The Armory of Mutezuma.

TOC

Mvtezuma had some houses of Armour, vpon the dores wherof stoode a bow and arrowes. In these houses was greate store of all kinde of munition whiche they vse in their wars: as Bowes, Arrowes, Slings, Launces, Dartes, Clubbes, Swordes and Bucklers, and gallant Targettes more trimme than strong, Skulles and Splintes, but not many, and al made of woodde, gilte or couered with leather. The woodde whereof they make their Armour and Targettes, is very harde and strong, for they vse to toaste it at the fire, and at their arrowe endes they inclose a litle péece of flinte stone, or a péece of a fishe bone called Libisa, and that is venemous, for if any bée hurte therewith and the head remayne in the wounde, it so festereth, that it is almost incurable.

Theyr swordes are of woodde, and the edge thereof is flint stone, inclosed or ioyned into a staffe, with a certaine kynde of glew whiche is made of a roote called Zacole and Teuxalli, whiche is a kinde of strong sande, whereof they make a mixture, and after kneade it with bloud of Battes or Rearemice and other foule, which doth glewe maruelous strong, and lightly neuer vncleaueth: of this stuffe they make nayles, pearcers, & ogars, wherwith they bore timber & stone: with theyr swordes they cut speares, yea and a horse necke at a blowe, and make dentes into iron, whiche séemeth a thing vnpossible and incredible. In the Citie no man may weare weapon, but onely in warres, huntyng, and among the kings Guarde.