Hittorie of the Indies, lib.rf. 487 



tonu it not , for wtnt tfinen to inflruft them . Wherein 

 hee fpake the very trueth, to our great flume and con- 

 fufion. 



Km the MexicuntsmAdt W*rrt>*nd of their Orders of 

 Knighthood CHAP. 26* 



THe Mexictiws gwe the firft place of honour to 

 the profeffion of armes, and therefore the Noble 

 men are their chiefe fouldiers, and others that were 

 not noble , by their valour and reputation gotten in 

 warres,came to dignities and honours, fo as they were 

 held for noblemen.They gave goodly recompen ces to 

 fuch as had done valiantly , who inioyed priviledges 

 that none elfe might have, the which did much incou- 

 rage thcm.Their armes were of rafors of fharpc cutting 

 -flints , which they fet on either fide ofa ftaffe , which 

 was fo furious a weapon , as they affirmed that with 

 one blow, they would cut off the neckc ofa horfc. 

 They had ftrangeand heavy clubbesjances, falhioned 

 like pikes, and other maner of dartestocaft } wherein 

 they were very expert 5 but the greateft part of their 

 combate was performed with ftones. For defenfive 

 armes they had little rondaches or targets , and fomc 

 kind of morions or head-peeces invironed with fea 

 thers. They were clad in the skinnes of Tigres, Lions, 

 and other fauagebcafts.They camepreftntly to hands 

 with the enemie , and were greatly pradifed to run nc 

 and wreftle,for their chiefe maner orcombate,was not 

 fb much to kilI 5 as to take captives, the which they vftd 

 in their facrifices, as hath beene faide.J Moteyimtfot 

 Knighthood in his higheft fp!?ndor,ordaining certainc 

 militarie orders^as Comiuanders p with certainemarkes 



and 



