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.
Hovv Cortez began to plucke dovvne the Idols of Mexico.
When Mutezuma went vnto the temple, he went leaning vpon a noble mans arme, or else was leade betwéene two, and a noble personage wente alwayes before him with thrée small wandes in his hande, signifying thereby that the King in person was there at hand, and in token also of iustice and correction. If he had bene carried vpon mens shoulders then at his alighting downe he tooke one of those roddes into his owne hand. He was a Prince ful of ceremonies in al his doings, but the substaunce of his estate is already declared, from the time that Cortes entred into Mexico vntil this present. Those first dayes that the Spaniardes came to the Citie, & as often as Mutezuma went to the temple, Indian men were slayne in sacrifice. And to prohibite suche adhominable crueltie & sinne, cōmitted in the presence of the Christians who wēt in company of Mutezuma, Cortes required Mutezuma to commmaunde that no mans fleshe should be any more spoyled, or bloud shedde in sacrifice, and in not fulfilling his request, he would destroy bothe the temple and Cittie. Also he signified vnto him, that he himselfe woulde throw downe the idols, before his presence and all the Citizens.
Mutezuma replied to his demaūd, saying: It may please you to leaue of your determination, least that in so doing all the Citie fall into an vprore and rebellion to defende their good Gods, and auncient Religion, the which Gods had alwayes prouided them of water, bread, health, light, and all other things néedefull. This notwithstanding, the first time that Mutezuma wente to the temple after his imprisonment, Cortes and his company wente with him, and euery of them layde handes vpon the idols, & threwe them downe headlong from their seates, and Altars, and other Chapels. Mutezuma with this sight was in great agonie, yea and his subiects ready to take weapon to slay them there present, but yet Mutezuma commaunded his subiectes to stay from their pretence: beséechyng Cortes to stay from his procéedings, at whose request Cortes ceased, for he thought, as yet time serued not for the purpose and pretence: but he declared vnto them by his interpreters as followeth.