Pilgrimage, Book 8 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Of the supputation of times, Festiuall Solemnities, Colleges, Schooles, Letters, Opinions, and other remarkeable things in New-Spaine
THE Mexicans aAcost. l.6.c.2.diuided the yeare into eighteene monethes, ascribing to each twenty-dayes, so that the fiue odde daies were excluded. These fiue they reckoned apart, and called them the daies of nothing: during the which, the people did nothing, neither went to their Temples, but spent the time in visiting each other: the sacrificers likewise ceased their sacrifices. These fiue daies being past, the first monethmonth began about the 26. of Februarie. Gomara bGom. p.317.sets downe their monethes names in order. The Indians described them by peculiar pictures, commonly taken of the principall Feast therein. They accounted their weekes by thirteene daies : they had also a weeke of yeares which was likewise thirteene. They reckoned by a certaine wheele, which conteined foure weekes, that is, two and fiftie yeares. In the midst of this wheele was painted the Sunne, from which went foure beames or lines, in crosse, of distinct colours, greene, blew, red, and yellow; and so the lines betwixt these: on which they noted by some picture, the accident that befell any yeare, as the Spaniards comming, marked by a man clad in Red. The last night when this wheele was runne about, they brake all their Vessels and stuffe, put out their fire and all the lights, saying, that the world should end at the finishing of one of these wheeles, and it might be at that time; and then what should such things neede? VponUpon this conceit they passed the night in great fears, but when they saw the day begin to breake, they presently beare many drummes, with much other mirth and musicke, saying; that GOD did prolong the time with another Age of two and fiftie yeares. And then began another wheele, the first day whereof they tooke from fire, for which they went to the Priest and made a solemne Sacrifice and Thanksgiuing. The twenty daies of each monethmonth were called by seuerall names, the first Cipact… which signifieth a Spade, and so the rest a house, a Dogge, a Snake, an Eagle, a Temple, and the like. By this Calendar they keepe things in memory aboue nine hundred yeares since. The Indians of Culhua did beleeue that the Gods had made the world, they knew not how: and that since the Creation, foure Sunnes were past, and that the fift and last is the Sunne, which now giueth light vntounto the world.
The first Sunne (forsooth) perished by water, and all liuing creatures therewith: the second fell from heauen, and with the fall slew all liuing Creatures, and then were many Giants in the countrey. The third Sunne was consumed by fire: and the fourth, by Tempest of Aire and Winde; and then mankinde perished not, but was turned into Apes: yet when that fourth Sunne perished, all was turned into darknesse, and so continued fiue and twenty yeares: and at the fifteenth yeare, God did forme one man and woman, who brought forth Children, and at the end of other ten yeares appeared this fift Sunne newly borne, which after their reckoning is now in this yeare 1612, nine hundred and eighteene yeares since. Three dayes after this Sunne appeared, they held, that all the Gods did die, and that these which since they worship, were borne in processe of time.
At the end of euerie twentie dayes the Mexicans celebrated a Feast called Tonalli, which was the last day of eueryevery monethmonth. The last day of the first monethmonth was called Tlacaxipevaliztli, on which were slaine a hundred captiues in sacrifice, and eaten, others putting on the skinnes (as is before shewed.) Many of them would goe to the staughter with ioyfull countenance, dauncing, and demaunding almes, which befell to the Priests. When the greene corne was a foote aboue the ground, they vsed to goe to a certaine hill, and there sacrificed two children, a Gerle, and a Boy, three yeares old, to the honour of Tlaloc, god of Water, that they might hauehave raine: and because these children were free-borne, their hearts were not plucked out, but their throats being cut, their bodies were wrapped in a new mantle, and buried in a graue of stone.
When the fields of Maiz were two foote high, a Collection was made, and therewith were bought foure little slaues, betwixt the age of fiue and seuen, and they were sacrificed also to Tlaloc, for the continuance of raine: and those dead bodies were shut vp in a Caue appoynted to that purpose. The beginning of this butcherie, was, by occasion of a drought which continued foure yeares, and forced them to leaue the Countrey. When the Maiz was ripe, in the monethmonth and Feast Hueitozotls, euerie man gathered his handfull of Maiz, and brought it to the Temple for an offering, with a certaine drinke called Atuli, made of the same graine. They brought also Copalli, a sweete gumme, to incense the Gods, which cause the corne to growe. At the beginning of Summer, they celebrated the Feast Tlaxnehimcaco, with Roses and all sweete flowers, making Garlands thereof, to set on their Idoles heads, and spending all that day in dauncing. To celebrate the Feast Tecuilhustli, all the principall persons of each Prouince, came to the Citie on the euening of the Feast, and apparelled a woman with the attire of the God of Salt, who daunced among a great company of her neighbours, but the next day was sacrificed with much solemnitie, and all that day was spent in deuotion, burning of incense in the Temple. The Merchants had a Temple by themselues dedicate to the God of Gaine: they made their Feast vponupon the day called Miccailhuitl, wherein were sacrificed and eaten many captiues, which they had bought, and all the day spent in dancing.
In the Feast of Vchpaniztli they sacrificed a woman, whose skinne was put vponupon an Indian, which two dayes together daunced with the Townes-men, celebrating the same Feast in their best attire.
In the day of Hatamutztli the Mexicans entred into the Lake with a great number of Canoas, and there drowned a Boy and a Gerle, in a little boat, which they caused to be suncke, in such sort, that neuer after that boat appeared againe, holding opinion, that those children were in company with the Gods of the Lake. That day they spent in feasting and annoynting their Idoles cheekes with a kinde of gumme called V…
When Cortes was gone out of Mexico, to incounter Pamphilo de Narnaes, and had left Alvarado in the Citie, he in the great Temple murthered a great multitude of gentlemen, which had rhere assembled in the great Temple, to their accustomed solemnitie, being six hundred, or (as some say) a thousand, richly attired and adorned, where they vsed to sing and daunce, in honour of their God, to obtaine health, children, victorie, &c.
In the monethmonth of Maie, eAcost.l.…. c.24.the Mexicans made their principall feast to Vitziliputzli: two dayes before which, the religious Virgins or Nunnes mingled a quantitie of beetes with rosted Maiz, and moulded it with hony, making an Image of that paste, in bignesse like to the Idol of wood, putting in insted of eyes, grains of glasse, green, blew, or white, and for teeth, graines of Maiz. Then did all the Nobles bring it a rich garment like vntounto that of the Idoll, and being clad, did set it in an azured Chaire, and in a Litter. The morning of the …st being come, an houre before day, all the maidens came forth attired in white with new ornaments, which that day were called the sisters of Vitziliputzli: they were crowned with garlands of Maiz rosted and parched, with chames of the same about their neckes, passing vnderunder their left armes. Their cheekes were died with vermilion, their armes from the elbow to the wrist were couered with red Parrots feathers. Thus attired, they tooke the Image on their shoulders, carrying it into the Court; where all the yongmen were, attired in red garments, crowned like the women. When the Maidens came forth with this idoll, the young men drew neere with much reuerence, taking the Litter wherein the Idoll was, vponupon their shoulders, carrying it to the staires foote of the Temple: where all the people did humble themselues, laying earth vponupon their heads.
After this, all the people went in procession to a mountaine called Chapulteper, a league from Mexico, and there made sacrifices. From thence they went to their second Station called Atlacuyauaya: and from thence againe to a Village which was a league beyond Cuyoacoan, and then returned to Mexico. They went in this sort aboue foure leagues, in so many howers, calling this procession Vpanta Vitziliputzli. Being come to the foote of the Temple staires, they set downe the litter vvith the Idoll, and with great obseruance draw the same to the top of the Temple, some drawing aboue, and others helping below, the Flutes and Drummes, Cornets, Trumpets, meane-while increasing the Solemnitie. The people abode in the Court. Hauing mounted, and placed it in a little lodge of Roses, presently came the yong men, which strawed flowers of sundry kindes, within and without the Temple. This done, all the Virgins came out of their Conuent, bringing peeces of the same past whereof the Idoll was made, in the fashion of great bones, which they deliuered to the yong men, who carried them vp, and laide them at the Idols feete, till the place could receiue no more.
They called these morsels of paste, the flesh and bones of Vitziliputzli. Then came all the Priestes of the Temple, eueryevery one strictly obseruing his place, with Vatles of diuers colours and workes, garlands on their heads, and chaines of flowers aboue their neckes: after them came the Gods and Goddesses, whom they worshipped, of diuers figures, attired in the same liuerie. Then putting themselues in order about those peeces of paste, they vsed certaine ceremonies, with singing and dancing. By these meanes they were blessed and consecrated for the flesh and bones of the Idoll: which were then honoured in the same sort, as their God. Then came forth the sacrificers, who began the sacrifice of men, whereof they now sacrificed more then at other times: for this was their solemnest Festiuall. The sacrifices beeing ended, all the yong men and Maides came out of the Temple attired as before, and being placed in order and ranke, one directly against another, they daunced by Drummes, which sounded in praise of the Feast, and of their God. To which song, all the ancientest and greatest men did answere, dancing about them, making a great circle as the manner is, the Yong men and Maides remaining alwaies in the middest.
All the Citie came to this spectacle, and throughout the whole land, on this day of Vitziliputzli his Feast, no man might eate any other meate; but this paste with Home, whereof the Idoll was made: and this should bee eaten at the point of day, not drinking till afternoone: The contrarie was sacrilegious: After the ceremonies ended, it was lawfull for them to eate any thing. During the time of this ceremonie they hid the water from their little Children, admonishing such, as had the vse of reason, to abstaine.
The ceremonies, dances, and sacrifices ended, they went to vncloath themselues, and the Priestes and Ancients of the Temple, tooke the Image of paste, and spoiled it of all the ornaments, making many peeces of it, and of the consecrated Rolles, which they gaue to the Communion, beginning with the greater, and continuing vntounto the rest both men, women, and children: who receiued it with teares, feare, reuerence, and other both affects, and effects of deuotion, saying, that they did eate the flesh and bones of their God. Such as had sicke folkes demanded thereof for them, and carried it with great reuerence and veneration. All such as did communicate were bound to giuegive the tenth part of this seede, whereof the Idoll was made.
The solemnitie of the Idoll beeing ended, an olde man of great authoritie slept vp into a high place, and with a lo…de voice preached their lawe and ceremonies. This Historie deserueth the longer Relation, because it dThe New Catholikes of old Spaine, and old Cacolikes of New Spaine: like in Superstition.so much resembleth the Popish Chimuera, and monstrous conception of Transubstantiation, and of their Corpus Christ…, Fe… with other their Rites, to which Acosta also the relater compareth it, blaming the Diuell, for vsurping the seruice, and imitating the Rites of their Church, whereas their Church deserueth blame for imitaring the Diuell and these his idolatrous Disciples, in their Stupendious monsters of opinion, and ridiculous, offices of superstition. But …ou shall yet see a further resemblance.
Next to this principall Feast of Vitzliputzli, cAc.l.5.c.2.was that of Tezcalipuca, of chiefe esti mation. This fell on the nineteenth day of May, and was called Tozcolt. It fell eueryevery foure yeares with the Feast of Penance, where there was giuen fMexican Iubilee.full indulgence and remission of sinnes. In this day they did sacrifice a captiue which resembled the Idoll Tezcalipuca.
VponUpon the euen this solemnitie, the Noble men came to the Temple, bringing a new garment like to that of the Idoll, which the Priest put vponupon him, hauing first taken off his other garments, which they kept with great reuerence. There were in the Coffers of the Idoll gTheir Reliques.many ornaments, iewels, eare-rings, and other riches, as bracelets, and precious feathers, which serued to no vse, and were worshipped as the God himselfe. Besides that garment, they put vponupon him certaine ensignes of Feathers, with …annes, shadowes, and other things.
Beeing thus attired, they drew the Curtaine from before the doore, that all men might see. Then came forth one of the chiefe of the Temple, attired like to the Idoll, carrying flower in his hand, and a Flute of earth, hauing a very sharpe sound, and turning toward the East, he sounded it, and after that to the West, North, and South, he did the like.
This done, hee put his finger into the aire, and then gathered vp the earth hThe Mexicans Lent begunne not with …thes, but with dust.which he put in his mouth, eating it in signe of adoration. The like did all that were present, weeping, and falling flat to the ground, inuocating the darknesse of the night and the windes not to forsake them, or else to take away their liues and free them from the labours they endured therein. Theeues, Adulterers, Murtherers, and all other offenders had great feare and heauinesse whiles the Flute sounded, so as some could not hide nor dissemble their offences. By this meanes they all demanded no other thing of their God, but to hauehave their offences concealed: powring forth many teares, with great repentance and sorrow, offering great store of incense to appease their Gods. All the Martialists, and resolute spirits, addicted to the Watres, desired with great deuotion of GOD the Creator, of the Lord, for whom we liue, of the Sunne, and of other their Gods, that they would giuegive them victorie against their enemies, and strength to take away many captiues for sacrifice. This ceremonious sounding of the Flute by the Priest continued ten daies, from the ninth of May to the nineteenth, vvith eating of earth, praying eueryevery day with eyes lifted vp to heauen, sighes and grones as of men grieued for their sinnes. Yet did not they beleeue that there were iGomara writeth otherwise as followeth in the end of this Chapter.any punishments in the other life, but did these things to auert temporall punishments: they accounted death an assured rest, and therefore voluntarily offered themselues thereto. The last day of the Feast the Priests drew forth a litter well furnished with Curtins and pendants of diuers fashions: this litter had so many armes to hold by, as there were Ministers to carry it: all which came forth besmeared with blacke, and long haire, halfe in tresses with white strings, and attired in the Idols liuerie. VponUpon this litter they set the image of Tezcalipuca, and taking it on their shoulders, brought it to the foote of the staires. Then came forth the young men and Maidens of the Temple, carrying a great cord wreathed of chaines of rosted Mays, with which they enuironed the litter, and put a chaine of the same about the Idols necke, and a garland thereof on his head.
The yong men and Maides weare chaines of rosted mais, and the men Garlands, the Maides Mit…rs made of rods couered with the Mais, their feete couered with feathers, and their armes and cheekes painted. The image being placed in the litter they strewed round about store of the boughes of Manguey, the leaues whereof are pricking. They carried kTheir bloudy processionsit on procession (two Priests going before with incense) in the circuite of the Court: and eueryevery time the Priest gaue incense, they lifted vp their armes as high as they could to the Idoll and the Sunne. All the people in the Court turned round to the Place whither the Idol went, eueryevery one carrying in his hand new cords of the threds of Manguey, a fadome long, with a knot at the end, wherewith they whipped themselues on the sholders euen as they doe here (saith Acosta) on holy Thursday. The people brought boughes and flowers to beautifie the Court and Temple.
This done, eueryevery one brought their offerings, Iewels, Incense, sweet Wood, Grapes, Mays, Quailes, and the rest. Quailes were the poore mans offering, which he deliuered to the Priests, who pull off their heads, and cast them at the foote of the Aultar, where they lost their bloud: and so they did of all other things which were offered. EueryEvery one offered meate and fruit, according to his power which was laide at the foote of the Altar and was carried to the Ministers chamber.
The offering done, the people went to dinner: the yong men and Maidens of the temple being busied meane-while to serue the Idoll with all that was appoynted for him to eate, which was prepared by other women who had made a vow that day to serue the Idoll. These prepared meates in admirable varietie, which beeing ready, the Virgins went out of the Temple in procession, eueryevery one carrying a little Basket of Bread in her hand, and in the other a dish of these meates. Before them marched an old man like to a Steward, attired in a white Surples downe to the calues of his legges, vponupon a red iacket, which had wings in steede of sleeues, from which hung broad Ribands, and at the same a small Pumpion stucke full of flowers, and hauing many superstitious things within it. This old man comming neere to the foote of the staires made lowly reuerence. Then the Virgins with like reuerence presented their meates in order: this done, the old man returnes leading their Virgins into the Conuent.
And then the yongmen and Ministers of the Temple come forth and gather vp their meate, which they carry to their Priests Chambers, who had fasted fiue daies, eating but once a day, not stirring all that time out of the Temple, where they whipped themselues as before is shewed. They did eate of these diuine meates (so they called it) neither might any other eate thereof. After dinner they assembled againe, and then was sacrificed one who had all that yeare borne the habit and resemblance of their Idoll. They went after this, into a holy place appointed for that purpose, whither the young men and Virgins of the Temple brought them their ornaments, and then they danced and sung, the chiefe priests drumming and sounding other instruments. The Noble men in ornaments like to the yongmen, danced round about them.
They did not vsually kill any man that day, but him that was sacrificed, yet eueryevery fourth yeare they had others with him, which was the yeare of Iubilee and full pardons. After sunne-set the Virgins went all to their Conuent, and taking great dishes of earth full of bread, mixed with Honey, couered with small Panniars, wrought and fashioned with dead mens heads and bones, carried the same to the Idoll, and setting them down retired, their steward Vshering them as before. Presently came forth all the yong men in order, with Canes or Reedes in their hands, who began to runne as fast as they could to the top of the Temple-staires; euerie one striuing to come first to the Collation, The chiefe Priestes obserued who came first, second, third, and fourth, neglecting the rest, these they praised, and gaue them ornaments, and from thence forward they were respected as men of marke. The said Collation was all carried away by the yong men as great Relikes
This ended, the yongmen and Maides were dismissed: and so I thinke would our Reader, who cannot but be glutted with, and almost surfet of our so long and taedious feasting. Yet let me intreat one seruice more, it is for the God of game, who I am sure will finde followers and Disciples too attentiue.
For the Feastiuall of this Gaine God, Quetzaabcoalt, the Marchants, his deuoted and faithfull obseruantes, fortie daies before, bought a slaue well proportioned to represent that Idoll for that space. First they washed him twice in a lake, called the lake of the Gods, and being purified, they attired him like the Idoll. Two of the Ancients of the Temple came to him nine daies before the Feast, and humbling themselues before him, said with a loude voice, Sir, nine daies hence your dancing must end, and you must die: and hee must answere, (whatsoeuer hee thinketh) In a good hower. They diligently obserued if this aduertisement made him sad, or if hee continued his dancing according to his wont. If they perceiued him sad, they tooke the sacrificing Rasors, which they washed and clensed form the bloud, which thereon had remained, and hereof with an other liquor made of Cacao, mixed a drinke, which they said would make him forget what had been said to him, and returne to his former iollitie. For they tooke this heauinesse in these men to be ominous.
On the Feast day, after much honouring him, and incensing him, about midnight they sacrificed him, offering his heart to the Moone, and after cast it to the Idoll, letting the bodie fall downe the staires to the Marchants, who were the chiefe worshippers. These hearts of their sacrifices (some lp.Mart.Dec.5say) were burned after the Oblation to this Planet and Idoll. The bodie they sauced and dressed for a banquet about breake of day, after they had bid the Idoll good morrow with a small daunce.
This Temple of Quetzaalcoalt had Chappels as the rest, and Chambers, where were Conuents of Priests, yong men, Maides, and Children. One Priest alone was resident which was changed weekely. His charge that weeke, after he had instructed the children, was to strike vp a Drumme at sunne-setring, at the sound whereof (which was heard throughout the Citie) eueryevery one ended his Marchandise and retired to his house, all the Citie being as silent as if no body had beene there: at day breaking he did againe giuegive notice by his Drumme: for till that time it was not lawfull to stirre out of the Citie. In this temple was a Court wherin they danced, and on this Idols holyday, had erected a Theater, thirtie roote square, finely decked and trimmed, in which were represented Comedies, Maskes, & many other representations to expresse or cause mirth and ioy.
The Mexicans mAcost.l.6.c.7.had their schooles, and as it were Colleges, or Seminaries, where the Ancients taught the children to say by heart, the Orations, Discourses, Dialogues, & Poems, of their great Orators and chiefe men, which thus were preserued by Tradition as perfectly as if they had been written. And in their Temples, the sonnes of the chiefe men (as Peter nP.Mart.Dec.5.l.4.Martyr reporteth) were shut vp at seuen yeares old, and neuer came forth thence till they were marriageable, and were brought forth to be contracted. All which time, they neuer cut their haire, they were clothed in blacke, abstained at certaine times of the yeare from meates engendring much bloud, and chastned their bodies with often fastings.
And although they had not letters, oAcost.l.6.c.9yet they had their wheele for computation of time, (as is said before) in which their writings were not as ours from the left hand to the right, or as of the Easterne Nations, from the right hand to the left, or as the Chinois, from the top to the bottome: but beginning below did mount vpwards; as in that mentioned wheele, from the Sunne which was made in the Center, vpwards to the circumference. Another manner of writing or signing, they had, in circle wise. In the Prouince of Yucatan or Honduras, there were bookes of the Leaues of trees, folded and squared, which contained the knowledge of the Planets, of beasts and other naturall things, and of their Antiquities, which some blindly-Zealous Spaniards, taking for inchantments, caused to be burned. The pc.7.Indians to Tescuco, Talla, and Mexico, shewed vntounto a Iesuite their Bookes, Histories, and Calendars, which in figures and Hieroglyphicks represented things after their manner. Such as had forme or figure, were represented by their proper Images, other things were represented by Characters; and I hauehave seene, saith Acosta, the Pater-noster, Aue Maria, and Confession thus written. As, for these words, I a Sinner doe confesse my selfe, they painted an Indian, kneeling on his knees, at a Religious mans feete; To God most mighty, they painted three faces with their crownes, according to that painting blasphemie of the popish image-mongers, and so they went on in that manner of picturing the wordes of their Popish Confession; where Images failed, setting Characters; Their qGomara.part 1.pag.3.69.bookes for this cause were great, which (besides their engrauings in stone, walles, or wood) they made of Cotton-wooll wrought into a kinde of paper, and of Leaues of Metl, folded vp like our broad-cloths, and written on both sides, Likewise they rp.Mart.Dec.4.l.8.made them of the thinne inner-rinde of a Tree, growing vnderunder the vpper barke (as did also the auncient Latines, from whence the names of Codex and Liber for a Booke, are deriued by our Grammarians.) They did binde them also into some forme of bookes, compacting them with Bitumen: their Characters vvere of Fish-hookes, Starres, Snares, Files, &c. Thus did they keepe their priuate and publike records.
There sGomara vbi sup.were some in Mexico, that vnderstood each other by whistling, which was ordinarily vsed by louers and theeues, a language admirable euen to our wits, so highly applauded by our selues, and as deepely deiecting these Nations in termes of feelinesse and simplicitie. Yea, in Our Virginia (so I hope and desire) Cap. Smith tolde mee that there are some, which the spacious diuorce of the wide streame notwithstanding, will by hallowes and howps vnderstand each other, and entertaine conference. The numbers of the Mexicans are simple, till you come to six, then they count six and one, six and two, six and three; ten is a number by it selfe, which in the insuing numbers, is repeated as in other languages till fifteene, which they reckon in one terme, ten, fiue, and one, and so the rest to twenty.
The Mexicans tGom.pag.38….did beleeue concerning the soule, that it was immortall, and that men receiued either ioy or paine, according to their deserts and liuing in this world. They held for an assured faith, that there were nine places appointed for soules, & the chiefest place of glory to be neere vntounto the Sunne, where the soules of good men slaine in the Warres, and those which were sacrificed are placed: that the soules of wicked men abide in the earth, and were diuided after this sort: children which were dead-borne, went to one place: those which died of age or other disease went to another: those which died of wounds or contagion, to a third: those which were executed by order of Iustice, to a fourth; but parricides, which slew their Parents, or which slew their Wiues or Children, to a fift. Another place was for such as slew their Maisters or Religious persons.
uAcost. l.7.c.….Acosta seemeth to deny that the Indians beleeued any punishments after death, and yet sets downe an Oration made at Mutezuma's election, wherein hee is said to hauehave pierced the nine Vaults of heauen, which seemes to allude to this of Gomara.
Their burialls also were diuers, as is shewed before: and here may … added that hee which died for Adulterie, vvas shrowded like vntounto their God of Lecherie, called Tlazonlterel: hee that vvas drowned, like to Tlalos: hee that died of drunkennes like to the God of Wine, Ometochtli, the Souldiour, like to Vitziliputzli. But least you wish mee buried in like manner, which trouble as much my English Reader, with New-Spaines redious Relations, as Old Spaines fastidious insulting spirits hauehave sometime done in English Nations, I will aduenture further into the adioining Prouinces.