440 MEXICAN WAKFARE. * 



LIB. vi. moneth ; which Tribute was of all tilings that doe growe or 

 ~ ingender on the land, or in the water, as well of iewells and 

 / apparrell, as of meat. They were very carefull for the well 

 ordering of that which concerned their religion, superstition, 

 and idolatries, : and for this occasion there were a great 

 number of Ministers, to whom charge was given to teach 

 the people the custome and ceremonies of their Lawe. 

 Heerevppon one day a Christian Priest made his complaint 

 that the Indians were no good Christians, and did not 

 profite in the lawe of God ; an olde Indian answered him 

 , very well to the purpose in these terms : Let the Priest, 

 saide hee, imploy as much care and diligence to make the 

 Indians christians, as the ministers of Idolles did to teach 

 them their ceremonies ; for with halfe that care they will 

 make vs the best christians in the worlde, for that the lawe 

 of Jesus Christ is much better ; but the Indians learne it 

 not, for want of men to instruct them.&quot;&quot; Wherein hee spake 

 the very trueth, to our great shame and confusion. 



CHAP. xxvi. How the Mexicaines made Warre, and of their 

 Orders of Knighthood. 



The Mexicaines gave the first place of honour to the pro 

 fession of armes, and therefore the Noblemen are their 

 chiefe souldiers, and others that were not noble, by their 

 valour and reputation gotten in warres, came to dignities 

 and honours, so as they were held for noblemen. They gave 

 goodly recompences to such as had done valiantly, who 

 inioyed priviledges that none else might have, the which 

 did much incourage them. Their armes were of rasors of 

 sharpe cutting flints, which they set on either side of a 

 staffe, which was so furious a weapon, as they affirmed that 

 with one blow, they would cut off the necke of a horse. 

 They had strange and heavy clubbes, lances fashioned like 



