MEXICAN DEITIES. 305 



and vrcucliillay ; and they faine them to be an ewe and a LlB - 

 lainbe. Others worshipped a starre which they called 

 Machachuay, to which they attribute the charge and power 

 over serpents and snakes, to keepe them from hurting 

 of them. They ascribe power to another starre, which 

 they called Chuquinchiucay (which is as much as jaguar), 

 over tigres, beares, and lyons, and they have generally be- 

 leeved, that of all the beasts of the earth, there is one alone 

 in heaven like vnto them, the which hath care of their pro 

 creation and increase. And so they did observe and wor 

 ship divers starres, as those which they called Chacana, 

 Topatorca, Mamana, Mirco, Miquiquiray, and many others. 

 So, as it seemed, they approached somewhat neere the pro 

 positions of Platoes Ideas. The Mexicaines almost in the 

 same manor, after the supreamo God, worshiped the Sunne. 

 And therefore they called Hernando Cortez, as he hath 

 written in a letter sent vnto the Emperour Charles the fift, 

 Sonne of the Sunne, for his care and courage to compasse 

 the earth. But they made their greatest adoration to an 

 Idol called Vitzilipuztli, the which in all this region they 

 called the most puissant, and Lord of all things ; for this 

 cause the Mexicaines built him a Temple, the greatest, the 

 fairest, the highest, and the most sumptuous of all other. 

 The scituatiou and bcautie thereof may wel be coniectured 

 by the ruines which yet remaino in the midst of the Cittie 

 of Mexico. But heere the Mexicaiues Idolatrie hath bin 

 more pernicious and hurtfull then that of the Yucas, as wee 

 shall see plainer heereafter, for thafc the greatest part of 

 their adoration and idolatrie was employed to Idols, and not 

 to naturall things, although they did attribute uaturall 

 effects to these Idolls, as raine, multiplication of cattell, 

 warre, and generation, even as the Greeks and Latins have 

 forged Idolls of Phoebus, Mercurie, lupiter, Minerva, and of 

 Mars. To conclude, whoso shall neerely looke into it, shall 

 finde this manner which the Divell hath vsed to deceive the 





