The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne

The Market place of Mexico

The Market is called in the Indian tong Tlanquiztli: euery parish hath his Market place to buy and sel in: but Mexico, and Tlatelulco only, which are y^e chiefest cities, haue great fayres and places fitte for the same, and especiallye Mexico hath one place where most dayes in the yeare is buying and selling, but euery fourth day is the greate Market ordinaryly: and the like custome is vsed throughout the dominions of Mutezuma.

This place is wide and large, compassed round about with dores, and is so great, that a hundered thousand persons come thither to choppe and change, as a Cittie most principall in all that region. Wherefore the resort is frō farre parties vnto that place. Euery occupatiō and kinde of Marchādise hath his proper place appointed, which no other may by any means occupy or disturbe. Likewise pesterous wares haue their place accordinglye, (that is to say) stone, timber, lyme, bricke, and all kinde of stuffe vnwrought, being necessarie to buylde withall. Also mattes both fine and course of sundry workemanship, also coles, woodde, and all sorts of Earthen vessell glazed and painted very curiously: Deare skinnes both rawe and tanned in haire and without haire, of many colours, for shoomakers, for bucklers, Targets, Ierkins, and lyning of woodden Corselets: also skinnes of other beastes and foule in feathers ready dressed of all sortes, the colours and straungnesse thereof was a thing to behold. The richest Marchandise was salte, and mantels of Cotten wolle of diuers colours, both great and small, some for beddes, others for garments and clothing, other for Tapissarie to hang houses, other cotten clothe for linnen breaches, shirtes, table clothes, towels, napkins, and suche like things.

There were also Mantels made of the leaues of the trée called Metl, and of Palme trée, & Connie heare, which are wel estéemed, being very warm, but y^e couerlets made of feathers are the best: they sell thréede made of Connie heare, péeces of linnen clothe made of cotten wolle, also skaynes of thréede of all colours: also it is straunge to sée the great store of poultrie that is brought to that market, and although they eate the fleshe of the foule, yet the feathers serue for clothing, mixyng one sorte with another. There are of these foule so many sortes and seuerall colours, that I can not number them: some wilde, some tame, some water foule, and other some of rapine. All the brauery of the market, is the place where golde and feathers ioyntly wrought is solde, for any thyng that is in request is there liuely wrought in golde and feathers and gallant colours. The Indians are so expert and perfite in this science, that they will worke or make a Butterflie, any wilde beaste, trées, roses, floures, hearbes, rootes or any other thyng so liuely, that it is a thyng maruelous to behold. It hapneth many tymes that one of these workemen in a whole day will eate nothyng, onely to place one feather in his dew perfection, turnyng and tossing the feather to the lighte of the Sunne, into the shade or darke place, to sée where is his moste naturall perfection, and till his worke be finished he will neyther eate nor drinke. There are few nations of so muche fleame or sufferance. The Arte or Science of Goldsmiths among them is the moste curious, and very good workemanship engrauen with toles made of flinte, or in moulde. They will caste a platter in moulde with eight corners, and euery corner of seuerall mettall, that is to say, the one of golde, and the other of siluer, without any kinde of sowder: they will also founde or cast a litle caudren with lose handles hangyng thereat, as we vse to caste a Bell: they will also caste in mould a fish of mettal with one scale of siluer on his back and another of gold: they will make a Parret or Popingay of mettall, that his tongue shall shake, and his head moue, & his wings flutter: they wil caste an Ape in mold, that both hands & féete shall stirre, & holde a spindle in his hande séeming to spinne, yea and an apple in his hande as though he would eate it. Our Spaniardes were not a litle amazed at the sight of these things, for our Goldsmithes are not to be compared vnto them. They haue skil also of Amell worke, and to sette any pretious stone. But now as touchyng the markette, there is sell Golde, Siluer, Copper, Leadde, Latton, and Tinne, although there is but little of the thrée laste mettals mentioned. There are Pearles, Pretious stones, diuers and sundry sortes of Shelles, and Bones, Sponges, and other pedlers ware, whiche certainely are many and straunge sortes, yea and a thing to laughe at their Haberdashe toyes and trifles. There are also many kinde of hearbes, rootes, and séedes, as well to be eaten as for Medicine, for bothe men, wemen and chyldren haue great knowledge in hearbes, for through pouertie and necessitie, they séeke them for theyr sustenaunce and helpe of theyr infirmities and diseases. They spende little among Phisitions, although there are some of that Arte, and many Poticaries, who doe bryng into the markette, oyntments, Siroppes, waters, and other drugges fitte for sicke Persons: they cure all diseases almost, with hearbes, yea as muche as for to kill lyse they haue a proper hearbe for the purpose.

The seuerall kyndes of meates to be solde is without number, as Snakes without head & tayle, little Dogges gelte, Moules, Rattes, Long wormes, Lyse, yea and a kinde of earth, for at one season in the yéere they haue Nettes of mayle with the which they rake vp a certayne duste that is bredde vpon the water of the lake of Mexico, and that is knéeded togither like vnto oas of the sea: they gather much of this victuall, & kéepe it in heapes, & make thereof cakes like vnto brickebats: they sell not only this ware in y^e market, but also send it abroad to other fayres & markets a far of: they eat this meate w^t as good stomake as we eate chéese, yea and they holde opinion that this skume or fatnesse of the water, is y^e cause that such great number of foule cōmeth to the lake, which in the winter season is infinite.

They sel in this market venison by quarters or whole, as Does, Hares, Connies, and Dogges, and many other beastes, which they bring vp for the purpose, and take in huntyng. There are a great number of shoppes that sell all kinde of orfall and tripes. It is a wonder to sée how so much meate ready dressed coulde be spent. There is also fleshe and fishe rosted, boyled and baked, Pies and Custardes made of diuers sortes of egges, the great quantitie of bread is without number. Also corne of all sortes threshed and vnthreshed. The greate store of sundry kyndes of fruytes is maruellous which are there solde, bothe gréene and ripe: there is one sorte as bigge as Almondes called Cacao, whiche is both meate and currant money. There are diuers kind of colours to be solde, whiche they make of Roses, floures, fruites, barkes of trées, and other things very excellent: they sell there Honie of sundry kindes, oyle of Chian, made of a séede like vnto mustarde séede, and oynting any paynted clothe therewith, the water can not hurte it, they also dresse therwith their meate, although they haue both butter and larde. Theyr sundry sortes of wines shalbe declared in an other place: it woulde be a prolixious thing to rehearse all the things that are to be solde in that markette. There are in this fayre many Artificers, as Packers, Barbars, Cutlers, & may others, although it was thought that among these Indians were none such. All the things recited, and many others which I speake not of, are solde in euery market of Mexico, all the sellers paye a certaine summe for theyr shops or stādings to the King, as a custome, & they to be preserued and defended from théeues: and for that cause there goe certayne Sergeants or officers vp & downe the market to espie out malefactours. In the middest of the market standeth a house whiche may be séene throughout the fayre, & there sitteth twelue auncient men for iudges to dispatch lawe matters: their buying and selling is to chaunge one ware for another, as thus, one giueth a hen for a bundell of Maiz, other giue mantels for salte, or money whiche is Cacao, and this is theyr order to choppe and chaunge: they haue measure and strike for all kynde of corne, and other earthen measures for Hony and Wine, and if any measure be falsified, they punish the offenders and breake their measures.

The great Temple of Mexico

The Temple is called Teucalli, that is to say, Gods house, Teutl signifieth God, & Calli is a house, a vowell very fitte, if that house had bene of the true God. The Spaniards that vnderstād not the language, do pronounce and call those Temples Cues, and the God Vitzilopuchtli, Vchilobos. There are in Mexico many parishe churches, with towres, wherein are chappels and Altares where the images & idols do stande, & those chappels do serue for burial places of their founders, and the Parishioners are buried in the Churchyarde. All their tēples are of one fashion, therefore it shal be nowe sufficient to speake of the cathedral church. And euen as those tēples are al in generall of one making in that citie. I doe beleue that the lyke was neuer séene nor heard off. This temple is square, & doth containe euery way as much ground as a crossebow can reach leuell: it is made of stone, with foure dores that abutteth vpon the thrée calseys, and vpon an other parte of the Cittie, that hath no calsey but a fayre streate.

A straunge dore

In the middest of this Quadern standeth a mount of earth and stone square lykewise, and fiftie fadom long euery way, buylte vpward like vnto a pyramide of Egipt, sauyng the toppe is not sharpe, but playne and flatte, and tenne fadom square: vppon the weast side, were steppes vp to the toppe, in number an hundreth and fourtene, whiche beyng so many, high, and made of good stone dyd séeme a beautifull thing. It was a straunge sight to beholde the Priestes, some goyng vp, and some downe with ceremonies, or with men to be sacrificed. Vpon the toppe of this Temple are two great Alters, a good space distant the one from the other, and so nigh the edge or brimme of the wall, that scarcely a man mought go behind them at pleasure. The one Alter standeth on the right hande, & the other on the left, they were but of fiue foote highe, eche of them had the backe part made of stone, paynted with mōstrous and foule figures, the Chappell was fayre & well wrought of Masons worke & timber, euery Chappell had thrée loftes one aboue another, susteyned vpon pillers, & with y^e height thereof it shewed like vnto a fayre tower, and beautified the Cittie a farre of: from thence a man mought sée all the cittie and townes rounde aboute the lake, whiche was vndoubtedly a goodly prospect. And bycause Cortes & his company shoulde sée the beautie therof, Mutezuma brought him thither, and shewed hym all the order of the Temple, euen from the foote to the toppe. There was a certaine plot of space for the idoll priests to celebrate their seruice without disturbance of any. Their general prayers were made toward y^e rising of the sunne. Vpon ech alter standeth a great idoll. Beside this tower that standeth vpō the pyramide, there are fourtie towers great & small belonging to other little tēples which stand in the same circuite, the which although they were of the same making, yet theyr prospect was not westwarde, but otherwayes, bicause there should be a difference betwixte the great temple & them. Some of these Temples were bigger than others, and euery one of a seuerall God, among the whiche there was one rounde temple dedicated to the God of the ayre called Quecalcouatl, for euen as the ayre goeth rounde aboute the heauens, euen for that consideration they made his temple rounde. The entraunce of that Temple had a dore made lyke vnto the mouth of a Serpent, and was paynted with foule and Diuelish gestures, with great téeth & gummes wrought, whiche was a thing to feare those that should enter in thereat, & especially the Christians vnto whom it represented very Hel with that ougly face and monsterous téeth.

There were other Teucalles in the citie, that had the ascending vp by steps in thrée places: all these temples had houses by thēselues with all seruice & priests & particular Gods. At euery dore of the great temple standeth a large Hall & goodly lodgings, both high and lowe round about, which houses were cōmon armouries for the Citie, for the force and strength of euery towne is the temple, and therfore they haue there placed their storehouse of munition. They had other darke houses full of idols, greate & small, wrought of sundry mettals, they are all bathed and washed with bloud, and do shewe very blacke through theyr dayly sprinklyng and anoynting thē with the same, when any man is sacrificed: yea & the walles are an inche thicke with bloud, and the grounde is a foote thicke of bloud, so that there is a diuelish stench. The Priests or Ministers goe daylye into those Oratories, and suffer none others but great personages to enter in. Yea and when any such goeth in, they are bounde to offer some man to be sacrificed, that those bloudy hangmen and ministers of the Diuell may washe their handes in bloud of those so sacrificed, and to sprinkle their house therewith.

For their seruice in the kitchin they haue a ponde of water that is filled once a yéere, which is brought by conduct from the pryncipal fountayne. All the residue of the foresayde circuite serueth for places to bréede foule, with gardens of hearbes and swéete trees, with Roses and floures for the Altars. Such, so great & straunge was this temple of Mexico, for the seruice of the Diuell who had deceiued those simple Indians. There dothe reside in the same temple continually fiue thousand persons, and all they are lodged and haue theyr liuing there, for that tēple is maruellous riche, & hath diuers townes onely for their maintenaunce and reparation, and are bounde to sustayne the same alwayes on foote. They doe sowe corne, and maintayne all those fiue thousande persons with bread, fruyte, flesh, fishe, and firewoodde as much as they néede, for they spende more fire woodde than is spent in the kings courte: these persons doe liue at their hartes ease, as seruauntes and vassals vnto the Goddes. Mutezuma brought Cortes to this temple, bicause his men shoulde sée the same, and to enforme them of his religion and holinesse, wherof I will speake in an other place, being the most straunge and cruellest that euer was heard off.

The Idols of Mexico

The Gods of Mexico, were two thousand in number, as the Indians reported, the chiefest were Vitcilopuchtli and Tezcatlipuca, whose images stoode highest in the Temple vppon the Altars: they were made of stone in ful proportion as bigge as a Gyant. They were couered with a lawne called Nacar. These images were besette with pearles, precious stones, & péeces of gold, wrought like birds, beasts, fishes, and floures, adorned with Emeralds, Turquies, Calcedons, and other little fine stones, so that when the lawne Nacar was taken away, the Images séemed very beautifull to beholde.

A vvicked attire

The Image had for a girdle great snakes of gold, and for collors or chaynes about their neckes, ten hartes of men, made of golde, and each of those Idolles had a counterfaite visor with eies of glasse, and in their necks death painted: eache of these things hadde their considerations and meanings. These two Goddes were brethren, for Tezcatlipuca was the God of Prouidence, and Vitcilopuchtli God of the warres, who was worshipped and feared more than all the rest.

A madde offering

There was another God, who hadde a greate Image placed vppon the toppe of the Chappell of Idols, and hée was estéemed for a speciall and singular God aboue all the rest. This God was made of all kinde of séedes that groweth in that Countrey, and being ground, they made a certayne past, tempered with childrens bloud, and Virgins sacrifised, who were opened with their razures in the breastes, and their heartes taken out, to offer as first fruites vnto the Idoll. The Priestes and Ministers doe consecrate this Idoll with great pomp and many Ceremonies. All the Comarcans and Citizens are presente at the consecration, with great triumph and incredible deuotion. After the consecration, many devoute persons came and sticked in the dowy Image precious stones, wedges of golde, and other Iewels. After all this pomp ended, no secular man mought touche that holye Image, no nor yet come into his Chappell, nay scarcely religious persons, except they were Tlamacaztli, who are Priestes of order. They doe renue this Image many times wyth new dough, taking away the olde, but then blessed is hée that can get one péece of the olde ragges for relikes, and chiefly for souldyers, who thought themselues sure therwith in the warres. Also at the consecration of thys Idoll, a certayne vessell of water was blessed with manye wordes and ceremonyes, and that water was preserued very religiously at the foote of the altar, for to consecrate the King when he should be crowned, and also to blesse any Captayne generall, when he shoulde be elected for the warres, with only giuing him a draught of that water.

The Charnell house or place of dead mens sculles for remembrance of death

Without the temple, and ouer againste the principall dore thereof, a stones cast distant, standeth the Charnell house onely of dead mens heads prisoners in warres and sacrifised with the knife.

This monument was made like vnto a Theatre, more larger than broade, wrought of lyme and stone, with ascending steppes, in the walles whereof was graffed betwixt stone and stone a skul with the téeth outwards.

At the foote and head of this Theatre, were two Towers, made only of lime and skulles, the téeth outwarde, and this wall hauing no other stuffe, séemed a straunge sight. At and vppon the toppe of the Theatre, were 70. polles, standing the one from the other foure or fiue foote distant, and eache of them was full of staues from the foote to the toppe. Each of these staues had others made fast vnto them, so that euery of them had fiue skulles broched through the temples. Andrewe de Tapia did certifie me, that he and Gonsalo de Vmbria dyd recken them in one daye, and founde a hundred thirtie and sixe thousande skulles on the polles, staues, and steppes. The other Towers were replenished out of number, a most cruell custome, being only mens heads slaine in sacrifice, although it hath a shewe of humanitie for the remembrance there placed of death. There are also men appoynted, that when one skull falleth, to set vp another in his place, so that the number may neuer want.

Hovv Cortez tooke Mutezuma prisoner

Hernando Cortez and his companye, were sixe dayes in beholding and perusing the scituation of the Citie, and secretes of the same, with the notable thinges before rehearsed: they were often visited by Mutezuma, & the Gentlemen of hys Courte, and abundantly prouided of things necessarye for his vse, and the Indians of his company.

A svveete bedde

Determination of Cortez

Likewise his Horses were cherished and serued with gréene barley and grasse, whereof there is plentie all the yeare: Likewise of corne, meale, roses, and of all thynges that their owners would request, in so much that beddes of floures were made for them in place of litter. But yet notwithstanding, although they were in this sorte cherished, and also lodged in so riche a Countrey, where they mighte fyll their purses, they were not yet all contente and merrie, but rather with great feare and care, especially Cortes, who hadde the onely care as head and chiefe Captayne for the defence of hys fellowes, hée (I saye) was pensiue, noting the scituation of the Citie, the infinite number of people, the state and maiestie of Mexico, yea and some disquietnesse of hys owne companye, who woulde come and laye vnto hys charge the snare and nette that they were in, thynkyng it a thyng vnpossible that anye of them coulde escape, if Mutezuma were therevnto determined, or else with the least muteny in the worlde, that mought be raysed in the Citie, although that euery inhabitant shoulde throw but one stone at them, or else to breake vp the drawbridges, or withdrawing their victuals, things verye easie to bée done. With this greate care that he had of the preseruation of his fellowes, and to remedie the perill and daunger that he stoode in, he determined to apprehēd Mutezuma, and to builde foure Foystes to haue the lake in subiection, which he hadde tofore ymagined, and without the apprehension of the King, he coulde not come by the Kingdome: he would very gladly haue buylt the Foystes out of hand, but he left off that pretence, only bycause he would not delay the emprisonment of Mutezuma, wherein consisted the effect of all his businesse, so that forthwith he minded to put in execution his intent, without gyuing any of his company to vnderstand thereof.

Treasory of Mutezuma

The quarrell wherewith he had armed himselfe for that purpose, was, that the Lorde Qualpopoca hadde slayne nine Spanyardes: likewise encouraged him the greate presumption of his letters written to the Emperour Charles his king, wherein he wrote that he would take Mutezuma prisoner, and dispossesse him of his Empyre. These causes considered, he tooke the letters of Pedro Hircio, wherein was written, how Qualpopoca was the cause of the death of nine Spanyardes, and put those letters into his pocket, and walking vp and downe his lodging, tossyng too and fro these ymaginations in his brayne, full of care of the great enterprise that he had in hande, yea he hymselfe iudging the matter doubtfull, and his head béeyng in this sort occupyed, he chanced to espye one wall more whiter than the rest, and beholding the same, he sawe that it was a dore lately dammed vp, & callyng vnto him two of his seruaunts (for all the residue were asléepe) bycause it was late in the nighte, he opened that dore, and went in, and there found sundry halles, some with Idols, some with gallant feathers, Iewels, precious stones, plate, yea and such an infinite quantitie of golde, that the sight thereof amazed him, and other gallant things that made him to maruell. He shutte thys dore agayne as well as he moughte, withoute touching any part of that treasure, bycause he woulde not make any vprore therabout, nor yet to delay the emprisonment of Mutezuma, for that treasure was alwayes there to be had.

The nexte daye in the morning came certayne Spanyardes vnto hym, and manye Indians of Tlaxcallon, saying that the Citizens did goe about to conspire their deathe, and to breake downe the bridges of the calseys, to bryng their purpose the better to passe. So that with this newes, béeyng true or false, Cortes left the one halfe of his men to defende and kéepe his lodging, and at euery crosse stréete he planted mē, and the residue he sent to the Court by two and two, and thrée and thrée, and he hymselfe came to the pallaice, saying that he must talke wyth Mutezuma of matters that did emport their liues. Cortes was secretely armed. Mutezuma hearyng howe Cortez attended for hym, came forth and receyued him, taking him by the hand, and placed him in his seate. Thirtie Spanyardes wayted vpon Cortez, and the residue abode without at the dore.

Cortez saluted Mutezuma according to his accustomed manner, and began to rest and talke merily as hée was wont to do. Mutezuma béeyng carelesse of the thing that Fortune hadde prepared agaynste hym, was also very merrie, and pleased with that conuersation. He gaue vnto Cortes Iewels of golde, and one of his daughters, and other noble mens daughters to others of his company. Cortes receyued the gift, for otherwise it hadde bin a frent vnto Mutezuma. But yet he enformed him, that he was a married man, and that he coulde not marrie with his daughter, for the Christian law did not permitte the same, nor yet that any Christian mought haue more than one wife, vppon payne of infamy, and to be marked in the forehead.

After all this talke ended, Cortez tooke the letters of Pedro Hircio, and caused them to be interpreted vnto Mutezuma, makyng hys grieuous complaynte agaynste Qualpopoca, who hadde slayne so many Spanyardes through hys commaundement, yea and that his subiectes had published, that they woulde kill the Spanyardes, and breake downe the bridges.

Mutezuma excused himselfe earnestly, as well of the one as of the other, saying, the report giuen out agaynste hys subiectes was false and vntrue, and as for Qualpopoca who had slayne the Spanyardes, he was innocent thereof: and bycause that he shoulde sée the troth, he called incontinent certayne of his seruauntes, commaunding thē to goe for Qualpopoca, and gaue vnto them his seale, whiche was a stone that he ware at his wrest, engraued with the figure of the God Vitzilopuchtli, and the messengers departed therewith incontinent.

Cortez replyed and sayd: My Lord, your highnesse must goe with me to my lodging, and there abide, vntill youre messengers returne with Qualpopoca, and the certaynetie of the deathe of my men: In my lodging youre highnesse shall rule and commaund as you do héere in Court, your person shall bée well vsed, wherefore take you no care, for I will haue respecte vnto youre honor, as to myne owne proper, or the honor of my Kyng, beséeching you to pardon me in this my request, for if I shoulde doe otherwise, and dissemble with you, mine own company would be offended with me, saying that I doe not defende them, according to duetie. Wherefore commaund your householde seruauntes to repose themselues without alteration, for be you assured, that if any hurte come vnto me, or vnto anye of mine, youre person shall pay the same with life, considering that it lyeth in youre hand to goe quietly with me.

Mutezuma was sore amazed, saying, Sir, my person is not fytte to be a prisoner, yea, and though I woulde permitte the same, my subiectes would not suffer.

They abode arguing the matter néere foure houres, and at length Mutezuma was content to goe, hauing promise that he should rule and gouerne as he was wont to do. Cortes cōmaunded a place in his lodging to be trimmed for him, and he went forthwith thither with Cortes. There came many noble men barefooted, wéeping and lamenting the case, carrying their best garmentes vnder their armes, and brought a rich seate, whereon Mutezuma was placed, & they carried hym vpon their shoulders.

A sorovvful pastime

When it was blowen abroade in the Citie that Mutezuma was carried prisoner to the Spanyards lodging, all the Citie was on an vprore: but yet Mutezuma did comfort the Gentlemen that carried and followed him wéeping, praying them to ceasse their lamentation, saying that he was not prisoner, nor yet went with the Chrystians againste his will, but for his onely pleasure. Cortes appointed a Spanish garde for him, with a Captayne, the which he dayly changed, and had Spanyards always in his cōpany to make him pastime. Also poore Mutezuma was cōtented with their conuersation, & gaue thē stil rewards. He was serued with his owne seruāts Indiās, as at home in his pallace. Cortes always intreated him to put off sadnes, & to be merrie, permitting him to dispatch suters, & to deale in all affayres of his estate, & to comune and talke openly or secretely with his noble mē as he was wont to do, and that was but onely a bayte to bring them to the hooke. There was neuer Greeke nor Romayne, nor any other nation since the name of Kings was ordeyned, dyd gyue y^e lyke enterprise, as Hernando Cortez did, in taking Mutezuma prisoner in his owne house, béeing a most mighty King, & in a most strong fort among infinite people, he hauyng but only 450. companions.