4-oS The y^tttrtH andMoratt 



ancient law ofMofes , and fbme tothofc which the 

 Moorcs vie, and fome approached ncere to the law of 

 the Gofpel, as their bathes or OfactwA, as they call 

 them : they did wa(h thcmftlves in water, to clenfe 

 them from their fins. The Mexicaines hadalfb amongft 

 them akindc of baptifae, the which they did with ce* 

 remony , cutting the eares and members of yong chil 

 dren new borne, counterfaiting in fomc fort the cir- 

 cumcifion of the lewcs.This ceremony was done prin 

 cipally to the fonnes of Kings and Noblemen: prcfent- 

 ly vpon their birth thcprieftes did wafh them,and did 

 put a little fword in the ri^ht hand.and in the left a tar- 

 get.And to the children of the vulgar fort,they put the 

 raarkes of their offices , and to their daughters inftru- 

 rnents to fpinnc,knit,and labour. This ceremony con 

 tinued fourc daies, being made before fome idol!. 

 f They contraded mariagc after their maner, whereof 

 1 the Licentiate Polio hath swritten a whole Treatife, and 

 I will fpeake fomcwhat thereon heereaftcr. In other 

 things their cuftomes and ceremonies have Ibmefhew 

 ofreafbn.The^/tfAr/V^/^/werc married by thehandes 

 of their prieftesin this fort. The Bridegroome and the 

 Bride ftoodc together before theprieft , who tooke 

 them by the hands asking the'm if they would manie, 

 then having vnderftoode their willes, hee tooke a cor 

 ner of the vaile wherewith the woman had her head 

 covered , and a corner of the mans gowne the which 

 he tied together on a knot, and foled them thus tied 

 totheBridegroomes houfe, where thercwasaharth 

 kindled,and then he caufed the wife to go fevcn times 

 about the harth, and fo the married couple (ate downe 

 together , and thus was the manage contraded. The 

 Mcxicaincs were very iealousof the integritie of their 



vvives: 



