A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1558. 



out of the Citie, are many broad wayes through the said 

 lake or water. This lake and Citie is environed also 

 with great mountaines round about, which are in com- 

 passe above thirtie leagues, and the saide Citie, and lake 

 of standing water, doeth stand in a great plaine in the 

 middest of it. This lake of standing water doeth pro- 

 ceed from the shedding of the raine, that falleth upon 

 the saide mountaines, and so gather themselves together 

 in this place. 

 [III. 454.] All the whole proportion of this Citie doeth stand in 



a very plaine ground, and in the middest of the said 

 Citie is a square place of a good bow shoote over from 

 side to side : and in the middest of the said place is 

 the high Church, very faire and well builded all through, 

 at that time not halfe finished, and round about the said 

 place, are many faire houses built : on the one side, are 

 the houses where Mutezuma the great king of Mexico 

 that was, dwelt, and now there lye alwayes the viceroyes 

 that the King of Spaine sendeth thither every three 

 yeeres. And in my time there was for viceroy a gentle- 

 Don Luis de man of Castil, called Don Luis de Velasco. And on 

 Velasco. ^^ Other side of the saide place, over against the same, 



is the Bishops house, very faire built, and many other 

 houses of goodly building. And hard by the same, are 

 also other very faire houses, built by the Marques de 

 Valle, otherwise called Hernando Cortes, who was hee 

 that first conquered the saide Citie and Countrey, who 

 after the said conquest which hee made with great 

 labour and travaile of his person, and danger of his 

 This IS to be Hfe^ and being growen great in the Countrey, the King 

 lis second cm- ^^ Spaine sent for him, saying that he had some par- 

 ming into ticular matters to impart unto him. And when he came 

 Spaine. home, he could not bee suffered to returne backe againe, 



as the King before had promised him. With the which, 

 for sorrow that he tooke, he died; and this he had for 

 the reward of his good service. 



The said Citie of Mexico hath the streetes made very 

 broad, and right, that a man being in the high place, 



356 



