MEXICAN FESTIVALS. 383 



meate (for so they called it), what they could, neither was it Lin 

 lawfull for any other to eate thereof. All the people having 

 dined, they assembled againe in the court to see the ende of 

 the feast, whither they brought a captive, which by the 

 space of a whole yeare, had represented the idoll, being 

 attyred, decked, and honoured as tho idoll it selfe, and 

 doing all reverence vnto him, they delivered him into the 

 handes of the sacrificers, who at that instant presented them 

 selves, taking him by the feote and haiides. The Pope did 

 open his stomacke, and pull out his hart, then did he lift vp 

 his hands as high as he could, showing it to tho Sunne, and 

 to the idoll, as hath beene said. Having thus sacrificed him 

 that represented the idoll, they went into a holy place ap 

 pointed for this purpose, whither came the yong men and 

 virgins of tho Temple with their ornaments, tho which being 

 put in order, they danced and sung with drummes and other 

 instruments, on tho which tho chiefo Priests did play and 

 sound. Then came all tho Noblemen with ensigncs and 

 ornaments like to the yong men, who danced round about 

 them. They did not usually kill any other men that day, 

 but him that was sacrificed, yet every fourth yeare they had 

 others with him, which was in tho yeare of lubile and full 

 pardons. After Sun set, every one being satisfied with 

 sounding, eating, and drinking, the virgins went al to their 

 convent, they took great dishes of earth full of bread mixt 

 with hony, covered with small panniers, wrought and 

 fashioned with dead mcns heads and bones, and they carried 

 the collation to the idoll, mounting vp to the court, which 

 was before tho doore of tho Oratorie : and having set them 

 downe, they retired in tho same order as they came, tho 

 steward going still before. Presently came forth all tho 

 yong men in order, with canes or reedes in their handes, 

 who begannc to runne as fast as they could to the toppe of 

 the staircs of the Temple, who should come first to tho dishes 

 of tho collation. The Elders or chiefe Priesfcs observed him 



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