350 MEXICAN HUMAN SACRIFICES. 



CHAP. xxi. Of another kind of sacrifices of men which the 

 Mexicaines vsed. 



LIB. v. There was an other kinde of sacrifice which they made 

 in divers feasts, which they called Racaxipe Velitzli, which 

 is as much as the fleaing of men. 1 They call it so for that 

 in some feasts they tooke one or more slaves as they pleased, 

 and after they had flead him they with that skinne appa 

 relled a man appoynted to that end. This man went 

 dauncing and leaping thorow all the houses and market 

 places of the cittie, every one being forced to offer some 

 thing vnto him : and if any one failed hee would strike him 

 over the face with a corner of the skinne, defyling him with 

 the congealed blood. This invention continued vntill the 

 skinne did stinke : during which time, such as went gathered 

 together much almes, which they imployed in necessary 

 things for the service of their gods. In many of these 

 feasts they made a challenge betwixt him that did sacrifice 

 and him that should be sacrifyced thus : they tied the slave 

 by one foote to a wheele of stone, giving him a sword and 

 target in his handes to defend hiinselfe : then presently 

 stept foorth hee that sacrificed him, armed with another 

 sword and target : if he that should be sacrificed defends 

 himselfe valiantly against the other, and resisted him, hee 

 then remayned freed from the sacrifyce, winning the name 

 of a famous Captaine, and so was reputed : but if hee were 

 vanquished they .then sacrifyced him on the stone where- 

 vnto he was tyed. It was an other kinde of sacrifyce, 

 whenas they appoynted any slave to be the representation 

 of the idoll, saying that it was his picture. They every 

 yeare gave one slave to the Priests, that they might never 

 want the lively image of their idoll. At his fyrst entry into 

 the office, after hee had beene well washed, they attyred 



1 Xipcme means flayed. 



