346 MEXICAN HUMAN SACRIFICES. 



CHAP. xx. Of the horrible sacrifices of men which the Mexi- 

 caines vsed, 



LIB. v. . Although they of Peru have surpassed the Mexicaines in 

 ~ the slaughter and sacrifice of their children (for I have not 

 read nor vnderstood that the Mexicaines vsed any such 

 sacrifices), yet they of Mexico have exceeded them, yea, 

 all the nations of the worlde, in the great number of men 

 L which they had sacrificed, and in the horrible maner thereof. 

 And to the end we may see the great miserie wherein the 

 Divell holdes this blind Nation, I wil relate particularly 

 the custome and inhumane maner which they have observed. 

 First, the men they did sacrifice were taken in the warres, 

 neyther did they vse these solemne sacrifices but of Captives: 

 so as it seemes therein they have followed the custome of 

 the Ancients. For as some Authors say they called the 

 sacrifice Victima, for this reason, because it was of a con 

 quered thing : they also called it Hostia quasi ab hoste, for 

 that it was an offering made of their enemies, although 

 they have applied this word to all kindes of sacrifices. In 

 , truth the Mexicaines did not sacrifice any to their idolls, 

 but Captives, and the ordinarie warres they made was onely 

 to have Captives for their sacrifices : and therefore when 

 they did fight they laboured to take their enemies alive, and 

 not to kill them, to inioy their sacrifices. And this was the 

 reason which Motequma gave to the Marquis del Valle, 1 when 

 he asked of him why being so mighty, and having con 

 quered so many kingdomes, hee had not subdued the Pro 

 vince of Tlascalla, which was so neere : MoteQuma answered 

 him that for two reasons hee had not conquered that Pro 

 vince, although it had beene easie if he would have vnder- 

 taken it : the one was for the exercise of the youth of 



1 The title conferred upon Hernau Cortes. 



