Note 7 — Chapter III · GOVERNMENT OF THE NAHUA NATIONS.

Acosta, Hist. de las Ynd., p. 441, gives the names of three military orders, of which the four royal electors formed one; and of a fourth, which was of a sacerdotal character. All these were of the royal council, and without their advice the king could do nothing of importance. Herrera helps himself to this from Acosta almost word for word: dec. iii., lib. ii., cap. xix. Sahagun implies that this supreme council was composed of only four members: 'Elegido el señor, luego elegian otros cuatro que eran como senadores que siempre habian de estar al lado de él, y entender en todos los negocios graves de reino, (estos cuatro tenian en diversos lugares diversos nombres).' Hist. Gen., tom. ii., lib. viii., p. 318. According to Ixtlilxochitl the council whose duties corresponded to this in Tezcuco, was composed of fourteen members. Hist. Chichimeca, in Kingsborough's Mex. Antiq., vol. ix., p. 243; Veytia, Hist. Ant. Mej., tom. ii., p. 183.