How the lord, after he had assumed the fringe of sovereignty, was married to his sister the Coya, which is the name of the queen, and how it was permitted that he should have many women, although among them all the Coya alone was the legitimate and principal wife.

IN former chapters I have briefly explained how those who were to become nobles were armed as knights, as well as the nature of the ceremonies that took place when the Incas were crowned as kings, by taking the crown, which is the fringe falling as far down as their eyes. And it was ordained by them that he who became king should take his sister, being the legitimate daughter of his father and mother, as his wife; in order that the succession of the kingdom might by that means be confirmed in the royal house. It appeared to them that by this means, even if such a woman, being sister of the king, should not be chaste, and should have intercourse with another man, the son thus born would still be hers, and not the son of a strange woman. They also considered that if the Inca married a strange woman, she might do the same and conceive in adultery, in such a way that, it not being known, the child would be received as a natural born son of the lord. For these reasons, and because it seemed desirable to those who ordained the laws, it was a rule among the Incas that he amongst them all who became emperor should take his sister to wife. She had the name of Coya, which means the Queen, as when the King of Spain marries any princess, who before had her own name, she is called Queen so soon as she enters the kingdom, so they called those of Cuzco Coya. If by chance he who became lord had no sister, it was permitted that he should marry the most illustrious lady there was, and she was held to be the principal among all his women. For none of these lords had less than 700 women for the service of their house and for their pleasure. So that they all had many children by these women, who were well treated, and respected by the people. When the king was lodging in his palace or wherever he might be, the women were watched and guarded by porters and camayos,[87] which is the name of the guards. If any had intercourse with a man she was punished with death, and the man suffered the same penalty.

The sons whom the lords had by these women, as soon as they were grown up, received lands and fields, which they call chÁcaras,[88] and they were given clothes and other necessaries from the government stores for their use. But it was not thought fit that they should have lordships, because, in the event of any troubles in the kingdom, it was not desired that they should be in a position to be looked upon as legitimate sons of the king. Thus none of them was entrusted with the rule over a province, although in time of war many were captains and were preferred to those who were of purer lineage. The legitimate lord who inherited the kingdom favoured them; but if they joined in any revolt they were cruelly punished. None of them was allowed to speak to the king, even if he was a brother, without first putting a light burden on his shoulders and taking off his shoes, as was the custom with all other subjects.