Hitforie oft&e fatties, lib. 6. 



and mourning,and others to treate of the affairs of the 

 realme. There was in this pallace many chambers, ac 

 cording to the qualitie of noble men that ferved him, 

 vvfth a ftrarige order and diftindion . 



Of the titles and dignities the Indians vfed. 

 CHAP. 25. 



THe Mexicaiaes have beene very curious, to divide 

 the degrees and dignities amongft the Noble men 

 and Lords,that they might diftinguifh them to whom 

 they were to give the greateft honour. The dignity of 

 thefe foure Eledtors was the greateft, and mod honou 

 rable, next to the king, and they were chofen prefent- 

 ly after the kings ele&ion. They were commonly bro 

 thers, or very oearc kinfmen to theking, and were cal 

 led TUcehecdcalt , which fignifies prince of darts, the 

 which they caft , being a kind of armes they vfe much. 

 The next dignitic to this, were thofc they doe call TU- 

 catec4ti y which is to fay,circumcifers or cutters of men. 

 The third dignitic were of thofe which they called J^- 

 T(uAhuAcalt, which fignifies a (header of blood. All the 

 which Titles and Dignities were exercifed by men of 

 warre . There was another a fourth intituled , Tlilm- 

 calquiy which is as much to (ay , as Lord of the blacke 

 houfe, or of darkenefle, byreafon of certaine incke 

 wherewith the Priefls annoynted themfelves, and did 

 ferve in their idolatries J All thefe foure dignities were 

 of the great Counfell, without whofeadvife the king 

 might not doc any thing of importance : and the king 

 being dead, they were to choofc another in his place 

 out of one of thofc foure dignitiesJBefides the(e,therc 

 were other Counfellsand Audiences, and fomefay 



I i 4 there 



