The building vp agayne of Mexico.

TOC

Cortes pretended to recdifie againe the Citie of Mexico, not onely for the scituation and maiestie, but also for the name & great fame thereof, and also to builde vp that which he hadde beaten downe, by reason whereof he trauelled to make this Citie greater, better, and to be more replenished with people. He named and appoynted Iudges, Aldermen, Attourneys, Towneclearke, Notaries, Skauengers, and Seriants, with all other officers, necessarie for the common weale of a Citie. He deuided the Citie among the Conquerors, hauing first taken out places for Churches, market places, townehouse, and other necessarie plottes to builde houses, profitable for the common weale. He also separated the dwellings of the Spanyards from the Indiās, so that the water passeth and maketh deuision betwixt them. Hée procured many Indians to come to the building of the Citie, for auoiding charges, although therein he had somewhat to do, by reason that many kinsmen of Quahutimoc were not as yet come vnder obedience.

Seauen thousand Ceder beames.

He made Lorde of Tezcuco, Don Carolus Iztlixuchitl, by the consent of the Citie, in place of Don Hernando his brother, who was deceassed, and commaunded many of hys vassals to labour in the workes, bycause they were Carpenters, masons, and builders of houses. He promised also to them that were naturals of the Citie of Mexico, plottes to build vpon, inheritance, fréedome, and other liberties, and the like vnto all those that woulde come and inhabite there, whiche was a meane to allure many thither. He sette also at libertie Xihuaco the generall Captayne, and made him chiefe ouer the Indians in the Citie, vnto whome he gaue a whole stréete. He gaue likewyse another stréete to Don Pedro Mutezuma, who was sonne to Mutezuma the King. All this was done, to winne the fauoure of the people. He made other Gentlemen Seniors of little Ilands and stréetes to builde vpon, and to inhabite, and in this order the whole scituation was reparted, and the worke began with great ioy and diligence: but when the fame was blowen abroade, that Mexico should be built againe, it was a wonder to sée the people that resorted thither, hearing of libertie & fréedome, the number was so greate, that in a whole league compasse was nothing but people both men and women. They laboured sore, and eate little, by reason whereof, many sickned, and pestilence followed, whereof dyed an infinite number. Their paines was great, for they bare on theyr backes, and drew after them stones, earth, timber, lyme, bricke, and all other things necessary in this sort, and by little and little, Mexico was built againe with a hundred thousande houses, more stronger and better than the olde building was. The Spanyardes also built their houses after the Spanish fashion. Cortes built his house vpon the plotte where Mutezuma his house stoode, whiche renteth now yéerely foure thousand duckates a yeare. Pamfilo de Naruaez accused him for the same, saying, that he hadde spoyled the woddes and mountaynes, and spente seauen thousand beames of Ceder trées in the worke of his own house. The number séemeth more héere than there, for where all the Mountaynes are replenished with Ceder trées, it is a small matter. There are Gardines in Tezcuco, that haue a thousand Ceder trées for walles and circuite, yea and there are Ceder trées of a hundred & twēty foote long, and twelue foote in compasse from ende to end. They built faire dockes couered ouer with arches for y^e Vergantines, whereas (for a perpetuall memorie) all the thirtéene Vergantines do remayne vntil this day. They dammed vp the stréetes of water, where now faire houses stand, so that Mexico is not as it was wont to be, yea and since the yeare of 1524. the lake decreaseth, and sometime casteth out a vapour of stench, but otherwise it is a wholesome and temperate dwelling, by reason of the Mountaynes that standeth round about it, and well prouided through the fertilitie of the Countrey, and commoditie of the lake, so that now is Mexico one of the greatest Cities in the world, and the most noble in all India, as well in armes as policie. There are at the least two thousande Citizens, that haue each of them his horse in his stable, with riche furniture for them. There is also great contractation, and all sortes of occupations. Also a money house, where money is dayly coyned: a fayre schole, whiche the Vizeroy Don Antonio de Mendosa caused to be made. There is a greate difference betwixte an inhabitant of Mexico, and a Conqueror, for a Conqueror is a name of honor, and hathe landes and rentes, and the inhabitante or onely dweller payeth rente for hys house. When this Citie was a building, & not throughlye furnished, Cortes came from Culhuacan to dwell there. The fame of Cortes, and maiestie of Mexico, was blowen abroade into farre prouinces, by meanes whereof, it is now so replenished, as I haue before declared, yea & hath so many Spanyards, who haue conquered aboue 400. leagues of land, being all gouerned by the princely seate of Mexico.