The recreation of Hunting, vvhiche Mutezuma vsed.

TOC

Mvtezuma had not only al the libertie that he desired in the Citie, béeyng prisoner among the Spanyardes, but also Cortes permitted him to hunt and hauke, or to go to the temple, for he was very deuoute, and a great hunter.

When he went a hunting, he was carried vpon mens shoulders with eyght or ten Spanyards in his guard, and thrée thousande Mexicans, who were Gentlemen, his seruants, and hunters, of whome he hadde a great number, some to séeke the game, others to beate the couertes, and others to marke. Some of those Hunters were only for hares and connyes, other for all sorts of Déere, Wolues, foxes, and such like. They were very perfite with theyr bowes, and good markemē, for he that missed his marke at fourescore pases distant was punished. It was strange to sée the number of people that wente with him on hunting, and to sée the slaughter of beasts killed, with hande, staues, nettes, and bowes, some of those beastes were tame, and other braue and fearefull, as Lyons, Tigers, and Ounces. It is a harde thing to take a fierce Lion in hunting as they do, being in manner a naked people, and the beast couragious and strong, but yet the Prouerbe saith, slight and cunning is better than strength.

It is a more straunge thyng to take any foule that flieth in the ayre as their Fauconers doe, for after they haue once marked and set eye vpon any foule, the Faulconers of Mutezuma will vnder take to catch him, although the foule be neuer so swifte of wing, beyng at the least so commaunded by the King. It happened one day that Mutezuma stoode in his gallerie with his Guarde of Spanyardes, who had espied a fayre Hauke soryng in the ayre, oh quoth they what a fayre Hauke flieth yonder, Mutezuma hearyng their talke, called vnto him certayne of his Faulconers, commaundyng them to followe that Hauke & to bring him vnto him. The Faulconers wente to fulfill his request, and followed that foule with such diligence, that in shorte space they brought the Hauke vnto him, who presented the same vnto the Spanyards, a thing truely almoste incredible, but yet certified by worde and wrytings of the present witnesses. Their chiefest and most pleasant pastime of Hauking was, of Kightes, Rauens, Crowes, Pies, and other birdes of hardie stomake and slowe in flight, greate and small of all sortes, for the which he had Egles, Buyters, and other foule of rapyne marueylous swifte of wing, and suche as would mounte very high in the ayre, with the whiche they murdered Hares, Wolues, and (as some say) Hartes.

He had other foulers, that vsed Nettes, Snares, and sundry engins. Mutezuma vsed much to shoote in a tronke, and with his bow killed many wilde beastes. His houses of pleasure as I haue before declared, stoode sixe myles from the Citie in pleasant wooddes: and alwayes when he went a huntyng after the tyme that he was prysoner, the same day he would returne agayne to Cortes his lodging, although he banketed & feasted with the Spaniardes at his places of sporting and pastime, and would alwayes at his returne to his lodgyng giue some present vnto thē, that had accompanied him that day.

Cortes seyng the liberalitie of Mutezuma, sayde vnto him: sir, my company are vnruly fellowes, and as I vnderstand, they haue founde out some of your treasure, and haue made spoyle thereof: wherfore I would know your pleasure what shal be done with thē. And in effect it was the treasure that Cortes himselfe had founde out. Mutezuma answered, saying, sir that treasure which they haue founde, did appertayne vnto the Goddes: But yet notwithstandyng, let them leaue the feathers, and all suche things as are neyther golde nor siluer, and all the residue take for you and them, and if you will haue more, I will prouide it for you.