Pilgrimage, Book 8 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Of the auncient inhabitants of New Spaine, and the Historie of their Kings.
HAuing now declared the subuersion of this State and Kingdome by the Spaniards, I hold it not amisse to looke backe vntounto the first people which here inhabited, with the beginnings and proceedings of the Mexican Empire. The aBotero, part. ….first inhabitants of New Spaine were very barbarous and sauage, which …ed onelyonly by Hunting, and for this reason were called Chieh… …. aIes Acosta, l.7. Lop de Gom part. 1.They liued naked, solitarie in the Mountaines, without Tillage, Policie or any Religious Ceremonies: their wiues followed the same Hunting exercise, leauing their children tied in a Panier of Reedes to the boughes of some Tree. They did eate what they got in Hunting, raw. They eate also Snakes and Lizards, which they offered likewise in sacrifice to the Sunne, whome onelyonly they worshipped, and that without any Image: they offered to him Fowles, from the Butterflie to the Eagle. And some remnants of the like beastly men are yet found, which doe great hurt, and will not, by either cunning or force of the Spaniards, be reduced to any other course. They seeme to hauehave learned the sauage nature of the wilde Beasts, of whome and with whome they liue. By this meanes it came to passe, that this wilde mountainous people left the best and most fertile part of the Countrey vnpeopled, which certaine remote Nations possessed, whome they called bNauatalcas signifieth wellspeakers.Navatalcas, for their ciuilitie. These came from those Northerne parts, which now they call New Mexico. The Navatalcas paint their beginning and first Territorie in manner of Caues (because of their seuen Tribes) and men comming out of them. By the supputation of their Bookes this departure was aboue eight hundred yeares since, and (by reducing to our accompt) about the yeare of our Lord 720. Fourescore yeares they stayed on the way, the cause whereof they ascribe to their Gods, which spake visibly to them, and bad them seeke new Lands that had such signes as they notified.
Thus they proceeded in seeking those signes, and peopled the best parts, still remouing their habitations as they found more fertile Countries, leauing onelyonly the aged, sicke, and wearie, with a few others to remaine in the former. And by these leisurely proceedings they entred the Land of Mexico, about the yeare 902, after our accompt. Those seuen Nations came not all at once; but first the Suchimilcos, next the Chalcas, and thirdly the Tepanetans, fourthly those of Tescuco, after them the Tlalluicans: the sixt were the Tlascaltecans, which helped the Spaniards to conquer Mexico, and therefore are exempted from tribute to this day. These expelled, as their Histories say, certaine Gyants, whome in pretence of friendship they had inuited to a banquet, and in their drunkennesse stole away their weapons, and slew them. Neither doth this seeme a fable; for at this day are found dead mens bones, of incredible bignesse. I saw a tooth (sayth Acosta) at Mexico, in the yeare 1586, as bigge as the fist of a man, and according to this, all the rest was proportionable. Three hundred and two yeares after the first transmigration, those of the seuenth Caue or Line arriued, which is the Mexican Nation: they worshipped the Idoll Vitzliputzli, and the Deuill spake and gouerned this Nation. He promised to make them Lords ouer all, which the other six Nations possessed, and to giuegive them a Land plentifull in riches: whereupon they went forth, carrying their Idoll with them in a Coffer of Reedes, supported by foure of their principall Priests, with whome he talked, and communicated his Oracles and Directions. He likewise gaue them Lawes, and taught them the Ceremonies and Sacrifices they should obserue. And euen as the pillar of Cloud and Fire conducted the Israelites in their passage through the Wildernesse, so this apish Deuill gaue them notice when to aduaunce forwards, and when to stay. The first thing they did wheresoeuer they came, was to build a house or Tabernacle for their Vitzliputzli, which they set alway in the middest of their Campe, and there placed the Arke in the middest of the Altar. This done, they sowed the Land, and if their God commanded to gather, they did so, and if, to raise their Campe, they obeyed, leauing the aged, ticke, and weary, to gather the fruits, and to dwell there. The chiefe Captaine whom they followed was called Moxi, whence came the name of their cMexico and Mexicans.Citie and Nation. Their Idoll perswaded them, when some were bathing themselues in certaine Lakes, to remoue the Campe closely, and steale away their cloathes: whereat they which were thus forsaken, changed their language and manner of life, retaining alway their hatred to the Mexicans. They peopled the Prouince Mechouacan, From hence to Mexico is fiftie leagues, and vponupon the way is Malinalco, which they say was peopled by a Witch and her family, whom by the commandement of their god they left behind, closely remouing the armie by night. They stayed in a place called Tuta, where by stopping a Riuer, they drowned a Plaine, and planted it round with Willowes and other Trees; and many liking the place, talked of staying there: whereat their God offended, threatened the Priests, and in the night slew those which had consulted of staying. Their hearts were found pulled out, and their stomackes opened, which, after that, they obserued in their Sacrifices. The Mexicans, by the aduise of their Idoll, proceeded, and by force made way through the Chalcas, and sent to the Lord of Culhuacan, who graunted them the place of Ticaapan to dwell in, which was full of Snakes and venomous Beasts, which by the helpe of their God they tamed. He would not suffer them to stay there, but commaunded them to proceede, and to seeke forth a woman, whome they should name the Goddesse of Discord. Whereupon they sent to the King of Culhuacan, to demaund his daughter to be Queene of the Mexicans, and mother of their God; who easily condescended, and sent his daughter gorgeously attyred. The same night shee arriued, by order of their God, she was murthered, and flayed, and a young man was couered with her skinne, with her apparrell thereon, and being placed neere the Idoll, was consecrated a Goddesse, and mother of their God, euer after worshipping the same, making an Idoll which they call Toccy, that is, our Grandmother. The King of Culhuacan hereupon warred against them, and chased them out of those parts, by which meanes they came to the place where Mexico now is. Here certaine old Priests or Sorcerers entring into a place full of water-Lillies, they met with a very faire and cleare current of Water, with Trees, Medowes, Fish, and other things, all very white, which were the signes their God had giuen them of their promised Land. In the night following, Vitzliputzli appeared in a dreame to an auncient Priest, saying, That they should goe seeke out a Tunal in the Lake, which grew out of a stone, vponupon which they should see an Eagle feeding on smal Birds, which they should hold for the place where their Citie should be built, to become famous through the world. Hereupon the next day they all assembled, and diuiding themselues into bands, made that search with great diligence and deuotion.
In their search they met with the former water-course, not white (as it was then) but redde like bloud, diuiding it selfe into two streames, one of which was an obscure Azure. At last they espied the Eagle with wings, displayed toward the Sunne, compassed about with many rich feathers of diuerse colours, and holding in his Tallons a goodly bird. At this sight they fell on their knees, and worshipped the Eagle, with great demonstrations of ioy and thankes to Vitzliputzli. For this cause they called the Citie, which there they founded, dMexico Tenoxtiltan.Tenoxtiltan, which signifies, Tunal on a stone; and to this day carrie in their Armes an Eagle vponupon a Tunal, with a bird in his Tallon.
The next day following, by common consent, they made an Heremitage, adioyning to the Tunal of the Eagle, that the Arke of their God might rest there, till they might hauehave meanes to build him a sumptuous Temple. This they made of Flagges and Turfes, couered with Straw. Afterwards they consulted to buy of their neighbours Stone, Timber, Lime, in exchange of Fish, Fowles, Frogges, and other things which they hunted for in the Lake: by which meanes they procuring necessaries, built a Chappell of Lime and Stone, and laboured to fill vp part of the Lake with rubbish. The Idoll commaunded, that they should diuide themselues into foure principall quarters about this house, and each part build therein: to which he enioyned certaine Gods of his appointment, called Calpultetco, which is, Quarter-Gods. This was the beginning of Mexico.
This diuision seemed not equall to some of the Ancients, who valued their deserts farre aboue their allotted portion, who therefore separated themselues, and went to Tlatedulco: whose practises against the Mexicans caused them to chuse a King, to which Soueraignetie was chosen Acamapitzli, Nephew to the King of Culhuacan, and of the Mexican bloud by the fathers side. Him by embassage they demaunded, and obtained in the name of their God, with this answere from the King of Culhuacan: Let my grand-child goe to serue your God, and be his Lieutenant, to rule and gouerne his creatures, by whome wee liue; who is the Lord of Night, Day, and Windes: Let him goe and be Lord of the Water and Land, and possesse the Mexican Nation, &c.
Hee was solemnely welcommed by the Mexicans: Welcome them art (sayth an eMany of these Orations are expressed in Acosta's seuenth booke at large, full of wittie inuentions and Rhetoricall flourishes.Oratour vntounto him in their name) to this poore House and Citie, amongst these Weedes and Mudde, where thy poore Fathers, Grandfathers, and Kinsfolkes endure what it pleaseth the Lord of things created. Remember Lord, thou commest to be our defence, and to be the resemblance of our Vitzliputzli, not to rest thy selfe, but to endure a new charge: with many words of that effect, expressed in the Mexican Histories, reserued by tradition; the children to that end learning them by heart, and these being as presidents to them which learned the Art Oratorie. After this, they were sworne, and he crowned. The Crowne was like that of the Dukes of Venice. His name Acamapixtli signifieth a handfull of Reedes, and therefore they carrie in their Armories a hand, holding many Arrowes of Reedes.
The Mexicans at this time were tributaries to the Tapanccans, whose chiefe Citie was Azcapuzalco: who iudging, according to the nature of Enuie and Suspition, that they were so much weaker, how much the stronger they saw their neighbours, thought to oppresse them by a strange policie, in imposing an vncouth, and (in shew) impossible tribute: which was, that they should bring the Tapunecan King a Garden, planted and growing in the water.
In this their distresse, Vitzliputzli taught them to doe it, by casting earth vponupon Reedes and Grasse layed in the Lake, and planting in this mouing Garden Maiz, Figges, Gourds, and other things, which at the time appointed they carried growing and ripe: a thing often since proued in that Lake, emulous no lesse of that glorie, to be accounted one of the Wonders in that New World, then those pensill Gardens, towred vp in the Ayre at Babylon, both here and there the reason of man, according to his naturall priuiledge, subiecting to his vse the most rebellious Elements of Ayre and Water.
Acamapixtli, the Mexican King, after he had reigned fortie yeares, died, leauing it to their choise to chuse his successour. They chose his sonne Vitzilovitli, which signifieth a rich Feather: They annointed him with an Ointment, which they call Diuine, being the same where with they annoint their Idoll.
Of their Coronation thus fLop de Gom. part.I.Lopez de Gomara sayth, That this was done by the High Priest, attyred in his Pontificalibus, attended with many others in Surplices, the Oyntment was as blacke as Inke. They blessed him, and sprinkled him foure times with holy Water, made at the time of the consecration of their God. Then they put vponupon his head a Cloth, painted with the bones and skulls of dead men, clothed him with a blacke garment, and vponupon that a blew, both painted with figures of Skulls and Bones. Then did they hang on him Laces, and bottles of Pouders, whereby he was deliuered from diseases and Witchcrafts. Then did he offer Incense to Vitzliputzli, and the High Priest tooke his Oath, for the maintenance of their Religion; to maintaine Iustice, and the Lawes; to cause the Sunne to giuegive his light, and the Clouds to raine, and the Earth to be fruitfull, &c. Lastly, followed the acclamations of the people, crying, GOD saue the King, with daunces, &c.
He being crowned, and hauing receiued homage of his subiects, obtained the King of Azcapuzalco his daughter to wife, by whom he had a sonne called Chimalpopoca, and procured a relaxation of tribute from his father in law. He was deuout in his superstitions: hauing raigned thirteene yeares, hee died. His sonne then but ten yeares old, was chosen in his roome, but was soone after slaine by the inhabitants of Azcapuzalco. The Mexicans enraged with this iniurie, assembled themselues, and an Orator, among many other words tells them, That the Sunne is eclipsed and darkened for a time, but will returne suddenly in the choise of another King. They agreed vponupon Izcoalt, which signifieth a Snake of Rasors, the source of Acamapixtls their first King. The common people were earnest with this new King for peace with the Tapanecans, for the obtaining whereof they would carrie their God in his Litter for an intercessor. This was hindered by Tlacaellec the Kings Nephew, a resolute and valiant young man, who also, with perill of his life, vndertooke an Embassage to Azcapuzalco, and there defied the King, annointing him with the ointment of the dead, after their manner. The commons of Mexico were herewith offended, and to pacifie them, the King indented with them, That if he lost the Field, they should eate him and his Nobles: they on the other side promising, if he did ouercome, to become his tributaries (for before they enioyed much freedome) and to labour in his Fields and Houses, and to become his seruants in Warre and Peace. In fine, such was the valour of Tlacaellec the Generall, that the enemies were ouerthrowne, their Citie sacked, and the remainder of them made tributarie, the lands and goods of the conquered being diuided among the Conquerours, and some reserued to each quarter of Mexico, for the vse of their Sacrifices.
Cuyacan had the next place in the Mexican Conquests: who hauing inuited the Mexicans to a banquet, in the end thereof sent for the last Seruice, womens habites, which they forced them to put on: but Izcoalt and Tlacaellec made them know, by their ruine, the manhood of the Mexicans. They subdued also the Suchimilcos, and Cuitlavaca, a Citie in the Lake; Teseuco yeelded it selfe. Izcoalt after twelue yeares died, and Moteçuma the first was chosen in his stead.
Presently after his Election they conducted him to the Temple with a great trayne, where, before the Diuine Harth-(so called in regard of the continuall fire there kept) they enthronized him. The King there drew bloud from his eares and legges with a Griffons tallons as a Sacrifice, and was congratulated with many Orations of the Priests, Ancients, and Captaines. And whereas before they had accustomed, in their Elections, to make great Feasts and Daunces, and wasted many Lights; He brought in the custome, personally to make warre in some Prouince, thence to procure Sacrifices, to feast their Gods and men. This he performed at Chalco, from whence hee brought many Captiues, which on the day of his Coronation were sacrificed and eaten.
At this Feast all his Tributes were brought in with great solemnitie, each Prouince marching by it selfe, besides innumerable Presents. All commers were bountifully entertained, and the poore were clad with new garments, giuen them by the King. The Chalcas had taken a brother of Moteçuma, and would hauehave made him their King, but he enioyning them to make a high Scaffold, ascended thereon, and telling them, the Gods would not permit, that to be a King, he should be a traytor vntounto his Countrey, cast downe himselfe; whose death Moteçuma reuenged with the ruine of that whole Nation, conquering further vntounto the North and South Seas, by the counsell and courage of Tlacaellec. This King instituted new Ceremonies, and encreased the number of the Priests: he built the great Temple of Vitzliputzli & sacrificed great numbers of men at the dedication. Hauing raigned eight and twentie yeares, hee died.
Tlacaellec was chosen his successour by the foure Deputies, and the two Lords of Tescuco and Tacuba (these were the Electors) but refused the Empire, as being fitter for the common good, as an instrument to another, then if himselfe welded the Scepter. At his nomination they chose Ticocic; sonne of the late King, and piercing his nosthrills, for an ornament put an Emerald therein. He, in seeking captiues for the solemnitie of his Coronotion, lost more of his owne people, and after foure yeares was poysoned by his male content subiects.
Axayaca his brother succeeded, altogether of another spirit. In his time died Tlacaellec, chiefe author of the Mexican greatnesse, whom before in his age they vsed to carrie in his Chaire, on mens shoulders, to councell. He was buried more solemnly then any of the Kings, and his sonne was made Generall for the warres. Axayaca conquered Tequantepec, two hundred leagues from Mexico, thence to furnish the bloudie solemnities of his Coronation. He added to his Conquests Guatulco on the South Sea: in single combate ouercame the Lord of Tlarelulco, and subdued those Mexican-enemies of the Mexicans, setting fire on their Citie and Temple. After eleuen yeares he died, and Antzal the eight King was chosen. He punished the pride of Quaxulatlan, a rich Prouince, with those captiues, to celebrate his Coronation-Feast, and extended his dominion to Guatimala, three hundred leagues from Mexico. Hee much adorned his Royall Citie, pulling downe the old houses, and in their roome erected fairer. He let in a course of water to the Citie, because that of the Lake was muddie. But because they of Cuyoacan vsed these waters, the chiefe man of that Citie, which was a great Magician, sought to hinder it, whereby the King being prouoked, sent to attach him. He escaped by his Protean Arts; now appearing like an Eagle, the second time like a Tygre, the third like a Serpent. But at last he was taken and strangled, and the Mexicans forced a Channell, whereby the water might passe to their Citie, the Priests meane-while casting Incense on the bankes, sacrificing the bloud of Quailes; others winding their Cornets: and one of the chiefe went attyred in a habite like to the Goddesse of the Waters, which was saluted and welcommed by all the people. All which things are painted in the Annales of Mexico: which Booke is now in the Vatican Librarie at Rome. Thus hee enuironed the Citie with water like another Venice; and hauing raigned eleuen yeares, died.
Moteçuma the second was chosen, who before his Soueraigntie was of graue and stayed disposition, much addicted to his deuotions. He retyred himselfe into a Chappell, appointed for him in the Temple of Vitzliputzli, where (they say) the Idoll spake to him; wherein also hee hidde himselfe, after hee had intelligence of this Election. From thence he was ledde to the Harth of their Gods, where he sacrificed, with drawing bloud from his eares and the calues of his legges. They attired him with the royall ornaments, and piercing his nosthrills, hung there at a rich Emerald. Being seated in his Throne, the King of Tescuco, one of the Electors; made an eloquent Oration, which Ioseph gLib. 7. c.20.Acosta hath set downe word by word, and-deserued a roome here, if our hastie Pilgrimage would suffer.
This Moteçuma commaunded, That no Plebeian should serue him in any Office in his House, prouiding Knights and Nobles for that purpose. His Coronation was solemnized with Dances, Comedies, Banquets, Lights, and other pompe: the sacrificed captiues were of a farre Prouince toward the North Sea, which he subdued. Mechovacan, Tlascalla, and Tapeaca neuer yeelded to the Mexicans; which Moteçuma told Cortes, that he spared for the vse of his sacrifices, and the exercise of his souldiors. He laboured to be respected and worshipped as a God. It was death for any Plebeian to looke him in the face: He neuer set his foot on the ground, but was alwaies carried on the shoulders of Noblemen; and if he lighted, they layed rich Tapestrie, whereon he did goe. He neuer put on one Garment twice, nor vsed one Vessell, or Dish, aboue once. He was rigorous in execution of his Lawes, and for that purpose would disguise himselfe, to see how they were executed, and offer bribes to the Iudges, to prouoke them to iniustice; which, if they accepted, cost them their liues, though they were his kinsmen, or brethren. His fall is before declared: it shall not be amisse here to mention some prodigious fore-runners of the same. The Idoll of Cholola, called Quetzacoalt, declared, That a strange people came to possesse his Kingdome. The King of Tescuco, a great Magician, and many Sorcerers, told him as much. The King shut vp the Sorcerers in prison, where they vanished presently: wherefore he exercised that rage on their wiues and children, which he had intended against them. Hee sought to appease his angrie Gods by Sacrifices, and therefore would hauehave remoued a great stone, which by no humane industrie would be moued, as refusing his attonement. Strange voices were heard, accompanied with Earthquakes and swellings of the waters. A prodigious Bird, of the bignesse of a Crane, was taken, which on his head had (as it were) a Glasse representing armed men, and in the Kings presence vanished. A stranger thing befell a poore man, who was taken vp by an Eagle, and carried into a certaine Caue, where hee let him downe, pronouncing these words; Most mightie Lord, I hauehave brought him whome thou hast commaunded. There he saw one like the King, lying asleepe; touching whome hauing receiued threatening Prophesies, hee was againe by that former Pursuiuant placed where hee had beene taken vp. These thinges, as deuillish illusions, abusing GODS Prouidence and Iustice, and Imitating his Power, to robbe him of his glorie, deserue to be mentioned.
Muteçuma hauing intelligence of Cortes his arriuall, was much troubled, and conferring with his Counsell, they all said, that without doubt their great and ancient Lord Queztzalcoalt who had said, that hee would returne from the East whither hee was gone, had now fulfilled his promise and was come. Therefore did hee send Embassadours with presents vntounto Cortes, acknowledging him for Queztzalcoalt, (sometime their Prince, now esteemed a God) and himselfe his Lieutenant.
Concerning the State of Mexico vnderunder the Spaniards, Robert hR. Tompson ap. Hak.Tomson who was there about the year 1555. saith, that then it was thought there were a thousand & fiue hundred housholds of Spaniards, and aboue three hundred thousand Indians. The iH. Haukss dp. Hak. lab. Hortop.Citie is enuironed with a Lake, and the Lake also with Mountaines about thirtie leagues in compasse; the raines falling from these Hills cause the lake.
In this Citie resideth the Viceroy, and here the highest Indian Courts are kept. There are weekely three faires or markets, abounding with plentie of commodities at a cheape price. Many Riuers fall into the Lake, but none goe out. The Indians know how to drowne the Citie, and would hauehave practised it, had not the Conspirators been taken and hanged. The Indians here are good Artificers, Gold-smithes, Coppersmithes, Black-smithes, Carpenters, Shooe-makers, Taylors, Sadlers, Embroderers, and of all other sciences, and worke exceeding cheape, liuing of a little. They will goe two or three leagues to a Faire, carrying not aboue a penny-worth of commodities, and yet maintayne themselues thereby.
Miles kMiles Philips.Philips saith, that when Sr.Francis Drake was on the South Sea, the Viceroy caused a generall muster to be made of all the Spaniards in Mexico, and found aboue seuen thousand housholds, and three thousand single men, and of Mestizoes twentie thousand.
Mr. Chiltou lIohn Chilton.testifieth, that eueryevery Indian payeth tribute to the King twelue Realls of Plate, and a Hauneg of Maiz, (fiue Haunegs make a quarter English) and eueryevery Widdow halfe so much. And all their children, aboue fifteene yeares old, pay after the same rate. He hath great gaine by his fifths, and by the Popes Bulls: this leaden ware was worth to the King at first aboue three Millions of gold yearely. The greatnesse of exactions caused two rebellions whiles he was there, and the King will not suffer them to hauehave Oile or Wine there growing, although the earth would prodigally repay them, that they may still hauehave neede of Spaine. Tlaxcalla, for their merits in the conquest of Mexico, as before is shewed, is free: only they pay a handfull of wheat a man in signe of subiection: but some later encrochers hauehave forced them to till at their owne charge as much ground as their tribute would amount to. There are in it two hundred thousand Indians.
Some of the wild people in New Spaine are deadly enemies to the Spaniards, and eate as many as they get of them. Iohn Chilton fell into their hands, but being sicke and leane, they thought (as a captiue wench told him) that he had the Pox, and was but vnholsome foode, and so let him depart. It is an ill winde that blowes none to good: sicknesse, the harbenger of death, was to him preseruer of life.
Mexico is now an mRoters.Vniuersitie, and therein are taught those Sciences which are read in our Vniuersities of Europe. This Vniuersitie was nGasp.….l.2there founded by Antonie Mendoza, and King Philip erected a College of the Iesuits, An.1577. Mexico is an Archbishoprick. There oOrtel. Theat.be many Spanish Colonies or Plantations, Compostella, Colima, Guadaleiara, Mechocan, Citie of Angele, and others: whereof diuers are Episcopall Sees. In Guaste can, not farre from Panuco, is a Hill, from whence spring two Fountaines, one of black pitch, the other of red, very hot. To speake largely of New Galicia, Mechuacan, Guaste can, and other Regions, would not be much to the Readers delight, and lesse to my purpose.