of the fauour which they found at the hands of the viceroy, and of the inhabitants of the citie of mexico.

from panuco to the great citie temistitan mexico is 60. leagues; and other 60. from panuco to the port de vera cruz, where they take shipping for spaine, and those that come from spaine do land to go for nueua espanna. these three townes stand in a triangle: to wit, vera cruz, to the south, panuco to the north, and mexico to the west, 60. leagues assunder. the countrie is so inhabited with indians, that from towne to towne, those which are farthest, are but a league, and halfe a league assunder. some of them that came from florida, staied a moneth in panuco to rest themselues, others fifteene daies, and euery one as long as he listed: for there was none that shewed a sower countenance to his guests, but rather gaue them any thing that they had, and seemed to be grieued when they took their leaue. which was to be beleeued. for the victuals, which the indians doe pay them for tribute, are more than they can spend: and in that towne is no commerce; and there dwelt but few spaniards there, and they were glad of their companie. the alcalde mayor diuided all the emperours clothes which he had (which there they pay him for his tribute) among those that would come to receiue them. those which had shirts of maile left, were glad men: for they had a horse for one shirt of maile: some horsed themselues: and such as could not (which were the greatest part) tooke their iournie on foote: in which they were well receiued of the indians that were in the townes, and better serued, then they could haue been in their owne houses, though they had been well to liue. for if they asked one hen of an indian, they brought them foure: and if they asked any of the countrie fruit, though it were a league off, they ran presently for it. this is the manner of china to carrie men chaires. and if any christian found himselfe euill at ease, they carried him in a chaire from one towne to another. in whatsoeuer towne they came, the cacique, by an indian which carried a rod of iustice in his hand, whom they call tapile, that is to say, a sergeant, commanded them to prouide victuals for them, and indians to beare burdens of such things as they had, and such as were needfull to carrie them that were sicke. the viceroy sent a portugall 20. leagues from mexico, with great store of sugar, raisons of the sunne, and conserues, and other things fit for sicke folkes, for such as had neede of them: and had giuen order to cloth them all at the emperours charges. and their approch being knowne by the citizens of mexico, they went out of the towne to receiue them: and with great courtesie, requesting them in fauour to come to their houses, euery one carried such as hee met home with him, and clothed them euery one the best they could: so that he which had the meanest apparrell, it cost aboue 30. ducats. as many as were willing to come to the viceroyes house he commanded to be apparelled, and such as were persons of qualitie sate at his table: and there was a table in his house for as many of the meaner sort as would come to it: and he was presently informed who euery one was, to shew him the courtesie that he deserued. some of the conquerors did set both gentlemen and clownes at their owne table, and many times made the seruant sit cheeke by cheeke by his master: and chiefly the officers and men of base condition did so: for those which had better education did enquire who euery one was, and made difference of persons: but all did what they could with a good will: and euery one told them whom they had in their houses, that they should not trouble themselues, nor thinke themselues the worse, to take that which they gaue them: for they had bin in the like case, and had bin relieued of others, and that this was the custome of that countrey. god reward them all: and god grant, that those which it pleased him to deliuer out of florida, and to bring againe into christendome, may serue him: and vnto those that died in that countrey, and vnto all that beleeue in him and confesse his holy faith, god for his mercie sake grant the kingdome of heauen. amen.