312 WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS. 



LIB. v. yeelding to tlieir affection and sence, sometimes to the 

 flatterie of their Kings, did attribute vnto stones the incom 

 municable name of God, worshipping them for Gods.&quot; 



All this is in the booke of Wisdome, woorthy to be noted; 

 and such as are curious in the search of Antiquities shall 

 finde that the beginning of idolatry were these Images of 

 the dead. I say idolatry, which is properly the worship of 

 Idolles and Images; for that it is not certaine that this 

 other idolatry, to worship the creatures, as the Sunne and 

 and the hostes of heaven, or the number of Planets and 



ler.xix. Starres, whereof mention is made in the Prophets, hath 

 beene after the idolatry of Images, although without doubt 



Sophon. i. they have made idols in honour of the Sunne, the Moone, 

 , and the Earth. Returning to our Indians ; they came to the 

 height of Idolatry by the same meanes the Scripture 

 maketh mention of: first they had a care to keepe the 

 bodies of their Kings and Noblemen whole, from any ill 

 scent or corruption above two hundred yeares. In this 

 sorte were their Kings Yncas in Cusco, every one in his 

 Chappell and Oratorie, so as the Marquis of Caiiete being 

 Viceroy, to root out Idolatry, caused three or foure of their 

 gods to be drawne out and carried to the city of Kings, 

 which bredde a great admiration, to see these bodies (dead 

 so many yeares before) remairie so faire and also whole. 1 

 Every one of these Kings Yncas left all his treasure and 

 revenues to entertaine the place of worshippe where his 

 body was layed, and there were maiiy Ministers with all his 

 familie dedicated to his service ; for no King successor did 

 vsurpe the treasures and plate of his predecessor, but he 

 did gather all new for himselfe, and his pallace. They 

 were not content with this Idolatry to dead bodies, but also 

 they made their figures and representations ; and every 

 King in his life time caused a figure to be made wherein he 

 was represented, which they called Huauque, which signifieth 

 i See G. de la Vega, ii, p. 91. 



