TEMPLES IN MEXICO. 329 



the Temple, winch tied them in this sort vntill they fell off LlB - T - 

 by morcells, and then had they a care to set others in their 

 places. Vpon the toppe of the Temple were two stones or 

 chappells, and in them were the two Idolls which I have 

 spoken of, Vitziliputzli and his companion Tlalot. These 

 Chappells were carved and graven very artificially, and so 

 high that to ascend vp to it there was a staire of stone of 

 sixscore steppes. Before these Chambers or Chappells 

 there was a Court of fortie foote square, in the midst 

 whereof was a high stone of five hand breadth, poynted in 

 fashion of a Pyramide; it was placed there for the sacri 

 ficing of men, for being laid on their backes it made their 

 bodies to bend, and so they did open them and pull out 

 their hearts, as 1 shall show heereai ter. There were in the 

 Cittie of Mexico eight or nine other Temples, the which 

 were ioyned one to another within one great circuite and 

 had their private staires, their courts, their chambers, and 

 their dortoires. The entries of some were to the Kast, 

 sumo to the West, others to the South,, and some to the 

 North. All these Temples were curiously wrought, and 

 compassed in with divers surtes of battlements and pictures, 

 with many figures of stones, being accompanied and fortefied 

 with great and htrgp spurres or platformes. They were 

 dedicated to divers gods ; but next to the Temple of Yitz- 

 iliputzli was that of Tcscalipucu, which was the god of 

 penaunce and of punishments, very high and well built. 



There were fotire steps to ascend, on the toppe was a Hut 

 or table of sixe score foote broad, and ioyning vnto it was a 

 hall hanged with tapistry and cm-tins of diverse colours and 

 works. The doore thereof being low and large was alwayes 

 covered with a vuile, and none but the priests might enter 

 in. All this Temple was beutified with diverse images and 

 pictures most curiously ; for that these two Temples were 

 as the eathedrall churches, and the rest in respect of them 

 as parishes and hermitages ; they were so spatious and had 



