162 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



had permiffion to do this until he had gained, by his 

 bravery, fome advancement in the army. A particular 

 drefs called Tlacatziuhqui was given as a reward to the 

 foldier, who, by his example, encouraged a difpirited 

 army to renew battle with vigour. 



When the king went to war, he wore befides his 

 armour, particular badges of diflincYion ; on his legs, 

 half boots made of thin plates of gold ; on his arms, 

 plates of the fame metal, and bracelets of gems ; at his 

 under lip hung an emerald fet in gold ; at his ears, ear- 

 rings of the fame ftone j about his neck a necklace, or 

 chain of gold and gems, and a plume of beautiful fea- 

 thers on his head ; but the badge mod expreffive of ma* 

 jefly, was a work of great labour made of beautiful 

 feathers, which reached from the head all down the 

 back (£). The Mexicans were very attentive to diftin- 

 guifh perfons, particularly in war, by different badges. 



The defenfive and offenfive arms which were made 

 ufe of by the Mexicans, and the other nations of Ana- 

 huac, were of various forts. The defenfive arms com- 

 mon to the nobles and plebeians, to the officers and 

 foldiers, were Ihields, w T hich they called Chimalli (r), 

 and were made of different forms and materials. Some 

 of them were perfectly round, and others were rounded 

 only in the under part. Some were made of otatli, or 

 folid elaftic canes, interwoven with thick cotton threads, 



and 



(b) All thefe royal infignia had their particular names. The boots were 

 called cozebuatl, the brachials matermcatl, the bracelets matzopezili, the emerald 

 at the lip tentetl, the ear-rings nacochtli, the necklace cozcapetlatl^ and the princi- 

 pal badge of feathers qitachiBli. 



(c) Solis pretends, that the ihield was ufed only by lords; but the anonymous 

 conqueror, who frequently faw the Mexicans in arms, and was engaged in many 

 battles againfh them, afferts exprefsly, that this armour was common to all 

 ranks. No author has informed us more accurately than he of the Mexican 

 armour. 



