Mexico

(Camden 3. 697.) P. L. 11. 407. The city of Mexico, the capital of the country of the same When it was the seat of “Mutezumas multi for me magniname. and majestie,” Mexico was described by Francis Lopez de Gomara as follows: “Mexico at the time when Cortes entered was a Citie of sixtie you sand houses. The Kings house, and other Noble mens houses were great, large, and beaut i full, the other were small and meane, without either doores or windowes, and although they were small, yet there dwelleth in some of them, two, three, yea, and ten persons, by reason whereof the Citie was wonderfully replenished with people. This Citie is built upon the water, even in the same order as Venice is. Mexico hath one place where most dayes in the yeere is buying and selling, but every fourth day is the great Market ordinarily. This place is wide and large, compa ed round with doores, and is so great that a hundred you sand persons come thither to chop and change, as a Citie most principall in all that Region. All the braverie of the Market is the place where gold and ficence......... feathers joyntly wrought is sold, for any thing is in request there lively wrought in gold and feathers, and gallant colours. The Indians are so expert and perfect in this science, that they will worke or make a But terf lie, any wild Beast, Trees, Roses, Flowers, Herbs, Roots, or any other thing, so lively, that is a The Art or Science of goldsmiths among them is the most curious, and very good workman thing marvellous to behold.... ship engraven with tooles made of flint, or in mold. They will mold with eight corners, and every corner of sever all metall, that is to say, the one of gold, and the other of They will also cast in mold silver, without any kind of soldar. a fish of metall with one scale of silver on his backe, and another cast a platter in of gold. They will make a Parret or Popinjay of metall, that his tongue will shake, and his head move, and his wings flutter. They will cast an Ape in Mold, that both hands and feet shall stirre, and hold a spindle in his hand seeming to spin, yea and an Apple in his hand, as though he would eat it. Our Spaniards were not a little amazed at the sight of these things. For our Goldsmiths are not to be compared unto them. They have skill also of Amell work, and to set any precious stone. … All their Temples are of one fashion, therefore it shall bee now sufficient This Temple is square, and to speake of the principall church. doth contayne every way as much ground as a Cro bow can It is made of stone, with foure doores that a but teth reach levell. upon the three Cawseys, and upon another part of the Citie In the middest of this that hath no Cawsey but a faire street. Quaderne standeth a mount of earth and stone, square likewise, and fiftie fathom long every way, built upward like unto a Pyramide of Egypt, saving the top is not sharpe, but plaine and Upon the West side, were steps flat, and ten fathom square. up to the top, in number an hundreth and four teene, which being so many, high, and made of good stone, did see me a It was a strange sight to behold the Priests, some going up, and some downe, with ceremonies, or with men Upon the top of this Temple are two great to be sacrificed. Altars, a good space distant the one from the other, and so nigh the edge or brim of the wall, that scarsly a man may goe behinde them at pleasure. The one Altar standeth on the right hand, and the other on the left. They were but of five foot high, each of them had the back part made of stone, painted with monstrous and foule figures. The Chappell was faire and well wrought of Masons worke and timber, every Chappell had three lofts, one above another, sustayned upon pillars, and with the height thereof it shewed like unto a faire Towre, and beautified the Citie From thence a man may see all the Citie and Townes afarre off. round about the Lake, which was undoubtedly a goodly pros beaut i full thing. pect.” {Pilgrimes 3. 1131-3.) 207