Htifam of the Indies, lib.rf. 



Ofthegrett order anddilligenct the Mexicaines 

 vfed to inftrutt their youth. 

 CHAP. 27. ' 



ere is nothing that gives me more caufc to ad- 

 mire, nor that I findc more worthy of commenda 

 tions and memory , then the order and care the Mexl. 

 ctines had to nourifti their youth : for they knew well, 

 that all the good hope of a common-wealc , confifted 

 in the nurture and inftitution of youth, wher eoPlat* 

 trcates amply in his bookcs De Legibuf : and for this 

 reafon they laboured and tooke paines to fequefter 

 their children from delights and liberties, (which are 

 the two plagues of this age,) imploying them in ho- 

 neftand profitable cxercifcs. For this caufc there was 

 in their Temples, a private houfe for childeren , as 

 fchooles, or colledgcs , which was feperate from that 

 of theyong men and maidcs of the Temple, whereof 

 we have difcourfed at largee . There were in thefe 

 fchooles a great number of children, whom their fa 

 thers did willingly bring thither , and which had tea 

 chers and matters to inftruft them in all commendable 

 excrcifes, to be of good behaviour, to refpeft their fti- 

 periors, toferveand obey them , giving them to this 

 end,certaine precepts and inftrudions. And to the end 

 they might be pleafingto Noblemen , they taught 

 them to fing-and dance, and did pradife them in the 

 cxercifeofwarrejfometoflioote an arrow, tocafta 

 dartoraftafFeburnt at the end, and to handle well a 

 target and a fword. \They fuffcrcd them not to fleepe 

 much , to the end they might accuftome themfelves 

 to labour in their youth , and were not pen given to 



delightes, 



