THE SEVENTH KING. 493 



very weakc to bcarc so heavy a burthen. Tlacaellel answered 

 that he was there to help him to beare the burthen, as he 

 had done to the deceased : by meanes whereof they 

 tooke their resolution, and Ticocic was chosen, to whom 

 were done all the accustomed ceremonies. 



They pierced his nosthrils, and for an ornament put an 

 emerald therein : and for this reason, in the Mexicaine 

 bookes, this king is noted by his nosthrills pierced. Hee 

 differed much from his father and predecessor, being noted 

 for a coward, and not valiant. Ho went to make warre for 

 his coronation, in a province that was rebelled, where ho 

 lost more of his own men then hee tooke captives ; yet ho 

 returned, saying, that hee brought the number of captives 

 required for the sacrifice of his coronation, and so hee was 

 crowned with great solemuitie. But the Mexicaines, dis 

 contented to have a king so little disposed to warre, prac 

 tised to hasten his death by poison. For this cause heo 

 continued not above foure yeares in the kingdomc : whereby 

 wee see that the children do not alwaies follow the blood 

 and valour of their fathers ; and the greater the glorie 

 of the predecessors hath bceno, the more odious is the 

 weakenes and cowardise of such that succeed them in com 

 mand, and not in merit. But this losse was well repaired 

 by a brother of the deceased, who was also sonne to great 

 Montcruma, called Axayaca, who was likewise chosen by the 

 advice of Tlacaellel, wherein lice happened better than 

 before. 



CHAP. xvin. Of the death of Tlacaclld, and the dcedes 

 of Axayaca, the seventh King of Mexicaines. 



Now was Tlacaellel very old, who by reason of his age, 

 he was carried in a chairo upon mens shoulders, to assist in 

 counsell when busines required. In the end hee fell sicke, 

 whcnas the king (who was not yet crowned), did visit him 



