The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne: atchieued by the vvorthy Prince Hernando Cortes, marques of the Valley of Huaxacac, most delectable to readeLópez de Gómara, Francisco
History
The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne: atchieued by the vvorthy Prince Hernando Cortes, marques of the Valley of Huaxacac, most delectable to reade
López de Gómara, Francisco
Cortés, Hernán, 1485-1547; Mexico -- History -- Conquest, 1519-1540; Nahuatl language -- Glossaries, vocabularies, etc.
There were also other Cages for foule of rapyne of all sortes, as
Hawkes, Kyghtes, Boyters, and at the least nine or ten kind of Haukes.
This house of foule had of dayly allowance fiue hundred Gynea cockes,
and thrée hundred men of seruice, besides the Falconers and Hunters,
which are infinite. There were many other sortes of Foules that our men
knowe not, which séemed by theyr beake and talents good to Hauke withal.
To the Snakes and other venemous beastes they gaue the bloude of men
sacrifised, to féede them, and some saye they gaue vnto them mannes
fleshe, whych the greate Lysarts doe eate very well. The Spaniardes saw
the floure couered with bloud like a iealy in a slaughter house, it
stonke horribly.
It was straunge to sée the officers in this house howe euery one was
occupied. Our men tooke greate pleasure in beholding suche straunge
thyngs, but they coulde not awaye wyth the roaryng of the Lyons, the
fearefull hissing of the Snakes and Adders, the dolefull howling and
barking of the Wolues, the sorowfull yelling of the Ownzes & Tigres,
when they would haue meate.
Moste certaine, in the nighte season it séemed a Dongeon of Hell, and
a dwelling place of the Deuill, and euen so it was indéede, for neare
at hande was a Hall of a hüdred & fiftie foote long, and thirtie foote
broad, where was a Chappel with the Roofe of siluer and gold in leafe
Wainescotted, and decked with greate store of pearle and stone, as
Agattes, Cornerines, Emeraldes, Rubies, and diuerse other sortes, and
thys was the Oratory where _Mutezuma_ prayed in the nighte season, and
in that chappell the Diuell did appeare vnto hym, and gaue him answere
accordyng to his prayers.
He had other houses lyke vnto Barnes, onely for the feathers of foules,
and for mantels whiche procéeded of his rentes and tributes, a thing
muche to be séene: vpon the dores was sette his armes, whiche was a
Connie.
Here dwelled the chiefe officers of his house, as Tresorer, Controller,
Receyuers and other officers appertainyng to the Kings reuenewes.
_Mutezuma_ had no house wherein was not an oratory for the Deuill,
whome they worshipped for the Iewels there. And therefore those houses
were great and large.
The Armory of Mutezuma.
_Mvtezuma_ had some houses of Armour, vpon the dores wherof stoode
a bow and arrowes. In these houses was greate store of all kinde of
munition whiche they vse in their wars: as Bowes, Arrowes, Slings,
Launces, Dartes, Clubbes, Swordes and Bucklers, and gallant Targettes
more trimme than strong, Skulles and Splintes, but not many, and al
made of woodde, gilte or couered with leather. The woodde whereof they
make their Armour and Targettes, is very harde and strong, for they
vse to toaste it at the fire, and at their arrowe endes they inclose
a litle péece of flinte stone, or a péece of a fishe bone called
_Libisa_, and that is venemous, for if any bée hurte therewith and
the head remayne in the wounde, it so festereth, that it is almost
incurable.
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