Emeralds, Turquies, Calce∣dons, [ 30] and other little fine stones, so that when the lawne Nacar was taken away, the Images seemed very beautifull to behold.* 1.26 The Image had for a girdle great Snakes of gold, and for Col∣lars and Chaines about their necks, ten hearts of men made of gold, and each of those Idols had a counterfait visard with eyes of glasse, and in their necks death painted: each of these things had their considerations and meanings. These two Gods were brethren, for Tezcatlipuca was the God of Prouidence, and Vitzilopuchti God of the Warres, who was worshipped and feared more then all the rest.

There was another God, who had a great Image placed vpon the top of the Chappell of Idols, and he was esteemed for a speciall and singular God aboue all the rest. This God was made of all kinde of seedes that groweth in that Country, and being ground, they made a certaine paste, [ 40] tempered with Childrens bloud, and Virgins sacrificed, who were opened with their Rasors in the breasts, and their hearts taken out, to offer as first fruits vnto the Idoll. The Priests and Mi∣nisters doe consecrate this Idoll with great pompe and many ceremonies. All the Comarcans and Citizens are present at the consecration, with great triumph and incredible deuotion. After the consecration,* 1.27 many deuout persons came and sticked in the dowie Image precious stones, wedges of gold, and other jewels. After all this pompe ended, no secular man may touch that holy I∣mage, no nor yet come into his Chappell, nay-scarsly religious persons, except they were Tlama∣caztli, who are Priests of order. They doe renew this Image many times with new dough, ta∣king away the old, but then blessed is he that can get one piece of the old raggs for reliques, and chiefly for Souldiers, who thought themselues sure there with in the warres. Also at the conse∣cration [ 50] of this Idoll, a certaine vessell of water was blessed with many wordes and ceremonies, and that water was preserued very religiously at the foot of the Altar, for to consecrate the King when he should be crowned, and also to blesse any Captaine generall, when he should be elected for the warres, with onely giuing him a draught of that water.

* 1.28Without the Temple, and ouer against the principall doore thereof, a stones cast distant, stan∣deth the Charnell house onely of dead mens heads, prisoners in warres, and sacrificed with the knife. This monument was made like vnto a Theater, more larger then broad, wrought of lime and stone, with ascending steps, in the walls whereof was grafted betwixt stone and stone a Scull, with the teeth outwards. At the foot and head of this Theater, were two Towres, made onely of lime and sculls,* 1.29 the teeth outward, and this wall hauing no other stuffe, seemed a [ 60] strange sight. At and vpon the top of the Theater, were seuentie Poles, standing the one from the other foure or fiue foot distant, and each of them was full of staues from the foot to the top. Each of these staues had others made fast vnto them, so that euery of them had fiue sculs broched 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Temple. Andrew de Tapia did certifie me, that he and Gonçalo de Vmbria did rec∣kon

them in one day, and found a hundred thirtie and sixe thousand sculls on the poles, staues, and steps. The other Towres were replenished out of number, a most cruell custome, being one∣ly mens heads slaine in sacrifice, although it hath a shew of humanitie for the remembrance there placed of death. There are also men appointed, that when one scull falleth, to set vp another in his place, so that the number may neuer want.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Three sorts of Streetes.
• * 1.2

  It groweth al∣so in Bermuda.
• * 1.3

  The name of Mexico.
• * 1.4

  Two Lakes, one s••lt the other fresh.
• * 1.5

  E••bing and flowing by the winde. Some (as Pairitius) hence moued, deriue the cause of the Seas flowing from the salt∣nesse.

  Cause of the saltnesse.
• * 1.6

  200000. Ca∣noas.
• * 1.7

  The Market place of Mexi∣co.
• * 1.8

  Order of Sel∣lers.
• * 1.9

  The diuers wares.
• * 1.10

  Indian worke∣manship.
• * 1.11

  Gold-smiths artifices.
• * 1.12

  Victuall of di∣uers sorts.
• * 1.13

  Bartering.
• * 1.14

  The great Temple of Mexico.
• * 1.15

  Chiefe Temple described.
• * 1.16

  Two Altars.
• * 1.17

  Fortie towres.
• * 1.18

  Seuerall Tem∣ples to seue∣rall gods.
• * 1.19

  A strange doore.
• * 1.20

  Temple-halls.
• * 1.21

  Idoll-holes.
• * 1.22

  Bloudie walls.
• * 1.23

  Deuillish Priests.
• * 1.24

  5000. resi∣dents.
• * 1.25

  The Idols of Mexico. 2000. gods.
• * 1.26

  A wicked at∣tyre.
• * 1.27

  A mad offe∣ring.
• * 1.28

  The Charnell house, or place of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mens Sculls.
• * 1.29

  Terrible spe∣ctacle.