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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20321-8.txt b/20321-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4fb0a75 --- /dev/null +++ b/20321-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3378 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Brief Account of the Destruction of the +Indies, by Bartolome de las Casas + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies + Or, a faithful NARRATIVE OF THE Horrid and Unexampled + Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of Cruelties, that + Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish + _Spanish_ Party on the inhabitants of _West-India_, TOGETHER + With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in _America_ by + Fire and Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from + the time of its first Discovery by them. + +Author: Bartolome de las Casas + +Release Date: January 9, 2007 [EBook #20321] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIES *** + + + + + + + + + + +[Preparer's notes: + 1) Though the original title does not appear in this version, this + is (apart from the preface) a translation of: + "Brevisima relacion de la destruccíon de las Indias", by + Bartolome de las Casas, originally published in Seville in 1552. + 2) The original archaic spelling and punctuation has been retained] + + + POPERY + Truly Display'd in its + Bloody Colours: + Or, a faithful + NARRATIVE + OF THE +Horrid and Unexampled Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of +Cruelties, that Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish +_Spanish_ Party on the inhabitants of _West-India_ + TOGETHER +With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in _America_ by Fire and +Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from the time of its first +Discovery by them. + + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +_Composed first in_ Spanish _by_ Bartholomew de las Casas, _a Bishop there, +and Eye-Witness of most of these Barbarous Cruelties; afterward Translated +by him into_ Latin, _then by other hands, into_ High-Dutch, Low-Dutch, +French, _and now Taught to Speak Modern English_. +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +_London,_ Printed for _R. Hewson_ at the _Crown in Cornhil,_ + near the _Stocks-Market._ 1689. +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + THE + ARGUMENT + OF THIS NARRATIVE + By way of + PREFACE + TO THE + READER. + + +_The Reverend Author of this Compendious Summary was_ Bartholomaeus de las +Casas _alias_ Casaus, _a Pious and Religeous person, (as appears by his +zealous Transports in this Narrative for promotion of the Christian +Faith) elevated from a Frier of the_ Dominican _Order to sit in the +Episcopal Chair, who was frequently importuned by Good and Learned Men, +particularly Historians, to Publish this Summary, who so prevailed with +him, that he Collected out of that copious History which might and +ought to be written on this subject, the contents of this concise +Treatise with intention to display unto the World the Enormities,_ &c. +_the_ Spaniards _committed in_ America _during their residence there, to +their eternal ignominy; and for the author finding that no Admonitions +or Reprehensions, how mild soever could operate upon or sink into the +rocky-hearted Tyrants in those Occidental parts; he therefore took up a +firm resolution, being then about 50 years of age (as he himself +declares) to run the Hazards and Dangers by Sea, and the Risque of a +long voyage into_ Spain _there to acquaint and Certifie the most +Illustrious Prince_ Phillip _the Son and Heir of his Imperial Majesty_ +Charles _the Fifth of Blessed Memory, with the Horrid crimes,_ &c. +_perpetrated in those countries, part whereof he had seen, and part +heard from such as boasted of their Wickedness. Whereupon his_ +Caeserean _Majesty moved with a tender and Christian compassion +towards these Inhabitants of the Countries of_ America, _languishing +for want of redress, he called a Council at_ Valedolid, _Anno Dom. +1542. consisting of Learned and Able Men, in order to the reformation +of the_ West-Indian _government, and took such a course, that from that +time their Tyranny and cruelty against those_ Barbarians _was somewhat +repressed, and those Nations in some measure delivered from that +intolerable and more then_ Aegyptian _Bondage, or at least the_ +Spaniards _ill usage and treatment of the_ Americans _was alleviated +and abated. This Book mostly_ Historical, _part_ Typographical, _was +Published first by the Author in_ Spanish _at_ Sevil, _after that +Translated into_ Latin _by himself; and in process of time into_ High +Dutch, Low Dutch, French _and now_ English; _which is the Sixth +Language it has been taught to speak, that anyone of what Nation soever +might in this Narrative contemplate and see as in a mirror the dismal +and pernitious fruits, that lacquey and attend unlimited and close +fisted Avarice, and thereby Learn to abhor and detest it,_ Cane pejus & +angue: _it being the predominant and chiefest motive to the comission +of such inexpressible Outrages, as here in part are faintly, not fully +represented. Which sin the Pagan_ Indians _themselves did exprobate in +the_ Spaniards _with all Detestation, Ignominy and Disgrace: for when +they had taken some of them Prisoners (which was rarely) they bound +them hand and foot, laid them on the ground, and then pouring melted +Gold down their Throats, cried out and called to them aloud in +derision,_ yield, throw up thy Gold O Christian! Vomit and spew out +the Mettal which hath so inqinated and invenom'd both Body and Soul, +that hath stain'd and infected they mind with desires and contrivances, +and thy hands with Commission of such matchless Enormities. _I will +then shut up all this, being but an Extract of what is in the Prefatory +part of the Original. I earnestly beg and desire all Men to be +perswaded, that this summary was not published upon any private Design, +sinister ends or affection in favor or prejudice of any particular +Nation; but for the publick Emolument and Advantage of all true +Christians and moral Men throughout the whole World._ + + Farewell + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + THE CRUELTIES + OF THE + Spaniards + Committed in + AMERICA. + + +America was discovered and found out _Ann. Dom._ 1492, and the Year +insuing inhabited by the _Spaniards_, and afterward a multitude of them +travelled thither from _Spain_ for the space of Nine and Forty Years. +Their first attempt was on the _Spanish_ Island, which indeed is a most +fertile soil, and at present in great reputation for its Spaciousness +and Length, containing in Circumference Six Hundred Miles: Nay it is on +all sides surrounded with an almost innumerable number of Islands, +which we found so well peopled with Natives and Forreigners, that there +is scarce any Region in the Universe fortified with so many +Inhabitants: But the main Land or Continent, distant from this Island +Two Hundred and Fifty Miles and upwards, extends it self above Ten +Thousand Miles in Length near the sea-shore, which Lands are some of +them already discover'd, and more may be found out in process of time: +And such a multitude of People inhabits these Countries, that it seems +as if the Omnipotent God has Assembled and Convocated the major part of +Mankind in this part of the World. + +Now this infinite multitude of Men are by the Creation of God +innocently simple, altogether void of and averse to all manner of +Craft, Subtlety and Malice, and most Obedient and Loyal Subjects to +their Native Sovereigns; and behave themselves very patiently, +sumissively and quietly towards the _Spaniards_, to whom they are +subservient and subject; so that finally they live without the least +thirst after revenge, laying aside all litigiousness, Commotion and +hatred. + +This is a most tender and effeminate people, and so imbecile and +unequal-balanced temper, that they are altogether incapable of hard +labour, and in few years, by one Distemper or other soon expire, so +that the very issue of Lords and Princes, who among us live with great +affluence, and fard deliciously, are not more effminate and tender than +the Children of their Husbandmen or Labourers: This Nation is very +Necessitous and Indigent, Masters of very slender Possessions, and +consequently, neither Haughty, nor Ambitious. They are parsimonious in +their Diet, as the Holy Fathers were in their frugal life in the +Desert, known by the name of _Eremites_. They go naked, having no +other Covering but what conceals their Pudends from publick sight. An +hairy Plad, or loose Coat, about an Ell, or a coarse woven Cloth at +most Two Ells long serves them for the warmest Winter Garment. They +lye on a coarse Rug or Matt, and those that have the most plentiful +Estate or Fortunes, the better sort, use Net-work, knotted at the four +corners in lieu of Beds, which the Inhabitants of the Island of +_Hispaniola_, in their own proper Idiom, term _Hammacks_. The Men are +pregnant and docible. The natives tractable, and capable of Morality or +Goodness, very apt to receive the instill'd principles of Catholick +Religion; nor are they averse to Civility and good Manners, being not +so much discompos'd by variety of Obstructions, as the rest of Mankind; +insomuch, that having suckt in (if I may so express my self) the the +very first Rudiments of the Christian Faith, they are so transported +with Zeal and Furvor in the exercise of Ecclesiastical Sacraments, and +Divine Service, that the very Religioso's themselves, stand in need of +the greatest and most signal patience to undergo such extream +Transports. And to conclude, I my self have heard the _Spaniards_ +themselves (who dare not assume the Confidence to deny the good Nature +praedominant in them) declare, that there was nothing wanting in them +for the acquisition of Eternal Beatitude, but the sole Knowledge and +Understanding of the Deity. + +The _Spaniards_ first assaulted the innocent Sheep, so qualified by the +Almighty, as is premention'd, like most cruel Tygers, Wolves and Lions +hunger-starv'd, studying nothing, for the space of Forty Years, after +their first landing, but the Massacre of these Wretches, whom they have +so inhumanely and barbarously butcher'd and harass'd with several kinds +of Torments, never before known, or heard (of which you shall have some +account in the following Discourse) that of Three Millions of Persons, +which lived in _Hispaniola_ itself, there is at present but the +inconsiderable remnant of scarce Three Hundred. Nay the Isle of +_Cuba_, which extends as far, as _Valledolid_ in _Spain_ is distant +from _Rome_, lies now uncultivated, like a Desert, and intomb'd in its +own Ruins. You may also find the Isles of St. _John_, and _Jamaica_, +both large and fruitful places, unpeopled and desolate. The _Lucayan_ +Islands on the North Side, adjacent to _Hispaniola_ and _Cuba_, which +are Sixty in number, or thereabout, together with with those, vulgarly +known by the name of the Gigantic Isles, and others, the most infertile +whereof, exceeds the Royal Garden of _Sevil_ in fruitfulness, a most +Healthful and pleasant Climat, is now laid waste and uninhabited; and +whereas, when the _Spaniards_ first arriv'd here, about Five Hundred +Thousand Men dwelt in it, they are now cut off, some by slaughter, and +others ravished away by Force and Violence, to work in the Mines of +_Hispanioloa,_ which was destitute of Native Inhabitants: For a certain +Vessel, sailing to this Isle, to the end, that the Harvest being over +(some good Christian, moved with Piety and Pity, undertook this +dangerous Voyage, to convert Souls to Christianity) the remaining +gleanings might be gathered up, there were only found Eleven Persons, +which I saw with my own Eyes. There are other Islands Thirty in +number, and upward bordering upon the Isle of St. _John_, totally +unpeopled; all which are above Two Thousand miles in Lenght, and yet +remain without Inhabitants, Native, or People. + +As to the firm land, we are certainly satisfied, and assur'd, that the +_Spaniards_ by their barbarous and execrable Actions have absolutely +depopulated Ten Kingdoms, of greater extent than all _Spain_, together +with the Kingdoms of _Arragon_ and _Portugal_, that is to say, above +One Thousand Miles, which now lye wast and desolate, and are absolutely +ruined, when as formerly no other Country whatsoever was more populous. +Nay we dare boldly affirm, that during the Forty Years space, wherein +they exercised their sanguinary and detestable Tyranny in these +Regions, above Twelve Millions (computing Men, Women, and Children) +have undeservedly perished; nor do I conceive that I should deviate +from the Truth by saying that above Fifty Millions in all paid their +last Debt to Nature. + +Those that arriv'd at these Islands from the remotest parts of _Spain_, +and who pride themselves in the Name of Christians, steer'd Two courses +principally, in order to the Extirpation, and Exterminating of this +People from the face of the Earth. The first whereof was raising an +unjust, sanguinolent, cruel War. The other, by putting them to death, +who hitherto, thirsted after their Liberty, or design'd (which the most +Potent, Strenuous and Magnanimous Spirits intended) to recover their +pristin Freedom, and shake off the Shackles of so injurious a +Captivity: For they being taken off in War, none but Women and +Children were permitted to enjoy the benefit of that Country-Air, in +whom they did in succeeding times lay such a heavy Yoak, that the very +Brutes were more happy than they: To which Two Species of Tyranny as +subalternate things to the Genus, the other innumerable Courses they +took to extirpate and make this a desolate People, may be reduced and +referr'd. + +Now the ultimate end and scope that incited the _Spaniards_ to endeavor +the Extirptaion and Desolation of this People, was Gold only; that +thereby growing opulent in a short time, they might arrive at once at +such Degrees and Dignities, as were no wayes consistent with their +Persons. + +Finally, in one word, their Ambition and Avarice, than which the heart +of Man never entertained greater, and the vast Wealth of those Regions; +the Humility and Patience of the Inhabitants (which made their approach +to these Lands more facil and easie) did much promote the business: +Whom they so despicably contemned, that they treated them (I speak of +things which I was an Eye Witness of, without the least fallacy) not as +Beasts, which I cordially wished they would, but as the most abject +dung and filth of the Earth; and so sollicitous they were of their Life +and Soul, that the above-mentioned number of People died without +understanding the true Faith or Sacraments. And this also is as really +true as the praecendent Narration (which the very Tyrants and cruel +Murderers cannot deny without the stigma of a lye) that the _Spaniards_ +never received any injury from the _Indians_, but that they rather +reverenced them as Persons descended from Heaven, until that they were +compelled to take up Arms, provoked thereunto by repeated Injuries, +violent Torments, and injust Butcheries. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +Of the Island HISPANIOLA. + +In this Isle, which, as we have said, the _Spaniards_ first attempted, +the bloody slaughter and destruction of Men first began: for they +violently forced away Women and Children to make them Slaves, and +ill-treated them, consuming and wasting their Food, which they had +purchased with great sweat, toil, and yet remained dissatisfied too, +which every one according to his strength and ability, and that was +very inconsiderable (for they provided no other Food than what was +absolutely necessary to support Nature without superfluity, freely +bestow'd on them, and one individual _Spaniard_ consumed more Victuals +in one day, than would serve to maintain Three Families a Month, every +one consisting of Ten Persons. Now being oppressed by such evil usage, +and afflicted with such greate Torments and violent Entertainment they +began to understand that such Men as those had not their Mission from +Heaven; and therefore some of them conceal'd their Provisions and +others to their Wives and Children in lurking holes, but some, to avoid +the obdurate and dreadful temper of such a Nation, sought their Refuge +on the craggy tops of Mountains; for the _Spaniards_ did not only +entertain them with Cuffs, Blows, and wicked Cudgelling, but laid +violent hands also on the Governours of Cities; and this arriv'd at +length to that height of Temerity and Impudence, that a certain Captain +was so audacious as abuse the Consort of the most puissant King of the +whole Isle. From which time they began to consider by what wayes and +means they might expel the _Spaniards_ out of their Countrey, and +immediately took up Arms. But, good God, what Arms, do you imagin? +Namely such, both Offensive and Defensive, as resemble Reeds wherewith +Boys sport with one another, more than Manly Arms and Weapons. + +Which the _Spaniards_ no sooner perceived, but they, mounted on +generous Steeds, well weapon'd with Lances and Swords, begin to +exercise their bloody Butcheries and Strategems, and overrunning their +Cities and Towns, spar'd no Age, or Sex, nay not so much as Women with +Child, but ripping up their Bellies, tore them alive in pieces. They +laid Wagers among themselves, who should with a Sword at one blow cut, +or divide a Man in two; or which of them should decollate or behead a +Man, with the greatest dexterity; nay farther, which should sheath his +Sword in the Bowels of a Man with the quickest dispatch and expedition. + +They snatcht young Babes from the Mothers Breasts, and then dasht out +the brains of those innocents against the Rocks; others they cast into +Rivers scoffing and jeering them, and call'd upon their Bodies when +falling with derision, the true testimony of their Cruelty, to come to +them, and inhumanely exposing others to their Merciless Swords, +together with the Mothers that gave them Life. + +They erected certain Gibbets, large, but low made, so that their feet +almost reacht the ground, every one of which was so order'd as to bear +Thirteen Persons in Honour and Reverence (as they said blasphemously) +of our Redeemer and his Twelve Apostles, under which they made a Fire +to burn them to Ashes whilst hanging on them: But those they intended +to preserve alive, they dismiss'd, their Hands half cut, and still +hanging by the Skin, to carry their Letters missive to those that fly +from us and ly sculking on the Mountains, as an exprobation of their +flight. + +The Lords and Persons of Noble Extract were usually expos'd to this +kind of Death; they order'd Gridirons to be placed and supported with +wooden Forks, and putting a small Fire under them, these miserable +Wretches by degrees and with loud Shreiks and exquisite Torments, at +last Expir'd. + +I once saw Four or Five of their most Powerful Lords laid on these +Gridirons, and thereon roasted, and not far off, Two or Three more +over-spread with the same Commodity, Man's Flesh; but the shril +Clamours which were heard there being offensive to the Captain, by +hindring his Repose, he commanded them to be strangled with a Halter. +The Executioner (whose Name and Parents at _Sevil_ are not unknown to +me) prohibited the doing of it; but stopt Gags into their Mouths to +prevent the hearing of the noise (he himself making the Fire) till that +they dyed, when they had been roasted as long as he thought convenient. +I was an Eye-Witness of these and and innumerable Number of other +Cruelties: And because all Men, who could lay hold of the opportunity, +sought out lurking holes in the Mountains, to avoid as dangerous Rocks +so Brutish and Barbarous a People, Strangers to all Goodness, and the +Extirpaters and Adversaries of Men, they bred up such fierce hunting +Dogs as would devour an _Indian_ like a Hog, at first sight in less +than a moment: Now such kind of Slaughters and Cruelties as these were +committed by the Curs, and if at any time it hapned, (which was rarely) +that the _Indians_ irritated upon a just account destroy'd or took away +the Life of any _Spaniard,_ they promulgated and proclaim'd this Law +among them, that One Hundred _Indians_ should dye for every individual +_Spaniard_ that should be slain. + + +_Of the Kingdoms contained in_ Hispaniola. + +This Isle of _Hispaniola_ was made up of Six of their greatest +Kingdoms, and as many most Puissant Kings, to whose Empire almost all +the other Lords, whose Number was infinite, did pay their Allegiance. +One of these Kingdoms was called _Magua,_ signifying a Campaign or open +Country; which is very observable, if any place in the Universe +deserves taking notice of, and memorable for the pleasantness of its +Situation; for it is extended from South to North Eighty Miles, in +breadth Five, Eight, and in some parts Ten Miles in length; and is on +all sides inclosed with the highest Mountains; above Thirty Thousand +Rivers, and Rivulets water her Coasts, Twelve of which prodigious +Number do not yield in all in magnitude to those famous Rivers, the +_Eber, Duer,_ and _Guadalquivir;_ and all those Rivers which have their +Source or Spring from the Mountains lying Westerly, the number whereof +is Twenty Thousand) are very rich in Mines of Gold; on which Mountain +lies the Province of rich Mines, whence the exquisite Gold of Twenty +Four Caracts weight, takes denomination. The King and Lord of this +Kingdom was named _Guarionex,_ who governed within the Compass of his +Dominions so many Vassals and Potent Lords, that every one of them was +able to bring into the Field Sixteen Thousand Soldiers for the service +of _Guarionex_ their Supream Lord and Soverain, when summoned +thereunto. Some of which I was acquainted with. This was a most +Obedient Prince, endued with great Courage and Morality, naturally of a +Pacifick Temper, and most devoted to the service of the _Castilian_ +Kings. This King commanded and ordered his Subjects, that every one of +those Lords under his Jurisdiction, should present him with a Bell full +of Gold; but in succeeding times, being unable to perform it, they were +commanded to cut it in two, and fill one part therewith, for the +Inhabitants of this Isle were altogether inexperienced, and unskilful +in Mine-works, and the digging Gold out of them. This _Caiu_ proferred +his Service to the King of _Castile,_ on this Condition, that he would +take care, that those Lands should be cultivated and manur'd, wherein, +during the reign of _Isabella,_ Queen of _Castile,_ the _Spaniards_ +first set footing and fixed their Residence, extending in length even +to _Santo Domingo,_ the space of Fifty Miles. For he declar'd (nor was +it a Fallacie, but an absolute Truth,) that his Subjects understood not +the practical use of digging in Golden Mines. To which promises he had +readily and voluntarily condescended, to my own certain knowledge, and +so by this means, the King would have received the Annual Revenue of +Three Millions of _Spanish_ Crowns, and upward, there being at that +very time in that Island Fifty Cities more ample and spacious than +_Sevil_ it self in _Spain_. + +But what returns by way of Remuneration and Reward did they make this +so Clement and Benign Monarch, can you imagine, no other but this? +They put the greatest Indignity upon him imaginable in the person of +his Consort who was violated by a _Spanish_ Captain altogether unworthy +of the Name of Christian. He might indeed probably expect to meet with +a convenient time and opportunity of revenging this Ingominy so +unjuriously thrown upon him by preparing Military Forces to attaque +him, but he rather chose to abscond in the Province _De los Ciquayos_ +(wherein a Puissant Vassal and subject of his Ruled) devested of his +Estate and Kingdom, and there live and dye an exile. But the +_Spaniards_ receiving certain information, that he had absented +himself, connived no longer at his Concealment but raised War against +him, who had received them with so great humanity and kindness, and +having first laid waste and desolate the whole Region, at last found, +and took him Prisoner, who being bound in Fetters was convey'd on board +of a ship in order to his transfretation to _Castile,_ as a Captive: +but the Vessel perished in the Voyage, wherewith many _Spaniards_ were +also lost, as well as a great weight of Gold, among which there was a +prodigious Ingot of Gold, resembling a large Loaf of Bread, weighing +3600 Crowns; Thus it pleased God to revenge their enormous impieties. + +A Second Kingdom was named _Marien,_ where there is to this day a +Haven, upon the utmost Borders of the Plain or open Countrey toward the +North, more fertil and large than the kingdom of _Portugal;_ and really +deserving constant and frequent Inahbitants: For it abounds with +Mountains, and is rich in Mines of Gold and _Orichalcum,_ a kind of +Copper Mettal mixt with Gold; The Kings name of this place was +_Guacanagari,_ who had many powerful Lords (some whereof were not +unknown to me) under his subjection. The first that landed in this +Kingdom when he discovered _America_ was an Admiral well stricken in +years, who had so hospitable and kind a reception from the aforesaid +_Gracanagari,_ as well as all those _Spaniards_ that accompanied him in +that Voyage, giving them all imaginable help and assisstance (for the +admiral's vessel was sunk on their Coasts) that I heard it from his own +mouth, he could not possibly have been entertained with greater +Caresses and Civilities from his own parents in his own Native Country. +But this King being forced to fly to avoid the _Spanish_ slaughter and +Cruelty, deprived of all he was Master of, died in the Mountains; and +all the rest of the Potentates and Nobles, his subjects, perished in +that servitude and Vassalage; as you shall find in this following +Treatise. + +The Third Kingdom was distinguished by the Appellation of _Maquana,_ +another admirable, healthful and fruitful Region, where at present the +most refined sugar of the Island is made. _Caonabo_ then reigned there, +who surmounted all the rest in Power, State, and the splendid +Ceremonies of His Government. This King beyond all expectation was +surpriz'd in his own Palace, by the great subtilty and industry of the +_Spaniards,_ and after carried on board in order to his transportation +to _Castile,_ but there being at that time six Ships Riding in the +Haven, and ready to set Sail such an impetuous storm suddenly arose, +that they as well as the Passengers and Ships Crew were all lost, +together with King _Canabao_ loaded with Irons; by which judgement the +Almighty declared that this was as unjust and impious an Act as any of +the former. This Kind had three or four Brothers then Living, Men of +strength and Valour, who being highly incensed at the Captivity of +their King and Brother, to which he was injuriously reduc'd, having +also intelligence of the Devastations and Butcheries committed by the +_Spaniards_ in other Regions, and not long after hearing of their +Brothers death, took up Arms to revenge themselves of the Enemy, whom +the _Spaniards_ met with, and certain party of Horse (which proved very +offensive to the _Indians_) made such havoc and slaughter among them, +that the half of this Kingdom was laid waste and depopulated. + +_Xaraqua_ is the Fourth Kingdom, and as it were the Centre and Middle +of the whole Island, and is not to be equalled for fluency of Speech +and politeness of Idiom or Dialect by any Inhabitants of the other +Kingdoms, and in Policy and Morality transcends them all. Herein the +Lords and Peers abounded, and the very Populace excelled in in stature +and habit of Body: Their King was _Behechio_ by name and who had a +Sister called _Anacaona,_ and both the Brother as well as Sister had +loaded the _Spaniards_ with Benefits and singular acts of Civility, and +by delivering them from the evident and apparent danger of Death, did +signal services to the _Castilian_ Kings. _Behechio_ dying the supreme +power of the Kingdom fell to _Anacaona:_ But it hapned one day, that +the Governour of an Island, attended by 60 Horse, and 30 Foot (now the +Cavalry was sufficiently able to unpeople not only the Isle, but also +the whole Continent) he summoned about 300 Dynasta's, or Noblemen to +appear before him, and commanded the most powerful of them, being first +crouded into a Thatcht Barn or Hovel, to be exposed to the fury of the +merciless Fire, and the rest to be pierced with Lances, and run through +with the point of the Sword, by a multitude of Men: And _Anacaona_ her +self who (as we said before,) sway'd the Imperial Scepter, to her +greater honor was hanged on a Gibbet. And if it fell out that any +person instigated by Compassion or Covetousness, did entertain any +_Indian_ Boys and mount them on Horses, to prevent their Murder, +another was appointed to follow them, who ran them through the back or +in the hinder parts, and if they chanced to escape Death, and fall to +the ground, they immediately cut off his Legs; and when any of those +_Indians,_ that survived these Barbarous Massacres, betook themselves +to an Isle eight miles distant, to escape their Butcheries, they were +then committed to servitude during Life. + +The Fifth Kingdom was _Hiquey,_ over whom Queen _Hiquanama,_ a +superannuated Princess, whome the _Spaniards_ Crucified, did preside +and Govern. The number of those I saw here burnt, and dismembered, and +rackt with various Torments, as well as others, the poor Remnants of +such matchless Villanies, who surviving were enslaved, is infinite. +But because so much might be said concerning the Assassinations and +Depopulating of these people, as cannot without great difficulty be +published in Writing (nor do I conceive that one fragile part of 1000 +that is here contained can be fully displayed) I will only add one +remark more of the prementioned Wars, in lieu of a Corollary or +Conclusion, and aver upon my Conscience, that notwithstanding all the +above-named Injustice, profligate Enormities and other Crimes which I +omit, (tho sufficiently known to me) the _Indians_ did not, nor was it +in their power to give any greater occasion for the Commission of them, +than Pious Religioso's Living in a well regulated Monastic Life did +afford for any Sacrilegeous Villains to deprive them of their Goods and +Life at the same time, or why they who by flight avoided death should +be detain'd in perpetual, not to be ransom'd Captivity and Slavery. I +adde farther, that I really believe, and am satisfied by certain +undeniable conjectures, that at the very juncture of time, when all +these outrages were commited in this Isle, the _Indians_ were not so +much guilty of one single mortal sin of Commission against the +_Spaniards_, that might deserve from any Man revenge or require +satisfaction. And as for those sins, the punishment whereof God hath +reserved to himself, as the immoderate desire of Revenge, Hatred, Envy +or inward rancor of Spirit, to which they might be transported against +such Capital Enemies as the _Spaniards_ were, I judge that very few of +them can justly be accused of them; for their impetuosity and vigor I +speak experimentally, was inferior to that of Children of ten or twelve +years of age: and this I can assure you, that the _Indians_ had ever a +just cause of raising War against the _Spaniards_, and the _Spaniards_ +on the contrary never raised a just was against them, but what was more +injurious and groundless then any undertaken by the worst of Tyrants. +All which I affirm of all their other Transactions and passages in +_America_. + +The Warlike Engagements being over, and the Inhabitants all swept away, +they divided among themselves the Young Men, Women, and Children +reserved promiscuously for that purpose, one obtained thirty, another +forty, to this Man one hundred were disposed, to the other two hundred, +and the more one was in favor with the domineering Tyrant (which they +styled Governor) the more he became Master of, upon this pretence, and +with this Proviso, that he should see them instructed in the Catholick +Religion, when as they themselves to whom they were committed to be +taught, and the care of their Souls instructed them were, for the major +part Idiots, Cruel, Avaritious, infected and stained with all sorts of +Vices. And this was the great care they had of them, they sent the +Males to the Mines to dig and bring away the Gold, which is an +intollerable labor; but the Women they made use of to Manure and Till +the ground, which is a toil most irksome even to Men of the strongest +and most robust constitutions, allowing them no other food but Herbage, +and such kind of unsubstantial nutriment, so that the Nursing Womens +Milk was exsiccated and so dryed up, that the young Infants lately +brought forth, all perished, and females being separated from and +debarred cohabitation with Men, there was no Prolification or raising +up issue among them. The Men died in Mines, hunger starved and +oppressed with labor, and the Women perished in the Fields, harrassed +and broken with the like Evils and Calamities: Thus an infinite number +of Inhabitants that formerly peopled this Island were exterminated and +dwindled away to nothing by such Consumptions. They were compelled to +carry burthens of eighty or one hundred pound weight, and that an +hundred or two hundred miles compleat: and the _Spaniards_ were born by +them on the Shoulders in a pensil Vehicle or Carriage, or kind of Beds +made of Net-work by the _Indians_; for in Truth they made use of them +as Beasts to carry the burthens and cumbersom baggage of their +journeys, insomuch that it frequently happened, that the Shoulders and +Backs of the _Indians_ were deeply marked with their scourges and +stripes, just as they used to serve a tired Jade, accustomed to +burthens. And as to those slashes with whips, blows with staves, cuffs +and boxes, maledictions and curses, with a Thousand of such kind of +Torments they suffered during the fatigue of their laborious journeys +it would require a long tract of time, and many Reams of Paper to +describe them, and when all were done would only create Horror and +Consternation in the Reader. + +But here is is observable, that the desolation of these Isles and +Provinces took beginning since the decease of the most Serene Queen +_Isabella_, about the year 1504, for before that time very few of the +Provinces situated in that Island were oppressed or spoiled with unjust +Wars, or violated with general devastation as after they were, and most +if not all these things were concealed and masked from the Queens +knowledge (whom I hope God hath crowned with Eternal Glory) for she was +transported with fervent and wonderful zeal, nay, almost Divine desires +for the Salvation and preservation of these people, which things so +exemplary as these we having seen with our eyes, and felt with our +hands, cannot easily be forgotten. + +Take this also for a general Rule, that the _Spaniards_ upon what +_American_ Coasts soever they arrived, exercised the same Cruelties, +Slaughters, Tyrannies and detestable Oppressions on the most innocent +_Indian_ Nation, and diverting themselves with delights in new sorts +of Torment, did in time improve in Barbarism and Cruelty; wherewith the +Omnipotent being incensed suffered them to fail by a more desperate and +dangerous lapse into a reprobate state. + + +_Of the Isles of St._ John _and_ Jamaica. + +In the Year 1509, the _Spaniards_ sailed to the Islands of St. _John_ +and _Jamaica_ (resembling Gardensa and Bee-hives) with the same purpose +and design they proposed to themselves in the Isle of _Hispaniola_, +perpetrating innumerable Robberies and Villanies as before; whereunto +they added unheard of Cruelties by Murdering, Burning, Roasting, and +Exposing Men to be torn to pieces by Dogs; and Finally by afflicting +and harassing them with un-exampled Oppressions and torments in the +Mines, they spoiled and unpeopled this Contrey of these Innocents. +These two Isles containing six hundred thousand at least, though at +this day there are scarce two hundred men to be found in either of +them, the remainder perishing without the knowledge of Christian Faith +or Sacrament. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Isle of _Cuba. + +In the Year of our Lord 1511. They passed over to _Cuba_, which +contains as much ground in length as there is distance between +_Valledolid_ and _Rome_, well furnished with large and stately +Provinces and very populous, against whom they proceeded with no more +humanity and Clemency, or indeed to speak truth with greater Savageness +and Brutality. Several memorable Transactions worthy observation, +passed in this Island. A certain _Cacic_ a potent Peer, named +_Hathney_, who not long before fled _Hispaniola_ to _Cuba_ for Refuge +from Death, or Captivity during Life; and understanding by certain +_Indians_ that the _Spaniards_ intended to steer their course thither, +made this Oration to all his People Assembled together. + + You are not ignorant that there is a rumor spread abroad among us of + the _Spaniards_ Arrival, and are sensible by woeful experience how such + and such (naming them) and _Hayti_ (so they term _Hispaniola_ in their + own language) with their Inhabitants have been treated by them, that + they design to visit us with equal intentions of committing such acts + as they have hitherto been guilty of. But do you not know the cause and + reason of their coming? We are altogether ignorant of it, they + replied, but sufficiently satisfied that they are cruelly and wickedly + inclined: Then thus, he said, they adore a certain Covetous Deity, + whose cravings are not to be satisfied by a few moderate offerings, but + they may answer his Adoration and Worship, demand many unreasonable + things of us, and use their utmost endeavors to subjugate and + afterwards murder us. Then taking up a Cask or Cabinet near at hand, + full of Gold and Gems, he proceeded in this manner: This is the + _Spaniards_ God, and in honour of him if you think well of it, let us + celebrate our _Arcytos_ (which are certain kinds of Dances and caprings + used among them); and by this means his Deity being appeas'd, he will + impose his Commands on the Spaniards that they shall not for the future + molest us; who all unanimously with one consent in a loud tone made + this reply. Well said, Well said, and thus they continued skipping and + dancing before this Cabinet, without the least intermission, till they + were quite tired and grown weary: Then the Noble _Hathney_ re-assuming + his discourse, said, if we Worship this Deity, till ye be ravished from + us, we shall be destroyed, therefore I judge it convenient, upon mature + deliberation, that we cast it into the River, which advice was approved + of by all without opposition, and the Cabinet thrown in to the next + River. + +When the Spaniards first touched this Island, this _Cacic_, who was +thoroughly acquainted with them, did avoid and shun them as much as in +him lay, and defended himself by force of Arms, wherever he met with +them, but at length being taken he was burnt alive, for flying from so +unjust and cruel a Nation, and endeavuoring to secure his Life against +them, who only thirsted after the blood of himself and his own People. +Now being bound to the post, in order of his Execution a certain Holy +Monk of the _Franciscan_ Order, discours'd with him concerning God and +the Articles of our Faith, which he never heard of before, and which +might be satisfactory and advantagious to him, considering the small +time allow'd him by the Executioner, promising him Eternal Glory and +Repose, if he truly believ'd them, or other wise Everlasting Torments. +After that _Hathney_ had been silently pensive sometime, he askt the +Monk whether the _Spaniards_ also were admitted into Heaven, and he +answering that the Gates of Heaven were open to all that were Good and +Godly, the _Cacic_ replied without further consideration, that he would +rather go to Hell then Heaven, for fear he should cohabit in the same +Mansion with so Sanguinary and Bloody a Nation. And thus God and the +Holy Catholick Faith are Praised and Reverenced by the Practices of the +_Spaniards_ in _America_. + +Once it so hapned, that the Citizens of a Famous City, distant Ten +Miles from the place where we then resided, came to meet us with a +splendid Retinue, to render their Visit more Honourable, bringing with +them delicious Viands, and such kind of Dainties, with as great a +quantity of Fish as they could possibly procure, and distributing them +among us; but behold on a sudden, some wicked Devil possessing the +minds of the _Spaniards_, agitated them with great fury, that I being +present, and without the least Pretence or Occasion offered, they cut +off in cold Blood above Three Thousand Men, Women and Children +promiscuously, such Inhumanities and Barbarisms were committed in my +sight, as no Age can parallel. + +Some time after I dispatch Messengers to all the Rulers of the Province +of _Havana_, that they would by no means be terrified, or seek their +refuge by absence and flight, but to meet us, and that I would engage +(for they understood my Authority) that they should not receive the +least of Injuries; for the whole Country was extremely afflicted at the +Evils and Mischiefs already perpetrated, and this I did with the +advice of their Captain. As soon as we approached the Province, Two +and Twenty of their Noblemen came forth to meet us, whom the Captain +contrary to his Faith given, would have expos'd to the Flames, +alledging that it was expedient they should be put to Death, who were, +at any time, capacitated to use any Stratagem against us, but with +great difficulty and much adoe, I snatcht them out of the fire. + +These Islanders of _Cuba_, being reduc'd to the same Vasselage and +Misery as the Inhabitants of _Hispaniola_, seeing themselves perish and +dy without any redress, fled to the Mountains for shelter, but other +Desperado's, put a period to their days with a Halter, and the Husband, +together with his Wife and Children, hanging himself, put an end to +those Calamities. + +By the ferocity of one _Spanish_ Tyrant (whom I knew) above Two Hundred +_Indians_ hang'd themselves of their own accord; and a multitude of +People perished by this kind of Death. + +A certain Person here in the same Isle constituted to exercise a kind +of Royal Power, hapned to have Three Hundred _Indians_ fall to his +share, of which in Three Months, through excessive labour, One Hundred +and Sixty were destroy'd, insomuch that in a short space there remained +but a tenth part alive, namely Thirty, but when the number was doubled, +they all perisht at the same rate, and all that were bestow'd upon him +lost their lives, till at length he paid his last Debt to Nature and +the Devil. + +In Three or Four Months time I being there present, Six Thousand +Children and upward were murder'd, because they had lost their Parents +who labour'd in the Mines; nay I was a Witness of many other stupendous +Villanies. + +But afterward they consulted how to persecute those that lay hid in the +Mountains, who were miserably massacred, and consequently this Isle +made desolate, which I saw not long after, and certainly it is a +dreadful and depolorable sight to behold it thus unpeopled and laid +waste, like a Desert. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the_ CONTINENT. + +In the Year 1514, a certain unhappy Governour Landed on the firm Land +or Continent, a most bloody Tyrant, destitute of all Mercy and +Prudence, the Instrument of God's Wrath, with a Resolution to people +these parts with _Spaniards_; and although some Tyrants had touched +here before him, and Cruelty hurried them into the other World by +several wayes of Slaughter, yet they came no farther than to the Sea +Coast, where they comitted podigious Thefts and Robberies, but this +Person exceeded all that ever dwelt in other Islands, though execrable +and profligate Villains: for he did not only ravage and depopulate the +Sea-Coast, but buried the largest Regions and most ample Kingdoms in +their own Ruins, sending Thousdands to Hell by his Butcheries. He made +Incursions for many Miles continuance, that is to say, in those +Countries that are included in the Territories of _Darien_ and the +Provinces of _Nicaraqua_, where are near Five Hundred Miles of the most +Fertil Land in the World, and the most opulent for Gold of all the +Regions hitherto discover'd. And although _Spain_ has bin sufficiently +furnished with the purest Gold, yet it was dig'd out of the Bowels and +Mines of the said Countries by the _Indians_, where (as we have said) +they perished. + +This Ruler, with his Complices found out new inventions to rack, +torment, force and extort Gold from the _Indians_. One of his Captains +in a certain Excursion undertaken by the Command of his Governeur to +make Depraedations, destroy'd Forty Thousand Persons and better +exposing them to the edge of the Sword, Fire, Dogs and variety of +Torments; of all which a Religious Man of the Order of St. _Francis, +Franciscus de S. Romano_, who was then present was an Eye-Witness. + +Great and Injurious was the blindness of those praesided over the +_Indians_; as to the Conversion and Salvation of this People: for they +denyed in Effect what they in their flourishing Discourse pretended to, +and declar'd with their Tongue what they contradicted in their Heart; +for it came to this pass, that the _Indians_ should be commanded on the +penalty of a bloody War, Death, and perpetual Bondage, to embrace the +Christian Faith, and submit to the Obedience of the _Spanish_ King; as +if the Son of God, who suffered Death for the Redemption of all +Mankind, had enacted a Law, when he pronounced these words, _Go and +teach all Nations_ that Infidels, living peaceably and quietly in their +Hereditary Native Country, should be impos'd upon pain of Confiscation +of all their Chattels, Lands, Liberty, Wives, Children, and Death +itself, without any precedent instruction to Confess and Acknowledge +the true God, and subject themselves to a King, whom they never saw, or +heard mention'd before; and whose Messengers behav'd themselves toward +them with such Inhumanity and Cruelty as they had done hitherto. Which +is certainly a most foppish and absurd way of Proceeding, and merits +nothing but Scandal, Derision, nay Hell itself. Now suppose this +Notorious and Profligate Governour had bin impower'd to see the +Execution of these Edicts perform'd, for of themselves they were +repugnant both to Law and Equity; yet he commanded (or they who were to +see the Execution thereof, did it of their own Heads without Authority) +that when they phansied or proposed to themselves any place, that was +well stor'd with Gold, to rob and feloniously steal it away from the +_Indians_ living in their Cities and Houses, without the least +suspicion of any ill Act. These wicked _Spaniards_, like Theives came +to any place by stealth, half a Mile off of any City, Town or Village, +and there in the Night published and proclaim'd the Edict among +themselves after this manner: + + You _Cacics_ and _Indians_ of this Continent, the Inhabitants of such + a Place, which they named; We declare or be it known to you all, that + there is but one God, one hope, and one King of _Castile_, who is Lord + of these Countries; appear forth without delay, and take the oath of + Allegiance to the _Spanish_ King, as his Vassals. + +So about the Fourth Watch of the Night, or Three in the Morning these +poor Innocents overwhelm'd with heavy Sleep, ran violently on that place +they named, set Fire to their Hovels, which were all thatcht, and so, +without Notice, burnt Men, Women and Children; kill'd whom they pleas'd +upon the Spot; but those they preserv'd as Captives, were compell'd +throughTorments to confess where they had hid the Gold, when they found +little or none at their Houses; but they who liv'd being first +stigmatized, were made Slaves; yet after the Fire was extinguisht, they +came hastily in quest of the Gold. Thus did this Wicked Man, devoted to +all the Infernal Furies, behave himself with the Assistance of Profligate +Christians, whom he had lifted in his Service from the 14th to the 21. or +22. Year, together with his Domestick Servants and Followers, from whom he +received as many Portions, besides what he had from his Slaves in Gold, +Pearls, and Jewels, as the Chief Governor would have taken, and all +that were constituted to execute any kind of Kingly Office followed in +the same Footsteps; every one sending as many of his Servants as he +could spare, to share in the spoil. Nay he that came hither as Biship +first of all did the same also, And at the vory time (as I conjecture) +the _Spaniards_ did depraedate or rob this Kingdom of above Ten Hundred +Thousand Crowns of Gold: Yet all these their Thefts and Felonies, we +scarce find upon Record that Three Hundred Thousand _Castilian_ Crowns +ever came into the _Spanish_ King's Coffers; yet there were above Eight +Hundred Thousand Men slain: The other Tyrants who governed this Kingdom +afterward to the Three and Thirtieth year, depriv'd all of them of Life +that remain'd among the Inhabitants. + +Among all those flagitious Acts committed by this Governour while he +rul'd this Kindom, or by his Consent and Permission this must by no +means be omitted: A certain _Casic_, bestowing on him a Gift, +voluntarily, or (which is more probably) induced thereunto by Fear, +about the weight of Nine Thousand Crowns, but the _Spaniards_ not +satisfied with so fast a Sum of Money, sieze him, fix him to a Pole; +extended his Feet, which being mov'd near the Fire, they demanded a +larger Sum; the _Casic_ overcome with Torments, sending home, procur'd +Three Thousand more to be brought and presented to them: But the +_Spaniards_, adding new Torments to new Rage and Fury, when they found +he would confer no more upon them, which was because he could not, or +otherwize because he would not, they expos'd him for so long to that +Torture, till by degrees of heat the Marrow gusht out of the Soles of +his Feet, and so he dyed; Thus they often murder'd the Lords and Nobles +which such Torments to Extort the Gold from them. + +One time it hapned that a Century or Party of One Hundred _Spaniards_ +making Excursions, came to a Mountain, where many People shunning so +horrid and pernicious an Enemy conceal'd themselves, who immediately +rushing on them, putting all to the Sword they could meet with, and +then secur'd Seventy or Eighty Married Women as well as Virgins +Captives; but a great Number of _Indians_ with a fervent desire of +recovering their Wives and Daughters appear'd in Arms against the +_Spaniards_, and when they drew near the Enemy, they unwilling to lose +the Prey, run the Wives and Maidens through with their Swords. The +_Indians_ through Grief and Trouble, smiting their Breasts, brake out +into these Exclamations. O perverse Generation of Men! O Cruel +_Spaniards_! What do you Murder _las Iras_? (In their Language they +call Women by the Name of _las Iras_ as if they had said: To slay Women +is an Act of bloody minded Men, worse than Brutes and Wild Beasts. + +There was the House of a Puissant Potentate scituated about Ten or +Fifteen Miles from _Panama_, whose name was _Paris_, very Rich in Gold; +and the _Spaniards_ gave him a visit, who were entertained with +Fraternal Kindness, and Courteously received, and of his own accord, +presented the Captain with a Gift of Fifteen Thousand Crowns; who was +of opinion, as well as the rest of the _Spaniards_, that he who +bestow'd such a quantity of Money _gratis_, was the Master of vast +Treasure; whereupon they counterfeit a pretended Departure, but +returning about the Fourth Night-Watch, and entring the City privily +upon a surprize, which they thought was sufficiently secur'd, +consecrated it with many Citizens to the Flames, and robb'd them of +Fifty or Sixty Thousand Crowns. The _Dynast_ or Prince escaped with +his Life, and gathering together as great a Number of Men as he could +possibly at that instant of time, and Three or Four Days being elapsed, +pursued the _Spaniards_, who had depriv'd him also by Violence and +Rapine of a Hundred and Thirty or Forty Thousand Crowns, and pouring in +upon them, recover'd all his Gold with the destruction of Fifty +_Spaniards_, but the remainder of them having receiv'd many Wounds in +that Rencounter betook them to their Heels and sav'd themselves by +flight: but in few days after the _Spaniards_ return, and fall upon the +said _Casic_ well-arm'd and overthrow him and all his Forces, and they +who out-liv'd the Combat, to their great Misfortune, were expos'd to +the usual and frequently mention'd Bondage. + + +_Of the Province of_ NICARAQUA. + +The said Tyrant _An. Dom._ 1522. proceeded farther very unfortunately +to the Subjugation of Conquest of this Province. In truth no Person +can satisfactorily or sufficiently express the Fertility, Temperateness +of the Climate, or the Multitude of the Inhabitants of _Nicaraqua_, +which was almost infinite and admirable; for this Region contain'd some +Cities that were Four Miles long; and the abundance of Fruits of the +Earth (which was the cause of such a Concourse of People) was highly +commendable. The People of this place, because the Country was Level +and Plain, destitute of Mountains, so very delightful and pleasant, +that they could not leave it without great grief, and much +dissatisfaction, they were therefore tormented with the greater +Vexations and Persecutions, and forced to bear the _Spanish_ Tyranny +and Servitude, which as much Patience as they were Masters of: Add +farther that they were peaceable and meek spirited. This Tyrant with +these Complices of his Cruelty did afflict this Nation (whose advice he +made use of in destroying the other Kingdoms) with such and so many +great Dammages, Slaughters, Injustice, Slaver, and Barbarisme, that a +Tongue, though of Iron, could not express them all fully. He sent into +the Province (which is larger than the County of _Ruscinia_) Fifty +Horse-Men, who put all the People to the Edge of the Sword, sparing +neither Age nor Sex upon the most trivial and inconsiderable occasion: +As for Example, if they did not come to them with all possible speed, +when called; and bring the imposed burthen of _Mahid_ (which signifies +Corn in their Dialect) or if they did not bring the Number of _Indians_ +required to his own, and the Service or rather Servitude of his +Associates. And the Country being all Campaign or Level, no Person was +able to withstand the Hellish Fury of their Horses. + +He commanded the _Spaniards_ to make Excursions, that is, to rob other +Provinces, permitting and granting these Theiving Rogues leave to take +away by force as many of these peacable People as they could, who being +iron'd (that they might not sink under the Burthen of Sixty or Eighty +Pound weight) it frequently hapned, that of Four Thousand _Indians_, +Six only returned home, and so they dyed by the way; but if any of them +chanced to faint, being tired with over-weighty Burthens, or through +great Hunger and Thirst should be siezed with a Distemper; or too much +Debility and Weakness, that they might not spend time in taking off +their Fetters, they beheaded them, so the Head fell one way, and the +Body another: The _Indians_ when they spied the _Spaniards_ making +preparations for such Journeys, knowing very well, that few, or none +returned home alive, just upon their setting out with Sighs and Tears, +burst out into these or the like Expressions. + + Those were Journeys, which we travelled frequently in the service of + Christians, and in some tract of time we return'd to our Habitations, + Wives and Children: But now there being no hope of a return, we are for + ever depriv'd of their Sight and Conversation. + +It hapned also, that the same President would dissipate or disperse the +_Indians de novo_ at his own pleasure, to the end (as it was reported) +he might violently force the _Indians_ away from such as did infest or +molest him; and dispose of them to others; upon which it fell out, that +for the space of a Year complete, there was no sowing or planting: And +when they wanted Bread, the _Spaniards_ did by force plunder the +_Indians_ of the whole stock of Corn that they had laid up for the +support of their Families, and by these indirect Courses above Thirty +Thousand perished with Hunger. Nay it fortun'd at one time, that a +Woman opprest with insufferable Hunger, depriv'd her own Son of his +Life to preserve her own. + +In this Province also they brought many to an untimely End, loading +their Shoulders with heavy planks and pieces of Timer, which they were +compell'd to carry to a Haven Forty Miles distant, in order to their +building of Ships; sending them likewise unto the Mountains to find out +Hony and Wax, where they were devour'd by Tygers; nay they loaded Women +impregnated with Carriage and Burthens fit for beasts. + +But no greater pest was there that could unpeople this Province, than +the License granted the _Spaniards_ by this Governour, to demand +Captives from the _Casics_ and Potentates of this Region; for at the +Expiration of Four or Five Months, or as often as they obtain'd leave +of the Governour to demand them, they deliver'd them up Fifty Servants, +and the _Spaniards_ terrified them with Menaces, that if they did not +obey them in answering their unreasonable Demands, they should be burnt +alive, or baited to Death by Dogs. Now the _Indians_ are but slenderly +stor'd with Servants; for it is much if a _Casic_ hath Three or Four in +his Retinue, therefore they have recourse to the Subjects; and when +they had, in the first place, seized the Orphans, they required +earnestly and instantly one Son of the Parent, who had but Two, and Two +of him that had but Three, and for the Lord of the place satisfied the +desires of the Tyrant, not without the Effusion of Tears and Groans of +the People, who (as it seems) were very careful of their Children. And +this being frequently repeated in the space between the Year 1523, and +1533, the Kingdom lost all their Inhabitants, for in Six or Seven Years +time there were constantly Five or Six Ships made ready to be fraighted +with _Indians_ that were sold in the Regions of _Panama_ and +_Perusium_, where they all dyed; for it is by dayly Experience prov'd +and known, that the _Indians_ when Transported out of their Native +Country into any other, soon dye; because they are shortned in their +allowance of Food, and the Task impos'd on them no ways dimished, they +being only bought for Labour. And by this means, there have been taken +out of this Province Five Hundred Thousand Inhabitants and upward, who +before were Freemen, and made Slaves, and in the Wars made on them, and +the horrid Bondage they were reduc'd unto Fifty or Sixty Thousand more +have perished, and to this day very many still are destroy'd. Now all +these Slaughters have been committed within the space of Fourteen years +inclusively, possibly in this Province of _Nicaraqua_ there remains +Four or Five Thousand Men who are put to Death by ordinary and personal +Opressions, whereas (according to what is said already) it did exceed +other Countries of the World in multitude of People. + + + _Of new_ SPAIN. + +New _Spain_ was discovered _Anno Dom._ 1517. and in the detection there +was no first or second Attempt, but all were exposed to slaughter. The +year ensuing those _Spaniards_ (who style themselves Christians) came +thither to rob, kill and slay, though they pretend they undertook this +Voyage to people the Countrey. From this year to the present, _viz._ +1542. the Injustice, Violence and Tyranny of the _Spaniards_ came to +the highest degree of extremety: for they had shook hands with and bid +adieu to all fear of God and the King, unmindful of themselves in this +sad and deplorable condition, for the Destructions, Cruelties, +Butcheries, Devastations, the Domolishing of Cities, Depradations, +_&c._ which they perpetrated in so many and such ample Kingdoms, are +such and so great, and strike the minds of Men with so great horror, +that all we have related before are inconsiderable comparatively to +those which have been acted from the year 1518 to 1542, and to this +very month of _September_ that we now live to see the most heavy, +grievous and detestable things are committed, that the Rule we laid +down before as a Maxim might be induputably verified, to wit, that from +the beginning they ran headlong from bad to worse, and were overcome in +their Diabolical acts and wickedness only by themselves. + +Thus from the first entrance of the _Spaniards_ into _New Spain_, which +hapned on the 18th day of _April_ in the said month of the year 1518, +to 1530, the space of ten whole years, there was no end or period put +to the Destruction and Slaughters committed by the merciless hands of +the Sanguinary and Blood-thirsty Spaniard in the Continent, or space of +450 Miles round about _Mexico_, and the adjacent or neighboring parts, +which might contain four or five spatious Kingdoms, that neither for +magnitude or fertility would give _Spain_ her self the pre-eminance. +This intire Region was more populous then _Toledo, Sevil, Valedolid, +Saragoza,_ and _Faventia_; and there is not at this day in all of them +so many people, nor when they flourisht in their greatest height and +splendor was there such a number, as inhabited that Region, which +embraceth in its Circumference, four hundred and eighty Miles. Within +these twelve years the Spaniards have destroyed in the Said Countinent, +by Spears, Fire and Sword, computing Men, Women, Youth, and Children +above Four Millions of people in these their Acquests or Conquests (for +under that word they mask their Cruel Actions) or rather those of the +Turk himself, which are reported of them, tending to the ruin of the +Catholick Cause, together with their Invasions and Unjust Wars, +contrarty to and condemned by Divine as well as Human Laws; nor are +they reckoned in this number who perished by their more then _Egyptian_ +Bondage and usual Oppressions. + +There is no Tongue, Art, or Human knowledge can recite the horrid +Impieties, which these Capital Enemies to Government and all Mankind +have been guilty of at several times and in several Nations; nor can +the circumstantial Aggravations of some of their wicked Acts be +unfolded or display'd by any manner of Industry, time or writing, but +yet I will say somewhat of every individual particular thing, which +this protestation and Oath, that I conceive I am not able to comprehend +one of a Thousand. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of_ New Spain _in Particular_. + +Among other Slaughters this also they perpetrated in the most spacious +City of _Cholula_, which consisted of Thirty Thousand Families; all the +Chief Rulers of that Region and Neighboring places, but first the +Priests with their High Priest going to meet the Spaniards in Pomp and +State, and to the end they might give them a more reverential and +honourable reception appointed them to be in the middle of the +Solemnity, that so being entertained in the Appartments of the most +powerful and principal Noblemen, they might be lodged in the City. The +Spaniards presently consult about their slaughter or castigation (as +they term it) that they might fill every corner of this Region by their +Cruelties and wicked Deeds with terror and consternation; for in all +the Countries that they came they took this course, that immediately at +their first arrival they committed some notorious butcheries, which +made those Innocent Sheep tremble for fear. To this purpose therefore +they sent to the Governours and Nobles of the Cities, and all Places +subject unto them, together with their supream Lord, that they should +appear before them, and no soner did they attend in expectation of some +Capitulation or discourse with the Spanish Commander, but they were +presently seized upon and detained prisoners before any one could +advertise or give them notice of their Captivity. They demanded of +them six thousand _Indians_ to drudge for them in the carriage of their +bag and baggage; and as soon as they came the _Spaniards_ clapt them +into the Yards belonging to their Houses and there inclosed them all. +It was a thing worthy of pity and compassion to behold this wretches +people in what a condition they were when they prepared themselves to +receive the burthens laid on them by the Spaniards. They came to them +naked, their Privities only vail'd, their Shoulders loaden with food; +only covered with a Net, they laid themselves quietly on the ground, +and shrinking in their Bodies like poor Wretches, exposed themselves to +their Swords: Thus being all gathered together in ther Yards, some of +the Spaniards Armed held the doors to drive them away if attempting to +approach, and others with Lances and Swords Butcher these Innocents so +that not one of them escaped, but two or three days after some of them, +who hid themselves among the dead bodies, being all over besprinkled +with blood and gore, presented themselves to the Spaniards, imporing +their mercy and the prolongation of their Lives with tears in their +Eyes and all imaginable submission, yet they, not in the least moved +with pity or compassion, tore them in pieces: but all the Chief +Governours who were above one hundred in number, were kept bound, whom +the Captain commanded to be affixed to posts and burnt; yet the King of +the whole Countrey escaped, and betook himself with a Train of thirty +or forty Gentlemen, to a Temple (called in their Tongue _Quu_) which he +made use of as a Castle or Place of Defence, and there defended himself +a great part of the day, but the Spaniards who suffer none to escape +out of their clutches, especially Souldiers, setting fire to the +Temple, burnt all those that were there inclosed, who brake out into +these dying words and exclamations. O profligate Men, what injury have +we done you to occasion our death! Go, go to _Mexico_, where our +supream Lord _Montencuma_ will revenge our cause upon your persons. +And 'tis reported, while the Spaniards were engated in this Tragedy +destroying six or seven thousand Men, that their Commander with great +rejoycing sang this following Ayre; + + _Mira_ Nero _de_ Tarpeia, Roma _como se ardia, + Gritos de_ Ninos _y Vieyot, y el de nadase dolia._ + + _From the_ Tarpeian _still Nero espies_ + Rome _all in Flames with unrelenting Eyes,_ + _And hears of young and old the dreadful Cries._ + +They also committed a very great Butchery in the City _Tepeara_, which +was larger and better stored with Houses than the former; and here they +Massacred an incredible number with the point of the Sword. + +Setting sail from _Cholula_, they steer'd their course to _Mexico_, +whose King sent his Nobles and Peers with abundance of Presents to meet +them by the way, testifying by divers sorts of Recreations how grateful +their arrival was and acceptable to him: but when they came to a steep +Hill, his brother went forward to meet them accompanied with many +Noblemen who brought them many gifts in Gold, Silver, and Robes +Emboidered with Gold and at their entrance into the City, the King +himself carried in a golden Litter, together (with the whole Court) +attended them to the Palace prepared for their reception; and that very +day as I was informed by some persons then and there present by a grand +piece of Treachery, they took the very great King _Montencuma_, never +so much as dreaming of any such surprize, and put him into the custody +of eighty Soldiers, and afterward loaded this Legs with irons; but all +these things being passed over with a light pencil of which much might +be said, one thing I will discover acted by them, that may merit your +obervation. When the Captain arrived at the Haven, to fight with a +Spanish Officer, who made War against him, and left another with an +hundred Soldiers, more or less as a Guard to King _Montencuma_, it came +into their heads, that to act somewhat worth remembrance, that the +dread of their Cruelty might be more and more apprehended, and greatly +increased. + +In the interim all the Nobility and Commonality of the City thought of +nothing else, but how to exhilarate the Spirit of their Captive King, +and solace him during his Confinement with varity of diversions and +Recreations; and among the rest this was one, _viz._, Revellings and +Dances which they celebrated in all Streets and Highways, by night and +they in their Idiom term _Mirotes_, as the Islanders do _Arcytos_; to +these Masques and nocturnal Jigs they usually go with all their Riches, +Costly Vestments and Robes, together with any thing that is pretious +and glorious, being wholly addicted to this humor, nor is there any +greater token among them then this of their extraordinary exultation +and rejoycing. The Nobles in like manner, and Princes of the Blood +Royal every one according to his degree exercise these Masques and +Dances, in some place adjoyning to the House where their King and Lord +is detained Prisoner. Now there were not far from the Palace about +2000 Young Noblemen who were the issue of the greatest Potentates of +the Kingom, and indeed the flower of the whole Nobility of King +_Motencuma_, and a _Spanish_ Captain went to visit them with some +Soldiers, and sent others to the rest of the places in the City where +these Revellings were kept, under pretence only of being spectators of +the solemnity. Now the Captain had commanded, that, at a certain hour +appointed they should fall upon these Revellers, and he himself +approaching the _Indians_ very busie at their Dancing, said, _San Jago_ +(that is St. _James_ it seems that was the Word) _Let us rush in upon +them_, which was no sooner heard, but they all began with their naked +Swords in hand to pierce their tender and naked Bodies, and spill their +generous and Noble blood, till not one of them was left alive on the +place, and the rest following his example in other parts, (to their +inexpressible stupefaction and grief) seized on all these Provinces. +Nor will the Inhabitants till the General conflagration ever +discontinue the Celebration of these Festivals, and the Lamentation and +Singing with certain kind of Rhythmes in their _Arcytos_, the doleful +ditty of the Calamity and Ruin of this Seminary of the antient Nobility +of the whole Kingdom, which was their frequent Pride and Glory. + +The _Indians_ seeing this not to be exampled cruelty and iniquity +executed against such a number of guiltless persons, and also bearing +with incredible patience the unjust Imprisonment of their King, from +whom they had an absolute Command not to take up Arms against the +_Spaniard_, the whole City was suddenly up in Arms fell on the +_Spaniards_ and wounded many of them, the rest hardly escaping; but +they presenting the point of a Sword to the Kings Breast, threatned him +with death unless he out of the Window commanded them to desist; but +the _Indians_ for the present disobeying the Kings Mandate, proceeded +to the Election of a Generalissimo, or Commander in Chief over all +their Forces; and because that the Captain, who went to the Port +returned Victor, and brought away a far greater number of _Spaniards_ +then he took along with him, there was a Cessation of Arms for three or +four days, till he re-entred the City, and then the _Indians_ having +gatherered together and made up a great Army, fought so long and so +strenuously, that the _Spaniards_ despairing of their safety, called a +Council of War and therein resolv'd to retreat in the dead time of +night and so draw off their Forces from the City: which coming to the +knowledge of the _Indians_ they destroyed a great number Retreating on +the Bridges made over their Lakes in this just and Holy War, for the +causes above-mentioned, deserving the approbation of every upright +Judge. But afterward the _Spaniards_ having recruited and got together +in a Body, they resolved to take the City and carried it at last, +wherein most detestable Butcheries were acted, a vast number of the +people slain, and their Rulers perished in the Flames. + +All these horrid Muders being commited in _Mexico_ and other Cities +ten, fifteen and twenty miles distant. This same Tyranny and Plague in +the abstract proceeded to infest and lay desolate _Panuco_; a Region +abounding with Inhabitants even to admiration, nor were the slaughters +therein perpetrated less stupendous and wonderful. In the same manner +they utterly laid wasate the Provinces of _Futepeca, Ipilcingonium_ and +_Columa_, every one of them being as large as the Kingdoms of _Leon_, +and _Castile_. It would be very difficult or rather impossible to +relate the Cruelties and Destruction there made and committed, and +prove very nauseous and offensive to the Reader. + +'Tis observable, that they entred upon these Dominions and laid waste +the _Indian_ Territories, so populous, that it would have rejoyced the +hearts of all true Christians to see their number upon no other title +or pretense, but only to enslave them; for at their first arrival they +compel'd them to swear the Oath of Obedience and Fealty to the King of +_Spain_, and if they did not condescend to it, they menace them with +death and Vassalage, and they who did not forthwith appear to satisfie +the unequitable Mandates, and submit to the will and pleasure of such +unjust and Cruel Men were declared Rebels, and accu's of that Crime +before our Lord the King; and blindess or ignorance of those who were +set over the _Indians_ as Rulers did so darken their understanding that +they did not apprehend that known and incontrovertible Maxim in Law, +_That no Man can be called a Rebel, who is not first proved to be a +subject_. I omit the injuries and prejudice they do to the King +himself, when they spoil and ravage his Kingdoms, and as much as in +them lies, diminish and impair all his Right and Title to the +_Indians_, nay in plain English invalidate and make it null and void. +And these are the worthy Services which the Spaniards do for our Kings +in those Countries, by the injust and colourable pretences aforesaid. + +This Tyrant upon the same pretext sent two other Captains, who exceeded +him in impiety and cruelty, if possible to the most flourishing and +Feril (in Fruits and Men) Kingdoms of _Guatemala_, Situate toward the +South, who had also received Orders to go to the Kingdoms of _Naco, +Hondera_, and _Guaymura_, verging upon the North, and are Borderers on +_Mexico_ three hundred miles together. The one was sent by Land and +the other by Sea, and both well furnished with Horse and Foot. + +This I declare for a Truth, that the outrages committed by these two, +particularly by him that went to _Guatimala_ (for the other not long +after his departure died a violent Death) would afford matter +sufficient for an entire Volume, and when completed he so crouded with +slaughters, injuries, butcheries and inhuman Desolations, so horrid and +detestable as would Ague-shake the present as well as future ages with +terror. + +He that put out to Sea vexed all the Maritime Coasts with his cruel +Incursions; now some inhabitants of the Kingdom of _Jucatan_ which is +seated in the way to the Kingdoms of _Naco_ and _Naymura_, to which +places he steered his course, came to meet him with burthens of +Presents and Gifts: and as soon as he approacht them, sent his Captains +with a party of Soldiers to depopulate their Land, who committed great +spoils and made cruel slaughters among them; and in particular a +Seditious and Rebellious Officer who with three hundres Soldiers entred +a Neighboring Country to _Guatimala_, and there firing the Cities and +Murdering all the Inhabitants, violently deprived them of all their +goods, which he did designedly, for the space of an hundred and twenty +miles; to the end that if his Companions should follow them, they might +find the Country laid wast, and so be destroyed by the _Indians_ in +revenge for the dammage they had received by him and his Forces which +hapned accordingly: for the Chief Commander whose order the abovesaid +Captain had disobey'd and so became a Rebel to him, was there slain. +But many other bloody Tyrants succeeded him, who from the year 1524 to +1535. did unpeople and make a Desert of the Provinces of _Naco_ and +_Hondura_ (as well as other places) which were lookt upon as the +Paradise of delights, and better peopled then other Regions; insomuch +that within the Term of these eleven years there fell in those +Countries above two Millions of Men, and now there are hardly remaining +Two Thousand, who dayly dye by the severity of their Slavery. + +But to return to that great Tyrant, who outdid the former in cruelty +(as hinted above) and is equal to those that Tyrannize there at +present, who travelled to _Guatimala_; he from the Provinces adjoyning +to _Mexico_, which according to his prosecuted journey (as he himself +Writes and testifies with his own hand in Letters to the Prince of +Tyrants) are distant from _Guatimala_ four hundred miles, did make it +to his urgent and dayly business to procure Ruin and Destruction by +slaughter, Fire and Depopulations, compelling all to submit to the +Spanish King, whom they lookt upon to be more unjust and cruel then his +inhumane and bloodthirsty Ministers. + + +_Of the Kingdom and Province of_ GUATIMALA. + +This Tyrant at his first entrance here acted and commanded prodigious +Slaughters to be perpetrated: Notwithstanding which, the Chief Lord in +his Chair or Sedan attended by many Nobles of the City of _Ultlatana_, +the Emporium of the whole Kingdom, together with Trumpets, Drums and +great Exultation, went out to meet him, and brought with them all sorts +of Food in great abundance, with such things as he stood in most need +of. That Night the _Spaniards_ spent without the City, for they did +not judge themselves secure in such a well-fortified place. The next +day he commanded the said Lord with many of his Peers to come before +him, from whom they imperiously challenged a certain quantity of Gold; +to whom the _Indians_ return'd this modest Answer, that they could not +satisfie his Demands, and indeed this Region yeilded no Golden Mines; +but they all, by his command, without any other Crime laid to their +Charge, or any Legal Form of Proceeding were burnt alive. The rest of +the Nobles belonging to other Provinces, when they found their Chief +Lords, who had the Supreme Power were expos'd to the Merciless Element +of Fire kindled by a more merciless Enemy; for this Reason only, +becauase they bestow'd not what they could not upon them, _viz._ Gold, +they fled to the Mountains, (their usual Refuge) for shelter, +commanding their Subjects to obey the _Spaniards_, as Lords, but withal +strictly and expressly prohibiting and forbidding them, to inform the +_Spaniards_ of their Flight, or the Places of their Concealment. And +behold a great many of the _Indians_ addrest themselves to them, +earnestly requesting, they would admit them as Subjects, being very +willing and ready to serve them: The Captain replyed that he would not +entertain them in such a Capacity, but instead of so doing would put +every individual Person to Death, if they would not discover the +Receptacles of the Fugitive Governours. The _Indians_ made answer that +they were wholly ignorant of the matter, yet that they themselves, +their Wives and Children should serve them; that they were at home, +they might come to them and put them to Death, or deal with them as +they pleas'd. But the _Spaniards_, O wonderful! went to the Towns and +Villages, and destroy'd with their Lances these poor Men, their Wives +and Children, intent upon their Labour, and as they thought themselves, +secure and free from danger. Another large Village they made desolate +in the space of two hours, sparing neither Age, nor Sex, putting all to +the Sword, without Mercy. + +The _Indians_ perceiving that this Barbarous and Hard-hearted People +would not be pacified with Humility, large Gifts, or unexampled +Patience, but that they were butcher'd without any Cause, upon serious +Consultation took up a Resolution of getting together in a Body, and +fighting for their Lives and Liberty; for they conceiv'd it was far +better, (since Death to them was a necessary Evil) with Sword in Hand to +be kill'd by taking Revenge of the Enemy, then be destroy'd by them +without satisfaction. But when they grew sensible of their wants of +Arms, Nakedness and Debility, and that they were altogether incapable +of the management of Horses, so as to prevail against such a furious +Adversary, recollecting themselves, they contriv'd this Strategm, to +dig Ditches and Holes in the High-way into which the Horses might fall +in their passage, and fixing therein purposely sharp and burnt Posts, +and covering them with loose Earth, so that they could not be discern'd +by their Riders, they might be transfixed or gored by them. The Horses +fell twice or thrice into those holes, but afterward the _Spaniards_ +took this Course to prevent them for the future; and made this a Law, +that as many of the _Indians_ of what Age or Sex soever as were taken, +should be cast into these Ditches that they had made. Nay they threw +into them Women with Child, and as many Aged Men as they laid hold of, +till they were all fill'd up with Carkasses. It was a sight deserving +Commiseration, to behold Women and Children gauncht or run through with +these Posts, some were taken off by Spears and Swords, and the +remainder expos'd to hungry Dogs, kept short of food for that purpose, +to be devour'd by them and torn in pieces. They burnt a Potent +Nobleman in a very great Fire, saying, _That he was the more Honour'd +by this kind of Death_. All which Butcheries continued Seven Years, +from 1524, to 1531. I leave the Reader to judge how many might be +Massacred during that time. + +Among the Innumerable Flagitious Acts done by this Tyrant and his +Co-partners (for they were as Barbarous as their Principal) in this +Kingdom, this also occurs worthy of an Afterism in the Margin. In the +Province of _Cuztatan_ in which S. _Saviour's_ City is seated, which +Country with the Neighbouing Sea-Coasts extends in Length Forty or +Fifty Miles, as also in the very City of _Cuzcatan_, the Metropolis of +the whole Province, he was entertain'd with great Applause: For about +Twenty or Thirty Thousand _Indians_ brought with them Hens and other +necessary Provisions, expecting this coming. He, accepting their Gifts, +commended every single _Spaniard_ to make choice of as many of these +People, as he had a mind to, that during their stay there, they might +use them as Servants, and forced to undergo the most servile Offices +they should impose on them. Every one cull'd out a Hundred, or Fifty, +according as he thought convenient for his peculiar service, and these +wretched _Indians_ did serve the _Spaniards_ with their utmost strength +and endeavour; so that there could be nothing wanting in them but +Adoration. In the mean time this Captain requir'd a great Sum of Gold +from their Lords (for that was the Load-stone attracted them thither) +who answered, they were content to deliver him up all the Gold they had +in possession; and in order thereunto, the _Indians_ gathered together +a great Number of Spears gilded with _Orichalcum_, (which had the +appearance of Gold, and in truth some Gold in them intermixt) and they +were presented to him. The Captain ordered them to be toucht, and when +he found them to be _Orichalcum_ or mixt Metal, he spake to the +_Spaniards_ as followeth. Let that Nation that is without Gold be +accursed to the Pit of Hell. Let every Man detain those Servants he +Elected, let them be clapt in Irons, and stigmatiz'd with the Brand of +Slavery, which was accordingly done, for they were all burnt, who did +no excape with the King's Mark. I my self saw the Impression made on +the Son of the Chiefest Person in the City. Those that escap'd, with +other _Indians_, engaged the _Spaniards_ by Force of Arms, but with +such ill success, that abundance of them lost their Lives in the +Attempt. After this they return'd to _Gautimala_, where they built a +City, which God in his Judgement with Three Deluges, the First of +Water, the Second of Earth, the Third of Stones, as big as half a score +Oxen, all concurring at one and the same time, laid Level with its own +Ashes. Now all being slain who were capable of bearing Arms against +them, the rest were enslav'd, paying so much _per_ Head for Men and +Women as a Ransom; for they use no other servitude here, and then they +were sent into _Pecusium_ to be sold, by which means together with +their slaughters committed upon the Inhabitants, they destroy'd and +made a Desert of this Kingdom, which in Breadth as well as Length +contains One Hundred Miles; and with his Associates and Brethren in +Iniquity, Four Millions at least in Fifteen or Sixteen Years, that is, +from 1524, to 1540 were murdered, and dayly continues destroying the +small residue of that People with his Cruelties and Brutishness. + +It was the usual Custom of this Tyrant, when he made War with any City +or Province, to take along with himas many of those _Indians_ he had +subjugated as he could, that they might fight with their Country-men; +and when he had in his Army Twenty, or sometimes Thirty Thousand of +them, and could not afford them sustenance, he permitted them to feed +on the Flesh of other _Indians_ taken Prisoners in War; and so kept a +Shambles of Man's Flesh in his Army, suffered Children to be kill'd and +roasted before his Face. They butcher'd the Men for their Feet and +Hands only; for these Members were accounted by them Dainties, most +delicious Food. + +He as the Death of many by the intolerable Labour of Carrying Ships by +Land, causing them to Transport those Vessels with Anchors of a vast +weight from the _Septentrional_ to the _Mediterranean_ Sea, which are +One Hundred and Thirty Miles distant; as also abundance of great Guns +of the largest fort, which they carried on their bare, naked shoulders, +so that opprest with many great and ponderous Burthens, (I say no more +than what I saw) they dyed by the way: He separated and divided +Families, forcing Married Men from their Wives, and Maids from their +Parents, which he bestow'd upon his Marriners and Soldiers, to gratifie +their burning Lust. All his Ships he freighted with _Indians_, where +Hunger and Thirst discharg'd them of their Servitude and his Cruelty by +a welcome Death. He had two Companies of Soldiers who hackt and tore +them in pieces, like Thunder from Heaven speedily. O how many Parents +has he robb'd of their Children, how many Wives of their Husbands, and +Children of their Parents? How many Adulteries, Rapes, and what +Libidinous Acts hath he been guilty of? How many hath he enslav'd and +opprest with insufferable Anguish and unspeakable Calamities? How many +Tears, Sighs and Groans hath he occasion'd? To how many has he bin the +Author of Desolation, during their Peregrination in this, and of +Damnation in the World to come, not only to _Indians_, whose Number is +numberless, but even to _Spaniards_ themselves, by whose help and +assistance he committed such detestable Butcheries and flagitious +Crimes? I supplicate Almighty God, that he would please to have Mercy +on his Soul, and require no other satisfaction than the violent Death, +which turn'd him out of this World. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_A farther Discourse of_ New Spain: _And some Account of_ Panuco +_and_ Xalisco. + +After the perpetration of all the Cruelties rehearsed in _New Spain_ +and other places, there came another Rabid and Cruel Tyrant to +_Panuco_, who acted the part of a bloody Tragedian as well as the rest, +and sent away many Ships loaden with these _Barbarians_ to be sold for +Slaves, made this Province almost a Wilderness, and which was +deplorable, Eight Hundred _Indians_, that had Rational Souls were given +in Exchange for a Burthen-bearing-Beast, a Mule, or Camel. Well, He +was made Governour of the City of _Mexico_, and all _New Spain_, and +with him many other Tyrants had the Office of Auditors confer'd upon +them: Now they had already made such a progress toward the Desolation +of this Region, that if the _Franciscans_ had not vigorously opposed +them, and that by (the King's Council, the best and greatest Encourager +of Vertue) it had not speedily bin prevented, that which hapned to +_Hispaniola_ in Two Years, had bin the Fate of _Hispania nova_, namely +to be unpeopled, deferred, and intomb'd in its own Rules. A Companion +of this Governour employed Eight Thousand _Indians_ in Erecting a wall +to inclose his Garden, but they all dyed, having no Supplies, nor Wages +from him, to support themselves, at whose Death he was not in the least +concern'd. + +After the first Captain before spoken of had absolutely profliaged and +ruin'd the _Panuconians_, Fifteen Thousand whereof perished by carrying +their Bag and Baggage: At length he arriv'd at the Province of +_Machuacan_, which is Forty Miles Journey from _Mexico_, and as Fertile +and Populous: The King to honour him in the Rencounter, with a Multiple +of People, marcheth toward him, from whom he had received One Thousand +Services and Civilities very considerable, who gratefully requited him +with Captivity, because Fame had nois'd it abroad, that he was a most +Opulent Prince in Gold and Silver; and to the end he might export from, +and purge him of his Gold, he was cruciated with Torments after this +manner; his Body was extended, Hands bound to a Post, and his Feet put +into a pair of Stocks, they all the while applying burning Coals to his +Feet at a tormenting distance, where a Boy attended, who by little and +little sprinkled them with Oyl, that his Flesh might roast the better: +Before him there stood a Wicked Fellow, presenting a Bow to his Breast +charged with a Mortal Arrow, (if let fly) behind him, another with Dogs +held in with Chains, which he threatned to let loose at him, which if +done, he had bin torn to pieces in a moment; and with these kind of +Torments they racked him to extort a Confession, where his Treasures +lay; till a _Franciscan_ Monk came and deliver'd him from his Torments, +but not from Death, for he departed this miserable Life not long after: +And this was the severe Fate of many _Cacics_ and _Indian_ Lords, who +dyed with the same Torments which they were expos'd to by the +_Spaniards_, in order to the engrossing of their Gold and Sliver to +themselves. + +At this very time, A certain Visiter of Purses rather than Souls hapned +to be here present, who (finding some _Indian_ Idols which were hid; +for they were no better instructed in the Knowledge of the true God by +reason of the Wicked Documents and Dealings of the _Spaniards_) +detain'd Grandees as Slaves, till they had deliver'd him all their +Idols, for he phancied they were made of Gold or Silver, but his +Expectation being frustrated, he chastised them with no less Cruelty +than Injustice; and that he might not depart bubbled out of all his +hopes, constrain'd them to redeem their Idols with Money, that so they +might, according to their Custom, Adore them. These are the Fruits of +the _Spanish_ Artifices and Juggling Tricks among the _Indians_, and +thus they promoted the honour and worship of God. + +This Tyrant from _Mechuacam_ arrives at _Xalisco_, a Country abounding +with People very fruitful, and the Glory of the _Indians_ in this +respect, that it had some Towns Seven Miles long; and among other +Barbarisms equal to what you have read, which they acted here, this is +not to be forgotten, that Women big with Child, were burthen'd with the +Luggage of Wicked Christians, and being unable to go out their usual +time, through extremity of Toil and Hunger, were necessitated to bring +them forth in the High-wayes, which was the Death of many Infants. + +At a certain time a profligate Christian attempted to devirginate a +Maid, but the Mother being present, resisted him, and endeavouring to +free her from his intended Rape, whereat the _Spaniard_ enrag'd, cut +off her Hand with a short Sword, and stab'd the Virgin in several +places, till she Expir'd, because she obstinately opposed and +disappointed his inordinate Appetite. + +In this Kingdom of _Xalisco_ (according to report) they burnt Eight +Hundred Towns to Ashes, and for this Reason the _Indians_ growing +desperate, beholding the dayly destruction of the Remainders of their +matchless Cruelty, made an Insurrection against the _Spaniards_, slew +several of them justly and deservedly, and afterward fled to the +insensible Rocks and Mountains (yet more tender and kind than the +stony-hearted Enemy) for Sanctuary; where they were miserably Massacred +by those Tyrants who succeeded, and there are now few, or none of the +Inhabitants to be found. Thus the _Spaniards_ being blinded with the +Lustre of their Gold, deserted by God, and given over to a Reprobate +Sense, not undrestanding (or at least not willing to do so) that the +Cause of the _Indians_ is most Just, as well by the Law of Nature, as +the Divine and Humane, they by Force of Arms, destroying them, hacking +them in pieces, and turning them out of their own Confines and +Dominions, nor considering how unjust those Violences and Tyrannies +are, wherewith they have afflicted these poor Creatures, they still +contrive to raise new Wars against them: Nay they conceive, and by Word +and Writing testifie, that those Victories they have obtain'd against +those Innocents to their ruine, are granted them by God himself, as if +their unjust Wars were promoted and managed by a just Right and Title +to what they pretend; and with boasting Joy return Thanks to God for +their Tyranny, in imitation of those Tyrants and Robbers, of whom the +Prophet _Zechariah_ part of the Forth and Fifth Verses. _Feed the Sheep +of the slaughter, whose Possessors slay them, and hold themselves not +guilty, and they that sell them say, Blessed by the Lord, for ye are +rich._ + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Kingdom of _JUCATAN. + +An Impious Wretch by his Fabulous Stories and Relations to the King of +_Spain_ was made praefect of the Kingdom of _Jucatan_, in the Year of +our Lord 1526; And the other Tyrants to this very day have taken the +same indirect Measures to obtain Offices, and screw or wheedle +themselves into publick Charges or Employments, for this praetext, and +Authority, they had the greater opportunity to commit Theft and Rapine. +This Kingdom was very well peopled, and both for Temperature of Air, +and the Plenty of Food and Fruits, in which respect it is more Fertile +than _Mexico_, but chiefly for Hony and Wax, it exceeds all the +_Indian_ Countries that hath hitherto bin discover'd. It is Three +Hundred Miles in Compass. The Inhabitants of this place do much excel +all other _Indians_, either in Politie or Prudence, or in leading a +Regular Life and Morality, truly deserving to be instructed in the +Knowledge of the true God. Here the _Spaniards_ might have Erected +many fair Cities, and liv'd as it were in a Garden of Delights, if they +had not, through Covetousness, Stupidity, and the weight of Enormous +Crimes rendred themselves unworthy of so great a Benefit. This Tyrant, +with Three Hundred Men began to make War with these Innocent People, +living peaceably at home, and doing injury to none, which was the ruine +of a great Number of them: Now because this Region affords no Gold; and +if it did the Inhabitants would soon have wrought away their lives by +hard working in the Mines, that so he might accumulate Gold by their +bodies and Souls, for which Christ was Crucified: For the generality he +made slaves of those whose lives he spared, and sent away such Ships as +were driven thither by the Wind of report, loaden with them, exchanging +them for Wine, Oyl, Vinegar, Salt Pork, Garments, Pack Horses and other +Commodities, which he thought most necessary and fit for his use. He +proposed to them the choice of Fifty Virgins, and she that was the +fairest or best complexioned he bartered for a small Cask of Wine, Oyl, +Vinegar or some inconsiderable quantity of salt Pork, the same exchange +he proferred of Two or Three Hundred well-disposed Young Boys, and one +of them who had the Mind or presence of a Princes Son, was given up to +them for a Cheese, and One Hundred more for a Horse. Thus he continued +his flagitious courses from 1526 to 1533, inclusively, till there was +news brought of the Wealth and Opulence of the Region of _Perusia_, +whither the _Spaniards_ marcht, and so for some time there was a +Cessation of this Tyranny; but in a few days after they returned and +acted enormous Crimes, robbed, and imprisoned them and committed higher +offences against the God of Heaven; nor have they ye done, so that now +these Three Hundred Miles of Land so populous (as I said before) lies +now uncultivated and almost deserted. + +No Solifidian can believe the particular Narrations of their Barbarism, +and Cruelty in those Countreys. I will only relate two or three +Stories which are fresh in my memory. The _Spaniards_ used to trace the +steps of the _Indians_, both Men and Women with curst Currs, furious +Dogs; an _Indian_ Woman that was sick hapned to be in the way in sight, +who perceiving that she was not able to avoid being torn in pieces by +the Dogs, takes a Cord that she had and hangs her self upon a Beam, +tying her Child (which she unforunately had with her) to her foot; and +no sooner had she done, yet the Dogs were at her, tearing the Child, +but a Priest coming that way Baptiz'd it before quite dead. + +When the _Spaniards_ left this Kingdom, one of them invited the Son of +some _Indian_ Governour of a City or Province, to go along with him, +who told him he would not leave or desert his Native Countrey, +whereupon he threatned to cut off his ears, if he refus'd to follow +him: But the Youth persisting resolutely, that he would continue in the +place of his Nativity, he drawing his Sword cut off each Ear, +notwithstanding which he persever'd in his first opinion, and then as +if he had only pincht him, smilingly cut off his Nose and Lips. + +This Rogue did lasciviously boast before a Priest, and as if he had +merited the greatest applause, commended himself to the very Heavens, +saying, "He had made it his chief Trade or Business to impregnate +_Indian_ Women, that when they were sold afterward, he might gain the +more Money by them." + +In this Kingdom or (I'm certain) in some Province of New _Spain_, A +_Spaniard_ Hunting and intent on his game, phancyed that his Beagles +wanted food; and to supply their hunger snatcht a young little Babe +from the Mothers breast, cutting off his Arms and Legs, cast a part of +them to every Dog, which they having devour'd, he threw the remainder +of the Body to them. Thus it is plainly manifest how they value these +poor Creatures, created after the image of God, to cast them to their +Canibal Curs. But that which follows is (if possible) a sin of a +deeper dye. + +I pretermit their unparallel'd Impieties, _&c._ and only close all with +this one Story that follows. Those haughty obdurate and execrable +Tyrants, who departed from this Countrey to Fish for Riches in +_Perusia_, and four Monks of the Order of St. _Francis_, with Father +_James_ who Travelled thither also to keep the Countrey in Peace, and +attract or mildly perswade by their Preaching the remnant of +Inhabitants, that had outlived a septennial Tyranny, to embrace the +knowledge of Christ. I conceive these are the persons who in the year +1534, Travelling by _Mexico_ were sollicited by several Messengers from +the _Indians_, to come into their Countrey, and inform them in the +knowledge of one God, the true God, and Lord of the whole World: to +this end they appointed Assemblies and Councils to examine and +understand what Men they were, who called themselves Fathers and +Friers, what they intended and what difference there was between them +and the _Spaniards_, by whom they had been so molested and tormented: +but they received them at length upon this condition that they should +be admitted alone, without any _Spaniards_, which the Fathers promised; +for they had permission, nay an express Mandate from the President of +New _Spain_ to make that promise, and that the _Spaniards_ should not +do them the least detriment or injury. Then they began, to Preach the +Gospel of Christ, and to explicate and declare the pious intention of +the King of _Castile_, of all which they had notice by the _Spaniards_ +for seven years together, that they had no King nor no other but him, +who oppressed them with so much Tyranny. The Priests continued there +but forty days, but behold they bring forth all their Idols to be +committed to the flames; and then their Children which they tendred as +the apple of the Eye, that they might be instructed. They also erected +Temples and Houses for them and they were desired to come to other +Provinces and Preach the Gospel, and introduce them into the knowledge +of God, and the Great (as they stiled him) King of _Castile_: And the +Priests perswasions wrought so effectually on them, that they +condescended to that which was never done in _India_ before (for +whatsoever those Tyrants who wasted and consumed these large Kingdoms +and Provinces, did misrepresent and falsifie, was only done to bring an +odium and disgrace upon the _Indians_). For Twelve or Fifteen Princes +of spatious and well-peopled Regions assembled, every one distinct and +separate from the rest, with his own subjects, and by their unanimous +consent upon Council and Advice, of their own accord sumitted +themselves to the Government of the _Castilian_ Kings and accepted of +them as their Prince and Protector, obliging themselves to obey and +serve them as subjects to their Lawful Liege Lord. + +In Witness whereof I have in my custody, a certain Instrument Signed +and Attested by the aforesaid Religioso's. + +Thus to the great joy and hope of these Priests reducing them to the +knowledge of Christ they were received by the Inhabitants of this +Kingdom, that surviv'd the heat and rage of the Spanish Cruelties: but +behold eighteen Horse and Twelve Footmen by another way crept in among +them, bringing with them many Idols, which were of great weight, and +taken out of other Regions by Force. The Commander in chief of these +_Spaniards_ summoned one of the Dynasts or Rulers of that Province +which they entred into, to appear before him, and command him to take +these Idols with him, distribute them through his Countrey and exchange +every single Idol for an _Indian_ Man or Woman, otherwise he would make +War against him. The abovesaid Lord compelled to it by fear did so +accordingly with a command, that his Subjects should adore Worship and +Honour them, and in compensation send Indians Male and Female into +servitude. The terrified People delivered up their Children, and by +this means there was an end made of this Sacrilegious Merchandize, and +thus the _Casic_ satisfied the greedy desires of the (I dare not say +Christian) _Spaniards_. One of these Sacrilegious Robbers was _John +Garcia_ by name, who being very sick and at the point of dath, had +several Idols hid under his Bed, and calling his _Indians_ that waited +on him, as a Nurse, commanded her not to part with those Idols at a +small rate for they were of the better sort, and that she should not +dispose of them without one _Indian_, for each Idol by way of Barter. +Thus by this his private and Nuncupative last Will and Testament +distracted with these carking cares, he gave up the Ghost: And who is +it that will not fear his being tormented in the darkest and lowest +Hell? Let us now consider what progress in Religion the _Spaniards_ +made, and what examples of Christianism they gave, at their first +arrival in _America_, how devoutly they honoured God, and what expence +of sweat and toil they were at to promote his Worship and Adoration +among the Infidels. Let it be also taken into serious consideration, +whose sin is the greater, either _Joroboam's_, who made all _Israel_ to +sin, and caused two Golden Calves to be erected, or the _Spaniards_ who +traffick and Trade in Idols like _Judas_, who was the occasion of such +great scandals. These are the good Deeds of the Spanish _Dons_, who +often, nay very often to feed their Avarice, and accumulate Gold have +sold and still do sell, denied and still do deny Jesus Christ our +Redeemer. + +The _Indians_ now findint the Promises of the Religious, that the +_Spaniards_ should not enter into this Countrey, null and void; nay +that the Spaniards brought Idols from other places to be put off there; +when as they had delivered up their own to the Priests to be burnt, +that there might be only Worship of the true God established among +them; they were highly incensed against these Friars, and addressed +themselves to them in these Words following: Why have you deceived us, +binding your promises with false protestations, that the Spaniards +shoudl not be admitted to come hither? And why have you burnt our +Gods, when others are brought from other Regions by the Spaniards? Are +the Gods of other Provinces more sacred than ours? The Friers as well +as they could (though they had little to return in answer) endevour'd +by soft Language to appease them; and went to these Thirty Spaniards, +declaring the evil actions they were guilty of, humbly supplicating +them to withdraw themselves from that place. Which they would by no +means condescend to, and what is most flagitious and wicked perswaded +the _Indians_, that they were introduc'd by those Priests; Which being +made known to them, These _Indians_ resolved to be the death of these +Monks, but having notice thereof by some courteous _Indians_, they +stole away from thence by night, and fled; but after their departure +the truth of the matter and the Spanish Malice being understood; they +sent several Messengers who followed them fifty Miles distant +beseeching them in the name of the _Indians_, to return and begging +pardon for that ignorant mistake. + +The Priests relying on their words, returned, and were caress'd like +Angels sent from Heaven; and continued with them, (from whom they +received a Thousand kindnesses) four or five months. But when the +Spaniards persisted in their resolution not to quit the place, although +they Vice-Roy did use all endeavours and fair means to recall them, +they were Proclaim'd Traitors, guilty of High Treason; and because they +continued still exercising Tyranny and perpetrated nefandous Crimes, +the Priests were sensible they would study revenge, though it might be +some considerable time before they put it in execution, fearing that it +might fail upon their own heads, and since they could not exercise the +function of their Ministry securely and undisturbed by reason of the +continual Incursions and Assaults made by the Spaniards, they consulted +about their departure, and did leave this Kingdom accordingly which +remain'd destitute of all Christian Doctrin and these poor Souls are at +this day involv'd in the obscurity of their former Misery and +Ignorance, they being deprived by these accursed Spaniards, of all +hopes of remedy, and the irrigatioon of Divine knowledge, just like +young withering Plants for want of Water: for in that very juncture of +time, when these Religioso's took leave, they embraced the Doctrine of +our Faith with the greatest Fervency and Eagerness imaginable. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Province of St. _MARTHA. + +The Province of St. _Martha_ was rich in the Neighbouring Golden Mines, +and a fruitful Soil, nay the People were very expert and industrious in +those Mine-works: Upon this Account, or Temptation it was, that from +the Year 1540, to 1542, abundance of Tyrants sailed thither, laying +waste the whole Country by their Depredations, slaughtering the +Inhabitants at a prodigious and bloody rate; and robbing them of all +their Gold, who dayly fled to their Ships for Refuge, moving sometime +to one place, and sometime to another. And thus those Provinces were +laid waste, the greatest Outrages being committed on the Sea-shore, +which lasted till the Year 1523, whither the _Spaniards_ then came to +seat themselves, and fis their intended Habitation. And becuase it is +a plentiful Region and Opulent withal; it was subjected to several +Rulers, who like Infernal Fiends contended who should obtain the Palm, +by out-staining the Sword of his Predecessor in Innocent Blood; +insomuch, that from the Year 1529 to this very day, they have wasted +and spoiled as much good ground as extended Five Hundred Miles, and +unpeopled the Countrey. + +If I design'd to enumerate all the Impieties, Butcheries, Desolations, +Iniquities, Violences, Destructions and other the Piacula and black +Enormities committed and perpetrated by the _Spaniards_ in this +Province, against God, the King, and these harmless Nations; I might +compile a Voluminous History, and that shall be compleated, if God +permit my Glass to run longer, in his good time. It may suffice for +the present to relate some passages written in a Letter to our King +and Lord by a Revernd Bishop of these Provinces, Dated the 20th of +_May, An. Dom._ 1541. wherein among other matters he thus words it. + + I must acquaint your Sacred Majesty, that the only way to succour and + support this tottering Region is to free it from the Power of a Father + in Law, and marry it to a Husband who will treat her as she ought to be, + and lovingly entertain her, and that must be done with all possible + Expedition too, if not, I am certain that she will suddenly decay and + come to nothing by the covetous and sordid Deportment of the Governours, + _&c._ And a little after he writes thus, By this Means your Majesty + will plainly know and understand how to depose the Prefects or Governours + of those Regions from their Office if they deserve it, that so they may + be alleviated and eas'd of such Burthens; which if not perform'd, in + my Opinion, the Body Politick will never recover its Health. And this I + will make appear to your Majesty that they are not Christians, but Devils; + not Servants of God and the King, but Traitors to the King and Laws, + who are Conversant in those Regions. And in reality nothing can be more + obstructive to those that live peacably, then Inhumane and Barbarous + Usage, which they, who lead a quiet and peacable Life, too frequently + undergo, and this is so fastidious and nauseous to them, that there can + be nothing in the World so odious and detestable among them, as the + Name of a Christian: for they term the Christians in their Language + _Yares_, that is, Devils; and in truth are not without reason; for + the Actions of those that reside in these Regions, are not such as + speak them to be Christians or Men, gifted with Reason, but absolute + Devils; hence it is, that the _Indians_, perceiving these Actions + committed by the Heads as well as Members, who are void of all Compassion + and Humanity, do judge the Christian Laws to be of the same strain and + temper, and that their God and King are the Authors of such Enormities: + Now to endeavour to work upon them a contrary perswasion is to no purpose; + for this would afford them a greater Latitude and Liberty to deride + Jesus Christ and his Laws. Now the _Indians_ who protect and defend + themselves by force of Arms, think it more eligible, and far better to + dye once, than suffer several and many Deaths under the _Spanish_ Power. + This I know experimentally, Most Invicible _Casar_, &c. And he adds + farther, Your Majesty is more Powerful in Subjects and Servants, who + frequent these Kingdoms, then you can imagin. Nor is there one Soldier + among them all, who does not publickly and openly profess, if he robs, + steals, spoils, kills, burns His Majesties Subjects, 'tis to purchase + Gold: He will not say that he therein does your Majesty great Service, + for they affirm they do it to obtain their own Share and Dividend. + Wherefore, Most Invincible _Casar_, it would be a very prudential Act + for your Majesty to testifie by a rigid Correction and severe Punishment + of some Malefactors, that it is disservice to you for your Subjects to + commit such Evil Acts, as tend to the Disobedience and Dishonour of the + Almighty. + +What you have read hitherto is the Relation of the said Bishop of St. +_Martha_, Epitomized and Extracted from his Letters, whereby it is +manifest, how Savagely they handle these mild and affable People. They +term them Warlike _Indians_, who betake themselves to the Mountains to +secure themselves from _Spanish_ Cruelty; and call them Country +_Indians_, or Inhabitants, who by a dreadful Massacre are delivered up +to Tyrannical and Horrible Servitude, whereby at length they are become +depopulated, made desolate, and utterly destroy'd; as appears by the +Epistle of the praementioned Bishop, who only gives us a slight Account +or Essay of their persecution and Sufferings. The _Indians_ of this +Country use to break out into such Words as these, when they are +driven, loaded like Brutes through the uncouth wayes in their Journeys +over the Mountains, if they happen to faint through Weakness, and +miscarry through extremity of Labour, (for then they are kicked and +cudge'd, their Teeth dasht out with the Pummels of their Swords to +raise them up again, when tired and fallen under weighty Burthens, and +force them to go on without Respiration, or Time to take Breath, and +all this with the following increpation, or upbraiding and taunting +words, _O what a wicket Villain art thou?_) I say they burst out into +these Expressions, I am absolutely tir'd, kill me, I desire to dye, +being weary of my Life as well as my Burthen and Journey: And this not +without deep Heart-breaking Sighs, they being scarce able to draw or +breathe out their words, which are the Characteristical Notes, and +infallible of the Mind drowned in Anguish and Sorrow. My it please our +Merciful God to order the discovery of these Crimes to be manifested to +those Persons, who are able and oblig'd to redress them. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Province of_ CARTHAGENA. + +This Province is distant Fifty Miles from the Isle of St. _Martha_ +Westward, and situated on the Confines of the Country of _Cenusia_, +from whence it extends One Hundred Miles to the Bay of _Uraba_, and +contains a very long Tract of Land _Southward_. These Provinces from +the Year 1498 to this present time were most barbarously us'd, and made +desert by Murder and Slaughter, but that I may the sooner conclude this +brief summary. I will not handle the particulars, to the end I may the +better give an Account of the detestable Villanies that ruin'd other +Regions. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the _Pearl-Coast, PARIA, _and_ TRINITY-ISLE. + +The _Spaniards_ made great Spoils and Havock from the _Parian_ Coast to +the Bay of _Venecuola_, exclusively, which is about Two Hundred Miles. +It can hardly be exprest by Tongue or Pen how many, and how great +Injuries and Injustices, the Inhabitants of this Sea-shore have endur'd +from the year 1510, to this day. I will only relate Two or Three +Piacular and Criminal Acts of the First Magnitude, capable of +comprehending all other Enormities that deserve the sharpest Torments, +Wit and Malice can invent, and so make way for a deserved Judgment upon +them. + +A Nameless Pirate of the Year 1510, accompanied with a parcel of Sixty +or Seventy, arriv'd at _Trinity-Island_, which exceeds _Sicile_, both +in Amplitude and Fertility, and is contiguous to the Continent on that +side where it toucheth upon _Paria_, whose Inhabitants, according to +their Quality, are more addicted to Probity and Vertue, than the rest +of the _Indians_; who immediately published an Edict, that all the +Inhabitants should come and cohabit with them. The _Indian_ Lords and +Subjects gave them a Debonair and Brotherly Reception, serving them +with wonderful Alacrity, furnishing them with dayly Provisions in so +plentiful a manner, that they might have sufficed a more numerous +Company; for it is the Mode among _Indians_ of this New World, to +supply the _Spaniards_ very bountifuly with all manner of Necessaries. +A short time after the _Spaniards_ built a stately House, which was an +Appartment for the _Indians_, that they might accomplish their +praemeditated Designs, which was thus effected. When they were to +thatch it, and had rais'd it two Mens height, they inclos'd several of +them there, to expedite the Work, as they pretended, but in truth that +they who were within, might not see those without; thus part of them +surrounded the House with Sword in Hand that no one should stir out, +and part of them entred it, and bound the _Indians_, menacing them with +Death, if they offered to move a Foot; and if any one endeavoured to +escape, he was presently hackt in pieces; but some of them partly +wounded, and partly unwounded getting away, with others who went not +into the House, about One Hundred and Two Hundred, betook themselves to +another House with Bows and Arrows; and when they were all there, the +_Spaniards_ secur'd the Doors, throwing in Fire at another place, and +so they all perished. From hence they set Sail to the Island of St. +_John_ with near upon One Hundred and Eighty Slaves, whom they had +bound, where they sold one half of them, and thence to _Hispaniola_, +where they dispos'd of the rest. Now when I taxed this Captain with +Wickedness and Treachery in the very Isle of St. _John_, he dismist me +with this Answer; _Forbear good Sir._ I had this in commission from +those who sent me hither, that I should surprize them by the spetious +pretense of Peace, whom I could not sieze by open Force, and in truth +this same Captain told me with his own Mouth, that in _Trinity-Isle_ +alone, he had met with a Father and Mother in Civil usage, which he +uttered to his greater Confusion and the aggravation of his Sins. The +Monks of our Order of St. _Dominic_ on a certain time held a Consult +about sending one of their Fraternity into this Island, that by their +Preaching they might instruct them in the Christian Faith, and teach +them the way to be sav'd, of which they were wholly Ignorant. And to +this end they sent thither a Religious and Licentiate in Theologie, (or +Doctor in Divinity, as we term it among us) a Man Famous for his Vertue +and Holiness with a _Laic_ his Associate, to visit the Country, +converse with the Inhabitants, and find out the most convenient places +for the Erection of Monasteries. As soon as they were arriv'd +according to custom, they were entertain'd like Coelestial Messengers, +with great Affection, Joy and Respect, as well as they could, for they +were ignorant of their Tongue, and so made use of signs, for the +present. It hapned that after the departure of that Vessel that +brought these Religious Men, another came into the Port, whose Crew +according to their Hellish Custom, fraudulently, and unknown to the +Religious brought away a Prince of that Province as Captive, who was +call'd _Alphonsus_, (for they are ambitious of a Christian Name,) and +forthwith desire without farther Information, that he would Baptize +him: But the said Lord _Alphonsus_ was deceitfully overperswaded to go +on board of them with his Wife and about Seventeen more, pretending +that they would give hime a Collation; which the Prince and they did, +for he was confident, that the Religious would by no means suffer himo +be abus'd, for he had no so much Confidence in the _Spaniards_; but as +soon as they were upon Deck, the perfidious Rogues, set Sail for +_Hispaniola_, where they were sold as Slaves. The whole Country being +extreamly discompos'd, and understanding that their Prince and Princess +were violently carried away, addressed themselves to these Religioso's, +who were in great danger of losing their Lives: But they being made to +understand this unjust Action, were extraordinarily afflicted, and 'tis +probable would have suffered Death, rather than permit the _Indians_ to +be so injuriously dealt with, which might prove an Obstruction to their +receiving of, and believing in God's Word. Yet the _Indians_ were +sedated by the promises of the Religious; for they told them, they +would send Letters by the first Ship that was bound for _Hispaniola_, +whereby they would procure the Restitution and Return of their Lord and +his Retinue. It pleased God to send a Ship thither forthwith, to the +greater confirming of the Governours Damnation, where in the Letters +they sent to the Religious of _Hispaniola_, Letters containing repeated +Exclamations and Protestations, and protest against such Actions, but +those that received them denyed them Justice, for that they were +partakers of that Prey, made of those _Indians_ so injustly and +impiously captivated. But when the Religious, who had engag'd to the +Inhabitants, that their Lord _Alphonsus_ should be restor'd within Four +Moneths, and found that neither in Four, nor Eight Moneths he was +return'd, they prepar'd themselves for Death, and to deliver up their +Life to Christ, to whom they had offer'd it before their departure from +_Spain_: Thus the Innocent _Indians_ were revenged on the Innocent +Priests; for they were of Opinion, that the Religious had a hand in the +Plot, partly, because they found their Promises that their Lord should +return within Four Moneths, ineffectual, and partly because the +Inhabitants made no difference between a Religious Frier and a +_Spanish_ Rogue. At another time it fell out likewise, through the +Rampant Tyrrany and Cruel Deeds of evil-minded Christians, that the +_Indians_ put to Death two _Dominican_ Friers, of which I am a faithful +Witness, escaping my self, not without a very great Miracle, which +Transaction I resolve silently to pass over, lest I should terrifie the +Reader with the Horror of the Fact. + +In these Provinces, there was a City seated on the Bay of _Codera_, +whose Lord was call'd _Higueroto_, a Name, either proper to Persons or +common to the Rulers of that Place. A _Cacic_ of such signal Clemency, +and his Subjects of such noted Vertue, that the _Spaniards_ who came +thither, were extraordinarily welcom, furnished with Provisions, +enjoying Peace and Comfort, and no Refreshment wanting: But a +perfidious Wretch got many of them on board, and sold them to the +Islanders of St. _John_. At the same time I landed upon that Island, +where I obtained a sight of this Tyrant, and heard the Relation of his +Actions. He utterly destroy'd that Land, which the rest of the +_Spaniards_ took very unkindly at his Hands, who frequently playd the +Pirate, and rob'd on that shore, detesting it as a wicked thing, +because they had lost that place, where they use to be treated with as +great Hospitality and Freedom, as if they had been under their own +Roof: Nay they transported from this place, among them, to the Isles of +_Hispaniola_ and St. _John_ Two Millions of Men and upward, and made +the Coast a Desert. + +It is most certainly true, that they never ship off a Vessel freighted +with _Indians_, but they pay a third part as Tribute to the Sea, +besides those who are slaughter'd, when found in their own Houses. Now +the Soarce and Original of all this is the ends they have propos'd to +themselves. For there is a necessity of taking with them a great +number of _Indians_, that they may gain a great sum of Mony by their +Sale, now the Ships are very slenderly furnished with Provisions and +Water in small Quantity, to satisfie few, left the Tyrants, who are +term'd Owners or Proprietors of Ships should be at too great expence in +Victualling their Vessels, nay they scarce carry Food enough with them +to maintain the _Spaniards_ that manage the Vessel, which is the reason +so many _Indians_ dye with Hunger and Thirst, and of necessity they +must be thrown over-board: Nay one of them told me this for a Truth, +that there being such a Multitude of Men thus destroy'd, a Ship may +sail from the Isle of _Lucaya_ to _Hispaniola_, which is a Voyage of +Twenty Leagues and upward, without Chart or Compass, by the sole +Direction or Observation of dead fluctuating Carkasses. + +But afterward, when arriv'd, and driven up into the Isle whither they +are brought to be sold, there is no Person that is in some small +measure compassionate, but would be extreamly mov'd and discompos'd at +the sight; _viz._ to spie old Men and Women, together with Naked +Children half starv'd. Then they separate Parents from Children, Wives +from their Husbands, about Ten or Twenty in a Company, and cast lots +for them, that the Detestable Owners of the Ships may have their share; +who prepare Two or Three Ships, and equip them as a Fleet of Pirates, +going ashore ravaging and forcing Men out of their Houses, and then +robbing them: But when the lot of any one of them falls upon a parcel, +that hath an aged or diseased Man; the Tyrant, whose Allotment he is, +usually bursts out, as followeth. Let this old Fellow be Damm'd, why do +you bestow him upon me; must I, think you; be at the charge of his +Burial? And this sickly Wretch, how comes he to be one of my alloted +portion must I take care for his cure? Not I. Hence you may guess +what estimate and value the _Spaniards_ put upon _Indians_, and whether +they practise and fulful that Divine and Heavenly precept injoyning +mutual Love and Society. + +There can be nothing more cruel and detestable then the Tyrannical +usage of the _Spaniards_ towards the _Indians_ in their Pearl-Fishing; +for the Torments undergone in the unnatural Exenteration and tearing +out with Paracidal hands the richer bowels of our common Mother, or the +inward cruciating racks of the most profligate, Heaven daring +_Desperado_ can admit of no comparison with these, although the +extracting or digging for Gold is one of the sharpest subterranean +Drudgeries, they plunge them down four or five ells deep under Water, +where swimming about without breathing, they eradicate and pull up +Oisters, wherein the Pearls are engendred. Sometimes they rise up to +the superfities of the Water with Nets full of Oisters for respiration +and Air, but if these miserable Creatures stay but a little more then +is Ordinary to rest themselves the Hangman is immediately upon them in +a _Canow_ or small Boat, who beating them with many stripes drag them +by the hair of the head under Water, that they may drudge again at +their expilcation or Pearl Fishing. Their Food is Fish, and the same +which contains the Pearls and _Cassabus_ made of Roots with a few +_Mahids_, the Bread of that Countrey; in the former there is little or +no nutriment or substance, and the other is not made without great +trouble, nor for all this have they a sufficient allowance thereof to +support nature. Their Lodging or Bed is the Earth confined to a pair +of Stocks, for fear that they should run away: And it frequently +happens that they are drown'd with the toil of this kind of Fishing and +never more seen, for the _Tuberoms_ and _Maroxi_ (certain Marine +Monsters that devour a complete proportioned Man wholly at once) prey +upon them under Water. You must consider withall, that it is +impossible for the strongest constitution to continue long under Water +without breathing, and they ordinarily dye through the extream rigor of +the Cold, spitting Blood which is occasioned by the too great +compression of the Breast, procreated by a continued holding breath +under Water, for by too much cold a profluvium of blood follows. Their +hair naturally black is changed into a combust, burnt or Sun-colour +like that of the Sea Wolves, their shoulders and backs covered, or +overspread with a saltish humor that they appear rather like Monsters +in humane shape then Men. + +They have destroy'd all the _Lucayans_ by this intolerable or rather +Diabolical exercise, for the accustomary emolument or gain of lucre, +and by this means gain'd the value of fifty, sometime one hundred +Crowns of every individual _Indian_. They sell them (though it is +prohibited) publickly; for the _Lucayans_ were excellent Swimmers, and +several perished in this Isle that came from other Provinces. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the River_ Yuya Pari. + +This River washeth the Province arising from its head or fountain in +another Region, Two Hundred miles off and better, By this a wretched +Tyrant entred it and laid waste the Land for the space of many miles, +and murder'd abundance of them by Fire and Sword, _&c._ At length he +died violently, and all his Forces moldred away of themselves, many +succeeded him in his iniquity and cruelty and so dayly destroy them, +sending to Hell the Souls redeemed by the blood of the Son of God. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Kingdom of _Venecuela. + +Our Sovereign Lord the King in the Year 1526, over-perswaded by +fallacious appearances (for the _Spaniards_ use to conceal from His +Majesties knowledge the dammages and detriments, which God himself, the +Souls and state of the _Indians_ did suffer) intrusted the Kingdom of +_Venecuela_ longer and larger then the Spanish Dominions, with its +Government and absolute Jurisdiction to some _German_ Merchants, with +power to make certain Capitulations and Conventions, who came into this +Kingdom with Three Hundred Men, and there found a benign mild and +peaceable people, as they were throughout the _Indies_ till injured by +the _Spaniards_. These more cruel then the rest beyond comparison, +behav'd themselves more inhumanely then rapacious Tygres Wolves and +Lyons, for they had the jurisdiction of this Kingdom, and therefore +possessing it with the greater freedom from controul; lay in wait and +were the more vigilant with greater care and avarice to understand the +practical part of heaping up Wealth, and robbing the Inhabitants of +their Gold and Sliver, surpassing all their Predecessors in those +indirect ways, rejecting wholly both the fear of their God and King, +nay forgetting that they were born men with reasonable Faculties. + +These incarnate Devils laid waste and desolate Four Hundred miles of +most Fertile Land, containing vast and wonderful Provinces, most +spatious and large Valleys surrounded with Hills, forty Miles in +Length, and many Towns richly abounding in Gold and Silver. They +destroy'd so many and such considerable Regions, that there is not one +supernumerary witness left to relate the Story, unless perchance some +that lurkt in the Caverns and Womb of the Earth to evade death by their +inhumane Swords embrew'd in Innocent _Indian_ blood, escaped. I judge +that they by new invented and unusual Torments ruinated four or five +Millions of Souls and sent them all to Hell. I will give a taste of +two or three of their Transactions, that hereby you may guess at the +rest. + +They made the supream Lord of the Province a Slave, to squeeze his Gold +from him, racking him to extort his confession who escaping fled into +the Mountains, their common Sanctuary, and his Subjects lying absconded +in the Thickets of the Woods, were stir'd up to Sedition and Tumult or +Mutiny. The _Spaniards_ follow and destroy many of them, but those +that were taken alive and in their power were all publickly sold for +Slaves by the Common Crier. + +They were in all Provinces they came into entertained and welcomed by +the _Indians_ with Songs, Dances and Rich Presents but Rewarded very +ungratefully with bloodshed and Slaughter. The German Captain and +Tyrant caused several of them to be clapt into a Thatcht House, and +there cut in pieces; but some of them to avoid falling by their bloody +and merciless Swords, climb'd up to the beams and Rafters of the House, +and the Governour, hearing it (O cruel Brute?) commanded Fire to be put +to it and burnt them all alive, leaving the Region desert and desolate. + +They also came to another stately Province, bordering on St. _Martha_; +whose inhabitants did them many egregious and notable services, +bestowing on them innumerable quantities of Gold besides many other +gifts, but when they were upon departure, in retribution of their Civil +Treating and Deportment the German Tyrant, commanded that all the +Indians, with their Wives and Children if possible, should be taken +into Custody; inclosed in some large capacious place, and that there it +should be signified unto them, whosoever desired to be set at Liberty +should redeem himself at the Will and Pleasure (as to price;) of the +unjust Governour, or at a certain rate imposed upon himself, his wife +and every Childs head; and to expedite the business prohibited the +administration or allowance of any food to them, till the Gold required +for Redemption was paid down to the utmost grain. Several of them sent +home to discharge the demanded price of their Redemption, and procur'd +their Freedom, as well as they could by one means or other, that so +they might return to their Livelihood and profession, but not long +after he sent other Rogues and Robbers among them to enslave those that +were Redeemed. + +To the same Gaol they are brought a second time, being instigated or +rather constrained to a speedy Redemption by hunger and thirst; Thus +many of them were twice or thrice taken, captiv'd and Redeedmed; but +some who were not capable of Depositing such a sum, perished there. +Farthermore this Tyrant was big with an itching desire after the +discovery of the _Perusian_ Mines, which he did accomplish. Nay should +I enumerate the particular Cruelties, Slaughters, _&c._ committed by +him though my discourse would not in the least be contrariant to the +Truth, yet it would not be beleived and only stupifie and amaze the +Reader. + +This course the other Tyrants took who set sail from _Venecuela_ and +St. _Martha_ (with the same Resolution of detecting the _Perusian_ +Golden, Consecrated Houses as them they esteemed) who found the +fruitful Region so desolate, deserted, and wasted by Fire and Sword, +that those Cruel Tyrants themselves were smitten with wonder and +astonishment at the traces and ruins of such prodigious Devastations. + +All these things and many more were prov'd by Witness in the _Indian_ +Exchequer, and the Records of their Testimony were entred in that +Court, though these execrable Tyrants burnt many of them that there +might be little or nothing prov'd as a cause of those great +Devastations and Evils perpetrated by them. For the Minister of +Justice who have hitherto lived in _India_, through their obscure and +damnable blindness, were not much sollicitous about the punishment of +the Crimes and Butcheries which have been and are still committed by +these Tyrants, only they may say possibly because such a one, and such +a one hath wickedly and barbarously dealt with the _Indians_, that is +the reason so great a summ of Crowns in Money is diminished already or +retrenched from His Majesties Annual Revenue, and this general and +confused proof is sufficient (as they worthily conceive) to purge or +repress such great and hainous Crimes. And though they are but few, +are not verified as they ought to be, nor do they attribute and lay +upon them that stress and weight as they ought to do, for if they did +perform their Duty to God and the King; it could not be made apparent +as it may be, that these _German_ Tyrants have cheated and rob'd the +King of Three Millions of Gold and upward; and thus these Enemies to +God and the King began to depopulate these Regions and destroy them, +cheating his Majesty of Two Millions of Gold _per Annum_, nor can it be +expected, that the Detriment done to his Majesty can possibly be +retriev'd, as long as the Sun and moon endures, unless God by a Miracle +should raise as many Thousands from Death to Life, as have bin +destroy'd. And these are the Temporal Dammages the King suffers. It +would be also a Work worthy the inquiry into, to consider how many +cursed Sacriledges and Indignities God himself hath been affronted with +to the dishonour of his Name. And what Recompence can be made for the +loss of so many Souls as are now tormented in Hell by the Cruelty and +Covetousness of these Brutish _German_ Tyrants. But I will conclude +all their Impiety and Barbarisme with one Example, _viz._ That from +the time they entred upon this Country to this very day, that is, +Seventeen Years, they have remitted many Ships fraighted with _Indians_ +to be sold as Slaves to the Isles of St. _Martha, Hispaniola, Jamaica,_ +and St. _John_, selling a Million of Persons at the least, I speak +modestly, and still do expose to Sale to this very Year of our Lord +1542, the King's Council in this Island seeing and knowing it, yet what +they find to be manifest and apparent they connive at, permit and +countenance, and wink at the horrid Impieties and Devastations +innumerable which are committed on the Coasts of this Continent, +extending Four Hundred Miles in Length, and continues still together +with _Venecuela_ and St. _Martha_ under their Jurisdiction, which they +might easily have remedied and timely prevented. + + +_Of the Provinces of_ FLORIDA + +Three Tyrants at several times made their entrance into these Provinces +since the Year 1510, or 1511, to act those Crimes which others, and two +of these Three made it their sole business to do in other Regions, to +the end, that they might advance themselves to higher Dignities and +Promotions than they could deserve, by the Effusion of Blood and +Destruction of these People; but at length they all were cut off by a +violent Death, and the Houses which they formerly built and erected +with the cement of Human Blood, (which I can sufficiently testifie of +these three) perished with them, and their memory roten, and as +absolutely washed away from off the Face of the Earth, as if they had +never had a being. These Men deserted these Regions, leaving them in +great distraction and confusion, nor were they branded with less notes +of infamy, by the certain Slaughters they perpetrated, though they were +but few in number than the rest. For the Just God cut them off before +they did much Mischief, and reserv'd the Castigation and Revenge of +those Evils which I know, and was an Eye-Witness of, to this very Time +and Place. As to the Fourth Tyrant, who lately, that is, in the Year +1538, came hither well-furnished with Men and Ammunition, we have +received no account these Three Years last past; but wer are very +confident, that he, at his first Arrival, acted like a bloody Tyrant, +even to extasie and madness, if he be still alive with his Follower, +and did injure, destroy, and consume a vast Number of Men (for he was +branded with infamous Cruelty above all those who with their Assistants +committed Crimes and Enormities of the first Magnitude in these +Kingdoms and Provinces) I conceive, God hath punished him with the same +Violent Death, as he did other Tyrants: But because my Pen is wearied +with relating such Execrable and Sanguinary Deeds (not of Men but +Beasts) I will trouble my self no longer with the dismal and fatal +Consequences thereof. + +These People were found by them to be Wise, Grave, and well dispos'd, +though their usual Butcheries and Cruelties in opressing them like +Brutes, with heavy Burthens, did rack their minds with great Terror and +Anguish. At their Entry into a certain Village, they were welcomed +with great Joy and Exultation, replenished them with Victuals, till +they were all satisfied, yielding up to them above Six Hundred Men to +carry their Bag and Baggage, and like Grooms to look after their +Horses: The _Spaniards_ departing thence, a Captain related to the +Superiour Tyrant returned thither to rob this (no ways diffident or +mistrustful) People, and pierced their King through with a Lance, of +which Wound he dyed upon the Spot, and committed several other +Cruelties into the bargain. In another Neighboring Town, whose +Inhabitants they thought, were more vigilant and watchful, having had +the News of their horrid Acts and Deeds, they barbarously murdered them +all with their Lances and Swords, destroying all, Young and Old, Great +and Small, Lords and Subject without exception. + +The Chief Tyrant caused many _Indians_ (above Two Hundred as 'tis +noised abroad) whom he summon'd to appear before him out of another +town, or else, who came voluntarily to pay their Respects to him, to +have their Noses and Lips to the very Beard, cut off; and thus in this +grievous and wretched Condition, the Blood gushing out of their Wounds, +return'd them back, to give an Infallible Testimony of the Works and +Miracles wrought by these Preachers and Ministers baptized in the +Catholick Faith. + +Now let all Men judge what Affection and love they bear to +Christianity; to what purpose, or upon what account they believe there +is a God, whom they preach and boast of to be Good and Just, and that +his Law which they profess (and indeed only profess) to be pure and +immaculate. The Mischiefs acted by these profligate Wretches and Sons +of Perdition were of the deepest die. At last this Captain devoted to +Perdition dyed impenitent, nor do we in the least question, but that he +is overwhelmed and buried in Darkness Infernal, unless God according to +his Infinite Mercy and boundless Clemency, not his own Merits, (he +being contaminated and poison'd with Execrable Deeds,) be pleas'd to +compassionate and have Mercy upon him. + + +_Of the_ Plate-River, _that is, the _Silver-River. + +Some Captains since the Year 1502 to 1503 undertook Four or Five +Voyages to the River of Plate, which embraceth within its own Arms +great Kingdoms and Provinces, and is peopled by rational and +well-temper'd Inhabitants. In the general we are certified, that they were +very injurious and bloody to them; but they being far distant from +those _Indians_, we frequently discourse of, wer are not able to give +you a particular account of their Transactions. Yet beyond all +Controversie, they did, and still do go the same way to work, as others +in several Regions to this present time do, and have done; for they are +the same, (and many in number too) _Spaniards_ who went thither, that +were the wicked Instruments of other Executions, and all of them aim at +one and the same thing, namely to grow Rich and Wealthy, which they can +never be, unless they steer the same Course which others have followed, +and tread the same paths in Murdering, Robbing and Destroying poor +_Indians_. + +After I had committed to Writing what I have prementioned, it was told +me for a great Truth, that they had laid waste in those Countreys great +Kingdoms and Provinces, dealing Cruelly and Bloodily with these +harmless People, at a horrid rate, having a greater Opportunity and +Convenience to be more Infamous and Rigid to them, then others, they +being very remote from _Spain_, living inordinatly, like Debauches, +laying aside, and bidding farewel to all manner of Justice, which is +indeed a Stranger in all the _American_ Regions, as is manifest by what +hath been said already. But among the other Numerous Wicked Acts +following this is one that may be read in the _Indians_ Courts. One of +the Governours commanded his Soldiers to go to a certain Village, and +if they denyed them Provisions, to put all the Inhabitants to the +Sword: By Vertue of this Authority away they march, and because they +would not yield to them above Five Thousand Men as Enemies, fearing +rather to be seen, then guilty of Illiberality, were cut off by the +Sword. Also a certain number of Men living in Peace and Tranquillity +proffered their services to him; who, as it fell out, were call'd +before the Governour, but deferring their appearance a little longer +than ordinary, that he might infix their minds with a remark of +horrible Tyranny, he commanded, they should be deliver'd up, as +Prisoners to their Mortal _Indian_ Enemies, who beg'd with loud +Clamours and a Deluge of Tears, that they might be dispatcht out of +this World by their own Hands, rather than be given up as a prety to +the Enemy; yet being resolute, they would not depart out of the House +wherein they were, so the _Spaniards_ hackt them in pieces Limb by +Limb, who exclaim'd and cryed aloud, "We came to visit and serve you +peaceably and quietly, and you Murder us; our Blood with which these +Walls are moistned and sprinkled will remain as an Everlasting +Testimony of our Unjust Slaughter, and your Barbarous Cruelty. And +really this _Piaculum_ or horrid Crime deserves a Commemoration, or +rather speak more properly, the Commiseration of all Persons." + + +_Of the vast Kingdoms and Spatious Provinces of _PERUSIA. + +A notorious Tyrant in the Year 1531, entred the Kingdoms of _Perusia_ +with his Complices, upon the same Account, and with the same pretences, +and beginning at the same Rate as others did; he indeed being one of +those who were exercised, and highly concern'd in the Slaughters and +Cruelties committed on the Continent ever since the Year 1510, he +increased and heightned the Cruelties, Butcheries, and Rapine; +destroying and laying waste (being a False-hearted Faithless Person) +the Towns and Villages, and Murdering the Inhabitants, which occasion'd +all those Evils, that succeeded in those Regions afterward: Now to +undertake the Writing of a Narrative of them, and represent them lively +and Naturally to the Readers view, and perusal, is a work altogether +impossible, but must lie concealed and unknown until they shall more +openly and clearly appear, and be made visible to every Eye, at the day +of Judgement. As for my part, if I should presume to unravel, in some, +measure the Deformity, Quality and Circumstances of those Enormities, I +must ingenuously confess I could by no means perform so burthensom a +Task, and render it compleat and as it ought to be. + +At his first admission into these parts, he had laid waste some Towers, +and rob'd them of a great quantity of Gold, this he did in the Infancy +of his Tyrannical Attempts, when he arriv'd at _Pugna_ a Neighbouring +Isle so called, he had the Reception of an Angel; but about Six Months +after, when the _Spaniards_ had spent all their Provisions, they +discover'd and opened the _Indians_ Stores and Granaries, which were +laid up for the sustenance of themselves, Wives and Children against a +time of Dearth and Scarcity, brought them forth with Tears and +Weepings, to dispose of at pleasure: But they rewarded them with +Slaughter, Slavery and Depopulation as formerly. + +Thence they betook themselves to the Isle _Tumbala_, scituate on the +firm Land, where they put to Death all they met with. And because the +People terrified with their abominable Sins of Commission, fled from +their Cruelty, they were accused of Rebellion against the _Spanish_ +King. This Tyrant made use of this Artifice, he commanded all that he +took, or that had bestowed Gold, Silver and other rich Gifts on him, +still to load him with other Presents, till he found they had exhausted +their Treasures, and were grown naked and incapable of affording him +farther supplies, and then he declared them to be the Vassals and +Subjects of the King of _Spain_, flattering them, and proclaiming twice +by sound of Trumpet, that for the future he would not captivate or +molest them any more, looking upon it as lawful to rob, and terrifie +them with such Messages as he had done, before he admited them under +the King's protection, as if from that very time, he had never rob'd, +destroy'd or opprest them with Tyrannical Usage. + +Not long after _Ataliba_ the King and Supreme Emperor of all these +Kingdoms, leading a great Number of Naked Men, he himself being at the +Head of them, armed with ridiculous Weapons, and wholly ignorant of the +goodness of the _Spaniards_ Bilbo-Blades, the Mortal Dartings of their +Lances, and the Strength of their Horse, whose Use and Service was to +him altogether unknown, and never so much as heard of before, and that +the _Spaniards_ were sufficiently weapon'd to rob the Devils themselves +of Gold, if they had any, came to the place where they then were; +saying, Where are these _Spaniards_? Let them appear, I will not stir a +foot from hence till they give me satisfaction for my Subjects whom +they have slain, my Towns they have reduc'd to Ashes, and my Riches +they have stoln from me. The _Spaniards_ meet him, make a great +Slaughter of his Men, and seize on the Person of the King Himself, who +was carried in a Chair or Sedan on Mens Shoulders. There was a Treaty +had about his Redemption, the King engaged to lay down Four Millions of +Crowns, as the purchase of his Freedom, but Fifteen were paid down upon +the Nail: They promise to set him at Liberty, but contrary to all Faith +and Truth according to their common Custom (for they always violated +their promises with the _Indians_) they falsly imposed this upon him, +that his People were got together in a Body by his Command; but the +King was made answer, That throughout his Dominions, not so much as a +Leaf upon a Tree durst move without his Authority and Pleasure, and if +any were assembled together, they must of necessity believe that it was +done without his Order, he being a Captive, it being in their power to +deprive him of his LIfe, if any such thing should be ordered by him: +Notwithstanding which, they entred into a Consultation to have him +burnt alive, and a little while after the Sentence was agreed upon, but +the Captain at the intreaty of some Persons commanded him first to be +strangled, and afterward thrown into the fire. The King understanding +the sentence of Death past upon him, said; Why do you burn me? What +Fact have I committed deserving Death? Did you not promise to set me +free for a Sum of Gold. And did I not give you a far larger quantity +than I promised? But if it is your pleasure so to do, send me to your +King of _Spain_, and thus using many words to the same purpose, tending +to the Confusion and Detestation of the _Spanish_ Injustice, he was +burnt to Death. And here let us take into serious Consideration the +Right and Title they had to make this War, the Captivity, Sentence, and +Execution of this Prince, and the Conscience wherewith these Tyrants +have possessed themselves of vast Treasures, which they have +surreptitiously and fraudulently taken away from this King, and a great +many more of the Rulers of these Kingdoms. But as to the great number +of their Enormities committed by those who stile themselves Christians +in order to the extirpation of this People, I will hear repeat some of +them, which in the very beginning were seen by a _Franciscan_, +confirm'd by his own Letters, and signed with his Hand and Seal, +sending some of them to the _Perusian_ Provinces, and others to the +Kingdom of _Castile_: A Copy whereof I have in my Custody, Signed with +his Hand, as I said before; the Contents whereof follow. + + I Frier _Marcus de Xlicia_, of the _Franciscan_ Order, and Praefect + of the whole Fraternity residing in the Perusian Provinces, one of + the first among the Religious, who arriv'd with the _Spaniards_ + in these parts. I decalre with incontrovertible and undeniable + Testimony, those Transactions, which I saw with my own Eyes, and + particularly such as relate to the usage of the Inhabitants of this + Region. In the first place I was an Eye-Witness, and am certainly + assur'd, that these _Perusians_ are a People, who transcend all other + _Indians_ in Meekness, Clemency, and Love to _Spaniards_; and I have + seen the _Indians_ bestow very liberally on them Gold, Silver, and + Jewels, being very serviceable to them many other wayes. Nor did the + _Indians_ ever betake themselves to their Arms in an Hostile manner, + till by infinite Injuries and Cruelties they were compell'd thereunto: + For on the contrary, they gave the _Spaniards_ an amicable and + honourable Reception in all their Towns, and furnished them with + Provisions, and as many Male and Female Servants as they required. + + I can also farther testifie, that the _Spaniards_, without the least + provocation on their part, as soon as they entred upon these + Territories, did burn at the Stake their most Potent _Caciq Ataliba_, + Prince of the whole Country, after they had extorted from him above Two + Millions of Gold, and possessed themselves of his Province, without the + least Opposition: and _Cochilimaca_, his Captain General, who with + other Rulers, came peaceably into them, follow'd him by the same fiery + Tryal and Death. As also some few days after, the Ruler of the + Province of _Quitonia_, who was burnt, without any Cause given, or + Crime laid to his Charge. They likewise put _Schapera_, Prince of the + _Canaries_ to the same Death, and in like manner, burnt the Feet of + _Alvidis_, the greatest of all the _Quitonian_ Lords, and rackt him + with other Torments to Extract from him a discovery of _Ataliba's_ + Treasure, whereof as appear'd after, he was totally ignorant. Thus + they treated _Cocopaganga_, Governour of all the Provinces of + _Quitonia_, who being overcome with the Intreaties of _Sebastian + Bernalcarus_, the Governours Captain, went peaceably to pay them a + Visit; but because he could not give them as much Gold as they + demanded, they burnt him with many other _Casics_ and Chief Persons of + Quality. And as I understnad, did it with this evil Intention, that + they might not leave one surviving Lord or Peer in the whole Countrey. + + I also affirm that I saw with these Eyes of mine the _Spaniards_ for no + other reason, but only to gratifie their bloody mindedness, cut off the + Hands, Noses, and Ears, both of _Indians_ and _Indianesses_, and that + in so many places and parts, that it would be too prolix and tedious to + relate them. Nay, I have seen the _Spaniards_ let loose their Dogs + upon the _Indians_ to bait and tear them in pieces, and such a Number + of Villages burnt by them as cannot well be discover'd: Farther this is + a certain Truth, that they snatched Babes from the Mothers Embraces, + and taking hold of their Arms threw them away as far as they would from + them: (a pretty kind of barr-tossing Recreation.) They committed many + other Cruelties, which shook me with Terror at the very sight of them, + and would take up too much time in the Relation. + + I likewise aver, That the _Spaniards_ gathered together as many + _Indians_ as fill'd Three Houses, to which, for no cause, (or a very + inconsiderable one) they set fire, and burnt every one of them: But a + Presbyter, _Ocana_ by Name, chanced to snatch a little baby out of the + fire, which being observ'd by a _Spaniard_, he tore him out of his + Arms, and threw him into the midst of the Flames, where he was with the + rest, soon burnt to Ashes, which _Spaniard_ the same day he committed + that Fact, returning to his Quarters, dyed suddenly by the way, and I + advised them not to give him Christian Burial. + + Farthermore I saw them send to several _Casics_ and Principal + _Indians_, promising them a protecting Passeport to travel peaceably + and securely to them, who, no sooner came, but they were burnt; Two of + them before my Face, one at _Andonia_, and the other at _Tumbala_, nor + could I with all my perswasions and preaching to them prevail so far as + to save them from the Fire. And this I do maintain according to God + and my own Conscience, as far as I could possibly learn, that the + Inhabitants of _Perusia_ never promoted or raised any Commotion or + Rebellion, though as it is manifest to all Men, they were afflicted + with Evil Dealings and Cruel Torments: And they, not without Cause, the + _Spaniards_ breaking their Faith and Word, betraying the Truth and + Tyrannically contrary to all Law and Justice, destroying them and the + whole Country, inflicting on them great Injuries and Losses, were more + reay to prepare themselves for Death, than still to fall at once into + such great and irrecoverable Miseries. + + Nay I do declare, according to Information from the _Indians_ + themselves, that there are to this day far greater Quantities of Gold + kept hid and concealed than ever were yet detected or brought to light, + which by means of the _Spanish_ Injustice and Cruelty, they would not + then, nor ever will discover so long as they are so barbarously + treated, but will rather chose to dye with the Herd. Whereat the Lord + God is highly offended and the King hath very ill Offices done him, for + he is hereby defrauded of this Region, which was sufficiently able to + furnish all _Castile_ with Necessaries, the Recovery whereof can never + be expected without great difficulty and vast Expenses. + +Thus far I have acquainted you with the very words of this Religious +_Franciscan_, ratified by the Bishop of _Mexico_, who testifieth that +the said Frier _Marc_ did affirm and maintain what is above-mentioned. + +Here it is to be observ'd what this said Frier was an Eye-Witness of; +for he travelled up in this Countrey Fifty or a Hundred Miles, for the +space of Nine or Ten Years, when as yet, few _Spaniards_ had got +footing there, but afterward, at the noise of Gold to be had there in +great plenty, Four or Five Thousand came thither, who spread themselves +through those Kingdoms and Provinces the space of Five or Six Hundred +Miles, which they made wholly desloate, committing the same, or greater +Cruelies than are before recited; for in reality they destroyed from +that time to these very days, above an Hundred Thousand poor Souls more +than he gives an Account of, and with less fear of God and the King, +nay with less Mercy have they destroyed the greatest part of Mankind in +these Kingdoms, above Four Millions suffering by violent Death. + +A few days after they darted to Death with Arrows made of Reeds a +Puissant Queen, the Wife of a Potentate, who still sways the Imperial +Scepter of that Kingdom, whom the _Spaniards_ had a design to take, +which instigated him to raise a Rebellion, and he still continues a +Rebel. They seized the Queen his Consort, and contrary to all Law and +Equity murdered her, as is said before, who was then, as report, big +with Child, only for this Reason, that they might add fresh Affliction +and Grief to her Husband. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the New Kingdom of_ Granada + +Many Tyrants there were, who set Sail from _Venecuela_, St. _Martha_, +and _Carthagena_, hastening to the Conquest of _Perusia_, Anno Dom. +1539. and they accompanied with many more going farther from this +Region, endeavored to penetrate into the Heart of this Countrey, where +they found about Three Hundred Miles from _Carthagena_ and St. +_Martha_, many admirable Provinces and most fruitful Land, furnished +with an even-tempered or meek-spirited People, as they are in other +parts of _India_; very rich in Gold and those sorts of precious Stones +known by the name of Emralds: To which Province they gave the Name of +_Granada_, upon this account, because the Tyrant who first arrived in +these Regions, was born in the Kingdom of _Granada_ belonging to these +parts; now they that spoiled these Provinces with their rapine being +wicked, cruel, infamous Butchers, and delighting in the effusion of +Humane Blood, having practically experimented the piacular and grand +Enormities perpetrated among the _Indians_; and upon this account their +Diabolical Actions are so great, so many in number, and represented so +grievously horrid by circumstantial aggravations, that they exceed all +the villanies committed by others, nay by themselves in other Regions, +I will only select and cull out a few out of so great a number which +have bene transacted by them within these three years, for my present +purpose. + +A certain Governour, because he that went to commit depredations and +spoils in the Kingdom of _Granada_, would not admit him, as a Companion +in his Robberies and Cruelties, set up an Inquisition, and produced +proofs confirmed by great evidence, whereby he palpably lays open, and +proves the Slaughters and Homicides he committed, and persists in to +this very day, which were read in the _Indian_ Courts of Judicature, +and are there now Recorded. + +In this Inquisition the Witnesses depose, that when all these Kingdoms +enjoy'd Peace and Tranquillity, the _Indians_ serv'd the _Spaniards_, +and got their living by contstnat day-labour in Tilling and Manuring +the Ground, bringing them much Gold, and many Gems, particularly +Emeralds, and what other Commodities they could, and possessed, their +Cities and Dominions being divided among the _Spaniards_, to procure +which is the chiefest of their care and pains; and these are the proper +measures they take to obtain their proposed ends, to wit, heaping and +treasuring up of Gold and Riches. + +Now when all the _Indians_ were under their accustomed Tyranny: A +certain Tyrant, and Chief Commander, took the King and Lord of the +whole Countrey, and detain'd him Captive for six or seven moneths, +demanding of him, without any reason, store of Gold and Emeralds. The +said King, whose name was _Bogoca_, though fear, promised him a House +of Gold, hoping, in time, to escape out of his clutches, who thus +plagu'd him, and sent some _Indians_ for Gold, who frequently, and at +several times, brought him a great quantity of Gold, and many Jewels; +but because the King did not, according to his promise, bestow upon him +an Apartment made of pure Gold, he must therefore forfeit his Life. +The Tyrant commanded himto be brought to Tryal before himself, and so +they cite and summon to a Tryal the greatest King in the whole Region; +and the Tyrant pronounced this Sentence, that unless he did perform his +Golden Promise he should be exposed to severe Torments. They rackt +him, poured boiling Soap into his Bowels, chain'd his Legs to one post, +and fastened his Neck to another, two men holding his Hands, and so +applyed the scorching heat of the Fire to his Feet; the Tyrant himself +often casting his eye upon him, and threatning him with death, if he +did not give him the promised Gold; and thus with these kind of horrid +torments, the said Lord was destroy'd; which while they were doing, God +being willing to manifest how displeasing these Cruelties are to His +Divine Majesty, the whole City, that was the Stage on which they were +acted, was consumed by fire; and the rest of the Captains following his +example, destroy'd all the Lords of that Region by Fire and Faggot. + +Once it fell out, that many _Indians_ addressed themselves to the +_Spaniards_ with all Humility and Simplicity, as they use to do, who +thinking themselves safe and secure, behold the Captain comes into the +City, where they were to do their work, and commands all these +_Indians_, sleeping and taking their rest, after Supper, being wearied +with the heavy drudgery of the day, to be slain by the Sword: And this +stratagem he put in practice, to make a greater impression of fear on +all the minds of the Inhabitants; and another time a certain Captain +commanded the _Spaniards_ to declare upon Oath, how many _Casics_ and +_Indians_ every individual person had in his Family at home, who were +presently lead to a publick place, and lost their Heads; so there +perisht, that bout, four or five hundred Men. The Witnesses depose +this of a particular Tyrant, that by beating, cutting off the Hands and +Noses of many Women as well as Men, and destroying several persons in +great numbers, he exercised horrid Cruelties. + +Then one of the Captains sent this bloody Tyrant into the Province of +_Bogata_, to inquire who succeeded that Prince there, whom he so +barbarously and inhumanely Murder'd, who traveling many miles in this +Countrey, took as many _Indians_ as he could get, some of which, +because they did not tell him who was Successor of this Deceased +Prince, had their Hands cut off, and others were exposed to hunger- +starv'd Currs, to be devour'd by them, and as many of them perished +miserably. + +Another time about the fourth Watch, early in the morning he fell upon +several _Casics_, Noblemen and other _Indians_, who lookt upon +themselves to be safe enough, (for they had their faith and security +given, that none of them should receive any damage or injury) relying +upon this, they left the Mountains their lurking places, without any +suspition or fear, and returned to their Cities, but he seized on them +all, and commanding them to extend their hands on the ground, cut them +off with his own Sword, saying, that he punished them after this maner, +because they would not inform him what Lord it was, that succeeded in +that Kingdom. + +The Inhabitants of one of these Provinces, perceiving that four or five +of their Governours were sent to the other World in a fiery Vehicle or +Chariot, being terrified therewith, took to the Mountains for +Sanctuary, there being four or five thousand in number, as appears by +good Evidence; and the aforesaid Captain sends a Tyrant, more cruel +than any of the rest after them. The _Spaniards_ ascend the Mountains +by force (for the _Indians_ were naked an unarm'd) Proclaiming Peace, +if they would desist and lay down their Arms, which the _Indians_ no +sooner heard, but quitted their Childish Weapons; and this was no +sooner done but this Sanguinary _Spaniard_ sent some to possess +themselves of the Fortifications, and they being secur'd, to attaque +the _Indians_. Thus they, like Wolves and Lyons, did rush upon this +flock of Sheep, and were so tired with slaughter, that they were forced +to desist for a while and take breath, which done, the Captain commands +them to fall to it again at the same bloody rate, and precipitate all +that survived the Butchery, from the top of the Mountain, which was of +a prodigious height; and that was perform'd accordingly. And the +Witnesses farther declare upon Oath, that they saw the bodies of about +seven hundred _Indians_ falling from the Mount at one time, like a +Cloud obscuring the Air, who were all broken to pieces. + +This very Tyrant came once to the city _Cota_, where he surprized +abundance of Men, together with fifteen or twenty Casics of the highest +rank and quality, whom he cast to the Dogs to be torn Limb-meal in +pieces, and cut off the Hands of several Men and Women, which being run +through with a pole, were exposed to be viewed and gaz'd upon by the +_Indians_, where you might see at once seventy pair of hands, +transfixed with Poles; nor is it to be forgotten, that he cut off the +Noses of many Women and Children. + +The Witnesses farther depose, that the Cruelties and great Slaughters +committed in the aforesaid new Kingdom of _Granada_, by this Captain, +and other Tyrants, the Destroyers of Mankind, who accompany him, and +have power still given them by him to exercise the same, are such and +so hainous, that if his Majesty does not opportunely apply some remedy, +for the redress and prevention of such mischiefs for the future, (since +the _Indians_ are daily slaughtered to accumulate and enrich themselves +with Gold, which the Inhabitants have been so rob'd of, that they are +now grown bare, for what they had, they have disposed to the +_Spaniards_ already) this Kingdom will soon decay and be made desolate, +and consequently the Land being destitute of _Indians_, who should +manure it, will lye fallow and incultivated. + +And here is to be noted, how pestilential and inhumane the cruelty of +these Tyrants hath been, and how violently exercised, when as in two or +three years space, they were all slain, and the Country wholly desolate +and deserted, as those that have been Eye-witnesses can testifie; they +having acted like Merciless Men, not having the fear of God and the +King before their Eyes, but by the instigation of the Devil; so that it +may well be said and affirmed, not one Person will be left alive, +unless his Majesty does retard, and put a stop to the full career of +their Cruelties, which I am very apt to believe, for I have seen with +these very eyes of mine, many Kingdoms laid waste and depopulated in a +small time. There are other stately Provinces on the Confines of the +New Kindgom of _Granada_, as _Popayan_ and _Cali_, together with three +or four more above five hundred miles in length, which they destroyed, +in the same manner, as they have done other places, and laid them +absolutely waste by the prementioned Slaughters, who were very +Populous, and the Soil very Fruitful. They who came among us from +those Regions report, that nothing can be more deplorable or worthy of +pity and commiseration, then to behold such large and great Cities +totally ruinated, and intombed in their own Ashes, and that in a City +adorn'd with 1000 or 2000 Fabricks, there are hardly now to be seen 50 +standing, the rest being utterly demolished, or consum'd and levelled +to the ground by Fire and in some parts Regions of 100 miles in length, +(containing spacious Cities) are found absolutely destroyed and +consumed by Fire. + +Finally many great Tyrants who came out of the _Perusian_ Kingdoms by +the _Quitonians_ Travelled to the said new Kindgom of _Granada_ and +_Popayan_, and by _Carthagena_ and the _Urabae_, they directed their +course to _Calisium_, and several other Tyrants of _Carthagena_ assault +_Quito_, who joyn'd themselves in an intire Body and wholly depopulated +and laid waste that Region for the space of 600 miles and upward, with +the loss of a prodigious number of poor Souls; nor as yet do they treat +the small remnant of so great and innocent a people with more humanity +then formerly. + +I desire therefore that the Readers who have or shall peruse these +passages, would please seriously to consider whether or no, such +Barbarous, Cruel and Inhumane Acts as these do not transcend and exceed +all the impiety and tyrrany, which can enter into the thoughts or +imagination of Man, and whether these _Spaniards_ deserve not the name +of Devils. For which of these two things is more eligible or desirable +whether the _Indians_ should be delivered up to the Devils themselves +to be tormented or the _Spaniards_? That is still a question. + +Nor can I here omit one piece of Villany, (whether it ought to be +postpon'd or come behind the cruelty of Brute Animals, that I leave to +decision). The _Spaniards_ who are conversant among the _Indians_ bred +up curst Curs, who are so well instructed and taught that they at first +sight, fly upon the Inhabitants tearing them limb by limb, and so +presently devour them. Now let all persons whether Christians or not +consider, if ever such a thing as this reacht the ears of any Man, they +carry these Dogs with them as Companions where ever they go, and kill +the fettered _Indians_ in multitudes like Hogs for their Food; thus +sharing with them in the Butchery. Nay they frequently call one to the +other, saying, lend me the fourth part of one of your Slaves to feed my +Dogs, and when I kill one, I will repay you, as if they had only +borrowed a quarter of a Hog or Sheep. Others, when they go a Hunting +early in the morning, upon their return, if you ask them what sport had +you to day at the Game? They will answer, enough, enough, for my Dogs +have killed and worried 15 or 20 _Indian_ Vassals. Now all these +things are plainly prov'd upon those Inquisitions and Examinations made +by one Tyrant against another. What I beseech you, can be more horrid +or barbarous? + +But I will desist from Writing any longer at this time, till some +Messenger brings an account of greater and blacker Impieties (if +greater can be committed) or else till we come to behold them again, as +we have done for the space of forty two years with our own Eyes. I +will only make this small addition to what I have said that the +_Spaniards_, from the beginning of their first entrance upon _America_ +to this present day, were no more sollicitous of promoting the +Preaching of the Gospel of Christ to these Nations, then if they had +been Dogs or Beasts, but which is worst of all, they expressly +prohibited their addresses to the Religious, laying many heavy +Impositions upon them, dayly afflicting and persecuting them, that they +might not have so much time and leasure at their own disposal, as to +attend their Preaching and Divine Service; for they lookt upon that to +be an impediment to their getting Gold, and raking up riches which +their Avarice stimulated them so boundlessly to prosecute. Nor do they +understand any more of a God, whether he be made of Wood, Brass or +Clay, then they did above an hundred years ago, New _Spain_ only +exempted, which is a small part of _America_, and was visited and +instructed by the Religious. Thus they did formely and still do perish +without true Faith, or the knowledge and benefit of our Religious +Sacraments. + +I Frier _Bartholomeas de las Casas_ or _Casaus_ of the Order of St. +_Dominick_, who through the mercy of God am Arriv'd at the _Spanish_ +Court, Cordially wishing the expulsion of Hell or these Hellish Acts +out of the _Indies_; fearing least those Souls redeemed by the pretious +Blood of Christ, should perish eternally, but heartily desiring that +they may acknowledge their Creator and be saved; as also for the care +and compassion that I ever had for my Native Countrey _Castile_, +dreading least God should destroy it for the many sins committed by the +Natives her Children, against Faith, Honour and their Neighbours: I +have at length upon the request of some Persons of great Quality in +this Court, who are fervently zealous of the Honour of God, and moved +with pitty at the Calamities and Afflictions of their Neighbours +(though I long since proposed it within my self, and resolved to +accomplish it, but could not, being distracted with the avocations of +multiplicity of constant Business and Employment, have leisure to +effect it) I say I have at length finished this Treatise and Summary at +_Valencia, Decemb._ 8. _An. Dom._ 1542, when they were arrived at the +Height, and utmost Degree of executing Violences, Oppressions, Tyrrany, +Desolations, Torments, and Calamities in all the aforesaid Regions, +Inhabited by the _Spaniards_ (though they are more Cruel in some places +than other) yet _Mexico_ with its Confines were more favourably treated +than the rest of the Provinces. + +And indeed no Man durst openly and publickly do any injury to the +Inhabitants; for there some Justice, (which is no where else in +_India_) though very little is done and practiced; yet they are +grievously opprest with intolerable Taxes. But I do really believe, +and am fully perswaded that our Sovereign Lord _Charles_ the Fifth, +Emperour and King of _Spain_, our Lord and Prince, who begins to be +sensible of the Wickedness and Treacheries, which have been, and still +are committed against this Miserable Nation, and distressed Countries +contrary to the Will and Pleasure of God, as well as His Majesties that +he will in time, (for hitherto the Truth hath been concealed and kept +from his Knowledge, with as great Craft, as Fraud and Malice) totally +extirpate and root up all these Evils and Mischiefs, and apply such +proper Medicines as may purge the Morbifick and peccant Humours in the +Body Politick of this New World, committed to his Care and Government +as a Lover and Promoter of Peace and Tranquility. God preserve and +bless him with Renown and a happy Life in his Imperial State, and +prosper him in all his Attempts, that he may remedy the Distempers of +the Christian Church, and Crown him at last with Eternal Felicity, +_Amen_. + +After I had published this Treatise, certain Laws and Constitutions, +enacted by his Majesty then at _Baraclona_ in the Month of _December, +An. Dom._ 1542, promulgated and published the Year ensuing in the City +of _Madera_, whereby it is provided, (as the present Necessities +requir'd) that a period be put to such great Enormities and Sins, as +were committed against God and our Neighbours, and tended to the utter +Ruine and Perdition of this New World. These Laws were published by +his Majesties Order, several Persons of highest Authority, Councellors, +Learned, and Conscientious Men, being assembled together for that +purpose, and many Debates made at _Valedolid_ about this weighty +Affair, at length by the unanimous Consent and Advice of all those who +had committed their Opinions to Writing, they were made publick who +traced more closely therein the Laws of Christ and Christianity, and +were judged Persons pure, free from and innocent of that stain and +blemish of depriving the _Indians_ of their Treasures by Theft and +Rapine, which Riches had contaminated and sullied the Hands, but much +more the Souls of those who were enslav'd by those heaps of Wealth and +Covetousness, now this obstinate and hot pursuit after Wealth was the +Original of all those Evils committed without the least Remorse or +Check of Conscience. + +These Laws being thus promulgated, the _Courtiers_ who promoted these +Tyrants, took care that several Copies should be transcribed, (though +they were extremely afflicted to see, that there was no farther hopes +or means to promote the former Depredations and Extortions by the +Tyranny aforesaid) and sent them to several _Indian_ Provinces. They, +who took upon them the Trouble and Care of Extirpating, and Oppressing +by different ways of Cruelty, as they never observed any Method or +Order, but behav'd themselves most inordinately and irregularly, having +perused these Diplomata or Constitutions, before the new made Judges, +appointed to put them in Execution, could Arrive or be Landed, they by +the assistance of those (as 'tis credibly rumour'd, nor is it repugnant +to truth) who hitherto favour'd their Criminal and Violent Actions, +knowing well that these Laws and Proclamations must necessarily take +effect, began to grow mutinous, and rebel, and when the Judges were +Landed, who were to Execute these _Mandates_, laying aside all manner +of Love and Fear of God, were so audacious as to contemn and set at +nought all the Reverence and Obedience due to their King, and so became +Traytors, demeaning themselves like Blood-Thirsty Tyrants, destitute +and void of all Humanity. + +More particularly this appear'd in the _Perusian_ Kingdoms, where _An. +Dom._ 1542, they acted such Horrid and Stupendous Enormities, that the +like were never known or heard in _America_, or throughout the whole +World before that time: Nor were they only practised upon the +_Indians_, who were mostly destroy'd, but upon themselves also, God +permitting them by his just Judgement to be their own Executioners, and +sheath their Swords in one anothers Bowels. In like manner the other +parts of this New World being moved by the Example of these Rebels, +refused to yield Obedience to those Laws. The rest pretending to +petition his Majesty turn Rebellious themselves; for they would not +voluntarily resign those Estates, Goods and Chattels they have already +usurped, nor willingly manumit those _Indians_, who were doomed to be +their Slaves, during Life; and where they restrain'd the Murdering +Sword from doing Execution, they opprest them gradually with personal +Vassalage, injust and intolerable Burthens; which his Majesty could not +possibly hitherto avert or hinder, because they are all universally, +some publickly and openly, others clancularly and secretly, so +naturally addicted to Rob, Thieve and Steal; and thus under pretext of +serving the King, they dishonour God, and defraud his Imperial Majesty. + +Here the Author having finished the matter of Fact in this Compendious +History, for Confirmation of what he has here written, quotes a tedious +and imperfect Epistle (as he styles it) beginning and ending anonymous +withal, containing the Cruelties committed by the _Spaniards_, the same +in effect as our Author has prementioned, now in regard that I judge +such reiterated Cruelties and repeated Barbarisms are Offensive to the +Reader, he having sailed already too long, and too far in an Ocean of +Innocent _Indian_ blood: I have omitted all but Two or Three Stories +not taken notice of by the Author. One of the Tyrants, (who followed +the steps of _John Ampudia_, a notorious Villain) gave way to a grat +Slaughter of Sheep the chief Food and Support of the _Spaniards_ as +well as _Indians_, permitting them to kill Two or Three Hundred at a +time, only for their Brains, Fat, or Suet, whose Flesh was then +altogether useless, and not fit to be eaten; but many _Indians_, the +_Spaniards_ Friends and Confederates followed them, desiring they might +have the hearts to feed upon, whereupon they butchered a great many of +them, for this only Reason, because they would not eat the other parts +of the Body. Two of their gang in the Province of _Peru_ kild Twenty +Five Sheep, who were sold among the _Spaniards_ for Twenty Five Crowns, +merely to get the fat and brains out of them: Thus the frequent and +extraordinary Slaughter of their Sheep above a Hundred Thousand Head of +Cattel were destroy'd. And upon this Account the Region was reduced to +great penury and want, and at length perished with Hunger. Nay the +Province of _Quito_, which abounded with Corn beyond Expression, by +such proceedings as these, was brought to that Extremity that a +Sextarie or small Measure or Wheat was sold for Ten Crowns, and a Sheep +at as dear a rate. + +This Captain taking leave of _Quito_ was followed by a poor _Indianess_ +with loud Cries and Clamours, begging and beseeching him not to carry +away her Husband; for she had the charge of Three Children, and could +not possibly supply them with Victuals, but they must inevitably dye +with hunger, and though the _Captain_ repulsed her with an angry brow +at the first; yet she approacht him a second time with repeated Cries, +saying, that her Children must perish for want of Food; but finding +the Captain inexorable and altogether unmov'd with her Complaints, and +her Husband not restor'd, through a piquant necessity wedded to +despair; she cut off the Heads of her Children with sharp Stones, and +so dispatcht them into the other World. + +Then he proceeded farther to another City, and sent some _Spaniards_ +that very Night, to take the _Indians_ of the City of _Tulilicui_, who +next day brought with them above a Hundred Persons; some of which (whom +he lookt upon to be able to carry burthens) he reserved for his own and +his Soldiers service, and other were chain'd, and perished in their +Fetters: but the little Infants he gave to the _Casic_ of _Tulilicui_, +abovesaid to be eaten up and devoured, whose skins are stuft with Ashes +and hung up in his House to be seen at this very day. And in the close +of this Letter he shuts up all with these words, 'tis here very +remarkable and never to be forgotten, that this Tyrant (being not +ignorant of the Mischiefs and Enormities executed by him) boastingly +said of himself, _They who shall travel in these Countreys Fifty years +hence, and hear the things related of me, will have cause to say or +declare, that never such a Tyrant as I am marched through these +Regions, and committed the like Enormities._ + +Now not to quit the Stage without one Comical Scene or Action whereon +such Cruelties have been lively personated, give me leave to acquaint +you with a Comical piece of Grammatical Learning in a Reverend +Religioso of these parts, sent thither to convert the _West-Indies_ +Pagans, which the Author mentions among his Reasons and Replications, +and all these I pass by as immaterial to our purpose, many of them +being repeated in the Narrative before. + +The weight and burthen of initiating the _Indians_ into the Christian +Faith lay solely on the _Spaniards_ at first; and therefore _Joannes +Colmenero_ in _Santa Martha_, a Fantastic, Ignorant, and Foppish +Fellow, was under Examination before us (and he had one of the most +spatious Cities committed to his Charge as well as the Care and Cure of +the Souls of the Inhabitants) whether he understood how to fortifie +himself with the sign of the Cross against the Wicked and Impious, and +being interrogated what he taught, and how he instructed the _Indians_, +whose Souls were intrusted to his Care and Conduct; he return'd this +Answer, _That if he damn'd them to the Devil and Furies of Hell, it was +sufficient to retrieve them, if he pronounced these Words,_ Per Signin +Sanctin Cruces. A Fellow fitter to be a Hogherd than a Shepherd of +Souls. + +This Deep, Bloody _American_ Tragedy is now concluded, and my Pen +choakt up with _Indian_ Blood and Gore. I have no more to say, but +pronounce the Epilogue made by the Author, and leave the Reader to +judge whether it deserves a Plaudite. + +The _Spaniards_ first set Sail to _America_, not for the Honour of God, +or as Persons moved and merited thereunto by servent Zeal to the True +Faith, nor to promote the Salvation of their Neighbours, nor to serve +the King, as they falsely boast and pretend to do, but in truth, only +stimulated and goaded on by insatiable Avarice and Ambition, that they +might for ever Domineer, Command, and Tyrannize over the _West- +Indians_, whose Kingdoms they hoped to divide and distribute among +themselves. Which to deal candidly in no more or less intentionally, +than by all these indirect wayes to disappoint and expel the Kings of +_Castile_ out of those Dominions and Territories, that they themselves +having usurped the Supreme and Regal Empire, might first challenge it +as their Right, and then possess and enjoy it. + + FINIS. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Brief Account of the Destruction of +the Indies, by Bartolome de las Casas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIES *** + +***** This file should be named 20321-8.txt or 20321-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/2/20321/ + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies + Or, a faithful NARRATIVE OF THE Horrid and Unexampled + Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of Cruelties, that + Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish + _Spanish_ Party on the inhabitants of _West-India_, TOGETHER + With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in _America_ by + Fire and Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from + the time of its first Discovery by them. + +Author: Bartolome de las Casas + +Release Date: January 9, 2007 [EBook #20321] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIES *** + + + + + + + + + + +[Preparer's notes: + 1) Though the original title does not appear in this version, this + is (apart from the preface) a translation of: + "Brevisima relacion de la destruccion de las Indias", by + Bartolome de las Casas, originally published in Seville in 1552. + 2) The original archaic spelling and punctuation has been retained] + + + POPERY + Truly Display'd in its + Bloody Colours: + Or, a faithful + NARRATIVE + OF THE +Horrid and Unexampled Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of +Cruelties, that Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish +_Spanish_ Party on the inhabitants of _West-India_ + TOGETHER +With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in _America_ by Fire and +Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from the time of its first +Discovery by them. + + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +_Composed first in_ Spanish _by_ Bartholomew de las Casas, _a Bishop there, +and Eye-Witness of most of these Barbarous Cruelties; afterward Translated +by him into_ Latin, _then by other hands, into_ High-Dutch, Low-Dutch, +French, _and now Taught to Speak Modern English_. +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +_London,_ Printed for _R. Hewson_ at the _Crown in Cornhil,_ + near the _Stocks-Market._ 1689. +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + THE + ARGUMENT + OF THIS NARRATIVE + By way of + PREFACE + TO THE + READER. + + +_The Reverend Author of this Compendious Summary was_ Bartholomaeus de las +Casas _alias_ Casaus, _a Pious and Religeous person, (as appears by his +zealous Transports in this Narrative for promotion of the Christian +Faith) elevated from a Frier of the_ Dominican _Order to sit in the +Episcopal Chair, who was frequently importuned by Good and Learned Men, +particularly Historians, to Publish this Summary, who so prevailed with +him, that he Collected out of that copious History which might and +ought to be written on this subject, the contents of this concise +Treatise with intention to display unto the World the Enormities,_ &c. +_the_ Spaniards _committed in_ America _during their residence there, to +their eternal ignominy; and for the author finding that no Admonitions +or Reprehensions, how mild soever could operate upon or sink into the +rocky-hearted Tyrants in those Occidental parts; he therefore took up a +firm resolution, being then about 50 years of age (as he himself +declares) to run the Hazards and Dangers by Sea, and the Risque of a +long voyage into_ Spain _there to acquaint and Certifie the most +Illustrious Prince_ Phillip _the Son and Heir of his Imperial Majesty_ +Charles _the Fifth of Blessed Memory, with the Horrid crimes,_ &c. +_perpetrated in those countries, part whereof he had seen, and part +heard from such as boasted of their Wickedness. Whereupon his_ +Caeserean _Majesty moved with a tender and Christian compassion +towards these Inhabitants of the Countries of_ America, _languishing +for want of redress, he called a Council at_ Valedolid, _Anno Dom. +1542. consisting of Learned and Able Men, in order to the reformation +of the_ West-Indian _government, and took such a course, that from that +time their Tyranny and cruelty against those_ Barbarians _was somewhat +repressed, and those Nations in some measure delivered from that +intolerable and more then_ Aegyptian _Bondage, or at least the_ +Spaniards _ill usage and treatment of the_ Americans _was alleviated +and abated. This Book mostly_ Historical, _part_ Typographical, _was +Published first by the Author in_ Spanish _at_ Sevil, _after that +Translated into_ Latin _by himself; and in process of time into_ High +Dutch, Low Dutch, French _and now_ English; _which is the Sixth +Language it has been taught to speak, that anyone of what Nation soever +might in this Narrative contemplate and see as in a mirror the dismal +and pernitious fruits, that lacquey and attend unlimited and close +fisted Avarice, and thereby Learn to abhor and detest it,_ Cane pejus & +angue: _it being the predominant and chiefest motive to the comission +of such inexpressible Outrages, as here in part are faintly, not fully +represented. Which sin the Pagan_ Indians _themselves did exprobate in +the_ Spaniards _with all Detestation, Ignominy and Disgrace: for when +they had taken some of them Prisoners (which was rarely) they bound +them hand and foot, laid them on the ground, and then pouring melted +Gold down their Throats, cried out and called to them aloud in +derision,_ yield, throw up thy Gold O Christian! Vomit and spew out +the Mettal which hath so inqinated and invenom'd both Body and Soul, +that hath stain'd and infected they mind with desires and contrivances, +and thy hands with Commission of such matchless Enormities. _I will +then shut up all this, being but an Extract of what is in the Prefatory +part of the Original. I earnestly beg and desire all Men to be +perswaded, that this summary was not published upon any private Design, +sinister ends or affection in favor or prejudice of any particular +Nation; but for the publick Emolument and Advantage of all true +Christians and moral Men throughout the whole World._ + + Farewell + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + THE CRUELTIES + OF THE + Spaniards + Committed in + AMERICA. + + +America was discovered and found out _Ann. Dom._ 1492, and the Year +insuing inhabited by the _Spaniards_, and afterward a multitude of them +travelled thither from _Spain_ for the space of Nine and Forty Years. +Their first attempt was on the _Spanish_ Island, which indeed is a most +fertile soil, and at present in great reputation for its Spaciousness +and Length, containing in Circumference Six Hundred Miles: Nay it is on +all sides surrounded with an almost innumerable number of Islands, +which we found so well peopled with Natives and Forreigners, that there +is scarce any Region in the Universe fortified with so many +Inhabitants: But the main Land or Continent, distant from this Island +Two Hundred and Fifty Miles and upwards, extends it self above Ten +Thousand Miles in Length near the sea-shore, which Lands are some of +them already discover'd, and more may be found out in process of time: +And such a multitude of People inhabits these Countries, that it seems +as if the Omnipotent God has Assembled and Convocated the major part of +Mankind in this part of the World. + +Now this infinite multitude of Men are by the Creation of God +innocently simple, altogether void of and averse to all manner of +Craft, Subtlety and Malice, and most Obedient and Loyal Subjects to +their Native Sovereigns; and behave themselves very patiently, +sumissively and quietly towards the _Spaniards_, to whom they are +subservient and subject; so that finally they live without the least +thirst after revenge, laying aside all litigiousness, Commotion and +hatred. + +This is a most tender and effeminate people, and so imbecile and +unequal-balanced temper, that they are altogether incapable of hard +labour, and in few years, by one Distemper or other soon expire, so +that the very issue of Lords and Princes, who among us live with great +affluence, and fard deliciously, are not more effminate and tender than +the Children of their Husbandmen or Labourers: This Nation is very +Necessitous and Indigent, Masters of very slender Possessions, and +consequently, neither Haughty, nor Ambitious. They are parsimonious in +their Diet, as the Holy Fathers were in their frugal life in the +Desert, known by the name of _Eremites_. They go naked, having no +other Covering but what conceals their Pudends from publick sight. An +hairy Plad, or loose Coat, about an Ell, or a coarse woven Cloth at +most Two Ells long serves them for the warmest Winter Garment. They +lye on a coarse Rug or Matt, and those that have the most plentiful +Estate or Fortunes, the better sort, use Net-work, knotted at the four +corners in lieu of Beds, which the Inhabitants of the Island of +_Hispaniola_, in their own proper Idiom, term _Hammacks_. The Men are +pregnant and docible. The natives tractable, and capable of Morality or +Goodness, very apt to receive the instill'd principles of Catholick +Religion; nor are they averse to Civility and good Manners, being not +so much discompos'd by variety of Obstructions, as the rest of Mankind; +insomuch, that having suckt in (if I may so express my self) the the +very first Rudiments of the Christian Faith, they are so transported +with Zeal and Furvor in the exercise of Ecclesiastical Sacraments, and +Divine Service, that the very Religioso's themselves, stand in need of +the greatest and most signal patience to undergo such extream +Transports. And to conclude, I my self have heard the _Spaniards_ +themselves (who dare not assume the Confidence to deny the good Nature +praedominant in them) declare, that there was nothing wanting in them +for the acquisition of Eternal Beatitude, but the sole Knowledge and +Understanding of the Deity. + +The _Spaniards_ first assaulted the innocent Sheep, so qualified by the +Almighty, as is premention'd, like most cruel Tygers, Wolves and Lions +hunger-starv'd, studying nothing, for the space of Forty Years, after +their first landing, but the Massacre of these Wretches, whom they have +so inhumanely and barbarously butcher'd and harass'd with several kinds +of Torments, never before known, or heard (of which you shall have some +account in the following Discourse) that of Three Millions of Persons, +which lived in _Hispaniola_ itself, there is at present but the +inconsiderable remnant of scarce Three Hundred. Nay the Isle of +_Cuba_, which extends as far, as _Valledolid_ in _Spain_ is distant +from _Rome_, lies now uncultivated, like a Desert, and intomb'd in its +own Ruins. You may also find the Isles of St. _John_, and _Jamaica_, +both large and fruitful places, unpeopled and desolate. The _Lucayan_ +Islands on the North Side, adjacent to _Hispaniola_ and _Cuba_, which +are Sixty in number, or thereabout, together with with those, vulgarly +known by the name of the Gigantic Isles, and others, the most infertile +whereof, exceeds the Royal Garden of _Sevil_ in fruitfulness, a most +Healthful and pleasant Climat, is now laid waste and uninhabited; and +whereas, when the _Spaniards_ first arriv'd here, about Five Hundred +Thousand Men dwelt in it, they are now cut off, some by slaughter, and +others ravished away by Force and Violence, to work in the Mines of +_Hispanioloa,_ which was destitute of Native Inhabitants: For a certain +Vessel, sailing to this Isle, to the end, that the Harvest being over +(some good Christian, moved with Piety and Pity, undertook this +dangerous Voyage, to convert Souls to Christianity) the remaining +gleanings might be gathered up, there were only found Eleven Persons, +which I saw with my own Eyes. There are other Islands Thirty in +number, and upward bordering upon the Isle of St. _John_, totally +unpeopled; all which are above Two Thousand miles in Lenght, and yet +remain without Inhabitants, Native, or People. + +As to the firm land, we are certainly satisfied, and assur'd, that the +_Spaniards_ by their barbarous and execrable Actions have absolutely +depopulated Ten Kingdoms, of greater extent than all _Spain_, together +with the Kingdoms of _Arragon_ and _Portugal_, that is to say, above +One Thousand Miles, which now lye wast and desolate, and are absolutely +ruined, when as formerly no other Country whatsoever was more populous. +Nay we dare boldly affirm, that during the Forty Years space, wherein +they exercised their sanguinary and detestable Tyranny in these +Regions, above Twelve Millions (computing Men, Women, and Children) +have undeservedly perished; nor do I conceive that I should deviate +from the Truth by saying that above Fifty Millions in all paid their +last Debt to Nature. + +Those that arriv'd at these Islands from the remotest parts of _Spain_, +and who pride themselves in the Name of Christians, steer'd Two courses +principally, in order to the Extirpation, and Exterminating of this +People from the face of the Earth. The first whereof was raising an +unjust, sanguinolent, cruel War. The other, by putting them to death, +who hitherto, thirsted after their Liberty, or design'd (which the most +Potent, Strenuous and Magnanimous Spirits intended) to recover their +pristin Freedom, and shake off the Shackles of so injurious a +Captivity: For they being taken off in War, none but Women and +Children were permitted to enjoy the benefit of that Country-Air, in +whom they did in succeeding times lay such a heavy Yoak, that the very +Brutes were more happy than they: To which Two Species of Tyranny as +subalternate things to the Genus, the other innumerable Courses they +took to extirpate and make this a desolate People, may be reduced and +referr'd. + +Now the ultimate end and scope that incited the _Spaniards_ to endeavor +the Extirptaion and Desolation of this People, was Gold only; that +thereby growing opulent in a short time, they might arrive at once at +such Degrees and Dignities, as were no wayes consistent with their +Persons. + +Finally, in one word, their Ambition and Avarice, than which the heart +of Man never entertained greater, and the vast Wealth of those Regions; +the Humility and Patience of the Inhabitants (which made their approach +to these Lands more facil and easie) did much promote the business: +Whom they so despicably contemned, that they treated them (I speak of +things which I was an Eye Witness of, without the least fallacy) not as +Beasts, which I cordially wished they would, but as the most abject +dung and filth of the Earth; and so sollicitous they were of their Life +and Soul, that the above-mentioned number of People died without +understanding the true Faith or Sacraments. And this also is as really +true as the praecendent Narration (which the very Tyrants and cruel +Murderers cannot deny without the stigma of a lye) that the _Spaniards_ +never received any injury from the _Indians_, but that they rather +reverenced them as Persons descended from Heaven, until that they were +compelled to take up Arms, provoked thereunto by repeated Injuries, +violent Torments, and injust Butcheries. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +Of the Island HISPANIOLA. + +In this Isle, which, as we have said, the _Spaniards_ first attempted, +the bloody slaughter and destruction of Men first began: for they +violently forced away Women and Children to make them Slaves, and +ill-treated them, consuming and wasting their Food, which they had +purchased with great sweat, toil, and yet remained dissatisfied too, +which every one according to his strength and ability, and that was +very inconsiderable (for they provided no other Food than what was +absolutely necessary to support Nature without superfluity, freely +bestow'd on them, and one individual _Spaniard_ consumed more Victuals +in one day, than would serve to maintain Three Families a Month, every +one consisting of Ten Persons. Now being oppressed by such evil usage, +and afflicted with such greate Torments and violent Entertainment they +began to understand that such Men as those had not their Mission from +Heaven; and therefore some of them conceal'd their Provisions and +others to their Wives and Children in lurking holes, but some, to avoid +the obdurate and dreadful temper of such a Nation, sought their Refuge +on the craggy tops of Mountains; for the _Spaniards_ did not only +entertain them with Cuffs, Blows, and wicked Cudgelling, but laid +violent hands also on the Governours of Cities; and this arriv'd at +length to that height of Temerity and Impudence, that a certain Captain +was so audacious as abuse the Consort of the most puissant King of the +whole Isle. From which time they began to consider by what wayes and +means they might expel the _Spaniards_ out of their Countrey, and +immediately took up Arms. But, good God, what Arms, do you imagin? +Namely such, both Offensive and Defensive, as resemble Reeds wherewith +Boys sport with one another, more than Manly Arms and Weapons. + +Which the _Spaniards_ no sooner perceived, but they, mounted on +generous Steeds, well weapon'd with Lances and Swords, begin to +exercise their bloody Butcheries and Strategems, and overrunning their +Cities and Towns, spar'd no Age, or Sex, nay not so much as Women with +Child, but ripping up their Bellies, tore them alive in pieces. They +laid Wagers among themselves, who should with a Sword at one blow cut, +or divide a Man in two; or which of them should decollate or behead a +Man, with the greatest dexterity; nay farther, which should sheath his +Sword in the Bowels of a Man with the quickest dispatch and expedition. + +They snatcht young Babes from the Mothers Breasts, and then dasht out +the brains of those innocents against the Rocks; others they cast into +Rivers scoffing and jeering them, and call'd upon their Bodies when +falling with derision, the true testimony of their Cruelty, to come to +them, and inhumanely exposing others to their Merciless Swords, +together with the Mothers that gave them Life. + +They erected certain Gibbets, large, but low made, so that their feet +almost reacht the ground, every one of which was so order'd as to bear +Thirteen Persons in Honour and Reverence (as they said blasphemously) +of our Redeemer and his Twelve Apostles, under which they made a Fire +to burn them to Ashes whilst hanging on them: But those they intended +to preserve alive, they dismiss'd, their Hands half cut, and still +hanging by the Skin, to carry their Letters missive to those that fly +from us and ly sculking on the Mountains, as an exprobation of their +flight. + +The Lords and Persons of Noble Extract were usually expos'd to this +kind of Death; they order'd Gridirons to be placed and supported with +wooden Forks, and putting a small Fire under them, these miserable +Wretches by degrees and with loud Shreiks and exquisite Torments, at +last Expir'd. + +I once saw Four or Five of their most Powerful Lords laid on these +Gridirons, and thereon roasted, and not far off, Two or Three more +over-spread with the same Commodity, Man's Flesh; but the shril +Clamours which were heard there being offensive to the Captain, by +hindring his Repose, he commanded them to be strangled with a Halter. +The Executioner (whose Name and Parents at _Sevil_ are not unknown to +me) prohibited the doing of it; but stopt Gags into their Mouths to +prevent the hearing of the noise (he himself making the Fire) till that +they dyed, when they had been roasted as long as he thought convenient. +I was an Eye-Witness of these and and innumerable Number of other +Cruelties: And because all Men, who could lay hold of the opportunity, +sought out lurking holes in the Mountains, to avoid as dangerous Rocks +so Brutish and Barbarous a People, Strangers to all Goodness, and the +Extirpaters and Adversaries of Men, they bred up such fierce hunting +Dogs as would devour an _Indian_ like a Hog, at first sight in less +than a moment: Now such kind of Slaughters and Cruelties as these were +committed by the Curs, and if at any time it hapned, (which was rarely) +that the _Indians_ irritated upon a just account destroy'd or took away +the Life of any _Spaniard,_ they promulgated and proclaim'd this Law +among them, that One Hundred _Indians_ should dye for every individual +_Spaniard_ that should be slain. + + +_Of the Kingdoms contained in_ Hispaniola. + +This Isle of _Hispaniola_ was made up of Six of their greatest +Kingdoms, and as many most Puissant Kings, to whose Empire almost all +the other Lords, whose Number was infinite, did pay their Allegiance. +One of these Kingdoms was called _Magua,_ signifying a Campaign or open +Country; which is very observable, if any place in the Universe +deserves taking notice of, and memorable for the pleasantness of its +Situation; for it is extended from South to North Eighty Miles, in +breadth Five, Eight, and in some parts Ten Miles in length; and is on +all sides inclosed with the highest Mountains; above Thirty Thousand +Rivers, and Rivulets water her Coasts, Twelve of which prodigious +Number do not yield in all in magnitude to those famous Rivers, the +_Eber, Duer,_ and _Guadalquivir;_ and all those Rivers which have their +Source or Spring from the Mountains lying Westerly, the number whereof +is Twenty Thousand) are very rich in Mines of Gold; on which Mountain +lies the Province of rich Mines, whence the exquisite Gold of Twenty +Four Caracts weight, takes denomination. The King and Lord of this +Kingdom was named _Guarionex,_ who governed within the Compass of his +Dominions so many Vassals and Potent Lords, that every one of them was +able to bring into the Field Sixteen Thousand Soldiers for the service +of _Guarionex_ their Supream Lord and Soverain, when summoned +thereunto. Some of which I was acquainted with. This was a most +Obedient Prince, endued with great Courage and Morality, naturally of a +Pacifick Temper, and most devoted to the service of the _Castilian_ +Kings. This King commanded and ordered his Subjects, that every one of +those Lords under his Jurisdiction, should present him with a Bell full +of Gold; but in succeeding times, being unable to perform it, they were +commanded to cut it in two, and fill one part therewith, for the +Inhabitants of this Isle were altogether inexperienced, and unskilful +in Mine-works, and the digging Gold out of them. This _Caiu_ proferred +his Service to the King of _Castile,_ on this Condition, that he would +take care, that those Lands should be cultivated and manur'd, wherein, +during the reign of _Isabella,_ Queen of _Castile,_ the _Spaniards_ +first set footing and fixed their Residence, extending in length even +to _Santo Domingo,_ the space of Fifty Miles. For he declar'd (nor was +it a Fallacie, but an absolute Truth,) that his Subjects understood not +the practical use of digging in Golden Mines. To which promises he had +readily and voluntarily condescended, to my own certain knowledge, and +so by this means, the King would have received the Annual Revenue of +Three Millions of _Spanish_ Crowns, and upward, there being at that +very time in that Island Fifty Cities more ample and spacious than +_Sevil_ it self in _Spain_. + +But what returns by way of Remuneration and Reward did they make this +so Clement and Benign Monarch, can you imagine, no other but this? +They put the greatest Indignity upon him imaginable in the person of +his Consort who was violated by a _Spanish_ Captain altogether unworthy +of the Name of Christian. He might indeed probably expect to meet with +a convenient time and opportunity of revenging this Ingominy so +unjuriously thrown upon him by preparing Military Forces to attaque +him, but he rather chose to abscond in the Province _De los Ciquayos_ +(wherein a Puissant Vassal and subject of his Ruled) devested of his +Estate and Kingdom, and there live and dye an exile. But the +_Spaniards_ receiving certain information, that he had absented +himself, connived no longer at his Concealment but raised War against +him, who had received them with so great humanity and kindness, and +having first laid waste and desolate the whole Region, at last found, +and took him Prisoner, who being bound in Fetters was convey'd on board +of a ship in order to his transfretation to _Castile,_ as a Captive: +but the Vessel perished in the Voyage, wherewith many _Spaniards_ were +also lost, as well as a great weight of Gold, among which there was a +prodigious Ingot of Gold, resembling a large Loaf of Bread, weighing +3600 Crowns; Thus it pleased God to revenge their enormous impieties. + +A Second Kingdom was named _Marien,_ where there is to this day a +Haven, upon the utmost Borders of the Plain or open Countrey toward the +North, more fertil and large than the kingdom of _Portugal;_ and really +deserving constant and frequent Inahbitants: For it abounds with +Mountains, and is rich in Mines of Gold and _Orichalcum,_ a kind of +Copper Mettal mixt with Gold; The Kings name of this place was +_Guacanagari,_ who had many powerful Lords (some whereof were not +unknown to me) under his subjection. The first that landed in this +Kingdom when he discovered _America_ was an Admiral well stricken in +years, who had so hospitable and kind a reception from the aforesaid +_Gracanagari,_ as well as all those _Spaniards_ that accompanied him in +that Voyage, giving them all imaginable help and assisstance (for the +admiral's vessel was sunk on their Coasts) that I heard it from his own +mouth, he could not possibly have been entertained with greater +Caresses and Civilities from his own parents in his own Native Country. +But this King being forced to fly to avoid the _Spanish_ slaughter and +Cruelty, deprived of all he was Master of, died in the Mountains; and +all the rest of the Potentates and Nobles, his subjects, perished in +that servitude and Vassalage; as you shall find in this following +Treatise. + +The Third Kingdom was distinguished by the Appellation of _Maquana,_ +another admirable, healthful and fruitful Region, where at present the +most refined sugar of the Island is made. _Caonabo_ then reigned there, +who surmounted all the rest in Power, State, and the splendid +Ceremonies of His Government. This King beyond all expectation was +surpriz'd in his own Palace, by the great subtilty and industry of the +_Spaniards,_ and after carried on board in order to his transportation +to _Castile,_ but there being at that time six Ships Riding in the +Haven, and ready to set Sail such an impetuous storm suddenly arose, +that they as well as the Passengers and Ships Crew were all lost, +together with King _Canabao_ loaded with Irons; by which judgement the +Almighty declared that this was as unjust and impious an Act as any of +the former. This Kind had three or four Brothers then Living, Men of +strength and Valour, who being highly incensed at the Captivity of +their King and Brother, to which he was injuriously reduc'd, having +also intelligence of the Devastations and Butcheries committed by the +_Spaniards_ in other Regions, and not long after hearing of their +Brothers death, took up Arms to revenge themselves of the Enemy, whom +the _Spaniards_ met with, and certain party of Horse (which proved very +offensive to the _Indians_) made such havoc and slaughter among them, +that the half of this Kingdom was laid waste and depopulated. + +_Xaraqua_ is the Fourth Kingdom, and as it were the Centre and Middle +of the whole Island, and is not to be equalled for fluency of Speech +and politeness of Idiom or Dialect by any Inhabitants of the other +Kingdoms, and in Policy and Morality transcends them all. Herein the +Lords and Peers abounded, and the very Populace excelled in in stature +and habit of Body: Their King was _Behechio_ by name and who had a +Sister called _Anacaona,_ and both the Brother as well as Sister had +loaded the _Spaniards_ with Benefits and singular acts of Civility, and +by delivering them from the evident and apparent danger of Death, did +signal services to the _Castilian_ Kings. _Behechio_ dying the supreme +power of the Kingdom fell to _Anacaona:_ But it hapned one day, that +the Governour of an Island, attended by 60 Horse, and 30 Foot (now the +Cavalry was sufficiently able to unpeople not only the Isle, but also +the whole Continent) he summoned about 300 Dynasta's, or Noblemen to +appear before him, and commanded the most powerful of them, being first +crouded into a Thatcht Barn or Hovel, to be exposed to the fury of the +merciless Fire, and the rest to be pierced with Lances, and run through +with the point of the Sword, by a multitude of Men: And _Anacaona_ her +self who (as we said before,) sway'd the Imperial Scepter, to her +greater honor was hanged on a Gibbet. And if it fell out that any +person instigated by Compassion or Covetousness, did entertain any +_Indian_ Boys and mount them on Horses, to prevent their Murder, +another was appointed to follow them, who ran them through the back or +in the hinder parts, and if they chanced to escape Death, and fall to +the ground, they immediately cut off his Legs; and when any of those +_Indians,_ that survived these Barbarous Massacres, betook themselves +to an Isle eight miles distant, to escape their Butcheries, they were +then committed to servitude during Life. + +The Fifth Kingdom was _Hiquey,_ over whom Queen _Hiquanama,_ a +superannuated Princess, whome the _Spaniards_ Crucified, did preside +and Govern. The number of those I saw here burnt, and dismembered, and +rackt with various Torments, as well as others, the poor Remnants of +such matchless Villanies, who surviving were enslaved, is infinite. +But because so much might be said concerning the Assassinations and +Depopulating of these people, as cannot without great difficulty be +published in Writing (nor do I conceive that one fragile part of 1000 +that is here contained can be fully displayed) I will only add one +remark more of the prementioned Wars, in lieu of a Corollary or +Conclusion, and aver upon my Conscience, that notwithstanding all the +above-named Injustice, profligate Enormities and other Crimes which I +omit, (tho sufficiently known to me) the _Indians_ did not, nor was it +in their power to give any greater occasion for the Commission of them, +than Pious Religioso's Living in a well regulated Monastic Life did +afford for any Sacrilegeous Villains to deprive them of their Goods and +Life at the same time, or why they who by flight avoided death should +be detain'd in perpetual, not to be ransom'd Captivity and Slavery. I +adde farther, that I really believe, and am satisfied by certain +undeniable conjectures, that at the very juncture of time, when all +these outrages were commited in this Isle, the _Indians_ were not so +much guilty of one single mortal sin of Commission against the +_Spaniards_, that might deserve from any Man revenge or require +satisfaction. And as for those sins, the punishment whereof God hath +reserved to himself, as the immoderate desire of Revenge, Hatred, Envy +or inward rancor of Spirit, to which they might be transported against +such Capital Enemies as the _Spaniards_ were, I judge that very few of +them can justly be accused of them; for their impetuosity and vigor I +speak experimentally, was inferior to that of Children of ten or twelve +years of age: and this I can assure you, that the _Indians_ had ever a +just cause of raising War against the _Spaniards_, and the _Spaniards_ +on the contrary never raised a just was against them, but what was more +injurious and groundless then any undertaken by the worst of Tyrants. +All which I affirm of all their other Transactions and passages in +_America_. + +The Warlike Engagements being over, and the Inhabitants all swept away, +they divided among themselves the Young Men, Women, and Children +reserved promiscuously for that purpose, one obtained thirty, another +forty, to this Man one hundred were disposed, to the other two hundred, +and the more one was in favor with the domineering Tyrant (which they +styled Governor) the more he became Master of, upon this pretence, and +with this Proviso, that he should see them instructed in the Catholick +Religion, when as they themselves to whom they were committed to be +taught, and the care of their Souls instructed them were, for the major +part Idiots, Cruel, Avaritious, infected and stained with all sorts of +Vices. And this was the great care they had of them, they sent the +Males to the Mines to dig and bring away the Gold, which is an +intollerable labor; but the Women they made use of to Manure and Till +the ground, which is a toil most irksome even to Men of the strongest +and most robust constitutions, allowing them no other food but Herbage, +and such kind of unsubstantial nutriment, so that the Nursing Womens +Milk was exsiccated and so dryed up, that the young Infants lately +brought forth, all perished, and females being separated from and +debarred cohabitation with Men, there was no Prolification or raising +up issue among them. The Men died in Mines, hunger starved and +oppressed with labor, and the Women perished in the Fields, harrassed +and broken with the like Evils and Calamities: Thus an infinite number +of Inhabitants that formerly peopled this Island were exterminated and +dwindled away to nothing by such Consumptions. They were compelled to +carry burthens of eighty or one hundred pound weight, and that an +hundred or two hundred miles compleat: and the _Spaniards_ were born by +them on the Shoulders in a pensil Vehicle or Carriage, or kind of Beds +made of Net-work by the _Indians_; for in Truth they made use of them +as Beasts to carry the burthens and cumbersom baggage of their +journeys, insomuch that it frequently happened, that the Shoulders and +Backs of the _Indians_ were deeply marked with their scourges and +stripes, just as they used to serve a tired Jade, accustomed to +burthens. And as to those slashes with whips, blows with staves, cuffs +and boxes, maledictions and curses, with a Thousand of such kind of +Torments they suffered during the fatigue of their laborious journeys +it would require a long tract of time, and many Reams of Paper to +describe them, and when all were done would only create Horror and +Consternation in the Reader. + +But here is is observable, that the desolation of these Isles and +Provinces took beginning since the decease of the most Serene Queen +_Isabella_, about the year 1504, for before that time very few of the +Provinces situated in that Island were oppressed or spoiled with unjust +Wars, or violated with general devastation as after they were, and most +if not all these things were concealed and masked from the Queens +knowledge (whom I hope God hath crowned with Eternal Glory) for she was +transported with fervent and wonderful zeal, nay, almost Divine desires +for the Salvation and preservation of these people, which things so +exemplary as these we having seen with our eyes, and felt with our +hands, cannot easily be forgotten. + +Take this also for a general Rule, that the _Spaniards_ upon what +_American_ Coasts soever they arrived, exercised the same Cruelties, +Slaughters, Tyrannies and detestable Oppressions on the most innocent +_Indian_ Nation, and diverting themselves with delights in new sorts +of Torment, did in time improve in Barbarism and Cruelty; wherewith the +Omnipotent being incensed suffered them to fail by a more desperate and +dangerous lapse into a reprobate state. + + +_Of the Isles of St._ John _and_ Jamaica. + +In the Year 1509, the _Spaniards_ sailed to the Islands of St. _John_ +and _Jamaica_ (resembling Gardensa and Bee-hives) with the same purpose +and design they proposed to themselves in the Isle of _Hispaniola_, +perpetrating innumerable Robberies and Villanies as before; whereunto +they added unheard of Cruelties by Murdering, Burning, Roasting, and +Exposing Men to be torn to pieces by Dogs; and Finally by afflicting +and harassing them with un-exampled Oppressions and torments in the +Mines, they spoiled and unpeopled this Contrey of these Innocents. +These two Isles containing six hundred thousand at least, though at +this day there are scarce two hundred men to be found in either of +them, the remainder perishing without the knowledge of Christian Faith +or Sacrament. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Isle of _Cuba. + +In the Year of our Lord 1511. They passed over to _Cuba_, which +contains as much ground in length as there is distance between +_Valledolid_ and _Rome_, well furnished with large and stately +Provinces and very populous, against whom they proceeded with no more +humanity and Clemency, or indeed to speak truth with greater Savageness +and Brutality. Several memorable Transactions worthy observation, +passed in this Island. A certain _Cacic_ a potent Peer, named +_Hathney_, who not long before fled _Hispaniola_ to _Cuba_ for Refuge +from Death, or Captivity during Life; and understanding by certain +_Indians_ that the _Spaniards_ intended to steer their course thither, +made this Oration to all his People Assembled together. + + You are not ignorant that there is a rumor spread abroad among us of + the _Spaniards_ Arrival, and are sensible by woeful experience how such + and such (naming them) and _Hayti_ (so they term _Hispaniola_ in their + own language) with their Inhabitants have been treated by them, that + they design to visit us with equal intentions of committing such acts + as they have hitherto been guilty of. But do you not know the cause and + reason of their coming? We are altogether ignorant of it, they + replied, but sufficiently satisfied that they are cruelly and wickedly + inclined: Then thus, he said, they adore a certain Covetous Deity, + whose cravings are not to be satisfied by a few moderate offerings, but + they may answer his Adoration and Worship, demand many unreasonable + things of us, and use their utmost endeavors to subjugate and + afterwards murder us. Then taking up a Cask or Cabinet near at hand, + full of Gold and Gems, he proceeded in this manner: This is the + _Spaniards_ God, and in honour of him if you think well of it, let us + celebrate our _Arcytos_ (which are certain kinds of Dances and caprings + used among them); and by this means his Deity being appeas'd, he will + impose his Commands on the Spaniards that they shall not for the future + molest us; who all unanimously with one consent in a loud tone made + this reply. Well said, Well said, and thus they continued skipping and + dancing before this Cabinet, without the least intermission, till they + were quite tired and grown weary: Then the Noble _Hathney_ re-assuming + his discourse, said, if we Worship this Deity, till ye be ravished from + us, we shall be destroyed, therefore I judge it convenient, upon mature + deliberation, that we cast it into the River, which advice was approved + of by all without opposition, and the Cabinet thrown in to the next + River. + +When the Spaniards first touched this Island, this _Cacic_, who was +thoroughly acquainted with them, did avoid and shun them as much as in +him lay, and defended himself by force of Arms, wherever he met with +them, but at length being taken he was burnt alive, for flying from so +unjust and cruel a Nation, and endeavuoring to secure his Life against +them, who only thirsted after the blood of himself and his own People. +Now being bound to the post, in order of his Execution a certain Holy +Monk of the _Franciscan_ Order, discours'd with him concerning God and +the Articles of our Faith, which he never heard of before, and which +might be satisfactory and advantagious to him, considering the small +time allow'd him by the Executioner, promising him Eternal Glory and +Repose, if he truly believ'd them, or other wise Everlasting Torments. +After that _Hathney_ had been silently pensive sometime, he askt the +Monk whether the _Spaniards_ also were admitted into Heaven, and he +answering that the Gates of Heaven were open to all that were Good and +Godly, the _Cacic_ replied without further consideration, that he would +rather go to Hell then Heaven, for fear he should cohabit in the same +Mansion with so Sanguinary and Bloody a Nation. And thus God and the +Holy Catholick Faith are Praised and Reverenced by the Practices of the +_Spaniards_ in _America_. + +Once it so hapned, that the Citizens of a Famous City, distant Ten +Miles from the place where we then resided, came to meet us with a +splendid Retinue, to render their Visit more Honourable, bringing with +them delicious Viands, and such kind of Dainties, with as great a +quantity of Fish as they could possibly procure, and distributing them +among us; but behold on a sudden, some wicked Devil possessing the +minds of the _Spaniards_, agitated them with great fury, that I being +present, and without the least Pretence or Occasion offered, they cut +off in cold Blood above Three Thousand Men, Women and Children +promiscuously, such Inhumanities and Barbarisms were committed in my +sight, as no Age can parallel. + +Some time after I dispatch Messengers to all the Rulers of the Province +of _Havana_, that they would by no means be terrified, or seek their +refuge by absence and flight, but to meet us, and that I would engage +(for they understood my Authority) that they should not receive the +least of Injuries; for the whole Country was extremely afflicted at the +Evils and Mischiefs already perpetrated, and this I did with the +advice of their Captain. As soon as we approached the Province, Two +and Twenty of their Noblemen came forth to meet us, whom the Captain +contrary to his Faith given, would have expos'd to the Flames, +alledging that it was expedient they should be put to Death, who were, +at any time, capacitated to use any Stratagem against us, but with +great difficulty and much adoe, I snatcht them out of the fire. + +These Islanders of _Cuba_, being reduc'd to the same Vasselage and +Misery as the Inhabitants of _Hispaniola_, seeing themselves perish and +dy without any redress, fled to the Mountains for shelter, but other +Desperado's, put a period to their days with a Halter, and the Husband, +together with his Wife and Children, hanging himself, put an end to +those Calamities. + +By the ferocity of one _Spanish_ Tyrant (whom I knew) above Two Hundred +_Indians_ hang'd themselves of their own accord; and a multitude of +People perished by this kind of Death. + +A certain Person here in the same Isle constituted to exercise a kind +of Royal Power, hapned to have Three Hundred _Indians_ fall to his +share, of which in Three Months, through excessive labour, One Hundred +and Sixty were destroy'd, insomuch that in a short space there remained +but a tenth part alive, namely Thirty, but when the number was doubled, +they all perisht at the same rate, and all that were bestow'd upon him +lost their lives, till at length he paid his last Debt to Nature and +the Devil. + +In Three or Four Months time I being there present, Six Thousand +Children and upward were murder'd, because they had lost their Parents +who labour'd in the Mines; nay I was a Witness of many other stupendous +Villanies. + +But afterward they consulted how to persecute those that lay hid in the +Mountains, who were miserably massacred, and consequently this Isle +made desolate, which I saw not long after, and certainly it is a +dreadful and depolorable sight to behold it thus unpeopled and laid +waste, like a Desert. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the_ CONTINENT. + +In the Year 1514, a certain unhappy Governour Landed on the firm Land +or Continent, a most bloody Tyrant, destitute of all Mercy and +Prudence, the Instrument of God's Wrath, with a Resolution to people +these parts with _Spaniards_; and although some Tyrants had touched +here before him, and Cruelty hurried them into the other World by +several wayes of Slaughter, yet they came no farther than to the Sea +Coast, where they comitted podigious Thefts and Robberies, but this +Person exceeded all that ever dwelt in other Islands, though execrable +and profligate Villains: for he did not only ravage and depopulate the +Sea-Coast, but buried the largest Regions and most ample Kingdoms in +their own Ruins, sending Thousdands to Hell by his Butcheries. He made +Incursions for many Miles continuance, that is to say, in those +Countries that are included in the Territories of _Darien_ and the +Provinces of _Nicaraqua_, where are near Five Hundred Miles of the most +Fertil Land in the World, and the most opulent for Gold of all the +Regions hitherto discover'd. And although _Spain_ has bin sufficiently +furnished with the purest Gold, yet it was dig'd out of the Bowels and +Mines of the said Countries by the _Indians_, where (as we have said) +they perished. + +This Ruler, with his Complices found out new inventions to rack, +torment, force and extort Gold from the _Indians_. One of his Captains +in a certain Excursion undertaken by the Command of his Governeur to +make Depraedations, destroy'd Forty Thousand Persons and better +exposing them to the edge of the Sword, Fire, Dogs and variety of +Torments; of all which a Religious Man of the Order of St. _Francis, +Franciscus de S. Romano_, who was then present was an Eye-Witness. + +Great and Injurious was the blindness of those praesided over the +_Indians_; as to the Conversion and Salvation of this People: for they +denyed in Effect what they in their flourishing Discourse pretended to, +and declar'd with their Tongue what they contradicted in their Heart; +for it came to this pass, that the _Indians_ should be commanded on the +penalty of a bloody War, Death, and perpetual Bondage, to embrace the +Christian Faith, and submit to the Obedience of the _Spanish_ King; as +if the Son of God, who suffered Death for the Redemption of all +Mankind, had enacted a Law, when he pronounced these words, _Go and +teach all Nations_ that Infidels, living peaceably and quietly in their +Hereditary Native Country, should be impos'd upon pain of Confiscation +of all their Chattels, Lands, Liberty, Wives, Children, and Death +itself, without any precedent instruction to Confess and Acknowledge +the true God, and subject themselves to a King, whom they never saw, or +heard mention'd before; and whose Messengers behav'd themselves toward +them with such Inhumanity and Cruelty as they had done hitherto. Which +is certainly a most foppish and absurd way of Proceeding, and merits +nothing but Scandal, Derision, nay Hell itself. Now suppose this +Notorious and Profligate Governour had bin impower'd to see the +Execution of these Edicts perform'd, for of themselves they were +repugnant both to Law and Equity; yet he commanded (or they who were to +see the Execution thereof, did it of their own Heads without Authority) +that when they phansied or proposed to themselves any place, that was +well stor'd with Gold, to rob and feloniously steal it away from the +_Indians_ living in their Cities and Houses, without the least +suspicion of any ill Act. These wicked _Spaniards_, like Theives came +to any place by stealth, half a Mile off of any City, Town or Village, +and there in the Night published and proclaim'd the Edict among +themselves after this manner: + + You _Cacics_ and _Indians_ of this Continent, the Inhabitants of such + a Place, which they named; We declare or be it known to you all, that + there is but one God, one hope, and one King of _Castile_, who is Lord + of these Countries; appear forth without delay, and take the oath of + Allegiance to the _Spanish_ King, as his Vassals. + +So about the Fourth Watch of the Night, or Three in the Morning these +poor Innocents overwhelm'd with heavy Sleep, ran violently on that place +they named, set Fire to their Hovels, which were all thatcht, and so, +without Notice, burnt Men, Women and Children; kill'd whom they pleas'd +upon the Spot; but those they preserv'd as Captives, were compell'd +throughTorments to confess where they had hid the Gold, when they found +little or none at their Houses; but they who liv'd being first +stigmatized, were made Slaves; yet after the Fire was extinguisht, they +came hastily in quest of the Gold. Thus did this Wicked Man, devoted to +all the Infernal Furies, behave himself with the Assistance of Profligate +Christians, whom he had lifted in his Service from the 14th to the 21. or +22. Year, together with his Domestick Servants and Followers, from whom he +received as many Portions, besides what he had from his Slaves in Gold, +Pearls, and Jewels, as the Chief Governor would have taken, and all +that were constituted to execute any kind of Kingly Office followed in +the same Footsteps; every one sending as many of his Servants as he +could spare, to share in the spoil. Nay he that came hither as Biship +first of all did the same also, And at the vory time (as I conjecture) +the _Spaniards_ did depraedate or rob this Kingdom of above Ten Hundred +Thousand Crowns of Gold: Yet all these their Thefts and Felonies, we +scarce find upon Record that Three Hundred Thousand _Castilian_ Crowns +ever came into the _Spanish_ King's Coffers; yet there were above Eight +Hundred Thousand Men slain: The other Tyrants who governed this Kingdom +afterward to the Three and Thirtieth year, depriv'd all of them of Life +that remain'd among the Inhabitants. + +Among all those flagitious Acts committed by this Governour while he +rul'd this Kindom, or by his Consent and Permission this must by no +means be omitted: A certain _Casic_, bestowing on him a Gift, +voluntarily, or (which is more probably) induced thereunto by Fear, +about the weight of Nine Thousand Crowns, but the _Spaniards_ not +satisfied with so fast a Sum of Money, sieze him, fix him to a Pole; +extended his Feet, which being mov'd near the Fire, they demanded a +larger Sum; the _Casic_ overcome with Torments, sending home, procur'd +Three Thousand more to be brought and presented to them: But the +_Spaniards_, adding new Torments to new Rage and Fury, when they found +he would confer no more upon them, which was because he could not, or +otherwize because he would not, they expos'd him for so long to that +Torture, till by degrees of heat the Marrow gusht out of the Soles of +his Feet, and so he dyed; Thus they often murder'd the Lords and Nobles +which such Torments to Extort the Gold from them. + +One time it hapned that a Century or Party of One Hundred _Spaniards_ +making Excursions, came to a Mountain, where many People shunning so +horrid and pernicious an Enemy conceal'd themselves, who immediately +rushing on them, putting all to the Sword they could meet with, and +then secur'd Seventy or Eighty Married Women as well as Virgins +Captives; but a great Number of _Indians_ with a fervent desire of +recovering their Wives and Daughters appear'd in Arms against the +_Spaniards_, and when they drew near the Enemy, they unwilling to lose +the Prey, run the Wives and Maidens through with their Swords. The +_Indians_ through Grief and Trouble, smiting their Breasts, brake out +into these Exclamations. O perverse Generation of Men! O Cruel +_Spaniards_! What do you Murder _las Iras_? (In their Language they +call Women by the Name of _las Iras_ as if they had said: To slay Women +is an Act of bloody minded Men, worse than Brutes and Wild Beasts. + +There was the House of a Puissant Potentate scituated about Ten or +Fifteen Miles from _Panama_, whose name was _Paris_, very Rich in Gold; +and the _Spaniards_ gave him a visit, who were entertained with +Fraternal Kindness, and Courteously received, and of his own accord, +presented the Captain with a Gift of Fifteen Thousand Crowns; who was +of opinion, as well as the rest of the _Spaniards_, that he who +bestow'd such a quantity of Money _gratis_, was the Master of vast +Treasure; whereupon they counterfeit a pretended Departure, but +returning about the Fourth Night-Watch, and entring the City privily +upon a surprize, which they thought was sufficiently secur'd, +consecrated it with many Citizens to the Flames, and robb'd them of +Fifty or Sixty Thousand Crowns. The _Dynast_ or Prince escaped with +his Life, and gathering together as great a Number of Men as he could +possibly at that instant of time, and Three or Four Days being elapsed, +pursued the _Spaniards_, who had depriv'd him also by Violence and +Rapine of a Hundred and Thirty or Forty Thousand Crowns, and pouring in +upon them, recover'd all his Gold with the destruction of Fifty +_Spaniards_, but the remainder of them having receiv'd many Wounds in +that Rencounter betook them to their Heels and sav'd themselves by +flight: but in few days after the _Spaniards_ return, and fall upon the +said _Casic_ well-arm'd and overthrow him and all his Forces, and they +who out-liv'd the Combat, to their great Misfortune, were expos'd to +the usual and frequently mention'd Bondage. + + +_Of the Province of_ NICARAQUA. + +The said Tyrant _An. Dom._ 1522. proceeded farther very unfortunately +to the Subjugation of Conquest of this Province. In truth no Person +can satisfactorily or sufficiently express the Fertility, Temperateness +of the Climate, or the Multitude of the Inhabitants of _Nicaraqua_, +which was almost infinite and admirable; for this Region contain'd some +Cities that were Four Miles long; and the abundance of Fruits of the +Earth (which was the cause of such a Concourse of People) was highly +commendable. The People of this place, because the Country was Level +and Plain, destitute of Mountains, so very delightful and pleasant, +that they could not leave it without great grief, and much +dissatisfaction, they were therefore tormented with the greater +Vexations and Persecutions, and forced to bear the _Spanish_ Tyranny +and Servitude, which as much Patience as they were Masters of: Add +farther that they were peaceable and meek spirited. This Tyrant with +these Complices of his Cruelty did afflict this Nation (whose advice he +made use of in destroying the other Kingdoms) with such and so many +great Dammages, Slaughters, Injustice, Slaver, and Barbarisme, that a +Tongue, though of Iron, could not express them all fully. He sent into +the Province (which is larger than the County of _Ruscinia_) Fifty +Horse-Men, who put all the People to the Edge of the Sword, sparing +neither Age nor Sex upon the most trivial and inconsiderable occasion: +As for Example, if they did not come to them with all possible speed, +when called; and bring the imposed burthen of _Mahid_ (which signifies +Corn in their Dialect) or if they did not bring the Number of _Indians_ +required to his own, and the Service or rather Servitude of his +Associates. And the Country being all Campaign or Level, no Person was +able to withstand the Hellish Fury of their Horses. + +He commanded the _Spaniards_ to make Excursions, that is, to rob other +Provinces, permitting and granting these Theiving Rogues leave to take +away by force as many of these peacable People as they could, who being +iron'd (that they might not sink under the Burthen of Sixty or Eighty +Pound weight) it frequently hapned, that of Four Thousand _Indians_, +Six only returned home, and so they dyed by the way; but if any of them +chanced to faint, being tired with over-weighty Burthens, or through +great Hunger and Thirst should be siezed with a Distemper; or too much +Debility and Weakness, that they might not spend time in taking off +their Fetters, they beheaded them, so the Head fell one way, and the +Body another: The _Indians_ when they spied the _Spaniards_ making +preparations for such Journeys, knowing very well, that few, or none +returned home alive, just upon their setting out with Sighs and Tears, +burst out into these or the like Expressions. + + Those were Journeys, which we travelled frequently in the service of + Christians, and in some tract of time we return'd to our Habitations, + Wives and Children: But now there being no hope of a return, we are for + ever depriv'd of their Sight and Conversation. + +It hapned also, that the same President would dissipate or disperse the +_Indians de novo_ at his own pleasure, to the end (as it was reported) +he might violently force the _Indians_ away from such as did infest or +molest him; and dispose of them to others; upon which it fell out, that +for the space of a Year complete, there was no sowing or planting: And +when they wanted Bread, the _Spaniards_ did by force plunder the +_Indians_ of the whole stock of Corn that they had laid up for the +support of their Families, and by these indirect Courses above Thirty +Thousand perished with Hunger. Nay it fortun'd at one time, that a +Woman opprest with insufferable Hunger, depriv'd her own Son of his +Life to preserve her own. + +In this Province also they brought many to an untimely End, loading +their Shoulders with heavy planks and pieces of Timer, which they were +compell'd to carry to a Haven Forty Miles distant, in order to their +building of Ships; sending them likewise unto the Mountains to find out +Hony and Wax, where they were devour'd by Tygers; nay they loaded Women +impregnated with Carriage and Burthens fit for beasts. + +But no greater pest was there that could unpeople this Province, than +the License granted the _Spaniards_ by this Governour, to demand +Captives from the _Casics_ and Potentates of this Region; for at the +Expiration of Four or Five Months, or as often as they obtain'd leave +of the Governour to demand them, they deliver'd them up Fifty Servants, +and the _Spaniards_ terrified them with Menaces, that if they did not +obey them in answering their unreasonable Demands, they should be burnt +alive, or baited to Death by Dogs. Now the _Indians_ are but slenderly +stor'd with Servants; for it is much if a _Casic_ hath Three or Four in +his Retinue, therefore they have recourse to the Subjects; and when +they had, in the first place, seized the Orphans, they required +earnestly and instantly one Son of the Parent, who had but Two, and Two +of him that had but Three, and for the Lord of the place satisfied the +desires of the Tyrant, not without the Effusion of Tears and Groans of +the People, who (as it seems) were very careful of their Children. And +this being frequently repeated in the space between the Year 1523, and +1533, the Kingdom lost all their Inhabitants, for in Six or Seven Years +time there were constantly Five or Six Ships made ready to be fraighted +with _Indians_ that were sold in the Regions of _Panama_ and +_Perusium_, where they all dyed; for it is by dayly Experience prov'd +and known, that the _Indians_ when Transported out of their Native +Country into any other, soon dye; because they are shortned in their +allowance of Food, and the Task impos'd on them no ways dimished, they +being only bought for Labour. And by this means, there have been taken +out of this Province Five Hundred Thousand Inhabitants and upward, who +before were Freemen, and made Slaves, and in the Wars made on them, and +the horrid Bondage they were reduc'd unto Fifty or Sixty Thousand more +have perished, and to this day very many still are destroy'd. Now all +these Slaughters have been committed within the space of Fourteen years +inclusively, possibly in this Province of _Nicaraqua_ there remains +Four or Five Thousand Men who are put to Death by ordinary and personal +Opressions, whereas (according to what is said already) it did exceed +other Countries of the World in multitude of People. + + + _Of new_ SPAIN. + +New _Spain_ was discovered _Anno Dom._ 1517. and in the detection there +was no first or second Attempt, but all were exposed to slaughter. The +year ensuing those _Spaniards_ (who style themselves Christians) came +thither to rob, kill and slay, though they pretend they undertook this +Voyage to people the Countrey. From this year to the present, _viz._ +1542. the Injustice, Violence and Tyranny of the _Spaniards_ came to +the highest degree of extremety: for they had shook hands with and bid +adieu to all fear of God and the King, unmindful of themselves in this +sad and deplorable condition, for the Destructions, Cruelties, +Butcheries, Devastations, the Domolishing of Cities, Depradations, +_&c._ which they perpetrated in so many and such ample Kingdoms, are +such and so great, and strike the minds of Men with so great horror, +that all we have related before are inconsiderable comparatively to +those which have been acted from the year 1518 to 1542, and to this +very month of _September_ that we now live to see the most heavy, +grievous and detestable things are committed, that the Rule we laid +down before as a Maxim might be induputably verified, to wit, that from +the beginning they ran headlong from bad to worse, and were overcome in +their Diabolical acts and wickedness only by themselves. + +Thus from the first entrance of the _Spaniards_ into _New Spain_, which +hapned on the 18th day of _April_ in the said month of the year 1518, +to 1530, the space of ten whole years, there was no end or period put +to the Destruction and Slaughters committed by the merciless hands of +the Sanguinary and Blood-thirsty Spaniard in the Continent, or space of +450 Miles round about _Mexico_, and the adjacent or neighboring parts, +which might contain four or five spatious Kingdoms, that neither for +magnitude or fertility would give _Spain_ her self the pre-eminance. +This intire Region was more populous then _Toledo, Sevil, Valedolid, +Saragoza,_ and _Faventia_; and there is not at this day in all of them +so many people, nor when they flourisht in their greatest height and +splendor was there such a number, as inhabited that Region, which +embraceth in its Circumference, four hundred and eighty Miles. Within +these twelve years the Spaniards have destroyed in the Said Countinent, +by Spears, Fire and Sword, computing Men, Women, Youth, and Children +above Four Millions of people in these their Acquests or Conquests (for +under that word they mask their Cruel Actions) or rather those of the +Turk himself, which are reported of them, tending to the ruin of the +Catholick Cause, together with their Invasions and Unjust Wars, +contrarty to and condemned by Divine as well as Human Laws; nor are +they reckoned in this number who perished by their more then _Egyptian_ +Bondage and usual Oppressions. + +There is no Tongue, Art, or Human knowledge can recite the horrid +Impieties, which these Capital Enemies to Government and all Mankind +have been guilty of at several times and in several Nations; nor can +the circumstantial Aggravations of some of their wicked Acts be +unfolded or display'd by any manner of Industry, time or writing, but +yet I will say somewhat of every individual particular thing, which +this protestation and Oath, that I conceive I am not able to comprehend +one of a Thousand. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of_ New Spain _in Particular_. + +Among other Slaughters this also they perpetrated in the most spacious +City of _Cholula_, which consisted of Thirty Thousand Families; all the +Chief Rulers of that Region and Neighboring places, but first the +Priests with their High Priest going to meet the Spaniards in Pomp and +State, and to the end they might give them a more reverential and +honourable reception appointed them to be in the middle of the +Solemnity, that so being entertained in the Appartments of the most +powerful and principal Noblemen, they might be lodged in the City. The +Spaniards presently consult about their slaughter or castigation (as +they term it) that they might fill every corner of this Region by their +Cruelties and wicked Deeds with terror and consternation; for in all +the Countries that they came they took this course, that immediately at +their first arrival they committed some notorious butcheries, which +made those Innocent Sheep tremble for fear. To this purpose therefore +they sent to the Governours and Nobles of the Cities, and all Places +subject unto them, together with their supream Lord, that they should +appear before them, and no soner did they attend in expectation of some +Capitulation or discourse with the Spanish Commander, but they were +presently seized upon and detained prisoners before any one could +advertise or give them notice of their Captivity. They demanded of +them six thousand _Indians_ to drudge for them in the carriage of their +bag and baggage; and as soon as they came the _Spaniards_ clapt them +into the Yards belonging to their Houses and there inclosed them all. +It was a thing worthy of pity and compassion to behold this wretches +people in what a condition they were when they prepared themselves to +receive the burthens laid on them by the Spaniards. They came to them +naked, their Privities only vail'd, their Shoulders loaden with food; +only covered with a Net, they laid themselves quietly on the ground, +and shrinking in their Bodies like poor Wretches, exposed themselves to +their Swords: Thus being all gathered together in ther Yards, some of +the Spaniards Armed held the doors to drive them away if attempting to +approach, and others with Lances and Swords Butcher these Innocents so +that not one of them escaped, but two or three days after some of them, +who hid themselves among the dead bodies, being all over besprinkled +with blood and gore, presented themselves to the Spaniards, imporing +their mercy and the prolongation of their Lives with tears in their +Eyes and all imaginable submission, yet they, not in the least moved +with pity or compassion, tore them in pieces: but all the Chief +Governours who were above one hundred in number, were kept bound, whom +the Captain commanded to be affixed to posts and burnt; yet the King of +the whole Countrey escaped, and betook himself with a Train of thirty +or forty Gentlemen, to a Temple (called in their Tongue _Quu_) which he +made use of as a Castle or Place of Defence, and there defended himself +a great part of the day, but the Spaniards who suffer none to escape +out of their clutches, especially Souldiers, setting fire to the +Temple, burnt all those that were there inclosed, who brake out into +these dying words and exclamations. O profligate Men, what injury have +we done you to occasion our death! Go, go to _Mexico_, where our +supream Lord _Montencuma_ will revenge our cause upon your persons. +And 'tis reported, while the Spaniards were engated in this Tragedy +destroying six or seven thousand Men, that their Commander with great +rejoycing sang this following Ayre; + + _Mira_ Nero _de_ Tarpeia, Roma _como se ardia, + Gritos de_ Ninos _y Vieyot, y el de nadase dolia._ + + _From the_ Tarpeian _still Nero espies_ + Rome _all in Flames with unrelenting Eyes,_ + _And hears of young and old the dreadful Cries._ + +They also committed a very great Butchery in the City _Tepeara_, which +was larger and better stored with Houses than the former; and here they +Massacred an incredible number with the point of the Sword. + +Setting sail from _Cholula_, they steer'd their course to _Mexico_, +whose King sent his Nobles and Peers with abundance of Presents to meet +them by the way, testifying by divers sorts of Recreations how grateful +their arrival was and acceptable to him: but when they came to a steep +Hill, his brother went forward to meet them accompanied with many +Noblemen who brought them many gifts in Gold, Silver, and Robes +Emboidered with Gold and at their entrance into the City, the King +himself carried in a golden Litter, together (with the whole Court) +attended them to the Palace prepared for their reception; and that very +day as I was informed by some persons then and there present by a grand +piece of Treachery, they took the very great King _Montencuma_, never +so much as dreaming of any such surprize, and put him into the custody +of eighty Soldiers, and afterward loaded this Legs with irons; but all +these things being passed over with a light pencil of which much might +be said, one thing I will discover acted by them, that may merit your +obervation. When the Captain arrived at the Haven, to fight with a +Spanish Officer, who made War against him, and left another with an +hundred Soldiers, more or less as a Guard to King _Montencuma_, it came +into their heads, that to act somewhat worth remembrance, that the +dread of their Cruelty might be more and more apprehended, and greatly +increased. + +In the interim all the Nobility and Commonality of the City thought of +nothing else, but how to exhilarate the Spirit of their Captive King, +and solace him during his Confinement with varity of diversions and +Recreations; and among the rest this was one, _viz._, Revellings and +Dances which they celebrated in all Streets and Highways, by night and +they in their Idiom term _Mirotes_, as the Islanders do _Arcytos_; to +these Masques and nocturnal Jigs they usually go with all their Riches, +Costly Vestments and Robes, together with any thing that is pretious +and glorious, being wholly addicted to this humor, nor is there any +greater token among them then this of their extraordinary exultation +and rejoycing. The Nobles in like manner, and Princes of the Blood +Royal every one according to his degree exercise these Masques and +Dances, in some place adjoyning to the House where their King and Lord +is detained Prisoner. Now there were not far from the Palace about +2000 Young Noblemen who were the issue of the greatest Potentates of +the Kingom, and indeed the flower of the whole Nobility of King +_Motencuma_, and a _Spanish_ Captain went to visit them with some +Soldiers, and sent others to the rest of the places in the City where +these Revellings were kept, under pretence only of being spectators of +the solemnity. Now the Captain had commanded, that, at a certain hour +appointed they should fall upon these Revellers, and he himself +approaching the _Indians_ very busie at their Dancing, said, _San Jago_ +(that is St. _James_ it seems that was the Word) _Let us rush in upon +them_, which was no sooner heard, but they all began with their naked +Swords in hand to pierce their tender and naked Bodies, and spill their +generous and Noble blood, till not one of them was left alive on the +place, and the rest following his example in other parts, (to their +inexpressible stupefaction and grief) seized on all these Provinces. +Nor will the Inhabitants till the General conflagration ever +discontinue the Celebration of these Festivals, and the Lamentation and +Singing with certain kind of Rhythmes in their _Arcytos_, the doleful +ditty of the Calamity and Ruin of this Seminary of the antient Nobility +of the whole Kingdom, which was their frequent Pride and Glory. + +The _Indians_ seeing this not to be exampled cruelty and iniquity +executed against such a number of guiltless persons, and also bearing +with incredible patience the unjust Imprisonment of their King, from +whom they had an absolute Command not to take up Arms against the +_Spaniard_, the whole City was suddenly up in Arms fell on the +_Spaniards_ and wounded many of them, the rest hardly escaping; but +they presenting the point of a Sword to the Kings Breast, threatned him +with death unless he out of the Window commanded them to desist; but +the _Indians_ for the present disobeying the Kings Mandate, proceeded +to the Election of a Generalissimo, or Commander in Chief over all +their Forces; and because that the Captain, who went to the Port +returned Victor, and brought away a far greater number of _Spaniards_ +then he took along with him, there was a Cessation of Arms for three or +four days, till he re-entred the City, and then the _Indians_ having +gatherered together and made up a great Army, fought so long and so +strenuously, that the _Spaniards_ despairing of their safety, called a +Council of War and therein resolv'd to retreat in the dead time of +night and so draw off their Forces from the City: which coming to the +knowledge of the _Indians_ they destroyed a great number Retreating on +the Bridges made over their Lakes in this just and Holy War, for the +causes above-mentioned, deserving the approbation of every upright +Judge. But afterward the _Spaniards_ having recruited and got together +in a Body, they resolved to take the City and carried it at last, +wherein most detestable Butcheries were acted, a vast number of the +people slain, and their Rulers perished in the Flames. + +All these horrid Muders being commited in _Mexico_ and other Cities +ten, fifteen and twenty miles distant. This same Tyranny and Plague in +the abstract proceeded to infest and lay desolate _Panuco_; a Region +abounding with Inhabitants even to admiration, nor were the slaughters +therein perpetrated less stupendous and wonderful. In the same manner +they utterly laid wasate the Provinces of _Futepeca, Ipilcingonium_ and +_Columa_, every one of them being as large as the Kingdoms of _Leon_, +and _Castile_. It would be very difficult or rather impossible to +relate the Cruelties and Destruction there made and committed, and +prove very nauseous and offensive to the Reader. + +'Tis observable, that they entred upon these Dominions and laid waste +the _Indian_ Territories, so populous, that it would have rejoyced the +hearts of all true Christians to see their number upon no other title +or pretense, but only to enslave them; for at their first arrival they +compel'd them to swear the Oath of Obedience and Fealty to the King of +_Spain_, and if they did not condescend to it, they menace them with +death and Vassalage, and they who did not forthwith appear to satisfie +the unequitable Mandates, and submit to the will and pleasure of such +unjust and Cruel Men were declared Rebels, and accu's of that Crime +before our Lord the King; and blindess or ignorance of those who were +set over the _Indians_ as Rulers did so darken their understanding that +they did not apprehend that known and incontrovertible Maxim in Law, +_That no Man can be called a Rebel, who is not first proved to be a +subject_. I omit the injuries and prejudice they do to the King +himself, when they spoil and ravage his Kingdoms, and as much as in +them lies, diminish and impair all his Right and Title to the +_Indians_, nay in plain English invalidate and make it null and void. +And these are the worthy Services which the Spaniards do for our Kings +in those Countries, by the injust and colourable pretences aforesaid. + +This Tyrant upon the same pretext sent two other Captains, who exceeded +him in impiety and cruelty, if possible to the most flourishing and +Feril (in Fruits and Men) Kingdoms of _Guatemala_, Situate toward the +South, who had also received Orders to go to the Kingdoms of _Naco, +Hondera_, and _Guaymura_, verging upon the North, and are Borderers on +_Mexico_ three hundred miles together. The one was sent by Land and +the other by Sea, and both well furnished with Horse and Foot. + +This I declare for a Truth, that the outrages committed by these two, +particularly by him that went to _Guatimala_ (for the other not long +after his departure died a violent Death) would afford matter +sufficient for an entire Volume, and when completed he so crouded with +slaughters, injuries, butcheries and inhuman Desolations, so horrid and +detestable as would Ague-shake the present as well as future ages with +terror. + +He that put out to Sea vexed all the Maritime Coasts with his cruel +Incursions; now some inhabitants of the Kingdom of _Jucatan_ which is +seated in the way to the Kingdoms of _Naco_ and _Naymura_, to which +places he steered his course, came to meet him with burthens of +Presents and Gifts: and as soon as he approacht them, sent his Captains +with a party of Soldiers to depopulate their Land, who committed great +spoils and made cruel slaughters among them; and in particular a +Seditious and Rebellious Officer who with three hundres Soldiers entred +a Neighboring Country to _Guatimala_, and there firing the Cities and +Murdering all the Inhabitants, violently deprived them of all their +goods, which he did designedly, for the space of an hundred and twenty +miles; to the end that if his Companions should follow them, they might +find the Country laid wast, and so be destroyed by the _Indians_ in +revenge for the dammage they had received by him and his Forces which +hapned accordingly: for the Chief Commander whose order the abovesaid +Captain had disobey'd and so became a Rebel to him, was there slain. +But many other bloody Tyrants succeeded him, who from the year 1524 to +1535. did unpeople and make a Desert of the Provinces of _Naco_ and +_Hondura_ (as well as other places) which were lookt upon as the +Paradise of delights, and better peopled then other Regions; insomuch +that within the Term of these eleven years there fell in those +Countries above two Millions of Men, and now there are hardly remaining +Two Thousand, who dayly dye by the severity of their Slavery. + +But to return to that great Tyrant, who outdid the former in cruelty +(as hinted above) and is equal to those that Tyrannize there at +present, who travelled to _Guatimala_; he from the Provinces adjoyning +to _Mexico_, which according to his prosecuted journey (as he himself +Writes and testifies with his own hand in Letters to the Prince of +Tyrants) are distant from _Guatimala_ four hundred miles, did make it +to his urgent and dayly business to procure Ruin and Destruction by +slaughter, Fire and Depopulations, compelling all to submit to the +Spanish King, whom they lookt upon to be more unjust and cruel then his +inhumane and bloodthirsty Ministers. + + +_Of the Kingdom and Province of_ GUATIMALA. + +This Tyrant at his first entrance here acted and commanded prodigious +Slaughters to be perpetrated: Notwithstanding which, the Chief Lord in +his Chair or Sedan attended by many Nobles of the City of _Ultlatana_, +the Emporium of the whole Kingdom, together with Trumpets, Drums and +great Exultation, went out to meet him, and brought with them all sorts +of Food in great abundance, with such things as he stood in most need +of. That Night the _Spaniards_ spent without the City, for they did +not judge themselves secure in such a well-fortified place. The next +day he commanded the said Lord with many of his Peers to come before +him, from whom they imperiously challenged a certain quantity of Gold; +to whom the _Indians_ return'd this modest Answer, that they could not +satisfie his Demands, and indeed this Region yeilded no Golden Mines; +but they all, by his command, without any other Crime laid to their +Charge, or any Legal Form of Proceeding were burnt alive. The rest of +the Nobles belonging to other Provinces, when they found their Chief +Lords, who had the Supreme Power were expos'd to the Merciless Element +of Fire kindled by a more merciless Enemy; for this Reason only, +becauase they bestow'd not what they could not upon them, _viz._ Gold, +they fled to the Mountains, (their usual Refuge) for shelter, +commanding their Subjects to obey the _Spaniards_, as Lords, but withal +strictly and expressly prohibiting and forbidding them, to inform the +_Spaniards_ of their Flight, or the Places of their Concealment. And +behold a great many of the _Indians_ addrest themselves to them, +earnestly requesting, they would admit them as Subjects, being very +willing and ready to serve them: The Captain replyed that he would not +entertain them in such a Capacity, but instead of so doing would put +every individual Person to Death, if they would not discover the +Receptacles of the Fugitive Governours. The _Indians_ made answer that +they were wholly ignorant of the matter, yet that they themselves, +their Wives and Children should serve them; that they were at home, +they might come to them and put them to Death, or deal with them as +they pleas'd. But the _Spaniards_, O wonderful! went to the Towns and +Villages, and destroy'd with their Lances these poor Men, their Wives +and Children, intent upon their Labour, and as they thought themselves, +secure and free from danger. Another large Village they made desolate +in the space of two hours, sparing neither Age, nor Sex, putting all to +the Sword, without Mercy. + +The _Indians_ perceiving that this Barbarous and Hard-hearted People +would not be pacified with Humility, large Gifts, or unexampled +Patience, but that they were butcher'd without any Cause, upon serious +Consultation took up a Resolution of getting together in a Body, and +fighting for their Lives and Liberty; for they conceiv'd it was far +better, (since Death to them was a necessary Evil) with Sword in Hand to +be kill'd by taking Revenge of the Enemy, then be destroy'd by them +without satisfaction. But when they grew sensible of their wants of +Arms, Nakedness and Debility, and that they were altogether incapable +of the management of Horses, so as to prevail against such a furious +Adversary, recollecting themselves, they contriv'd this Strategm, to +dig Ditches and Holes in the High-way into which the Horses might fall +in their passage, and fixing therein purposely sharp and burnt Posts, +and covering them with loose Earth, so that they could not be discern'd +by their Riders, they might be transfixed or gored by them. The Horses +fell twice or thrice into those holes, but afterward the _Spaniards_ +took this Course to prevent them for the future; and made this a Law, +that as many of the _Indians_ of what Age or Sex soever as were taken, +should be cast into these Ditches that they had made. Nay they threw +into them Women with Child, and as many Aged Men as they laid hold of, +till they were all fill'd up with Carkasses. It was a sight deserving +Commiseration, to behold Women and Children gauncht or run through with +these Posts, some were taken off by Spears and Swords, and the +remainder expos'd to hungry Dogs, kept short of food for that purpose, +to be devour'd by them and torn in pieces. They burnt a Potent +Nobleman in a very great Fire, saying, _That he was the more Honour'd +by this kind of Death_. All which Butcheries continued Seven Years, +from 1524, to 1531. I leave the Reader to judge how many might be +Massacred during that time. + +Among the Innumerable Flagitious Acts done by this Tyrant and his +Co-partners (for they were as Barbarous as their Principal) in this +Kingdom, this also occurs worthy of an Afterism in the Margin. In the +Province of _Cuztatan_ in which S. _Saviour's_ City is seated, which +Country with the Neighbouing Sea-Coasts extends in Length Forty or +Fifty Miles, as also in the very City of _Cuzcatan_, the Metropolis of +the whole Province, he was entertain'd with great Applause: For about +Twenty or Thirty Thousand _Indians_ brought with them Hens and other +necessary Provisions, expecting this coming. He, accepting their Gifts, +commended every single _Spaniard_ to make choice of as many of these +People, as he had a mind to, that during their stay there, they might +use them as Servants, and forced to undergo the most servile Offices +they should impose on them. Every one cull'd out a Hundred, or Fifty, +according as he thought convenient for his peculiar service, and these +wretched _Indians_ did serve the _Spaniards_ with their utmost strength +and endeavour; so that there could be nothing wanting in them but +Adoration. In the mean time this Captain requir'd a great Sum of Gold +from their Lords (for that was the Load-stone attracted them thither) +who answered, they were content to deliver him up all the Gold they had +in possession; and in order thereunto, the _Indians_ gathered together +a great Number of Spears gilded with _Orichalcum_, (which had the +appearance of Gold, and in truth some Gold in them intermixt) and they +were presented to him. The Captain ordered them to be toucht, and when +he found them to be _Orichalcum_ or mixt Metal, he spake to the +_Spaniards_ as followeth. Let that Nation that is without Gold be +accursed to the Pit of Hell. Let every Man detain those Servants he +Elected, let them be clapt in Irons, and stigmatiz'd with the Brand of +Slavery, which was accordingly done, for they were all burnt, who did +no excape with the King's Mark. I my self saw the Impression made on +the Son of the Chiefest Person in the City. Those that escap'd, with +other _Indians_, engaged the _Spaniards_ by Force of Arms, but with +such ill success, that abundance of them lost their Lives in the +Attempt. After this they return'd to _Gautimala_, where they built a +City, which God in his Judgement with Three Deluges, the First of +Water, the Second of Earth, the Third of Stones, as big as half a score +Oxen, all concurring at one and the same time, laid Level with its own +Ashes. Now all being slain who were capable of bearing Arms against +them, the rest were enslav'd, paying so much _per_ Head for Men and +Women as a Ransom; for they use no other servitude here, and then they +were sent into _Pecusium_ to be sold, by which means together with +their slaughters committed upon the Inhabitants, they destroy'd and +made a Desert of this Kingdom, which in Breadth as well as Length +contains One Hundred Miles; and with his Associates and Brethren in +Iniquity, Four Millions at least in Fifteen or Sixteen Years, that is, +from 1524, to 1540 were murdered, and dayly continues destroying the +small residue of that People with his Cruelties and Brutishness. + +It was the usual Custom of this Tyrant, when he made War with any City +or Province, to take along with himas many of those _Indians_ he had +subjugated as he could, that they might fight with their Country-men; +and when he had in his Army Twenty, or sometimes Thirty Thousand of +them, and could not afford them sustenance, he permitted them to feed +on the Flesh of other _Indians_ taken Prisoners in War; and so kept a +Shambles of Man's Flesh in his Army, suffered Children to be kill'd and +roasted before his Face. They butcher'd the Men for their Feet and +Hands only; for these Members were accounted by them Dainties, most +delicious Food. + +He as the Death of many by the intolerable Labour of Carrying Ships by +Land, causing them to Transport those Vessels with Anchors of a vast +weight from the _Septentrional_ to the _Mediterranean_ Sea, which are +One Hundred and Thirty Miles distant; as also abundance of great Guns +of the largest fort, which they carried on their bare, naked shoulders, +so that opprest with many great and ponderous Burthens, (I say no more +than what I saw) they dyed by the way: He separated and divided +Families, forcing Married Men from their Wives, and Maids from their +Parents, which he bestow'd upon his Marriners and Soldiers, to gratifie +their burning Lust. All his Ships he freighted with _Indians_, where +Hunger and Thirst discharg'd them of their Servitude and his Cruelty by +a welcome Death. He had two Companies of Soldiers who hackt and tore +them in pieces, like Thunder from Heaven speedily. O how many Parents +has he robb'd of their Children, how many Wives of their Husbands, and +Children of their Parents? How many Adulteries, Rapes, and what +Libidinous Acts hath he been guilty of? How many hath he enslav'd and +opprest with insufferable Anguish and unspeakable Calamities? How many +Tears, Sighs and Groans hath he occasion'd? To how many has he bin the +Author of Desolation, during their Peregrination in this, and of +Damnation in the World to come, not only to _Indians_, whose Number is +numberless, but even to _Spaniards_ themselves, by whose help and +assistance he committed such detestable Butcheries and flagitious +Crimes? I supplicate Almighty God, that he would please to have Mercy +on his Soul, and require no other satisfaction than the violent Death, +which turn'd him out of this World. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_A farther Discourse of_ New Spain: _And some Account of_ Panuco +_and_ Xalisco. + +After the perpetration of all the Cruelties rehearsed in _New Spain_ +and other places, there came another Rabid and Cruel Tyrant to +_Panuco_, who acted the part of a bloody Tragedian as well as the rest, +and sent away many Ships loaden with these _Barbarians_ to be sold for +Slaves, made this Province almost a Wilderness, and which was +deplorable, Eight Hundred _Indians_, that had Rational Souls were given +in Exchange for a Burthen-bearing-Beast, a Mule, or Camel. Well, He +was made Governour of the City of _Mexico_, and all _New Spain_, and +with him many other Tyrants had the Office of Auditors confer'd upon +them: Now they had already made such a progress toward the Desolation +of this Region, that if the _Franciscans_ had not vigorously opposed +them, and that by (the King's Council, the best and greatest Encourager +of Vertue) it had not speedily bin prevented, that which hapned to +_Hispaniola_ in Two Years, had bin the Fate of _Hispania nova_, namely +to be unpeopled, deferred, and intomb'd in its own Rules. A Companion +of this Governour employed Eight Thousand _Indians_ in Erecting a wall +to inclose his Garden, but they all dyed, having no Supplies, nor Wages +from him, to support themselves, at whose Death he was not in the least +concern'd. + +After the first Captain before spoken of had absolutely profliaged and +ruin'd the _Panuconians_, Fifteen Thousand whereof perished by carrying +their Bag and Baggage: At length he arriv'd at the Province of +_Machuacan_, which is Forty Miles Journey from _Mexico_, and as Fertile +and Populous: The King to honour him in the Rencounter, with a Multiple +of People, marcheth toward him, from whom he had received One Thousand +Services and Civilities very considerable, who gratefully requited him +with Captivity, because Fame had nois'd it abroad, that he was a most +Opulent Prince in Gold and Silver; and to the end he might export from, +and purge him of his Gold, he was cruciated with Torments after this +manner; his Body was extended, Hands bound to a Post, and his Feet put +into a pair of Stocks, they all the while applying burning Coals to his +Feet at a tormenting distance, where a Boy attended, who by little and +little sprinkled them with Oyl, that his Flesh might roast the better: +Before him there stood a Wicked Fellow, presenting a Bow to his Breast +charged with a Mortal Arrow, (if let fly) behind him, another with Dogs +held in with Chains, which he threatned to let loose at him, which if +done, he had bin torn to pieces in a moment; and with these kind of +Torments they racked him to extort a Confession, where his Treasures +lay; till a _Franciscan_ Monk came and deliver'd him from his Torments, +but not from Death, for he departed this miserable Life not long after: +And this was the severe Fate of many _Cacics_ and _Indian_ Lords, who +dyed with the same Torments which they were expos'd to by the +_Spaniards_, in order to the engrossing of their Gold and Sliver to +themselves. + +At this very time, A certain Visiter of Purses rather than Souls hapned +to be here present, who (finding some _Indian_ Idols which were hid; +for they were no better instructed in the Knowledge of the true God by +reason of the Wicked Documents and Dealings of the _Spaniards_) +detain'd Grandees as Slaves, till they had deliver'd him all their +Idols, for he phancied they were made of Gold or Silver, but his +Expectation being frustrated, he chastised them with no less Cruelty +than Injustice; and that he might not depart bubbled out of all his +hopes, constrain'd them to redeem their Idols with Money, that so they +might, according to their Custom, Adore them. These are the Fruits of +the _Spanish_ Artifices and Juggling Tricks among the _Indians_, and +thus they promoted the honour and worship of God. + +This Tyrant from _Mechuacam_ arrives at _Xalisco_, a Country abounding +with People very fruitful, and the Glory of the _Indians_ in this +respect, that it had some Towns Seven Miles long; and among other +Barbarisms equal to what you have read, which they acted here, this is +not to be forgotten, that Women big with Child, were burthen'd with the +Luggage of Wicked Christians, and being unable to go out their usual +time, through extremity of Toil and Hunger, were necessitated to bring +them forth in the High-wayes, which was the Death of many Infants. + +At a certain time a profligate Christian attempted to devirginate a +Maid, but the Mother being present, resisted him, and endeavouring to +free her from his intended Rape, whereat the _Spaniard_ enrag'd, cut +off her Hand with a short Sword, and stab'd the Virgin in several +places, till she Expir'd, because she obstinately opposed and +disappointed his inordinate Appetite. + +In this Kingdom of _Xalisco_ (according to report) they burnt Eight +Hundred Towns to Ashes, and for this Reason the _Indians_ growing +desperate, beholding the dayly destruction of the Remainders of their +matchless Cruelty, made an Insurrection against the _Spaniards_, slew +several of them justly and deservedly, and afterward fled to the +insensible Rocks and Mountains (yet more tender and kind than the +stony-hearted Enemy) for Sanctuary; where they were miserably Massacred +by those Tyrants who succeeded, and there are now few, or none of the +Inhabitants to be found. Thus the _Spaniards_ being blinded with the +Lustre of their Gold, deserted by God, and given over to a Reprobate +Sense, not undrestanding (or at least not willing to do so) that the +Cause of the _Indians_ is most Just, as well by the Law of Nature, as +the Divine and Humane, they by Force of Arms, destroying them, hacking +them in pieces, and turning them out of their own Confines and +Dominions, nor considering how unjust those Violences and Tyrannies +are, wherewith they have afflicted these poor Creatures, they still +contrive to raise new Wars against them: Nay they conceive, and by Word +and Writing testifie, that those Victories they have obtain'd against +those Innocents to their ruine, are granted them by God himself, as if +their unjust Wars were promoted and managed by a just Right and Title +to what they pretend; and with boasting Joy return Thanks to God for +their Tyranny, in imitation of those Tyrants and Robbers, of whom the +Prophet _Zechariah_ part of the Forth and Fifth Verses. _Feed the Sheep +of the slaughter, whose Possessors slay them, and hold themselves not +guilty, and they that sell them say, Blessed by the Lord, for ye are +rich._ + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Kingdom of _JUCATAN. + +An Impious Wretch by his Fabulous Stories and Relations to the King of +_Spain_ was made praefect of the Kingdom of _Jucatan_, in the Year of +our Lord 1526; And the other Tyrants to this very day have taken the +same indirect Measures to obtain Offices, and screw or wheedle +themselves into publick Charges or Employments, for this praetext, and +Authority, they had the greater opportunity to commit Theft and Rapine. +This Kingdom was very well peopled, and both for Temperature of Air, +and the Plenty of Food and Fruits, in which respect it is more Fertile +than _Mexico_, but chiefly for Hony and Wax, it exceeds all the +_Indian_ Countries that hath hitherto bin discover'd. It is Three +Hundred Miles in Compass. The Inhabitants of this place do much excel +all other _Indians_, either in Politie or Prudence, or in leading a +Regular Life and Morality, truly deserving to be instructed in the +Knowledge of the true God. Here the _Spaniards_ might have Erected +many fair Cities, and liv'd as it were in a Garden of Delights, if they +had not, through Covetousness, Stupidity, and the weight of Enormous +Crimes rendred themselves unworthy of so great a Benefit. This Tyrant, +with Three Hundred Men began to make War with these Innocent People, +living peaceably at home, and doing injury to none, which was the ruine +of a great Number of them: Now because this Region affords no Gold; and +if it did the Inhabitants would soon have wrought away their lives by +hard working in the Mines, that so he might accumulate Gold by their +bodies and Souls, for which Christ was Crucified: For the generality he +made slaves of those whose lives he spared, and sent away such Ships as +were driven thither by the Wind of report, loaden with them, exchanging +them for Wine, Oyl, Vinegar, Salt Pork, Garments, Pack Horses and other +Commodities, which he thought most necessary and fit for his use. He +proposed to them the choice of Fifty Virgins, and she that was the +fairest or best complexioned he bartered for a small Cask of Wine, Oyl, +Vinegar or some inconsiderable quantity of salt Pork, the same exchange +he proferred of Two or Three Hundred well-disposed Young Boys, and one +of them who had the Mind or presence of a Princes Son, was given up to +them for a Cheese, and One Hundred more for a Horse. Thus he continued +his flagitious courses from 1526 to 1533, inclusively, till there was +news brought of the Wealth and Opulence of the Region of _Perusia_, +whither the _Spaniards_ marcht, and so for some time there was a +Cessation of this Tyranny; but in a few days after they returned and +acted enormous Crimes, robbed, and imprisoned them and committed higher +offences against the God of Heaven; nor have they ye done, so that now +these Three Hundred Miles of Land so populous (as I said before) lies +now uncultivated and almost deserted. + +No Solifidian can believe the particular Narrations of their Barbarism, +and Cruelty in those Countreys. I will only relate two or three +Stories which are fresh in my memory. The _Spaniards_ used to trace the +steps of the _Indians_, both Men and Women with curst Currs, furious +Dogs; an _Indian_ Woman that was sick hapned to be in the way in sight, +who perceiving that she was not able to avoid being torn in pieces by +the Dogs, takes a Cord that she had and hangs her self upon a Beam, +tying her Child (which she unforunately had with her) to her foot; and +no sooner had she done, yet the Dogs were at her, tearing the Child, +but a Priest coming that way Baptiz'd it before quite dead. + +When the _Spaniards_ left this Kingdom, one of them invited the Son of +some _Indian_ Governour of a City or Province, to go along with him, +who told him he would not leave or desert his Native Countrey, +whereupon he threatned to cut off his ears, if he refus'd to follow +him: But the Youth persisting resolutely, that he would continue in the +place of his Nativity, he drawing his Sword cut off each Ear, +notwithstanding which he persever'd in his first opinion, and then as +if he had only pincht him, smilingly cut off his Nose and Lips. + +This Rogue did lasciviously boast before a Priest, and as if he had +merited the greatest applause, commended himself to the very Heavens, +saying, "He had made it his chief Trade or Business to impregnate +_Indian_ Women, that when they were sold afterward, he might gain the +more Money by them." + +In this Kingdom or (I'm certain) in some Province of New _Spain_, A +_Spaniard_ Hunting and intent on his game, phancyed that his Beagles +wanted food; and to supply their hunger snatcht a young little Babe +from the Mothers breast, cutting off his Arms and Legs, cast a part of +them to every Dog, which they having devour'd, he threw the remainder +of the Body to them. Thus it is plainly manifest how they value these +poor Creatures, created after the image of God, to cast them to their +Canibal Curs. But that which follows is (if possible) a sin of a +deeper dye. + +I pretermit their unparallel'd Impieties, _&c._ and only close all with +this one Story that follows. Those haughty obdurate and execrable +Tyrants, who departed from this Countrey to Fish for Riches in +_Perusia_, and four Monks of the Order of St. _Francis_, with Father +_James_ who Travelled thither also to keep the Countrey in Peace, and +attract or mildly perswade by their Preaching the remnant of +Inhabitants, that had outlived a septennial Tyranny, to embrace the +knowledge of Christ. I conceive these are the persons who in the year +1534, Travelling by _Mexico_ were sollicited by several Messengers from +the _Indians_, to come into their Countrey, and inform them in the +knowledge of one God, the true God, and Lord of the whole World: to +this end they appointed Assemblies and Councils to examine and +understand what Men they were, who called themselves Fathers and +Friers, what they intended and what difference there was between them +and the _Spaniards_, by whom they had been so molested and tormented: +but they received them at length upon this condition that they should +be admitted alone, without any _Spaniards_, which the Fathers promised; +for they had permission, nay an express Mandate from the President of +New _Spain_ to make that promise, and that the _Spaniards_ should not +do them the least detriment or injury. Then they began, to Preach the +Gospel of Christ, and to explicate and declare the pious intention of +the King of _Castile_, of all which they had notice by the _Spaniards_ +for seven years together, that they had no King nor no other but him, +who oppressed them with so much Tyranny. The Priests continued there +but forty days, but behold they bring forth all their Idols to be +committed to the flames; and then their Children which they tendred as +the apple of the Eye, that they might be instructed. They also erected +Temples and Houses for them and they were desired to come to other +Provinces and Preach the Gospel, and introduce them into the knowledge +of God, and the Great (as they stiled him) King of _Castile_: And the +Priests perswasions wrought so effectually on them, that they +condescended to that which was never done in _India_ before (for +whatsoever those Tyrants who wasted and consumed these large Kingdoms +and Provinces, did misrepresent and falsifie, was only done to bring an +odium and disgrace upon the _Indians_). For Twelve or Fifteen Princes +of spatious and well-peopled Regions assembled, every one distinct and +separate from the rest, with his own subjects, and by their unanimous +consent upon Council and Advice, of their own accord sumitted +themselves to the Government of the _Castilian_ Kings and accepted of +them as their Prince and Protector, obliging themselves to obey and +serve them as subjects to their Lawful Liege Lord. + +In Witness whereof I have in my custody, a certain Instrument Signed +and Attested by the aforesaid Religioso's. + +Thus to the great joy and hope of these Priests reducing them to the +knowledge of Christ they were received by the Inhabitants of this +Kingdom, that surviv'd the heat and rage of the Spanish Cruelties: but +behold eighteen Horse and Twelve Footmen by another way crept in among +them, bringing with them many Idols, which were of great weight, and +taken out of other Regions by Force. The Commander in chief of these +_Spaniards_ summoned one of the Dynasts or Rulers of that Province +which they entred into, to appear before him, and command him to take +these Idols with him, distribute them through his Countrey and exchange +every single Idol for an _Indian_ Man or Woman, otherwise he would make +War against him. The abovesaid Lord compelled to it by fear did so +accordingly with a command, that his Subjects should adore Worship and +Honour them, and in compensation send Indians Male and Female into +servitude. The terrified People delivered up their Children, and by +this means there was an end made of this Sacrilegious Merchandize, and +thus the _Casic_ satisfied the greedy desires of the (I dare not say +Christian) _Spaniards_. One of these Sacrilegious Robbers was _John +Garcia_ by name, who being very sick and at the point of dath, had +several Idols hid under his Bed, and calling his _Indians_ that waited +on him, as a Nurse, commanded her not to part with those Idols at a +small rate for they were of the better sort, and that she should not +dispose of them without one _Indian_, for each Idol by way of Barter. +Thus by this his private and Nuncupative last Will and Testament +distracted with these carking cares, he gave up the Ghost: And who is +it that will not fear his being tormented in the darkest and lowest +Hell? Let us now consider what progress in Religion the _Spaniards_ +made, and what examples of Christianism they gave, at their first +arrival in _America_, how devoutly they honoured God, and what expence +of sweat and toil they were at to promote his Worship and Adoration +among the Infidels. Let it be also taken into serious consideration, +whose sin is the greater, either _Joroboam's_, who made all _Israel_ to +sin, and caused two Golden Calves to be erected, or the _Spaniards_ who +traffick and Trade in Idols like _Judas_, who was the occasion of such +great scandals. These are the good Deeds of the Spanish _Dons_, who +often, nay very often to feed their Avarice, and accumulate Gold have +sold and still do sell, denied and still do deny Jesus Christ our +Redeemer. + +The _Indians_ now findint the Promises of the Religious, that the +_Spaniards_ should not enter into this Countrey, null and void; nay +that the Spaniards brought Idols from other places to be put off there; +when as they had delivered up their own to the Priests to be burnt, +that there might be only Worship of the true God established among +them; they were highly incensed against these Friars, and addressed +themselves to them in these Words following: Why have you deceived us, +binding your promises with false protestations, that the Spaniards +shoudl not be admitted to come hither? And why have you burnt our +Gods, when others are brought from other Regions by the Spaniards? Are +the Gods of other Provinces more sacred than ours? The Friers as well +as they could (though they had little to return in answer) endevour'd +by soft Language to appease them; and went to these Thirty Spaniards, +declaring the evil actions they were guilty of, humbly supplicating +them to withdraw themselves from that place. Which they would by no +means condescend to, and what is most flagitious and wicked perswaded +the _Indians_, that they were introduc'd by those Priests; Which being +made known to them, These _Indians_ resolved to be the death of these +Monks, but having notice thereof by some courteous _Indians_, they +stole away from thence by night, and fled; but after their departure +the truth of the matter and the Spanish Malice being understood; they +sent several Messengers who followed them fifty Miles distant +beseeching them in the name of the _Indians_, to return and begging +pardon for that ignorant mistake. + +The Priests relying on their words, returned, and were caress'd like +Angels sent from Heaven; and continued with them, (from whom they +received a Thousand kindnesses) four or five months. But when the +Spaniards persisted in their resolution not to quit the place, although +they Vice-Roy did use all endeavours and fair means to recall them, +they were Proclaim'd Traitors, guilty of High Treason; and because they +continued still exercising Tyranny and perpetrated nefandous Crimes, +the Priests were sensible they would study revenge, though it might be +some considerable time before they put it in execution, fearing that it +might fail upon their own heads, and since they could not exercise the +function of their Ministry securely and undisturbed by reason of the +continual Incursions and Assaults made by the Spaniards, they consulted +about their departure, and did leave this Kingdom accordingly which +remain'd destitute of all Christian Doctrin and these poor Souls are at +this day involv'd in the obscurity of their former Misery and +Ignorance, they being deprived by these accursed Spaniards, of all +hopes of remedy, and the irrigatioon of Divine knowledge, just like +young withering Plants for want of Water: for in that very juncture of +time, when these Religioso's took leave, they embraced the Doctrine of +our Faith with the greatest Fervency and Eagerness imaginable. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Province of St. _MARTHA. + +The Province of St. _Martha_ was rich in the Neighbouring Golden Mines, +and a fruitful Soil, nay the People were very expert and industrious in +those Mine-works: Upon this Account, or Temptation it was, that from +the Year 1540, to 1542, abundance of Tyrants sailed thither, laying +waste the whole Country by their Depredations, slaughtering the +Inhabitants at a prodigious and bloody rate; and robbing them of all +their Gold, who dayly fled to their Ships for Refuge, moving sometime +to one place, and sometime to another. And thus those Provinces were +laid waste, the greatest Outrages being committed on the Sea-shore, +which lasted till the Year 1523, whither the _Spaniards_ then came to +seat themselves, and fis their intended Habitation. And becuase it is +a plentiful Region and Opulent withal; it was subjected to several +Rulers, who like Infernal Fiends contended who should obtain the Palm, +by out-staining the Sword of his Predecessor in Innocent Blood; +insomuch, that from the Year 1529 to this very day, they have wasted +and spoiled as much good ground as extended Five Hundred Miles, and +unpeopled the Countrey. + +If I design'd to enumerate all the Impieties, Butcheries, Desolations, +Iniquities, Violences, Destructions and other the Piacula and black +Enormities committed and perpetrated by the _Spaniards_ in this +Province, against God, the King, and these harmless Nations; I might +compile a Voluminous History, and that shall be compleated, if God +permit my Glass to run longer, in his good time. It may suffice for +the present to relate some passages written in a Letter to our King +and Lord by a Revernd Bishop of these Provinces, Dated the 20th of +_May, An. Dom._ 1541. wherein among other matters he thus words it. + + I must acquaint your Sacred Majesty, that the only way to succour and + support this tottering Region is to free it from the Power of a Father + in Law, and marry it to a Husband who will treat her as she ought to be, + and lovingly entertain her, and that must be done with all possible + Expedition too, if not, I am certain that she will suddenly decay and + come to nothing by the covetous and sordid Deportment of the Governours, + _&c._ And a little after he writes thus, By this Means your Majesty + will plainly know and understand how to depose the Prefects or Governours + of those Regions from their Office if they deserve it, that so they may + be alleviated and eas'd of such Burthens; which if not perform'd, in + my Opinion, the Body Politick will never recover its Health. And this I + will make appear to your Majesty that they are not Christians, but Devils; + not Servants of God and the King, but Traitors to the King and Laws, + who are Conversant in those Regions. And in reality nothing can be more + obstructive to those that live peacably, then Inhumane and Barbarous + Usage, which they, who lead a quiet and peacable Life, too frequently + undergo, and this is so fastidious and nauseous to them, that there can + be nothing in the World so odious and detestable among them, as the + Name of a Christian: for they term the Christians in their Language + _Yares_, that is, Devils; and in truth are not without reason; for + the Actions of those that reside in these Regions, are not such as + speak them to be Christians or Men, gifted with Reason, but absolute + Devils; hence it is, that the _Indians_, perceiving these Actions + committed by the Heads as well as Members, who are void of all Compassion + and Humanity, do judge the Christian Laws to be of the same strain and + temper, and that their God and King are the Authors of such Enormities: + Now to endeavour to work upon them a contrary perswasion is to no purpose; + for this would afford them a greater Latitude and Liberty to deride + Jesus Christ and his Laws. Now the _Indians_ who protect and defend + themselves by force of Arms, think it more eligible, and far better to + dye once, than suffer several and many Deaths under the _Spanish_ Power. + This I know experimentally, Most Invicible _Casar_, &c. And he adds + farther, Your Majesty is more Powerful in Subjects and Servants, who + frequent these Kingdoms, then you can imagin. Nor is there one Soldier + among them all, who does not publickly and openly profess, if he robs, + steals, spoils, kills, burns His Majesties Subjects, 'tis to purchase + Gold: He will not say that he therein does your Majesty great Service, + for they affirm they do it to obtain their own Share and Dividend. + Wherefore, Most Invincible _Casar_, it would be a very prudential Act + for your Majesty to testifie by a rigid Correction and severe Punishment + of some Malefactors, that it is disservice to you for your Subjects to + commit such Evil Acts, as tend to the Disobedience and Dishonour of the + Almighty. + +What you have read hitherto is the Relation of the said Bishop of St. +_Martha_, Epitomized and Extracted from his Letters, whereby it is +manifest, how Savagely they handle these mild and affable People. They +term them Warlike _Indians_, who betake themselves to the Mountains to +secure themselves from _Spanish_ Cruelty; and call them Country +_Indians_, or Inhabitants, who by a dreadful Massacre are delivered up +to Tyrannical and Horrible Servitude, whereby at length they are become +depopulated, made desolate, and utterly destroy'd; as appears by the +Epistle of the praementioned Bishop, who only gives us a slight Account +or Essay of their persecution and Sufferings. The _Indians_ of this +Country use to break out into such Words as these, when they are +driven, loaded like Brutes through the uncouth wayes in their Journeys +over the Mountains, if they happen to faint through Weakness, and +miscarry through extremity of Labour, (for then they are kicked and +cudge'd, their Teeth dasht out with the Pummels of their Swords to +raise them up again, when tired and fallen under weighty Burthens, and +force them to go on without Respiration, or Time to take Breath, and +all this with the following increpation, or upbraiding and taunting +words, _O what a wicket Villain art thou?_) I say they burst out into +these Expressions, I am absolutely tir'd, kill me, I desire to dye, +being weary of my Life as well as my Burthen and Journey: And this not +without deep Heart-breaking Sighs, they being scarce able to draw or +breathe out their words, which are the Characteristical Notes, and +infallible of the Mind drowned in Anguish and Sorrow. My it please our +Merciful God to order the discovery of these Crimes to be manifested to +those Persons, who are able and oblig'd to redress them. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Province of_ CARTHAGENA. + +This Province is distant Fifty Miles from the Isle of St. _Martha_ +Westward, and situated on the Confines of the Country of _Cenusia_, +from whence it extends One Hundred Miles to the Bay of _Uraba_, and +contains a very long Tract of Land _Southward_. These Provinces from +the Year 1498 to this present time were most barbarously us'd, and made +desert by Murder and Slaughter, but that I may the sooner conclude this +brief summary. I will not handle the particulars, to the end I may the +better give an Account of the detestable Villanies that ruin'd other +Regions. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the _Pearl-Coast, PARIA, _and_ TRINITY-ISLE. + +The _Spaniards_ made great Spoils and Havock from the _Parian_ Coast to +the Bay of _Venecuola_, exclusively, which is about Two Hundred Miles. +It can hardly be exprest by Tongue or Pen how many, and how great +Injuries and Injustices, the Inhabitants of this Sea-shore have endur'd +from the year 1510, to this day. I will only relate Two or Three +Piacular and Criminal Acts of the First Magnitude, capable of +comprehending all other Enormities that deserve the sharpest Torments, +Wit and Malice can invent, and so make way for a deserved Judgment upon +them. + +A Nameless Pirate of the Year 1510, accompanied with a parcel of Sixty +or Seventy, arriv'd at _Trinity-Island_, which exceeds _Sicile_, both +in Amplitude and Fertility, and is contiguous to the Continent on that +side where it toucheth upon _Paria_, whose Inhabitants, according to +their Quality, are more addicted to Probity and Vertue, than the rest +of the _Indians_; who immediately published an Edict, that all the +Inhabitants should come and cohabit with them. The _Indian_ Lords and +Subjects gave them a Debonair and Brotherly Reception, serving them +with wonderful Alacrity, furnishing them with dayly Provisions in so +plentiful a manner, that they might have sufficed a more numerous +Company; for it is the Mode among _Indians_ of this New World, to +supply the _Spaniards_ very bountifuly with all manner of Necessaries. +A short time after the _Spaniards_ built a stately House, which was an +Appartment for the _Indians_, that they might accomplish their +praemeditated Designs, which was thus effected. When they were to +thatch it, and had rais'd it two Mens height, they inclos'd several of +them there, to expedite the Work, as they pretended, but in truth that +they who were within, might not see those without; thus part of them +surrounded the House with Sword in Hand that no one should stir out, +and part of them entred it, and bound the _Indians_, menacing them with +Death, if they offered to move a Foot; and if any one endeavoured to +escape, he was presently hackt in pieces; but some of them partly +wounded, and partly unwounded getting away, with others who went not +into the House, about One Hundred and Two Hundred, betook themselves to +another House with Bows and Arrows; and when they were all there, the +_Spaniards_ secur'd the Doors, throwing in Fire at another place, and +so they all perished. From hence they set Sail to the Island of St. +_John_ with near upon One Hundred and Eighty Slaves, whom they had +bound, where they sold one half of them, and thence to _Hispaniola_, +where they dispos'd of the rest. Now when I taxed this Captain with +Wickedness and Treachery in the very Isle of St. _John_, he dismist me +with this Answer; _Forbear good Sir._ I had this in commission from +those who sent me hither, that I should surprize them by the spetious +pretense of Peace, whom I could not sieze by open Force, and in truth +this same Captain told me with his own Mouth, that in _Trinity-Isle_ +alone, he had met with a Father and Mother in Civil usage, which he +uttered to his greater Confusion and the aggravation of his Sins. The +Monks of our Order of St. _Dominic_ on a certain time held a Consult +about sending one of their Fraternity into this Island, that by their +Preaching they might instruct them in the Christian Faith, and teach +them the way to be sav'd, of which they were wholly Ignorant. And to +this end they sent thither a Religious and Licentiate in Theologie, (or +Doctor in Divinity, as we term it among us) a Man Famous for his Vertue +and Holiness with a _Laic_ his Associate, to visit the Country, +converse with the Inhabitants, and find out the most convenient places +for the Erection of Monasteries. As soon as they were arriv'd +according to custom, they were entertain'd like Coelestial Messengers, +with great Affection, Joy and Respect, as well as they could, for they +were ignorant of their Tongue, and so made use of signs, for the +present. It hapned that after the departure of that Vessel that +brought these Religious Men, another came into the Port, whose Crew +according to their Hellish Custom, fraudulently, and unknown to the +Religious brought away a Prince of that Province as Captive, who was +call'd _Alphonsus_, (for they are ambitious of a Christian Name,) and +forthwith desire without farther Information, that he would Baptize +him: But the said Lord _Alphonsus_ was deceitfully overperswaded to go +on board of them with his Wife and about Seventeen more, pretending +that they would give hime a Collation; which the Prince and they did, +for he was confident, that the Religious would by no means suffer himo +be abus'd, for he had no so much Confidence in the _Spaniards_; but as +soon as they were upon Deck, the perfidious Rogues, set Sail for +_Hispaniola_, where they were sold as Slaves. The whole Country being +extreamly discompos'd, and understanding that their Prince and Princess +were violently carried away, addressed themselves to these Religioso's, +who were in great danger of losing their Lives: But they being made to +understand this unjust Action, were extraordinarily afflicted, and 'tis +probable would have suffered Death, rather than permit the _Indians_ to +be so injuriously dealt with, which might prove an Obstruction to their +receiving of, and believing in God's Word. Yet the _Indians_ were +sedated by the promises of the Religious; for they told them, they +would send Letters by the first Ship that was bound for _Hispaniola_, +whereby they would procure the Restitution and Return of their Lord and +his Retinue. It pleased God to send a Ship thither forthwith, to the +greater confirming of the Governours Damnation, where in the Letters +they sent to the Religious of _Hispaniola_, Letters containing repeated +Exclamations and Protestations, and protest against such Actions, but +those that received them denyed them Justice, for that they were +partakers of that Prey, made of those _Indians_ so injustly and +impiously captivated. But when the Religious, who had engag'd to the +Inhabitants, that their Lord _Alphonsus_ should be restor'd within Four +Moneths, and found that neither in Four, nor Eight Moneths he was +return'd, they prepar'd themselves for Death, and to deliver up their +Life to Christ, to whom they had offer'd it before their departure from +_Spain_: Thus the Innocent _Indians_ were revenged on the Innocent +Priests; for they were of Opinion, that the Religious had a hand in the +Plot, partly, because they found their Promises that their Lord should +return within Four Moneths, ineffectual, and partly because the +Inhabitants made no difference between a Religious Frier and a +_Spanish_ Rogue. At another time it fell out likewise, through the +Rampant Tyrrany and Cruel Deeds of evil-minded Christians, that the +_Indians_ put to Death two _Dominican_ Friers, of which I am a faithful +Witness, escaping my self, not without a very great Miracle, which +Transaction I resolve silently to pass over, lest I should terrifie the +Reader with the Horror of the Fact. + +In these Provinces, there was a City seated on the Bay of _Codera_, +whose Lord was call'd _Higueroto_, a Name, either proper to Persons or +common to the Rulers of that Place. A _Cacic_ of such signal Clemency, +and his Subjects of such noted Vertue, that the _Spaniards_ who came +thither, were extraordinarily welcom, furnished with Provisions, +enjoying Peace and Comfort, and no Refreshment wanting: But a +perfidious Wretch got many of them on board, and sold them to the +Islanders of St. _John_. At the same time I landed upon that Island, +where I obtained a sight of this Tyrant, and heard the Relation of his +Actions. He utterly destroy'd that Land, which the rest of the +_Spaniards_ took very unkindly at his Hands, who frequently playd the +Pirate, and rob'd on that shore, detesting it as a wicked thing, +because they had lost that place, where they use to be treated with as +great Hospitality and Freedom, as if they had been under their own +Roof: Nay they transported from this place, among them, to the Isles of +_Hispaniola_ and St. _John_ Two Millions of Men and upward, and made +the Coast a Desert. + +It is most certainly true, that they never ship off a Vessel freighted +with _Indians_, but they pay a third part as Tribute to the Sea, +besides those who are slaughter'd, when found in their own Houses. Now +the Soarce and Original of all this is the ends they have propos'd to +themselves. For there is a necessity of taking with them a great +number of _Indians_, that they may gain a great sum of Mony by their +Sale, now the Ships are very slenderly furnished with Provisions and +Water in small Quantity, to satisfie few, left the Tyrants, who are +term'd Owners or Proprietors of Ships should be at too great expence in +Victualling their Vessels, nay they scarce carry Food enough with them +to maintain the _Spaniards_ that manage the Vessel, which is the reason +so many _Indians_ dye with Hunger and Thirst, and of necessity they +must be thrown over-board: Nay one of them told me this for a Truth, +that there being such a Multitude of Men thus destroy'd, a Ship may +sail from the Isle of _Lucaya_ to _Hispaniola_, which is a Voyage of +Twenty Leagues and upward, without Chart or Compass, by the sole +Direction or Observation of dead fluctuating Carkasses. + +But afterward, when arriv'd, and driven up into the Isle whither they +are brought to be sold, there is no Person that is in some small +measure compassionate, but would be extreamly mov'd and discompos'd at +the sight; _viz._ to spie old Men and Women, together with Naked +Children half starv'd. Then they separate Parents from Children, Wives +from their Husbands, about Ten or Twenty in a Company, and cast lots +for them, that the Detestable Owners of the Ships may have their share; +who prepare Two or Three Ships, and equip them as a Fleet of Pirates, +going ashore ravaging and forcing Men out of their Houses, and then +robbing them: But when the lot of any one of them falls upon a parcel, +that hath an aged or diseased Man; the Tyrant, whose Allotment he is, +usually bursts out, as followeth. Let this old Fellow be Damm'd, why do +you bestow him upon me; must I, think you; be at the charge of his +Burial? And this sickly Wretch, how comes he to be one of my alloted +portion must I take care for his cure? Not I. Hence you may guess +what estimate and value the _Spaniards_ put upon _Indians_, and whether +they practise and fulful that Divine and Heavenly precept injoyning +mutual Love and Society. + +There can be nothing more cruel and detestable then the Tyrannical +usage of the _Spaniards_ towards the _Indians_ in their Pearl-Fishing; +for the Torments undergone in the unnatural Exenteration and tearing +out with Paracidal hands the richer bowels of our common Mother, or the +inward cruciating racks of the most profligate, Heaven daring +_Desperado_ can admit of no comparison with these, although the +extracting or digging for Gold is one of the sharpest subterranean +Drudgeries, they plunge them down four or five ells deep under Water, +where swimming about without breathing, they eradicate and pull up +Oisters, wherein the Pearls are engendred. Sometimes they rise up to +the superfities of the Water with Nets full of Oisters for respiration +and Air, but if these miserable Creatures stay but a little more then +is Ordinary to rest themselves the Hangman is immediately upon them in +a _Canow_ or small Boat, who beating them with many stripes drag them +by the hair of the head under Water, that they may drudge again at +their expilcation or Pearl Fishing. Their Food is Fish, and the same +which contains the Pearls and _Cassabus_ made of Roots with a few +_Mahids_, the Bread of that Countrey; in the former there is little or +no nutriment or substance, and the other is not made without great +trouble, nor for all this have they a sufficient allowance thereof to +support nature. Their Lodging or Bed is the Earth confined to a pair +of Stocks, for fear that they should run away: And it frequently +happens that they are drown'd with the toil of this kind of Fishing and +never more seen, for the _Tuberoms_ and _Maroxi_ (certain Marine +Monsters that devour a complete proportioned Man wholly at once) prey +upon them under Water. You must consider withall, that it is +impossible for the strongest constitution to continue long under Water +without breathing, and they ordinarily dye through the extream rigor of +the Cold, spitting Blood which is occasioned by the too great +compression of the Breast, procreated by a continued holding breath +under Water, for by too much cold a profluvium of blood follows. Their +hair naturally black is changed into a combust, burnt or Sun-colour +like that of the Sea Wolves, their shoulders and backs covered, or +overspread with a saltish humor that they appear rather like Monsters +in humane shape then Men. + +They have destroy'd all the _Lucayans_ by this intolerable or rather +Diabolical exercise, for the accustomary emolument or gain of lucre, +and by this means gain'd the value of fifty, sometime one hundred +Crowns of every individual _Indian_. They sell them (though it is +prohibited) publickly; for the _Lucayans_ were excellent Swimmers, and +several perished in this Isle that came from other Provinces. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the River_ Yuya Pari. + +This River washeth the Province arising from its head or fountain in +another Region, Two Hundred miles off and better, By this a wretched +Tyrant entred it and laid waste the Land for the space of many miles, +and murder'd abundance of them by Fire and Sword, _&c._ At length he +died violently, and all his Forces moldred away of themselves, many +succeeded him in his iniquity and cruelty and so dayly destroy them, +sending to Hell the Souls redeemed by the blood of the Son of God. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the Kingdom of _Venecuela. + +Our Sovereign Lord the King in the Year 1526, over-perswaded by +fallacious appearances (for the _Spaniards_ use to conceal from His +Majesties knowledge the dammages and detriments, which God himself, the +Souls and state of the _Indians_ did suffer) intrusted the Kingdom of +_Venecuela_ longer and larger then the Spanish Dominions, with its +Government and absolute Jurisdiction to some _German_ Merchants, with +power to make certain Capitulations and Conventions, who came into this +Kingdom with Three Hundred Men, and there found a benign mild and +peaceable people, as they were throughout the _Indies_ till injured by +the _Spaniards_. These more cruel then the rest beyond comparison, +behav'd themselves more inhumanely then rapacious Tygres Wolves and +Lyons, for they had the jurisdiction of this Kingdom, and therefore +possessing it with the greater freedom from controul; lay in wait and +were the more vigilant with greater care and avarice to understand the +practical part of heaping up Wealth, and robbing the Inhabitants of +their Gold and Sliver, surpassing all their Predecessors in those +indirect ways, rejecting wholly both the fear of their God and King, +nay forgetting that they were born men with reasonable Faculties. + +These incarnate Devils laid waste and desolate Four Hundred miles of +most Fertile Land, containing vast and wonderful Provinces, most +spatious and large Valleys surrounded with Hills, forty Miles in +Length, and many Towns richly abounding in Gold and Silver. They +destroy'd so many and such considerable Regions, that there is not one +supernumerary witness left to relate the Story, unless perchance some +that lurkt in the Caverns and Womb of the Earth to evade death by their +inhumane Swords embrew'd in Innocent _Indian_ blood, escaped. I judge +that they by new invented and unusual Torments ruinated four or five +Millions of Souls and sent them all to Hell. I will give a taste of +two or three of their Transactions, that hereby you may guess at the +rest. + +They made the supream Lord of the Province a Slave, to squeeze his Gold +from him, racking him to extort his confession who escaping fled into +the Mountains, their common Sanctuary, and his Subjects lying absconded +in the Thickets of the Woods, were stir'd up to Sedition and Tumult or +Mutiny. The _Spaniards_ follow and destroy many of them, but those +that were taken alive and in their power were all publickly sold for +Slaves by the Common Crier. + +They were in all Provinces they came into entertained and welcomed by +the _Indians_ with Songs, Dances and Rich Presents but Rewarded very +ungratefully with bloodshed and Slaughter. The German Captain and +Tyrant caused several of them to be clapt into a Thatcht House, and +there cut in pieces; but some of them to avoid falling by their bloody +and merciless Swords, climb'd up to the beams and Rafters of the House, +and the Governour, hearing it (O cruel Brute?) commanded Fire to be put +to it and burnt them all alive, leaving the Region desert and desolate. + +They also came to another stately Province, bordering on St. _Martha_; +whose inhabitants did them many egregious and notable services, +bestowing on them innumerable quantities of Gold besides many other +gifts, but when they were upon departure, in retribution of their Civil +Treating and Deportment the German Tyrant, commanded that all the +Indians, with their Wives and Children if possible, should be taken +into Custody; inclosed in some large capacious place, and that there it +should be signified unto them, whosoever desired to be set at Liberty +should redeem himself at the Will and Pleasure (as to price;) of the +unjust Governour, or at a certain rate imposed upon himself, his wife +and every Childs head; and to expedite the business prohibited the +administration or allowance of any food to them, till the Gold required +for Redemption was paid down to the utmost grain. Several of them sent +home to discharge the demanded price of their Redemption, and procur'd +their Freedom, as well as they could by one means or other, that so +they might return to their Livelihood and profession, but not long +after he sent other Rogues and Robbers among them to enslave those that +were Redeemed. + +To the same Gaol they are brought a second time, being instigated or +rather constrained to a speedy Redemption by hunger and thirst; Thus +many of them were twice or thrice taken, captiv'd and Redeedmed; but +some who were not capable of Depositing such a sum, perished there. +Farthermore this Tyrant was big with an itching desire after the +discovery of the _Perusian_ Mines, which he did accomplish. Nay should +I enumerate the particular Cruelties, Slaughters, _&c._ committed by +him though my discourse would not in the least be contrariant to the +Truth, yet it would not be beleived and only stupifie and amaze the +Reader. + +This course the other Tyrants took who set sail from _Venecuela_ and +St. _Martha_ (with the same Resolution of detecting the _Perusian_ +Golden, Consecrated Houses as them they esteemed) who found the +fruitful Region so desolate, deserted, and wasted by Fire and Sword, +that those Cruel Tyrants themselves were smitten with wonder and +astonishment at the traces and ruins of such prodigious Devastations. + +All these things and many more were prov'd by Witness in the _Indian_ +Exchequer, and the Records of their Testimony were entred in that +Court, though these execrable Tyrants burnt many of them that there +might be little or nothing prov'd as a cause of those great +Devastations and Evils perpetrated by them. For the Minister of +Justice who have hitherto lived in _India_, through their obscure and +damnable blindness, were not much sollicitous about the punishment of +the Crimes and Butcheries which have been and are still committed by +these Tyrants, only they may say possibly because such a one, and such +a one hath wickedly and barbarously dealt with the _Indians_, that is +the reason so great a summ of Crowns in Money is diminished already or +retrenched from His Majesties Annual Revenue, and this general and +confused proof is sufficient (as they worthily conceive) to purge or +repress such great and hainous Crimes. And though they are but few, +are not verified as they ought to be, nor do they attribute and lay +upon them that stress and weight as they ought to do, for if they did +perform their Duty to God and the King; it could not be made apparent +as it may be, that these _German_ Tyrants have cheated and rob'd the +King of Three Millions of Gold and upward; and thus these Enemies to +God and the King began to depopulate these Regions and destroy them, +cheating his Majesty of Two Millions of Gold _per Annum_, nor can it be +expected, that the Detriment done to his Majesty can possibly be +retriev'd, as long as the Sun and moon endures, unless God by a Miracle +should raise as many Thousands from Death to Life, as have bin +destroy'd. And these are the Temporal Dammages the King suffers. It +would be also a Work worthy the inquiry into, to consider how many +cursed Sacriledges and Indignities God himself hath been affronted with +to the dishonour of his Name. And what Recompence can be made for the +loss of so many Souls as are now tormented in Hell by the Cruelty and +Covetousness of these Brutish _German_ Tyrants. But I will conclude +all their Impiety and Barbarisme with one Example, _viz._ That from +the time they entred upon this Country to this very day, that is, +Seventeen Years, they have remitted many Ships fraighted with _Indians_ +to be sold as Slaves to the Isles of St. _Martha, Hispaniola, Jamaica,_ +and St. _John_, selling a Million of Persons at the least, I speak +modestly, and still do expose to Sale to this very Year of our Lord +1542, the King's Council in this Island seeing and knowing it, yet what +they find to be manifest and apparent they connive at, permit and +countenance, and wink at the horrid Impieties and Devastations +innumerable which are committed on the Coasts of this Continent, +extending Four Hundred Miles in Length, and continues still together +with _Venecuela_ and St. _Martha_ under their Jurisdiction, which they +might easily have remedied and timely prevented. + + +_Of the Provinces of_ FLORIDA + +Three Tyrants at several times made their entrance into these Provinces +since the Year 1510, or 1511, to act those Crimes which others, and two +of these Three made it their sole business to do in other Regions, to +the end, that they might advance themselves to higher Dignities and +Promotions than they could deserve, by the Effusion of Blood and +Destruction of these People; but at length they all were cut off by a +violent Death, and the Houses which they formerly built and erected +with the cement of Human Blood, (which I can sufficiently testifie of +these three) perished with them, and their memory roten, and as +absolutely washed away from off the Face of the Earth, as if they had +never had a being. These Men deserted these Regions, leaving them in +great distraction and confusion, nor were they branded with less notes +of infamy, by the certain Slaughters they perpetrated, though they were +but few in number than the rest. For the Just God cut them off before +they did much Mischief, and reserv'd the Castigation and Revenge of +those Evils which I know, and was an Eye-Witness of, to this very Time +and Place. As to the Fourth Tyrant, who lately, that is, in the Year +1538, came hither well-furnished with Men and Ammunition, we have +received no account these Three Years last past; but wer are very +confident, that he, at his first Arrival, acted like a bloody Tyrant, +even to extasie and madness, if he be still alive with his Follower, +and did injure, destroy, and consume a vast Number of Men (for he was +branded with infamous Cruelty above all those who with their Assistants +committed Crimes and Enormities of the first Magnitude in these +Kingdoms and Provinces) I conceive, God hath punished him with the same +Violent Death, as he did other Tyrants: But because my Pen is wearied +with relating such Execrable and Sanguinary Deeds (not of Men but +Beasts) I will trouble my self no longer with the dismal and fatal +Consequences thereof. + +These People were found by them to be Wise, Grave, and well dispos'd, +though their usual Butcheries and Cruelties in opressing them like +Brutes, with heavy Burthens, did rack their minds with great Terror and +Anguish. At their Entry into a certain Village, they were welcomed +with great Joy and Exultation, replenished them with Victuals, till +they were all satisfied, yielding up to them above Six Hundred Men to +carry their Bag and Baggage, and like Grooms to look after their +Horses: The _Spaniards_ departing thence, a Captain related to the +Superiour Tyrant returned thither to rob this (no ways diffident or +mistrustful) People, and pierced their King through with a Lance, of +which Wound he dyed upon the Spot, and committed several other +Cruelties into the bargain. In another Neighboring Town, whose +Inhabitants they thought, were more vigilant and watchful, having had +the News of their horrid Acts and Deeds, they barbarously murdered them +all with their Lances and Swords, destroying all, Young and Old, Great +and Small, Lords and Subject without exception. + +The Chief Tyrant caused many _Indians_ (above Two Hundred as 'tis +noised abroad) whom he summon'd to appear before him out of another +town, or else, who came voluntarily to pay their Respects to him, to +have their Noses and Lips to the very Beard, cut off; and thus in this +grievous and wretched Condition, the Blood gushing out of their Wounds, +return'd them back, to give an Infallible Testimony of the Works and +Miracles wrought by these Preachers and Ministers baptized in the +Catholick Faith. + +Now let all Men judge what Affection and love they bear to +Christianity; to what purpose, or upon what account they believe there +is a God, whom they preach and boast of to be Good and Just, and that +his Law which they profess (and indeed only profess) to be pure and +immaculate. The Mischiefs acted by these profligate Wretches and Sons +of Perdition were of the deepest die. At last this Captain devoted to +Perdition dyed impenitent, nor do we in the least question, but that he +is overwhelmed and buried in Darkness Infernal, unless God according to +his Infinite Mercy and boundless Clemency, not his own Merits, (he +being contaminated and poison'd with Execrable Deeds,) be pleas'd to +compassionate and have Mercy upon him. + + +_Of the_ Plate-River, _that is, the _Silver-River. + +Some Captains since the Year 1502 to 1503 undertook Four or Five +Voyages to the River of Plate, which embraceth within its own Arms +great Kingdoms and Provinces, and is peopled by rational and +well-temper'd Inhabitants. In the general we are certified, that they were +very injurious and bloody to them; but they being far distant from +those _Indians_, we frequently discourse of, wer are not able to give +you a particular account of their Transactions. Yet beyond all +Controversie, they did, and still do go the same way to work, as others +in several Regions to this present time do, and have done; for they are +the same, (and many in number too) _Spaniards_ who went thither, that +were the wicked Instruments of other Executions, and all of them aim at +one and the same thing, namely to grow Rich and Wealthy, which they can +never be, unless they steer the same Course which others have followed, +and tread the same paths in Murdering, Robbing and Destroying poor +_Indians_. + +After I had committed to Writing what I have prementioned, it was told +me for a great Truth, that they had laid waste in those Countreys great +Kingdoms and Provinces, dealing Cruelly and Bloodily with these +harmless People, at a horrid rate, having a greater Opportunity and +Convenience to be more Infamous and Rigid to them, then others, they +being very remote from _Spain_, living inordinatly, like Debauches, +laying aside, and bidding farewel to all manner of Justice, which is +indeed a Stranger in all the _American_ Regions, as is manifest by what +hath been said already. But among the other Numerous Wicked Acts +following this is one that may be read in the _Indians_ Courts. One of +the Governours commanded his Soldiers to go to a certain Village, and +if they denyed them Provisions, to put all the Inhabitants to the +Sword: By Vertue of this Authority away they march, and because they +would not yield to them above Five Thousand Men as Enemies, fearing +rather to be seen, then guilty of Illiberality, were cut off by the +Sword. Also a certain number of Men living in Peace and Tranquillity +proffered their services to him; who, as it fell out, were call'd +before the Governour, but deferring their appearance a little longer +than ordinary, that he might infix their minds with a remark of +horrible Tyranny, he commanded, they should be deliver'd up, as +Prisoners to their Mortal _Indian_ Enemies, who beg'd with loud +Clamours and a Deluge of Tears, that they might be dispatcht out of +this World by their own Hands, rather than be given up as a prety to +the Enemy; yet being resolute, they would not depart out of the House +wherein they were, so the _Spaniards_ hackt them in pieces Limb by +Limb, who exclaim'd and cryed aloud, "We came to visit and serve you +peaceably and quietly, and you Murder us; our Blood with which these +Walls are moistned and sprinkled will remain as an Everlasting +Testimony of our Unjust Slaughter, and your Barbarous Cruelty. And +really this _Piaculum_ or horrid Crime deserves a Commemoration, or +rather speak more properly, the Commiseration of all Persons." + + +_Of the vast Kingdoms and Spatious Provinces of _PERUSIA. + +A notorious Tyrant in the Year 1531, entred the Kingdoms of _Perusia_ +with his Complices, upon the same Account, and with the same pretences, +and beginning at the same Rate as others did; he indeed being one of +those who were exercised, and highly concern'd in the Slaughters and +Cruelties committed on the Continent ever since the Year 1510, he +increased and heightned the Cruelties, Butcheries, and Rapine; +destroying and laying waste (being a False-hearted Faithless Person) +the Towns and Villages, and Murdering the Inhabitants, which occasion'd +all those Evils, that succeeded in those Regions afterward: Now to +undertake the Writing of a Narrative of them, and represent them lively +and Naturally to the Readers view, and perusal, is a work altogether +impossible, but must lie concealed and unknown until they shall more +openly and clearly appear, and be made visible to every Eye, at the day +of Judgement. As for my part, if I should presume to unravel, in some, +measure the Deformity, Quality and Circumstances of those Enormities, I +must ingenuously confess I could by no means perform so burthensom a +Task, and render it compleat and as it ought to be. + +At his first admission into these parts, he had laid waste some Towers, +and rob'd them of a great quantity of Gold, this he did in the Infancy +of his Tyrannical Attempts, when he arriv'd at _Pugna_ a Neighbouring +Isle so called, he had the Reception of an Angel; but about Six Months +after, when the _Spaniards_ had spent all their Provisions, they +discover'd and opened the _Indians_ Stores and Granaries, which were +laid up for the sustenance of themselves, Wives and Children against a +time of Dearth and Scarcity, brought them forth with Tears and +Weepings, to dispose of at pleasure: But they rewarded them with +Slaughter, Slavery and Depopulation as formerly. + +Thence they betook themselves to the Isle _Tumbala_, scituate on the +firm Land, where they put to Death all they met with. And because the +People terrified with their abominable Sins of Commission, fled from +their Cruelty, they were accused of Rebellion against the _Spanish_ +King. This Tyrant made use of this Artifice, he commanded all that he +took, or that had bestowed Gold, Silver and other rich Gifts on him, +still to load him with other Presents, till he found they had exhausted +their Treasures, and were grown naked and incapable of affording him +farther supplies, and then he declared them to be the Vassals and +Subjects of the King of _Spain_, flattering them, and proclaiming twice +by sound of Trumpet, that for the future he would not captivate or +molest them any more, looking upon it as lawful to rob, and terrifie +them with such Messages as he had done, before he admited them under +the King's protection, as if from that very time, he had never rob'd, +destroy'd or opprest them with Tyrannical Usage. + +Not long after _Ataliba_ the King and Supreme Emperor of all these +Kingdoms, leading a great Number of Naked Men, he himself being at the +Head of them, armed with ridiculous Weapons, and wholly ignorant of the +goodness of the _Spaniards_ Bilbo-Blades, the Mortal Dartings of their +Lances, and the Strength of their Horse, whose Use and Service was to +him altogether unknown, and never so much as heard of before, and that +the _Spaniards_ were sufficiently weapon'd to rob the Devils themselves +of Gold, if they had any, came to the place where they then were; +saying, Where are these _Spaniards_? Let them appear, I will not stir a +foot from hence till they give me satisfaction for my Subjects whom +they have slain, my Towns they have reduc'd to Ashes, and my Riches +they have stoln from me. The _Spaniards_ meet him, make a great +Slaughter of his Men, and seize on the Person of the King Himself, who +was carried in a Chair or Sedan on Mens Shoulders. There was a Treaty +had about his Redemption, the King engaged to lay down Four Millions of +Crowns, as the purchase of his Freedom, but Fifteen were paid down upon +the Nail: They promise to set him at Liberty, but contrary to all Faith +and Truth according to their common Custom (for they always violated +their promises with the _Indians_) they falsly imposed this upon him, +that his People were got together in a Body by his Command; but the +King was made answer, That throughout his Dominions, not so much as a +Leaf upon a Tree durst move without his Authority and Pleasure, and if +any were assembled together, they must of necessity believe that it was +done without his Order, he being a Captive, it being in their power to +deprive him of his LIfe, if any such thing should be ordered by him: +Notwithstanding which, they entred into a Consultation to have him +burnt alive, and a little while after the Sentence was agreed upon, but +the Captain at the intreaty of some Persons commanded him first to be +strangled, and afterward thrown into the fire. The King understanding +the sentence of Death past upon him, said; Why do you burn me? What +Fact have I committed deserving Death? Did you not promise to set me +free for a Sum of Gold. And did I not give you a far larger quantity +than I promised? But if it is your pleasure so to do, send me to your +King of _Spain_, and thus using many words to the same purpose, tending +to the Confusion and Detestation of the _Spanish_ Injustice, he was +burnt to Death. And here let us take into serious Consideration the +Right and Title they had to make this War, the Captivity, Sentence, and +Execution of this Prince, and the Conscience wherewith these Tyrants +have possessed themselves of vast Treasures, which they have +surreptitiously and fraudulently taken away from this King, and a great +many more of the Rulers of these Kingdoms. But as to the great number +of their Enormities committed by those who stile themselves Christians +in order to the extirpation of this People, I will hear repeat some of +them, which in the very beginning were seen by a _Franciscan_, +confirm'd by his own Letters, and signed with his Hand and Seal, +sending some of them to the _Perusian_ Provinces, and others to the +Kingdom of _Castile_: A Copy whereof I have in my Custody, Signed with +his Hand, as I said before; the Contents whereof follow. + + I Frier _Marcus de Xlicia_, of the _Franciscan_ Order, and Praefect + of the whole Fraternity residing in the Perusian Provinces, one of + the first among the Religious, who arriv'd with the _Spaniards_ + in these parts. I decalre with incontrovertible and undeniable + Testimony, those Transactions, which I saw with my own Eyes, and + particularly such as relate to the usage of the Inhabitants of this + Region. In the first place I was an Eye-Witness, and am certainly + assur'd, that these _Perusians_ are a People, who transcend all other + _Indians_ in Meekness, Clemency, and Love to _Spaniards_; and I have + seen the _Indians_ bestow very liberally on them Gold, Silver, and + Jewels, being very serviceable to them many other wayes. Nor did the + _Indians_ ever betake themselves to their Arms in an Hostile manner, + till by infinite Injuries and Cruelties they were compell'd thereunto: + For on the contrary, they gave the _Spaniards_ an amicable and + honourable Reception in all their Towns, and furnished them with + Provisions, and as many Male and Female Servants as they required. + + I can also farther testifie, that the _Spaniards_, without the least + provocation on their part, as soon as they entred upon these + Territories, did burn at the Stake their most Potent _Caciq Ataliba_, + Prince of the whole Country, after they had extorted from him above Two + Millions of Gold, and possessed themselves of his Province, without the + least Opposition: and _Cochilimaca_, his Captain General, who with + other Rulers, came peaceably into them, follow'd him by the same fiery + Tryal and Death. As also some few days after, the Ruler of the + Province of _Quitonia_, who was burnt, without any Cause given, or + Crime laid to his Charge. They likewise put _Schapera_, Prince of the + _Canaries_ to the same Death, and in like manner, burnt the Feet of + _Alvidis_, the greatest of all the _Quitonian_ Lords, and rackt him + with other Torments to Extract from him a discovery of _Ataliba's_ + Treasure, whereof as appear'd after, he was totally ignorant. Thus + they treated _Cocopaganga_, Governour of all the Provinces of + _Quitonia_, who being overcome with the Intreaties of _Sebastian + Bernalcarus_, the Governours Captain, went peaceably to pay them a + Visit; but because he could not give them as much Gold as they + demanded, they burnt him with many other _Casics_ and Chief Persons of + Quality. And as I understnad, did it with this evil Intention, that + they might not leave one surviving Lord or Peer in the whole Countrey. + + I also affirm that I saw with these Eyes of mine the _Spaniards_ for no + other reason, but only to gratifie their bloody mindedness, cut off the + Hands, Noses, and Ears, both of _Indians_ and _Indianesses_, and that + in so many places and parts, that it would be too prolix and tedious to + relate them. Nay, I have seen the _Spaniards_ let loose their Dogs + upon the _Indians_ to bait and tear them in pieces, and such a Number + of Villages burnt by them as cannot well be discover'd: Farther this is + a certain Truth, that they snatched Babes from the Mothers Embraces, + and taking hold of their Arms threw them away as far as they would from + them: (a pretty kind of barr-tossing Recreation.) They committed many + other Cruelties, which shook me with Terror at the very sight of them, + and would take up too much time in the Relation. + + I likewise aver, That the _Spaniards_ gathered together as many + _Indians_ as fill'd Three Houses, to which, for no cause, (or a very + inconsiderable one) they set fire, and burnt every one of them: But a + Presbyter, _Ocana_ by Name, chanced to snatch a little baby out of the + fire, which being observ'd by a _Spaniard_, he tore him out of his + Arms, and threw him into the midst of the Flames, where he was with the + rest, soon burnt to Ashes, which _Spaniard_ the same day he committed + that Fact, returning to his Quarters, dyed suddenly by the way, and I + advised them not to give him Christian Burial. + + Farthermore I saw them send to several _Casics_ and Principal + _Indians_, promising them a protecting Passeport to travel peaceably + and securely to them, who, no sooner came, but they were burnt; Two of + them before my Face, one at _Andonia_, and the other at _Tumbala_, nor + could I with all my perswasions and preaching to them prevail so far as + to save them from the Fire. And this I do maintain according to God + and my own Conscience, as far as I could possibly learn, that the + Inhabitants of _Perusia_ never promoted or raised any Commotion or + Rebellion, though as it is manifest to all Men, they were afflicted + with Evil Dealings and Cruel Torments: And they, not without Cause, the + _Spaniards_ breaking their Faith and Word, betraying the Truth and + Tyrannically contrary to all Law and Justice, destroying them and the + whole Country, inflicting on them great Injuries and Losses, were more + reay to prepare themselves for Death, than still to fall at once into + such great and irrecoverable Miseries. + + Nay I do declare, according to Information from the _Indians_ + themselves, that there are to this day far greater Quantities of Gold + kept hid and concealed than ever were yet detected or brought to light, + which by means of the _Spanish_ Injustice and Cruelty, they would not + then, nor ever will discover so long as they are so barbarously + treated, but will rather chose to dye with the Herd. Whereat the Lord + God is highly offended and the King hath very ill Offices done him, for + he is hereby defrauded of this Region, which was sufficiently able to + furnish all _Castile_ with Necessaries, the Recovery whereof can never + be expected without great difficulty and vast Expenses. + +Thus far I have acquainted you with the very words of this Religious +_Franciscan_, ratified by the Bishop of _Mexico_, who testifieth that +the said Frier _Marc_ did affirm and maintain what is above-mentioned. + +Here it is to be observ'd what this said Frier was an Eye-Witness of; +for he travelled up in this Countrey Fifty or a Hundred Miles, for the +space of Nine or Ten Years, when as yet, few _Spaniards_ had got +footing there, but afterward, at the noise of Gold to be had there in +great plenty, Four or Five Thousand came thither, who spread themselves +through those Kingdoms and Provinces the space of Five or Six Hundred +Miles, which they made wholly desloate, committing the same, or greater +Cruelies than are before recited; for in reality they destroyed from +that time to these very days, above an Hundred Thousand poor Souls more +than he gives an Account of, and with less fear of God and the King, +nay with less Mercy have they destroyed the greatest part of Mankind in +these Kingdoms, above Four Millions suffering by violent Death. + +A few days after they darted to Death with Arrows made of Reeds a +Puissant Queen, the Wife of a Potentate, who still sways the Imperial +Scepter of that Kingdom, whom the _Spaniards_ had a design to take, +which instigated him to raise a Rebellion, and he still continues a +Rebel. They seized the Queen his Consort, and contrary to all Law and +Equity murdered her, as is said before, who was then, as report, big +with Child, only for this Reason, that they might add fresh Affliction +and Grief to her Husband. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +_Of the New Kingdom of_ Granada + +Many Tyrants there were, who set Sail from _Venecuela_, St. _Martha_, +and _Carthagena_, hastening to the Conquest of _Perusia_, Anno Dom. +1539. and they accompanied with many more going farther from this +Region, endeavored to penetrate into the Heart of this Countrey, where +they found about Three Hundred Miles from _Carthagena_ and St. +_Martha_, many admirable Provinces and most fruitful Land, furnished +with an even-tempered or meek-spirited People, as they are in other +parts of _India_; very rich in Gold and those sorts of precious Stones +known by the name of Emralds: To which Province they gave the Name of +_Granada_, upon this account, because the Tyrant who first arrived in +these Regions, was born in the Kingdom of _Granada_ belonging to these +parts; now they that spoiled these Provinces with their rapine being +wicked, cruel, infamous Butchers, and delighting in the effusion of +Humane Blood, having practically experimented the piacular and grand +Enormities perpetrated among the _Indians_; and upon this account their +Diabolical Actions are so great, so many in number, and represented so +grievously horrid by circumstantial aggravations, that they exceed all +the villanies committed by others, nay by themselves in other Regions, +I will only select and cull out a few out of so great a number which +have bene transacted by them within these three years, for my present +purpose. + +A certain Governour, because he that went to commit depredations and +spoils in the Kingdom of _Granada_, would not admit him, as a Companion +in his Robberies and Cruelties, set up an Inquisition, and produced +proofs confirmed by great evidence, whereby he palpably lays open, and +proves the Slaughters and Homicides he committed, and persists in to +this very day, which were read in the _Indian_ Courts of Judicature, +and are there now Recorded. + +In this Inquisition the Witnesses depose, that when all these Kingdoms +enjoy'd Peace and Tranquillity, the _Indians_ serv'd the _Spaniards_, +and got their living by contstnat day-labour in Tilling and Manuring +the Ground, bringing them much Gold, and many Gems, particularly +Emeralds, and what other Commodities they could, and possessed, their +Cities and Dominions being divided among the _Spaniards_, to procure +which is the chiefest of their care and pains; and these are the proper +measures they take to obtain their proposed ends, to wit, heaping and +treasuring up of Gold and Riches. + +Now when all the _Indians_ were under their accustomed Tyranny: A +certain Tyrant, and Chief Commander, took the King and Lord of the +whole Countrey, and detain'd him Captive for six or seven moneths, +demanding of him, without any reason, store of Gold and Emeralds. The +said King, whose name was _Bogoca_, though fear, promised him a House +of Gold, hoping, in time, to escape out of his clutches, who thus +plagu'd him, and sent some _Indians_ for Gold, who frequently, and at +several times, brought him a great quantity of Gold, and many Jewels; +but because the King did not, according to his promise, bestow upon him +an Apartment made of pure Gold, he must therefore forfeit his Life. +The Tyrant commanded himto be brought to Tryal before himself, and so +they cite and summon to a Tryal the greatest King in the whole Region; +and the Tyrant pronounced this Sentence, that unless he did perform his +Golden Promise he should be exposed to severe Torments. They rackt +him, poured boiling Soap into his Bowels, chain'd his Legs to one post, +and fastened his Neck to another, two men holding his Hands, and so +applyed the scorching heat of the Fire to his Feet; the Tyrant himself +often casting his eye upon him, and threatning him with death, if he +did not give him the promised Gold; and thus with these kind of horrid +torments, the said Lord was destroy'd; which while they were doing, God +being willing to manifest how displeasing these Cruelties are to His +Divine Majesty, the whole City, that was the Stage on which they were +acted, was consumed by fire; and the rest of the Captains following his +example, destroy'd all the Lords of that Region by Fire and Faggot. + +Once it fell out, that many _Indians_ addressed themselves to the +_Spaniards_ with all Humility and Simplicity, as they use to do, who +thinking themselves safe and secure, behold the Captain comes into the +City, where they were to do their work, and commands all these +_Indians_, sleeping and taking their rest, after Supper, being wearied +with the heavy drudgery of the day, to be slain by the Sword: And this +stratagem he put in practice, to make a greater impression of fear on +all the minds of the Inhabitants; and another time a certain Captain +commanded the _Spaniards_ to declare upon Oath, how many _Casics_ and +_Indians_ every individual person had in his Family at home, who were +presently lead to a publick place, and lost their Heads; so there +perisht, that bout, four or five hundred Men. The Witnesses depose +this of a particular Tyrant, that by beating, cutting off the Hands and +Noses of many Women as well as Men, and destroying several persons in +great numbers, he exercised horrid Cruelties. + +Then one of the Captains sent this bloody Tyrant into the Province of +_Bogata_, to inquire who succeeded that Prince there, whom he so +barbarously and inhumanely Murder'd, who traveling many miles in this +Countrey, took as many _Indians_ as he could get, some of which, +because they did not tell him who was Successor of this Deceased +Prince, had their Hands cut off, and others were exposed to hunger- +starv'd Currs, to be devour'd by them, and as many of them perished +miserably. + +Another time about the fourth Watch, early in the morning he fell upon +several _Casics_, Noblemen and other _Indians_, who lookt upon +themselves to be safe enough, (for they had their faith and security +given, that none of them should receive any damage or injury) relying +upon this, they left the Mountains their lurking places, without any +suspition or fear, and returned to their Cities, but he seized on them +all, and commanding them to extend their hands on the ground, cut them +off with his own Sword, saying, that he punished them after this maner, +because they would not inform him what Lord it was, that succeeded in +that Kingdom. + +The Inhabitants of one of these Provinces, perceiving that four or five +of their Governours were sent to the other World in a fiery Vehicle or +Chariot, being terrified therewith, took to the Mountains for +Sanctuary, there being four or five thousand in number, as appears by +good Evidence; and the aforesaid Captain sends a Tyrant, more cruel +than any of the rest after them. The _Spaniards_ ascend the Mountains +by force (for the _Indians_ were naked an unarm'd) Proclaiming Peace, +if they would desist and lay down their Arms, which the _Indians_ no +sooner heard, but quitted their Childish Weapons; and this was no +sooner done but this Sanguinary _Spaniard_ sent some to possess +themselves of the Fortifications, and they being secur'd, to attaque +the _Indians_. Thus they, like Wolves and Lyons, did rush upon this +flock of Sheep, and were so tired with slaughter, that they were forced +to desist for a while and take breath, which done, the Captain commands +them to fall to it again at the same bloody rate, and precipitate all +that survived the Butchery, from the top of the Mountain, which was of +a prodigious height; and that was perform'd accordingly. And the +Witnesses farther declare upon Oath, that they saw the bodies of about +seven hundred _Indians_ falling from the Mount at one time, like a +Cloud obscuring the Air, who were all broken to pieces. + +This very Tyrant came once to the city _Cota_, where he surprized +abundance of Men, together with fifteen or twenty Casics of the highest +rank and quality, whom he cast to the Dogs to be torn Limb-meal in +pieces, and cut off the Hands of several Men and Women, which being run +through with a pole, were exposed to be viewed and gaz'd upon by the +_Indians_, where you might see at once seventy pair of hands, +transfixed with Poles; nor is it to be forgotten, that he cut off the +Noses of many Women and Children. + +The Witnesses farther depose, that the Cruelties and great Slaughters +committed in the aforesaid new Kingdom of _Granada_, by this Captain, +and other Tyrants, the Destroyers of Mankind, who accompany him, and +have power still given them by him to exercise the same, are such and +so hainous, that if his Majesty does not opportunely apply some remedy, +for the redress and prevention of such mischiefs for the future, (since +the _Indians_ are daily slaughtered to accumulate and enrich themselves +with Gold, which the Inhabitants have been so rob'd of, that they are +now grown bare, for what they had, they have disposed to the +_Spaniards_ already) this Kingdom will soon decay and be made desolate, +and consequently the Land being destitute of _Indians_, who should +manure it, will lye fallow and incultivated. + +And here is to be noted, how pestilential and inhumane the cruelty of +these Tyrants hath been, and how violently exercised, when as in two or +three years space, they were all slain, and the Country wholly desolate +and deserted, as those that have been Eye-witnesses can testifie; they +having acted like Merciless Men, not having the fear of God and the +King before their Eyes, but by the instigation of the Devil; so that it +may well be said and affirmed, not one Person will be left alive, +unless his Majesty does retard, and put a stop to the full career of +their Cruelties, which I am very apt to believe, for I have seen with +these very eyes of mine, many Kingdoms laid waste and depopulated in a +small time. There are other stately Provinces on the Confines of the +New Kindgom of _Granada_, as _Popayan_ and _Cali_, together with three +or four more above five hundred miles in length, which they destroyed, +in the same manner, as they have done other places, and laid them +absolutely waste by the prementioned Slaughters, who were very +Populous, and the Soil very Fruitful. They who came among us from +those Regions report, that nothing can be more deplorable or worthy of +pity and commiseration, then to behold such large and great Cities +totally ruinated, and intombed in their own Ashes, and that in a City +adorn'd with 1000 or 2000 Fabricks, there are hardly now to be seen 50 +standing, the rest being utterly demolished, or consum'd and levelled +to the ground by Fire and in some parts Regions of 100 miles in length, +(containing spacious Cities) are found absolutely destroyed and +consumed by Fire. + +Finally many great Tyrants who came out of the _Perusian_ Kingdoms by +the _Quitonians_ Travelled to the said new Kindgom of _Granada_ and +_Popayan_, and by _Carthagena_ and the _Urabae_, they directed their +course to _Calisium_, and several other Tyrants of _Carthagena_ assault +_Quito_, who joyn'd themselves in an intire Body and wholly depopulated +and laid waste that Region for the space of 600 miles and upward, with +the loss of a prodigious number of poor Souls; nor as yet do they treat +the small remnant of so great and innocent a people with more humanity +then formerly. + +I desire therefore that the Readers who have or shall peruse these +passages, would please seriously to consider whether or no, such +Barbarous, Cruel and Inhumane Acts as these do not transcend and exceed +all the impiety and tyrrany, which can enter into the thoughts or +imagination of Man, and whether these _Spaniards_ deserve not the name +of Devils. For which of these two things is more eligible or desirable +whether the _Indians_ should be delivered up to the Devils themselves +to be tormented or the _Spaniards_? That is still a question. + +Nor can I here omit one piece of Villany, (whether it ought to be +postpon'd or come behind the cruelty of Brute Animals, that I leave to +decision). The _Spaniards_ who are conversant among the _Indians_ bred +up curst Curs, who are so well instructed and taught that they at first +sight, fly upon the Inhabitants tearing them limb by limb, and so +presently devour them. Now let all persons whether Christians or not +consider, if ever such a thing as this reacht the ears of any Man, they +carry these Dogs with them as Companions where ever they go, and kill +the fettered _Indians_ in multitudes like Hogs for their Food; thus +sharing with them in the Butchery. Nay they frequently call one to the +other, saying, lend me the fourth part of one of your Slaves to feed my +Dogs, and when I kill one, I will repay you, as if they had only +borrowed a quarter of a Hog or Sheep. Others, when they go a Hunting +early in the morning, upon their return, if you ask them what sport had +you to day at the Game? They will answer, enough, enough, for my Dogs +have killed and worried 15 or 20 _Indian_ Vassals. Now all these +things are plainly prov'd upon those Inquisitions and Examinations made +by one Tyrant against another. What I beseech you, can be more horrid +or barbarous? + +But I will desist from Writing any longer at this time, till some +Messenger brings an account of greater and blacker Impieties (if +greater can be committed) or else till we come to behold them again, as +we have done for the space of forty two years with our own Eyes. I +will only make this small addition to what I have said that the +_Spaniards_, from the beginning of their first entrance upon _America_ +to this present day, were no more sollicitous of promoting the +Preaching of the Gospel of Christ to these Nations, then if they had +been Dogs or Beasts, but which is worst of all, they expressly +prohibited their addresses to the Religious, laying many heavy +Impositions upon them, dayly afflicting and persecuting them, that they +might not have so much time and leasure at their own disposal, as to +attend their Preaching and Divine Service; for they lookt upon that to +be an impediment to their getting Gold, and raking up riches which +their Avarice stimulated them so boundlessly to prosecute. Nor do they +understand any more of a God, whether he be made of Wood, Brass or +Clay, then they did above an hundred years ago, New _Spain_ only +exempted, which is a small part of _America_, and was visited and +instructed by the Religious. Thus they did formely and still do perish +without true Faith, or the knowledge and benefit of our Religious +Sacraments. + +I Frier _Bartholomeas de las Casas_ or _Casaus_ of the Order of St. +_Dominick_, who through the mercy of God am Arriv'd at the _Spanish_ +Court, Cordially wishing the expulsion of Hell or these Hellish Acts +out of the _Indies_; fearing least those Souls redeemed by the pretious +Blood of Christ, should perish eternally, but heartily desiring that +they may acknowledge their Creator and be saved; as also for the care +and compassion that I ever had for my Native Countrey _Castile_, +dreading least God should destroy it for the many sins committed by the +Natives her Children, against Faith, Honour and their Neighbours: I +have at length upon the request of some Persons of great Quality in +this Court, who are fervently zealous of the Honour of God, and moved +with pitty at the Calamities and Afflictions of their Neighbours +(though I long since proposed it within my self, and resolved to +accomplish it, but could not, being distracted with the avocations of +multiplicity of constant Business and Employment, have leisure to +effect it) I say I have at length finished this Treatise and Summary at +_Valencia, Decemb._ 8. _An. Dom._ 1542, when they were arrived at the +Height, and utmost Degree of executing Violences, Oppressions, Tyrrany, +Desolations, Torments, and Calamities in all the aforesaid Regions, +Inhabited by the _Spaniards_ (though they are more Cruel in some places +than other) yet _Mexico_ with its Confines were more favourably treated +than the rest of the Provinces. + +And indeed no Man durst openly and publickly do any injury to the +Inhabitants; for there some Justice, (which is no where else in +_India_) though very little is done and practiced; yet they are +grievously opprest with intolerable Taxes. But I do really believe, +and am fully perswaded that our Sovereign Lord _Charles_ the Fifth, +Emperour and King of _Spain_, our Lord and Prince, who begins to be +sensible of the Wickedness and Treacheries, which have been, and still +are committed against this Miserable Nation, and distressed Countries +contrary to the Will and Pleasure of God, as well as His Majesties that +he will in time, (for hitherto the Truth hath been concealed and kept +from his Knowledge, with as great Craft, as Fraud and Malice) totally +extirpate and root up all these Evils and Mischiefs, and apply such +proper Medicines as may purge the Morbifick and peccant Humours in the +Body Politick of this New World, committed to his Care and Government +as a Lover and Promoter of Peace and Tranquility. God preserve and +bless him with Renown and a happy Life in his Imperial State, and +prosper him in all his Attempts, that he may remedy the Distempers of +the Christian Church, and Crown him at last with Eternal Felicity, +_Amen_. + +After I had published this Treatise, certain Laws and Constitutions, +enacted by his Majesty then at _Baraclona_ in the Month of _December, +An. Dom._ 1542, promulgated and published the Year ensuing in the City +of _Madera_, whereby it is provided, (as the present Necessities +requir'd) that a period be put to such great Enormities and Sins, as +were committed against God and our Neighbours, and tended to the utter +Ruine and Perdition of this New World. These Laws were published by +his Majesties Order, several Persons of highest Authority, Councellors, +Learned, and Conscientious Men, being assembled together for that +purpose, and many Debates made at _Valedolid_ about this weighty +Affair, at length by the unanimous Consent and Advice of all those who +had committed their Opinions to Writing, they were made publick who +traced more closely therein the Laws of Christ and Christianity, and +were judged Persons pure, free from and innocent of that stain and +blemish of depriving the _Indians_ of their Treasures by Theft and +Rapine, which Riches had contaminated and sullied the Hands, but much +more the Souls of those who were enslav'd by those heaps of Wealth and +Covetousness, now this obstinate and hot pursuit after Wealth was the +Original of all those Evils committed without the least Remorse or +Check of Conscience. + +These Laws being thus promulgated, the _Courtiers_ who promoted these +Tyrants, took care that several Copies should be transcribed, (though +they were extremely afflicted to see, that there was no farther hopes +or means to promote the former Depredations and Extortions by the +Tyranny aforesaid) and sent them to several _Indian_ Provinces. They, +who took upon them the Trouble and Care of Extirpating, and Oppressing +by different ways of Cruelty, as they never observed any Method or +Order, but behav'd themselves most inordinately and irregularly, having +perused these Diplomata or Constitutions, before the new made Judges, +appointed to put them in Execution, could Arrive or be Landed, they by +the assistance of those (as 'tis credibly rumour'd, nor is it repugnant +to truth) who hitherto favour'd their Criminal and Violent Actions, +knowing well that these Laws and Proclamations must necessarily take +effect, began to grow mutinous, and rebel, and when the Judges were +Landed, who were to Execute these _Mandates_, laying aside all manner +of Love and Fear of God, were so audacious as to contemn and set at +nought all the Reverence and Obedience due to their King, and so became +Traytors, demeaning themselves like Blood-Thirsty Tyrants, destitute +and void of all Humanity. + +More particularly this appear'd in the _Perusian_ Kingdoms, where _An. +Dom._ 1542, they acted such Horrid and Stupendous Enormities, that the +like were never known or heard in _America_, or throughout the whole +World before that time: Nor were they only practised upon the +_Indians_, who were mostly destroy'd, but upon themselves also, God +permitting them by his just Judgement to be their own Executioners, and +sheath their Swords in one anothers Bowels. In like manner the other +parts of this New World being moved by the Example of these Rebels, +refused to yield Obedience to those Laws. The rest pretending to +petition his Majesty turn Rebellious themselves; for they would not +voluntarily resign those Estates, Goods and Chattels they have already +usurped, nor willingly manumit those _Indians_, who were doomed to be +their Slaves, during Life; and where they restrain'd the Murdering +Sword from doing Execution, they opprest them gradually with personal +Vassalage, injust and intolerable Burthens; which his Majesty could not +possibly hitherto avert or hinder, because they are all universally, +some publickly and openly, others clancularly and secretly, so +naturally addicted to Rob, Thieve and Steal; and thus under pretext of +serving the King, they dishonour God, and defraud his Imperial Majesty. + +Here the Author having finished the matter of Fact in this Compendious +History, for Confirmation of what he has here written, quotes a tedious +and imperfect Epistle (as he styles it) beginning and ending anonymous +withal, containing the Cruelties committed by the _Spaniards_, the same +in effect as our Author has prementioned, now in regard that I judge +such reiterated Cruelties and repeated Barbarisms are Offensive to the +Reader, he having sailed already too long, and too far in an Ocean of +Innocent _Indian_ blood: I have omitted all but Two or Three Stories +not taken notice of by the Author. One of the Tyrants, (who followed +the steps of _John Ampudia_, a notorious Villain) gave way to a grat +Slaughter of Sheep the chief Food and Support of the _Spaniards_ as +well as _Indians_, permitting them to kill Two or Three Hundred at a +time, only for their Brains, Fat, or Suet, whose Flesh was then +altogether useless, and not fit to be eaten; but many _Indians_, the +_Spaniards_ Friends and Confederates followed them, desiring they might +have the hearts to feed upon, whereupon they butchered a great many of +them, for this only Reason, because they would not eat the other parts +of the Body. Two of their gang in the Province of _Peru_ kild Twenty +Five Sheep, who were sold among the _Spaniards_ for Twenty Five Crowns, +merely to get the fat and brains out of them: Thus the frequent and +extraordinary Slaughter of their Sheep above a Hundred Thousand Head of +Cattel were destroy'd. And upon this Account the Region was reduced to +great penury and want, and at length perished with Hunger. Nay the +Province of _Quito_, which abounded with Corn beyond Expression, by +such proceedings as these, was brought to that Extremity that a +Sextarie or small Measure or Wheat was sold for Ten Crowns, and a Sheep +at as dear a rate. + +This Captain taking leave of _Quito_ was followed by a poor _Indianess_ +with loud Cries and Clamours, begging and beseeching him not to carry +away her Husband; for she had the charge of Three Children, and could +not possibly supply them with Victuals, but they must inevitably dye +with hunger, and though the _Captain_ repulsed her with an angry brow +at the first; yet she approacht him a second time with repeated Cries, +saying, that her Children must perish for want of Food; but finding +the Captain inexorable and altogether unmov'd with her Complaints, and +her Husband not restor'd, through a piquant necessity wedded to +despair; she cut off the Heads of her Children with sharp Stones, and +so dispatcht them into the other World. + +Then he proceeded farther to another City, and sent some _Spaniards_ +that very Night, to take the _Indians_ of the City of _Tulilicui_, who +next day brought with them above a Hundred Persons; some of which (whom +he lookt upon to be able to carry burthens) he reserved for his own and +his Soldiers service, and other were chain'd, and perished in their +Fetters: but the little Infants he gave to the _Casic_ of _Tulilicui_, +abovesaid to be eaten up and devoured, whose skins are stuft with Ashes +and hung up in his House to be seen at this very day. And in the close +of this Letter he shuts up all with these words, 'tis here very +remarkable and never to be forgotten, that this Tyrant (being not +ignorant of the Mischiefs and Enormities executed by him) boastingly +said of himself, _They who shall travel in these Countreys Fifty years +hence, and hear the things related of me, will have cause to say or +declare, that never such a Tyrant as I am marched through these +Regions, and committed the like Enormities._ + +Now not to quit the Stage without one Comical Scene or Action whereon +such Cruelties have been lively personated, give me leave to acquaint +you with a Comical piece of Grammatical Learning in a Reverend +Religioso of these parts, sent thither to convert the _West-Indies_ +Pagans, which the Author mentions among his Reasons and Replications, +and all these I pass by as immaterial to our purpose, many of them +being repeated in the Narrative before. + +The weight and burthen of initiating the _Indians_ into the Christian +Faith lay solely on the _Spaniards_ at first; and therefore _Joannes +Colmenero_ in _Santa Martha_, a Fantastic, Ignorant, and Foppish +Fellow, was under Examination before us (and he had one of the most +spatious Cities committed to his Charge as well as the Care and Cure of +the Souls of the Inhabitants) whether he understood how to fortifie +himself with the sign of the Cross against the Wicked and Impious, and +being interrogated what he taught, and how he instructed the _Indians_, +whose Souls were intrusted to his Care and Conduct; he return'd this +Answer, _That if he damn'd them to the Devil and Furies of Hell, it was +sufficient to retrieve them, if he pronounced these Words,_ Per Signin +Sanctin Cruces. A Fellow fitter to be a Hogherd than a Shepherd of +Souls. + +This Deep, Bloody _American_ Tragedy is now concluded, and my Pen +choakt up with _Indian_ Blood and Gore. I have no more to say, but +pronounce the Epilogue made by the Author, and leave the Reader to +judge whether it deserves a Plaudite. + +The _Spaniards_ first set Sail to _America_, not for the Honour of God, +or as Persons moved and merited thereunto by servent Zeal to the True +Faith, nor to promote the Salvation of their Neighbours, nor to serve +the King, as they falsely boast and pretend to do, but in truth, only +stimulated and goaded on by insatiable Avarice and Ambition, that they +might for ever Domineer, Command, and Tyrannize over the _West- +Indians_, whose Kingdoms they hoped to divide and distribute among +themselves. Which to deal candidly in no more or less intentionally, +than by all these indirect wayes to disappoint and expel the Kings of +_Castile_ out of those Dominions and Territories, that they themselves +having usurped the Supreme and Regal Empire, might first challenge it +as their Right, and then possess and enjoy it. + + FINIS. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Brief Account of the Destruction of +the Indies, by Bartolome de las Casas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIES *** + +***** This file should be named 20321.txt or 20321.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/2/20321/ + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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