They had priests to offer the sacrifices. The priests of the House of the Sun at Cuzco were all Yncas of the blood royal, and all those who performed other services in the temple were Yncas by grant. They had a high priest, who was an uncle or brother of the king, or at least a legitimate member of the royal family. The priests did not use any peculiar vestments, but wore their usual dress. In the other provinces, where there were temples of the Sun, which were numerous, the natives were the priests, being relations of the local chiefs. But the principal priest (or bishop) in each province was an Ynca, who took care that the sacrifices and ceremonies should be in conformity with those of the metropolitan. For in all the chief offices, whether of peace or war, an Ynca was placed as chief, the natives being in office under him. They also had many houses of virgins, some observing perpetual virginity without ever going abroad, and others being concubines of the king, of whom I shall speak more fully further on, touching upon their rank, their seclusion, their duties, and their devotions.

It must be known that whenever the Kings Yncas established a new law, whether a sacred one relating to their vain religion, or a secular one having reference to temporal government, they always attributed it to the first Ynca, Manco Ccapac, saying that he had ordained all laws, some of which he had left in force, and others merely sketched out, so that his future descendants might institute them in due time.