404 ^ e y^dturall andMorall 



in they daunccd two and two more lightly, making di- 

 verfe kindcs of pafes, with ccrtaine leapes to the.mea- 

 fiire. All which together made a very great circIe.They 

 attired themfelves for thefe dances with . their moft prc> 

 tious apparrelland iewelles, every one according to Iris 

 abilitie, holding it for a very honorable thing r for this 

 caufe they learned thefe daunces from their infancie. 

 And although the greateft parte of them were doone 

 in honor of their Idolles, yet was it not fo inftitwed,as 

 hath bin faid, but only as a recreation and paftime for 

 the peopIe.Therefore it is not convenient to take them 

 quite from the Indians, but they muft take good heed 

 they mingle not their fuperftitions amongefi them . I 

 have feerie this Mittittc, in the court of the Church of 

 Tfipetzotlw, a village feaven leagues from Mexico : and 

 in my opinion,it was a good thing to bufie the Indians 

 vpon feftivall dayes, feeing they have needeof feme 

 recreation : and becaufe it is publike , and without the 

 prejudice of any other 5 there is leile inconvenience, 

 , trjan in others which may be done privately by them- 

 lelves,if they tooke away thefe. Wemufttherforecon- 

 clude,folowing thecounfclof pope(?r^ry,that it was 

 very convenient to leave vnto the Indians, that which 

 they have had vfaally ofcuftom,fo as they be not min 

 gled nor corrupt with their antient errors,& that their 

 feafts and paftimcs may be to the honor of God and of 

 the Saints,whofe feafts they celebrate . This may fuf- 

 fice in gencrall of the maners and politike cuftonics of 

 the Mexicaines . And as for their bcginning,increafe, 

 and Empire, for that it is an ample matter, and .will be 

 * pleafant to vnderdand from the beginning,we will in- 



trcatc thereof in the Booke following. 



THE 



