The Gardens of Mutezuma.

TOC

Besides the foresayde houses hée had many others for hys onely recreation and passetyme, with excellent fayre gardens of medicinall hearbes, swéete floures, and trées of delectable sauour, whiche were many, and a thing to gyue prayse to God the maker and creator of all.

In that Garden were a thousande personages, made and wrought artificially of leaues and flowers. Mutezuma woulde not permitte that in this Garden shoulde be any kynde of potte Hearbes, or thyngs to be solde, saying, that it dyd not appertayne to Kings to haue thyngs of profite among theyr delytes and pleasures, for suche thyngs (sayde hée) dyd appertayne to Merchants.

Yet notwithstanding he had Orchards with many and sundry fruites, but they stoode farre from the Cittie, and whyther seldome times hee wente: he had likewise out of Mexico pleasaunte houses in wooddes and forrestes, of greate compasse, enuyroned with water, in the which he hadde fountaynes, riuers, pondes with fishe, warrantes of Conneys, rockes & couert where were Harts, Buckes, Hares, Foxes, Wolues, and such like, with wildernesse for euery sort.

To these places the Lords of Mexico, vsed to goe and sporte themselues, suche and so manye were the houses of Mutezuma, wherein fewe Kings were equall with him.