Hiflorie of tie f tidies. lib. 5. "419 



that they would give them vi&orie againft their enne- 

 mies, and ftrength to take many captives, therewith to 

 honour their facrifices. This cereraonie was doone ten 

 dayes before thefeaft : During which tenne dayes the 

 Prieft did found this flute, to the end that all might do 

 this worfhip in eating of earth , and demaund or their 

 idol what they pleafed :they every day made their prat 

 ers, with their eyes lift vp to heaven, and witbfighs and 

 groanings, as men that were grieved for their finnes 

 and offences ./Although this contrition was onelie for " 

 feare of the corporal punifliment that was given them, N , 

 and not for any feare of the eternal!, for they certaine- 

 ly beleeved there was no fuch fevere puniihment in the 

 other life. 



. And therefore they offered tftemfelves voluntarily ; 

 to death, holding opinion that it is to all men an allu 

 red reft. The firft day of the feaft of this idoll r<%cali- 

 fuca being come, all they of the Citty aflembled toge 

 ther in a court, to celebrate likewife the feaft of the Ka- 

 lender, whereof wee have already fpoken , which was 

 called ToxcoAhb, which fignifies a drie thing : which 

 feaft was not made to any other end , but to demaund 

 nine, in the fime manner that we folemnife theRoga- 

 tions : and this feaft was alwayes in Maie, which is the 

 time that they have moft neede of raine in thofe coun 

 tries. They beganne to celebrate it the ninth of Maie, 

 ending the nineteenth. Thelaft day of the feaft the 

 Prieftes drew foorth a litter well furniflied with curtins 

 and pendants of diveriefafhions. This litter had (b ma 

 ny arrnes to holde by as there were miniftcrs to carry it. 

 All which came forth befmeered with blackeand long 

 haire, halfe in trefTes with white firings , and attyred 

 b the livery of the idoll . Vpon this litter they fet the 



E e 3 pcrfo- 



