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EXLIBRIS i
ROBERT GIBSON.
0^ nt:^a4^
M/^
'••'^
1
1K%
' AN
ACCOUNT
Of the Firft
Voyages and Discoveries
Made by the S p a n i a r d s in America.
Containing
The moft Exad Relation hitherto pub-
lifli'd, of their unparallel'd Cruelties
on the Indknsj in the deftru6tion of a-
bove Forty Millions of People.
With the Propofitionsoffer'd totheKing of Spam,
to prevent the further Ruin of thQWefi-hdies.
By Do^ Bartholomew de las Qafa6\f Bifhop ofChiapa,
who was an Eye-witnefs of their Cruelties.
llluftrated with Cuts,
To vvhich is added.
The Art of Travellings fhewing how a Man may
difpofe his Travels to the beft advantage.
LONDON^
Printed by J. Darby for D. Brown at the Black Swan
and Bible without Temple- Bar, J. Harris at the
Harrow in Little Britain^ and Andr. Bell at the
Crofs-kcys and Bible in Combil. M.DCXC.IX.
The PREFACE.
AMerica wasfrfi difcover''d by Chriflopher
Columbus A Genoefe in the year 149 ,
in the Name of Ferdinando Kjng ^f
Arragon, hut takes its Name from Ame-
ricus Vefpucius a Florentine, who difcover^d the
Country of Brezil five years after ^ by order of
Emanuel KJng of Portugal.
The Europeans had no fooner enter'^d on this
vafi Continent y and the I (lands about itj but the Na-
tives fhew*d ''em aE imaginable Kjndnefs and Kefp^^
and were ready to worjhip ''em as Gods ; but thefefoon
took care to convince ''em of their Error ^ and to de-
liver ''em from the danger of falling into thi^ fort of
Idolatry^ by treating ''em with all manner of Cruel-
ties^ and tormenting ''em like fo many Devils : fo
that thefe barharom People receiv'*d as great a
turn in their thoughts concerning the Spaniards, as
the Barbarians of the Ifland of Melita did in refpe^
of St. Paul ; for as theje believ''d him to be a God
whom they had juft before taken for a Murder er, fo
the other really found them to he Murderers, whotn
they had a little before efieem^d asfo many Gods,
The following Relation of the Defiruiiion of ma-
ny Millions of Indians by all the inhuman methods
the Spaniards could invent, would appear incredible^
were not the truth of it confefs*dy and attefled by
the Spaniards themfelves^ and among others, efpe-
daily by Don Bartholomew de las Cafas Bi/Jjop of
Chiapa, who made large Complaints of thefe Cru'
A 2 elties
The P R E F A C E.
Bities to the Kjng of Spain, and. to the RoydCoufP-
tilfor the Indies, with a defign to fut a. flop to "^em
if fofjthk. That he is a Ferjon of irrepraachahle
Credit in this cafe., will appear hy the jollowing ac-
count., wherein he challenges all the World to dif-
prove the truth of the matters of Fact he ajferts.,
while he food the Teft of a Court who could eafilj
have detected himy if he had attempted to impofe on
^em by a malicious Faljhood.
This Bijhop writes with fuch an Air of Honejly^
Sincerity, and Charity y as would very well h$ve he*
come one of a better Religion than that in which he
had the unhappinefs to be educated. It may well fur-*
prize the Reader to hear a Spanifll Prelat declaim
JO loudly againft Perfecutian^ and plead fo freely for
Liberty of Confcience in a Country fubjugated to
the Inquifition. To hear him in his dispute againfi
Doctor Sepulueda, decry all methods of Violence for
the propagation of the Truth, as more fut able to
the Maxims of Mahometifm than the Principles of
Chriftianity : To hear him affert the Natural Right
of all Mankind to Liberty and Property, and invetgh
againjt all Vfurpation and Tyranny in the fmartefl:
Terms, is enough to move any one'*s Wonder, and Pity
too, when on the other band "'tis obferv^d how much
he magnifies the Power and Authority of the Pope in
Come of his Proportions contained in the following
Treat ife. But all may ferve to convince one how great
an advantage or difadvantage a Man has as he
pleads the Caufe of Tr'uth or Error ; and of the
great, difference there is 'beti:ecn the genuin Lan^
guage if Reafon and good Senfe, and the fervil
Prejudices of Bigotry and Sups'ftition,
^Tis
The PREFACE.
'T// fio lefs A SuhjeB of Admiration that a. Book
of this Jt amp, which reflects fofharplj on Ferfecution
and Tyranny, fhould fee the light cum privilegio at
this time of day in France, where the Civil and Re-
ligiou^ Liberty of Subjects have not been provided
for with the utmofl Care, where rhe Will of the
Prince has long ftnce been the Law, and Dragoons
of late years the principal Miffionaries for the Pro-
pagation of the Gofpel.
This Treat if e wasfrfi compos'' d in Spanifli in the
beginning of the Reign of Charles V. and was
long fwce tranflated and printed in more Lan-
guages than one \ but having lately receiv'^d a new
drefs in Modern French at Paris, V/j hofd this
Tranflation from the French will not be unaccepta-
ble to the English Nation. Ym fure the above-
mention* d Principles of the Bijhop of Chiapa con-
cerning Property and Liberty both Civil and Reli-
gious, are more agreeable to the Genius and Confli-
tution of this ijland, than to the prefent temper of
that part of the Continent which lies near eft to it ;
and fo this Book may expect at le aft as favorable a
reception in this Nation as in that where it has.
been lately publifjj'd.
What the Btjhopfays here and there in favor of
his own Religion, is jo weak, and has been fo often
exploded here and every where elfe where the Refor-
mation has obtained, that "'twould be unnecejfary to
confute any of thofe Popifh Fancies in this Preface^,
^Tts enough for me that 1 have faithfully difcharg^d
the fart of a Tranjlator. And if fome particular
things occur more than once, it muft be conftder'^d on
the one hand, that the Biflpop had need to mention
them
The PREFACE.
them on divers occafiom, as when he dijpufed, and
when he wrote his Arguments for the ufe of the
Kjng 0/ Spain, &c. and on the other ^ that the Im-
portance of the Affair y and the Greatnefs of his
Xeal to have the Grievances he complained of re-
drefs'*d^ made fo deep an Imfrefflon of fame things on
his Mind that he could not forbear to repeat "^em.
As for the Tranflation it felf I hope thofe that
fbafl have the Curiofity to compare it with the French
Copy^ will find that 1 have done it fuflice. And
if there is not that exactnefs of Method and Stile
the prefent Age expecfs^ it may be the better ex-
cus dy when "'tis conpder'^d how long fence the Original
was compos"* d. However, the extraordinary things
contained in this Hifiory will make fujfic lent amends
for any Defers in the Compofition of the Bijhop of
Chiapa, and for the abrupt Tranjitions fometimes
us^d by the Compiler of this Treatife inputting the
Bijbop^s fever al Pieces together, of which it almojl
wholly confijls.
Ifball only add^ That as no Hijlory in the World
can parallel this for the inhuman flxughter of fuch
vaft numbers of People ; fo thefe Barbarities^ to-
gether with the bloody Croifades in the 1 2th and
I ^th Centuries y as well as the many Perfecutions
and Majf acres fince the Reformation, render it no
difficult matter to difcern to what Church that Pro-
phetick Character agrees^ that in her was found
not only the Blood of Prophets and of Saints, but
of all that were {lain upon the Earth. Rev,
18. 2J.
THE
THE
CONTENTS
THE Introduflion. page i.
A particular Account of what the Spaniards
did in HifpanioJa, 6.
Of the Kingdoms contained in the Jy?<s(«f/o/Hirpaniola. 9.
Of the I/lands of St. John tfw^ Jamaica. . 18.
Of the Jjland of Cuba. ip.
Of the Continent. 23,
Of the Province of Nicaraqua. 28.
Of New Spain. 32.
A more particular jiccount of New Spain. 34.
Of the Kingdom of Guatimala. 41.
Of New Spain ; of Panuco and Xalifco. 47.
If the Kingdom of Yucatan. 52.
If the pSvince of St. Martha. 60.
If the Province of Carthagena. 53.
)/ the Pearl-Coaft, and the Jjland of Trinidado. 64.
If the River Yuya-pari. 73.
9/ the Kingdom of Vencuela. 74.
Of the Provinces of the Continent caWd Florida. 80.
Of the River de la Plata, or Silver River. 82.
Of the great Kingdoms and Provinces of Peru. 84.
A Letter from Frier Mark de Xlicia to the King of
Spain againji the Cruelties of the Spaniards. 87.
y the new Kingdom of Grenada. p2.
A Letter of Bartholomew de las Cafts concerning the
Spanilh Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 1 00.
A Fragment of a Letter relating to the fame Jff air. 104.
The Bifhop of Chiapa'i Bifcourfe to the King of Spain in
order to prevent the ruin of the Weft-Indies, pag. 115.
H'vi Propofitions concerning the Title of the Kings of Spain
to America. 1 38.
The Contents.
A Difpute between the Bijhop of Chiapa and Dr. Sepu-
lueda concerning the lawfulness of the Wars made by
fk Spaniards o» tfce Indians. 150.
The Bp of Chiai^a's further Sentimtnts of that affair. t6o.
//is Rtafom at large for fubjcBing the Welt-Indies to
the Crown of Spain, and thereby preventing the Ra-
njagts of the Spaniards there^ &:c. 1 84.
Newly publi/Fd^
AN Inquiry concerning Virtue, in two Difcourfes : the firifl
of Virtue, and the belief of a Deity •, the fecond, of the
ObHgations to Virtue. Price bound in Calf 3 s.
The Complete Works of Mr. fames Harrington: With a Prelimi-
nary Difcourfe upon them, ^c Fot.
A Complete Colleftion of the Hirtorical, PoHtical, and Mifcella-
neous Works of Mr. John Milton. Together with his Life.
With fonie things never before publifh'd. In 2 Vol. Fot,
An Argument, fhewing that a Standing Army is inconfiftent with
a Free Government, and abfolutely deftruftive to the Liberties
of this Nation. In two Parts.
A Letter from the Author of the Argument againfl a Standing
Army, to the Author of the Balancing Letter.
The Militia Reformed, or an eafy Scheme of furnifhing England
with a conftant Land-Force, capable to prevent or to fubdue any
foren Power, and to maintain perpetual Quiet at home, with-
out endangering the Public Liberty.
4 Letter to a Member ot Parliament, (hewing that a Reftraint on
the Prefs is inconfiftent with the Proteftant Religion, and dan-
gerous to the Liberties of the Nation.
A Letter to his Majefty King WiUiam concerning the Expedients
us'd CO fupport the EngUfti Monarchy.
^.~ Tk& CrucLtLes uscL l?t/ t/i^
t4nf\i^r en t/ic Itidtc
xtts
p. Zi .
Tfie. (Spantards Crueltt
the Indians Sec
^hi
^^M^^( r^^fw^
pjj-
(1 )
•iilrttfil fiiiiT(fT*V1
A
RELATION
OF The
Vo Y AGES and Cruelties
Of the Spaniards in the
WEST-INDIES.
THE Wejl-Inclies wer*- difcover'd in th^
Year 1492 •, the yenr after the S^aniardi
fetled there, and inhabited this nevr
World. But for t:he fpace of thefe 4$>
years lalt palt, an infinite nvimber of People haV0
left Spain to dwell in thefe Cot jntries •. they generally"
touch at Hifianiola^ Which i3 a very fertile and large
llland, and is become very ^/araous : The Extent of
it is above <^oo Leagues ^ 't'ls furrounded with a muU
titudeof fmall Iflandfj, an'i abounds fo with Inhabi-*
tants,that there's no Country in the World more po*
pulous. The Contini^nC, Which is above 250 Leagues
diftant from it, is of a vail Extent j a great part of
which has been alre^idy difcoVered^ and frefh Dlf^
coveries are made every day : and fuch great riuttl*
bers of People inhabit all thefe Countries, that ifi
feems as if Providence had artiafs'd together the
greateft part of Mankind in this pan of the World.
B All
2 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
All thefe People are naturally fimple, they know
not what belongs to Policy and Addrefs,to Trick and
Artifice ^ but are very obedient and faithful to their
rightful Governors : They are Humble, Patient,
and Submiflive, even to the Spaniards who have fub-
dued and enflav'd 'em : they love to live quietly, and
•ate enemies to difputes and quarrels, hardly know-
ing what 'tis to be malicious, and feldom meditafeting
Revenge.
They are a weak effeminate People, not capable
of enduring great Fatigues *, they care not to be ex-
posed to Toil and Labour, and their Life is of nc? long
continuance-, their Conflitution is fo nice, that a
fmall fit of Sicknefs carries 'em off. The Children
of their Princes and Nobility, are in all refpeds
dealt with like thofe of the meaneft Subjeds : in
which they differ much from our £^urppeans^ among
whom the Children of Kings and great Men, arc
brought up with ail the delicacy and tendernefs ima-
ginable. ,^, , . . . ,- ^
'.. The People of this Tlland are fo very poor,, that
they live in the want of almoll every thing*, they
are very cool and indifferent in the purfuit of tem-
poral Advantages, ar?d feem not to be inclined to
Pride and Ambition •,. their way of living is lb fru-
e;al, that the antient Hermites in the Wildernefs
were fcarce more Sober and Abftemious. All the In--
dians in general go naked, only they have the mo"
defly to wear a fort of Apfon about their Wafte.
They fometimes ufe a kind of fliaggy Covering,, or
a piece of Cloth an Ell or two long : Thofe of the
befl Fafhion lie on Beds made with Girts tyed in
iCrlotsat the four Corners: their Apprehenfion is
quick and fubtile, therefore they are very docile,
capable of receiving the imprelfions, of found Do-
ftrine, and eah'lyinclin'd to embrace the Principles
of the Gatholick Religion : They are no Enemies to
And Cruelties in the Weflr-Indles. ^
good Manners, but have a greater difpolition to Ci-
vility than many other Nations, becaufe their man-
ner of Life is free from that care and diftradion ia
which the perplexity of Bufinefs involves others.
The very firft Ideas and Inllrudions that are given
'em of our Religion, kindle in their Souls fo great a
delire to the Sacraments and Divine Service of our
Church, that thofe Monks that inftrud 'em, have
need of a great deal of Patience to moderate the ira-
petuofity of their Minds, and to anfwer all the Que-
ftions they have the curiofityto ask. And it may
truly be faid that thefe Indian Nations would be the
moft happy in the World, if endued with the know-
ledg of the true God. The Spaniards themfelves
who have treated 'em fo ill, cannot but confefs the
goodnefs of their natural Temper, and the great
difpofition of their minds to every kind of Vertue.
The Almighty feems to have infpir'd thefe People
with a meeknefs and foftnefs of Humour like that of
Lambs : and the Spaniards who have given 'em fo
much Trouble, and fallen upon 'em fo fiercely, re-
ferable favage Tigers, Wolves, and Lions, whenin-
rag'd with prefling Hunger. They applied them-
felves forty years together wholly to the mallacring
the poor Wretches that inhabited the lOands ^
putting them to all kinds of unheard of Torments
and Punifhments, (a part of which Cruelties exer-
cifed on thefe miferable Indians we defign to defcribo
in the fequel of this Work) infomuch that this Ifland
which before the arrival of the Europeans, contain-
ed about three Millions of People, is now reduc'd to
lefs than three hundred. The Ifland of Cuba^ the
length of which is equal to the diftance between
F'alidolid and Rorne^ is entirely defert and deftitute
of its Inhabitants, and nothing but Ruins nov/ to be
feen in it. The Iflands of St. John, and Jamaica,
have met with the like Treatment, which were
B 2 very
4 A Relation of the Spanifh' Voyages
very fertile and populous, but are rcnder'd defolatc
and wafte by the like means. The IQands near Cu-
ba and Hifpamola on the North-fide are fixty in
number, which are commonly calVd the Ifles of Gi-
ants, of which the leaft fruitful abounds more with
Plenty than the Royal Garden of Seville ^ but they
are deftitute of Inhabitants, tho 'tis as wholefom
,an Airas men can breath in. When the Spaniards
.jirft landed in thefe llles, there were above five
.hundred thoufand Souls ^ they cut the Throats of a
great part of thefe-, and carried away the reft by
force to make 'em work in the Mines of Hifpaniola,
When fome pious Perfons embarked to vifit thefe
Ifles after the Ravage the Spaniards had made in 'em,
they found but eleven People left there : It was from
the motives of Charity and Compaflion they under-
took this difficult and perilous Voyage, in hope to
inftruft thefe poor Creatures in the knowledg of Je-
fus Chrift. Above 30 Ifles near that of St. Joljn were
entirely depopulated, tho of a vaft Extent, fo that
tiiere is fcarce an Inhabitant to be found in them.
As for the Continent 'tis certain, and what I my
felf know to be true, that the Spaniards have ruined
ten Kingdoms there, bigger than all Spain^ by the
commillionof all forts of Barbarity and unheard of
Cruelties. They have driven away or kill'd all, the
Inhabitants ^ fo that all thefe Kingdoms are defolate
to this day, and reduc'd to a moft deplorable Con-
dition, tho this was formerly the bell peopled
Country in the World. Wc dare aflert, without
fear of incurring the reproach of exaggerating, that
in the fpace of thofc forty years in which the Spani-
ards exei cis'd their intolerable Tyranny in this new
World, they unjufl;ly put to death above twelve
Millions of People, counting Men, Women, and
Children : and it may be affirm 'd without injury to
Truth, upon a juil Calcultition, that during this
fpacs
and, Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 5
fpace of Time, above fifty Millions have died ia
tfaefe Countries.
The Spaniards who invaded thefe Ifles, and boalled
of their Chriftianity, made ufe of two ways prin-
cipally to exterminate the Inhabitants: thefirftof
which was by an iinjuft and bloody War carried on
with the utmoft Barbarity and Cruelty y the other
was that deteflable Policy which infpir'd them to
malTacre all that had any remains of Liberty, or
endeavour'd to fhake off their Tyrannical Yoke, and
to free themfelves from fo unjaft and intolerable a
Slavery \ for this the bravefl, moil potent, and moil
warlike Nations off the Indians attempted. When
the Spaniards had killVl all the Men in the War, they
fuffer'd the Women and Children to live, but with
the impolition of a Yoke {o cruel and infupportable,
that their Condition was rcndred as miferable as that
of Beails. A multitude of other particular methods
were taken for the deflruftion of thefe poor Ame-
ricans^ but they may be reduc'd in general to thofe
two we have mentioned.
The Gold and Silver thefe People had in their pof-
feffion, was the Motive that violently prompted the
Europeans to perfecute and deilroy 'em. The ear-
neil defire they had of fpeedily enriching themfelves,
in order to procure-fuch Honour and Dignity as far
exceeded their Condition, infpir'd 'em with all this
inhumanity. In a word, their Avarice and Ambi-
tion were arriv'd to an excefs beyond Imagination ;
theimmenfe Riches of the new World, the trada-
ble, fwect, and good difpofition of the Indians^
which renderMa defccnt into their Country eafy to
any that would attempt it, have occafion'd all the
Ravage and Spoil, all the horrid Mallacresand Cru-
elties which the Spaniards have caus'd 'em to fuffer.
They made fo little account of the miferable Inha-
bitanrs of thefe Iflands', that I may aver, without
B 3 fear
6 A Relation of the Spanifh Fojages
fear of being accus'd either of Impofture, or of fpeak-
ing inconfiderately, fince 'tis that of which I have
been an Eye-witnefs, that they valued them lefs, and
treated them worfe than Beafts. They had fo little
regard to the Salvation of their Souls, that they
would not give themfelves the trouble fo much as to
fpeak of the Chriflian Faith and Sacraments to thofe
numberlefs multitudes of Men and Women whom
they facrific'd to their Ambition and Tyranny. And
that which aggravates the enormity of their Crimes,
is, that thefe poor Indians had ofFer'd 'em no Inju-
ry, but on the contrary, gave 'em as much Honour
and Refpeft as if they had been fent from Heaven •,
till they were wearied out with repeated Outra-
ges and Maflacres, and conftrain'd to betake them-
lelves to Arms contrary to their inclination, and to
repel force by force, to fecure themfelves from the
horrible Violences and Infults of their Enemies, who
invented divers kinds of Torments for them, with
a Barbarity beyond all Defcription.
u4 pariicuiar Account of what the Spaniards did,
in Hifpaniola.
\ 3% T this Ifland the Spaniards arrivM in their firft
Jl\ Voyages, and here began to perfecute and
murder the Indians^ taking away their Wives and
Children, and ullng 'em, or rather abufing 'em at
their pleafure. They devoured all that thefe poor
Creatures had amafs'd together for their Subfiftence
with a great deal of Care and Labour, not content
with what they freely offer'd 'em as far as their Po-
verty and the meannefs of their Condition would
permit: for they arefatisfied with what is of pure
Neceffity>not troubling themfelves with fuperfluities,
or
and Cruelties in the Weft- Indies. 7
or laying up great ftores before hand. One S^a~
ward would confurae in a day, that which would
have fuffic'd three Indian Families of ten Perfcns
each, for the fpace of a whole Month. This ill
treatment and fpoil foon made the Inhabitants of
this Ifland lofe the Efteem they had conceiv'd of the
Spaniards, whom they at firlt look'd upon as mef-
fengers from Heaven : fothat at length they began
to hide their Wives and Children, and whatever
Goods they had from 'em. Some retired into Caves,
others fled up into the Mountains to avoid meeting
witli the Spaniards who now appear'd fo terrible and
cruel to 'em. The Spaytiards did not content tb.em-
felves to beat 'em, and to offer 'em many other
Indignities, 1but cut their Throats in cold Blood :
and without any refpedl either to Age or Quality,
put their Princes, and the Governors of their Cities
to death : They came to that height of Impudence and
Villany, that a Spanijh Captain had the Infolencc
to abufe the Wife of the greatelfc King of the
Ifland. This vile fad drove 'era quite to defpair,
fo that from that time they fought means of dri-
ving the Spaniards out of their Country ; they be-
took themfelves to Arms, and did what they could
to defend themfelves againft thefe Tyrants : but
the Weapons they us'd were neither capable of
defending them, nor of ofTending their Enemies to
any purpofe ; and were more like thofe that Chil-
dren ufe to play with, than fuch as are fit for Soul-
diers to ufe in War.
The Spaniards, who were mounted on fine Horfes,
and armed with Lances and Swords, look'd upon
Enemies fo meanly equip'd with the greateft Con-
tempt, and committed the mofl; horrible Slaughters
with Impunity. They pafs'd through the feveral
Cities^ and Towns, fparing neither Age nor Sex,
but kill'd Women and Children as well as Men :
B 4 They
8 J Relation of the SpaniHi Voyages
They rip'd up Women with Child, that Root and
Branch might be deftroy'd together. They laid
Wagers one with another, who fhould cleave a Man
down with his Sword raoft dexteroufly at one blow \
or who fhould take his Head from his Shoulders moft
cleverly ^ or who fliould run a Man through after
the moll artificial manner : They tore away Chil-
dren out of their Mothers Arms, and dalh'd out
their Brains againft the Rocks \ others they threw
into the River, diverting themfelves with this bru-
tifli Sport, and giving great fhouts while they faw
^em in this mifery : And to add infulting Scoffs to
their Cruelty, advis'd 'em to ftruggle in the Water,
^nd try if they could fave themfelves from drowning.
They held up the Bodies of Mothers and Children
together upon their Lances : they fet up Gibbets,
jmd hang'd up thirteen of thefe poor Creatures in
honour to Jefus Chrill and his twelve Apoftle ( as
they blafphemoufly exprefs'd themfelves) : They
kindled a great Fire under thefe Gibbets, to burn
thofe they had hang'd upon 'em : They cut off the
Hands of thofe they fav'd alive, and fent 'em away
in that miferable condition, bidding 'era carry the
News of their Calamities to thofe that were retir'd
Into the Mountains to efcape the Spaniards.
They ere<^ed a fmall Scaffold, fupported with
Forks and Poles, upon which to execute their Chiefs,
and thofe of the moft confiderable quality among
^em» When they had laid 'era at length upon this
§caffbld, they kindled a gentle Fire, to make 'em
feel themfelves die gradually, till the poor Wretches
after the mofl exquifite Pain and Angujlh, attended
with horrible Screeches and Outcries, at length exr.
pirM-. I one day faw four or five Perfons of the
higheil Rank in this Ifland burn'd after this manner,
But the dreadful Cries this Torment extorted from
''^iTij incommoding ^ Spniih Captain, and hindring
4»d Cruelties m the WQd-'lndks, 9
his Sleep, he commanded 'em to be prefently
itrangled. But a certain Officer whofe Name I
know, and whofe Relations are well known at Sc-
<viUe^ put Gags into their Months to hinder 'em from
making a Noife, that he might not be depriv'd of
the brutilh Pleafure of broiling them gently, till
they breath'd out their Souls in this Torment. I
have been an Eye-witnefs of all thefe Cruelties, and
an infinite number of others which I pafs over in
iilence.
And becaufe thefe poor People took all the care
they could to hide themfelves from a Generation of
Men fo barbarous and wicked as the Spaniards, who
had no Sentiment of Humanity, Honour, or Reli-?
gion left, but aded as if they were made for nothing
elfe but to deftroy Mankind '-, to add further to their
brutilh Cruelty, they taught Dogs to go a hunting
for thefe poor Wretches,and to devour 'em as if they
had been Beafts. And becaufe the Indians after
they had been provokM with fo many unheard of
Injuries, now and then kilPd one of them when
they met with 'era ftragling ^ the Spaniards made
9 Law among themfelves to mafTacre a hundred In*
dians for every Spaniard they Ihould kill.
Of the KJngdoms contained in the Ijlan^ of ^
Hirpaniola,
Hlfpaniola contains five great Kingdoms, the
Kings of which were very powerful, and go-
verned all the other Chiefs, whofe number is very-
great : yet there are fome independent Countries
which have their particular Lords, and are not
fubject to any of thofe Kings. One of thefe Kings
ll]ey call Ma^na^ which lignifies a Pkin^ his Name
beins
lo A Relation of the SpaniOi Voyages
being taken from the fituation of his Kingdom,
v/hich is extremely pleafant. This Plain is 80
Leagues in extent from South to North, but is
only five, eight, and fometimes ten Leagues in
breadth. 'Tis encompafsM on every fide with high
Mountains; 'tis waterM with a great number of
Brooks and Rivers, of which there are twelve that
come not behind thofe famous Rivers the Ehre^
the Duere^ and the Guadalquivir for bignefs. The
Rivers that water this Plain, efpecially thofe falling
down from a Mountain that looks towards the Weft,
abound with Gold. This Mountain bounds the
Province of Cihao^ where the Mines bearing that
Name produce that pure Gold of the finenefs of
24 Carrats, fo much talk'd of in Europe. The So-
veraign of this Kingdom was call'd Guarionex ; he
|iad under him fuch powerful Subjefts, that one of
'em could bring i5ooo Men into the field for
the King's Service. I knew fome of thefe Indian
Lords. This King was very fubmifiive to the Kings
of Spain^ and exprefs'd a great deal of AfFedion to
them. His Humour was mild and peaceable ; and
his Soul capable of every Vertue. He once or-
dered all his Subjefts to bring him each of 'em a
great Purfe of Gold ; but finding they were not in a
condition to anfwer his Requirement, he remitted
half this Tax. The Inhabitants of this Ifiand have
not the Art of extrading Gold out of the Mines.
This Cacique voluntarily offer'd himfelf to the Ser-
vice of the King of S^ain^ on condition the Queen
Ifabella would take care that thofe Lands Ihould be
cultivated, which the Spaniards inhabited at their
firft Arrival in the Indies^ extending about the fpace
of 50 Leagues towards St. Domingo: for he faid his
Subjeds had no Experience or Skill to extraft Gold
out of the Mines. If this Condition had been ac-
cepted, he woald faithfully and joyfully have accom-
plifiied
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 1 1
plifhed his Promife, which would have been of vaft
advantage to the King of Sp^/w, who might have
taken above three Millions or Gold every year out
of thefe Mines \ and confequently there might now
have been fifty Cities in this Province as fine as '
Seville.
But what grateful Acknowledgments did the
Spaniards return to the kind Offers of this Prince,
who gave fach Proofs of his Good-will to 'em, and
iincere defire to ferve 'era ? They covered him with
Shame and Infamy, his Wife was violated (as has
been faid ) by a Spanijh Captain, a Wretch un-
worthy of the Chriftian Name. This Prince might
have waited for an opportunity to revenge himfelf
of this Outrage, but chofe rather to retire and live
in Obfcurity and Exile in the Province of one of his
Subjeds, voluntarily abdicating his Kingdom and
Government. The Spaniards being inform'd of the
place of his Retreat, purfued him with the utmoft
Fury, without giving him time to hide himfelf. They
cruelly declar'd War againft that Indian Lord that
had given him Sanduary, and had received him with
a becoming Humanity and Refpcd •, they ravag'd
all his Country, and never left off their Cruelties
till they had found and feiz'd this Fugitive Prince,
whom they loaded with Chains, and put on Ship-
board to be carried into Spain as their Prifoner.
This Veflel was caft away in the Voyage, a great
many Spaniards drown'd, and an incredible fum of
Gold and Silver loft : Among the reft there was a
prodigious lump of Gold as big as a great Loaf,
which weighed 3500 Crowns. Thus did the Ven-
geance of God meet with 'em for the enormous
Crimes they had committed in the Indies.
The fecond Kingdom is called Marten^ where
there is a fine Port juft at the end of the other
Kingdom on the North-fide : This Kingdom is
larger
12 A Relation of the SpaniOi Vojages
larger than Portugal^ and more fruicfiil, and was
ftor'd with vaft numbers of Inhabitants^ there are
divers Mountains in it, and feveral Mines abounding
with Gold and Copper. The Name of the King
of this Country was Guacanagan^ who had divers
Lords under his Jurifdi'lion. 'Twas in this Coun-
try that famous Pilot who firll difcover d Amenca
landed. Guacanagari received him with ail imagi-
nable Hofpitality and Civility ; he made the bell
Entertainment he could for all the Spaniards who
accompanied him : when their Ship was funk, they
were receiv'd at this Prince's Court as kindly as if
they had been in the Houfes of their own natural
Relations : here they met with all manner of Re-
irelliments and Recruits the Country afforded, which
were given 'em with great ExpreQions of Humanity
and Compaffion on the account of their Hardlhips.
This King afterwards to fecure himfelf from the
barbarous Ufage of the Spaniards^ when they began
to commit their MalTacres in his Country, abandon'd
his Kingdom, and was forc'd to retreat into Tome
of the remote Mountains, where he di^ed with the
Fatigues and Inconveniencies to which he was ex-
posed. Thofe Indian Lords that depended on him
found no better Treatment, but pcriiTi'd under that
horrible Slavery to which the Spaniards had reduc'd
'em.
Maguana is the third Kingdom of this Ifland,
and is an admirable Country, both for Health and
Fruitfulnefs. Here is made the beft Sugar in Ante-
fie^, ' Caonabo was the King of it, who furpafs'd all
the other Kings both in regard of his Power, the
Riches of his Kingdom, and the Refpect and Cere-
mony with which he was honour'd. This Prince
not keeping on his Guard, nor at all dillrulling
what Tricks t\\Q Spaniards defign'd to play him, was
furpriz'd in his own Houfe by the Artifices they had
laid
dnoi Cruelties In the Wed-Indies, i J
laid to infnare him. He was put in a Ship to be
.carried into S^aln^ and there were at the fame time
fixVeflels in the Port ready tofetSail, when all on
a fudden there rofe a liorrible Tempeft, which
batter 'd the Ships to pieces and funk 'em, with all
the Spaniards that were on board. King Caondbo
loaded with Chains perifh'd, together with the
VelTel in which he wasembarqu'd. The Almighty
was pieas'd to difplay his jufl and terrible Judgment
by this fudden Storm, in dellroying fo many Spa^
rtiards^ and thereby punifliing the Crimes they had
committed in -dhuiin^ the -poor Indians. This King
had three or four Brothers, all of 'em valiant and
couragious Princes ^ who being much provokM at
-the unjuft'Captiv itv of the King, their Brother and
■Sov<;raign, and in^brni'd of the Ravage and Maila-
jcres the Spaniards had made in other neighbouring
Kingdoms, and after all hearing the News of the
fatal End of their Brother, betook themfelves to
Arms, and fought means of revenging themfelveg
on their Enemies. The Spaniards ^ttzck^d 'em with
their Cavalry, which is very formidable to the
Indians^ whom they foon conquer'd, and made fo
prodigious a Slaughter among 'em, that half the
Kingdom was depopulated and became defert after
this Defeat.
Xavagua is the fourth Kingdom of Hifpaniola^ and
is asnt were the Heart and Centre of all this liland ;
the Language of it is the moft refinM and polite.
The People of this Kingdom are the moft civilizM,
and their Manners more cultivated than thofe of
other parts of the Country : and there are a greater
number of great Lords and Perfons of Quality
among 'em. Thefe People are better fhap'd, and
hive a finer Afped than thofe of the other King-
doms. The King's Name was Bebcchio, he had a
Sifter call'd Anacaona j both of 'cm heap'd their Fa-
vours
14 A Rehtion of the Spanifli Voyages
vours on the Spaniards when they landed in theit
Country, and with a great deal of Generofity fav'd
*em from Death, which they could not otherwife
have avoided : They left no Stone unturn'd to fhew
themfelves obliging to the Kings of Spain. After
Bchechio's Death his Sifter Anacaona continued ab-
folute Miftrefs of the whole Kingdom. One day
the Governor of the Ifland, accompanied with 60
Horfe and 300 Foot, fends a Summons to about 300
of the greateft Lords of the Country to attend his
Perfon. Thefe few Horfemen alone were able to
have ravag'd and laid wafte not only all this Ifland,
but even the whole Continent, fo defencelefs were
thefe poor People. The Indian Nobles, not at all
fufpeding any treacherous Defign, were by the Go-
vernor's Order brought into a Houfe cover'd with
Straw, which he commanded to be fet on fire,
where they periih'd miferably. Thofe of 'era who
attempted to efcape were purfued by the Spanifli
Troopers, and kill'd without Mercy. They alfo
kiird a vafl: multitude of the common People, cut-
ting 'em and running 'era through with their Swords
and Lances. This fame Governor caus'd Queen
Anacaona, who had the foveraign Authority after
the Death of her Brother ( as has been faid ) to be
hang'd, that he might difgrace the Memory of that
Princefs as much as he could by fo vile and igno-
minious a Death. If at any time a Spaniard, either
touch'd with the Sentiments of Compafllon, or
prompted with thofe of Avarice, thought fit to
fpare one of thefe poor Wretches for his ovfn Ser-
vice ^ another would come tranfported with Rage,
and fall upon him in his prefence, and either run
him through the Body, or cut off his Legs, fo as to
render him unferviccable. Some of thefe Indians
who efcap'd this Mafl^cre retir'd into an Ifland not
above eight Leagues diftant from this Kingdom, to
flieiter
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 1 5
fhelter themfelves from the Fury of the Spaniards y
but thefe were condemned by the Governor to
perpetual Slavery.
The Name of the fifth Kingdom h Hiquey : Hi-
quanama thQ Queen, who govern'd it, tho very
much advanc'd in Years and (;lecrepit, was hang'd by
order of the Spaniards^ who tormented an infinite
number of the Inhabitants of this Kingdom by di-
vers kinds, of cruel Punilhments. Some they burn'd
;,alive, they cut off the Arms and Legs of others,
^and made, Slaves of the reft. There are fo many
things to be faid of the ill Treatment and Cruelty
the Spaniards exercis'd againft the People of this
Ifland, that'tis impoffible to recount 'em all j and if
that could be done, the recital of 'em would ap-
pear incredible : and yet the Indians gave the Spa-
niards no occafion to engage in fo barbarous a War
againft 'em, and to commit fuch Violences upon
'em ; but one may truly fay, thefe poor Creatures
liv'd in as great Subjection and Obedience to the
Spaniards^ as the moft fubmifiive and obfequious
Order of Monks do in the moft regular and well-
difciplin'd Monaftery ^ fo that there was no lawful
occafion given 'em to rob thofe of their Property,
or condemn 'em to a rigorous Slavery, who had
found means of efcaping their bloody Maflacres.
Tis further to be obferv'd, that the Indians offer'd
no Affront to the Spaniards when they firft arriv'd
in America ': So that they had no colourable Pretext
for Revenge, or the leaft right to punifli 'em after fo
cruel a manner. As for thofe Sins, the Puniihment
of which Godhasreferv'd tohimfelf,fuch as Hatred,
Envy, the paflionate defire of Revenge, the Spa-
niards had no occafion to reproach 'em on this ac-
count, fince thefe People have fcarce more Strength
' and Courage than Children of ten Years old. On
the other fide, the Indians had a thoufand juft Rea-
fons
(-t5 J Relation of the Spanifh Voydges
fons to make War with the Spaniards^ tho thefe had
no reafonable pretence to treat them as they did
with a barbarity equal to that of. the moft favage
and inhuman Tyrants.
After this unjuft War was ended with the De-
itrudion and Maflacre of all the Inhabitants of thefe
Countries, having referv'd few befides the Women
and Children, they divided thefe among themfelves,
fome keeping 30 of them, others 40, others 100,
forae 200, according to the Intereft they had in the
Tyrant of the Ifland, whom they honour'd with the
Title of Governor ^ for 'twas he that gave 'em
thefe Indians J on condition they would caufe 'era to
be inftrufted in the Maxims of the Catholick Reli-
gion, tho thePerfons to whofe care he committed
^emwere the moft ignorant, cruel, covetous, and
▼itious of all Mankind. Thefe (as might well have
been expected) took no care to inftrud 'em^ but
confined the men to the Mines to get out Gold with
incredible Toil and Labour ^ they us'd the Women
for Husbandry and Tillage, tho this laft was a La-
bour hard enough for men of the moft robuft and
vigorous Conftitution. They fed 'em only with
Herbs, or fuch like Food, that had but little Sub-
■ftance or Nourifhment in it : So that the Milk dry'd
up in the Breafts of the Women that gave fuck, and
their Children in a little time pin'd away and dyed
with Faintnefs and Hunger. The Men having no
Converfation with the Women, but dwelling in fe-
parate Houfes, there could be no farther propaga-
tion of Children by 'em. Thus at length the Men
perifli'd in the Mines with Hunger and Labour, the
Women dyed under the preflure of their fervitude
in the Fields ^ lb that all the Inhabitants of this po-
pulous Ifland were exterminated in a jfhort time-
And indeed if the fame courfe were t^ken every
^vherselfe, all Mankind would be dcftroy'd in the
fpac^
d'/td Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. i-j
ipace of a few Years. The Spaniards oblig'd thefe
poor Creatures to carry Burdens of fourfcore or a
hundred pound weight for a hundred or two hun-
dred Leagues. And that they might travel the
more at eafe, they would make thefe Indians carry
them in Chairs and Horfe-litters on their Shoulders :
They us d 'em like Beails of Burden to carry their
Utenlils, and what they pleas'd either for their Pro-
lit or Pleafure, fo that the Backs and Shoulders of
thefe poor Slaves were black with Bruifes occafion'd
by the great weight of their Burdens. Thefe in-
credible Fatigues did not fecure 'em from JBlows
with Cudgels and Whips, accompanied with Curfes^
lior from a great many other Punifhments. Buc
'twould be endlefs to defcribe all the Miferies thefe
unfortunate People were made to fuffer ^ it would
require whole Volumes, and the reading of fo de-
plorable a Story would deeply affecl and foften eve-
ry Mind not quite divefled of Humanity.
It is to be obfervM that the Deflrudion and Delb-
lation of thefe Provinces began lince the Death of
the molt ferene Queen Ifabella, who departed this
Life in the Year i 504. Before this time the Spa-
niards never durll exercife their Cruelties on the
People of this Ifland, nor deftroy their Country : if
they ofFer'd "em any Violence, 'twas as it were hy
ftealth, and with great Precaution. But after the
Death of this Princefs, the Defolation became gene-
ral. Before this fatal time, they took great care to
conceal whatever Hardfhips they made thefe People
endure, becaufe the Qiieen was marvelloufly zealous
both to promote the Inftrudion and Salvation of the
Inhabitants of this new World, and to advance their
Temporal Advantages ^ and accordingly Ihe gave us
ftiany Examples of her Piety and Zeal.
In Whatever part of jimerica the Spaniards fet
their F€«t, they perpetrated the fame abominable
Q Villa-^
1 8 A Relation of the Spanifli Voyages
Villaniesand Maflacves, to opprefs and exterminate
thefe poor Innocents. They feem'd to take Plea-
fure in the invention of new kinds of Torments,
and their Fury augmented every day more and
more, till God Almighty provok'd by fo many hor-
rid Crimes, abandon'd 'em to a reprobate Senfe,
and permitted 'em to fall as it were from deep to
deep, and from one Precipice to another.
Of the JJlands of St. John and Jamaica.
N the Year i<09 the Spaniards went into the
Iflands of St, John and Jamaica (which refemble
delicious Gardens) with the fame Intentions and De-
figns they had carried on in the Ifland of Hifpaniola.
Here they committed a world of Robberies and
Cruelties, jufl: as they had done in other places
where-ever they came. The Marks of their De-
vaftations and Murders were every where to be feen.
They laid all places defolate where they arriv'd,
expofing Men to the Mercy of Beafts. And after
having inflided all forts of Torments on 'em, put
'em in the Mines^to work like Slaves as long as they
liv'd. They entirely depopulated thefe Countries,
fo that in thefe two Illands, where there were com-
puted to have been above dooooo Inhabitants be-
fore their Arrival, there are fcarce 200 now to be
found : The reft being all deftroy'd with Mifery
and Hardfhip, and that without having any Pains
taken with 'em to inftrudt 'em in our Religion, or
to adminilter the Sacraments to 'em.
Of
a^d Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 1 9
Of the JJland of Cuba.
TH E Spaniards pafs'd into the Ifland of Cuba in
the year 1 5 1 1 , which contains as much ground
in length as from rallidolid to Rome. There were
formerly fine and flourifhing Provinces to be feen,
fill'd with vaft numbers of People, who met with
no milder or kinder Treatment from the Spaniards
than the rejft. On the contrary, they fcem'd to
have redoubled their Cruelty upon thofe People.
There happen'd divers things in this Ifland that de-
ferve to be remark'd. A rich and potent Cacique
nam'd Hathuey was retir'd into the Ifle of Cuha^ to
avoid that Slavery and Death with which the 5p^-
niards menac'd him: and being informed that his
Perfecutors were upon the point of landing in this
Ifland, he afl^embled all his Subjeds and DomeHicks
together, and made a Speech to 'em after this man-
ner. You kmrv ( faid he) the Report that is fprad
abroad^ that the Spaniards are ready to invade this
Ifland-^ and you are not ignorant of the ill Vfage our
Friends and Country-men have met with at their hands ^
and the Cruelties they have committed at Hayci (fb
Hifpaniola is called in their Language ) they are nocj
coming hither with a defign to exercife the fame Outrages
and Perfecutions upon us. Jlre you ignorant ( fays he )
of the ill Intentions of the People of whom 1 am f^eahng /
We know not (fay they all with one Voice) upr-<
what account they come hither^ but rre know they arc .i
very wicked and cruel People. Ill tell you then ( reply' 1
the Cacique^ that the fe Europeans worf hip a very coz\ -
torn fort of God^ fo that "'tis difficult tofitisfy him ^ 01 i
to perform the IVorfmp they render to this Idol^ they' I
excUf imminfe Treafures of rw, and will ufs their utrn' >
G 2 Bid.. I-
20 A delation of the Spanifli Voyages
Endeavour to reduce «v to a m't fur able flate of Slavery^
or elj'e to put us to death. Upon which he took a Box
full ot Gold and valuable Jewels which he had with
him, and expofing it to their view: Here vs (fays
he ) the Gcd of the Spaniards, vphom rve mufl honour
xvith our Sports and Dances^ to fee if we can appeafe
htm^ and render him propitious to us ; that fo he may
cojyiniand the Spaniards not to offer us any Injury.
They all applauded this Speech, and fell a leaping
and dancing round the Box, till they had quite
tired and fpent themfelves. After which the Cacique
Hathuey refuming his Difcourfe, continued to fpeak
to them in thefe terms : If rve keep th'x God ( fays he)
till he''s taken avaay from us, he'll certainly caufe our
Lives to be taken from us ; and therefore I am of opinion
^tw'dl be the befl way to cajl him into the River. They
all approy'd of this Advice, and went all together
with one accord to throw this pretended God into
the River.
The Spaniards were no fooner arrived in the Ifle
of Cuba^ but this Cacyque who knew *em too well,
began to think of retreating, to fecure himfelf from
their Fury, and refolv'd to defend himfelf by force
of Arms, if he Ihou Id happen to meet with them^
but he unfortunately fell into their Hands: and be-
caufj he had taken all the precautions he could to a-
void the Perfecutions of fo cruel and impious a Peo-
ple, and had taken Arms to defend his own Life, as
well as the lives of his Subjeds;, this was made a
capital Crime in him, for which he was burn'd a-
live. While he was in the midft of the Flames, tied
to a Stake, a certain Francifcan Frier of great Piety
and Vertue, took upon him to fpeak to him of God
and our Religion, and to explain to him fome Arti-
cles of the Catholick Faith, of which he had never
heard a word before, promifing him Eternal Life,
if he would believe, aad threatning him with eter-
nal
And Cruelties in tin Weft-Indies. 2 1
nal Torment, if he continued obilinate in his Infi-
delity. Hathmy refieding on the matter, as much
as the Place and! Condition in which h# v/js would
permit., askM the Frier that inftructed him, whe-
ther the Gate of Heaven was open 10 the Soayiiards ;
and being anfwer'd that fuch of 'em as were good
men might hope for entrance there : The Cacyque^
withoutany farther deliberation, told him, he had
no mind to go to Heaven, for fear of meeting with
fuch cruel and wicked Company as they were ^ but
would much rather choofe to go to Hell, where he
might be deliver'd from the troublefom fight of fuch
kind of People : To fo great a degree have the wicked
Adions and Cruelties of the Spaniards difhonor'd
God and his Religion in the Minds of the y^mcricans.
One day there came to us a great number of the
Inhabitants of a famous City, fituate above 10
Leagues from the place where we lodg'd, to com-
plement us, and bring us all forts of FroviGons and
Refrelhments, which they prefented us with great
marks of joy, carefllng us after the moft obliging
manner they could. But that evil Spirit that pof-
fefs'd the Spaniards put 'em into fijch a fndden Fury
againib 'em, that they fell upon 'em and maflacred
above 3000 of 'em, both Men and Women, upon
the fpot, without having receiv'd the leaft Offence
or Provocation from 'em. I was an Eye-witnefs of
this Barbarity ; and whatever endeavours were
us'd to appeafe thefe inhuman Creatures, 'twas im-
polTible to reduce 'em to Reafon ^ fo refolutely
were they bent to fatiate their brutal Rage by this
barbarous Adtion.
Soon after this I fent Meffengers to the moft noted
Indians of the Province of Havane^ to encourage
and engage 'em to continue in their Country, and
not to trouble themfelves to feek remote places to
hide in, and advis'd 'em to come to us with affurance
C 3 of
22 Ji Re/at h;f of the Spanifh Voyages
of our Protedlion. They knew well enough what
Authority I had over ihzS^aniards^ and I gave 'em
my word, n|^njury Ihould be offer'd 'em : for the
pafl Cruelties and MaUiicres their Country-men had
iuffer'd, had fpread Fear and Terror through all the
Country^ and this Adurance I gave 'em was with
the Confent and Advice of the Captains and other
Ofiicers. When we enter'd into this Province, two
and twenty of their Chiefs came to us, and the ve-
ry next Morning the Commander of our Troops,
without any regard to the Promife that had been
made 'em, would needs fcntence 'em to be burnt,
pietending 'twas befl to put thefe People to death,
becaufe they might one time or other ufe fome Stra-
tagem to furprize and deftroy us : And I had all
the difficulty in the world to prevent 'em from
throwing 'em into the Fire.
The Indians of Havane feeing themfelves reduc'd
to L. ftatc of fevere Slavery, and that there was no
Remedy left^ but they were irrecoverably undone,
began to feek Refuge in the Deferts and Mountains,
to fecure themfelves if poHlble from Death: Some
llrangled themfelves in defpair \ Parents hang'd
themfelves, together with their Children, to put the
rpcedier end to their Miferies by Death. Above
two hundred Indians periOi'd here after this manner,
TO avoid the Cruelty of the Spaniards j and abun-
dance of them afterwards voluntarily condemn'd
themfelves to this kind of Death, hoping thus in a
moment to put a period to the Miferies their Per-
fecutors infiided on 'em.
A certain Spaniard who had the Title of Sove-
raign in this Illand, and had three hundred In-
dians in his Service, deftroy'd a hundred and lixty
of 'em in lefs than three Months, by the excefiive
Labour he continually exafted of 'em. The Recruits
he took to fill up their places were dellroy'd after
and Cruelties in the Wefl-Indies. 2 1
the fame manner •, and he would in a {hoic time have
unpeopled the whole libnd, if Death, wiiich took
him out of the way very happily lof thofe poor
Wretches, had not fhekei'd 'era from his Cruelties.
I faw with with my own Eyes above lix thoufand
Children die in the fpace of three or four Months,
their Parents being forc'd to abandon 'em, being
condemned to the Mines. After this the Spaniards
took up a Refolution to purfue thofe Indi.ms that
were retir'd into the Mountains, and malTacred mul-
titudes of 'em i fo that this Ifland was depopulated
and laid wafle in a very little time. And 'tis a moll:
lamentable Spectacle to fee fo fine a Country thus
raiferably ruin'd and unpeopled.
Of the Continent.
IN the Year i $ 1 4, a mercilefs Governor, deflitutc
of the leall fentiment of Pity or Humanity, who
was defervedly accounted a barbarous Tyrant, and
cruel Inftrument of the Wrath of God, pierc'd into
the Continent, being followed by a great many
S^aniards^ all animated with the Spirit, and pur-
fuing the Defigns of their Leader. Tho fome of
his ftarap had 'enter'd the Continent before him,
and had killd a great many People, yet they had
only exercis'd their Robberies and Cruelties on the
Sea-Coafts. But he of whom I am now fpeaking,
furpafs'd all his PredecefiTors in Cruelty and Impiety.
He was not content to ravage the Sea-Coafls, but
laid wade great Kingdoms and vafl Countries, and
deftroy'd an infinite number of Indians in the grofs
Darknefs of their Idolatry. He run through above
fifty Leagues of the fineft Country in the World,
and carried Defolation with him where-ever he
C 4 went,
24 -^ Relatio?t of the Spanifh Voyages
went, ruining in a little time the mofl plcafant and
fruitful Country in the IVefl^lndies. There were
before the Arrival of this Tyrant, abundance of
Villages, Towns and Cities, that excell'd thofe of
^W the neighbouring Countries. This Country a-
bounds more in Gold than any yet difcover'd. The
immenfe Riches that have fiil'd Spain fince fhe has
traded to the Indies^ have been chiefly drawn out
of the Mines of the Country of which I am now
fpeaking.
The Governor of this new World invented va-
rious kinds of Torments to conllrain the Inhabitants
to give him all the Gold they had heap'd together.
In one Progrefs which fome of his Captains made by
his Order to pillage and rob the People of their
niches, they put above forty thoufand of 'em to
the Sivord ^ others they burnt, others they expos'd
to be devour'd by Dogs, and the reft they deftroy'd
with divers other kinds of cruel Punifhraents.
The wretched Ignorance of thofe that have been
fent to govern the Indies^ has occafion'd a great ma-
ny Mifchiefs and Difcrders, and hinder'd the Con-
verfion of the Indians : for what they endeavoured
to perfwade 'em by their Words, was contradicfted
bv their Actions-, and the Sentiments of their
I\linds were no ways conformable to the Pretenfions
of their Tongues. They commanded the Indians
to embrace the Chriftian Religion upon pain of
Death, they raenacM 'em with cruel Slavery, or the
moll exquifite Tortures, to force 'em to turn Chrifti-
ans, or to fwear Allegiance to the King of Spain:
As if the Son of Gcd, who dy'd for the Redemption
of Men, had ordain'd thofe whom he fent to preach
tlie Gofpel, and .to declare the Kingdom of God,
to coRiLrain People that liv'd peaceably in their
own Country, to make profedion of his Dodrine,
en pain of bein^ plunder'd of their Goods, of being
fepa-
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 2 5
feparated from their Wives and Cliilciren, of lofing
their Liberty, and of being condemn'd to a cruel
Death, without having ever been inftruded in tiie.
Maxims and Principles of our Religion. And the
poor Creatures muft be oblig'd to render an exad
Obedience to a King they had never feen or heard
of, till they were inform'd of him by thefe Mcfien-
gers of his that treated 'em fo inhumanly.
This bloody and impious Governor, urg'd with
the infatiable defire of heaping up Treafure, pilla-
ged the Indians that dwelt both in the Villages and
Cities with Impunity, while they little thought of
fecuring themfclves againft his Robberies. He or-
dered his Souldiers to go privately to the places
where they fufpeded any Gold was to be found,
and to declare his Orders to the Inhabitants of this
new World after the following manner. '' Caciques
'' and Indians of this Continent, we are come to de-
'' clare to you that there is but one God, one Pope,
" and one King of Spain^ who is Lord and Mafter of
'' the Country you inhabit *, we therefore require
*' you to come immediately and take the Oath of
" Allegiance to him. After fuch kind of Preambles
as thefe, they would choofe the Night to fall fud-
denly upon thefe poor Wretches, when laid faft
afleep, v/ithout having taken any meafures to fecurc
themfelves from the Artifices of their Enemies,
who Would fet fire to their Houfes, which being
thatch'd with Reeds and Straw, were burnt to A flies
in an inftant. The Women and Children were de-
vour'd by the Flames almolt before they had time to
confider where they were. They maflacred fuch
as made a fliift to efcape the Fire, or kept 'em for
Slaves ^ they ufed Tortures to force 'em to tell
where they had hid their Gold. They printed
Marks on their Bodies with red hot Branding-irons ^
and after all thefe Cruelties, us'd their utraolt dili-
gence
26 A Kelttion of the Spanidi Voyages
gence to make a ftrid fearch for the Gold of thefe
miferable People, of which they got vail Quantities
together, befides Pearls and Diamonds, which the
Indians gave 'em to avoid their Fury. All the Spct-
niards who had any Office or Place of Trult, com-
mitted the fame Rapine j every one fent as many
Souldiers as he. could to make their ProgrefTes, and
ravage all the Country. The firft Bifhop that was
fent into America^ imitated the Condud of thefe
covetous Governors, and made ufe of his Servants
to procure himfelf a (hare of the Spoil. The S^a-
mards in a little time carried away above three
Millions out of this Kingdom^ of which vaft Sum
the King of S^ain had fcarce 3000 Crowns for his
Ihare. Here were above 800000 People flaughter'd ;
and the fucceeding Governors continued the like
MalTacres till they had deftroy'd the refl of the Na-
tives.
I mufl not pafs over in filence one Action com-
mitted in this Country by the Governor, of whom
I have been fpeaking. A Cacique^ whether volun-
tarily or out of fear I know not, gave him the weight
of 9000 Crowns in Gold : This great Sum not con-
tenting the Spaniards^ they tied this unhappy Prince
to a Stake, and fetting fire to his Feet, endeavour'd
by this means to extort a greater quantity from him.
This Torment being intolerable to him, he gave
'em the weight of 3000 Crowns of Gold more,
which he had referv'd ^ upon this they renew'd their
Tortures, to get ftill more out of him : but whether
he had no more to give 'era, or whether he was
refolv'd they Ihould exad no more of him, he ex'-
pir'd amidft their Tortures. They put to death
many of the moft confiderable Perfons of this
Kingdom after the fame cruel manner.
A Company of Spaniards happening to light on a
Body of Indians that had retreated into the Moun-
tains,
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 27
tains, to avoid the Tyranny of their Pcrfecutors,
in a great rage fell upon the poor Wretches, and
killing all the Men they could catch, carried away
three or fourfcore Women Prifoners. The Indums
that efcap'd being highly incens'd, came in Arms to
attack the Sj^aniards^ to try if they could oblige
'em to let go their Prey : Thefe feeing the Indimis
drav/ near 'em, and being unwilling, to furrender
the Booty they had taken, ftab'd the Women and
Maids in the prefence of their Husbands and Fathers,
who were feiz'd with Horror and Defpair at the
fight of fo lamentable a Tragedy, and fmiting their
Breafls, cry d out, O tnercilefs Mtn I O cruel Spa-
niards ! who can murder poor Women that never offended
you without Pity I And indeed they muft be more fa-
vage and bloody than Beafts of Prey, who can be
capable of fuch brutifli Aftions as thefe.
One of the greateft Lords of this Country,
whofe Name was Paris^ had a Houfe about ten or
fifteen Leagues diflance from Panama \ he was very
rich, having a great quantity of Gold in his pofTelfi-
on. When the Spaniards came to his Houfe, here-
ceiv'd 'em with as much Kindnefs and Civility as if
they had been his Relations. He frankly gave the
Captain the value of 1 5000 Crowns : This Captain,
and the Spaniards that accompanied him, concluded
that this Indian muft needs have immenfeTreafures,
from the parcel of Gold he had given 'em j and
fince they had undertaken this Journey on purpofe
to rob him, to make the more fure of fucceeding in
their Delign, they pretended they would be gone,
and accordingly took their leave of him, but re-
turn'd in the middle of the Night, and rufhing into
the City unexpectedly, they fet it on fire, and de-
ftroy'd abundance of the Citizens in the Flames,
and carried away thence 50 or r^oooo Crowns. A
Perfon of the molt confiderable Quality of any in
this
28 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
this City efcap'd the fury of this Fire ^ and after a
Refpite of three or four days, having got as many
Men together as he could, fell upon the Spaniards by
flirprize, kill'd about fifty of 'em, and retook all
the Spoil of the City which they had burnt, and
particularly the Value of 40C00 Crowns, of which
they had plunder'd him : the reft of the Spaniards
made the beft of their way and efcap'd, but not
without a great many Wounds. Soon after this
they return d with a greater Force to attack this
Cacique, and deftroy'd the greateft part of his
Troops, making Slaves of the reft.
Of the Provmce of Nicacaqua,
IN the Year 1522, the forementioned Governor
undertook to fubdue the Province of Nicaragua.
The great Fertility of this Country, the Goodnefs of
the Air, and the vaft number of the Inhabitants
cannot be fuificiently exprefs'd. There were Cities
in this Province four Leagues in length. The great
quantities of excellent Fruits that grow there, drew
together thofe great multitudes of People. Thefe
Cities being fituate in vaft Plains, the People had
no Mountains near in which to hide themfelves \
bcfides, the Climat is fo fweet, and the Country fo
agreeable, that the Inhabitants could not eafily re-
folve to quit it, and confequently were the more
cxpos'd to the Outrages and Perfecutions of the
Spaniards •, yet they fuffer'd all with as much pa-
tience as was poflible, that they might not be oblig'd
to change their Dwelling. And tho thefe People
are naturally of .a mild and peaceable Temper, the
Governor, or rather the Tyrant, with the Minifters
of his Cruelty, refolv'd to treat the Indtans of this
Pro-
And. Cruelties in the Wefl-Indies. 29
Province after the fame manner he had done thole
of other Kingdoms. Here he committed fo many
Enormities, fuch Robberies and Maflacres, that 'tis
impoffible for any Pen to relate 'em all. He fent
50 Troopers into this Province, which is bigger than
the County of Roufillon, who malTacred almoft all
the Inhabitants, without any regard to Age, Sex or
Qiiality. • If thefe poor Creatures fail'd to bring
'em a certain meafure of Corn which they exaded
of 'em, or did not fend into their Service fuch a
number of Slaves as they demanded, they kill'd 'em
without Mercy. And this being a plain Country
( as has been faid ) there was no place to fhelter 'em
from the Spanifli Horfe, who purfu'd 'em with the
Btmoft Fury.
The General permitted thefe Villains to commit
all the Infolencies and Robberies they pleas'd, and
to take as great a number of Prifoners as they defir'd.
Thefe they fometimes loaded with Chains of fixty
or eighty Pound weight j fo that of 4000 Captives,
fcarce fix were able to endure this Fatigue, the reft
all dy'd by the way under the intolerable weight of
their Fetters. That they might not have the trouble
to open the Chains of fuch as dy'd with Hunger,
Thiril, Wearinefs and Toil, they cut off their
Heads. When the Indians faw the Spaniards pre-
pare for thefe kind of Journeys, well knowing they
were never likely to fee their Friends and Country-
men any more, they, with many deep Sighs and
Groans, and floods of Tears, utter'd their Com-
plaints after this manner. Time was (fay they)
when we have travelPd thefe Journeys toferve the Chrijti-
ans^ and have been fujfer''d after a certain ff ace of time
to return home to our Wives and Children^ hit novo there
is no hope of any fuch return j and thv9 Separation mttfi
be for ever.
One day a Fancy came into the Governors Head,
to
JO A Relation of the Spanifl] Voyages
to make a new diftribution of the Indians ^ Jie took
'em away from tbofe for whom he had no kindnefs,
and gave a greater number to thofe he reipefted.
This chopping and changing of Slaves occalion'd a
great fcarcity for one Year, there being but a very
fmall Crop on the ground. Ihe Spaniards endea-
vour'd to fupply this defed by taking from the In-
dians all the Corn and other Provilions which they
had laid up in flore for the Subfiflence of their
Families. This Diforder produc'd a Famin among
'em, which deftroy'd above thirty thoufand People.
There was one Woman fo intolerably prefs'd with
Hunger, that (he kill'd her Child to appeafe her
Appetite.
All the Cities and Fields round 'em are like plea-
iant Gardens, which the Spaniards cultivated ac-
cording to the fliare each one had allign'd him by
Lot : and to fave their own Revenues, they fed up-
on the Stores that belong'd to the Indians^ and liv'd
at their Charge, devouring in a few days what thefe
poor People had been a long time getting together
with a great deal of Care and Toil. There was
no Spaniard but had an Eitate of his own, and kept
abundance of Indians in his Houfe to manure his
Land, and to do other Domeltick Bufinefs : and none
of thefe were exempted from Slavery, their Nobles,
their Women and Children were made to work day
and night for the advantage of the Spaniards^ who
exacted Tasks of 'era quite beyond their Strength,
and miferably wore 'em out with excefs of Labour
and Hardfliip. They drove 'em out of their Houfes,
and took polTefllon of 'em ; they feiz'd their Goods
and Lands, and inllantly confum'd their Provilions,
thus reducing 'em to extreme necellity. Many of 'em
dy'd under the heavy Burdens they oblig'd 'em to
carry on their Shoulders as far as the Port, which was
above 30 Leagues ^ for hither they made 'em bring
Planks
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 5 1
Planks and pieces of Timber for the building of
Veilels. They forc'd 'em to go and feek for Honey
and Wax in the Mountains, where they were d€-
vour'd by Tygers : Women big with Child were
not exempted from thefe hard Services, and often
perifli'd together with their Fruit, under the prelTure
of this rigorous Slavery.
That vvhich contributed y&t farther to unpeople
this Province, was the liberty the Spaniards took to
exaA of the Caciques^ and richeil Indians^ a great
number of Slaves. This kind of Tribute was au-
thorized by the Governor, and levied with a great
deal of Severity ; for he threaten'd to burn 'em alive
if they faiFd to fend him a Recruit of fifty Slaves
every three Months, or as often as he fhould give
order : tho the Indians have no great number of
Slaves ordinarily, and 'tis much if a Cacique has three
or four among his other Domefticks. If a Father
had two Children, the Spaniards would take away
one of them, or two if he had three : The Parents
^muft fabmit, with how great Relu<^ancy foever ^ but
, their Children were not ravifti'd from 'em without
abundance of Tears and dolorous Complaints^ for
they have a very tender AfFedion to their Off-
fpring, and breed 'em up with abundance of Care.
This kind of Tribute being often extorted, all this
Kingdom was in a few years depopulated. There
arriv'd five or fix Ships here every year, which were
laden with Slaves, whom they tranfported into
Peru and Panama^ and there fold 'em, where they
died in a little time ; for it has been confirmed by
many Experiments, that thofe Indians that are tranf-
ported from their Native Country into other Cli-
mats, fcldom live long: And that which contri-
buted to kill 'em the fooner, was the negled of fup-
plying 'em with fufficient Sultenance, and the ex-
ceffive Labour with which they were ovcr-charg'd.
In
^2 j4 Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
In .the fpace of a i^vj Years there were above
5000CO Slaves drawn out of this Province, the they
were all born free : and during the War that was
made againll 'em, there dy'd about fifty or lixty
thoufand beiides thefe : the relt were condemn'd to
cruel Slavery, in which a confiderable number dy'd
everyday. There are about four or five thoufand
People (till to be found in this Province ;, but it was
once one of the beft peopled Countries in all uime-
rica: And in a little time in all appearance the reft
will be deftroy'd by the ill Treatment they conti-
nually fufFer.
Of New Spain.
NErv Spain was difcover'd in the year 1517, and
the year following the Spaniards began to ra-
vage it, and to maflacre the Inhabitants, tho they\
pretend to go out of Europe to people this Country.
Their Violences and Oppreffions arrivM to fuch a
height, that they had no regard either to God of
thelKing, but forgot both that they were Men and
Chriftians. Since they came into this Country, there
has been nothing but Rapine and Spoil, Maflacres,
and burning of Cities, nothing but Tyranny and
Violence^ fo that they have in a fhort time depo-
pulated and ruined vaft Kingdorhs from one end to
t'other. The remembrance of the Villanies and
Cruelties committed there, has caft fuch a Terror
into the minds of the Natives, that they can't think
of a Spaniard without trembling. They have not
yet left off tormenting *em j on the contrary
they rather grow worfe and worfe, and their Perfe-
cutions augment every year. The Spaniards fince
they firft enter'd into New Spain have deftroy'd
45CQQ<»
<i.nd Cruelties in the Wefl-Indics. ^ ^
450000 by violent Deaths in and about Mexico.
This Country contains four or five Kingdoms, that
come not fhort of the Kingdom of S^ain iox Ex-
tent, Fertility, and Plenty of all things : Here werd
Cities to be feen more populous than Toledo^ Seville^
VaUidoUd^ Saragoffa^ ov.E.arcelona v for tho all thefe
Cities are well Itor'd with Inhabitants, thofe of the
new World are yet more populous. The Country
of which I am now treating is above 1 800 Leagues
in compafs. Here the Spaniards have kill'd above
four Millions of People by Fire and Sword, and o-
ther violent Deaths, both Men, Women and Chil-
dren, within the fpace of 480 Leagues. They call
the Countries they have got by theii' ufij^it and
cruel Wars, their Coriquefts, into which they en-
ter'd with the bloody delign of exterminating the
Inhabitants, and behav'd themfelves worfe than
Turksy or the greateft Enemies of the Chrilliail
Name would have done. I don't now reckon in the
number of thofe they have kill'd, fuch as have pe-
rifh'd in Slavery, or dy'd under the Hardlhips of
their Tyrannical Oppreflions. No Tongue is capa-
ble of defcribing to the life all the horrid Villanies
perpetrated by thefe bloody-minded Men, They
feem to be the declar'd Enemies of Mankind, and
aft as if they were deftin'd to deftroy the whole
Human Race : And how accuratly foever one en-
deavours to relate the Cruelties and Ravages of the
Spaniards, the thoufandth part of it cannot be
utter'd.
V J
54 ^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
A more farticuUr Account of New Spain.
IN the flourifliing and famous City of Cholula^
which contained more than thirty thoufand Fa-
milies, the principal Inhabitants, together with the
Friefts, led by him whom they look d upon as their
High-prieft, came with abundance of Solemnity and
Pomp to meet the Spaniards j and that they might
receive 'em w th the greater Honour and Refpedt,
they had order'd matters fo amongft themfelves,
that thofe of the higheft quality in the City fhould
condu(f^ the Spaniards to their Houfes, and give 'em
the befl Entertainment they could. Notwithftand-
ing this, the Spaniards refolv'd upon the fpot ta
make a horrible flaughter of 'em, thereby to render
themfelves the more formidable, and to fpread 1 er-
ror through all the Country. And this method they
us'd to obferve in every Country through which
they pafs'd, viz. to make a great Maflacre at their
firll Arrival, that the People, who are as meek as
Sheep, might not look upon 'em without dread.
They deputed fome to go and treat with the chief
Men of the City, and places adjacent, to engage
'em to come and meet 'em, that they might confer
together. Thefe were no fooner come to 'em, but
they put 'em in Chains, while the Inhabitants of
the City knew nothing of this Treachery. They
demanded 6c oo Indians of 'em to carry their Bag-
gage, their Utenfils and Provifions: When they
were come, they Ihut 'em up in divers Yards, and
'twas a miferable Speftacle to fee the poor Wretches
prepare to carry the Burdens they were to lay upon
'em. They were almofl ftark naked, and Itoop'd
down proflrating themfelves upon the Ground, fub-
mitting
and Cruelties in the Weft-TndleS. ^ 5
mitting like Sheep to the Blows and Wounds thefe
Tyrants gave 'era. When they were all thus pound-
ed in feveral Courts or Yards, part of the S^amards
arm'd with Lances and Pikes fill'd up the Avenues
to hinder the Indians frona efcaping, while the relt
put 'em to the Sword '-, Co that none of thefe efcap'd.
Two or three days after they found fome of them
among the Carcafes all cover'd with Wounds and
Blood, that had been left for dead ■-, thefe cry d for
Mercy, and beg'd they might be fufFer'd to live ;
but thefe bloody Men were not at all foften'd by
their Groans and Tears, and the fubmifTive manner
in which they ask'd their Lives, but cut 'em in pieces
upon the fpot with a kind of namelefs Cruelty.
Above a hundred of the principal Indians of this
place were put in Irons, and kept alive as yet:
But the Commander of the Spaniards order'd Stakes
to be fix'd in the Ground, and thefe unhappy Peo-
ple to be faften'd to 'em and burnt. The King of
the Country happen'd to make his Efcape, and re-
tired into a Temple with thirty or forty attending
him, hoping to find Sanduary there : Here he de-
fended himfelf for a whole day. But the Spaniards^
who never gave Quarter to any one whom they
found in Arms, fet fire to the Temple, and burnt
all that were in it. They cry'd out of the midft
of the Flames : O vile and cruel Men ! what hurt have
roe done you^ that you /hould kill us after this manner ?
Be gone^ he gone to Mexico, where our Ktng Monte-
zuma will puniP) you according to your deferts. 'Tis
faid the Spanilh Commander was at play during this
Tragedy ; and that when the Flames had quite con-
fum'd thefe poor Indians^ in a Tranfport of barba-
rous Joy, (hall I fay ? or Fury, he utter'd thefe words :
Neroy fays he, beholding from Mount Tarpeius the
Flames that laid Rome in Jl/hes, heard the Cries of his
Citizens without any Emotion of CompaJJion,
D 2 The
3 6 A ReUtionof the^^dsii^hVoyages
The Spaniards made another great Ma fiacre in
the City of Tepeaca^ which is a yet finer and larger
City than the former, and comprehends in it a
greater number of Houfes. Here they kilFd a mul-
titude of the Inhabitants with their Lances and
Swords. They afterwards went to Mexico^ where
King Monteguma accompanied with his Nobles, and
thofe of tlie moll diftinguifhed Rank in his Court,
entertain'd the Spaniards with all forts of Divertife-
ments, to teftify how mightily they were pleas'd
with their Arrival. The King's Brother came to
meet 'em with a fplendid Retinue ^ he made 'em
iioble Prefents in Gold and Silver, and gave 'em
rich Stuffs painted with divers Colours : the King
himfelf receiv'd 'em at the entrance of the City with
all his Court, being carried upon a Golden Frame, or
Chair of State, and conduced 'em to the Palace
that was provided for 'em. But the fame day they
feiz'd this unfortunate Prince, who thought of no-
thing lefs, and pofted fourfcore Souldiers to guard
him, having loaded him with a heavy Chain. This
Action put all the Indians in a Confternation and
Fear. But to augment their Terror, they contriv'd
to fignalize their Cruelty by fome memorable Adtion.
An the Nobility of the City was engag'd inrepre-
fenting Plays and Shows, and in dancing round the
place where their King was imprifon'd, to allay the
Troubles of his Mind during his Captivity j in thefe
Plays they expos'd to view all their Riches and Mag-
nificence. Thefe were the Demonftrations of their
Joy, and of the defire they had to pleafe the Spa-
niards. The Nobles and Princes of the Blbod, ac-
cording to their feveral degrees, were employ'd in
thefe Plays and Dances ( as I have faid ) round about
their Prince's Prifon ^ fo that there were about the
Paldce two thonf^nd young Men that were the very
fiower of the whole Kingdom, and the Pride and
Glory
And Cruelties in the Weft-Lid ies. -^ 7
Glory of the Court of King MonUcum.i: While
they were thus engag'd, the Commander of the
Spaniards with one of his Troops came to fall upon
'em. He had fent the reft of his Souldiers into the
other quarters of the City, where the People were
iifing the like Divertifements, ordering '■em to feenx
to join in with thefe Indian Sports, as if they were
mightily pleas'd with 'em, but withal giving 'em a
word to put thefe Dancers at a certain time to the
Sword. Accordingly they fell upon em, pro-
nouncing the word St. James^ which was the Signal
for maflacring thefe poor naked Indians^ that were
in no condition to detend themfelves from Souldiers
arm'd with Swords and Lances : with thefe they
made large Wounds in the tender Bodies of the
young Noblemen of Mexico^ who were all maflacred,
and not fo much as one of 'era efcap'd. The Indians
in the other parts of the City were feiz'd with fo
much Horror and Trouble, that they knew not
where to feek for fhelter to fecure themfelves from
the fury of thefe Cut-throats, whom they loaded
with a thoufand Curfes. Since this time they don't
forget to celebrate the memory of this barbarous
Adtion with their Sighs and Tears, and have put
this day in the Rank of their moft unfortunate ones,
lince in it they loft in a moment the moft illuftrious
Nobility of the whole Kingdom.
The Indians who had fuffer'd the Imprifonment of
their King with fo much patience, hearing of the
Maifacre of fo many young Noblemen, could not
but exprefs their Deteftation of this fo bloody and
wicked a Fad, and took up Arms to revenge them-
felves : and tho Monte fu.na had forbidden 'em to
offer the Spaniards any Violence, they attack'd 'em
.vigoroufly, and kilFd divers of 'em, and the reft were
•conftrained to retreat. The Spaniards put a Dagger
to their Prince's Breaft, and ftiew'd him in "this
D 3 pofture
^8 A ReUtion of the Spanifh Voyages
poflare to his Subjeds through a Window, hoping
the fight of it would oblige 'era to lay down their
Arms, which the Prince himfelf likewife command-
ed them to do *, but they were too much provok'd
now to obey even his Orders. They chofc one to
head 'em, and having put all their Troops under
his Command, attackM the Spaniards fo furioufly,
and fought with fo much obftinacy, that thefe con-
cluding they were not able to withftand 'em, left
the City, and retreated in the middle of the night \
which the Indians perceiving, purfu'd Vm, and kill'd
a great number of 'em as they pafs'd the Rivers.
However the Spaniards return'd foon after with a
greater Strength, and affaultcd and took the City,
in which they made a horrible flaughter, and burnt
thofe Indians that were of greateft Note.
After they had committed all this Cruelty and
Spoil in the City of Mexico^ they carried Defolation
with them into the Province of Panuco, which is
not above twenty Leagues diftant from it, and here
exercifed their ordinary Barbarity. This Province
was mightily ftock'd with People : but fmce the ar-
rival of the Spaniards, the greateft part of 'em has
been cut off. The Province of Tut^-peca^ and that
of Colima underwent the fame Fate ^ each of which
Provinces is as big as the Kingdoms of Leon and
Cajiile,
'Tis to be obferv'd that the Spaniards invaded
thefe Provinces only to plunder and inflave the In-
habitants. One of the firft things they did was to
oblige 'em to take the Oath of Allegiance to the
King of Spain ; which if they refus'd to do, they
were prefently maflacred, or made Slaves. They
declared thofe of 'em Rebels who came not to meet
the Spaniards^ and to fubmit to their unjuft and cruel
Orders. Thofe of the higheft rank among the In-
dians were accus*d of this Crime, and this was im-
prov'd
and Cruelties in the Weft- Indies. 1 9
prov'd againft 'em to the King of S^ain^ without
confidering that 'tis a plain Rule in Law, that none
can be term'd Rebels but Subjeds that are revolted
from their Prince.
•' There's no good Chriftian will nwke any dif-
ficulty to conclude, that fuch Millionaries as the
5payuards have not the Qiialifications necellary to
infinuate the Maxims of our Religion into thefe
people, who are naturally free, and know not how
to bear the Haughtinefs and Infolence with which
they have been treated : for they are peremptorily
told, you muft without any more ado fubmit to the
Obedience of a Foreign Prince, whom you never
law nor heard of; and if you refufefo to do, we'll
cut you in pieces; and this no fooner faid but done.
But that which is more unaccountable is, that thofe
who yield a blind Obedience to all they command
'em, are no better treated than the others; for they
are made miferable Slaves, they exaft intolerable
Tasks of 'em, and condemn 'em to all forts of Tor-
ments : So that whole Provinces, both Men, Women
and Children, are deftroy'd in a (hort time : Nay,
thofe whom they kill outright are the happier fort,
as having an end put to their Miferies in a moment.
But when they are forc'd by Menaces to promife
Fidelity and Obedience to a Foreign Prince, can it
be pretended they are obligM to it in Confcience,
when this fupposM Duty is neither founded on the
Laws of God, nor thofe of Nations ? Befides, the
Threatnings that are made 'em are capable of ter-
rifying Men of the greateft Courage and Refolu-
tion ; wherefore all the Proraifes obtained by fuch
menaces have no value nor obliging force. I pafs
over in filence the Affronts, the Infults and Injuries
that were offered the King of Mexico. In a word,
they have violated all the Laws of Nations, and
infinitely wrong'd and abus'd the poor Indians. This
D 4 is
4© ^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
is all the Service the Spaniards have done thefe
people.
The Governor of this new World, fupported by
bis imaginary Titles, fent two Captains, fcarce in-
ferior to himfelf in Impiety aad Cruelty, into the
Kingdoms of Guatmala^ which are fituate towards
the South : they pierc'd as far as the Kingdoms of
Naco and Gaymura^ which extend Northward for
the fpace of about 300 Leagues \ thefe Kingdoms
bolder upon that of Afexico. Thefe Captains tra-
veird both by Sea and Land, accompanied with a
good party of Horfe, and a confiderable number of
Foot.
The Ciptain whofe Lot it was to travel into Cua-
t'lmala, did a world of mifchief there (the other
foon dying ) he carried Defolation with him every
where, and fill'd this Kingdom with Blood and Ruin,
to render the Spaniards formidable even to future
Generations. I am of opinion, that the mifchief this
Captain did here furpafs'd whatever the Europeans
had done before in the new World. He went by
Sea, and carried Sword and Fire throughout all the
Coafts. Some of the Inhabitants of the Kingdom
of Yucatan^ which is in the way to the Kingdoms of
JVaco and Gaymura^ made him magnificent Prefents :
yet as foon as he had enterd their Country, he ferjt
his Souldicrs into every part of it, who committed
iiorrible Spoil, and ftiaflacred an infinite number of
thefe poor People. A furious Spaniard at the head
of 300 Men, enter'd the Country adjoining to Gua-
timala^ fet fire to all their Cities, and cut the throats
of all the Inhabitants, without giving any quarter :
Jie carried away%hat Booty he could, and continued
to pillage the Country for the fpace of fixfcore
Lea2;ues. This Captain had rebelFd, and revolted
againfl his General \ and Ms defign in ruining the
Country after this manner was to put the Spaniards
^ - ■ ' ' " '■■ "" " out
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 41
out of a condition to pnrfue him, by preventing
their finding Subfiflence in a Country thus ruin'd,
and by expofing 'em to the fury of the Indians^ who
would omit nothing to revenge upon 'em the Injuries
and Mifchiefs they had receiv'd from their Com-
panions, which fell out accordingly : For the Spanifli
General attempting to purfue this Rebel, was kiird
by the Indians. Thofe that fucceeded him exer-
cifed all manner of Cruelties on 'era, and reduc'd al-
moffc all of 'em to Slavery, after they had fpoil'd 'em
of all their Goods, Provifions, Clothes, Corn, Wine
and other neceflaries of Life. The Provinces of
Naco and Hondure^ which were like Gardens of
Pleafure, were turn'd into melancholy Deferts, al-
tho this Country was very full of People. 'Tis
" impoflible to refledt on thefe things without being
fenfibly touch'd and foften'd into Corapaflion, tho
one were naturally of an obdurate and fowr Tem-
per. They kill'd two Millions of People in this
Country in lefs than ten years ^ fo that there are
fcarce two thoufand left in all the vail Extent of it ^
and theft are groaning under a heavy yoke of Bon-
dage. When they propos'd to 'em to take the Oath
of Allegiance to the King of Spain^ they would
give 'em no time to deliberate ^ they muft imme-
diately obey, or elfe die by Fire or Sword.
Of the 'Kjngdom of Guatimala.
TH E Spaniards lignaliz'd their entrance into this
Kingdom by divers MalTacres, tho the King
came to meet 'em in his Chair of State fupported
by his Slaves, follow'd by a great number of his Lords,
and with Trumpets and Drums before him, to give
the greater Teftimony of Joy j he fliew'd 'em all
the
42 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
the Courtefy and Civility in the world, manifefted
a great deal of Kindnefs in readily fupplyina; 'em
with plenty of Provifions, and gave 'em whatever
they could reafonably defire. The Spaniards lodg'd
without the City the firft night, thinking they fhould
not be fecure enough in a place fo well fortified.
The next day they engagM the Prince of the place
to come out to 'em with the greateft part of the
Perfons of Quality, obliging to bring with them a
certain quantity of Gold. The Indians made anfvver
that 'twas impofllble for them to do what was re-
quired, becaufe their Country did not yield this Me-
tal. However this refufal fo mov'd the Indignation
of the Spaniards^ that for no other Offence, without
any formal Procefs, they call 'em all alive into a
great Fire. The moil confiderable Inhabitants of
thefe Provinces, feeing their Maflers fo cruelly
treated, only becaufe they gave not the Spaniards
all the Gold they demanded, retir'd with all fpeed
into the Mountains, ordering the common People
to fiibmit to the Spaniards as their Maflers, and
giving 'em a flrid charge by no means to give the
leafl notice of the places where they were gone to
hide themfelves. Abundance of thefe poor People
came accordingly to the Spaniards, begging of 'em
to receive them into the number of their Servants,
and promifing to ferve 'em faithfully as far as they
were capable. The Spanifh Commander roughly
anfwer'd 'em, that he would not fo receive 'em, but
cut *em to pieces without Mercy, unlefs they would
difcover the places whither their Maflers were re-
treated ^ the Indians replied, they did not know :
however they readily offer'd themfelves, their
Wives and Children to their Service j and faid, they
would continue in their Houfes expeding their Or-
ders ^ they further told 'em, they might treat 'em
as they pleas'd, 'twas in their power either to kill
'em.
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 4 ^
'em, or to fave 'em alive to employ 'em in their
Service. The Soamards upon this went into their
Villages and 1 owns, and tound thefe poor Indians
withtheir Wives and Children bnfy at their Work,
and in great fecurity, believing they had no need to
fear the Spaniards would attack 'em -, yet thefe blood-
thiifly Men maffacred 'em without pity. After
this they went to another great Town, the Inha-
bitants of which confiding in their lnnocence,thoiight
themfelves in no great danger^ but this whole Town
was deftroy'd in lefs than two hours, and the Maf-
facre was fo general, that no Age, nor Sex, nor
Quality met with Pity, but all were put to the
Sword, unlefs fuch as fled before the arrival of the
Spaniards.
The Indians at length finding it impoffible either
by their Patience, their SubmifFions, or their Prefents
to foften the cruel and favage Temper of the Spa-
niards^ who cut their Throats without any reafon,
or any fentiment of Pity, refolv'd to get together
in a body, and take Arms to defend themfelves : for
feeing Death was inevitable to 'em, and become a ne-
ceflary Evil, they chofe rather to die with Weapons
in their hands, thereby to fell their Lives at as dear
a rate as they could, and to revenge themfelves as
much as poffible on their Perfecutors, than to fuffer
their Throats to be cut like Sheep without making
any refiftance. They wanted effeftual Arms, they
were quite naked, and knew their Strength was
much inferior to that of their Enemies ; they had
no Horfes, nor did they underfland the ufe of 'em
in Battel : they had to do with a furious and warlike
Enemy that gave 'em no quarter, and defign'd no-
thing but their Extirpation. They therefore thought
it necelTary to ufe Stratagems : it came into their
heads to make Pits up and down the Ways by which
the Spaniards were to pafs, and to cover 'cm with
Straw
%
44 ^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
Straw and Leaves that they might not be perceiv'd,
that fo their Horfes might fall in 'em, and break their
Necks or Legs. Some of the Spaniards were two or
three times taken in thefe Traps, but afterwards
took care to avoid 'em, and refolv'd to call all the
Indians they could take into thefe Pits, whether
Men, Women or Children, of what Age or Con-
dition foever; they threw in Women big with
Child, and old Men as well as others, till they had
quite fiird 'era. It was a moft lamentable fight to
fee fome Women empaled together with their Chil-
dren, and fo expos'd to the fury of greedy Dogs,
and others run through with Lances and Halberts.
They burnt one of the greatefl Lords of the Coun-
try with a gentle Fire, and infultingly told him 'twas
to do him the more honour, that they put him to
death after this manner. Thefe Butcheries and Cru-
elties were committed for feven years together.
The Reader may conjefture what multitudes of poor
Indians w€rc flaughter'd during fo tedious and
bloody a Perfecution.
'Tis fit to be remarked, that the Spaniards were
receiv'd with great Acclamations, and with all the
demonftrations of a fincere Joy in the Province of
Cuzcatan, which is fituatc on the Sea-fide, and ex-
tends forty or fifty Leagues in length. In this Pro-
vince is the famous City of St. Saviour \ Cuz.catan is
the Metropolis of the Province. Thefe People fent
30000 Indians to the Spaniards laden with Indian
Poultry, and all other Frovifions the Country would
afford in great abundance. After they had receiv'd
thefe Prefents, the Spanifh General order'd his Men
to choofe as many Indians as each of 'em defir'd for
their Service, while they remain'd in that Province :
Accordingly one took a hundred, another fifty, as
they had occafion to carry their Baggage. Thefe
poor Wrepcljes ferv'd them with all the care and
diligence
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 45
diligence they could, and were even ready to wor-
Ihip 'em. At length the General demanded of 'em
a great quantity of Gold, that being the main bufi-
Tiefs for which he came : they with a great deal of
Huraility'and SubmifTion, told him they would readi-
ly give him all they had, and prefently got together
all the Lances they had, which were made of Cop-
per gilt, and which they took for pure Gold by the
looks of it. The General foon made trial of it, and
finding what it was, addrefs'd himfelf to the S^a-
niards in thefe terms : We muft carry DefiruCtion with
us ( fays he ) through all th'vs Country ^ feeing here's no
Cold to he found: Every one of you may keep the Indians
you have chofen for your perpetual Slaves : Tou may load
^em with Chains^ and brand ''em with the marks of their
Slavery : Which was immediately done : For they
printed the King's Arms with a hot Iron upon all
they could take. Thofe of 'em that efcap'd, provok'd
with the ill Treatment which they every where
met, alTembled all the Indians they could to make an
Effort to deliver themfelves from the Perfecutions
of their Enemies by force of Arms \ but their En-
terprize was not fuccefsful, fo that an incredible
number of 'em was kill'd.
After this Expedition the Spaniards return'd to
Cuatimala, where tirey built a City ; but God was
pleas'dby his jult Judgment utterly to overthrow
and deftroy it. They kill'd all without Mercy whom
they fuppos'd to be in a condition to incommode
'em by their Arms, and the reft were condemn'd to
Slavery. They extorted from 'em a Tribute of
Boys and Girls, and fent 'em into Peru to be fold.
The other Inhabitants of this Kingdom, which is
100 Leagues in length, were likewife deflroy'd.
Thus one of the moft pleafant and fruitful Countries
in the World was reduc'd to a melancholy Deferr.
The Governor himfelf has freely confefs^'d, that this
was
46 J ReUrion of the Spanifli Voyages
was the mofl populous Country in the Wejl -Indies^
not excepting Mexico it felf, which is certainly
true. In this noble Country the Spaniards have de-
flroy'd no lefs than four or five Millions of Men in
fifteen or fixteen years, and continue every day to
treat thofe that remain after the fame manner.
Thefe inhuman Creatures were wont when they
declar'd War againft any City or Province, to bring
with 'em as many of the conquered Indians as they
could, to make 'em fight againfl their Country-men j
fometimes they had fifteen or twenty thoufand of
thefe new Subjeds among 'em. But becaufe they
were not able to furnifli 'em with all neceflary Pro-
vifions, they allowed 'em to eat thofe other Indians
whom they took in War, fo that in their Camp they
had Shambles ftor'd with human Flefh. Infants were
kill'd in their fight, and then broil'd and eaten j
Men were flaughter'd like Beafts, and their Legs
and Arms drefs'd for food \ for the Indians like the
tafle of thofe Parts better than others. The News
of thefe horrible Practices foon alarm*d the neigh-
bouring Countries, and fill'd 'em with Terror and
Confl:ernation.
Many of the Indians were worn out with carrying
the Tackle of the Spanifli Ships, which they would
needs have brought from the North to the South
Sea, which are 130 Leagues diftant: They made
'em carry Anchors of a great weight all this long
way i they laid great Guns upon the naked Backs of
thefe poor Creatures, under the weight of which
they were not able to ftand j fo that the greateft
part of 'em dy'd by the way, not being able to en-
dure thefe Fatigues. To increafe their Mifery, they
divided their Families, taking Husbands from their
Wives, and Wives from their Husbands •, their
Daughters were taken from 'em, and given to the
Seamen and Souldiers to fatisfy their Lull, and to
appeafe
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 47
appeafe their murmuring. They fiU'd the Ships
with Indians^ and fufFer'd 'em to perilh with Hunger
and Thirft, becaufe they would take no care to fur-
niih 'em with NecefTaries. But to give a particular
account of all their Cruelties would require large
Volumes, the view of which would aftonifh all thaE
Ihould have the curiofity to look into 'em.
The Spaniards had two powerful Fkets deftin'd
to the fame purpofe of deftroying the poor Indians.
How many Parents have they bereav'd of their
Children ! How many Children of their Parents !
of how many Adulteries and other infamous Pradi-
ces have they been the Caufes, the Adors, and Ac-
complices ! How many People have they inllav'd I
What Miferies and Calamities have they not brought
upon this new World ! What Fountains of Tears
have they opened ! What Rivers of Blood have they
pourM out ! How many Lives have they taken away
after fuch a manner as might render 'em yet more
niiferable in the other World ! which is a melan-
choly Refledion both in regard of the Indians who
have fuffer'd fo many Cruelties, and of the Spaniards
who have been the Authors of fo much Mifchief and
Villany.
Of New Spain, of Panuco 0nd Xalifco.
AFter the Spaniards had committed all the fore-
mention'd Cruelties and MalTacres in New
Spain^ there came to Panuco another Tyrant as bar-
barous and unmerciful as the former. He loaded his
Ships with multitudes of the Natives, and carried
'em to Cuba and Hifpaniola^ where they were fold
for Slaves : fo that in a little time he rendered the
whole Country deftitute of People. Fourfcore of
thefe
48 J Relation of the Spanifh J^cyagSs
thefe Indians (tho they have realbnable Souls as
well as other Men ) were exchang'd for one Horfc.
When the Prefident of the City oi Mexico was made
Governor of all New Spain, there were alfo a great
many AlTcnbrs and Auditors made, who all rul'd
like fo many petty Tyrants, and committed un-
parallel'd Cruelties and Outrages in the exercife
of their Offices. They afted fuch abominable things,
and made the Country fo defolate in a very little
time, that if the Francifcan Monks had not oppos'd
their Diforders with a great deal of Courage and
Refolution, and had not the Royal Council by their
Meflages given Orders for the prefervation of this
Province, all New Spain had been ruin'd in lefs than
two years, and been made as defolate as Hifpaniola.
One of the Prefident's Companions employed eight
thoufand Indians to make a Wall round his Garden,
but he gave 'em neither Wages nor Vidtuals ; fo
that they almoft all dy'd before the Work was fi-
nilh'd : neither the hard Labour they endur'd, nor
their Death could make this mercilefs Man relent.
After the former General, of whom we have
fpoken above, had made an end of deftroying and
wafting the Province of Panucoy and was inform'd
that the Royal Council would arrive in a little
time, he advanc'd farther into the Country, hoping
to find fome new Province on which to exercife his
wonted Rapine. He forced fifteen or twenty thou-
fand Indians to attend him, to carry the Spaniards
Baggage and Provifions, which they did till they
all died in the way except two hundred. He came
at length into the Province of Mechuaca^ about forty
Leagues from Mexico. The King of this Province
very civilly came out to meet him, and was as offi-
cious to ferve him as could be defir'd ^ but for his
reward was loaded with Irons, becaufe fuppos'd to
have a great Treafure by him ^ and the better to
extdr*:
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 49
extort great Sums from him, he was made to fuffer
a great many Torments. His Hands being tied to
a Stake, and his Legs ftretch'd out, they drop'd
burning Pitch on 'em, and bafted his Body with
boiling Oil from time to time, that his Skin might
be gradually roafled. Over againft liim Hood a fu-
rious Souldier with a Bow (hooting Arrows into his
Breaft : Another let loofe hungry Dogs to bite and
tear him in every part ^ all theie Tortures were to
make him confefs where he had hid his Gold : And
thefe Cruelties would have been continued longer
if a Francifcan Frier had not happen'd to come and
refcue him out of their hands \ however he could
not fave his Life, for he expir'd foon after. Many
Caciques and great Men of this Province were put to
death after this manner, to make 'em confefs where
they had hid their Gold and bilver.
About this time there arriv'd another Perfon in
this Country, who was more greedy of Money, than
folicitous about the Salvation of the poor Indians,
He happen'd to find fome of their Idols which they
had hid, (for the Spaniards would very feldora give
themfelves the trouble to inform thefe Idolaters of
the True God ) Upon this he imprifon'd the molt
confiderable Perfons in the Nation, till they fliould
difcover to him where they had put their Idols, be-
caufe he fuppos'd theirs were made either of Gold
or Silver -, but he fail'd in his Expectation : however
to mend the matter, he impos'd great Sums on the
Indians^ which they were to pay for the redemption
of their Idols, that they might worlhip 'em after
their wonted manner. Thefe are the Improvements
the Spaniards have been making in the Weft-Indies^
and this is their Zeal for the Glory of God and Re-
ligion.
After this Tyrant had run through the whole
Province of Mcfjuaca, and pillaged it, he came to
E Xalifyua,
V50 A Relation of the Spanifli Voyages
'Xalifquo^ a Country very populous and fruitful, and
the molt famous in all America-^ there are Towns
in it of feven Leagues in length. Thefe Indians^ as
the others had done before, came out to meet him
with great exprelTions of Joy ^ but he foon left up-
on 'em the marks of his Cruelty, which he had cul-
tivated by long Experience. The noble Prefents
made this Tiger could not mollify him. His defign
was to heap together a great quantity of Gold, this
was the only Idol he ador'd j and all means were in-
different to him, fo he could but attain his end.
He fet fire to all the Cities through which he pafs'd,
and deflroy'd 'em to the very Foundation. He kept
thofe of the higheft Dignity prifoners, after he had
inflided divers kinds of Torments on 'em. The
Spaniards loaded all the Indians they could take here
with Chains, which was a great number. The Soul-
diers made Women big with Child carry their Bag-
gage, till they fainted and funk under their Burdens
with hunger and wearinefs. Others not able to
carry both the heavy Burdens they gave 'em, and
their Children too, were forcM to leave thefe by the
way, by which means a prodigious number of Chil-
dren perifh'd.
A Spaniard attempting to ravifli a Virgin in the
prefence of her Mother, the Mother did what fhe
could to hinder him *, upon which, to prevent her
from farther oppoling his brutifh defign, he drew
his Sword and cut off her Arms, and afterwards
kiird her Daughter becaufe fhe would by no means
confent to his filthy Defires, but refifted him with
a virtuous Indignation and Courage to her laft
breath.
Four thoufand and five hundred of thefe poor In-
dians were branded with a hot Iron by the Spaniards^
who mark'd 'em thus for Slaves, tho they were
born free and independent. The very Children,
as
and Cruelties m the Weft-Indies. 5 1
as well asthofe that were grown to maruricy, fuffer'd
this Pnniihme.ic and Irvfamy: They pretended they
had right to make a great number of 'em Slaves,
to defray the Charge of their long Travels \ and
that they might lawfully make the fe poor Creatures
endure all forts of Torments, to. force 'em to de-
clare v/here they had hid their Gold : Some of 'em
they burnt, others were torn in pieces by hungry-
Dogs \ they cut off the Feet, Hands, Arms, Tongue?,
and fometimes the Heads of others, to terrify the
reft by thefe fad Spectacles, that they might oblige
'em the more ealily to fubmit to Slavery, or to (hew
'em the places where they had fecur'd their Trea-
iure. And all thefe things were aded with the
knowledg and confent of the Governor, who would
fometimes order more Blows to be given 'em, when
they were beat or whip'd, to compleat their Mi-
fery.
Fourfcore Towns and Villages at leafl: were burnt
in the Kingdom of Xalifco : Which tragical fight,
together with all the various Cruelties they furrer'd
every day, fo provok'd the Indians^ that they arm'd
themfelves and fell upon the S^amards^ and kill'd
fome of 'em : after which Expedition they fled up
into the Mountains, but at length were malTacred ia
this place of Refuge by other Spaniards who made
Excurfions through thefe Provinces to lay 'em wafte.
They put all of 'em to the Sword who made any
offer to defend themfelves, fo that this place became
a horrible fcene of Blood : And there is fcarce any
Remnant of this once numerous People left. The
Spaniards were certainly blinded, harden'd and aban-
don'd by the Almighty, that they made no Reflection
on the Laws of God or Men, which all forbid the
cxercife of fuch Violence as they have been guilty
of in America. They had no juft occafion given 'em
to drive the Inhabitants of thofe Provinces from
£ s their
52 u4 Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
their Native Country by force of Arms, and to
mafiacre 'em fo barbaroully : they did not confider
how unjult and criminal thefe Outrages were, and
Iiow contrary it was to all the Laws of Nations, for
them to treat thofe who had never injur'd 'em with
fb much Cruelty. They pretend the Wars they
have madeagainft thefe People are juft and lawful ;
that God hath left em to their Mercy, and that
they have right to make fuch Conquells as thefe,
and to deftroy all thefe Nations : So that it feems
they would fain make God hinifelf Partner with 'em
in their Tyranny and Wickednefs \ and one may
well apply the v/ords of the Prophet Zccbariab to
'cm : Feed the flock of the /laughter ^ whofe Pojfejfors
Jlay thcm^ and hold them f elves not guilty : and they that
pU them fay^ Blejfed be the Lord^ for I am rich •, and
their own Shepherds pity them not. Chap. 1 1. 4, 5.
Of the Kjngdom of Yucatan.
A Very profligate Perfon who had neither Ho-
. nour nor Confcience, was made Governor of
the Kingdom of Tucatan in the year 1526 ^ which
Dignity he procurM by his Lies and Artifices, and
the faife arcounts of Matters which he fent to the
King of Spain. A method v^hich other Tyrants
have hitherto likewife followed to obtain places of
Tniit : For under the umbrage of the Title of Go-
vernor, which fsem*; 10 give fome Dignity and Au-
tborJty to all { ,; y do, they take the liberty toex-
crciie their Rob!y = ries and Violences with Impunity.
The Kingdom of Tucatan contain'd a prodigious
number of People :, the Air of this Country is very
.temperate and plealaut : it has great plenty of
Fruits, and all the IxecclTaries of Life j it exceeds
Mexico
And. Cruelties in the Well-Indies. 5 1
Mexico it felf in Fertility : Tliere is more Wax and
Honey found in this tiian in any other j?art of Amzxka
that has been yet difcoverM. This Kingdom is 300
Leagues in compafs. The Inhabitants of it are more
polite,more civiliz'd,and better difciplin'd in Morals,
and in what belongs to the good order of Societies,
than the reft of the Indians. There is a remarkable
Prudence and Juftnefs of Mind in them, which is not
to be found in others. Thefe natural Endov/ments
without doubt ought to have encouraged Chriftians
to take the pains to inftrud 'em in the knowledg of
the true God \ and they feem'd to have no fmall
difpofition to receive the Maxims of the Catholick
Religion. The Spaniards might have built great and
flourifhing Cities in fo pleafant and commodious a
Country, where they might have liv'd in the midll
of Pleafure and Plenty, as it were in another Earth-
ly Paradife : but their Stupidity, their Avarice, and
the enormous Crimes they have committed in Ameri-
ca have render'd 'em unworthy of thefe Advantages.
They attack'd thefe poor Indians^ who liv'd in pro-
found Peace and Security, with the utmoft Violence
of a cruel War, and maiTacred a prodigious num-
ber of 'em, tho the number of the Spaniards was
but three hundred. This Country produces no
Gold *, if the Spaniards could have found any Mines
there, they would have condemn'd the Indians to
'em, who muft have perifli'd with Hunger and Hard*
fhip. Thefe covetous Wretches efteem'd Gold
more than Souls, which were purchas'd by the Blood
of Jefus Chrift j they made Slaves of thofe whom
they fav'd alive, and fill'd the Ships they had brought
Xo the Coafts of this Kingdom with 'em, and fo ex-
chang'd 'em for Wine, Oil, Vinegar, fait Pork,
Horfes, and all other Neceflaries. They would give
fiifty or a hundred of the handfomeft' young Girls
for a meafure of Wine, Oil or Vinegar, and would
£ 3 fell
54 -^ Kehtion of the Spanifh Voyages
fell a hundred or two of lully well-made young Men
at the fame rate. They fwop d a Prince's Son for
a Chcefe, and a hundred Perfons of Eminency for a
Horfe. They continued in this Country till they
heard of the Riches of Peru^ the News of v;hich
made 'em leave it immediately, and thus their Pcr-
fecutions ended in the Kingdom of Yucatan, How-
ever, before they v;ent they committed all the Ex-
celTes and Diforders that can be imagined againll
both God and Men : fo that thofe three hundred
Leagues of one of the finefl: Countries in the World,
that was very rich and full of People before their
arrival, were in a little time reduc'd to a valt
Defer t.
'Tis not eafy to believe the Account of all the
vilknous Adions they committed in this Kingdom :
I'll recite but two or three particular Fads. They
had prepared fierce Dogs which they kept hungry
to go a hunting after the poor Indians ; as they were
hunting they lighted on a Woman that was lick,
who not being in a condition to fly to avoid being
devour'd of the Dogs, hang'd her felf, after fhe had
hang'd a Child fhe had with her of a year old ; the
Dogs prefently came to her, and began to devour
her: but a tertain Frier that was happily there
perceiving the Child not to be yet quite dead, bap-
tiz'd it.
When they quitted this Kingdom, they invited
the Son of one of the Princes of the Country to
accompany 'em, who fhew'd a great unwillingnefs to
abandon his Country to follow 'em, on which they
threatned to cut him in quarters if he did not con-
fent to their defire. The Child ftill perfifling in
the fame mind, one of the Spaniards drew his Sword
and cut off both his Ears : This ill Treatment how-
ever could not make him alter his purpofe, upon
which this Brute cut off* his Nofe and Lips, and
laugh'd
dm Cruelties in the Weft- Indies. 5 5
laugh'd while' he was committing this barbarous
A<3ion.
Anothet brag'd that he had got many Indian
Women with Child, that he might fell 'em for the
more Money. Some of the Spaniards have been fo in-
human as to give Infants to their Hounds when they
were hungry: they would takethefe poor Babes by
the two Legs<, and violently tear 'em afunder into
two pieces, and then feed their Dogs with 'em*
They were left of God to fuch a reprobate mind,
that they made no more account of human Crea-
tures, that were ranfonfd by the Blood of Jefias
Chrift, than of Beafls. ':
I pals over an infinite number of other unheard
of Cruelties, which farpafs all Imagination. When
thefe covetous and ambfcious Tyrants left the King-
dom oi Tiicatan to go in fearch after the greater
Riches of Peru^ four Francifcan Friers came thither
to comfort thefe miferable People, and to endeavour
by their preaching to bring thofe that had efcap'd
the fury of the Spaniards to the knovvledg of the true
,God. The fame Friers were very carneflly foli-
cited by many other Indians to come into their
Country likewife to teach 'em the Maxims of their
Religion. They afTembled in great companies to
inform themfelves what fort of Men thefe Religious
Perfons were, who call'd one another Father and
^»T)f/xr,to inquire into their true deligns, and to know
wherein they differ'd from other Spaniards^ who
had exercis'd fo much Cruelty over all the IVefi-
Indies. They were willing to entertain 'em on con-
dition they would come alone to inflrud 'em, with-
out any other Spaniards to attend 'em ^ which the
Friers promis'd very readily, alluring 'em they would
not offer 'em the leafl Injury. The Governor of
New Spain likewife now ordered 'em to promife the
Indians^ that they fliould be treated more kindly
E 4 for
5:6 J Relatiof7 of the Spanifh Voyages
for the.time to come, and fhould find no farther oc-
calion to complain of the J/j^w^r^/i Severity. Thus
tiiefe Religious Men began to preach the Gofpel of
Ghrift with a great deal of Zeal, and inform'd thefe
Feoplfe moreover of the good Intentions of the King
ot Sjain towards *em ^ fo that in about forty days
time, they brought all their Idols to throw 'em in
the fire : they as readily brought thtir Children,
whom they bring up with a great deal of tendernefs
and fondnefs, to be inftructed^ and built both Houfes
and Churches for thefe Friers with all the AfFedtion
and Forwardnefs imaginable. All the feveral Pro-
vinces drove with great Emulation for their Com-
1^3 ny, their Zeal was fo great for the new Religion
they preach'd to 'em. So that what the Governors
could never obtain of the Indians in many years,
thefe Friers accomplifh'd in a very little time : for
the Princes and Great Men of thefe Provinces, at
the head of their People in a General Aflembly,
voluntarily fubmitted to the Government of the
King of S^ain^ whom they acknowlcdg'd for their
Soveraign, and put themfelves under his Protection ;
as may be feen by the account thefe Friers fent into
Spain fign'd with their own hands.
Thefe pious Men were tranfported with Joy to
find a door open'd to 'em to preach the Gofpel in
'thefe vaft Provinces, to thofe that had efcap'd the
Barbarity of the feveral Governors, who had mafla-
cred fuch prodigious numbers. About this time
there came into thefe parts eighteen Spanifh Troo-
pers with twelve foot Souldiers, who brought with
them abundance of Indian Idols which they had
taken out of other Provinces ^ the Commander of
thefe Souldiers fent for one of the principal Chiefs of
the Nation, and commanded him to take thefe Idols
and diftribute 'em throughout the Country, and to
bring him Indian Men and Women in exchange for
*€m,
and Cruelties in the Wefl -Indies. 57
'em, threatning him with a fevere War if he re-
fus'd to obey him. This Prince was fo terrified
with thefe Menaces, that he carried away all thefe
Idols, and difpos'd 'em in the feveral Cities of his
Province, requiring the People in the name of this
Spanifli Captain to worlhip thefe falfeGods, and to
render *em all the Honour and Service they were
formerly wont to do. To recompenfe this Adion
they gave him liberty to make as many Slaves as he
pleas'd. The \nd'ta,m^ frighted with the threatnings
that were made'em,deliver'd up their own Children ;
he that had two gave one, and he that had three
gave two. This was the Event of this impious
Traffick, the Cacyque being forced to obey the Or-
ders of the Spanilh Captain. One of thefe ungodly
Wretches, whofe name was John Garcia, being taken
dangeroufly lick, and ready to expire, bethought
himfelf that he had a confiderable number of thefe
Idols under his Bed *, and therefore order'd an In-
dian Woman that he kept to fell 'em, telling her fhe
might make a good market of -em, the matter of
which being very valuable, he told her every Image
was at leaft fairly worth an Indian in exchange.
This was the Spaniards lall Will and Teftament,
and thefe were the marks he gave of the pious dif-
pofition of his Mind, and in the raidfl of fuch Cares
as thefe he gave up the Ghoft. By this Story it may
eafily be conjeftur'd what good Examples the Spa-
niards fet before the Indians^ and what progrefs the
Catholick Religion is likely to make among thefe
People •, who being Eye-witnelTes of fuch Actions as
thefe, eafily perceive that the Europeans have fo
little fentiment of Religion, that they don't much
care whether poor Infidels be reduc'd to pay the true
God that Worfhip and Honour they owe him, or
not. It can hardly be faid that Jeroboam's Crime,
who caused two Golden Calves to be call, and ob-
lig'd
58 A ReUtion of the Spanifli Voyages
lig'd his Subjefts to worfhip 'em, is more hainous
than that of the Spaniitrds, who drive fuch an abo-
minable trade with Idols, and occalion ib much
fcandal by this fhamcful kind of Traffick. This is
the manner of their Condud and Behaviour in the
new World. They facrifice every thing to their
detellable Avarice, and fell Chrift Jefus himfelf for
Gold. They are every day renouncing hrm, and
dilhonouring his Religion by the many infamous
Crimes of which they are guilty.
The Indians feeing the Spaniards ftill continue to
Tuin their Country, notwithftanding all the exprefs
Promifes the Friers had made 'em that they would
abftain for the future from their wonted Robberies ^
and that inftead of mending their own Lives, they
brought Idols even from other Countries to expofe
to fale among them, who had voluntarily refign'd
their own to the Friers to be committed to the
Flames, being refoWd to vaorlhip but one God in
their Country for time to come : Seeing all this
(I fay) they were extremely cnrag'd at the Spa-
niards, and no lefs provok'd againfl the Friers, whom
they accofted after this manner. IVhy ( fay they )
have you deceivd us thus by your falfe Promifes ? Did
not you ajfure us the Spaniards fhould no more invade
andopprefs us ? IVhy have you burnt our Gods, to bring
us Jlrange Gods out of other Countries ? Are thefe better
or mightier than our own ? The poor Friers endeavor'd
to appeafe 'em as well as they could, tho they fcarce
knew how to anfwer their Complaints, having no
good Reafons to offer to excufe the matter. How-
ever they applied therafelvcs to the Spaniards, rt-
proach'd 'em for having fo exceedingly fcandaliz'd
the Indians, and conjur'd 'em to leave the Country,
which they abfolutely refus'd to do ', and which wds
ftill more vile and unworthy, they perfwaded the
Indians that they had not come into their Country
but
and, Cruelt'us in the Weft-Indies, 59
but at the requeft of thefe Friers: Which pretence
had the fuccefs they defired •, for the Indians giving
credit to thefe Stories, refolv'd to kill the poor
Friers-, but fome of 'em giving 'em notice of the
Delign, they made their cfcape in the night. After
they were gone, the Indians perceiv'd they were im-
pos'd on, and receiv'd full information of the Malice
of the S^aniardsj and the bafe trick they had play'd
'cm, and therefore difpatch'd a Mcllage to the Friers
to entreat 'em to return, and forgive the fault they
had committed, afluring 'em they heartily repented
of their Ingratitude.
Thefe pious Men that were devoted to the Ser-
vice of God, and animated with an ardent Zeal for
the Salvation of Souls, confiding in the Protefta-
tions of the Indians^ returned to 'em according tQ
their requeit, and were received as if they had been"
Angels ^come down from Heaven: they continued
three or four Months among 'em, receiving abun-
dance of refped and kindnefs from 'em. The Spa-
niards^ who ftill refusM to quit the Country, the
the Vice-roy had exprefly ordered 'em fo to do, and
had us'd all his Authority to oblige 'em to it, were
declar'd Rebels and Traitors ; however this did not
hinder *em from continuing their Rapine and Info-
lence. And tho the Friers Vv'ere fatisfied they would
not always efcape with Impunity, yet they fear'd it
might be a long time before they receiv'd their De-
ferts i and confidering moreover that the continual
Infults they made on the Indians^ depriv'd them of
the liberty of preaching to *cm, upon the whole
they thought meet to refolve to leave this Kingdom,
which was depriv'd of the light of the Gofpel by
the Malice of the Spamards: and thus thefe poor
Indians who manifefted fuch good Inclinations to-
ward Chriflianity, were abandon'd to their former
Darknefs and Idolatry, in which they continue to
this
6o A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
this day, while thofe profligate Wretches llill lay
the fame Obftacles in the way of their Converfion.
When thefe Friers were conftrain'd to retire out of
the Country, the Indians began to imbrace the Chrif-
tian Religion with a great deal of Zeal and Fervor j
but being unhappily depriv'd of all means of In-
ftruftion, they withered like tender Plants, for want
of Water.
Of the Province of St. Marth;?.
TH E Province of St. Martha was famous for the
rich Golden Mines that are near it, anu for
the fruitfulnefs of its Soil. The People are nume-
rous, and very skilful in getting Gold out of the
Mines, which eafily engaged the Spaniards to go thi-
ther, and that in great numbers •, they made conti-
nual Excurfions over all this fine Country to ravage
and fpoil it ^ they maflacred vaft numbers of the
Inhabitants, took away all their Gold, and fill'd their
Ships,which ferv'd 'em for Magazines,with the Booty.
They foon laid wafte this fiourifhing Province by
the Robberies and Villanies they committed : they
did the greateft mifchief upon the Sea-coafts, but
they foon after pieic'd higher up into the Country,
where they endeavour'd to make a Settlement. The
Country being rich and fertile, divers Spanifh Cap-
tains fuccefTively invaded it with their Troops, and
the laft was ftill more cruel and inhuman than his
Predeceflbr. They feem'd ambitious to outvie one
another in the Enormity of their Crimes and Villa-
nies. In the year i 520, a Spanifh General attended
with a great many Souldiers enterM into this Pro-
vince with a refolucion of ruining it entirely. He
continued therefor fcven years together, and carried
away
and, Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 6%
away an immenfe Treafure with him \ at lafl lie
was condemn'd to be banifli'd, and dyed in his
Exile without fhewing the leaft token of Repen-
tance. Thofe who fucceeded him went on to maf-
facre thofe Indians that he and other Tyrants had
fpared \ they made both the common People, and
,the Nobility of this Province fufFer moft horrible
Torments, to oblige 'em by the violence of their
pain to difcover their Gold : they laid this Coun-
try walle for above 40 Leagues, not leaving one
foul alive \ tho this Province was well ilock'd with
Inhabitants before their arrival.
To give a particular Relation of all the Extrava-
gances, MafTacres and Defolations, of all the Impie-
ties and Villanies committed by the Spaniards in this
Province againll God, againit the King, and againft
the innocent Indians^ would require a large Hilto-
ry : I muft therefore content my felf to pafs over
many Circumltances after a curfory manner. The
Bilhop of this Province, writing to the King of
Spain in the year 1541, among other things thus
exprefTes himfelf : Great Sir^ To redrefs the Grievances
of this Province^ it ought to be delivered from the Ty^
ranny of thofe that ravage it^ and committed to the
Care of Perfons of Integrity^ who will treat the Inha^
bitants with more hindnefs and humanity ^ for if it be
left to the mercy of the Governoursy who commit all forts
of Outrages with impunity^ 'twiU be defiroy'^d in a very
little time. The fame Bilhop farther adds in his Let-
ter : The ill Conduit of the Governours may well engage
your Majefly to derive ^em abfolutely of their Places^
to relieve thefe Provinces •, and if this courfe be not
taken^ the difeafe will be incurable. I am neceffitated
to let your Majejly know^ that the Spaniards who
come into this New Worlds live here rather like Devils
than Chriflians •, they neither ftrve God nor the King ;
they violate all tk Lm of Cad and Mm with Impuni-
ty.
62 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
ty. Nothing can he a greater hindrance to the Converji'
on of the Indians, than the ill Treatment and Per/ecu-
tion they make 'em fujfer continually. Thefe People na^
turally love peace and quietnefs -^ but the barbarous ufage
they meet with from the Spaniards,m/piref 'em with horror
and indignation againfl all Chrijltans^ whom they there"
fore call in their Language Yares, that is to fay .^ Devils.
Nor is it without reafon that they appear fo odious and
abominable to thefe poor Creatures^ fince the Anions
they fee ^em commit., are more like thofe of Devils.^ than
of reafonable Creatures., or Chrifiians. For while the
Indians fee the Officers as well as Souldiers commit fuch
deteflable Crimes ^ they bdienje the Laws of Chriftianity
authoriz.e thefe inhuman ABions.^ and that neither our
Cod nor our King forbids ^em. ^Tis to no purpofe to
pretend to undeceive 'em., and remove thefe Prejudices.,
as the Cafe jlands •, *tis but only to expofe the Laws and
Religion of Chrijl the more to the Contempt of thefe Ido-
laters. The Indians now begin to defend themfelves from
the Spaniards by force of Arms \ and choofe rather to
ferifh together at once than to fujfer a thoufand deaths by
the Cruelty of thefe unmerciful Men. Tour Aiajefly has
more Servants in this New World than you imagine •,
for there are none who bear Arms in thefe vafl Coun-
tries., and make it their bufmefs to plunder., kill., and
hum., but give out that they are employed here in your
Majefly'^s bujlnefs., and endeavour to perfwade the World
that 'tis by your Afajefly^s Order, and for your Inter e^.,
that they do all this Mifchief to the Indians : tho the
Truth is., they ufe ''em after this violent manner^ only
to enrich themfelves by plundering ''em of all they have.
It feems abfolutely necejfary for your Majefly to flop the
Courfe of thefe Robbers by fome Exemplary Punifhment ,
and that your Majefly declare you wiU have none of
their Services^ whofo highly difhonour God and Religion.
Thus far the Letter which the Bifliop of St. Mar-
tha wrote to his Catholick Majefty : By which it
jnay
\and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 6^
may be conjectured how the Spaniards have abus'd
the poor Indians. They in derifion and fcorn call
thofe the Warlike Indians^ that fly into the Moun-
tains to fave their Lives. And when they force
thefe miferable People, to travel in tough and dif-
cult ways, fweating under the great Burdens
they oblige 'em to carry, not content with having
overloaded 'em, they aggravate their mifery by
beating 'cm unmercifully, and bruifing their Fa-
ces with the pommels of their Swords, till the poor
Wretches driven to defpair with all this Op-
prefTion, often cry out, 1 can hold out no longer ; hU
me out-right ^ ^ut an end to my Mifiries by a fpedy
Death. And many deep fighs accompany thefe
Exprefllons, which fometimes they are fcarce able
to utter, their Strength is fo exhaufted with their
Toil, their Vv^earinefs, and the unmerciful Blows
which they give 'em, without any regard to their
other Miferies.
Of the Province of Carthagena.
TH I S Province is fiaiate about 50 Leagues dis-
tance from that of St. Martha Wellward, and
borders on the Country of Cenu •, it itretches along
the Sea-(hore as far as the Gulf of Foaha^ the fpace
of a hundred Leagues ^ and is flill larger on the
South-fide. All this Country from the year 1498.
to this time hath fufFer'd great Ferfecutions from
the Spaniards^ who have exercifed a World of
violence, and made a great many Maflacres hefe,
till they have made all this Country as defolate as
that of St. Martha. But I begin to be weary of men-
tioning fo often the Barbarity and Impiety the S^a*
niards have difcovered in America,
Of
^4 -^ KeUtiofi of the Spanifh Voyages
Of the Pearl-Coaft, and the IJland of Tri-
nidado.
THE Spaniards have made horrible Ravage and
Spoil from the Coaft of Paria quite to the
Gulf of Venecuela^ which is the fpace of above
200 Leagues •, and after having committed their
wonted Robberies, have taken as many Indians as
they could, and either fold 'em, or made Slaves of
'em themfelves, contrary to the promifes often made
'cm, that they would treat 'em as their Friends,
and as a free People \ which Proteftations they ne-
ver took care to obferve. And tho thefe poor People
did 'em all the good Offices they could, and were
very ready to ferve 'em on all occalions*, tho they
liberally gave *em all they had to fublift on them-
felves 5 yet 'tis not to be exprefs'd with what Inju-
ries and Mifchiefs the Spaniards requited all this kind-
nefs. I purpofely omit a great many Diforders which
they committed along this Coaft, being willing to
infift only on thofe matters that are moft remarka-
ble.
The IQe of Trinidado is larger and more fruitful
than that of Sicily^ it is join'd to the Continent on
that fide where it touches Paria •, the Inhabitants
are a very honeft fort of People, teachable enough,
and well inclinM to Virtue. A Spanifh Captain, ac-
companied with 60 Cut-throats like himfelf, invad-
ed this Country in the year 1 5 1 o, and immediate-
ly commanded the Indians to come to him, pretend-
ing he was come to live peaceably with them in
the Ifland^ who receiv'd him and his Company
with as great Teftimonies of kindnefs, as if they
"had been their owa Children. The chief men of
the
And Cruelties in the Weft-Indli^Si S5
the Country as well as the common People all wait-
ed on 'em with abundance of alacrity and joy j they
every day brought 'em a quantity of Provifions fuffi-
cient for a much greater number of men: For the
Indians are very much given to hofpitality, and rea-
dily fupply Strangers with all the NecelTaries they
have. In a little time the Spaniards would needs
make 'cm build a vail houfe, that all the Indians
might lodg together in the fame place ^ they us'd
this Artifice to catch 'em in the fnare they were
preparing for 'em. When the work was carried
up about the height of two men^ they inclos'd a
great many Indians within, that the work might be
the fooner finilh'd, as they pretended j but the de-
fign was to hinder any Communication between
them that were within and thofe that were with-
out : part of the Souldiers kept the doors of the
houfe with their Weapons in their hands to prevent
any from going out •, another part went in among
'em with their naked Swords, rhreatning to cue
their Throats, if they made any ftir or dilturbance 5
and fo bound 'em all like fo many Sheep. If any
one attempted to make his efcape, they immediately
cut him in pieces j however divers ot 'em efcaped,
Ibme whole and others wounded, who joining with
thofe that had not yet been fhut up in this fatal
Houfe, and arming themfelves with Bows and Ar-
rows to the number of 20b, retir'd into another
Houfe, where they thought themfelves feciire, if
they could defend the door againll the Spaniards ^
but thefe let ic on fire on the other fide, and cruel-
ly dellroy'd thefe poor Creatures. After this bar-
barous Expedition they retreated into the Illand of
St. John with about 180 Prifoners, who had fufFer'd
themfelves to be bound ; where they fold half of 'em,
and che relt in Hifpaniola. When I feverely reprov'd
this Captain for his perfidioufnefs and cruelty, he
F fatif-
66 A KeUtion of the Spanifh Vojxges
fatisBed himfelf with making me this anfwer : JDonV
you trouble your feJf about the fe matters \ they that fent
me gave me Orders to a{} after this manner^ and to
take all thofe by force that I could not bring away under
the/})iidow and pretence of Peace. The Spaniards were
guilty of a world of fuch bafe Actions, in feizing
thefe Indians contrary to their promifes that they
would treat 'em like Friends.
Let any one now make refletflion on the Condu(!l
of the Spaniards^ and fee if thev have any appea-
rance of right to reduce the Inhabitants of America^
as they do, to fuch a miferable ftate of bondage. It
was refolv'd among the Dominican Friers to fend
fome of their Order, to difplay the Light of the
Gofpel among the Indians that liv'd in the grofs dark-
nefs of Idolatry, and were out of the way of Sal-
vation : Tliey firft fent one that was a Licentiate in
Divinity, of great reputation for his Piety and Vir-
tue, who took with him a Lay-brother: they both
went through this Country to feek a commodious
place for the building of a Monallry j and conferr'd
withfonie of the Inhabitants what meafures to take
to fucceed in this defign. When the other Friers were
arriv'd, the Indians receiv'd 'em as if they had been
Meflengers fent from Heaven •, they manifefted abun-
dance of affedion to 'em, heard what they faid
with great attention, as far as they were capable of
underflanding them ;, for thefe religious Perfons
not being yet fufficiently acquainted with their
Language, were conllrain'd to make ufe of figns to
exprefs their meaning.
No fooner was the Ship that brought the Friers
gone off, but there came another full of Souldiers,
who made ufe of Treachery and Artifice, according
to their wielded Cul]:om,to feize the Prince of this Na-
tion, unknown to the Friers. This Prince's name was
^Ifonfo^ which was given him either by the Friers, or
fome
And Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 6j
Ibme other Spaniards ^ for thefe Indians take upon 'ern
Chriftian Names with a greac deal of Joy ^ and before
they areinftrufted in our Myfleries, very eagerly de-
iire to be baptized. This Prince ^Ifonfo ^logcihQr with
his PrincefsjnoS aware of the Artifices of the »S^/:»<^^/^rJx,
and the deceitful trick they had refolrd to play 'em,
were perfwaded to ^o on board one of their Ships,
and many other Indians did the like, being all made
to believe there was a greit Feaft preparM tor 'em j
and they needed the ieis importunity to entice 'era
into the Ship, becaufe they fupposM the Friers, ia
whom they put abundance of Confidence, had Inte-
reitand Authority enough among the Soldiers to fe-
cure 'em from all manner of danger : otherwile
they would not have lb ealily cri.iled theinfclves ia
the hands of the Spaniards. The very moment they
enterd the VelTel, thefe perfidious Men let fail, and
carried 'em to Hifpaniola^ where they fold 'em for
Slaves. All the Country was alarni'd at the fad
tidings that the Spaniards had carried away their
Prince and Princefs ; and came in Crowds to feek:
the Friers, who narrowly efcap'd being kilFd by'em.
Thefe good men were extreamly griev"d at the
treachery us'd with thefe poor People •, and would
rather have died than fufferM thefe Outrages to
be on all occalions committed againft 'em, if they
could have prevented 'em, becaufe thefe Were the
great obftacles thathinderM 'em from embracing the
Catholick Religion. However, the Indians were ap-
peas'd by the promifes the Friers made 'em, that
they would write by the firft Voirel that Ihould
go to Hifpaniola^ to procure their Prince and Priri*
cefs to be fent back. Accordingly a Veffel being
in a little time prepared for this Voyage, they
made ufe of the oppornnnity to write lO Hifpaniolay
to engage thefe Robbers to reftore their Prey, which
they obftinately refus'd to do, the Governours of
F 2 thac
68 J Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
that Ifland having had a fliave in the Booty. Thefe'
good Fliers who had given their word to the Indians^
thai their Prince Alfonfo and his Princefs fhould be
rellord to em in four months, feeing twice four
Months elapsM without any hope of their return,
were oblig d to prepare for death ^ there was now
noway to avoid fiiedding their blood for the Glory
of Chrill, and in his Service, which Sacrifice they
had ofFer'd in the ready difpofition of their Minds
to fuffer before they came from S^ain: In Ihort,
they were maflacred by the Indians^ who believed
they Were Accomplices of the foremention'd Trea-
chery \ and thought their fafpicion well founded,
becaufe the Friers had prorais'd to redrefs their
Grievance in four months time ^ and yet they faw
thefe promifes produc'd no effect : Befides, thefe
Barbarians make no great difference between thofe
religious Men that go to the Indies only to inftrud
and preach to 'em, and the Spanilh Souldiers who
go thither only to enrich themfelves by robbing 'em.
However, thefe good Fathers were unjuflly put to
death •, and one may without fcruple place 'em in
the Order of Martyrs, and conclude they are now
enjoying God in the glory of Heaven. They obe-
diently refign'd themfelves to go into America ac-
cording to the dire^ion of their Superiours, and
had no other intention in their Voyage, but that of
preaching the Chriftian Faith to thefe Idolaters,
and of putting 'em in the way of Salvation, with a
refolution to fuffer any hardlhips, or even death it
felf, in the profecution of fo pious a Delign.
The cruel Treatment the Indians met with from
the Spaniards cccafioned 'em likewife to kill two
Dominican Friers about the fame time. There was
IT thefe Provinces, near the Gulf of Codera^ a City,
the Prince of which was nam'd Higuerote ^ who was
raturally of a fweet and amicable temper, and his
Subjefts
And Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 69
Subjeds civil and complaifant : when the Spaniards
came firft afhore in hisCountry,the Inhabitants treat-
ed 'em with abundance of Kindnefs ^ they fupplied
'era with Provilions and Stores in great plenty •,
and omitted nothing they were capable of doing
to refrelh and recruit 'era after the fatigues and
troubles of their Voyage. This Prince had fav'd
the lives of a great many Europeans ^ who had ex-
ercis'd their Cruelty and OpprelTion in other Pro-
vinces, when they came to his Coafts half dead with
hunger and wearinefs j and after he had recruited
'em with his good Entertainment, fent 'em fafe and
in a good Hate of health to the Ifie of Pearls^ which
was the ordinary Relidence of the Spaniards^ tho
he might have fecurely kilPd 'em all, without being
ever fafpeded of the fad. Upon this the Spaniards
were fo well perfwaded of H/^we^'ofe's good inclina-
tion toward "^era, that they took his houfe for their
home, and were as kindly entertain'd in it as they
could expect to be in their own. While this Coun-
try thus enjoy'd a profound Peace, a Spanifh Captain
coming aftiore there,invited divers of the Inhabitants
to come on board his Veflel ^ which they often d]d,
from the entire confidence they had in the repeated
Promifes the Spaniards made ''em that they would
do 'era no injury : At length when many of 'em
were got into the Ship, the Captain gave a Sig-
nal to put out to Sea, and faiPd diredly for the Ilk
of St. Jobn^ where he fold all the poor Creatures,
whom he had thus perfidioully furpriz'd. I foon
after arriv'd in the fame Ifland, where I faw this
Robber, and had a particular account given me of
the Circumftances of this villanous Action ^ and it
feems, to compleat the Crime, he utterly deftroy'd
this Prince's City. Thefe things were not well re-
fented by the reft of the Spaniards that us'd to cruife
up ajiddown the neighbouring Coafts to pillage 'em j
F 3 for
yo A ReUtton of the Spanifh Voyages
for they could not but abhor the Adion of this Cap-
tain, that he fhould by ib infamous a piece of Trea-
chery abufe this Indian Chief, who had done 'em fo
inany good Offices from time to time, and was wont
to entertain 'em as if they had been his own Chil-
dren. ,^
The Spaniards took away above two Millions of
Men from the Coalls of thefe Provinces, and tranf-
ported 'em into the iflands of Hifpaniola and St. John^
where the greateft part periflid in the Mines, or
by other Hardfhips wliich they made 'emfufter. It
ivould produce Compafhon in the hardeft Hearts,
to fee thefe Coa lis that were once fo full of People
now abfolutely defert. It has been obferv'd by ma-
ny Trials, that one third part of the Slaves which
the Spaniards take on board their VelTels die by the
way, befides thofe they kill when they fearch their
Houfes to take thefe poor Wretches away. The
end the Spantdrds propofe to themfelves, which is
to getKiches at any rate in the v/orld, induces 'em
to commit all this Violence ^ they carry away great
numbers of Slaves, to produce confiderable Sums of
Mony, and yet take but a fmall quantity of Provi-
fions in their Ships to maintain all thefe People, for
fear of being at too great a charge in transporting
'em y nay foraetimes they have fcarce enough for the
Spaniards that man the Ship: fo that many of the
Indians perifli miferably with Hunger and Thirll •,
and fometimes they cafl the greatell part of 'em
over board, to preferve the reft. A certain Pilot
told me, that in a Voyage he c nre made from
the LucaylH^uds to Hifpaniola^ which is about fe-
Venty Leagues, he had no need either of a Com-
pafs, or the obfervation of the Stars to guide his
Veflel^ for he alTur'd me the floatinp, Bodies of
the Indians that had been thrown into the Sea,
ferv'd for his Guide throughout chis Paflage, ar.d
*^- ■ -' ' - • con-
dnd Cruelties in the Weft- Indies. 7 1
conduced him ftraight to the port to which he
was bound.
To fee the Indians arrive in any Ifland where they
defign to fell 'em, can't but excite Compaffion and
Trouble in every Mind that is not divefted of all
Sentiments of Humanity : To fee a great number
of Men, Women and Children ftark naked, and fo
worn out with Hunger andHardlhip, that many of
'era can fcarce fl:and,and others fall down with Faint-
nefs \ and to fee 'era divided into feveral Companies
like Sheep, Husbands feparated from their Wives,
and Children from their Parents •, for the Spaniards
are wont to divide 'em by ten or twenty in a Com-
pany, and then to call Lots which Ihare each Man
fhall have. This is the trade oi thefe Pirats, who
arm and fit out VelTels on purpofe to carry away
thefe poor Wretches from theii" own Houfes, to in-
rich themfelves by felling 'em for Slaves. When a
Spaniard happens to have an old or fick Man fall to
his (hare among the reft, he'll complain of fuch a
Lot, and fay to his Companions, Why dye give me
th'vs old Ft'llow thafs good for nothing ? he w not worth his
keeping : What /hall I do with this fick Slave ^ that will
only he a charge to me^ and can do me no Service ? "Tis
eify to fee by all this how little account they make
oF thefe People, and what little regard they have
to the Rules of Chriftian Charity ;, 'tis too evident
they neither have any love to God, nor to their
Neighbour, tho on thefe two ( as our Saviour fays)
both the Law and the Prophets depend.
The deteftable Cruelty and Tyranny of the Spa-
niards in infnaring and feizing thefe poor Indians^
when they go in quelt of 'em to inflave 'em, and
employ 'em in fifhing for Pearls, is fcarce to be ima-
gin'd. The Torments they make thefe unfortunate
People endure, can fcarce be compar'd to any lefs
than thofe of Hell. What they fulFer in the Gold
F 4 Mines,
72 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
Mines, tho very terrible, yet is far inferior to that
we are now relating. They make 'em dive in the
Sea five or fix fathom under water (where they are
forc'd to hold their Breath ) to take up Mother of
Pearl ^ and when they come up to the furface of the
Water with Nets full of thofe Shells, to get a little
Breath, if they keep above water fomething longer
than ordinary to refrefh themfelves a little, a mer-
cilefs Spaniard who attends with a Boat, beats and
abufes 'em without meafure, and often takes 'cm by
the hair of the head, to force 'em again under
water, to continue their filhing. They feed 'em
with a little Fifh and a piece of dry hungry Bread,
and don't give 'em a Belly full of that neither ^ they
have no other Bed than the hard ground on which
they make 'em deep in their Chains, for fear they
ihould run away. They are often drown'd in fiftiing
thus for Pearl, or elfe devour'd by a fort of Sea-
monfters, that will fwallow a Man whole, fothat
they hear no more of 'em.
'Tis no hard matter to perceive by what has been
faid, that the Precept of Chriftian Charity is ill ob-
ferv'd in this kind of fifhing, feeing thefe poor
Slaves are expos'd to imminent danger of perifhing
both in Soul and Body. The Avarice of the S^a-
tiiards, who mind nothing but Gain, is fuch, that
they fcarce take any care to inftruft their Slaves,
and to fortify 'em by communicating the Sacraments
to 'em. They opprefs 'em with fo much Labour
and Fatigue, that they die in a little time j and 'tis
impofTible Men fhould continue long under water
without Refpiration, and endure the great Con-
Itraint they fuffer in holding their Breath : The
coldnefs of the Water fometimes makes 'em vomit
Blood ^ and they foon die, partly by having their
Stomachs fo violently prefs'd by long holding of
their Breath under water, and partly by the ex-
ceilive
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 7^
ceflive Cold they endure, which caufes that flux of
Blood of which I have juft now fpoken. Tho they
have naturally black Hair, the Fatigue they undergo
changes the colour of it % fo that it becomes like the
Hair of Sea-wolves. The foam of the Sea flicks fo
faft to their Shoulders, and in fuch a manner,that they
look more like Monfters than Men. By this filhing
trade the Spaniards have deftroy'd all the People of
the Z«c^^-Iflands, which were the moft skilful and
experienc'd in this Employment ; and the reafon
why one of thofe Indians was fold for fifty Crowns
or more, and fometimes for a hundred, was be-
caufe they were marvelloufly dextrous at fwimming
and diving. However, thofe of other Provinces
were employ 'd too in this work when they could
take 'em ; fo that by this means an infinite number
of People have been deftroy'd.
Of the River Yuya-pari.
THIS Province is water'd by the River Tuya-
pari^ tho the fource of it is two hundred Leagues
diftant. A Spanifh Captain once had the boldnefs
to go up this River to penetrate farther into the
Country, and to ravage and fpoil it. He maflacred
abundance of People in his way, laid the Coun-
try wafle with Fire and Sword, and ruin'd them
by whole Families, while they were peaceably en-
joying themfelves in their Houfes, and thought of
nothing lefs : But after all this mifchief, himfelf pe-
rifh'd miferably, and his Souldiers quarreFd and
deftroy'd one another. They that afterwards came
into this Country fucceeded him in his Cruelties, and
are dill laying it walle •, they commit abundance of
MafTacres and Robberies there with Impunity, and
feem
74 -^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
feem' to undertake their long Voyages and Journeys
on purpofe to precipitate an infinite number of
Souls into Hell, that were ledeem'd by the Biood of
the Son of God.
Of the Kjngdom of Ven^uela.
IN the year 1 525, the King of 5p^m, abusM by the
Artifices of fomc ill-dcfigning People, who made
ufe of a thou fa nd fetches and excufes to conceal
from him the great Devaltations the S^aniatds had
made in the new World, to the great prejudice of
the Glory of God, the Chriftian Religion, and the
Salvation of the poor Indians^ gave the Government
of the Kingdom of renguelay which is bigger than
all Spain^ to feveral Flemi/h Merchants, with full
Jurifdidion and Power to do what they pleas'd there,
and to difpofe of the Country as they thought
convenient. They accordingly enter'd it with
three hundred Men, and found the People there to
be of a meek, tradable and peaceful Difpofition, as
indeed the Indians generally are when left to their
natural Temper, and not enrag'd by the Abufes fo
often ofFer'd 'em. Thefe were ftill more brutifh
and cruel than thofe Spaniards of whom we have
been hitherto fpeaking : They exceeded Tygers,
Wolves and Lions in Barbarity, when they faw
themfelves Mafters of this great Kingdom, in pof-
feflion of it, and the Jurifdidion of it entirely put
into their hands : they thought they had ample li-
berty to do there whatever they pleas'd, and that
they might fatisfy their Covetoufnefs at any rate,
and by all the methods they could imagine, tho
never lb unjuft. They took no care but how to heap
ep vaft Treafures of Gold and Silver j and the abo-
minable
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 7 $
rninable means they usM to this end, fhew'd they
had no regard either to God or their Prince •, nay,
they feem'd to have utterly forgotten that them-
ielves were Men, having put on fuch an inhuman and
favage Fiercenefs ^ or to come yet nearer to their
true Charader, they appear'd like fo many Devils
in the fhapeof Men.
They ran through thefe rich and pleafant Pro-
vinces, and inllantly laid the Country waftefor forty
Leagues together, wherein were fruitful Vallies of
a prodigious extent^ and Towns and Villages ftorM
with great quantities of Gold. The deftrudion
they made was fo general, that fcarce a Man was
left to carry the News of the Cruelties they ex-
ercifed in this Kingdom to other Provinces : none
but thofe that hid themfelves in Caves and Holes of
the Earth, could efcape the Sword of thefe furious
and inhuman Creatures. They invented new kinds
of Punifhments wherewith to torment 'em, to force
*em to part with their Gold by difcovering the places
where they had hid it : After this manner they
deftroy'd three or four Millions of People. The
Inftances of three or four Fads will fufficiently dif-
cover how thefe Brutes behav'd themfelves in this
Kingdom.
One of the firft things they did, was to feize him
whom they look'd upon as the Soveraign Prince of
the whole Kingdom ^ they loaded him with Irons
to get the more Gold out of him : they endeavour'd
by the Tortures to which they put him, to make
him difcover the places where he had fecur d his
Treafures •, but he had the good fortune to efcape
their hands, and fly into the Mountains : His Sub-
jeds furrounded him, and hid him in the Woods ^
but their number was too great to be long conceal'd :
fo that the Spaniards purfued 'em with Swords in
their hands, and made a dreadful Maflacre among
^ ^ ' 'em>
J 6 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
'cm ; others of them they took alive, and fold for
Slaves.
Before the ^aniards had took their King Prifoner,
they were receiv'd in all thefe Provinces with ring-
ing, dancing, and all the higheft demonftrations of
Joy, as if come to bring Peace and Plenty with 'em
into the Country : They frankly and voluntarily
gave 'em immenfe Sums of Gold and Silvery for
which all the Compenfation they had was to be
run through, and cut with Lances and Swords, and
maflacred without pity. One day when they came
out to meet the Spaniards to do 'em the more ho-
nour, the Plemifh Commander having order'd a
great number of 'em to aflemble together in a cer-
tain Houfe, cut 'em all in pieces immediately, only
Ibme of the poor Wretches got upon the Beams to
avoid the fury of the Souldiers ^ upon which this
Commander caus'd the Houfe to be fir'd, and de-
Itroy'd them in the Flames. The whole Country
was foon turn'd into a Defert ^ for all that efcap'd
the Souldiers Rage retir'd into the Mountains.
The Spaniards after this pafs'd into a vaft Pro-
vince upon the Confines of that of Sp. Martha^
where they found the Natives following their ordi-
nary bufinefs in profound Peace. All the while they
continued here they liv'd at the charge of the I«-
dians^ who ferv'd 'em with as much Affedion and
Diligence, as if they had ow'd their Lives to 'em :
nay, they bore with their troublefom Humors, and
continually receiv'd ill Treatment from 'em with in-
credible Patience. The Indians moreover to qualify
their ill Temper, brought 'em a prodigious quanti-
ty of Gold, and many other things of great value.
Yet thefe Tyrants, when upon the point of leaving
'em, infteid of gr 'tefully acknowledging all the
good Oifices they had receiv'd of 'em, refolv'd to
put 'em all to the Sword. The Fkmi/h General
(who
And Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 77
( who has lince been fuppos'd to be a Heretick, be-
caufe he never went to Mafs himfelf, nor futer'd
others to go ) commanded his Men to take all the
Indians with their Wives and Children, and put 'era
into fome very large place capable of containing
'em all \ and then to declare to 'em that if they had
a mind to redeem their Liberty, with that of their
Wives and Children, they mult nfecelFarily lay down
a certain Sum, which this unjufl: Governor had tax'd
'em according to his own capricious Humour j and
to urge 'em the more to anfwer his Requirement, he
barbarouQy prohibited his Men to give any Viduals
to thefe poor Creatures, till each of 'em had paid
the Sum impos'd on him. Many of 'em fent to their
Houfes for the Sum demanded, being willing to do
what they could to redeem their Liberty, and to
have leave to go feek fomething to eat : Yet they
were no fooner got out of the Clutches of this co-
vetous Governor, but he inftantly fent Soldiers to
take 'em again, and fubjed 'em to the fame Confine-
ment from which they had ranfom'd themfelves
with fo much difficulty : fo that they dy'd in this
Captivity with Hunger andThirft, unlefs they fpec-
dily bought their Liberty again, which they forc'd
'em to do by this barbarous ufage. So that many
of 'era were taken and retaken thus three or four
times, and every time oblig'd to ranfom themfelves
with great Sums. Thofe that were not able to pay
the Tax laid upon 'em, continued in this cruel Prifon
till they pin'd away with Hunger and Mifery. Thus
was this opulent Province that abounded with Gold,
made defolate in a very little time. There was one
pleafant and fertile Vale ravag'd by thefe Brutes,
which extended no lefs than forty Leagues ^ they
burnt a Town in it confifting of a thouland Houfes.
After this refolving to advance farther into the
Country to difcover a new way to Pf r«, they made
ufe
^8 A Relation of the Spanifli Voyages
ufe of a multitude of Indians in this Journey, whom
they loaded with Chains, and their Baggage toge-
ther: thofe that fainted under their Burdens with
wearinefs, they kill'd upon the fpot, cutting off
their heads ^ and divided the Burdens of them that
died among the Survivors.
If one could exaftly defcribe all the Ravage and
MaflTacres the Spniards commited in this Province,
together with all the Towns they fir'd, fo deplora-
ble a Story would fill every Reader with horror, and
almoft furpafs belief Many other Tyrants came
afterward into this Province, who folio w'd the fteps
of the former in fearching for Gold and other Trea-
sure ^ but they found the Country fo burnt, pillag'd
and defolate, tho it had heretofore been both very
populous and fertile, that they themfelves could
rot but Hand amaz'd to think what Cruelties the
poor Indians had endur'd.
All thefe Violences were plainly prov'd by the
Procurator of the Tre^fury of the Council of the
Weft'lndks. The Adts and Proceedings made in
this Affair are yet prefer v'd upon record ^ yet not
one of thefe Tyrants was ever put to death for
the Injuries offer'd thefe poor Indians : fo that all
the Procefs that was made againft 'em prov'd to ve-
ry little purpofe. Thofe Minifters of JuRice that
have been hitherto fent into the Indies have regard-
ed nothing but their Interell •, and ftudied how to
enrich themfelves without taking the trouble to
examin and punifh the Crimes of thefe Tyrants,
who did fo much mifchief, and committed fo many
Outrages on the poor Indians. They content them-
felves to fay in general, that fuch and fuch have
committed great Crimes,and abus'd the Inhabitants of
the New World ^ that they have leffen'd the King's
Revenues to fuch a degree. But when they have
made thefe loofe and general Enquiries, they go no
farther :
mi Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 79
farther : Whereas more effedual Remedies ought
to be ufed to ftop the Courfe of all thefe Mifchiefs.
There is not fo much care taken as to evidence and
verify thefe matters j nor do they give their Afts
and Proceedings all the Life and Authority they
ought : for to difcharge their Duty faithfully to
God and the King, they fliould make fuch Tyrants
as thefe reftore all the Plunder they have fo unjuftly
got. And 'twould be no difficult matter to prove
that they carried out of this Kingdom of Vmcuda
above 3 Millions of Gold, having utterly ruined
the Country for 40 leagues together in the fpace of
17 years ^ for fo long they continued fpoiling this
noble and fruitful Region. They have cheated
the King of above 2 Millions of his Revenues \ nor
can they ever be able to repair the damage they
have done this delicious Country, unlefs the ma-
ny thoufand People they have cruelly murder'd
could be rais'd again from the dead. What I am
now fpeaking of, only refpeds the King's tem-
poral Interell, which they have fo ill manag'd, with-
out faying any thing of their Blafphemies, their
Impieties and Outrages committed immediately a-
gainft the Divine Majefty. And who fhall make
reparation for the lofs of fo many Souls they have
precipitated into Hell, in not fuffering the Miflio-
naries to inftruct 'em ? Thefe are the Fruits of
their deteftable avarice and profanity. As foon as
ever they enter'd this Kingdom, they feveral times
loaded divers Ships with great numbers of Indians^
whom they carried into the Ifle of St. Martha^ and
fold for Slaves. Great multitudes of thefe poor
Creatures were likewife carried into Hifpaniolay
Jamaica, and the Ifle of St. John, to the number at
leall of a million of Men. The Royal Council has
beenfufficientlyinform'dof all thefe Diforders and
.Cruelties •, but they are pleas'd to connive at 'em,
and
So A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
and are as willing to Ihut their Eyes, and take no
notice of all the Robberies and Villanies the S^a-
niards have committed on the Coafts of the Ifle of
St. Martha ; tho they might have eafily hinder'd all
this raifchief if they had applied themfelves to it,
'Twas the infamous Avarice of thefe Tyrants, that
induc'd 'em to take fo many Indians to fell 'em for
Slaves : and the very fame covetous humour and
phrenzie has feizM all the Europeans that have hi-
therto fet foot in America. Their Cuftom has been
to take the poor Indians out of their houfes, with
their Wives and Children, to load 'em with Chains,
to mark 'em like Sheep that they might diftinguilh
'em one from another, and afterwards to fell 'em as if
they had been born Slaves.
Of thofe Provinces of the Continent called,
Florida.
THREE mercilefs Tyrants have invaded thefe
Provinces one after another (ince the year
1510, all animated with the fame Spirit, andmov'd
by the fame defigns. They all committed the fame
Outrages throughout this Country, to put them-
felves by robbing and pillaging into a capacity of
buying places of honour and profit, far above their
quality : but God was pleas'd to punifh 'em after a
f ery lignal manner \ for they all came to a mifera-
ble end j they were buried in the ruins of thofe
Houfes, which they had built with the Spoils of
ib many miferable People whom they had ruin'd
and murder'd. Thus were thefe Provinces left de-
folate. Thefe Brutes would doubtlefs have com-
mitted yet more Villanies, had not the juft Judg-*
ment of the Almighty fhorten'd their days, and pu-
nifh'd
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 8 1
nifli'd *eni in this Country for the MafTacres and
Robberies they had committed in other parts of
the Indies.
When they came mto-tlwida^ they found it plen-
tifully ftor'd with People, who were wife and well
difciplin'd both in Civil Affairs, and in Morals :
they immediately began to caft a Terror through-
out the Country by I know not how many MafTa-
cres \ fo that the poor Indiars who had never
known any thing like it, were put into a mighty
Confternation. The Spaniards us'd 'era inflead of
Beafls of burden to carry their Arms, Utenlils and
Provifions: yet the Inhabitants of one great Town
cxprefs'd abundance of Joy at their arrival, enter-
tain'd 'em with the belt they had, and furnifh'd 'em
with plenty of Provifions as long as they continued
there ^ they offer'd 'em 600 of their Itrongefl men
to carry their Baggage, and look to their Horfes.
Yet the Spanifh General was fo little touch'd with
the courtefie of thefe People, that he kill'd their
Prince with a Lance, that fo he might be in a better
condition to pillage them, who little thought of
fuch a bloody fadl as this, and other Cruelties with
which their barbarous Guefts requited their kind-
neffes. They with their Swords and Lances kill'd
all the Inhabitants of another Town, who flood
upon their Guard , and endeavour'd to defend
therafehes from the Hoflilities of thefe Tyrants.
They put Men and Women, great and fmall, Maf^
ters and Servants all to the Sword, without any
refpecl either to Age, Sex or Quality. In another
Village a Spanifh Captain kill'd above loo Indians .'
he cut off the Lips and Nofes of others, and fent
'em away in. this condition to terrify the reft of the
Country by fo horrible a fight. Thefe Cruelties
hinder'd the fuccefs of the Millions of our Apollo-
lick Men in the Indies, who had no good reafons tO"
G produc<l
82 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
produce to thefe poor Wretches to excufe fuch
Barbarities as thefe. One may eafily gueft by this
Inftance what love the Indians muft have for the Ca-
tholicks, and what confidence they can put in their
Promifes. What Idea can they have of God, when
he is defcribed to 'em as infinitly good and merciful?
What can they think of his Law, which they are
to'd is fo holy and joll •, when they fee thofe that
profefs to obferve it, not fcruple to comihic all thefe
Crimes?
Mofl: of thefe cruel Villains perifh'd miferably
without the leafl contrition or repentance ^ and tho
God is infinitely gracious and merciful, there is
reafon enough to fear they are conderan'd to eter-
nal Torments.
Of the River de la Plata, or Silver-River.
SEveral Spanifli Captains have undertaken Voyages
to xht SilvtY- River ^ fince the year 1502. The
Country upon it is of a valt extent, and contains ma-
ny great Kingdoms and noble Provinces. The In-
habitants are a very i*ational and civil fort of Peo-
ple, and live at a confiderable diftance from the
other Indians j which render'd it an eafy matter
to tl^e Spaniards to molelt 'em with impunity, and
to exercife all their wonted Rapine and Cruelty
among 'em. They every where carry with 'em the
fame defign of enriching and making themfelves
great and powerful at the colt of thefe unhappy
People, whom they plunder of their Treafure, as if
it were the fpoil of a juft and lawful War. Wher-
ever they come, they ufe the fame ways and means
to compafs their deiign \ they torment and kill the
People, pillage and deftroy the Country, mining
whole Nations to poITefs themfelves of their Gold
and Silver. On
k^d Cruelties m the Weft-Indies. 8 1
. On the Banks of the Silver-River they have de-
ftroy'd clivers great Provinces and Kingdoms j and
cut the Throats of multitude of Indians^ treating;
'em with all the Cruelties they could invent : for
when they were at this vafl diilance from Spain,
they did not much fear the King's Authority ^ be-
lieving the remotenefs of the place where they com-
mitted their Crimes, would fecure 'era from the
danger of fufFering for 'em. This hope of impu-
nity made 'em more barbaroufly cruel in this Coun*
try than in others ; fo that they liv'd. here after the
moft licentious manner imaginable, without the
leaft regard to Law or Juflice. However fomeof
their Actions have been reported to the Council of
the Indies. A certain Governor one day command-
ed his Souldicrs to enter into a Town, and maffa-
ere all the Inhabitants, if they Ihould refufe to
give 'em what provifions they wanted. The Sol-
diers prompted by this Order, and fupported by
the Authority of the Governor that fent 'em, kili'd
5000 of thefe poor Creatures *, who looking on.
the Spaniards as their declared Enemies, were not
willing to truft 'em, or to have any commerce
with 'em ^ and therefore hid themfelves, not fo
much to avoid giving 'em what they as'kd, as to
efcape the points of their Swords. The other !«-
dians were fo terrified by this flaughter, that they
readily ofFer'd therafelves in great numbers to ferve
the Spaniards. Thefe Indians when they were one
day call'd by the Governour to receive foms orders
from him, 1 know not by v/hat hap, made fome de-
lay to prefent themfelves before him •, upon which
he commanded 'em to be deliver'd up to another
Nation of Indians who were their mortal Enemies*
The poor Wretches as foon as they heard this cruel
Sjentence, cried out mofl: hideoufly, entreating the.
Sj^dniards with tears in their Eyes rather to kill 'cm
G I outright
84 ^ Relation of the Spanlfh Voyages
outright with their Swords and Lances, than to
abandon 'em to tlie rage of their fworn Enemies.
Nor could they by any means be got out of the
houfe were they were ^ upon which the Spaniards
hew'd 'em in pieces one after another j while the poor
Indians complain'd to 'em of their barbarity, expref-
fmg themfelves with hearts full of anguifh anddefpair
after this manner : We came voluntarily to meet you^
to offer our Service to you^ and to fherv you all the re^
fpe{i rve could •, and all the return you make to our kind'
nsfs is to murder us without pity. Our Blood that is
da/h'd on every fide upon the Walls of this Houfe Jhali be
an everlafling witnefs of your cruelty^ and cry for ven*
geame againfi you for the unjufl death you make us fuffer*
■*Tis impoiTible to refied on this Adion without be-
ing mov'd both with horror and compaflion.
Oj the great Kjngdoms and Fr evinces of Peru.
ASpanilh Commander with a great number of
Soldiers enter'd thefe Kingdoms with the Ti-
tle of Governour j and with a Refolution to heap
up a vafl Treafure in a little time. He had already
given fome proofs of his skill and capacity on the
Continent •, and he every day peifedted himfelf
more and more in the Art of cutting of throats
and pillaging. He was naturally cruel, without
Faith, Honour or Religion ^ he knew no other
God than Gold or Silver, and therefore gave him-
felf liberty to commit all forts of Crimes,to get thefe
Metals any way in the world. He did abundance
of mifchief in the large Provinces of Peru. 'Tis
not poflible to reprefent to the life what Perfecutl-
ons the Inhabitants of this rich Country underwent j .
and what cruel forts of death they were made to •
fuffer.
and Cruelties in the "Weft-Indies. 8 5
fuffer, to extort their Gold and Silver from 'em.
When this Governour firfl enter'd Vcyu^ he rifled
divers Villages, and took away prodigious quantities
; of Gold. He then pafs'd into an Ifland (not far
' from this Kingdom) which is very pleafant, fruit-
ful and populous. The Prince of this Ifland, toge-
ther with the Inhabitants, came out to meet the S^a-
\ijiards^ and received 'em with greatjoy and civility.
I But in the fpace of fix months, which time the Spa^
' niards continued here,they confum'd all the Corn and
; other Provifions they found in the Ifland. After this
they difcover'd that the Indians had hid fome Corn
under ground, to keep againft a time of fcarcity, for
the fubfiftence of their Wives and Children j which
they were conllrainM to leave to the difcretion of the
Spaniards, who took polTeHion of it as their own Pro-
perty ^ and hereby reduc'd thefe poor People to the
utmofl neceflity. Soon after this they left the Ifland,
but firlt kill'd a great many of the People, and car-
ried away the reft with 'em for Slaves. Thus by the
many Cruelties they committed, this Ifland is quite
depopulated.
From hence they went into the Ifle of Tumbala^
which is fituate near the Continent \ here they maf-
facred all the Inhabitants that fell into their hands.
The reft frighted at this cruel flaughter, fled every
way they could to avoid 'em ; and tho they did this
only to fave their Lives, it was interpreted a Rebel-
lion againft the King of Spain ^ but was only an Ar-
tifice of this Tyrant to entrap thefe miferable Peo-
ple, that he might make 'em fur render to him all
the Gold and Silver they had : which they brought
to him in great quantities, while he ftifl demanded
greater, being refolv'd to leave 'em nothing : And
when he had ftrip'd 'em of all they had, he told
them he receiv'd 'em into the number of the King of
Spain's Subjeds, and pretended a great deal of kind-
G 3 nefs
Sd A Relation of the Spanlfh Voyages
nefs to 'em, promifing he would treat 'em as his
friends, and not do 'em the leaft hurt for the time
to come. This Hypocrite was for plundering the
Indians, and terrifying 'em with menaces of the
King of S^ainh difpleafure •, but had the Policy not
tp receive 'em into the number pf this Prince's Vaf-
f^ls, till he had robb'd 'em of all they had. And
yet the Title of the King of Spain's, Subjeds did
not fecure 'em for thq future from his Infults and
Robberies.
The name of the Soveraign Prince and Empe-
ror of all thefe Kingdoms was Atahali^a^ who
brought with him an innumerable Army of naked
men, who made ufe of a ridiculous fort of Wea-
pons, not underflanding the force of the Spaniards
S.words and Lances, and Horfes, with which thefe
Indians had never been acquainted ^ he advanc'd his
Troops near the Spaniards^ crying with a great deal
of courage, Where are thefe Spaniards ? 17/ never Icav^
^ern tili they have made we fatisfaBion for all my Subjeds
that have keen kill' d by them '-, of all my Towns which
they have, hurnt^ and of all my Riches which they have
carried away. The Spaniards came to meet this
Prince in good order and well-arm'd, and made a.
horrible daughter among his Souldiers ^ they took
the King himfelf, who was carried on a flately Seat
upon the Shoulders of his Subjeds. This Prince
finding himfelf .in this miferable Condition, began
to treat with 'em about his Ranfom, for which
he promifed to give 'em 4 Millions of Crowns : for
this Sum they engag'd to give him his Liberty \ yet
would not ftand to their own Agreement, but
obliged him to aflemble all his People, who to obey
their Prince's order came together in Qrowds. This
King bore fuch a fvvay in the minds of his Subjedls,
that he boafted that the Leaves of the Trees in the
Woods durit not move without his order. He told
■^ • - the
and Cruelties in the Wefl-Indies. S 7
the Spaniarr's he was their Prifoner, ;md they had
now power to pot him to death if ;hey pleas'd.
.Upon this they held a Council of War to deiiberate
what to do with him ^ and relblv'd to burn him
with a gentle Fire: only there was one Captain not
quite fo inhuman as the reft, who told 'em they
ought to content themfelves with ftrangling him,
and then burning him after he was dead. When
the King was inform'd that he was condemned to
die, lie thus exprefs'd himielfj Why will je needs put
me to death .■' What Crime have I committed ctgainji
you ? Did you not promife to rejlore me my Libin-ty^ pro-
vided I would pay that ttm of Cold you imtos'd on trie ?
Have not Igwenyou a greater Sum than you demanded?
However tf you are refolv^d to hill me^ firjl fend me at
leafl to the King of Spain. But all his Complaints,
all his juft Reproaches and Proteftations could not
hinder them from burning him. 'Tis eafy to f;c
that the Spaniards had no right to make War with
this Prince, and to treat him fo inhumanly. B^t
the Captivity of tliis King, the Sentence of Death
pronounc'd againft him, and the Cruelty with "which
they put it in execution, after they had extorted
fuch vaft Treafures from him, all fufficiently difco-
ver the Genius of thefe Tyrants, and of what In-
inft'ce and Violence they have been guilty both
againll the Princes and People of the new World.
I have a Letter from a Monk of the Order of
St. Francis written to the King of Spain^ by whi' h
it will appear how the Spaniards behav'd themfelves
towards the Indians : The very Terms of which
Letter FU here fet down.
J, Frier H2rk de Xlicia of the Order of St. Francis,
General of all the Monks of the faid Order in Peru, who
name into this Country TP;tfe fk Spaniards that firjl in-
vaded it J do teflify what I have feen with my own Eyes of
G 4 the
88 ji Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
the manner of their treating the People of th'vs new World.
Having been an Eye-voitnefs^ I have a certain knowledg
of the Oifpo/ition and Manners of the Inhabitants of Pe-
ru j they are a meek^ good-humoured and peaceable Na-
tion^ and have fhewn a great deal of yiffe^ion and Re^
fpe{} to the Spaniards j I have feen ''em give \m great
Sums of Gold and Silver^ and Pearls of a great value
very readily ^ they render d ^em all the Services they could
require of* em with all the diligence that could be reafonably
de/tr'*d. They never offer'^d to make War with Vw, nor
fo much 06 to put themfelves in a poflure of Defence^ till
they had received all imaginable Injuries from 'ew, and
were thereby confirained to it contrary to their Inclina-
tions. They gave the Spaniards as many Men and
Women as they needed for their Vomefiick Bufinefs ;
and when they had receiv'^d ''etn into their Towns and
f^illagcs with all the Honours they could think o/, they
fupplied ^em liberally with all the neceffary jiccommoda-
tfons of Life,
I farther tedify^ that the Spaniards without having
received the leafl occajion of Offence from the Indians,
feiz^d their great Cacique Atabalipa, foon after they "
enter' d h'vi Country^ and burnt him after they had received
four Millions of Gold of him, and after having taken
immenft Sums out of hvs Province without any Refiflance.
They infiicied the fame Punifhment on Cochilimaca his
(Captain General, when he came to meet them in an ami-
fabk manner with many other Noblemen of Peru. A
few days after another great Lord of the Province of
Qmtomdfufferd the fame fate ^ for the Spaniards burnt
him without having the leafl occafton given ^em for fo
cruel an A^ion : With the like Barbarity and Injufiice
thty burnt Schapera the Prince of the Canaries. They
0lfo burnt the feet of Aluis, the firfi and greateft Lord
p/ the Province of Quitonia, and put him to a great
many other Torments to rnake him reveal K. Atabalipa'x
friiafures^ of whic^ be was utterly ignorant ^ 06 it evi-
dently
tind. Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. S9
dtnXly appeared by the fequel. They condemned Coco-
pagaganga to the fame Punijhment^ who wa/i Prince of
the Province of Quitonia : He fuffer'd himfelf to he
over perfwaded by the Treaties of Scbaftian Banalcacar
a Spanifh Captain^ to come in an amicable manner and
furrender himfelf to the Spaniards ^ this Captain having
given him his word that no Injury fhould be done him j yety
contrary to this promife^ he wa/s burnt alive ^ with fever at
Caciques hejides : and I have been inform' d^ that the
Spaniards dejign^d to fhew no Mercy to any Indian in
the Country.
1 moreover affirm, that I my felf havefeen the Spa-
niards in feveral places cut off the Nofes^ Ears and
Hands of Indian Men and Women, without any Provo"
cation, in cold Blood ( as itfeem*d ) purely for the fake of
doing Mifchief, which is a mofl inexcufable fort of Bar-
barity. I have feen the Spaniards fet their fierce and
hungry Dogs at the Indians to tear ^em in pieces anddc"
vour ''em. And I have feen ''em fet fire to fo many
Towns and VtUages, that 'tis impofftble I fhould recoUeif
the number of Vm. 'Tu certain they have torn Children
from their Mothers Breajis^ and thrown 'em with all their
might 06 far as they could, to divert themfelves with this
hrutifh Sport. 1 have often been a Witnefs of many other
Cruelties of this nature, which have fiU'd me with Dread
and Horror ; but I fhould be too prolix and tedious to give
the Detail of Vm.
I protefi, that once the Spaniards when they had af^
fembled thegreatefi number of Indians they could in three
great Houfes, fet fire to 'em and burnt 'em all alive,
without any reafon, having not received the leafi affront
from 'em. And a certain Priefi, whofe name was Ocana,
happening to attempt to take a young Child out of the
flames, <« Spaniard that faw him, took the Child from
him, and immediately cajl it again into the Fire, where
it was burnt with the rcfl. This Spaniard the fame day
he committed this black and curfed Adion, died fuddenly
as
1^ A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
c& he WA5 going to the Camp *, and I was of opinion that
hi6 Carcafe ought not to be interred.
I have feen the Spaniards fend Deputies to the Ca-
ciques and chief Indians, t^ engage 'em to come and
meet ''em without fear, promifmg 'em^ to employ their In-
terefi with the King of Spain on their behalf: but as foon
as they were come upon the Credit of the Promt fes that
had been given Vw, they were burnt without Pity^ or any
formal Procefs. Two of the mofl illujlriom and confjde-
rable Indians were burnt in my fight ^one ^r Andonia, and
the other at Tumbala. yiU the Efforts I made to ftcure
''em from the Flames^ and to get ''em out of the hands of
thefe bloody Wretches^ were to no purpofe ^ my Difcourfes
and Exhortations made no imprcffion on 'em. I can
fay with a good Confcience^ and in the prefence of God,
that fo far 06 I have been able to learn^ by the long time
1 have been among 'fw, the Inhabitants of Peru have
never fomented any Mutiny or Rebellion^ or done the Icafi
Injury to the Spaniards, who have treated them fo inhu-
manly '-, but whatever Torments they have fuffer'd^ they
feem^d to have laid afide the thoughts of Revenge, jind
when they found the Spaniards were always deceiving
Vw, and breaking the Promifes they made ''em V when they
found they treated ^em with fo much Tyranny, contrary to
all Law and Equity ; and that they did not fcruple to
commit aU forts of Outrages againjl Vw, they rather
chofe to die^ than to he continually expos'^d to fuch Mi'
feries.
I have been informed by the Accounts the Indians
themfelves have givtn^ that there is a great deal more
Gold among *em imdifcover'^d than has been yet found ^
the ill Vfige and Cruelty of the Spaniards having made
Vw conceal it : and they are rtfolv'd never tordifcover it
while they are treated with fo much Injufiice and lyranny^
hut will rather die 06 thtir Companions have done, who
have been put to death witbfo much Cruelty. The Injuries
offered thefe poor Indians are I'ery hainout Sins in the
fight
anoi Cruelties in the Weft-Indies, 91
fi^ot of God^ and contrary to the Interejl and Service of
the King^ who has been cheated of more Treafure in Peru
than would keep all the People in Caftile.
Thus far the -Letter of that Monk, which was
confirm'd by the Atteftation of the Bifhop of Mexi-
co: He was an Eye-witnefs of what he here relates,
for he went through this Country for the fpace of
fourfcore or a hundred Leagues, and contiued there
nine or ten- years, in a time when there were but
few Spaniards there. But as foon as it was reported
in Spain that this new World was fo full of Gold,
there prefently came four or five thoufand People^
who fpread themfelves through thefe noble Pro-
vinces, and pofTefs'd five or fix hundred Leagues of
the Country, which they entirely ruined, commit-
ting all thofe Djforders and Crimes that have been
mention'd before. They have deftroy'd a great ma-
ny more People here than this Frier takes notice of
in his Letter : and without having any fear of God
before their Eyes, or any regard to the King, or
the leaft fentiment of Compafiion to their fellow-
Creatures, they have almoll deftroy'd one half of
Mankind ; for in the Provinces of Peru alone they
have kiird above forty Millions of People.
A few days after what 1 have related above, they
kill'd a great Queen with Arrows made of Reeds j
Ihe was Wife to Prince Elingue^ who ftill governs
this Province in quality of King : the Spaniards did
what they could to feize this Prince'^s Perfon, and
omitted no Tricks and Artifices to accomplifli it^
this was the occafion of his Revolt againft the Spa-
niards^ and he has ever fince continued their declar'd
Enemy. They took his Queen contrary to the Rules
of Equity and Juftice ; and 'tis faid they kill'd her
at a time when (he was big with Child, mecrly to vex
and grieve the King her Husband, who lov'd her
very
92 A ReUtton of the Spanlfh Voyages
very tenderly. If all the Mafiacres the Spaniards
have committed in Peru Ihould be recounted, every
one would be aftonifti'd at the recital, and the num-
ber of 'em after an exad Computation would fur-
pafs all probability, and appear too great to be
believ'd.
Of the new Kjngdom of Grenada.
f A Great number of Spaniards went from Venc"
J^ ^uela^ the Ifle of St. Martha^ and Carthagena
in the year 1 536, to make a Difcovery of Peru : Di-
vers others went up higher, three hundred Leagues
beyond St. Martha and Carthagena^ to difcover
thofe excellent Countries that were very fertile, and
full of People of a mild and fociable Temper^
where is abundance of Gold and precious Stones
found, efpecially Emeralds : they gave this King-
dom the name of New Grenada, becaufe the Cap-
tain that firll fet his foot in it was born at Grenada.
They that accompanied him were very profligate
Men, and extremely cruel *, they fhed human Blood
without any fcruple or remorfe, for they had been
long accultom'd to all forts of Wickedneft, and
therefore 'tis the lefs to be wonder'd at that they
have committed fo many Crimes in this New Grenada^
where they abandon'd themfelves to all manner of
Abominations. I fhall only mention fome Inftances
of 'em, becaufe an exaft recital of their Cruelties
would fill the Minds of all that read this Hiflory
with too much Horror.
A certain Governor that could not get his Ihare
of the Booty another had got before him in ra-
vaging this new Kingdom of Grenada at his pleafure,
tho he could have feconded him with all his heart
in
mci Cruelties in the Wefl-Indies. 9 j
in the Cruelties and Robberies he committed here %
yet being enrag'd to fee fuch a valuable Prey efcape
him, thought meet to appeafe his Trouble after a
fort, and to revenge himfelf on the other by making
authentick Informations confirm'd by the concur-
rent Tefcimony of many WitneiTes, which expos'd
to light all the Vexations, Murders and Cruelties
which this Tyrant had been guilty of va.NewGfS'^
nada. The faid Informations were read in the Coun-
cil of the Indies, where they have been hitherto pre-
ferv'd, and arc yet to be feen.
In thefe Informations the Witnefles depofe, that
this new Kingdom enjoy'd a fettled Peace before the
Spaniards came thither ^ that the People Ihew'd 'era
all the kindnefs imaginable as foon as they came a»
mong 'em j that they maintained tho^Spaniards with
their Labour, and the Fruit of the Ground which
they manur'd i that they gave 'em prodigious quan-
tities of Gold, and abundance of precious Stones,
amongft others a great many Emeralds ; that they
freely brought 'em whatever was mofl valuable ia
their Cities, the Government of which the Spa"
niards divided among themfelves when they had can-
ton'd 'em into feveral parts : for this they counted s.
proper method, the better to compafs their defigu
of heaping together all the Gold they could poflibiy
find.
When the Indians were firll fabjugated to the
Tyranny of the Spaniards^ the chief Captain, who
was General of the reft, took pofTeffion of the King's
Perfon as well as of the Country, and kept him
Prifbner for five or fix Months, without any rcafon
in the World, demanding Gold and Emeralds of
him continually. This King, whofe name was Bogota,
in the midfl of his fears, promis'd the Spanifli Ge-
neral to deliver up all the Gold-plate he had, hoping
by this means to get out of the hands of this Tyrant ;
lie
94 ^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
he fent a great many Indians to his Houfe to fetcH
thefe precious Goods ^ and at the feveral turns they
made he gave the Spaniard a great quantity of
Gold and Emeralds ^ who was not content with all
this, but threaten'd to kill him. Accordingly he
commanded this unfortunate King to be brought be-
fore him to receive his Sentence. This is the Treat-
ment thefe Tyrants give the moll illuflrious Perfons
of the new World : This haughty General pro-
nounc'd a fatal Sentence againft this Prince, by
which he was condemn'd to m.oft horrible Torments
if he did not immediately fend for all the Gold he
had : Accordingly this Tyrant's Executioners laid
hold of the King, ftretch'd him out at length upon
the ground naked, and pour'd boiling Rofm upon his
Belly •, befides this, they put his feet into a Fire, hav-
kig faften'd his Neck to a Stake fix'd in the ground,
while two of thefe Hangmen held him by the Arms.
The cruel General came from time to time to look
upon him while this Torture continued, threatning
to take aw'ay his Life if he did not fpeedily deliver
up his Gold. God feem'd by his Providence tolig-
nify his Difpleafure againft thefe Cruelties, in fuf-
fering the City where they were committed to be
confumM with Fire in a moment. The reft of the
Spaniards took pattern by their General, and fill'd
up his fteps : And having no other trade than that
of tormenting the Indians^ and cutting 'em in pieces,
they pradifed the fame Villanies in divers parts of
this Kingdom : They infxided terrible Punifliraents
on feveral Caciques^ and all thflr Subjeds, who too
imprudently depended on the good words and pro-
mifes the Spaniards made 'em : And this after they
had given 'em incredible Sums of Gold, and many
Emeralds. Thefe Prefents, tho fo valuable, could
not foften their obdurate Hearts, and render 'em
Ivil to their Benf'^^adors,' The Tortures to whi<ih
they
and Crueitks in the Weft-Indies. 9$
they put the Indians were to make 'em bring yet
mote Gold and precious Stones ^ and the fame motive
has induc'd 'em to burn all the great Lords of the
Country with a flow fire. A great multitude of
Indians one day came to meet the Spaniards with a
great deal of humility and fimplicity (as their man-
ner is) to offer 'em their fervice, fuppofing them-
felves fafe ^ but while they were fleeping without any
apprehenfion of danger, being faint and weary,
a Spanifh Captain commanded his men to maffacre
'em al), which was accordingly executed. This
was done to flrike the whole Country with terror
and conflernation, and to fright the Inhabitants
out of their Gold by the horror of fo tragical a
Spedacle. The General made his Souldiers fwear
how many Caciques and Indians each of 'em had
kill'd, and how many they had referv'd alive for
their Slaves ^ thefe he immediately order'd 'em to
bring out into the mcft publick place of their City,
and made 'em there cut off the heads of 4 or 500
of thefe poor Creatures. Divers Witnefles have
depos'd that this Captain order'd the hands and no-
fes of many Indians both Men and Women to be cut
off, and exercis'd other unheard of Cruelties among
'em. He fent into Bogata's Province to enquire v/ho
had fucceeded that Prince, whom he had fo inhu-
manly put to death : The Men he fent to make this
Difcovery took as many Indians as they could ^ fuch
of 'em as could not tell the name of their late Prin-
ce's SuccelFor, were barbaroufly abus'd, feme of 'em
had their Arms and Legs cutoff^ others were ex-
pos'd to the fury of greedy Dogs, and foon torn in
pieces by 'cm.
They fell upon a great number of Caciques and
Indian Noblemen by a treacherous furprize in the
middle of the Night, after they had afiiir'd 'em they
need not fear any affront or abufe from them. The
inrccent
^6 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
innocent Indians confiding in thefe fair promifes^
were come down out of tlie Mountains where they
had hid themfelves, to lodg in the Cities, not fuf-
peding the ill defign the Spaniards had againft 'em :
However thefe perfidious men furpriz'd 'em, and
cut off the Hands and Arms of all they took, let-
ting 'era know they were chaftiz'd after this fevcrc
manner for not telling the name of their late King's
Succeflbr. Another time the General fent a great par-
ty of Soldiers into a City to make war with the In-
habitants, becaufe they fent him not a basket of Gold
which he had demanded : they made thefe poor
people fuffer a thoufand Outrages,and maflacred vaft
numbers of 'em. They inhumanly cut off the no-
les and hands both of Men and Women, and gave
others to be devour'd by their Dogs, which were
wont to be fed with human fielh.
The people of one of thefe Provinces, feeing
5 or 6 of their Chiefs burnt to death with a flow
fire, were frighted by this horrible fight into the
mountains to flielter themfelves from the Spaniards -^
they were about 5 or 6000 : hereupon the Spanifh
Commander fent a Company of Soldiers to purfue
'em, and treat 'em as Rebels. 'Tis hard to imagine
by what right they affum'd an Authority to punifh
people as rebels, that were free-born, and did not
in the lealt depend on 'em. When the Spanilh
Soldiers were got into this Mountain, they fell on
the poor Indians^ who were naked and difarm'd,
with a fury like that of Wolves and Lions,when they
fet upon a flock of Sheep to devour 'em ^ till at
length they were fo fpent and fatigu'd meerly with
ilaughtering thefe poor Creatures, that they were
forc'd to give over a while to take breath '-, after
which they renew'd this MaiTacre with more vigour.',
And to cue fliort their bloody work, they threw
down the grcateft part of thefe Indians headlong
from
and Cruelties in the W^eft-Indies. 97
from the top of the Mountain, which was very high.
It has been depos'd by thofe that were Eye-witnefTes
of this Tragedy, that they forc'd above 700 of thefc
poor Indians all together down this Precipice, fo
that they look'd like a Cloud as they fell •, they were
all dalh'd in pieces by this dreadful fall, and died
miferably.
The Spaniards pulh'd on th 15^)3 rbarous Expedition
to the utmoft ; for they made a xliligent fearch in
all the remote Corners of the Mountain, and gave
no quarter to any they found •, thofe they could catch
were either cut to pieces, or after many wounds caft
down from the top of the Mountain. Nor did thefe
Cruelties fatisfy 'em, but they fhut up divers Indi-
ans both Men and Women, whom they had referv'd
for Slaves, in a houfe coverM with llraw, which
they fet on fire and fo confum'd 'em. They likewife
went to the City of Cola^ where they took abun-
dance of People, with about 15 or 20 of their
Great Men ^ they expos'd thefe to the fury of their
Dogs, which devoured 'em, having firft cut off the
hands and feet both of Men and Women ; and
fix'd thefe fad Spoils on Poles, that they might be
obvious to the view of all, and that the dreadful
fight might call terror and amazement in the minds
of all that furviv'd.
The Ravage and Cruelties thefe bloody-minded
Men exercifed in this new Kingdom of Grenada are fo
great, that if the King of Spain dos not apply a fpee-
dy remedy, and fet bounds to their excedive Avarice
and infatiabic thirft of Gold, that whole Kingdom
will foon be deftroy'd, and the Land lie unculti-
vated and unimprov'd, for want of Inhabitants.
In the fpace of 2 or 3 years, fince this Kingdom
li3s been difcover'd, they have without the fear of
God or Man put the Inhabitants to death, without
any emotion or pity to fee fo much human blood
H pour'd
98 A Relation of the Spaniih Voyages
ponv'd out. There are now fcarce any People to
be found there after all thefe Maffacres. Tiiere are
divers fine large Provinces near Nevo Grenada \ this
Country is called Popoyan and Cali^ and is above
-50 leagues in extent, which they alfo have ruined,
and made as defolate as the former. Here they
have fo flaughter'd the people, that this once po-
pulous Country is now quite deftitute of Inhabitants.
Thofe that come from thence relate fuch terrible
things of the Spaniards proceedings there, that one
can't hear their fad Stories, without being pierc'd
with trouble and compallion in a very fenlible man-
ner. In thefe Provinces they have ruin'd many fine
Cities from one end to t' other , fo that they now
lie buried in their own Afhes : there are fcarce any
of the ruins of thofe Cities to be feen, which once
contain'd above 2000 Houfes. In a word, this Coun-
try which was full of Villages, Towns, and Cities
for the fpace of 50 leagues, is now fo bare, that
there's fcarce any token remaining to fignifie there
ever were any fuch buildings.
Some of the Spaniards came from Peru into New
Grenada and Popoyan through the Province of Qui-^
tonia i others of em came to CaJi by the way o:
Carthagena and rraba, butalljoin'd together to car
ry on the fame defign, fpoiling a Country of 60c'
"leagues in extent of all its Riches, and extirpating
all the Inhabitants after they had plunder'd 'em
When this cruel War was ended, the Spaniards tool
fome of the Indians^ whom they had rcferved fo
Slaves, into their fervice, and caus'd the heads of fe
veral of their Companions to be cut off in their figh
to terrify 'em •, telling em they muft all exped t
undergo the fame fate, if they did not ferve 'erii
faithfully. By the recital of fuch barbarous Adiori:
as thefe, the Reader may eafily imagin how the'^]>fi '
ijiards behave themfelves towards the Indians in thi
fevera
an^ Cruelties in the Weft-Indies, (^()
feveral parts of Ammca. They feed their fierce
Dogs with human fiefh, on purpofe to accuftom'ern
to tear Men in pieces, and devcur 'em. They car-
ry thefe Dcgs v;ith 'era wherever they go, ancj
barbaroufly murder the poor Indians^ to feed thefe
favage Curs with their liefh. They'l fay one to ano--
ther. Give me a quarter of that Indian to m^ake m/
Dog a feall \ and when 1 kill one, fll pay you again.
They commonly hunt in the morning with thefg
Dogs ■^ and when ask'd by their fellows what luck:
they iiave had, they anfwer according to their fuccefs.
Sometim.es one will fay, I am content, my Dogs have
kiird about a fcore of 'em ^ fo that one would think
they were fpeaking of Wolves or wild Bears. Can
any thing be imagin'd that exceeds fuch horrible
Cruelty as this? And all thefe Barbarities have been
prov'd and averred by ftridt Examinations made and
produc'd before the Council of the Indies.
. But I fhall add no more, till I fhall receive farther
information of their other Villanies, which may be
cxpeded to be yet greater than thofe I have men-
tion'd, if greater can pollibly be committed. And
that which is moll deplorable is, tlmt the Spaniards
take no care to fpcak to thefe people of the My^
fteries of our Religion j nor feem to regard 'em
any more than Dogs or wild Beafts. Nay they
have forbidden the Monks and I\lifljonaries to in«-
ftrud 'em, whom they have even perfecuted, and
laid a thoufand Obllrndions in their way, to hin-
der 'em from preaching the Gofpel to tiiefe poor
Creatures who palfionately defired it •, and all becaufe
they thought the Converfion of thefe People would
be an Obitacle to their covetous Defigns, and bin*
der 'em from getting all the Gold they delir'd. So
that thefe miferable people have been induftrioufly
kept in their former ignorance, and knov/ no other
Ood than thofe of Wood, Stone or Copper , unlcfs
too A Relation of the Spanifli Voyages
it be the People of Ncxo Spain (which is but a fmall
part of America') where the A!onks have exercifecl'
their Fundion, and have been fuffer'd to difplay
their Zeal with more freedom. In the other Pro-
vinces the Indians perifh without Baptifm, or any
other Sacrament ^ and no one gives himfelf the
trouble to inftruct 'em ^ as will farther appear by
an authentick Letter from a Bifhop of this Country,
who exprelles hirafeif in thefe Terms :
I Frier Bartholomew de Las-Cafas, Monk of the
Order of St. Dominique, having ftgnified my defire to
he recall' d from the Indies, had league to come over to
the Court of Spain, to give an account of the deplorable
Condition of the Indians. To this I have been mov'd
by the Zeal with which God has infpir^d me for Souls re-
deemed by his Blood. My earnefh deftre is, that they
may know their Creator, and embrace his Word^ that
they may be favd. jind 1 cannot choofe but extremely
pity Spain, my native Country, becaufe I am greatly
afraid God will utterly deflroy it, for the enormous
Crimes committed by the Spaniards (who go into the In-
dies) both againfl God, agatnjl the King, and againfi
their Neighbours. I don't doubt but divers illuflrioiis
Perfons of this jCourt,^ who are truly z.ealous for the Sal'
vation of Souls, are very fenfibly touch'' d with the Cala-
mities and Mifcries thofe multitudes of poor Creatures
fuffcr in the New World^ who are abandoned to the fury
of the Spanifh Souldiers. I refolv^d long ago to draw up
an exalt relation of thefe matters^ but have been fill
hindered by the continual urgency of thofe affairs in which
I have been engaged till now. However I have at length
acco7nplif}i*d tins defign at Valence, the 8th of Decem-
ber, Anno 1 542. This Treatife gives afhort account
of the P'iolcnce^ Tyranny, Perfecutions, Robberies, Maf-
facres and Dfvaftations committed by the Spaniards in
all the parts of America where they have difpcrs'd them-
felves.
And, Cruelties In the Weft-Indies. i o i
pelves. Thefe Calamities and Diforders are advancW to
a decree that furpajfes all beliefs and is the more furpriz,-
ing in that the Spaniards are much lefs furious and cruel
every where elfe. Indeed the Peojjle oj Mexico ayid of the
places adjacent, are now treated much better than others ;
infomuch that no body there dares offer ^violence to any
Indian openly : 'Tis true they exa3 immenfe Sums of
'ew, but the forms of Juflice are at leajl fo obferv'^d^
that the People are protected from the Infults and ^jfronts
of fuch as have more power than themfehies. I have
great hope our lUuflrious Lord, Charles the Fifth, Em-
peror and King of Spain, who begins to take cogniz.ance
of the Tyranny and ill behaviour of the Spaniards toward
the Indians, ivill undertake the protefiion of thcfc mife-
Table People, who are perfecuttd againfl his will, as well
as again]} the wilt of God. All the miferies that have
bin infilled on thefe newly difcoveid Nations have bin hi-
therto concealed from our Prmce with no kfs fubtilty and
addrefs than malice. Tet now "tis not to be doubted but
this wife Emperor, into whofe hands God has cajl the Go-
vernment of thofe v aft Regions, and who bears fo fine ere
an affe^iion to Juftice, will give effe^ual Orders to put
a ft op to thefe Perfecutions. May Godpreferve this lUu-
ftrious Emperor in all the Glory and Profperity that at'
tends him, fir the Salvation of his Soul, and the Pre-
fervation of the Church. Amen.
A year after the writing of all thefe matters
above recited, there were publifhed in the City of
Madera certain Laws and Conititutions made by his
Majcily at Barcelona, in the month of December in the
year I 542. which were calculated according to the
urgent necellity of Affairs to redify the Diforders
that were then commited with fo much Infolence both
agriinfb God and Man, to the utter deftrudtion and
defolation of the New World. For the conftitnting;
of thefe wife Laws his Majefty affcmbled a gre^t
H 3 many
jo2 ^ Relation of the SpaniHi P^ojages
many Perfons, iliuftrious both for their Quality and
Learning, and moreover endued with gfeat Piety^
tvho deliberated on thefe important Affairs in di-
vers Selfions at yalladolid. At length by the unani-
mous Confent of the whole Aflembly, divers Pro-
pofiiiions were ratified and publifli'd \ and which ap-
pear the more conformable to the Rules of Chriftia-
iiity, in as much as the Perfons who compos'd this
famous Affembly had never been any way concern'd
in the Outrages offerM the Indians ; they were fuch
as had neither wafh'd their hands in their Blood,
nor reap'd any advantage by the immenfe Treafures
that had been taken from 'em with fo much Vio-
lence, after the murder of incredible numbers
of innocent People. For the Avarice and Cruelty
of thofe Spaniards who fir ft fet foot in America have
been the fatal Caufes of all the Miferies that new
World has undergon.
After the publication of thefe new Orders for
regulating the Affairs of the Indits, the Prote^lors
of thofe cruel Tyrants, who had Hill fome Credit
at Court, procured feveral Precepts to conftitute
Officers to fend into divers Provinces of the Indies^
for they were much concerned to fee the courfe of
theit Violence likely to be flop'd, and their wonted
Robberies and Extortions obftruded. And thus
they to whom the care of fuppreffmg thefe Difor-
derS) and preventing the farther Infults of thefe
Tyrants was committed, made no confcience of
violating that Equity and Fidelity they ow'd both to
God and their Prince •, for they i^new very well
what effed the Edids that w^ere made muft needs
have, and therefore alarm'd the People before the
arrival of the Judges who were fent to the Indies
to publiih the Laws of their Prince, and to put 'em
in execution : fo that as foon as thefe Judges came
into America^ they appear'd to be of the fame ftamp
with
1
and Cruelties in the VJt^-lndk-S. 103
with thofe that fent 'em, and neither regarded God
nor Man ^ they immediately forgot the King's Or-
ders, and laid afide the Reverence due to fo great
a Prince j and being willing to take part with thofe
Tyrants, that they might have a fhare of the Booty,
behav'd themfelves with a Cruelty beyond imagi-
nation, and jullified thofe Villanies which they were
fent to puni(h.
So that (ince the year 1 542, fuch Rapine and
Violence has been committed in Peru^ that the like
has not been heard of either in the Indies^ or any
other part of the World : Nor do they exercife
their Cruelty only on the Indians^ whom they have
almoll exterminated, but are fufFer'd by the jnft
Judgment of God to turn their Arms one againft
another with great fury to their mutual dellrudion.
Some of the People of this new World under the
protection of thefe Rebels, were encourag'd to re-
fufe Obedience to the Emperor's Orders \ others
pretending they were defirous to addrefs Petitions
to his Imperial Majefty, have fjfferM themfelves to
be carried down the ilream with the reit, and have
revolted too. For the Spaniards 2iXQ not q^l^xIy per-
fwaded to furrender thofe Treafures they have un-
juitly ufurped, or to releafe thofe Indians whom
they ha:ve inflav'd. If they don't fo often inaflacre
'em, they increafe the weight of their Irons, and im-
pofe Laws on 'em more and more unjufl and rigo-
rous. And the King with all his Authority has not
yet been able to ftop the courfe of thefe Mifchiefs,
becaufe they are generally link'd together in a Con-
federacy, both fmall and great ^ and all ufe the 'li-
centious trade of robbing and fpoiling more or lefs
according to their power, fome more publickly,
and others after a clandelline manner. But that
which yet further difcovers the Boldnefs and Info-
lence of thefe Hypocrites is, that they ftill make
H 4 pre-
I04 ^ Relation of the Spanifb Voyages
pretences that they confult nothing but the King's
Interefl:, and the Glory of God in all they do ^
while 'tis moll apparent, they are continually rob-
bing the King, and that with impunity, and are
always difhonouring God and Religion by their cri-
minal and fcandalous Praftices.
That which next follows is a Fragment of a Let-
ter of a certain Perfon who accompanied the Spa-
niards in their Voyages and Journies, giving an ac-
count of their Adions in the various places through
which they pafs'd : But this Letter being defign'd to
be fent with other Papers, he that made up the
Packets loft feveral Pages of it which contain'd very
remarkable and extraordinary things concerning the
Adtions of the Spaniards. This Fragment I fend you
is the Body of the Letter, the beginning and end of
which are both wanting. However, feeing that
which it contains deferves the notice of the Publick,
I thought meet to print it, and hope the view of it
will produce the fame effed of moving you to coni-
miferate the Calamities of the poor Indians^ as I
prefume the more ample Relation I have given you
above has done : And confequently that your won-
ted Charity will excite ia your Minds an ardent de-
fire to oppofe and redify ail thofe Diforders as much
as in you lies.
The Fragment.
t The Captain ordered thefe Indians to
* be chain'd for Slaves, which was prefently done,
'and he carried away with him great numbers of
*Men and Women in Chains-, fo that the whole
* Country was foon turn'd into a Defert. They
* took away all the Crop of Corn thefe poor Crea-
' tures had, and whatever elfe they had laid up for
* the fubfilience of their Families, by which means
*■ they
a^d Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 105
' they were foon reduc'd to extreme want ; fo that
' many were found dead in the High-ways merely
*• with Famine. There were alfo above ten thoufand
' of thofe Indians the Spaniards took to carry their
' Baggage, that died on the Coafts : for almoft all
' that went any diftance from the Sea were kill'd
' with the excelTive Heat they met with on the Con-
' tinent. This fame Captain following the fteps of
' John Ampidia^ fent before him two Indians whom
' he had taken in the Province of Quitonia^ to difco-
' ver the Villages and Towns that were in their way,
' and where any Booty was to be got ^ thefe Indians
'were either his own Slaves, or thofe of his Soul-
' diers, fome of whom had two or three hundred
' Slaves a IMan, and others more or lefs, as they had
' more or lefs Baggage and Provilions to carry.
' Thefe Indians leturn'd to their Mafter, together
' with fuch others as they could bring away with 'em.
' And in thefe Expeditions all forts of Cruelties were
' committed upon Women and Children. They did
* the fame in the Province of Quitonia^ they fir'd
' their Houfes wherever they came, and burnt all
' the Stores of Corn the Indians had. And to fhew
' their fpite the more, as if all this Mifchief had
'been- too little, they kill'd their Cattel only for
' the Suet and Marrow, having no occaiion for the
' Flelh ^ only the Indians who attended the Spaniards
' in thefe Expeditions ate the Livers, that being one
' of their principal Difhes. 'Tis fcarce to be be-
' lieved what numbers of Cattel they kill'd here *,
' they deftroy'd above a hundred thoufand after this
' manner only for the Fat and Livers, and fo made
'the Country defolate by this needlefs llaughter,
' which brought fuch a Famine and Mifery upon the
' Inhabitants, that they died for want of Food :
' They belldcs carried away out of this Province all
' the Corn they did not burn j fo that tho the Coun-
' try
io6 A Relation of the Spanid) Voyages
*■ try produces abundance, there was fo great a Scar-
' city, that a * Septier of Corn was worth ten
' Crowns, and a Lamb was fold for the fame Price.
' The Commander of thefe Troops being returned
* from the Sea-Goafl, refolvM to leave the Province "
*of Quitonia^ and to join John .Ampudia. To ac-
' complifh this Defign he raifed above two hundred"
* Men Horfe and Foot, among which were divers
' Citizens of Quitonia. He gave 'em leave to bring .
*■ with them the Caciques^ and all the other Indians
*- which had formerly fallen to their fliare, and to-
' add as many others to 'em as they pleas'd, which
' they did. One Al^honfo Sanchez, carried with him
*■ his Cacique^ whofe name was Nenuyta, with a hunr
* dred other Indians and their Wives. Peter Cobo
' accompanied him with a hundred and fifty Indians
*- and their Wives, who were forc'd to drag their
'- Children after 'em, for fear they fhould perilh with
* Hunger. One Moran a Citizen of Popayan carried
'■ above two hundred People with him •, and all the
' reft of the Souldiers did the fame proportionably
* to their Stock and Occafions. They defir'd permif-
* (ion to make all the Indian Men and Women that
* attended 'em their abfolute Slaves, which was
*^ granted ^ and this Privilege continued as long as
' they liv'd, tho thefe Indians were the Subjects and
' ValTals of the King of Spain as well as the Spaniards
' themfelves.
' With fuch an Equipage as this our General left-
* the City of ^itonia, to go take polTefllon of that
* of OSaba^ which fell to his lot. He demanded of
' the Cacique five hundred Men to join his Forces,
' which were deliver'd to him, with divers other
* Perfons of Note. Part of thefe Indians he diftri-
' buted
" ^
* A Septier is a megfure of Corn concaiaing about 240 pound
weight.
and Cruelties m the Weft-Indics. 107
- buted among his Souldiers, and took the reft to
' himfelf, fome of whom were loaded with Chains,
' and others with his Baggage and Provilions. 'Twas
* a lamentable fight to fee thefe poor Wretches tied
' one to another with Cords. When thefe Siiamards
' parted from the Province oi Quitonia^ they carried
' away no lefs than fijc thoufand Indians^ of wliich
' fcarce twenty came back to their own Country^
' for the extreme Fatigues and fcorching Heat they
*■ endur'd in thofe hot Countries foon cut 'em off.
' The General having made Al^honfo Sanchtz. Cap-
' tain of a Company, this Brute meeting fome
'Women and Children in his way, loaded with
* Providons, and waiting for him to prefent him
' with what they had brought, malTacred 'em all
* without pity. In this cruel Adfion, a Spaniard
' going about to kill an Indian Woman broke his
' Sword in two the firft blow he gave her ^ at the
' fecond llroke he broke it again, fo that he had no-
* thing but the Hilt left in his hand : but that which
*■ is more furprizing is, that this poor Woman re-
* ceiv'd no Wound by the blows he gave her. Ano-
' ther Souldier ftriking an Indian Woman with a
* large Dagger, had about three Inches of it broken
' off at the firll furoke, and the whole Blade quite
' to the Hilt at the fecond.
' When this General, of whom we have been
' fpeaking, parted from Quitonia^ he cruelly fepa-
' rated Husbands and Wives one from another,
' giving the young Women to the Indians that went
' with him, and leaving the old Women to thofe
' that remain'd in the City. One of thefe Women
' foliow'd him with loud Cries when he went away,
'and beg'd of him with abundance of Tears, than
' he would not take away her Husband from her,
' telling him Ifie had the charge of three Children,
' and 'twould be impoffible for her to provide for
loS A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
'em if (he were bereavM of her Husband ^ fb that
they muft neceffarily be ftarv'd. The General re-
puls'd her not without fome Indignation, upon
which fhe redoubled her Sighs and Cries, telling
him her Children were ready to die with Hunger:
at length feeing her Prayers and Tears made no
Imprefllon on him, fhe took a Stone and dafh'd out
the Brains of all her Children in his fight.
' When this Commander arriv'd in the City of
Pit/o, which is fituate in the Province of Lilia^ he
met with Captain John Ampudia^ who went before
him to make a difcovery of the Country, and to
fettle Peace in it : he was now Governor of this
City, which had a Garifon in the King of Spain'^s
Name, and was under the direction of the Mar-
quefs Francis de Piccaro, who had eftablifh'd a
Council there confilting of eight Counfellors, that
had the Infpeftion of the whole Country, and kept
it in Peace and Union by the good management of
Peter Solano de Quenon. Ampudia hearing our Ge-
neral was arriv'd in the Country, came to give him
a Vifit, accompanied with many of the Inhabitants
and Indians^ who brought him abundance of Fruit,
and other Provifions. Many of the neighbouring
Indians came afterwards on the fame Errand, and
after them the Inhabitants of Xamundia^Palonia^ So-
limania and Bolonia, did the like. But becaufe they
did not bring fo great a quantity of Corn a» de-
manded, the General fent a Troop of Souldiers
with a great many Indiansto feek fome elfewhere,
with Orders to take it where ever they found it.
With this Order they went into Palonia and Bolo- '
nla^ where they found the Indians dwelling very
peaceably in their Houfes ^ and without any re-
gard to the Laws of Nations or of Hofpitality,
took away all the Corn and other Provifions, to-
gether with all the Gold and Silver they had, and
' put'
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies, 1 09
put many of the poor Indians in Chains to make
Slaves of 'em. Thefe unhappy People came to
make their Complaint to the General of the ill
Treatment and Injuftice they had fufFer'd, and to
intreat him to caufe Reftitution to be made of
what had been fo violently taken from 'em, but in
vain, for he would do nothing in the matter, only
gave 'em his promife that his Men Ihould do 'em no
hurt for the future, and that they fhould never come
again into their Country : yet four or five days
after they went into another part of the Country
for Corn, and pillag'd the poor Indians as they had
done before-, who were fo provok'd to fee them-
felves deluded by the General, who had broke his
Promifes almolt as foon as he had made "em, that
the whole Country betook themfelves to their
Arms in an inftant^ which Tumult afterwards oc-
calionM many Diforders and great Offences to be
commited both againil the Majefty of God and
the Dignity of the King of S])ain : At length thefe
People fled, and left this whole Country defolate.
They that retreated into the Mountains came down
from time to time tP feek Provifion \ the Indians
likewife engag'd in a cruel War one with another,
wherein the ftronger party us'd to eat the weaker :
For that Indian Nation that inhabits the Moun-
tains are a fierce and warlike People, and mor-
tal Enemies to their Neighbours. After this in-
furredion the General went to the City of Am^u-
dia^ where he receiv'd all the Honours due to his
Charader •, he afterwards march'd with two hun-
dred Horfc and Foot toward Lilia and Pelinia.
' He fent his Captains all round the Country to
make a cruel War upon the Indians -^ they fir'd a
great many Houfes, robb'd all that fell into their
hands, and kill'd abundance of 'em. This killing
and pillaging continued many days together. The
' Lord
no J Relation of the Spanifh Voyxges
Lord of the Country hoped to put a ftop to thefii
Miferies, and to allay the bloody Rage of thefe Ty-
gers by fending their Subjeds to *cm with all forts
of Provifions and other Prefents. Soon after this
they came to Li\%a with all the Indians they had
taken, for they would not difcharge one of 'em.
They pafs'd through Tcea in their way, and were
no fooner arrived there, but they fell to pillaging
and maflacring all they met with i they exercis'd
their ufual trade of firing their Houfes, they con-
fum'd above a hundred of 'em in one Village ^ nor
did other Towns and Cities in the neighbouring
Country, which they call Tulilicui, fare any better.
When the Cacique at the head of a great company
of Indians came to meet 'em, the Spani/h Com-
mander demanded Gold of him and his Subjeds :
they told him they had no great quantity, but
would readily give him all they had ^ and accor-
dingly brought him that little they had got toge-
ther. Upon which he deliver'd a kind of Receipt
lign'd with his own hand to each of 'em, which was
to ferve for a token by which todiflinguilh thole
that had given him Gold from the reft-, addiii
that whoever had not this Receipt fhould be c
pos'd to the Dogs to be devour 'd by 'em. Ti
■poor Creatures terrified by thefe Menaces, btjought ,
him all the Gold they had in very great halle, and;
thofe that had none were fain to retire into thcij
Mountains, or into other Cities to fave their Lives *,
and thus the Country was depriv'd of the greateft
part of its Inhabitants. A little after he order'd
the Cacique to fend two Indians to the City of;
Jlgua, to fignify that he requir'd the Inhabitants tc
meet him, which they might do with fafety, and
to bring with them all the Gold they could. After
he had difpatch'd this Order, he went to anotheii
City, and the fame night fent a party of Spaniard.\
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 1 1 1
' to feize forae of the People of Tulilkui^ who
' brought him a hundred Men and Women the day
* following, of which he referv'd the moft robufi
* and lufty, whom he thought lit to carry great Bur-
' dens, for himfelf and his Souldiers, and put many
' of 'era in Chains, giving the young Children to
* the Cacique of Tulilicui to eat, in whofe Houfe their
' Skins fiird with Afhes are ftill to be feen. After
'this Expedition he went tov/ard the Provinces of
' Caitiff where he join'd Captain John d' Am^udta,
*■ who was gone another way to make a further
* difcovery. Thefe two Commanders left great
' marks of their Cruelty in all the Provinces through
' which they pafs'd. ^mpudio- happen'd to come
* to a certain City, the Governor of which, whofe
' name was Bitacon^ had made deep works under
' ground to hinder the approach of an Enemy :
' Two of the Spaniards Horfes, that of one Antony
* Redondon^ and that of Marc Marques^ fell into thefe
' Traps, and the latter of 'em dy'd with the fall,
'■ but the other efcap'd the danger. However this
'■ fmall lofs by the Stratagem of the Indians fo pro-
' vokM this Captain, that he order'd his Men to
' take all of 'em they could light on, which was
"• about three hundred, and to cad *em into thefe
' Pits *, belides this they fir'd a hundred Houles.
' From hence they came to a very great and populous
'• City, here they had no Interpreter by whom to
' converfe with thefe Indians ^ however they mafla-
* cred abundance of 'em with their Swords and
' Lances, As foon as thefe two Commanders met
' one another again after all thefe Expeditions, Am-
' pudia gave the other a relation of what he did at
' Bitaconia^ and told him how many Indians he had
' call into the Pits that were made at the entran.cc
' of the City, while the other applauded all he had
' done, telling him he had reafon to feryc 'em after
* that
112 ^ Relation of the Spanifh Vojages
that manner : And added, that for his part he had
deftroy'd above two hundred Indians near the Ri-
ver Bamba, which waters the Province of Quito-
nia. Thus thefe two Tyrants made War upon all
this Country at the fame time. They both after
this enter'd into the Provinces of Birumia and
^nzerma^ where they left everlafting tokens of
their Barbarity and Fury. One Francis Garcia^
whom they fent out to pillage the Country, treated
the People with abundance of Infolence, till he
reduced 'em to extreme Indigence and Mifery,
The Indians came to him by couples, making
figns to defire Peace for the whole Country, pro-
millng to give the Spaniards all they fliould de-
mand, and to deliver up their Gold, and their
Wives too, provided they would give 'em their
Lives-, but receiv'd no other Anfwer from this
cruel Garcia^ but that they muft be gone, for he
had drank too much, and was now in no condition
to confider of what they faid. He enter'd their
Country full of Fury, and running through the
whole Province, put it all under Military Execu-
tion, robbing, and fpoiling, and maflacring the
Inhabitants without mercy : he carried away
two thoufand of the People with him, who were
put in Chains, and dy'd under the rigor of their
cruel Bondage : And before he left this Cotmtry
he put fifty more to a violent Death.
' After he had filFd this Province with mifery'
and horror, he paiTed into the Province of Calili,
When any of the Indians that carried his Baggage
fainted with wearinefs, and fell under their Bur-
dens in the way, they kill'd 'em on the fpot, to
terrify the reft by thefe bloody Adions, that none
of 'em might dare to pretend themfelves fick to |j
get rid of their Burdens and Labours. And thus
they were all deftroy'd by degrees^ for partly bc-
* caufc
and Cruelties in the Weft-IndieS. i i J
caufe they were not fufficiently look'd after, and
partly becaufe unreafonable Labour was exaded of
'em, tliere was not fo much as one of all thofe Indi-
ans left alive, which they brought from ^/fo«/^j
Pajtonia^ ^ill(iy Can^apatra^ Popaya^ Lilia^ Calicia^
and An^^erma. As the Spaniards return'd, they
pafl; through a great City, where they put moll
of the Inhabitants to the Sword, and carried away
300 Prifoners, whom they inflav'd according to
their ufiial manner. »
* The General Tent John Ampudia^ when they
were in the Province of Lilia^ with a confiderable
Party of Soldiers into thofe parts of the Country
moll inhabited, to take as many Indians as he could
to carry the Baggage 3 becaufe not one of that num-
ber they brought from Anzerma 3.nd Allia^ which
amounted to about 1000 Men, was able to endure
the Fatigue, but all died in the way. They here
took as many as they had occafion for to carry their
Baggage, and the reft were left to the difcretion
of the Soldiers, who put 'em in Chains, and kept
'em till they were ftarv'd ^ fo that this Country
was quite unpeopled, neither Spaniards nor Indians
being now to be found in it. After all thefe Ra-
vages, they advanc'd toward Popaya^ leaving
Martin d'y^quirra by the way, he being unable to
follow the reft. As foon as they arrived at Popaya,
they formM a Garifon in the City, and treated the
Inhabitants v/ith the fame Infolence and Violence
they had us'd in all other parts of the Country where
they had made their Progrefs. Here they coined
Money with the King's Image and Arms upon it j
they ftamp'd all the Gold they had, as well as
that which John d' Ampudia had got by his Rob-
beries, after this manner. All this Gold was
melted by the General's Order, without keeping
any Account of it, or paying any of the Soldiers^
1 ' unlets
114 A ReUtion of the Spanlfli Foyages
^unlcfs it were fuch as had lofl their Horfes *, fo
.*'that he kept almoft all the Gold for his own private
* ufe. He pretended indeed to take the %th part of
' it, which is the King's due, and to go to Cuz.co to
' give aa Account of it to his Majefty's Intendent j
* but rook another way, and return'd into the Pro-
' vince of Quitonia^XzV\x\g up many Indians as he went,
' who ail died under the heavy Yoke of their flavery.
' He afterwards effac'd the King's Image, which he
' had ftamp'd Upon this new Money. And 'tis re-
' markable concerning this Man, that he could not
' but refieft on all the mifchief he had done, and on
' the Cruelties he had committed ■-, for he was wont
*• to fiy of himfelf. Whoever (hall come into thefe
' Provinces 50 years hence, and be told what kind
* of life 1 led here, will fay. Such a Tyrant went thh
^^yoay^ and here are everlafting marks of his violence
^ and Cruelty.
' It is not to be conceal'd from Tour Highnefs^ that
' the refl of the Spaniards who came into the Indies
*■ after him, have endeavour'd to tread in his fteps,
' and have exaflly followed the Example he fet 'em j
* for they have committed the fame Injuftice and
* Villany, and fo they ftill continue to do.
- Among the other Remedies propos'd by the Lord
^Bartholomew de Las-Cafas in the Allembly of PrelatsI
and Learned Men whom the King call'd together atj
Valladolid^ to reform the Affairs of the Indies^ \-
the year 1 542, he advifes, That the King of S'^a.
fiiould take the Indians under his protedtion, an«:.
confider 'efft as his lawful SubjeQ:s, that by th
means they may be fhelter'd and guarded from ti,
'continual Tyranny and Infolence of their Enemic
and not be utterly extirpated by Maflacres, whic,
|iave bin fo often committed with Impunity. For a<!
Iruiriul and populous as this New World has been
/-?' it
affd Cruelties in the Well-Indips. 115
it will foon be laid entirely wafle, and turn'd into a
barren Defert, if the Spaniards be ilill fuffefd to
root out the Inhabitants, as they have hitherto
done.
The Words of the Biihop on this Subjed are as
follows :
The molt proper and belt Expedient, and which is
of great importance for your Majefty's Intereft,with-
Qut which all others will be fruitlefs, is,thatyour Ma-
jefty fend exprefs Orders to all your Courts and Tri-
bunals in the Indies^ to receive all the Indians^ both
thofe that have been already fubjugated, and thofe
that ftall be conquerM for time to come,into the num-
ber of your free Subjeds, that all the Provinces they
inhabit be united to the Kingdoms of Cafiile and
Uon^ and that all the Inhabitants be incorporated
as your own People, fo that they (hall not be capa-
ble of being inflaved by any Spaniard ^ and that this
Law and Order be inviolably obferv'd : that for the
future thefe new Provinces may not be difmember'd
and alienated from the Crown of Spa'in^ under any
pretext whatfoever, tho never fo great neceffity
fhould be pretended ^ and never fo preifmg inter-
ceflion be made with your Majefty to obtain the Ti-
tle of a particular Soveraignty for any one: That
all the world may know that the Government
of thofe Provinces that are fubdued in the In-
dies^ is infeparably united to your Majefty's Crown,
and a part of your Property. That to confirm this
Conllitution the better, and to render it the more
folemn and inviolable, your Majefty would pleafe to
take an Oath upon the Holy Gofpel, on your Grown,
and all that is moft facred, in the form and manner
Princes are wont to do on fuch Occafions, thatyoa
will never revoke this Edid ^ and that your Succef-
1 2 fors
1 16 A Relation of the Spaniih VojAges
fors be oblig'd to take the fame Oath : And that your
Majefty take care to make it one exprefs Article of
your lafl Will' and Telia ment to engage your Succef-
fors to obferve this Law, and to make others ob-
ferve it, as much as lies in their Power.
Divers reafons are afterwards produced to fiiew
that this Policy is of abfolute necefiity for the Pre-
fcrvation of Amtrka^ and to hinder the utter Extir-
pation of the Indians.
The infatiable Covetoufnefs of xhtS^amards^ who
mind nothing but to amafs together heaps of Trea-
fure, makes 'em unwilling to fuffer any Priell or
Monk to come into thofe Cities where they are
Mailers, for fear their worldly Intereft fhould receive
conCderable damage by that fort of Men -^ becaufe
(they fiy) it makes the Indians idle, to allemble 'em
(as they do) to inftrudt 'em in the matters of Reli-
gion -^ for all the time they take up to preach to 'em,
they detain 'em from the Work impofcd on em.
Sometimes when the poor Indians have been aileni-
bled for their inftrudion in Chriftianity, ih^ Spani-
ards have infolently accofled 'em with Cudgels in I
their hands ^ taking fuch a number of 'em as theyi
think fit, to carry their Baggage or any fuch like Ser-i
vice ^ and if they are unwilling to obey, they force i
'em to it with Blows in the light of all the reft,i|
and in the prefence of the Monks that inftruft 'em ^1
which is a great Scandal to our Religion, and ajj
mighty Obftacle to their Converfion, who arel
Itrangely terrified and hinder'd in thefe pious Exer-ii
cifes as well as the Monks that preach to !em, byii
this ill ufage. I
Another Inconvenience the" S])(tA»'^r(^j pretend theyf
receive from thefe Inftruftions, is, that when the In-l
dians are converted and placM in the number of Chri-|i
llians, they grow proud and infolent, thinking bet-ji
ter of themfelves than they are^and refufe to work fcj
hard!
And, Cruelties in /^?. W^il-Indies. 1 1 7
hard as they did before. For the Spaniard's are very
ambitions to comirivind the Indians as their abfolute
Slaves, and to be obey'd, refpecled, and even a-
dord by 'em ^ and therefore omit nothing that may
hinder them from becoming Chriftians.
Sometimes 3 or 4 Towns or Villages are given
up to the difpofal of a certain number of Spaniards^
and the Inhabitants dillribufed among 'em, to fome
more, to others fewer ^ and it often happens thac
a Woman falls to one Man's fiiare, whofe Husband
falls to the Lot of another, and their Children to
a third i fo that they divide thefe miferable Fami-
lies like Flocks of Sheep. They employ 'em in all
forts of fervice, as to manure the ground, to work
in the Mines, and to carry Burdens in Journeys of
50 or do Leagues. And their Mailers To con/tantly
exad the hard Tasks of Work they fet'em, that the
poor Wretches have not time to attend,the Inftrucli-
ons of the Divine Word, and to le^arn the Rules of
Chrifliianity. Thele People, tho free, have been
made Slaves, and the greatelt part of 'em deftroy'd.
Parents and Children have been llaughter'd toge-
ther :; Villages and Cities entirely ruin'd, and not
a Houfe left (landing. And the Spaniards hsive no
more regard to their Salvation, than if their Souls
and Bodies died together, and were uncapable of
eternal Rewards or Punifhments.
The Spaniards undoubtedly have an Obligation of
Duty upon 'em to inflru'.^ them in the Doftrine of
Chrifl ', but they are fo ignorant themfelves, thac
'tis not much to be wondefd at, if they take no care
to inform others. Lknew ont John Colmenero in the
lUc of St. Alartba, as dull, as ignorant and whimfi-
cal a fellow as one fliould meet with, to whom the
care of inllrucUng the Indians in a great City was
committed, tho he fcarce knew how to make the
lign of the Crols ^ and when he was examined about
I 5 the
1 1 8 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
the courfe he took to inflrucl the Indians^ could
make no other anivver, but that he taught 'em to fay,
Ter fignin f.viCrm Cyuccs. By which one may eafily
guefs at the profound Underftanding of the Man. '
And how indeed is it poffible for the Spaniards to
teach the Indians Chriftianity, and to inform 'em
what is necefTary to Salvation, when the moft no-
ted Spanifh Lords, and fuch as make the greateft fi-
gure in the Indies^ fcarce know how many Com- -
mandmenrs there are ? For they go into America '
only to gratify their infatiable Covetoufnefs. They ]
are generally given to a41 forts of Vices ^ and fo im-
modeft, voluptuous and effeminate, that if a jult
Comparifon were made between them and the In-
dians^ thefe latter would be found to have muc}\
more Virtue and Honefly : For as ignorant and bar-
barous as they be, they are content with one Wife
according to tjie Laws of Nature, as a necelTary help
to 'em i whereas the Spaniards lay afide all refpeft to
the will of their Maker, and take 14 or 1 5 Women,
or as many as they pleafe, to fatisfy their brutilh
PafTions, how oppoflte foever this Plurality of Wives
is to the Law of God. The Indians fcarce know what
it is to take away one another's Goods, and live in-
nocently by their Neighbours, without offering 'em
any Violence or OpprelTion. And what thoughts
mull fuch People as thefe have of thofe that call
themifelves Chriftians, when they fee 'em commit
all m.anner of Crimes and Villanies *, when they
fee 'em guilty of fo much Injuftice and Treachery,
and in a word, of all the Abominations of which
men that are left of God, and have no principle oi
honour or confcience can be capable? This makes
m.any Indians laugh at the God we worfhip, and
perfifl: obftinately in their Incredulity. They be-
lieve the God of the Chrillians to be theworftol
Gods, becaufe his Worfhippers are the worft o:
Men. A;
und, Cruelties in the Weft- Indies. 119
As for your Majelly, they think you are the molt
cruel and impious Piince in the World, while they
fee the Cruelty and Impiety your Subjects fo info-
Jently commit \ and they veriiy believe your Maje-
lly lives upon nothing but human fiefh and bIoo4.
Probably this account may very much furprize youf
Majefly, who perhaps have not yet receivM fuffi-
cient information about theie matters \ but this Opi-
nion is of long ftanding, and become inveterate
among 'em. I could produce a great many Inllances,
of which I have been an Eyevvitnefs, to convince
you of tlie Truth of it \ but I am afraid of m.akin^
your Majefly too uneaf>', and of filling the Readep:^s
mind with too much horror, by reciting fuch extra-
ordinary and unparallel'd Stories, which may give
a jufl occafion of Wonder, that God has fo long
defer'd to inflid fome exemplary and terrible Judg-
ment upon S^a'm^ to puniih all the Abominations
the Spaniards have committed in the Indies. The
Pretence of fubjecling the Indians to the Govern-
ment of Spain^ is only made to carry on the deuga
of fubjugating 'em to the Dominion of private Men,
who make 'em all their Slaves. One Spaniard who
has the Government of a Town or City, does more
mifchief by his vitious and fcandalous Exami le,
than a hundred Priefts and Monks can do good in en-
deavouring to advance Chriflianity by all their
Piety, and the exemplary Sandity of their Lives.
When the Spaniards have the Government of any
place committed to 'em, or have any perfonal con-
cern, or fpecial intereft in it, they'l be fure to op-
prefs and harafs the poor Indians^ and offer "email
the Abufes that can be. And 'tis now become almoft
impoflible for your Majefly or your Miniflers to Hop
the Courfe of thefe Oppreffions, and regulate theie
Diforders *, for the Spaniards lerrify the Indians hy
their threatnings, and fometimes kill 'em to prevent
I 4 their
I20 J Relation of tfje SpaniO] Voyages
their complaints againft 'em : and of this kind of
Cruelty we have many Inftances : So that the poor
Indians are continually mplefled and harafled, with-
out any calm Intervals in which to compofb their
Minds, and therefore are not capable oi applying
their Thoughts to the confideration of Divine
things. Their whole Life is fpent in Sorrow and
Anguilh under their Perfecutions and Torments.
This makes 'em mortally hate your Majefty, and
abhor the Chriftian Religion ^ for they can't but
think you impofe a fevere Yoke on 'em with intole-
rable Tyranny, that you are the moffc covetous
Prince upon Earth, and that therefore they ought
to leave no ftone unturn'd to get clear of your Go-
vernment. The defpair under which they lie, occa-
iions 'em to belch out a thoufand Curfes againft our
God, attributing all the Miferies they fuft'er to him,
whom they accufe of Blindnefs, Injuftice, and want
of CompafTion, for not punifliing the Outrages coni-
mitted againft 'em under the pretence of obliging
'em to embrace his Religion, and for not chaftifing
the Impiety of fuch as make a boaft of being his
Servants, while they are guilty of the highefl: Abo-
minations. This inflames their Zeal towards their
falfe Gods, which they fay are much better than
ours, who has brought all manner of Miferies upon
'em, whereas their own were the Authors of all
kinds of Bleffings.
We fhall make it evidently appear to your Ma-
jeily, that the Spaniards in about eight and thirty or
forty years have unjuftly put to death above twelve
Millions of your Subjeds ^ and what an incredible
damage jnuft your Majefty have farther fuftain'd by
thefe Maflacres, as they have hinder'd ail thefe Peo-.
pie from multiplying, who would have amounted to
an infinite number, the People of this new World
being very fruitful, and the Climat generally ve-
• and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 121
ry temperate and pleafant, and confequently very
proper for Generation? Th^ Spaniards h^\Q raafla-
cred and deftroy'd all thefe Nations, to pofTeft
themfelves of their Country, and to ufurp the Go-
vernment of it, fo as to have it entirely at their
difpofal. And how injuft foever thofe Wars have
been which they have made upon the Indians^ if the
poor Creatures put themfelves in a polture of De-
fence, they cruelly cut their throats without any
diftindtion of Qiiality, Sex or Age : Such as efcape
their Fury they referve for Slaves, many of whonx
they condemn to the Gold or Silver Mines, others
they yoke together like Bealls to make 'em carry
v^ft Burdens. They don't much concern themfelves
whether the Indians live or die, provided they reap
fome advantage by their Labour, and heap up Gold
at any rate in the World. I pafs over in filence a
great many of the Torments thefe poor People have
been made to endure on all occafions. If any fhall
attempt to perfwade your Majefly of the contrary,
we'l undertake to prove what Violence the S^a^
niards have us'd among the Indians by invincible and
undoubted Evidence: And fliall not fcruple to fay,
that whoever take upon 'em to deny the truth of
thefe matters, have in all appearance partaken of
thofe Robberies, or at leaft hope to have a Ihare of
'em one time or other. For what fhew of proba-
bility is there in faying the Contagion of the Air
has fo entirely deftroy'd the People of a Country of
2500 Leagues extent, that there's fcarce a Man to
be found ?
The Spaniards, who know no other God but their
Interefl:,have fullied the Reputation of the poor Indi"
ans with the mcfl odious Stain that can be imagin'd,
in accufing 'era of being addided to an infamous
and abominable Sin againfl Nature ^ a Calumny as
,ill contriy'd as 'tis unjujt. For that Crime has never
been
1-22 J Relation of the Spanifli Voyages
been heard of in tlie I (lands of Hifpaniola^ St. John^
Cuba, and Jamaica, which have been very populous.
This I can fpeak with aflarance, as knowing ic to be
true, becaufe I took care to inform my felf of it
as fbon as I came afliore in the new World. Nor
is it fo much as known what this Vice is in all Peru :
not one Man has ever been found guilty of it in the
whole Kingdom of Tucatan-^ and the like may be
^fierted in general of other Countries of America :
Only 'tis faid, that in fome very remote parts of
Jt there are fome People addided to this monftrous
Crime : But is it reafonable for this to accufe the
whole new World, and to call an everlafting Re-
fwoach on fo many different Nations ? We rauft fay
Jjhe fame of another Enormity charg'd upon the In-
^iam, namely their eating of Human Flelh. There
are indeed in fome particular places a fort of Men
lb barbarous that they cat their own kind ^ but 'tis
very injuft to take occafion from this to report the
l^me of all America in general. Another pretence
the Spaniards ufe, by which to juftify their ill Carriage
towards' the hidians, is their Idolatry ^ as if it did
-not belong to God rather than to thern, to punifii
ihofe that OiTend him by fuch abominable Worfhip
when he fees meet.
. Befides, the Lands and Territories they polfefs are
■not under the jurifdidion of the S^aniardsy nor are
die Indians oblig'd to own any other Governors than
i^eir lawful and natural Soveraigns. Our Anceflors
^fore they were inftruded in the Dodrine of
Chriftianity, were buried in the grofs darknefs of
Idolatry as well as the Indians. And before the
coming of Chriil, all the Nations of the World in
jgieneral were guilty of that Crime. But that which
evidently proves the Minds of the Indians to be ve-
f y fufcepdble of our Religion, is the Mild lefs, Hu-
aiiiity and Gourtefy they at firll exprefs'd to the
r... S^ani-
md, Cruelties in the Weft-Indks. 123-
Spaniards^ and the patience wherewith they have
fince undergone their Cruelties.
'Tis a mod inexcufable piece of Wickednefs in
the Spaniards^ that they have made ufe of all the
Obflrudtions they could, and that deliberately, to
hinder the Indians from imbracing the Chrillian
Faith ^ they have driven away all the Monks that
came into the Indies to preach theGofpel, from thofe
places where they had power enough to do it, be-
caufe they did not care thefe Religious Perfons
fliould be WitnefTes of the Tyranny and Cruelty
they exercis'd on the poor People. They have even
debauch'd the Indians by the ill Example they have
fet 'em, and taught 'em a great many Vices they
never heard of before they converfed with the
Spaniards^ fuch as Oaths and Blafphemies againft the
Name of Chrift, the Praftice of Extortion, Lying,
and many other Sins that feemM oppofite to the
fweet and peaceable Temper of thefe People : So
that to leave thefe poor Indians under their Govern-
ment, is vifibly to expofe 'em to utter Deltruftion,
and to make 'em miferable both in Soul and Body.
King Ferdinando was fo far impos'd on by the Ar-
tifices of fome felf-interefted Men, as to give 'era
leave to tranfport the Inhabitants of the Lucay-
Iflands into Hifpaniola : thefe People were forc'd out
of their Houfes, and out of their Country, in pur-
fuance of this Grant, which was fubtily obtain'd,
and occafion'd the deftrudion of above a hundred
thoufand People •, fo that there now remain but
eleven of 'em in fifty Iflands, fome of which are
bigger than the Canaries^ that were well ftorM with
People. And this I can affirm on ray own know-
ledg, if your Majefty could have feen the "Ravages
and Maffacresthat have been committed in the Lucay
Iflands, you would have been pierc'd with the moit
lively fentimentsof Compaffion ; and then I fliould
have
124 -^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
have been afraid to incommode your Majefty by re-
viving the memory of that Tyranny, in giving an
exad Recital of it. We have taken notice above of
the injuft Wars the Spaniards formerly rals'd againfl
the Indians •, we have (hewn how they malfacred 'em
againfl; all Law and Equity, how cruelly they de-
prived 'em of their Children, their Parents, and
Friends ; how they have laid wafte one of the fineft
Countries in the World, and rendcr'd it in a man-
ner defl:itute of Inhabitants. This Barbarity makes
the Earth groan, the Angels lament thefe Miferies :
And God himfelf has given us to know by the Judg-
ments he has inflided on us, how much thefe injuft
and violent Actions difpleafe him.
The Spaniards have taken from the Indians all
they had •, they make 'em work till they fpit Blood,
they expofe 'em to all forts of Hardfliips, and ex-
ad intolerable Tasks of 'em ^ and, which is yet more
horrible, after all they load 'em with heavy Blows,
beating, whipping and tormenting 'em with the ut-
molt Cruelty. To give up the Indians to the Go-
vernment and Tyranny of thefe Men, is as great a
madnefs, as to give Children into the hands of Men
that are aded by a raging Phrenzy, and have
Knives and Daggers ready in their hands to cut their
Throats *, or to facriiice Men to the fury of their
fworn Enemies, who have long entertain'd the defire
of Revenge, and form'd a defign to murder 'em ^ or
to expofe a young beautiful Virgin to the Difcretion
of an impudent Ravillier. Who in fuch a conjundure,
without the interpolition of fpecial Grace, would
abandon himfelf to the Condud of his Paflions ?
In a word, it would be the fame thing as to give 'em
up to fo many wild Bulls, Wolves, Lions and Tigers,
when inrag'd with prefTing Hunger : for all the Pro-
hibitions that fhould be given thefe wild Beafl;s not
to touch fuch as are expos'd to their fury, would
have
and Cruelties in the Vv^'efl-Indies. 125
have jull: the fame efFed to prevent 'em from being
devour'd, as any Charge tfrat can be given the S^a-
niards to hinder 'em from murdering the Indians to
pofTcfs themfclves of their Gold and Silver. We
dire afRire your Majefty after the long Obfervation
we have made of thefe matters, that if your Ma-
jefty fhould order a Gibbet to be fet up 'at every
Spam ard's door ^ and Ihould fwear upon your Crown,
that you would caufe every Man to be hang'd that
fhould kill or offer any confiderable Injury to the
Indians to get their Riches \ this would not be an
efledtual Remedy to thefe Diforders, if your Ma-
jefty gave 'em any Authority or Power over
'em either directly or indirectly. The fame occa-
(lons of doing mifchief would Hill prefent, and
defeat all the Prohibitions that could be made, and
all the Ponifiiments that could be us'd to terrify
'em.
Nor are the poor Indians expos'd only to be made
Slaves by the Spaniards^ but fuffer abundance of Op-
preffion from a cruel Tyrant, that has the Govern-
ment of each Town or City, who has a fevere Eye
over 'em, to fee how they acquit themfelves of
their Labors, and perform the Tasks impos'd on 'em.
His bufinefs is to plague and torment *em fo many
different ways, that their Sufferings are almoft be-
yond comparifon '-, he beats 'em with Cudgels, tears
their Flefh with Whips, and caufes burning drops
of Fat to be diftill'd on their naked Bodies. He is
continually exercifing his Invention in contriving
new Tortures, he violates their Wives, takes away
their Turkeys, which they count one of their great-
eft Treafures ^ thefe Fowls ferve him to make Pre-
fents to the General, who is fuperior to all thefe
petty Tyrants. But 'tis impoffible to give a parti-
cular defcription of all the Punifhments thefe poor
Wretches endure •, and after all to ftop their Com-
plaints,
126 A Relation of the Spanlfh Voyages
plaints, they threaten to accufe 'em of Idolatry.
Thus thp poor Indians are fubjed to the Authority
of feveral different Powers, to your Majefly, to their
Caciqucy and to the Spani/h Governor, befides twen-
ty other little Tyrants, dellituteof Reafon, Honor
and Confcience, who commit all forts of Outrages ^
and likewiie thz Moors whom the chief Tyrant em-
ploys to rob and opprefs the poor Indians.
'Tis much to be fear'd that Almighty God will
make Spain feel fome extraordinary marks of his
Difpleafure and Indignation for thefe enormous
Crimes : nay, there appear already forae tokens of
the Divine Anger againft the Spani/h Nation, for
the Diforders and Devaftations made by fome in the
new World : for tho God had laid up fuch quanti-
ties of Treafure there, that it may be faid neither
Solomon nor any other Prince ever poflefs'd a ftock
t)f Gold and Silver comparable to that which the
People of thefe vaft Regions enjoy'd ^ yet they have
bin fo pillag'd, that now there's little remaining
among 'em: But that which is more unaccountable
is, that there's fcarce any of that Silver now to be
found, that was fo common in America when the
Spaniards firft difcover'd it. This makes every thing
extraordinary fcarce there, fo that the Spaniards are
reduc'd to extreme Poverty and Indigence.
All the while Lares govern'd the Indies^ there was'
no more care taken to inftil the Principles of
Chriftianity into the poor Indians^ and to put 'era
in the way of Salvation, than if they had no Souls
to fave. This General applied himfelf only to plun-
der the great Cities, and would give a hundred In-
dians to one Spaniard^ and fifty to another, as he
had m.ore or lefs refpedt for 'em. He made no
dillindion of Age or Condition, but promifcuoufly
diHributed old Men, and bigbellied Women, as well
as others, Pcrfons of Eminency and Princes as well
as
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 127
as the common People, to oblige his Favorites •, as
if thefe Indians were his abfolute Property. Their
new Mafters made 'em work in the Gold Mines, or
employ'd 'em in any other Service they pleas'di
and without regard to their Rank or Quality, ob-
lig'd 'em to bear this flavifh Yoke till they dy'd.
This Governor fuffer'd • the Spaniards to confine
eighty thoufand of 'em in the Mines, who were all
married Men, while theirdefolate Wives were forc''d
to labor in the Villages, in digging the ground,
making Ditches, and throwing up Banks, a fort of
work fit only for the Itrongeft Men, and the rather
becaufe they had neither Shovels iior other Inftru-
ments proper for their bufinefs. In other places
they put 'em upon fpinning and other works of that
kind, which they found would turn to account ^ and
would fometimes keep Husbands and Wives from
feeing one another a whole year together ^ and when
they met after this long feparation, they were often
fo fatigued, and confum'd with Hunger and Labor,
that they were incapable of Multiplication. Some-
times the Children dy'd for want of SuftenanCe,
their Mothers Milk being exhaufted with hard La-
bor and Hunger ^ by this means there dy'd feven
thoufand Infants in the fpace of three months in the
Ille of Cuha^ of which I was an Eye-witnefs. Some
of the Women tranfported with defpair fbrangPd
their own Children •, others that were with Child
took poifonous Herbs to dellroy their Fruit. Thus
the Men dy'd with hardlhip in the Mines, and the
Women in the Villages ^ fo that the whole Country
became defert in a little time, becaufe the Womea
ceas'd to bring forth Children into the World.
This Governor deliver'd up all the Indtans to the
Difcretion of the Spaniards, and fuffer'd 'em to treat
'em with all the Rigor and Severity they pleas'd,
and to opprefs *em with the hardeft Labor they
could*
128 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
could. They employ'd Men to chaflife 'em that
were more favage and barbarous than Tygers, thefe
fcourg'd and beat 'em moft unmercifully, and gave
them all the ill Treatment they could devife ;, they
would never difcover the leaft fign of Kindnefs or
Pity, but always Ihevv'd themfelves auftere and bar-
baroufly cruel. It would be very inhuman to treat
the MooYs themfelves after this manner, tho they
are fo very cruel to the Chriftians, and do 'em all the
mifchief they can, when they have the Afcendent
over 'em. But the Indians are naturally a good-
humour'd, eafy, peaceable, fubmiflive, and tradiable
fort of People. Some of 'em have by the many
Miferies they fuffer'd, been driven to defpair of any
mitigation of 'em, and therefore fled into the Moun-
tains, where they expeded Death every moment.
The Spaniards to hinder 'em from flying after this
manner, appointed a bloody F'ellow to make it his
whole bufinefs to hunt out thefe Indian Refugees up-
on the Mountains. The Governor befides eftablifli'd
a fort of Officers in the Spaniflo Cities of great Con-
fideration and Authority, whom he call'd Vifitors ^
to each of thefe he gave a hundred Indians to ferve
him, befides his ordinary Domeflicks, the better to
fupport his Dignity. He chofe fuch to this Office
as had fignaliz'd themfelves by their Cruelty. When
the Alquaz^ils prefented the Indians they found on the
Mountains to thefe Vifitors, there were Perfons
fuborn'd and inftruded to accufe 'em after this
manner ; This Indian vs a laz.y Dog^ that fled into the
Mountains to avoid IVorh, therefore I dsfire he may
he chaftizJd as he deferves. After the giving of
this Evidence, the Vifitor us'd to caufe the poor
Indian to be tied to a Stake, and beat with a tarr'd
Rope, which the Seamen call a Salt-Eel, and indeed
is like a Rod of Iron, till the Blood would ftart out
in I know not how many parts of his Body, and the
poor
and Cruettiei In the Weft-Indies. 1 2^
poor Creature would lie for dead upon the place.
God is witnefs of all the Cruelties thefe miferable
Innocents have endur'd : 'Tis not pofllble to re-
count the hundredth part of what I have feen with
my own Eyes. A man had need have a Body of
Iron to undergo the Labor they endure in getting
Gold out of the Mines. They muft delve and fearch
a thoufand times over in the bowels of the Moun-
tains, till they dig 'em down from top to bottom ;
they muft work the very Rocks hollow. After this
the Gold muft be walh'd in fome River, and the
poor Creatures that do this work muft be perpe-
tually in the Water, which gradually alters and
fpoils the Conftitution of their Bodies \ and if the
Mines happen to be full of Water, they are forc'd
to empty 'em. That your Majefty may the better
judg of the Labor and Toil they fuffer in the Gold
Mines, your Majefty may pleafe to confider, that the
Pagan Emperors accounted this the worft and moft
intolerable Punifhment to inflid on the Martyrs,
next to Death it felf. The Indians are fometimes
, kept a whole year in thefe Mines : but fince the S^a-
niards have obferv'd, that it kill'd moft of 'em td
keep 'em there fo long together, becaufe their Bo-
dies were uncapable of fuftaining the Fatigues of
fuch a tedious and continual Labor, they rcfolv'd to
make 'em work only for the fpace of five months
fuccefllvely, and then to give 'em'a refi^ite of forty
days, wherein they employed 'em in melting Gold.
But this pretended Reft did 'em no great good, for
they were not much lefs incommoded during this
time than before, being employ'd in other very
troublefom kinds of Work. The Indians don't
know what Holy-days arc j for they work as hard
and as long on thofe days as at other times. Nor
have they a fufficiency of Bread allow'd 'em j and
what they have is a very ordinary fort, that has
K »ot
I ^o J^Re/aio/z of the Spanlfli Voyages
not; much itrength in it, being made of Roots and
Caflave ^ fo that if they don't eat Fleih or Fifli with
it, it yields very little Nouriihment. They like-
wife giye 'em a fort of Pepper that grows in ths
Country^ and looks much like a dry'd Grape.
Thofe Spaniards that pretend to keep their Slaves
extraordinary well, diftribute a Porker every week
among fifty Indians •, but he that prefides over 'em
at the Mine keeps one half of it for his fhare, and
gives them the other, which is but every one a bit.
Some of the Spaniards are fo wretchedly covetous,
that they fend their Slav^S' into the Fields and Moun-
tains to feed upon what Fruit they can find, and
then oblige 'em to work two or three days without
giving 'em any thing to eat. Your Majefty may
ealily imagine, that fuch kind of Food can't poflibly
fuftain their weak and languifhing Bodies, that are
continually enfeebled and exhaufted with hard La-
bor-, or that thefe poor Creatures that are mace-
rated with all manner of Hardfhip and Fatigue,
without any reft, or relaxation of their Mifery, can
live long under the preifures of fo cruel a Servi-
tude.
The abovemention'd Governor at laft order'd
they Ihould have Wages diftributed among 'em, viz..
that three ^ Blancs filould be given each of 'em to
fpend every two days, as the Reward of the hard
Labors they exacted of 'em. This was only to mock
the poor Wretches, for this Mony would fcarce
■ buy 'em the leaft Trifle. But for many years they
had nothing at all given 'em, yet this does not
diiturb 'em fo much as want of Victuals ^ for there
is nothing in the world they fo much defire as to
eat well, infomuch that if they could but fatisfy
themfelves with one good Meal, they would after-
wards
^ A Elanc is abouc the value of a Ha/f-penny.
wards be content to die. This Governor depriv'd
'cm of all the liberty they enjoy'd, and fufFer'd the
Spaniards to indave 'em, and treat 'em as feverely
as they pleas'd ^ and indeed the ill ufage they have
met with is beyond what the Mind of man can ima-
gine. They have not the liberty to difpofe of any
thing they have : The condition of Beafts is prefera-
ble to theirs, for thefe are at leall fometimes turn'd
ioofe to fill their Bellies with Grafs in the fields, and
have, a little eafe and liberty j whereas the poor
Indktfjs have, fcarce any time of refl allow'd 'em,
but 0re conftrain'd to do whatever the covetous
Spaniards command 'em. They lead 'em to work
like Beafts of Burden rather than Men. If at any
time they give 'em leave to go home to take a little ,
Repofe, they neither find their Wives nor Children
^here, nor any thing to eat, and have no other re-
lief than to lay themfelves down and die. The in-
credible Fatigue they undergo wears 'em out the
fooner, becaufe they are naturally of a weak and
tender Conftitution ^ and when they are fick and
faint, they are ftill made to work without any Comr
pafTion: nay, the Spaniards are fo cruel as to beat
and abufe 'em when they are juft ready to die, calling
'em lazy Rafcals, as if they refus'd to work, and
feign'd themfelves fick, merely out of Idienefs. Ac
laft when they fee their lllnefs incrcafe to that de-
gree, that they can expeft no more Service of 'em,
they fend, 'em home, giving 'em fix: or feven great
Roots, almoft like Turnips, with a fmall quantity
of CafTave, to carry 'em a journey of fifty or fixty
Leagues ^ fo that they often mifcrably languifti and
die before they have proceeded far on their way :
we often found a great many of 'em dead on the
lloads, others we found ready to expire, and others
by their Groans and Sighs gave us to underftand
f neif extreme Hunger. When the Governor had
K 2 n<K
1^2 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
not a fufficient number of Men for the Works in
the Mines, he fuppUed the places of them that were
releas'd by death, by calling Lots for others, which
method was obferv'd once a year.
When he enter'd into the Continent, he came
like a fweeping Judgment of God, or as a Wolf
among Sheep : He committed fo many Robberies,
MalTacres and Cruelties, depopulated and deftroy'd
fo many Towns and Cities, giving the Spaniards li-
berty to do what they pleas'd, that no Hiftory can
parallel his Barbarity : He robb'd both the King of
S^a'm and his Subjeds, without being ever call'd to
account for it ^ he left above forty Leagues of a
very populous and fertil Country to the difcretion
or rather fury of his Soldiers: All that pleafant
Trad of Ground from Daria where he landed to
Nicaragua was reduc'd to the utmolt Defolation ^
fo that five or fix Millions of Mony will not re-
pair the Damage done there. This vile and cruel
Man abandon'd the Indians to the Tyranny of the
Spaniards, which was the fource and original Caufe
of all the Pcrfecutions under which thofe poor Peo-
ple have fince groan'd, and of all the Devaftations
that America has fuffer'd wherever the Spaniards
have fet their feet. This Contagion by degrees
fpread far and near *, fo that this General by let-
ting loofe his Soldiers after this licentious manner,
has occafion'd the ruin of many millions of Men,
and the delblation of divers great Kingdom.s that
were fubjefted to your Majelty's Dominion. If we
fay the Spaniards have deftroy'd {^vtn. Kingdoms
bigger than that of Spain, we can fpeak it with
confidence, as knowing it to be true, and having
known the time when they were filFd with multi-
tudes of People, tho now there are fcarce any to
be found, the Spaniards having extirpated the Peo-
ple of thefe large Kingdoms, and left the Walls
and
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. i ^ j
and Houfes of the Towns and Cities without Inha-
bitants.
Your Majefty has no fix'd and conftant Revenue
in the Indks ^ your Effects are like Leaves, which
when once they fall from the Trees appear no more
till a year after. That the Spaniards are poflefs'd
of the abfolute Government of the Indks is the
true caufeof thisDiforder-, for the number of the
Indians every day decreafing, your Majefty's Re-
venues muft neceffarily receive a proportionable di-
minution.
The Kingdom of Spain is in great danger to be
invaded by Foreign Nations, efpecially by the A<foors
and Turks^ who perhaps may one day be in a con-
dition to deflroy it : For God is a juft Judg, and
cannot look upon the Villanies and Oppreffions, the
Robberies and Murders of the Spaniards in the Indies^
without indignation. All the Nations of this new-
World, who were created (as well as others) af-
ter the likenefs and image of God, and ran-
fom'd by the precious Blood of Jefus Chrift, have
been unjuftly and cruelly tormented and perfecuted
by'em^ they have made horrible flaughters among
'em to requite the many KindnelTes they heap'd on
*em with all imaginable Freedom and Civility. And
that which ftill aggravates their Crimes the more,
and muft needs farther provoke the Divine Difplea-
fure, is, that God had made choice of Spain to car-
ry his blefled Gofpel into the Indies^ and to bring
many populous Nations to the knowledg of himfelf •,
for which if they had fallen in with his DeJigns, he
would, befidcs thofe eternal Rewards referv'd for
'em, have given into their hands many good and
fruitful Countries, abounding with Mines of Gold
and Silver, Diamonds and other precious Stones
and Pearls ^ in a word, with all forts of temporal
Bleflings, beyond what any one can imagine, unlefs
K 3 fuch
f ^4 -^ Relation of the Spariifh Voyages
facii as have feen it with their own eyes. And 'tis
to be remarked that God ufually obferves this Rule
in the execution of his Judgments, to proportionate
his Penalties to the Crimes committed ggainit him.
The Outrages and Cruelties thefe innocent People
have felt are fo horrid and notorious, that their
Tears and Groans and Blood, the cry of which has
reach'd the Throne of God, will undoubtedly draw
down Vengeance on thofe that have ofFerM all this
violence to their Perfons, and plunderM 'em of their
Eilates. The Report of thefe Cruelties is fpread
through the whole World, and has been carried even
to the moft barbarous Nations, and has made 'em ab-
hor the S^^aniards^ and conceive a mortal hatred a-
gainfl 'em : A hatred which extends to the Perfon of
gur King, as well as his Subjefts, and is extremely
prejudicial to the whole Nation in general.
None can be fo ignorant as not to forefee what
Mifchiefs the Defolations in America are like to
bring upon S^ain '■, and fucceeding Generations will
be but. too much convinc'd of the truth of this Pro-
phecy : And if the King of Spain flill fuffers the
Spaniards to domineer and tyrannize as they have hi-^
therto done in the Indies^ and makes not effedtual
provifion by proper Edids to frop the Courfe of the
jnany Miferies the People of this New World un-
dergo, thofe Countries will in a little time be totally
depopulated. And God will undoubtedly make all
Spain feel the Efleds of his Wrath in punifliing fuch
Crimes as thefe ^ fmce the whole S,cripture is full of
Threatnings, and plain Inflances of the Judgments
of God on fuch as have been acceflbry to the Sins of
others by permitting them.
Mo/t lilujirious and Mighty Prince j The Royal
Council for the Indies, animated with a fincere Zeal
for the Glory of God, and your Majefly's Honour,
defir'd me a few days ago to write to your Majefty
all
■^fi'd Cruelties in the^TQ^.lic\^\QS. 175
all that I had told you viva voce before, and to ex-
plain to you what Right the Kings of S^ain have to
thofe Kingdoms in the Indies : and the rather be-
cause forae who are imeafy to fee the liberty your
Majelty is pleas'd to give me in converiing'wich
your Royal Perfon about thefe Affairs, to engage
you td^.regulate thofe Diforders committed in Anjcri-
ca^ have declar'd againfc my Sentiments with a great
deal of heat and animofity. They lay the Zeal
with which I oppofe the Violence and Injuftice of
the Spaniards (and thefe I'm refoivM to oppofe as
long as it pleafesGod to continue my life) prompts
men to call in queffion the Title the King of 5p^m
pretends to have to the New World. However I
have perform'd what the Council demanded of me,
and drawn up thirty Propofitions, without giving
myTelf the trouble of proving them at large, partly
becaufe they are all certain and evident, and partly
becaufe I was much urg'd to difpatch the b'ufmefs,
and to fend them to your Majeily -^ which I have ac-
complilh'd in the fear of God, and according to
the didates of my Confcience, with a ftrid regard
to Truth.
Since the defire I have of being ferviceable to God
daily increafes, I thought my felf obliged to refute
the Impoftures and Calumnies of fome ill-defigning
Perfons, who wilfully (hut their eyes againft the
Truth, becaufe 'tis direftly oppofite to the Defigns
and Projefts they have form'd. They flatter them-
felves, that under the falfe pretext of ferving the
Kings of 5p(?m, who are ordinarily of a fweet and
benign temper, and ready to judg of others by the
good Sentiments they find in themfelves •, I fay, they
Hatter themfelves that they Ihall ftill be able to im-
pofe on 'em, and bear a fufficient fway in their minds
to bring 'em into the fnarcs they have laid for 'em.
It was the complaint of Ahafuems in the Hiftory of
K 4 MJ^her^
1^6 A Relation of the Spanifli Voyages
Ejlher^ that corrupt and vicious Subjedts alter'd the
good difpofition of Princes, and betray'd 'era into
ExcelTes, that occafion'd the ruin of whole King-
doms and their Kings together. 'Tis for this rea-
fon, Great Sir^ 1 have briefly drawn up thefe Propo-
fitions, to fet this matter before you in a clear light.
This I have done to difcharge my own Confcience,
and that I might the better anfwer the Obligations of
that Miniftry wherewith God has entrufted me. I
jfind my felf growing old, being advanced to the ^oth
year of my age ; and the great acquaintance I have
had with the Affairs of jlmerica^has turnifliM me with
a very diftinft knowledg of 'em ^ fo that ray circum-
ftances render me in forae relpefts more capable
than others of giving proper Advice to thofe that
are propos'd for the Government of America^ that
they may know how to put a period to its Mife-
ries : for I have no other intention or defire in this
niatter, than that of fuppreffing the Injuftice and
Cruelty that has fo long harafs'd the Inhabitants of
the New World.
They that endeavour to crofs my good Defign
with the greatell warmth, and deck themfelves with
a falfe appearaceof zeal and affedion to your Ma-
jefty, tho at the bottom they have no regard either
to truth or juftice, take care to hide their Deligns
under the fpecious colour of promoting your Ma-
jefty's Service and Intereft, and of eftablifhing your
Majefly's Right and Title to America^ while indeed
all they do isdiredly contrary to your Majefty's Ser-
vice, whether in refpe^: of Spirituals or Temporals.
And I. believe all intelligent Chriftians, that have a
true zeal for their Religion, will be of this opinion.
when I have made the Errors and Extravagancies of
thofe that oppofe my Sentiments appear j for thefe
Centlemen hand over head maintain that the Kings
of S^ain have a Right to foynd and eftablifh them-
felves
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 157
felves a Title to the Government of America by
force of Arms, after the fame manner that iV^m-
fod^ who was the firit mighty Hunter ( as the
Scripture exprefly obferves) and firft began to
tyrannize over Men, laid the foundation of his
Dominion *, or as Alexander the Great, and the
antient Romans extended the bounds of their Em-
pire ^ or juft as the Turks to this day opprefs the
Ghriftians, and invade their Territories. All the
World may ealily perceive that they who reafon thus,
are ignorant of the true Intereft of the King of Spain^
and fhamefully violate all the Rules of Juftice. To
prove what they advance,they add new Errors to their
fiffl Extravagancies, till they fhew by the wretched
Maxims they expofe, that they have neither Honor
nor Chriftianity. For it often falls out, that while
they who wander from the Trad of Truth and Vir-
tue, go about to excufe the Errors they have made,
they fall into other Miftakes that are ftill more grofs
and dangerous.
There are others of 'em who produce Titles that
appear to be fomewhat better founded, and alledg
Arguments that feem more probable and honelt.
Thefe fay we may juftly take pofTeffion of the Indies^
and fubdue the People, becaufe we have a greater
ftockof Prudence and Wifdom than other Nations,
and becaufe our Country is nearer to the Indies than
many others. But 'tis eafy to fee that none of thefe
Reafons are concluding, having no folid Foundation
tofupport'em.
That your Majefty may the better comprehend
the force of the Reafons that have been produc'd be-
fore you, and more eafily diftinguifh what is agree-
able to the Rules of Equity from what is con-
trary to 'em, and difcern your faithful Servants
from fuch as mind nothing but their own Intereft,
I fhall come my felf, and viva voce explain to yonr
Majeft;-
i^^8 Bropdfttions concerning the Title
Majelly the principal Points on which my Judgment
is founded. In the mean time I fend your Majefty
^a Abftrad of my Propofitions, which your Majefty
may caufe to be tranflated into Latin, if you tliink
meet, that they may be printed both in the Latin
and Spanifh Tongues : or if your Majefly don't fee
good to piafce 'em publick, 'twill be no great mat-
ter.
I Fropofition*
The Pope of Rome Canonically eleded to be the
yicar of JefusChrift, and the Succeflbr of St. Peter,
hath received his Authority and Power from Chrift
himfelf ^ and this Power extends over all Men, whe-
ther Believers or Infidels, in matters appertaining
to Salvation, and the way.of eternal Life. But it is
to be obferv'd, that he ought to exercife this Power
toward Infidels, that never enter'd into the Church
by Baptifm, nor never heard of Jefus Chrift and the
Catholic Faith, in a different manner from what he
does toward thofe that either are or have been Be-
lievers.
II Propofition.
St. Peter and his SuccelTors contra^^ied an indif-
penfible Obligation, founded on the Divine Pre-
cept, to procure the publication of the Gofpel,
and the propagation of the Chriftian Faith in the
whole World, that all Infidels may be brought to
the knowledg of the true God, when there is any
hope that they will not oppofe the promulgation of
ihp Faich, and the Doctrin of the Gofpel.
III Propojition.
The Pope by the Authority of his Apoflolic Mi-
piflry, may end ought to fend capable Miniflers
from
of the Kjngs of Spain to America, i J9
from all the States of Chriflendom^ to preach the
Dodrine of Jefus Chrift through the Univerfe :
Nay, he may oblige 'em by virtue of his power to
accept this Miflion and Employ \ and they on the
other hand are oblig'd to undertake it, in obedience
to the Pope, as to Jefus Chrilt.
IV" Pro^ofition.
Among all the Inftruments that can be chofen
for the publication of the Catholic Faith, and the
Gonverfionof Infidels, Chriflian Princes are capa-
ble of contributing moll ta the carrying on of this
Work ^ becaufe their Authority, their Forces and
temporal Riches are a great help to preferve and
defend Ecclefiaftical Minifters that may be fent, and
to furnifh 'em with proper means to attain the end
proposed .
V Propfimn.
The Pope by the Authority which Jefus Chrifl:
has given him upon Earth, ought to exhort Chti-
ftian Princes to contribute all their Afliftance to re-
move the Obftrudions that impede the publication
of the Chriftian Faiths to employ their Mony in
advancing this Work, and to fend fuch of their Sub-
jeds as are capable of inftruding Infidels. The
Pope may moreover in fome fort oblige all Chri-
ftians in general, according to their ability, to
bear the necelTary Charges of thofe Miffionaries in
fo pious a Work, as occafion may require.
VI Propofttion.
No Chriftian Kings or Prinzes ought to engage in
this Work without the participation of the Holy See,
and of the Vicar of J. Chrift. And if any Prince Ihould
' • think
140^ V r of jit ions concerning the Title
think himfelf oblig'd, for the advantage of his
Kingdom, to fend Evangelic Minifters to inflrud
the Infidels, he ought to confult the Pope about it,
who will ufe fuch means as he thinks molt proper
to advance this defign.
VII PYOpjition.
To avoid confufion, the Vicar of Chrift may di-
Itribute the Kingdoms and Provinces of the Infidels,
of what Seft foever they be, among the Princes or
Chriftendom *, and may exhort 'em to be zealous for
the propagation of the Faith, and vigoroufly to ap-
ply themfelves to the work of enlarging the Uni-
verfal Church, by the Converfion and Salvation of
§ouls, as the only end they ought to have in view.
VIII Fro^ofttion.
In making this divifion the Pope ought not to re-
gard the increafe of the Honors, Titles, Riches and
Territories of Princes, but only to have refpeft to
the Converfion of the Infidels ; fince this alone is the
Intention of Chrift in the trull he repofes in 'em, to
take care of the Jnftrudion of Souls, which is a dif-
ficult and careful Charge, and of which they will be
one day oblig'd to render an account before the
ftrid Tribunal of God. For this Employ refpefts
tlie ad vantages of Infidels more than the particular
intereft of Chriftian Princes.
|X Propofition.
Chriflian Princes ought to have no confideration
for any thing but the Service of God, and the Ad-
vancement of the univerfal Church, when they ap-
ply their endeavors to propagate the Faith of Chrift :
la
<f the Kjngs of Spain to America. 141
In this affair they ought to have no temporal Advan-
tage in their eye, but to look upon all earthly things
as tranfitory and of fraall confequence : Yet it would
not be juft, if they can do any thing for the advan-
tage of their Dominions, while they are procuring
the Augmentation of the Kingdom of Chrift, to
oblige 'em to negled fo favourable an occafion, pro-
vided it be done without any confiderable prejudice
to the Infidels, or to the Princes that govern 'em-
X PropoJitioH.
Thofe Infidels that live in Countries remote from
Europe^ andhavenever heard of JefusChrift, or the
Chriftian Religion, have their own lawful Kings and
Princes, who are the natural Rulers of the particular
Countries they govern, and have right to make
Laws, and to eftablifh all things necellary for the
good Government of their refpedive Dominions ^ fo
that they can't be expelPd out of 'em, or deprived
of what they pofiefs, without doing violence to the
Law of God as well as to the Law of Nations-
XI Propq/ition.
That Opinion which contradifts the Principle juft
now laid down, is erroneous and pernicious ^ and if
any Perfons fet themfelves obftinately to defend it,
they'l become guilty of Herefie. For it opens a door
to all Impieties and Villanies, to Robbery and Cruel-
ty *, in a word, to many irreparable Mifchiefs, and
hainous Sins which difhonor the name of ChriH, hin-
der the progrefs of the Catholic Faith, and bring tl^e
greateft Miferies on Mankind in this life, together
with the inevitable deftrudion of multitudes of Souls
ranfom'd by the Blood of Chrilt. So that this would
be the way to ftifle all the Sentiments of Piety, Hu-
mility, and Evangelic Meeknefs, nay of all Chriftian
Virtues in general, to introduce Violence, Treache-
142 Frof oft ions concerning the Title
17, Revenge, and other vices that are moft contrary
to the Maxims of the Gofpel in their Itead.
XII Propofition.
Infidel Princes ought not to be depriv'd of their
States for their Idolatry, nor any other of thofe
great Sins they commit ^ nor may their Subjeds be
depriv'd of their Eftates or Honors for th6 like
Crimes.
XIII Propofition.
Idolaters ought not to be punifh'd for their Ido-
latry, or other Sins, how enormous and great fo-
ever, during the time of their Infidelity, before they
have voluntarily receiv'd Baptifm : There being no
Tribunal or Judg in the world that has a right to
inoleft 'cm on that account, unlefs they diredly op-
pofe the publication of the Gofpel, and after they
have been admonifh'd and warn'd of it, obftinatly
perfifl to obftrud it out of mere malice.
XIV Propofition.
Pope Alexander VI. under whofe Popedom the
Wefi'Indies were difcover'd, was indifpenlibly ob-
liged by the Divine Law to chufe a Chriftian Prince,
to whom he might commit the care of making pro-
vifion for the preaching of the Gofpel in this new
World, for the advancement of the Univerfal
Church, the Catholic Faith, the Worihip of God,
the Converfion and Salvation of the Inhabitants of
America^ and for all things neceflary to attain this
end.
XV Propofition.
King Ferdinando and Ifabella his Queen had fomc
fpecial Advantages preferable to thofe of alJ 6th?f
of the Kjngs of Spain ^^' America. 14 j
Catholic Princes, to induce the Pope to chiife them
rather than any other Potentates of Em-ope^ to coii-
fer on 'era the Truft of publifhing the Catholic
Faith in the Indies, and, without any other reafon,
by the Authority which God has given him, to
inveft 'em with this Dignity, and conflitute 'em thfe
Minifters of the Apoftles in the Indies. Among o-
ther Privileges peculiar to them, this is the princi-
pal, that they have taken a world of pains to refoie
thofe Kingdoms which they inherited from their
Anceftors out of the hands of Infidels and Mahome-
tans, who are declar'd Enemies of the Catholic
Faith. For this they expos'd their Royal Perfons to
imminent danger, when they attempted to enter
again into the Kingdom of Grenada^ to which they
had a lawful Title, and which they at length re-
duc'd under the Yoke of Chrift, and the Catholic
Church. Another Reafon to their advantage is,
that they fent the famous Chrijlopher Columbus to
America at their own charge, and honor'd him
with the Title of Chief Admiral of the Weft-IndisSy
when he had difcover'd thofe rich and vait Coun-
tries.
XVI Propofttion,
The Pope might well chufe them as the moffc
proper Perfons to eflablifh Chriftianity in the new-
World, juft as he made choice of the Emperor for
his Son to be the Defender of the Catholic Faith.
But if this Choice (hould in the iflue become preju-
dicial to the eftablifhment of the Faith, 'tis not
to be doubted that the Pope might revoke it by
the Authority he has receiv'd from God. And
■for the fame reafon he might forbid all other Chrif-
tian Princes to fend MiiTionaries into the Indits
without the confent of the holy See, on pain of
Excommunication. And whoever fhould ad con-
trary
144 Propofitioffs concerning the Title
trary to this Prohibition, would grievoufly offend
Cod.
XVII Propofition,
The Kings of CafiiUe and Leon are the lawful So-
veraigns of many Princes and Kings of the new
World-, therefore this univerfal Jurifdidion over
the Indies^ of which we have been fpeaking, belongs
to them.
XVIU Propofition,
The Soveraign Empire which the Kings of Spain
have over the Indies^ obliges the natural Kings of
thofe fubje&ed Nations to fubmit to the Jurifdidibn
of the King of Spain,
XIX Propofition.
All the natural Kings and Princes, all the Na-
tions, Cities and Communities of the Indies^ over
whom the Kings of Spain have acquired a lawful
Right, ought to acknowledg them for their right-
ful Soveraigns in the manner we have faid, fince
they have freely and voluntarily receiv'd the Catho-
lic Faith and Baptifm. But before they receiv'd it,
or fubmitted to Chriflianity, and before the Kings
of Spain had acquir'd any right over 'em, they de-
pended on no Tribunal, nor Jurifdidion of any
Judg in the World.
XX Propofition,
The Kings of Spain are oblig'd by the Law of
God to chufe out and fend into the Indies fuch Mi-
niflers as are capable of preaching the Gofpel and
the Catholic Faith, to exhort all the People of the
new World to embrace the Dodrine of Chrill,
and
of the Kjngs of Spain to America* 14^
and to feek all jufl and neceflary means to accom-
pliih this Work.
XXI Fropofition.
The Kings of Spain have the fame Power and
Jurifdidion over thefe Infidels before their Conver-
lion, as, the Pope h^s in quality of Chrift's Vicar,
becaufe the charge and care of fpreading the Light
of the Gofpel amongll thefe Idolaters, and of do-
ing all that's poilible for their Gonverfion, is com-
initted to them.
XXII Fropofition',
The manner of eftablifhing the Chrillian Faith in
the /;i^ie5 ought to be conformable. to that which
our Saviour ufed to introduce his Religion into the
Worlds that is, it ought .to be a mild, peaceable,
and charitable' method. Humility, and, the good
Examples of a holy and regular way of living, are
to be impioy'd to gain upon all Infidels, efpecially
the Indians^ who are naturally of a fweet and eafy
Temper, and ready to fubmit to the Yoke of Chrift.
They ought moreover to be engag'd by Prefents,
and we Ihould with alacrity give, 'em i (hare of
what we have, without regarding their Riches. By
this means they would be eafily perfvvaded, that the
God whom the Chriflians worlhip, is good, jufl; and
gracious \ they vyould more readily give ear to his
Word, and would make no difficulty to forfake the
Worfhip of their falfe Gods.
>IXIII PropofittQK.
.To go about to fubdue th^ indiam hy force of
Aritf>; is 3 cou'rf^ utterly againH; the Law of OccL'
L - ^H
14^ Propofttions concerning the Title
who is full of Kindnefs, Grace and Love. 'Tis to
follow the method which Mahomet and the Romans
before him usM to fpoil and conquer the World :
and the Turks and Moors to this day take the fame
courfe, but 'tis unjuft, tyrannical, infamous, and
unworthy of Chriflians : It would be the occafion of
many blafphemous Refiedions on the Name of Chrift,
and the Chriilian Religion, as we have been taught
by fad Experience, fince the Spaniards have exercised
fo many Cruelties on tlie Indians \ for they believe
that the God we worfhip is the moft unjuft, unmer-
ciful and cruel of all Gods: Therefore the way of
Violence and Severity would be an invincible Obfta-
cle to the Converfion of the Indians.
XXIV Propofition.
'Tis to be expefted that Infidels will alway oppofe
fuch as attempt to invade their Country, in order to
take pofTelTion of it by the Title o^ Conqueft •, fo
that to go about to fnbdue 'em as the proper way
to convert 'em, is to lofe time, and ruin fo holy
an Enterprize.
XXV Propofition.
From the time when Chrijlopher Columbus difco-,
ver'd the Indies^ the Kings of Spain have always
exprefly forbidden their Subjeds to make Wai; up-
on the Indians : fo that the Spaniards can fhew no
Authority or Permifllon that was ever given 'em by
the King of ^p^m to commit any Ad of Hoftility
in the new World : or if they can (hew any fach
Commifiions, they are forged, or have bin furrepti-
tioudy obtain'd by falfe Informations, invented to
obtain a power of taking away the Riches of the
Indians^ or of making them Slaves with impunity.
On
of the Kjng; of Spain to America* 147
On the contrary, the Kings of S^a'm have often oa
this account renevv'd their Orders to obviate the
Cruelties and Outrages that were committed on ths
Indians.
XXVI ProPq/jtioH.
Seeing the Spanhrds have not been fupported ei-
ther by the Authority of their Prince, or any law-
ful reafon to make War againil the Indians., who
liv'd peaceably in their own Country, and had done
the Spaniards no' wrong : All fuch Conquefts that
have been, or may hereafter be made in the India
are to be accounted unjuft, tyrannical, and null,
being condemned bv all the Laws of God and Men*
For the proof of this Propohtion one need only-
produce the Proceedings againil thefe Tyrants,
which are yet to be k^n. in the Archives of the Royal
Council \ or tiiofe Proiecutions that might ftijl be
m-ide agjinfl 'cm every moment. For both Heaven
and Earth cry aloud againft the Violence they have
ofFer'd the poor yimericans.
Q XXVII Propofitjon.
\jThe Kings of Spain are by the Law of Cod ob-
lig'd to eftablifh fo good a Government in the In-
dies., by caufing thofe Indian Laws and Guftoms that
are good to be obferv'd, and by aboliftiing the bad,
which are lefs numerous than the other, that no-
thing contrary to good Manners and the Rules of
civil Policy may be tolerated. And the mofl likely
way to fucceed in fuch a defign is to publifh the
Gofpel among thofe People, by which means both
the King's Intereft and that of the Indians will be
provided for effedually.
t a X'XVIII JPro^
148 Propofaiom comerning the Title
XXVIII Propofition.
The Devil could never have invented any thing
more pernicious for the extirpation of the Peo-
ple of this New World, and the defolation
of fo' many great and populous Kingdoms in a
little time, than the diftribution theSpaniards have
made of ihefe Nations among themfelves, taking
poireffion of the Inhabitants as their own Property,
and then treating 'era as ravenous Wolves do a flock
of Sheep : For this is the moft barbarous kind of
Tyranny that can be imagin'd, becaufe it hinders all
thofe Nations from embracing the Chriftian Reli-
gion : For the Spaniards employ 'em night and day
in the Mines, and all other kinds of Labor v fome-
times obliging 'em to carry heavy Burdens forty or
fifty Leagues, fo that their condition is w'orfc than
that of Beafts. Befides, they perfecute thp^e Indians
with frefh Cruelty, who apply themfelves to the
Monks to be inftruded in the Gofpel, becaufe they
are afraid (if thefe Religious Men fhould be encou-
raged to come among the Indians) they would h7
witnelfes of their Robberies and Cruelties.
XXIX Propofition.
The diftribution which the Spaniards make of
thcfe People among themfelves, as if they were fo
many head of Cattel, was never commanded nor
allow 'd by the Kings of Spain fince the Spaniards
enter'd the Indies. They never thought of autho-
rizing fo injuft and tyrannical a kind of Govern-
ment, and which fo much tends to the deftrudian
of the People of the new World. Qiieen IfabeUa
of immortal memory, under whofe Reign the Indies
were difcover'd, gave exprefs Orders to Chriftopher
Columbus,
•vf the KJngs of Spain to America. 149
Columbus^ who v>^as the firft Governor and chief
Admiral of the Indies^ and to Franchs Bobadilla^ who
fucceeded him, and alfo to General £)e Lares ^ who
came after both the farmer, to preferve Pe.Keand
Liberty among the Indians^ and to do 'em Juilice in
every thing. Admiral Columbus gave only thi ee
hundred Indians to fiich of the Spaniards as had done
great Service to the Crown j and for his own part,
contented himlelf with having only one Indian to
ferve him : The Court of Spain was then at Grer.a-
da^ where the Queen iillied out an Order that thefe
three hundred Indians fliould be releas'd and fent
home, only Ihe permitted Columbus to keep one In-
dian whom he had taken for his Service. What thea
would this great Qiieen now fay, to fee how the
Spaniards have inflav'd the People of America ? Tht
continual Avocations the King has had, and the
frequent Journys he has been oblig'd to make into
Jtaly^ having not permitted him to inform himfelf
exadly of the Miferies thofe People endure from
the hands of the Spaniards.
XXX Propofition.
From all that has been faid it may well be con-
cluded, that if the foveraign Jurifdidion of the In-
dies belongs only to the Kings of Spain^ the Conque/ls
that private Men appropriate to themfelves are
injulland tyrannical; that the (hares they have made
among t|iemfelves are founded upon no lawful right :
and that thofe who ufurp the Lands of the new-
World, without the Confeni and Authority of their
Prince, are abfolute Tyrants, inading (as they do)
directly contrary to his Orders," and the Regulations
of the Royal Council ■■, which is a matter fo public
and notorious, that there's no Spaniard in the Indies
can jullly excufe himfelf by pretending ignorance.
L 3 A
1^6 A Difpute concemwg
A Difpute hetiveen Don Bartholomew de Laf-
Cafas, Bishop ofQlm^z^md Dr. Sepulueda.
DR. Sepulucda^ at the inlligation of fome Spa-
niards who had committed great Ravages in
the Indies^ wrote a very elegant Book in Latin in the
form of Dialogues, which containM principally two
Conclurions, namely, that the Wars of the Spaniards
in the Indies were very juft, and that they might
lawfully fubjugate the People of this new World ^
and that the Indians were oblig'd to fubmit to the
Spaniards^ and acquiefce in their Government, be-
caufe thefe are more wife and prudent than the
others. And in cafe they refufe to fubmit, this
Doctor alTerts, that they may be conftrain'd to it
by force of Arms. Thefe are the two Points that
have occafion'd the ruin of incredible numbers of
Indians •, fo that the Country is almoll: entirely un-
peopled for the fpace of two thoufand Leagues,
\A'here the Spaniards have left the marks of their
boundlefs Cruelty. This Doctor, to give fome co-
lor and fhew of Truth to his Reafons, declar'd that
he had no other defign in writing than that of jufti-
fying the King of Spain's Title to the Indies. He
prefented his Book to the Royal Council, and was
very importunate to obtain leave to print it, which
was feveral times refus'd ^ after which he ap-
plied hirafelf to fome of his Friends, who were in
the Emperor's Court, to patronize this Work. The
Biihop of Chiapa being well informed of the fteps
this Dodor made, with all his might oppos'd the
Impreflion of his Book, plainly demonflrating what
jU Confequences the publication of it might pro-
<iucc. The Members of the King's Council per-
ceiving
the ifiJlAv'mg of the Indians. 351
ceiving this matter was jSurely Theological, refolv'd
to difmifs it to the Univerfities of Salatnanca and
cicala, defiring them to make a thorow Examina-
tion of this Treatife, to fee if it contain'd any thing
that might jultly obltrud the printing of it. Thefe
two Univerfities after they had accuratly examin'd
it, declar'd that it was not fit to be printed, as
containing unfound Dodrine. The Doctor now
defpairing of feeing his Book obtain in Spam^ fent
it to Rome^ earneftly recommending it to the Bifhop
of Segovia^ who was one of h^s particular Friends.
When it was primed, it was prohibited by the Em- .
peror's exprefs Order, who caiisM the Copies to be
feiz'd, forbidding any of 'em to be fold in S^ain :
but becaufe it was impolTible to prevent divers Co-
pies in the vnlgar Language from being fpread
among the People ^ the Bifiiop of Chia^a thought
himfelf obligM to refute this Book in defence of
the Indians^ and to let all the world know how fcan-
dalous Dodrinc it contain'd, being accommodated
to open a door to all manner of Diforders. Dr. Se-
pulneda was cited to give an account of his thoiights
on this Subjedl: by word of mouth, and the Bifhop of
Chiapa was engag'd to anfwer him : The Difpute
lalled five whole days, after which Dominic de Soto^
a great Divine, and ConfefTor to his Majefty, was de-
fir'd to give a fummary account of this Difpute,
which he did before the'Allembly in thefe terms.
Mofl Illujlrioiis^ mojl Mignificent^ and moji ReVS'
rend Lords and Fathers.
YOU have bin pleas'd to order me to give a
fuccindf and fummary account of the Difpute
maintain'd between the famous Dr. Se^ulueda, and
the Bifhop of Chiapa, without adding any thing of
my own, or troubling my felf to feek other Reafons
L 4 to
152 ^ DJfpute corjccrning
tofupport the Sentiments of either of em. The Point
about which ycudefire to be intbrra'd, is in general
ivhat method ought to be us'd for the publication of
the Catholic Faith in the new World, which has bin
lately difcovcr'd by the permilTion of God, and how
the Emperor may fubjed thofe Nations to his Go-
vernment without offending his Confcience, in con-
forming himfelf entirely to the Bull of Pope .Akx-
midcY. 'Tis tirft neceflary to enquire whether the
Emperor may juftly make War with the Indians
before the Faith of the Gofpel be preach'd to 'em j
and whether thefe People will be in any condition to
receive the Light of the GofpeT, after they have
bin fijbdu'd by force of Arms^ whether they will
be more tradable and docil, and better difpos'd to
receive the Impreffioris defignM to be given, fo as to
rejed their' Errors, and embrace the Doch'ine of
the Gofpel; Dr. Sepulueda maintains, that this War
Js not only allowable and lawful, but necelTary.
The Bifhop of Chidfa is of the contrary Opinion,
and pretends that thi? W^r is unjull, and an invin-
cible Obftacie to the propagation of the Faith in the
Indies. '■' ■ ^ • ■ ■• ■ •
' Sepulueda fupports his Opinion by four principal
Arguments : The firft is founded on the enormous
Crimes of which the Indians have bin, and areeve-
ty day guilty, efpecially their Idolatry, and their
Sins againll Nature. His fecond Reafon is taken
from their Barbarity and Ignorance, which may be
reform^ under the Government of a People fo in-
, telligent and polite as the Spaniards. His thir4
Reafon'refpefts the facility he fuppofps of publilh-
ing the Chriflian Faith to the Indians when they are
6nce fubdu'd. His fourth Argument is taken irom
the cruel Treatment the Indians give one another, in
that they offer human Sacrifices to their falfe Gods.
He confirms his firft Reafon three ways : ijl. By
i-^. .. \: ■ , . :-. Example$
the injlitvmg of the Indians. 35^
Examples and Authorities taken out of the holy
Scripture." idly. By the Suffrage of Doctors and
Canonifts. '^dly. By a particular account of the
grofs Crimes which the Indians commit. He cites
a Paflage out of Deut. 20. to explain after what
manner War ought to be made on the Indians \ the
words are thefe : When thou comefi ni^h unto a City
to fight againfi it^ then proclaim Peace unto it. And it
/hall be^ if it make thee anfwer of Peace^ and o^en unto
thee, then it /hall be that all the People that i/s found there-
in, /hall be Tributaries unto thee, and they /hall ferve
thee. And if it rviU mahc no Peace with thee, but will
make War again/l thee, then thou /halt heftege it : And
when the LO R D thy God hath deliv€r''d it into thy
hands, thou (halt fmite every Male thereof with the
Edg of the Sword : ver. i o, 1 1 , 1 2, 1 3. and 'ver. 1 6,
But of the CittL'S of thefe People which the Lord thy God
doth give thee for an Inheritance, thou /halt fave alive
nothing that breatheth. The Dodor adds, that this
PalTage is not to be flridly taken, and enforc'd a-
gainft the Indians with fo much feverity : tho 'tis al-
fo faid, Thus /halt thou do unto aU the Cities that are very
far from thee ', by which Paflage the Glofs underftands
thofe of different Pveligions. From hence he con-
cludes, that we may lawfully declare War againft
thofe Nations that are of a Religion different from
burs.
My Lord Bi/hop anfwers him four ways. Firfl, he
fays, it Was not to punifh the Sin of Idolatry, that
God com.manded the Ifraclites to make War with
the Gentiles and Infidels : That God was pleas'd to
fingle out precifeiy feven Nations, the Canaanites^
tliQ Jebufites^&:c. mentioned in Deut. 7, who poflefs'd
the Land of Promife bequeathed to Abraham and
his Pofterity. He allows it to be true, that God de-
fign'd to punifnthe Idolatry of thofe Heathen Na-
tions, in giving 'era up to the Ifraelites ^ but he favs
"^ ■■ •■ - -• • ■ • •'• 'if
1^4 -^ Difpute concerning
.if God's intention had bin only to chafirife 'em for
their Idolatry, he would alfo have punjlh'd all the
Nations of the whole World after the fame manner,
feeing they were all polluted with the fame Sin.
Whereas God fpecified only thefe Nations to be
abandoned to the Sword of the Ifraelitcs^ to fhev/
that it was rather to acQomplilh the Promife he had
made to Abraham^ than to punifli thei'e Idolaters
that he deliver'd 'em into the hands of their Ene-
mies. That God himfelf exprelly forbad the ffrac-
iites to offer any Violence to the Edomites, or to the
Egypiam who had entertained 'em when they were
ftrangers in their Country.
Secondly, That the Pailageof Liike 14. where it
is faid, Compel them to come in, is not to be under-
ftood of an external Conftraint by War and Arms,
but ought to be interpreted of internal Infpiration,
and the Motions which God produces in the Hearts
of Men, either immediatly, or by the Miniftration
of Angels.
In the third place the Bifhop maintains, that Chrif-
tian Emperors have never engaged in War with
Heathen Nations to oblige 'em to renounce Idolatry,
and to induce 'em to imbrace the Chriflian Faith ^
that the Wars of Confiantine were purely on a po-
litic account, and that the Faffage of the Eccle-
fiaftical Hiftorian, lib. i o. cap. 6. is to be underllood
in that fenfe. That this Prince who was fo ani-
mated with Piety, when he fubdued by his Arms the
Coths^ Sarmatians, and other barbarous Nations, ex-
cepted thofe that fought his Friendlhip, and defir'd
Peace. That becaufe he fubjed^ed himfelf to the
Divine Commands, God was pleas'd to recorapenfe
his Virtue in fubjefting all the People of the World
to his Dominion. Befides, he fays, Conjlantine made
War with the Goths and Sarmatians^ becaufe they
made incredible Ravage and Spoil wherever they
came.
the wflAvijig of the Indians. 155
came. But when thefe barbarous People were at
peace with the Chriftians, and offer'd 'em no Injury,
they were fuffer'd to live at quiet.
He adds in the jfXh place, That if we would do a-
ny good upon Pagans, it muft be by the power of
good Examples, and not by Violence. He cites to
this purpoie a paflage of St. jiugudin^ who fays it
.belongs only to men tranfported with Rage, and to
Aflallins to ufe force againlt thofe that are inferior to
'em in Power : that this Father alfo condemns fuch
as v/ere not able to do the Pagans any hurt, and yet
irafhly offer'd themfelves to death, to gain the repu-
tation of Martyrs. He alfo quotes a Paflage out of
Deut. 7. When the Lord thy Cod (hall bring thee into the
Land trhithtr tboA gocfi to pffefs it^ &c. ver. i. Te
jhall dejlroy their Altars^ and break down their Images^
and cut down their Groz'cs^ and hum their graven hnages
with Fire, ver. 5. Upon Which Paflage he fays St. Au-
gujiin exprefles himfelf after this manner : Many of
the Pagans have Idols in their Fields, muft we take
upon us to break thefe Idols in pieces ? 'Tis much
better to endeavour to get 'em out of their Hearts.
When they haveembrac'd Chriftianity, and exhort
us themfelves to break thefe Idols, we ftiall do it with
pleafure. We muffin the mean time pray for their
Converfion, without appearing violent and paQio-
nate againfl 'em becaufe of their Idolatry : We are
not ignorant where they hide their Idols, and yet
we let 'em alone, becaufe God has not given us a
Commiffion to take 'em away without their leave.
When then does God give us leave to take 'em from
them ? Not till the owners of thefe Idals are become
Chriftians.
He farther produces the examples of the Apofl:les
and Martyrs, who took no other courfe to overthrow
Idols but by their Dodrine. He grants that indeed
on fome accounts War may be made with Infidels •,
for
1^6 A Difpute concermng
for inflance, if they have violently ufurpM the Lands
of Chriilians, as they have the Holy- Land -^ if they
profane our Churches, break down our Images, and
offer any great outrages to Chriftians, in hatred and
contempt of their Faith : That when the Emperor
C onfl amine ioxhik<l the Heathens to keep their Idols,
it was for fear the Chriflians fhould be fcandali^'d
by 'em.
He fays, If God feverely punifh'd the Crimes of
the Sodomites^ it does not therefore follow that we
may take upon us to puni(h all Infidels for their un-
natural Pollutions : That we are to admire the Judg-
ments of God, but not always to imitate every
thing he 4oes. He fays, we may punifii Infidels if
they blafpheme the Holy Name of God, or difhonour
the Saints and the Church •, if they openly hinder
the publication of the Faith, and if they maifacre
thofe that preach it : but that it is not lawful to de-
clare War againfl; 'era merely on the account of their
Idolatry, their unnatural Sins, or any other Grimes
they commit among themfelves.
And whereas Dr. Sepulueda fays, The Indians are
a barbarous People, and born for Slavery: the Bi-
shop of Cbiapa anfwers this Objedion, in faying.
That we ought not to make War upon Infidels to
bring 'em to the true Religion, which is only to be
clemonftrated by genuin Reafons, that the under-
Handing may be captivated according to the words
of St. Paul^ That it muft be a pious Affedion to the
Chiiflian Faith that will difpofe men to embrace
it •, and that care ought to be taken thatr they may
have no averfion againffc thofe that preach it y who
therefore ought by their good Examples to engage
the Indians to relifh the Doftrine they endeavour to
propagate among 'em : That War is vifibly contrary
to this end, becaufe it fills the minds of thofe Ido-
laters with horror and indignation againfl the Chrif-
tians,
j the wjlavwg of the Indians. n^j
j tians, for bringing fo many Miferies upon 'em \ and
that they cannot chufe but think the Law of Chrilt
an execrable Dodtrin, fince it authorizes (as they
iraagin) fuch terrible Diforders. The Bidiop con-
1 eludes in faying, 'tis a mere delufion to aifert, that
1 the Wars made againfl thefe Infidels are not delign'd
, to introduce Chriftianity among, 'em by open force,
but only to fubjugate thofe barbarous Nations the
better to difpofe 'em to receive the Faith of Chriffc
: voluntarily. He pretends that this is ill reafoning,
! becaufe War fpreads fo much terror among thofe
People, that if they afterwards embrace the true
Faith, 'tis to be fuppos'd they do it rather out of fear
than love : and that their Neighbours when they hear
j what Violence, Spoil, and MafTacres have attended
I this War, may probably, to avoid the like Mifchiefs^
i blindly embrace the Faith, without iaiowing what
they do themfelves.
Dr. Sepulueda urges for another reafon of War,
that the Indians maflacre innocent Perfons, either to
facrifice, or to eat 'em. To which Argument ths
Bifhop returns this anfwer, That if the Church ex-
horts us to undertake the defence of Innocents,, it
ought not in this cafe to be by the way of Arms.
Firft, becaufe of two Evils v/e ought to chufe the
Teaft. If the Indians malTacre fome innocent Perfons
to eat 'em, 'tis indeed a great Evil ^ but War would
bring much greater [laughters with it : beiides, that
thefe Wars diihonour our Religion, and render the
Chriftians odious to the Infidels ^ who tho they fa-
orifice men, are not altogether inexcufable, becaufe
of their great Ignorance, and have reafon not to
put themfelves into the hands of the SpanifJ) Soldi-
ers, who come with their Swords in their hands to
rob and kill 'em, infleadof inilruding 'em in Reli-
gion i whereas they have no right to punifh 'em iov
their Errors: Thdit Pint mh' {^ys^ whenthe Roma.i^
fubdued
1^8 -^ Dijpute concerfjtrfg
fubdued divers barbarous Nations, who were wont
to offer men in Sacrifice, they did not punifh 'em for
that Crime, but only forbad 'em to do the like for
the future. That it is not to be expc6^ed of the In-
dicins^t\\2it they fhould renounce their Errors in a mo-
ment j that the light of Nature which informs 'em
there is a God, teaches 'em to fhcw him refped^and
to return him thanks for the Benefits they receive
of him, and likewife to endeavour to make atone-
ment for the Sins they commit againft his Divine Ma-
jefly^ and that they ought to devote the beil they
have to him in Sacrifice: Confeq^uently their evil
Cuftom of facrificing human Creatures to the fup-
pos'd Deities they worfhip, is the Icfs to be wonder'd
at, lincethey have no knowledg of Divine Revela-
tion, butonlythe glimmerings of natural" Light tp
direft 'em •, which Light too is obfcur-d with much
thick darknefs in the minds of Pagans. That thefe
People believe they perform a very acceptable Ser- \
vice to God, when they offer him tiie Lives of Men ^
that this may be confirmed in fome fort by the Te-
fliraony of Holy Writ, feeing God, when he would
try the faithfulnefs of Abraham^ commanded him to
facrifice his only Son, whom he tenderly lov'd ;
which God might do, as he is theabfolute Mafler of"
the Lives of Men : that befides this Inftance, x\\q
Scripture teftifies that God requir'd the Ifraelitcs to
redeem their own Lives by the facrifice of Animals.
That the Word of God remarks, that 'tis impoffible
to give a greater Teftimony of Love, than to ofi^er
ones felf for the Perfon belov'd : that thofe Women
in the Indies that were moft dear to their Husbands
while they lived, chofe to be buried alive with 'em,
to give the greater proof of their conjugal Fidelity
and Affection.
In anfwer to the other Argument alledg'd by Dr.
Se^ulueda^ namely, that the barbarity of xht Indians
which
the infliLving of the Indians. 159
which (he fays) (hews they were born for Slavery,
is a fufficient reafon to declare War againfl 'em, in
order to fubjed -em to the Government of the Eu-
YQ}tans: the BifHop of Cfc/cif'? fays, there are three
different forts of Barhari.VfJs. Firfl, that this Term
is taken in general to fignify any Nation that differs
from others by fome ftrange Opinion, or peculiar
Cufloms, tho they v»'ant not Prudence or Policy to
condnd their Affairs. That the fecond kind of
Barbarians is of thofe, who have no Language pro-
per by which to exprei^s themfelves to other People ;
fuch as the Englifh formerly were, when they had
no Letters or'characters whereby to explain their
Thoughts. The third fort of Barbarians are fuch as
refemble favage Beafls, by the dulnefs and ftupidity
of their IMinds, by their brutifli Inclinations, and by
the extravagance of their Cuftoms '-, who wander up
and down in the Fields, never dwelling together ia
Towns or Cities^ who are without Laws or Civil
Government, and take no care to obferve the Law of
Nations ^ who rove about to commit Robberies,
and ufe Violence on all that have not power enough
to refill 'era •, fuch as the Gotbs and u4lans were for-
merly, and fuch as the Jlrabs in ^fia are to this day :
That 'tis as lawful to make War with this fort of
' People, as to hunt wild Beafls, and would be a great
piece of fervice to the World to reduce 'em to any
tolerable Difciplin. But as for the Indians^ that
tho they have fome extravagant Cufloms, but
not any good Policy, yet they ought not to be
look'd upon as properly Barbarians ^ feeing they are
of a quite contrary difpofition, being meek, civil,
and tractable in their Manners \ that they are a nu-
merous People, who have Cities and Laws, andun-
derfland divers Arts j that they have Princes over
'em, and live under a kind of regulated Government ;
that they not only punifh Sins againfl Nature, but
have
i^o A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
have Laws that award capital Punifhments for fomc
Crimes of leiFer confequence : That their Policy has
its particular Rules ., that upon all thefe Accounts
their pretended Barbarity is not a fufficient Reafon
for any to declare War againft 'em, but would be a
piece of vifible Tyranny and Injuftice \ and that
this Courfe would be fo far from promoting the
Gofpel, th^t 'twould be the very way to cut off all
liope of ellablifliing Chriftianity among them. That
therefore the belt expedient would be to fend
Preachers into the Indies^ to endeavour to convince
fome of the principal Indians of the truth of our
Religion ^ and to make Treaties of Peace with 'em,
to favour the entrance of the Europeans into the In-
dies by fuch a gentle and peaceable Method as this :
that if any danger fhould arife after this, we might
build fome Forts upon the Frontiers, and fo treat
with 'em v^ith the greater Security, and make 'em
gradually relilh our Religion, by letting 'era good
Examples.
The Royal Council for the Indies having heard this
Difpute, between the Bilhop of Chiapa and Dr. Se-
j^ulueda, concerning the manner in which the Indians
ought to be treated, order'd the Bifliop to draw up
his Thoughts of this matter in Writing, whereby
they fhould be the better able to determin this quefli-
on, Whether they might lawfully inflave th.e Indians,
or were obliged to fetat liberty all they had hitherto
reduc'd to flavery. In anfwer to their^delire, the
Bilhop farther explain'd his Sentiments after the fol-
lowing manner.
All the Indians taken in the Indies fince the difco-
veryof the New World to this day, fiave bin un-r
juflly inflav'd ^ and the Spaniards who retain 'em in
bondage againll their wills, can't do it v/ith a good
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. \6t
Confcience, becaufe they had no right to declare
War againft 'em j for it follows by confequence they
could not lawfully deprive 'em of their Liberty, nor
were they ever authoriz'd by their Prince to make
War upon 'em. Now there are but two Motives
that can render any War juft, namely, fomerirghte-
ous Caufe, or the Authority of one's Prince. And
what jufl motive then could the Spaniards have to de-
clare War againft the Indians^ who never did 'em
any wrong, nor ever gave 'em any difturbance ? They
were people they had never feen ^ they had never
made any defcent into any Country that belong'd to
the Spaniards^ to fpoil and ravage it ^ they had ne-
ver profefs'd Chriflianity as the Moors of y^frica had
done, who were Chriftians in the time of St. j^u-
gufiin J or as the Kingdom of Grenada^ the Empire
of Confiantinopley and the Kingdom of Jerufalemdid
formerly. Nor can we juftly reproach the Indians as
declared enemies to our Religion, or that they ever
attempted to deftroy it by open Perfecutions, or fe-
cret Perfwafions, by Prefents, or any other manner
whatfoever, that can be ufed to engage Chriftians to
renounce their Faith, and turn Idolaters : For nei-
ther the Law of God, nor that of Nations ever
pfermitted War to be made againft any People mere-
ly to eftablifli Chriftianity among 'em. Unleis any
one will pretend that the Gofpel of Chrift, which a-
bounds with Charity,Meekners,and Humanity, ought
to be introduc'd into the World by Force like the
Religion of Mahomet.
The Spaniards can't fay, that they had no other
end than that of protefting the Innocent, feeing
they have made it their whole bufinefs to rob, pil-
lage, and murder the poor Indians, taking upon 'e/n
to ufurp their Goods and Lands. Befides, if the
War they undertook had bin in defence of thofe poor
Wretches the Indians unjuftly put to death for Sa-
M crifices.
t62 A Relation of the Spanifli Voyages
crifices, it would not have bin carried fo generally
thro' the Indies^ but would have bin a fort of Civil
War kept up only in fome particular Places: Nor
would the Spaniards have had right even in fuch Pla-
ces, to have made Slaves of thofe whom^ they took
in fJJich a War.
They can't fo much as pretend that ever they had
a Command or Order to this day from their Prince,
to declare War againft the Imliam : 'Tis eafy to e-
vidence fuch a Fad as this •, for the Governors and
Generals have nothing to do but to (how their Com-
mifiions if they have any. There's not one of 'em
who has any fear of God, orrefpedfor his Prince,
that will pretend to fnew any fuch CoramiiTion, ex-
cept the Vice-Pvoy Don Antonio^ and Don Sehajlian
Ramire Bifhop of Cuenza •, all the reft that have made
War on the Indians^ are Thieves, and Robbers, Mur-
derers, and declar'd Enemies of Mankind. Seeing
then the Spaniards have had no lawful reafon to fup-
port their Declarations of War againft the People
of America^ nor have bin authoriz'd in fuch Proceed-
ings by their Prince, it evidently follows that the
War they have m.ade is injuft, and contrary to the
Laws of God and Men, and confequently that the
Indians ought not to have bin treated as Slaves. -
All the ways the Spaniards have us'd to compafs
this end of inflaving thefe People, have bin mon-
ftroully wicked, made up of nothing but Fraud and
Treachery, unlawful Tricks and Artifices, and fuch
tinheard of Villanies as can't but fill the Minds of all
that hear 'em with aftonilhment and horror. Some
to infnare the poor Indians that liv'd among 'era,
have confbrain'd 'em to own themfelves their Slaves
in Courts of Juftice : after which extorted Confef-
lion, the Governors have order'd the King's Arms
to be fix'd upon their Skin with a hot Iron ^ tho they
were not ignorant what an unlawful Courfe had been
*• a Ir f» n
dnd Cruelties w the VJt^'lndiits* 16^
taken to abufe thefe poor Creatures. Others hir'd the
Indians with a little Wine, or a Shirt, or by giving
'em fome other trifle of fmall value, to bring 'em fa^
therlefs and motherlefs Children, whom they put on
Shipboard, and tranfported into other Countries,
where they were fold for Slaves, efpecially into New-
Spain^ the Iflands of St, John^ and Cuba^ or other
neighbouring Iflands. But at firft the Spaniards
us'd open Violence, attacking the Indians that liv'd
peaceably in their Houfes, fetting their Towns on
fire, mafTacring fome, and after the exercife of all
this Cruelty, carrying away thofe they could take
alive to fell 'em for Slaves. They us'd without any
formal procefs, to brand 'em with the King's Arms^
which was enough to make 'em pafs for Slaves 3 and
accordingly they were fold from ome hand to ano-
ther, till thev were tranfported into the Iflands*
Thefe were alf the forms of Juftice the Spaniards ob-
ferv'd in carrying away the Indians from the Conti-
nent into the Iflands of New-Spain^ the Ifles of Cuhct
and St. John^ the Coall of Pearls^ Tucatan and PanU-
CO. And by thefe execrable Artifices they have fince
carried away vafl: multitudes of People of every
Age,Sex, and Condition, from the Kingdoms of Fen^
cuela, Guatimala, and Nicaraqua^ to fefl 'em in Pa^
nama^ and in Peru. They once put 4 or 500 of 'em
in one Ship, the greatelt part of whom died in their
paflage for want of Food, the AUowance given 'em
being fo very fmall.
At a Town corliilling of about 200 people, the
Spaniards would require the Cacyque to fend 'em
300 Indians at fuch a certain day and hour, to Garry
their Provifions, and work for 'em. ifhe poor
Cacyque was mightily concern'd he could not ex-
ecute this Order, not having People enough in the
whole Town •, and not knowing what to do in the
€afe, defired to have a day or two more allow'd him :
M 2 Bus
164 A Relation of the S^'Am^h Voyages
But thefc Brutes would interpret this delay as an cx-
prefs breach of their Orders ^ and immediately ask-
ing leave of the Governor to go and fall upon 'em,
would attaque 'em in their houfes, cutting the
throats of many of 'em in a barbarous manner, and
carrying away the reft as Prifoners of War, whom
they inflav'd contrary to all Law and Equity. Some-
times they would order a Cacyque to fend 'em half
a hundred men to labour for 'em, and would fet
'em to what v/ork they thought good, after which
they would embark 'em in Ships and carry 'em away ^
and fometimes would mark *em with the Letters of
their own Names without fixing the King's Arras
on 'em. When they were angry with 'em, they
would load 'em with Chains, and make 'em carry
heavy Burdens befide, for 1 00 or 200 Leagues. Af-
ter they had us'd 'cm in what Drudgery they ^leas'd,
they would fell 'em, tho the Indians are as freeborn
as any other Nation. By this means the Spaniards
.have unpeopled the Province of SU Michael, which
is fituate between Guatimala and Nicaraqua.
When they formerly advaftc'd far into the Coun-
try to make further Difcoveries of the Indians that
liv'd there, thefe good-natur'd People came to meet
'em loaded with Turkeys, and other Provifions,
which they freely ofFer'd 'em, but for their kindnefs
were either hew'd in pieces, or elfe made Slaves,
on pretence they were found in Arms in the Fields.
Nor could the Governors be ignorant of thefe
Violences and Diforders of the Soldiers, fince them-
felves had the belt fhare of the Spoil.
When they had divided thofe Countries among
themfelves, which they had fo un juftly ufurp'd, and
render'd themfelves the abfolute Mafters of the In-
dianSj as if they had conquer'd 'em in a jufl and
lawful War, they oblig'd the Caciques and natural
Princes of thofe People to bring 'em fuch a Sum of
Gold
ami Cruelties m the \Ve(\'lndks. 165
Gold as they were pleas'd to command 'em. If they
had not fuch a quantity, they told the S^aniards^
they would willingly give 'em all they had to ap-
^peafe 'em •, but received a fevere reply from theTe
jGruel Men in fuch terms as thefe : If you do:i?t bring
m all the Gold ive demand vp'nh'mfuch a time^ wellfttfire
' $0 all your houfes. The poor Cacyques would fome-
times make fuch a return as this in a lamentable
Tone : Indeed our Country has no great flore of Gold in
it '■, and be/ides, we have not bin curious to fearch for
Mines. Upon fuch an Account as this the Spaniards
have faften'd 200 Stakes at a time in the ground,
and tied the poor Wretches to *«m with terrible
Menaces, and then let loofe thofe ravenous Dogs up-
on 'em, that us'd to be fed with human flelli, it
may be the Cacique would be fo terrified with fuch
a hon-iMe Spectacle as this, that he'd go among his
Subjefts, and take Children out of every Family,
and give 'era to the Spaniards for Slaves to pacify
'em. If there were but 2 Children in a houfe, one of
'em was taken away, and that mufl be the Itrongelt
and likelieft to do fervice. When the Cacique had
got together fuch a number of his People as the Spa-
niards requir'djhe would come toprefent 'em to them
iiimfelf And it was a moil lamentable thing to
fiear the Sighs and Crys of Parents, when their dear-
eft Children were ravifli'd from 'em, to be tranfport-
ed into remote Countrys for Slaves. When thefe
Children were brought to the Governor to be brand-
ed, the Spaniards would order the Caciques to engage
the Indians to teftify that they were Slaves, and
the Children of Slaves, and that they were bought
in the Market ; and would threaten to burn 'em,
unlefs they would ftand to fuch Lies as thefe. And
when the Perfon appointed to examin them, who
was well acquainted with all thefe Tricks, would
ask the Children of what Country they w»rc j they
M 3 made
i66 A ReUtion^of the Spanifh Voyages
mrde \m anfwer, that they were Slaves, and that
their Parents werefo, and that they were bought in
fuch a Ma» ket. After this Examination they were
;n; rk'<i, with the King's Stamp. His Majefty*s Go-
vernors and Officers are very well acquainted with
ail this Roguery of the Soldiers, and have had
too great a hand in the invention of thefe Artifices,
as appears by their having the largell Ihare of the
Booty.
When the MifTionary Monks had got a great num-^
ber of Indians together in their Church to inftrud
*em in the knowledg of the true God, the S^anw
ards would fuddenly come upon 'em with their
Swords in their hands, and take what number of
'em they thought meet ^ which could not but much
fcandalize the reft, and extremely griev'd theMif-
iionaries, who were only told by the Spaniards^ that
they wanted Men to carry their Baggage andProvi-
fions, and fo were forc'd to take all patiently. When
they had thus feiz'd the poor Indians^ they fet their
mark upon 'em, and fold 'em for Slaves.
The Governors at firit feldom refus'd any that
ask'd leave to Y)\nndQr the Indiam^ and ruin and de-
polulate the Country. This was a kind of recom-
penfe they gave 'em for the great Services they had
render'd die King o^ Spain. But afterwards they
took a Courfe that did not feem fo difhoneft and
cruel, but was equally pernicious to the People of
the New World, which was to buy Slaves of the
Caciques, threatning 'em to burn 'em alive if they
did not furnifli 'em with fuch a number as they de-
manded, for which they would only give 'em a
Shirt or fome fuch Trifle j fo that the poor Caciques
became themfelves the ruin of their own Country
for fear of being burnt, and made it their bufmefs
to 'go among their Subjefts to gather great numbers
pf Slaves together, to fasiify the Avarice of the Spa-
mards^
avd Cruelties in the Well-Indies. 167
Yitards. At lail they v.ould make the Caaques pay
'em this tribute with other people ^ fo that they
were conftrain'd to go to fome of the neighbouring
CAciques, and would make their Complaint to 'em
^fter this manner : Tk-fe Tyrants threatcyi me (would
one fay) to cut my throat if I don't furnijh "^mi Kith
fuch a numhcr of Indians for Slaves^ and they wont
Suffer me to chufe out fome of my own SubjeiJi for ''em j
therefore I defirc the liberty to take fome of yours ^ and
you fhall haws as many <jf mine for ''em. I am content
(would the other fay) and the rather hcaufe I jny
felf am ohlig'd to pay fuch a Tribute as you are^ and to
feek for Slaves out of my own Country to fatisfy the Spa-
niards. The Caciques themfelves w^ere wont to bring
thefe poor Slaves to be mark'd, and w^ere made to
fwear they were none of their Subjcds, but that they
bad taken 'em among their Neighbors ^ which was
true, but the Spaniards were never the lefs guilty in
conftraining cm fo to do. The Governors that knew
their injuflice and roguery, wink'd at it, and would
never accuie any of 'em of thefe prevarications be-
fore the judges of the Royal Council ^ tor they
made it no part of their care to perform their Duty
to God and the King faithfully ^ nor did they feem
to be touch'd with the leaft Corapafiion in obferv*
ing all the violence committed againit thofe mifera-
ble People.
I could produce a multitude of proofs to con-
firm v/hat I fay, but one lliall fuffice at prefent.
There came an Order from the King to the Gover-
nor of the Province of Nicaraqua^ to forbid him to
inflave any Indians^ or to brand him with the King's
Arms : at the fam.e time there v/as a Ship in the
Road that was delign'd to be lill'd with Slaves ^
which made the Governor forbear to publifli the
Order lie' had receiv'd, till the Veflel was laden
vfi^jii Indians, and ready tofet fail j nay he privately
M 4 gave
1 68 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
gave notice to thofe that were concern'd in the Ship,
to make what hafle they could, and carry away as
many Slaves as they needed, becaufe the King had
fent an exore s Prohibition to hinder any from being
inflaved tor the future.
It was once matter of Aftonifhment to fee the
fruitfulnefs, plenty and multitude of Inhabitants, that
'H'd the Province of /frt«<i«rii5 ^ and 'tis now as de-
plorable to behold the Mifery, Defolation, and
want of People there, which refemble it to a melan-
clioly Wildcrnefs. The Governor of this Province
made ufe of a trick not much unlike that of which
we have been fpeaking. He ow'd a great Sum of
Mony to fome Merchants for Wine and other Com-
TJiodities he had bought of 'em ^ who had their
VefTels in the Port, and expeded this Governor to
pay 'era in Slaves. But the Emperor's Order forbid-
ding him to make any Slaves in this Province being
very flrift,he durfl not take up Indians publicly to pay
his debts,for fear of provoking the Emperor by ading
diredlly againfl his Command : He therefore fent out
two of his Captains, one fo the Sea-Coall, and the
other farther up into the Continent, with Orders to
take up fuch Indians as w»ere likely to make the leaft
noife and dillurbance by their Complaints^ thefe he
order'd to be embarqued, and to prevent to himfelf
any danger from the Court, he pretended thefe In-
dians were feditious Perfons and Malefactors, whom
he v;as oblig'd to banifh, becaufe it would have been
of ill confequence to have let 'em remain in their
Country : This was the Pretext under which he fold
'em for Slaves to pay his Debts. And with this fort
of Coin the Spaniards us'd to buy all forts of Com-
iTiodities that came from Europe^ and whatever elfe
they thought necefTary. So that 'tis no wonder
that thofe fine and rich Provinces are become for-
loraDeferts, fince this Trade of buying and felling
Slaves
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 169
Slaves has been allow'd, v/hich was firft pradis'd in
fJifpaniola. Sometimes the Spaniards to deceive the
Jndiam would perfwade 'em they fhould go with
them into Spain^ when they defign'd only to carry
'em to the Ifle of Cuba^ and fell 'em there. And
there are many ftill at Havana^ that v/ere taken af-
ter this manner ^ for when other Spaniards heard of
the Stratagems their Countrymen us'd to impofe on
the poor Indians^ they would ule the fame Tricks,
and brag of 'em inftead of being afhara'd ; fo that
the World has been fufficiently inform'd of thefe Ar-
tifices. The Miferies and Defolations of the Provin-
ces of Nicaraqua and Guatimalapi the greatell part of
Mexico^ Tabefco^ and Panuco^ are inconteftible Proofs
of the Cruelties and other Crimes of the Spaniards.
The Archbiihop of Mexico wrote an Account of 'em
by way of complaint to the Royal Council for the
Indies, wherein he inform'd 'em that the Governor
had loaded twenty eight Ships with Slaves. The
Governor of the Province of Xalifco took for his
own Share 4^60 Slaves^ Men, Women and Chil-
dren, fome of whom were but one, others two or
three years old -^ all was fifh that came to net ; be-
fides an infinit number that other Spaniards took in
this Province, againft the King's exprefs Orders,
who was much difpleas'd that thofe People fliould
be inflav'd, who ought to have bin injftrudted in the
knowle^g of the true God, and of the Chrilfian
Religion, in order to their Salvation. Thofe Flc-
mifh Merchants that got polfefFion of the Kingdom
of Ven^Mla^ to pillage and deltroy it, made horri-
ble Spoil there for the fpace of twenty years. That
all I fay is the very Truth, may better appear
by confulting the Archives of the Royal Council,
which are full of complaints againft the infidious
Contrivances of the Spaniards^ and the great Violen-
ceq they have committed to enHave the poor Indians.
" ." Thelc
1 70 J Relation of the Spanifli Voyages
Thefe poor Wretches have no body to interceed
for 'em, or to proted 'em ; and are always in great
confternation, becaufe continually expos'd to the in-
fults of their Enemies, who opprefs 'em without be-
ing caird to account for it. So that they defpair of
relief, not knowing to whom to addrefs themfelves
for juftice.
Now feeing the Artifices that have bin usM to in-
llave thefe poor Creatures, are {q unjuft and tyranni-
cal \ and feeing thefe People as well as others are
born free, it follows that the Spaniards have adted
contrary to the Law of Nations,in inflaving all thofe
Indians whom they have taken for that end ever
lince the Difcovery of the New World, and have
by their Violences evidently tranfgrefs'd the Law of
God and Nature.
To prove yet farther that the Spaniards are ob-
liged to reftore thofe Indians their Liberty, whom
they yet detain in bondage, there's only need of
making one refledion, namely, that the Law of God
obliges us to make reftitution of every thing we
have taken unjuftly from our Neighbours, and to
make reparation for the injuries done xm j and
without doing thus 'tis impoffible to be fav'd. Up-
on this Principle 'tis evident, that the Spaniards
ought to releafe their Indian Slaves, and ^o do what
in 'em lies to make 'em amends for the wrong they
have done 'em, againfl: all Law and Equity •, for 'tis
not to be fuppos'd the fm will be forgiven, till
what has bin unjuftly taken away is rcllor'd •, and
confequei;itly the Spaniards who have treated the
poor Indians after fo ill a manner, and yet don't go
about to make 'em fatisfaftion, are under the guik
of a mortal Sin.
To make this appear yet more evidently, two
things mull be fuppos'd. Firlt, that ^:here were no
Slaves in A^cw S^ain^ on the Borders of which there
dwelt
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 171
dwelt divers Nations, efpecially the Mexicans^ that
are more dexterous and politic than other Indians :
This every one knows who is acquainted with
the new World. Secondly, That the term Slave
does not fignify the fame thing among the Indians as
among the Europeans^ but only denotes a Servant
with the former, or one that has fome particular
obligation to affill us in our neceflary Affairs^ fo
that to be the Slave of an Indian^ is to be but one
degree below his Son j 'tis to dwell in his Houfe, to
take care of his Goods and Silver, to wait on his
Wife and Children, which is confiftent with the
enjoyment of his Liberty : He fets the Houfe in
order,^fows the Land, and does any necelfary work,
as occafion requires. And his Mailer on his part
treats him with a great deal of Kindnefs and Hu-
manity, as if he were not oblig'd to render him this
Service. Thofe Miflionaries that have learn'd the
Indian Language, and know the import of their
words, can teflify the truth of what I fay.
It is farther to be fuppos'd, that in Nev:> Spain and
'Mexico many unlawful ways have bin us'd by the
Spaniards to inflave the Indians, in fo much that one
would have thought they knew aothing of the true
God, nor had ever heard of the Precepts of the
Gofpel. When there was a Famin there, which fel-
dom happens in thofe rich and fertil Countries,
thofe Indians that had altock of Corn, perfvvaded
them that were poor to fell 'era their Children for
fome of their Corn : with this propofal they com-
ply'd very willingly, becaufe their Servitude is fo
eafy, their Slaves not being oblig'd to any very hard
Labor. And the Indians are naturally obfequious and
fubmiffive to thofe on whom they depend; they
would give one of their Children for five Bulhelsof
Corn, and this was the ordinary Price they gave.
'Tis true, this was an unjuft method of making
Slaves,
172 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
Slaves, becaufe all things ought to be common in a
time of extreme Neceflity •, for the Law of Na-
ture obliges us freely to give or lend to thofe that
are under prelTmg want.
Another occalion on which the Spaniards made
the Indians their Slaves was^this •, when any one had
found an Indian with fome Ears of Corn which he
had ftolen, he had Authority to make him his Slave.
The MilTionaries have obferv'd that fome of 'em
would malicioufly fcatter Ears of Corn in the High-
ways, that they might feize thofe for Slaves that
had innocently gathered 'em up. Befides this, the
Parents and Relations of him that had the Corn
found upon him were made Slaves for this imagina-
ry Theft, which is a very unjult and criminal Ar-
tifice. They like wife had invented a fort of Play
among 'em, in which he that loft, was made a Slave ;
the beft Players would make as if they knew not
how to play, to infnare thofe that were ignorant
into their Service. If any one whom they had thus
caught, prefum'dto run^away, his nearefl Relations
were forc'd to fupply his place. When a Free-man
had lain with a Woman that was a Slave, her Mafler
had power to feize him, or his Wife, if he were
married, and to oblige him to ferve him till fhe was
brought to bed. Which Cuftom obtain'd through-
out the whole Country. He that had a young Maid to
his Slave, v/ould inflave any one that lay with her,
which was attended with great Inconveniences ^
for the Mafters of thefe young She-flaves would put
'em upon enticing Men to lie with 'em, on purpofe
to catch 'em in this Trap. If a Slave took any thing
out of his Mafters Houfe to give it to his Relations,
they all immediately became his Mafters Slaves.
W hen feveral Merchants went into other Countries
for Slaves to fell in Nevs> Spain^ where they had the
beft trade for 'em, they lent thofe that were poor
their
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies, 175
their Goods and Corn upon Ufury •, and when they
were not in a condition to pay for what they had
bought, they feiz'd 'em for Slaves. If he that ow'd
the Sum, died before the Debt was difcharg'd, and
his Wife and Children were not capable of paying
the Creditor, they became his Slaves. In time of Fa-
min, Parents would fell one of their Children to ferve
a Mailer for a certain number of years ^ but indeed
there was no end of this Servitude, for if the Mailer
dy'd, his Relations would take pofTeflionof his Slave.
But the Biftiop of Mexico^ who is a very pious and
virtuous Prelat, has written an account in Latin of
all the Tricks the Spaniards have us'd to inflave the
Indians ^ by which 'tis eafy to fee with how much
Injuflice they have abus'd the Simplicity and Necef-
iity of thefe poor wretches to reduce 'em to a mife-
rable ftate of Bondage.
Fi'om what I have been relating it appears, that
the Indians being Idolaters, and deflitute of the
knowledg of the true God, and the Rules of Chrif-
tianity, don't regulate their Aftions by furh Mo-
tives as the fear of Hell, and the defire of Heaven,
and the hope of having their good Works rewarded
hereafter : Therefore they are vicious and corrupt
in many refpefts ^ for inftance, they don't obferve
the Law of Nations in the Wars they make one up-
on another *, by which one may well guefs there are
many other injull things done among em.
But the Faith of Chrifl, and the Precepts of the
Gofpel are for preferving only good Laws and
Cuftoms, and for abolilhing thofe that are bad, efpe-
cially fuch as are oppofite to the Law of Nature,
and prejudicial to Human Society. Therefore thofe
I«^/'rfMj that are converted, who have bin guilty of
Polygamy, are oblig'd to put away all their Wives
but one, according to the prefer! ption of the Law
of God, as well as to reltore all the Goods they
have
174 ^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
have gotten by unlawful ways of Robbery or Extor-
tion. If Chriftians follow the evil Cuftoras of In-
fidels, or tolerate 'em when they can hinder 'em^
they manifeflly render themfelves Accomplices in
the Crimes of thofe Idolaters, becaufe we are ob-
liged by the Divine Law to abftain from fuch Adtions
as may occafion Scandal, or any way injure the
temporal or fpiritual Welfare of our Neighbor.
For this reafon St. ?aul commanded Chriftians not
to eat things offered to Idols, left it fhould be
thought they approv'd of thofe damnable Sacri-
fices ^ tho they might eat of thofe very meats, pro-
vided the Pagans did not fee 'em, and fo were not
fcandaliz'd by the Adion.
All Chriftians are oblig'd by the Divine Word
to do what in 'em Ij^s for the Abolition of finful
Cuftoms, or at leaft to abftain from 'em, and dis-
approve 'em themfelves. And when a man doubts
whether any Aftion he is about to do is juft or injuft,
he can't do it with a good Confcience : this is a ge-
neral Rule that admits of no exception, becaufe
Chriftians are oblig'd by the Dodtrin of the Gofpel,
rather to lofe all they have than to commit the leaft.
Sin. Therefore while the Mind helitates and doubts,
whether the Aftion on which one thinks be fin or
no, we ought neceflarily to abftain from it. The
very defire of doing fuch an Adtion is contrary to
right Reafon, and to the Love of God \ becaufe it
would be to expofe one's felf to the hazard of tranf-
greffing the Divine Will, to do that concerning
which one labors under an uncertainty whether it ,
be lawful or forbidden. And the Doubt, when one
thus ventures to fin, is no longer a mere Doubt,
but moft certainly becomes an Offence a^ainft God,
becaufe we are always oblig'd to take the fafeft
courfe. When it falls out that we meet with two
ways, and are uncertain whiej} is the right, we
ought
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 175
ought always to chufe that which is the leafl dan-
gerous, according to that Maxim of St. Jugufiin
in his penitential Book, Take what m certain^ and
leave what is uncertain.
The Rules of the Civil Law, which are confirm'd
by Reafon, by the Law of Nature, and that of
Chriftian Charity, admit of a Difpenfation in fome
cafes, when there is a profpect of fome great Good,
to which a greater ftriftnefs would probably be
prejudicial. But 'tis a general Rule, that when a
Man deliberates on two doubtful things, he is to
determin his' choice on that fide v^^here he may avoid
Sin, where there are the feweft Inconveniences,
and v^here his Neighbour's Intereft runs the leafi:
hazard. Upon this Principle, Clergy-men ought
not tp be oblig'd to retire and live leparatly from
their Mothers, Grandmothers or Sifters, or to for-
fake their Father's Houfe ^ becaufe fuch a Separation
may be vei-y difadvantagious to 'em, tho there may
poflibly be fome Inconvenience likewife in their
dwelling together.
That man retains a thing with an evil Confcience,
about which he is in doubt whether it be lawfully
gotten, or which he has receiv'd of one who had
no right to it, or who had reafon to doubt whether
it belong'd to him or no. Whatever is poffefs'd
under fuch circumftances, is kept contrary to the
Rules of Juftice, and againft both the Law of God
and Nature. Therefore the Spaniards who keep
thofe Indians in flavery, concerning whom they are
in doubt whether they have bin bought, or given
to thofe of whom they had 'em, aft contrary to
Juftice and to the Law of God, in retaining 'em
while under this doubt. Every one knows that a
man is oblig'd to reftore whatever he does not law-
fully poflefs, and whatever he has receiv'd from one
that had no juft right to it, becaufe a man can't
commu-
I'] 6 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
communicate a right tO' another which he has not
firil himfelf. Thus when any one buys or receives
any thing from a Perfon who fells or gives it, and
yet has no right to it, he is unjuft if he keeps it,
and is oblig'd to make reftitution. The Reafon is
evident, becaufe 'tis no lefs than the commiflion of
Theft, wilfully to retain any thing againit the will
of him to whom it appertains. And tho this thing
iliould have pafl through a thoufand hands before it
came to you, you would have no right to withold
it from the proper Owner, becaufe thefe were all
unlawful PoflelTors, and confequently ought to have
made reftitution. And tho fome human Laws give
permiffion to retain a thing which one has bought
with Mony that is coin'd with the King's (tamp, and
is current in the Commonwealth, yet this is no law-
ful Title to it, becaufe human Laws muft not pre-
fcribe contrary to the Law of God and Nature, nor
to good Morals, which forbid Theft, and the with-
olding of another man's Goods againfi: the confent of
the rightful Owner. Inferiors, and fuch are Kings
themfelves in refpedt of the Divine Majefty, can't
juftly eftablifli any thing in prejudice to the Law of
God, which is fuperior to all other Laws.
He that buys ftolen Goods knowingly, is an Ac-
cefTory in the Robbery : and if he does but fufped
they are ftolen, and has not bin fo diligent as he
might have bin, to inform himfelf whether they
were lawfully gotten, he can't keep 'em with a good
Confcience ^ becaufe no man can innocently do that
which expofes him to Sin. And if we will not take
the pains to inform our felves whether that which
is fold or given to us be lawfully gotten, when we
are in doubt about it, we can't be the lawful Pof-
felFors, becaufe this is a culpable and wilful Igno-
rance. Thofe who have in fuch cafes confult%d Men
capable of giving information, are excufable, un-
kfs
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 177
lefs themfelves be of fuch a Character as obliges
'em to be acquainted with Law and Equity, as Ci-
vilians, Judges, and the like \ or when they ask ad-
vice, content themfelves with confulting only one
Perfon, tho they have opportunity of advifing witfi
many ^ or ask counfel of interefted Perfons, and fuch
as will not anfwer according to the Didtates of their
Confcience, inftead of confulting Men of Integrity
who will give advice according to the Rules of Law
and Equity i or when they addrefs themfelves to
Perfons whofe Honelly is fufpected upon good
grounds. A Man is not excufable under fuch Cir-
cumftances as thefe, tho he ask Counfel of the
Learned in the Law •, and after haying taken their
Advice, ads contrary to Right and Equity. Thefe
ifour Circumftances being regarded, may be of great
ufe to eafe fcrupulous perfons of their doubts, and
to give *em peace of Confcience,
And by thefe Principles it may be eafily kriowrl
that the Spaniards unjullly retain mofl of their In-
dian Slaves againft the Law of God : and if they
have a right to any of 'em, the number is very fmall^
and they have reafon to doubt whether thefe have
been lawfully made Slaves •, becaufe thofe they have
had from the Indians have been brought to 'em as
a Tribute extorted from 'em againft their will, by
Fear, Menaces and Torments •, fo that they have no>
juft Title to 'em : or if they have bought 'em of
Indians^ they have us'd unfair tricks to procure 'em,
having terrified the Caciques^ and conftrain'd 'em
by Tortures to deliver up their Subjeds into their
hands, threatning other wife to accule 'em to the
Judges for worlhipping and offering Sacrifices to
Idols ^ fo that the poor Caciques when they could
not give the Spaniards as many Indians as. they de-
manded, us'd to fteal 'em where they could, 'Tis
true, when th^fe Diforders came to bi known to ini
lj2 A Relation of the S^^iVvSh. Voyages
Majelty, he exprefly fwbad any fuch ways of in-
flaving the People for the future.
As for thofe few Slaves which the Indians have
volantarily fold, tho the Spaniards have hitherto
made no qucftiori that they had a hwful right to
'cm, they have had however reafon enough to doubt
it, and they otight by no means to have taken
pofledlon 6f 'c'rti, till they had firfl us'd all necefla-
ry diligence to get information whether they might
do it with a good Confcience ^ and if after all their
inquiry the matter remain'd dubious, they ought
not to have bought 'em while under thatfcruple:
So that all the ways they have taken to procure
themfelves great numbers of Slaves are unlawful:
And when the Indian Princes faw how eagerly the
Spaniards piirfu'd this trade, they would tyrannize
over their Subjefts, and force 'era to become Slaves,
that they might be capable of anfwering the Spaniards
demands^ and of buying the trifles they fold 'em.
The Judges of the Royal Council, who have founded
this matter to the bottom, have declar'd, that fcarce
any of the Indians have been lawfully inflav'd, and
on this account'have fet many of 'em at liberty.
The MiiTionary Monks who underftood the Lan-
guage of the Indians, and were acquainted with
their Secrets, have declar'd, that thofe who have
kept 'em as their Slaves, have done fo without any
jull ground : and they had no intereft to fpeak after
this manner, being only concerned about the Salva-
tion of Souls.
And can it be thought that the Spaniards were ig-
norant of what themfelves had done, who made
themfelves formidable to the poor Indians, and forc'd
'em by fevere Punifhments to procure *em what
Slaves they requir'd ? And thefe ignorant Infidels,
who have fo little of the fear or love of God, might
eafily perfvyade themfelves that there was no In-
iultice
and Cruelties in the Wefl-Indies. 179
juflice in doing what they favv Chriflians do before
'cm j fo that their ill Examples might well embolden
'em to Ileal away fatherlefs Children, to trepan the
ignorant, and even to make ufe of force and vio-
lence to get Slaves to fell to the Spaniards. For
after this manner have the Indians been corrupted
ipnd induc'd to commit all kinds of Injullice againlt
their own Country-men to procure Slaves, fmce
they have iiad Converfation v;ith the Chriflians,
who incouraged 'em in thefe Tricks, not only by
their Words, but likewife by their Example. And
,'tis mofl certain, the Spaniards could not be igno-
rant of thefe unrighteous Proceedings, fince them-
felves were the occallon and infli'uments of all this
Mifchief : and it raufl at ieaft be granted, that they
were oblig'd to fufpedt whether the Slaves that were
brought 'em were taken as lawful Prifoners of War,
and to inquire whether they might keep 'em with a
'"good Confcienceor not.
They drove this trade with fufpicious Perfons,
and therefore might well have prefum'd that they
offended the Rules of JuHice ^ and that thofe that
gave or fold thefe Slaves to 'em, had no right fo to
do. Men ought to be very cautious how they deal
with the Indians^ left they approve of the Theft and
other Crimes of thefe Infidels. The Spaniards knew
well enough what was commonly reported of the
Indians every where, that they us'd tnany unjuft and
tyrannical ways to get Slaves on all fides ^ and there-
fore ought to have fcrupled the buying of 'em foch
as were naturally free, and who had bin infiav'd
againft the Law of Nations : So that they can ne^
. ver excufe themfelves from poffeding 'em unjuftly^
v" and from participating of the Crim.es of ths Indians.
jl yin ftealing and captivating ereat numbers of Pcopk.
., Among a hundred thoufand Slaves whom the Indians
. .havs fold to the S^aniards^ or paid 'em by tvay of
f .>,i N 2 Tribute^
J So J Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
Tribute, perhaps not one of 'em was properly a
Slave, or taken in a juft and lawful Wan But al-
lowing fome of 'cm to be fo, how could they be difr
tinguifhM from the reft in this vaft number ? Bfefides,
that there is a great difference, as we have already
obferv'd, between the Slaves of the Indians and
thofe of the Europeans : The former make Slaverer
not very uneafy or troublefom, their Slaves being
in a manner free, and not much differing from their
Children ^ whereas Slavery among the Spaniards is a
moft terrible condition, and thofe that are fubjected
to it, enjoy no Favor, Comfort or Reft, but are cor
tinually expos'd to Hunger and Thirft, and otht.
fevere Puniflimcnts : Nor are there any Laws ci
Statutes that can foften the cruel Temper of the
Spaniards^ and hinder 'em from exading of their
Slaves fuch Service as furpafTes human Strength.
From all the Principles we have been eftablilhing,
it follows, Firft, that his Majelly is oblig'd by the
Law of God to fet all thofe Indians at liberty,
whom the Spaniards have made their Slaves, and
nnjuftly retain as fuch. Firft, Becaufe his Majcfty
is oblig'd to do Juftice to all the World, to great
and fmall, without rcfpeft of Perfons, without de-
fpifing the Caufe of the miferable and afflided, who <
are not in a condition to defend themfelves, or re
drefs their own Grievances. 'Tis'the principal du-
ty of Kings to execute Juftice, and protedt the
weak againft the oppreflion ot the ftrong ^ and
when they fail in this, they fometimes draw down
the Divine Vengeance on their own Perfons and
Kingdoms \ becaufe the Cries of the poor, and fuch
as labor under Milsry, inceflantly go up to the
Throne of God. And fmce the Spaniards unjuftly
opprefs the Indians^ who have no way to fecure
themfelves from the Violence and Tyranny of their
Perfi'cutors •, 'tis evident his Majefty is oblig'd to
flop
and Cruelties in the "U'eft-Indies. 1 8 1
Hop the courfe of their InjuHice, and to tefcore
thole poor People their Liberty who groan under
fo cruel a Bondage. Nor ought tliis to be one mo-
ment deferr'd, feeing thefe Vexations are publick
and notorious, and his Majefty cannot be ignorant
^of 'era.
Thofe Kings that are willing to obferve the ilricl
Rules of Juftice, whether Pagans or Chriilians, ought
to ufe their utmoft Efforts to keep their Subjeds in
peace, tho at the fame time they fhould forget no-
thing that may conduce to lead 'em in the way of
Virtue ; becaufe the end that every Governor of a
Commonwealth ought to propofe to himfelf is, to
ad fo as to render all his Subjeds virtuous. How-
much more are Catholic Princes, who profefs to
follow the Rules of Chrifl, oblig'd to govern their
Subjeds according to his Precepts, and to remove
all the Obllacles that are likely to turn 'em out of
the way of Truth ? In which Enterprise they cannot
fucceed without giving 'em good and equal Laws,
and obliging 'em to an exad obfervance of 'em.
Chriftian Princes are moreover bound to exhort
their Subjeds to ferve the true God, and to yield
obedience to the Dodrin of Chrift, as much as
polfibly they can. And feeing the Spaniards by un-
juftly retaining the /«i/i^«5 in flavery, are continually
in the habit of a mortal Sin, and confequently don't
live according to the Laws of Chrift, our Kings
ought to command 'em to releafe all the Indians^
that they may remove this great Obftacle which lies
in the way of their Subjeds Salvation. The Royal
Charader of Princes obliges 'em to make Laws and
Regulations, that Juftice may be maintain'd, and
the People fubjed to their Government preferv'd
in the pradice of Virtue ; and are likewife requir d
by the Divine Law to employ their temporal Power
for the augmentation of the Catholic Church, and
N 3 the
I §2 A ReUtion of the Spanifli Voyages
the maintenance of EcclefiaflicalDifciplin, that the !
Profefibrs of Chriftianity may not rebel againfl the
Miniders of Chrift. In this they may lawfully cm-
ploy the terror of their Arms, to keep all People
to their Duty •, for otherwife Temporal Powers
would not be necedary for the adminiltration of the
Affairs of the Church. From hence it may fairly
be concluded, that the King of S^^ain ought to ufe
his power to render Juflice to the poor Indians^ who
are fo tyrannically opprefs'd, and to ftrengthen the
hands of the Miniflers of the Church in "the Indies
by his Authority, who are not able to make any
progrefs by their Miniltry among the Natives, nor
to reclaim the Spaniards from their Vices, while they
are fufferd to afflid and perfecute the poor Indians^
becaufe thefe continual Violences, and their fix'd
refolution to perfift in 'em, are habitual Sins. At
prefent they regard not at all the Remonftrances and
Menaces of Prelats, or Ecclefiaftical Cenfures, but
go on adding Sin to Sin, in fo much that the Church
in the Indies is in a forlorn condition, and under
great difficulties : fo that the Indians ought to be fed
free, that the Obllru^^ions lying in the way of their
Salvation may be remov'd, and that they may the
better be engag'd to fubmit to the Doi^trin that is
preachM to 'em: FoV by this means Chriftiaa
Paftovs will have a full liberty to exercife their Mi-
nillry, and to difcliarge their Apoltolic Functions.
The Bifiiops of America are oblig'd by the Law
of God continually to follicit his Maiefty and his
lloyal Council to deliver the Indians from the Op-
prefilon under which they groan, and to give 'em
their former Liberty, becaufe thefe Bilhops are ne-
cefTarily engag-d by their Character to do the befc
they can for the difcharge of their Paftoral Office,
which conflfts in governing and teaching the People
iii^Gsr their CP"4^^<^7 3nd in providing for all their
fpiri-
and Cruelties tn the Weil-Indies. 1 8 1
fpiritual necedities ^ as alfo ia fecuring 'em as well as
they can from any temporal Injury, and in refcuing
'era from the hands of OpprelFors, efpeciaily when
the Vexations they fuffer are fo many itiimbling
blocks in the way of their Salvation. Nor ought,
they to be wanting in procuring 'em all tl.e tempo-
ral Advantages they can.
The Dominican and Francifcan Friers are very pi-
ousand prudent, and deferve to be highly commend-
ed, in that they have agreed to refufe abfolution to
all the Spaniards of Nerv Spaia^ who keep Indian
Slaves, and to oblige 'em to bring this alfair under
examination before the Royal Council, in con-
formity to the Laws newly made ^ tho they would
have done better not to have had recourfe to this
Tribunal. Thefe Monks know very well by experi-
ence what unjiift and deceitful Methods have been.
us^d to inQave the Indians^ and can't doubt but God
has been highly offended by thefe Violences, and
that thofe who have committed 'em are obliged to
repair the Injuries of which they have been guilty.
A Confeflbr who undertakes to hear Mens Confeili-
ons, one who officiates in quality of a Bifhop or
Curat as a fpiritual Judg, ought to underlland the
Obligations of his Miniftry, and to have that know-
ledg and prudence which is requifite to perform it
after a becoming manner, that he may pafs a wife
and jult Judgment on all matters proposed to him,
and rightly difcern what v/rong is ofter'd to any op-
prelfed Party. If his ignorance or negligence is the
caufe of his Miftake, fo that he obliges not his Pe-
nitent to reftore any ill-gotten goods, he commits a
great Sin, and is himfelf bound to make reftituti-
on and amends for the Injuftice done the offended
Party : Juft as a Phylician who has through igno--
rance done fome confiderable Mifchief to his Pa-
tient, or occafion'd his death, ought to make fome
N 4 fpecial
I §4 ^ ReUtion of the Spanifh Voyages
fpecial Reparation for his fault. Tlie fame may
be faid of Judges that pafs an unrighteous Sen-
tence, while they are ignorant of the Law, or take
no care to inform themfelves of the merit of the
Caufe before 'em, becaufe fuch negled and igno-
rance are criminal, and they ought to know the
matters on which they are intrulted to pafs a Judg-
ment.
'Tis certain all the Ecclefiaftical Perfons in Nexv
Spain are well alTur'd that the Indians have been in-
flav'd, and are [till kept in bondage, contrary to all
Law and Equity •, and therefore are not oblig'd to
refer the Examination of this Affair to the Royal
Council : befides, there are all forts of tricks and
devices ufed to divert the Council from taking cog-
rii2ance of the matter, left they fiiould fupprefs thofc
vexatious Pradices. His Majefty ought with all
fpeed to ifTue out his Orders for the releafe of thefe
miferable People, and fo much the rather, becaufe
the oppreflion they are under is the occafion of the
ruin of an infinit number of Souls. And this is the
only way to reclaim the Spaniards from the habit of
a mortal Sin, and to put the Prelafs in a conditi-
on freely to acquit themfelves of their Ecclefiaftical
Fundtions.
Am.ong all the Expedients TrieY Don Bartholomew
de Laf-Cafas^ Biiliop of the Royal City of Chiapa^
proposed tor the reeftablifhment of Peace and Tran-
quillity in America^ the moft effedual was that of
diredly fubjeding all the IVeJi-Indies to the Crown
of Spam^ that fo the Spanilh Lords might be uncapa-
ble of making the Indians their own Subjefts and
ValTals. And he fupported this Propofal with many
very cogent Reafons.
Firft, he fays, the Princes and People of the New
^yVoirld being Infidels, and their Converfion to our
and Cruelties in the Wefl-Indies. i S 5
holy Faith appearing necelTary, 'tis very proper
they fhould be under the Protedion of a Catholic
and powerful King, who has a true zeal for the ho-
nor and propagation of the Chriftian Religion, and
might fend able MifTionaries into the New World,
to bring thofe Idolaters to the knowledg of the true
God, and to embrace our Divine Religion, and fub-
mit themfelves to the Holy See. And hence it ap-
pears that nothing can be more advantageous to the
Indians^ than to put themfelves under the protefti-
on of Catholic Princes, that no particular Lords
may be capable of taking pofTeflion of 'em as their
Property. This is what the Kings of S^ain on^t
to regard,withoutfhanng with any others that Pow-
er and Authority they have acquired over the In-
dians ; for they ought to preferve this Jurifdidion
immediately to themfelves, and not divide it to in-
veft private Men with it. And this is an Affair of
fo great confequence, that no lefs than both the?
temporal and eternal Welfare of thofe Nations de-
pend on it j for the Converfion of the New World
would be a very advantageous thing to the Com-
monwealth.
'Tis neither juft nor poflible to abandon this Jurif-
didion to private Perfons, fince none but the King
can be inverted with it ^ becaufe when the Pope has
once made choice of any Perfonor Power for this Af-
fair, it ought not to be delegated or entrulted to ano-
ther. When he has in this matter declared himfelf
in favor of any Perfon illuflrious by his Charader
and Merit, who has a perfed knowledg of any Caufe
he may have to determin, 'tis to be prefum'd he'l
pafs fuch a Judgment as the Pope himfelf would
have done. Now 'tis manifell that in the Cafe in
queftion we have a Perfon cloth'd with Grandeur and
Dignity, feeing he is King of S^ain^ a very good
Chrillian, and zealous for the Catholic Religion ;
" * ' ^ " and
1 86 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
and the matter is of great importance, becaufe it
concerns the preaching and propagation of the true
Faith and.Worfhip of God, the Convcrfion of nume-
rous Nations, and the Government of 'em -^ which
is to be adminillred witli Lenity and Prudence,
that Juftice may be maintained among 'em, and the
love of Virtue infpir'd into 'em : which is an Em-
ploy too great for any but Soveraign Princes to
perform.
'Tis certain the Holy See has chofen the King of
S^a'in to be entrufted with the Government of the In-
dies •, which may be prov'd by two confiderable Cir-
curaftances. The firft of which is the Claufe added
in the CommilTion, We rely upon your Fidelity ^Pnuif nee
andjufiice: which is inferted in the Bull of Grant
and CommiiTion of the Indies to the mofl ferene Kings
of Spain^ wherein the Pope fays in exprefs Terms ^
' Knowing you to be Kings truly Catholic, as we
*have been aiTur'd by many experiences, and that
' your Piety is every where regarded throughout the
* Chriltian World, we doubt not but you will ufe
*" all the care and diligence you can for the Exaltati-
* on and Increafe of the Catholic Faith •, as you have
* fpar'd no charge or pains to refcue the Kingdom
' of Grenada from the hands of S:iraz.ens and Infidels,
* which has fo much conduc'd to the Glory of the
'name of God.
The fecond Circumflance is, that when any ix-
prefs Order is added in the Commiffion, the firll
Claufe of it is exprefs'd in ,thefe Words :
' We exhort you by your Holy Baptifm, which
* obliges you to fubmit to our Apoftolic Orders -,
* and we conjure you by the Bowels of Compaffion
' in Jefus Chrift, that you would generoufly under-
' take this Expedition, to engage the People of the
' Nev/ World to embrace the Chriltian Religion :
'nor let any Hardihips o; perils di.fcpurage you, but
^put
ami Cruelties in the Wed-Indles. 187
' put your trufl: in God, who will make your Work
' fucceed to his Glory.
The other Claiiie contains a kind of Command,
and is thus exprefs'd ^
'' We command you in virtue of the holy Obe-
* dience you owe us ; and we doubt not but you
' will undertake this Affair with a great deal of
' zeal and fervor, and fend into thci Iflands and
' Continent Men fearing God, able, experienc'd,
' and capable of inftrncling the Inhabitants of the
* New World in the Catholic Faith, and of infpir-
* ing 'em with the love of Virtue.
Thefe Circumftances make it fufficiently appear,
that the Pope gave the charge of caufing the Indians
to be inftruded to the Kings of Spain^ in confide-
ration of the fignal Services render'd the Church by
that Crown j nay, that he has oblig'd them to un-
dertake this good work by his exprefs Command to
apply themfelves to it, in virtue of the holy Obe-
dience they owe him.
Purfuant to this thefe Princes folemnly engag'd
themfelves to fecond the Pope's deiigns with all their
Power : Their Promife was turn'd into a Covenant,
and became a formal Obligation on 'em •, and con-
fequently 'tis the indifpenfible Duty of the Kings of
Spain to be the Minifters of the Holy See in carry-
ing the Word of God into the Indies^ and contribut-
ing all their Power to continue the work of convert-
ing the Indians^- Their care fhould be extended to
their temporal as well as fpiritual Concerns^ and
they ought to neglecl nothing that may be nccefTary
for their prefervation or converlion. Nor is it law-
ful for thefe Princes to abdicate this Authority, and
dived themfelves of this Jurifdiftion.
_ Let your Majefty therefore pleafe to confider fe-
rioufly how ftrid and indifpenfible this Obligation
if J bs pleas'd to remember that in the year 1 499,
when
i88 Jt Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
when Chrijlopher Columbus, the firfl Difcoverer and
Admiral of the Wejl- Indies, had permitted each
^prtw/^r^ that accompanied him to take ont Indian in
recompence of the great Services done the Crown
of S^ain in that Voyage, when thofe Indians arriv'd
in Spain^ your Majefly fo much refented it, that
'twas not eafy to appeafe your Anger on that occa-
fion. Your Majefty ask'd if the Admiral had power
to deftroy your Subjeds ; and commanded the Spa-
niards to fend back to the Indies all the Indians they
had brought from thence on pain of Death. Ac-
cordingly they return'd in the year 1500, when
Tranc'vs BobadiUa went to take the Government of the
New World.
The fecond reafon that proves your Majefty under
an obligation to incorporate the Indies into the In-
heritance of your Crown, and not to fufFer the Spa-
niards in the leaft to ufurp any thing in quality of
Lords and Mailers, is, that otherwife 'tis impoflibl?
the People fhould ever be brought to efpoufe Chri-
Hianity. To comprehend the force of this Reafon
it muft be remember'd that the Defign of your Ma je-
lly's Title to pofFefs thefe newly-difcover'd Nations,
is no other than the publication of the Gofpel, to
fpread the knowledg of Jefus Chrifl among 'em ;
and confequently your Majefly is obliged to remove
all Impediments that oppofe this end, by eflablilh-
ing good Laws and Orders, and ufing all other juffc
ways and means to render this defign profperous.
The End is always the great Spring that lliould give
motion and diredion to our Adions j and 'tis this
we ought to have principally in view, that we may
the bsccer forefee what Obftrudtions are likely to
lie in our way, and take the moll futable meafures
to attain the end propos'd. Now 'tis certain, that
the Power iifurp'd by the Spaniards over the Indians
is one of the gi eatefi: hindrances to the preaching of
the
and Cruelties in the Wefl-Indies. 189
the Gofpel among 'em for their Converfion. Ali
the World knows their exceflive Avarice makes 'em
unwilling to fuffer the Mifiionary Monks to preach
the Gofpel to the Indians^ whom thofe Tyrants look
upon as their VaiTals \ becaufe the publication of the
Gofpel (they fay) occalions a confiderable damage
to 'em two ways. Firft, becaufe thefe Monks make
the Indians lofe too much time in hearing their In-
flrudtions^ thefe People (fay they) are naturally
lazy and negligent, fo that when they are diverted
from their Work, 'tis hard to bring 'em to it again.
It has often happen'd when the Monks had got the
Indians together in their Church to inftrud 'em, the
Spaniards have come upon 'em, and taken away a
hundred or two by force, beating 'em cruelly to the
fcandal of the reft, in fpite of what the poor Monks
could fay or do. And fuch Violences can't but ex-
tremely impede the Salvation of the Indians. Another
Difadvantage the Spaniards pretend to receive from
the Converfion of the Indians, is, that when they are
once inftruded in the Maxims of Chriftianity, they
grow proud and untractable, and not fo capable to
ferve 'em : and is not this an open Confeffion that
their private Intereft is dearer to 'em than the Sal-
vation of thefe Peoples Souls ? The frame of their
mind is an habitual mortal Sin againft Charity, the
Order of which they pervert, not only in not pro-
moting their Salvation themfelves, which they ought
every day to do, being oblig'd in Confcience either
to initrud 'em, or procure others to do fo j but
alfo in that they are fo far from acquitting them-
felves of this duty, that with all their might they
hinder others from informing 'em, without being
" afraid of the Judgments of that God, who will one
day feverely punilh 'em for want of Charity to their
Neighbours, in witholdirig light from 'em, t)io
they
190 J Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
they have fo much need of Information. They
hinder the pious Miilionaries from coming to preach
to 'em, left they fiiould become acquainted with their
Vexations and Cruelties, which are fo great and
llrange, that the Monks arefeiz'd with horror v/hen
the Indians relate 'em. And when they fee with their
own Eyes iiow raiferably the Indians are treated,
they make it their bufmefs (as they are bound in
duty to God) to oppofe thefe Diforders. They
fometimes advertife the Judges of thofe Tribunals
your Alajefly has eftablifned there of thefe things,
to leek to redrefs 'em that way ;, tho the means hi-
therto ufed have had very little effed ^ becaufe
the Governors and Judges having a great many In-
dians themfelves, to whom they are unmerciful and
cruel, abufe their Power *in opprefFrng thefe poor
Creatures, caufmg 'em to be punifh'd rigoroufly for
the flighteft faults. This is tne true reafon why the
Monks are look'd upon as fo many troublefom Spies,
and the Enemies of their temporal Intereft ^ fo
that they can't endure fo much as to fee 'em, nor
would they willingly tolerate 'era in the Country,
"but often curfe 'em, and invent all forts of Calum-
nies againfl 'em. The poor Indians alraoft defpair
to fee any end of their M iferies \ and having nothing
to truft to but the Zeal and Charity of the Monks,
do love and reverence 'em as their Deliverers and
Prote(^ors, ftill putting great Confidence in thera
under all their troubles ^ they often come in Bodies
out of their Towns and Cities to meet 'em : But 'tis
a great mortification to the Spaniards to fee the In-
dians pay thefe good Men fo much refpeft j and
they take occafion from hence to reproach 'em,
pretending the Monks defign to make themfelves
the Lords and Mafters of thefe poor Wretches. But
God only knows what Labors and Hardfhips thefe
Miffio-
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 191
MifTionaries undergo, and to what Extremity they
are often reduc'd by poverty and hunger-, when
they undertake great Jouriieys with inexprefiible
fatigue, in rough and troublefom ways, to aflill the
Indians^ and (hew 'em the way of Salvation ^ and to
admonilh the Spaniards of their enormous Sins, in
tormenting 'em fo many ways, in robbing and mur-
dering 'em : all which Violences call for large refli-
tution, . if they expedt to be fav'd. Govetoufnefs
and InjuHice reign more in the Indies^ than in all the
World befides j tho the Spaniards have no jull righC
nor power there, lince they don't derive it of your
Majelty. The Indians are naturally timorous and
cowardly, or rather the ill Treatments and Cruel-
ties of the Spaniards hav& terrified 'em to that de-
gree, that confternation and dread are become na-
tural to 'em, infom.uch that they fcarce remember
they are Men.
'Tis impoITible for Men in their Condition to ap-
ply themfelves to hear the preaching of the Gofpe},
that fo they might become Chriftians, lince the
Spaniards fo Itrenuoufly oppofe it j who ought there-
fore to give up the Title they have ufurp'd over
them, ever fince they made a Conqueft of 'era, as
they are wont to boaft. They that have any Intereft
in a Governor's favor, difpofe of the Perfons of
thQ Indians as their proper Goods, and divide 'em
among themfelves, as if they were born abfolute
ValTals. Two or three Spaniards will fometimes
appropriate to themfelves a whole Nation of Indi'
ans. It may be the Mafter of the Family falls to
the Lot of one, his Wife to another, and their
Children to a third. They are fent to the Mines
loaded like Horfes, and forc'd to carry heavy Bur-
dens a hundred or *two hundred Leagues ^ this is
teen every day. To obviate thefe Diforders, it
will
192 -^ Relation of th Spanifh Voyages
will not be fufficient that your Majefly demand your
Tributes, and threaten thofe with fevere Punifli-
inent who (hall prefume to torment the Indians for
the future, or exad fuch Tasks of 'em as they are
not juftly obli^'d to perform j for they'l ftill perfifn
in the fame courfe.
As the fevere Bondage of the Indians is a great
obftacle to their Converfion on the one hand, fo on
the other is the courfe taken to difperfe 'era at a
diftance one from another, whereby 'tis almoft im-
poffible to alTemble a confiderable number of 'em.
Both thefe ways prevent their being inftruded in
our Religion, and put in the way of Salvation.
'Tis necellary in order to their being fed with the
Divine Word, that they live in Society, and be in
a condition to be eafily aflembled •, and 'tis as ne-
ceflary they fhould enjoy an entire Liberty, that
they might voluntarily embrace the Word of God.
The Learned fay there was no Syltem of written
Laws given by God in the time of Ahraham^ becaufe
the Church was his Family, and did not confift of any
whole Nation. Nor did God fee good to give his
Law to the Ifraelites while in E^ypt, tho they were
then a numerous People, and computed to be no lefs
than fix hundred thoufand Men able to bear Arms,
becaufe they were not a free People, being yet in
Captivity. But the Almighty gave 'em his Law
when thefe two conditions were found in 'cm to-
gether, namely, when they were both Numerous and
Free *, which was not till he had employ'd his Power
to deliver 'em from the Yoke of Pharaeh. But of
all Laws, that of the Gofpel efpecially requires
both thefe Conditions, becaufe it fuppofes Perfons
at liberty to feek to be inftruded in it, and to put
the Precepts of it in pradife. And 'tis very pro-
per for thofe that obferve the Laws of Chrift to
incor-
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 191
incorporate themfelves and live in Societies, tha|
they may perform the folemn Ads of Divine Wor-
fliip by the pradice of the feven Sacraments an4
other Ceremonies of the Church. 'Tis necefl^ary
for Chriftiaas to meet together from time to time
in public to hear the Word of God, and allill at
other parts of his Worfhip, that fo new Converts
may be confirm'd in the manner of Life they have
embrac'd *, for without thefe helps they would ia-
fcnfibly decline in their Zeal, and might come even
to lofe their Faith. In Oiort, if the Spaniards arQ
permitted to keep the Indians fcatter'd up and down
on the Mountains, and in the Vallies, and to employ
'em perpetually in performing the unreafonabl^
Tasks they exaft of 'em, it will be impofiible to
inftrud 'em in our Religion to any purpofe.
By what has been faid^ your.Majefly may very well
conceive what Difbrders reign in the Indies^ antj
how neceHary 'tis to hinder the Spaniards from re-
taining the Natives under fo fevere a Yoke, an4
from proceeding to depopulate the Country as they
have hitherto done. And that which is yet more
deplorable, is, that they fuffer 'em to die withoufi
taking care to haVe tfie Sacraments adminifler'd to
'era, having no more regard for 'em than for Dog§
or Horfos. One would think they believ'd thefe
People to have no immortal Souls, but were uncapa^
ble of Rewards or Punifhments in the other Life.
The 'Spaniards are no way qualified either to be
Lords and Mafters of the Indians, or to teach 'em
the Dorhin of the Gofpel, or to induce 'em to im^
brace it by their Examples. A conliderable num-
ber of Indians were committed to the care of John
Colmenero. to be inftruded in our Religion, tho he
was fo ignorant that he knew not well how to make
the fign of the Crofs, or give any tolerable account
Qf hi^ own Faith ^ in fo much that wiieij he W95 ask*4
Whal
1 94 ^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
what he taught thofe Indians under his Condud, he
could make no other Anfwer than that he taught
'era to make the fign of the Crofs, but pronounc'd
the words wrong that are us'd in that Ceremony.
When the Indians of one Province had brought all
their Idols to the MifTionaries, with Proteftations that
they now detefted that impious Worfhip, and were
refolv'd to ferve the true God for time to come,
the Spaniards fold thefe very Idols to other Indians,
or exchanged 'em for Slaves. What concern of Mind
can the Spaniards be fuppos'd to have for the Salva-
tion of thefe People, when they only dcfign to en-
rich themfelves, and thereby to be qualified for Em-
ployments above their Rank^ and when they are
fo ignorant, that they don't know the Creed, or ten
Commandments ? They are fordidly covetous, and
indeed give themfelves up to all forts of Vices ; fo
that their Lives are infamous and abominable. The
Indians are comparatively more honeft and virtuous
than they are : for tho they are Pagans and Idola-
ters, yet are content with one Wife, as Nature
teaches 'em, while they fee Chriltians take fourteen
or fifteen Women, how exprefly foever the Law
they profefs forbids it. Many of the Indians fcarce
know what it is to rob one another, to offer Vio-
lence to anyone, or to commit Murder: Whereas
they fee the Chriflians guilty of all thefe, againft
all Reafon and Juftice, and that they violate all their
Oaths, fo that there is no ground to put the leaft
confidence in 'em. The poor Indians that are Wit-
nefles of the Crimes of fuch as call themfelves
Chriflians, think the God they worfliip is the vileft
and moft unjufl God in the world, becaufe he does
not immediately inflict fome lignal Punifhment on
thofe that pretend to ferve him, for their flagitious
Lives. They alfo think your Majcfty the mofl cruel
of all Princes, becaufe your Subjeds are fo abomi-
nably
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies; 195
liably vicious \ they fancy ( as I have before faid )
that your Majefty drinks human Blood, and eats
the Flefh of Men. And tho thefe things may ap-
pear ftrange and furprizing to your Majefly, they
;are no news to us who have been accuftom'd to 'em.
And we can't but wonder, that fome extraordinary
[marks of the Divine Anger and Indignation have
inot been infiided on Spain to make her fmart for
I the Criraies committed by the Spaniards in ^we-
\fica.
\ Your Majefty may by this time very well perceive
the Character of thofe Men to whom the charge and
icare of the Souls of the Indians is committed. And
'tis no Wonder that there's fo little done either for
Itheir temporal or fpiritual Advantage, fmce the dif-
Icovery of the Indies^ under fuch Condud. God is
ino more known there now than he was before, un-
jlefs it be in the Province of Mexico. And that
iQight Inftrudion the People have had there has colt
f'em very dear: Tho the Son of God commanded
his Difciples to give that freely which they had
.freely receiv'd. The Indians were committed to
the Spaniards^ on condition they would undertake to
jteach 'em the Chriftian Religion : therefore fince
I they have acquitted themfelves fo ill of that Com-
'miffioii, they ought to riiake reftitution of all they
have taken from 'em under this pretext. However^
;God will not be mocked, who fees all things, and is
a witnefs of all the wicked Aftions of the Spaniards^
rwho have made it their bufinefs only to torment
(^nd inflavc thefe pooi* People inftead of taking
licare to inforni 'em of the Truth. And ihdeed
l^thefe fecular Mert are not vfery proper to be made
f Preachers of the Gofpel. Your Majelly has been
111 fcrv'd in not having had good Information given
you of the ill deportment of your Subjeds. For
'tis riot to he. doubted but your Majclty would
O 2 have
196 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
have provided a Remedy, if due care had beea
taken to give you advice of it : Or if yourMajefty
had not done it, you would have very much wrofig'd
your Conicience in fending fuch Men into the new
World to preach the Faith, and give teftimony c6
the Doctrin of Jefus Chrift, who are abfolutely un
capable of fo honourable a Miniflry, and even de
cry and debafe it by their fcandalous Converfatio^j.
'Tis therefore necell'ary that this Employment be
taken away from Secular, and committed to Reli-
gious Perfons, as agreeing better with their Cha-
racter, which may be done without giving thefe
Ecclefiaftical Miniflers any occafion to claim a tern
poral jurifdidion over the Indians ^ for if that
(hould be allow d, we fhould fall into the fame la;
conveniences we are endeavouring to avoid. The
corrupt Lives and evil Examples of the S^aniardi
do, more hurt than the preaching of an infinii
number of Priefts and Monks can do good. There
fore your Maj^fty is oblig'd in Confcience to de-
prive the Spaniards of the power they ufurp ovej
the Indians, and never fuffer em to make 'em theii
Valfals.
One principal Reafon that proves this Propofi
tion is, that People ought to enjoy Peace and Tran-
quillity, that they may be in a condition to at
tend the Worfhip of God, and the good Work
prefcrib'd by the Chriflian Religion, and not to b
diverted from the Sacraments by being condemn'c
to continual Labor. Which flate of Peace am
Reft can't fublift without preferving to every Mai
his Property, and guarding him from all the aflaulti
of Injury and Injuftice. The Governors of Cora
monwealths are bound by the Law of God to re
move out of the way all Obftrudions to fo neceflar ,
a Peace", and fpeedily to allay thofe Diflenfions an*
Troubles that may continue Difcord among fuch a
pro
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 197
profefs Chriflianity, becaufe 'tis diredly oppofit to
cfee end of God in creating Men \ for he fends 'era
mtothe World to obferve his Commands, and to
I'pply themfelves to the exercife of Religion and
^ood Works, that they may thereby merit eternal
ife.' This good order is neceflary in every Chrifti-
m Republic, but there efpecially where the Chrillian
aith has been' but lately entertain'd. The Spaniards
ire too cc/etous 'and felf-intereited to have any
uriidiftion over'thefwdl/jiEny granted 'em, becaufe
hey'l never give 'em any refpit orrepofe, but go
)n to rob and torment 'em all the ways they can: In-
dent. There is no kind of Injuftice but they tdm-
nit it to fpoil thefe poor People, and therefore
here is no way to fnelter 'em from their Oppref-
ions, but by annexing the Ind'tzs to the proper In-
heritance of your Majefly's Crown. The S^amardi
;ill the Indians Vs^ith impunity in the Fields, in the
-ligh-ways, and in the Mines, and do it moreboJd-
y, becaufe many times theieare no WitnelTespre-
ent to convict 'em of their Cruelties. So that no-
hing G?.n be more evident, than that l\\t\ndums are
lot in a condition to compole their Minds to at-
end to the Divine Word, fo as to be induced to
)bey the Divine Commands, while the Spaniards avQ
heir abfolute Lords, who will continually harafs
em with endlefs Trouble and Perfecution, which
vill fill their minds with Anguifli and Vexation, and
ill kinds of Mifery, nay with an averfion to your
Majefty, and a great hatred to our God, and to his
_.aw, which feems to 'em fo fevere, fo heavy and
ntolerable a Yoke. They can't but think your Ma-
efty's Government is tyrannical, as well as that the
od whom we adore is unjufl and unmerciful ^ fup-
)ofing him the Author of all the Violence they fuffer
Tom the Spaniards j becaufe while they, on pretence
of preaching the Catholic Faith, bring fo many
O 3 terri-
19S 4 Relation of the Spanlfh Voyages
terrible Calamities upon 'em, their God fufFers this
without punifhing their Injuftice and Impiety after a
very remarkable manner. Thefe unfortunate Peo-
ple have no other Relief than what they find in 1
their Tears, whicli they pour forth day and night, '
protefting their own Gods were more kind and fa-
vourable than the God of the Europeans, and faying
they enjoy'd a fettl'd Peace, and all tHS Conve-
niences of Life while they ferv'd their own Gods,
whereas ever fmce they had been under the power
pf the Chriftians, they had been expos'd to all man-
ner of Abufes. This makes 'em abhor the Catholic
Faith, and by confequence puts thofe that preach
to 'em out of a condition to attain their end : So
that your Majefly is beyond all queftion oblig'd by
the Law of God to refcue the Indians from the Yoke
of the Spaniards, and to take 'em under your owa
Protedion.
I farther add, that the power your Majefly has
over the People of the New World, has been
granted you by the Grace of God and the Suffrage
of the Church, both for the temporal and eternal
Advantage of the Indians ^ which Privilege is a kind
of neceffary means of their Salvation. So that the
Government of 'era belongs of right to none but
your Ma jelly, with the exclufion of all other Powers
whatfoever, unlefs they defire to frullrate ^11 the
Advantages both fpiritual and temporal, which the
Indians might hope to reap from the Converfation
of the Europeans. Your Majefly's Character and
Jurifdidtion over 'em engages you to remove all Ob-
flacles that may hinder them from obtaining thefe
Advantages, and being fav'd through Faith by the
preaching of the GofpeL Your Majefly ought not
to fuffer your Authority to become infamous and
odious, nor your Subjedls to ufurp a tyrannical
Power that will infallibly iffue in the dellrudion of
the
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indlcs. 199
the Indians^ if they mufl be Vaflals to the Spaniards^
who treat 'em fo cruelly and inhumanly. When
we firft arriv'd in the New World, we faw innu-
merable multitudes of People inhabiting the Pro-
vinces of New-S^ain^ Cuha^ Jamaica^ and the Ille
of St. John, which are now all defolate. The Pro-
vinces and Kingdoms of the Continent are in a yet
more deplorable condition, tho once as well peo-
pled as Toledo and Seville. There's fcarce any place
in the World where Men and other Animals multi-
ply fo much as they do in the Indies^ bccaufe the
Air of the Country being temperate, favours Ge-
neration. But the Spaniards have found out the
art of entirely depopulating large Countries filPd
with infinit numbers of People, for they have un-
juflly malTacred fome to poITefs themfelves of their
Gold and Silver, others they have deftroy'd by ex-
cefTive Labors, or by forcing them to carry unrea-
fonable Burdens in long Journies ^ in a word, they
have facrific'd the poor Indians to enrich themfelves.
We advance nothing but the very Truth, and all
that we have faid does not exprefs half of what we
have feen j nor will it be a difficult task to convince
them of falfhood who dare maintain the contrary
before your Majefty. None but fuch as have fliar'd
inthetruitof this Rapine and Cruelty, will oppofe
the truth of fuch Fads as are known to all the
world. And 'twill be in vain to pretend that any
contagious Dillemper has made a Country of 2500
leagues defolate, which before was very populous.
The manner of governing Kingdoms ought to be
conformable to the Law of God and Man, for the
good and profit of the People, who are to be de-
fended and preferv'd from the Violence and Injullice
of thofe that are deflitute of the fear of God, and
ufe a tyrannical Power, merely obtained by Ufur-
pation, for the ruin and deftruftion of thofe that are
O 4 under
feoo A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
under 'era. Your Majefty may eafily be informM
how the Spaniards have abusM the Power you grant-
ed 'em for the Converiion of the Indians^ in turning
it to afflict and deftroy 'em with unexampled Cruel-
ty. And that which makes the cafe yet more la-
mentable is, that none of thofe who have been cm-
ploy'd in your Majelly's fervice have ever given you
advice of thefe great Diforders, tho fo very preju-
dicial to your Interefl, beiides the lofs of an infi-
nite number of Souls who have perilh'd in the dark-
nefs of Paganifm, out of which tliey might have
been eafily reduc'd if the Spaniards had in the leaft
been governed by the fear of God.
Your Majefty may pleafe to remember that one
Article of the Will of the mofl Serene Queen IJa-
bella^ is exprefs'd after this manner :
* /tew. Since the time wherein the Apoftolic See
* granted us the Ifles and Continent of the Ocean, it
* has always been our principal Intention to caufe
* the Light of the Gofpel to ihine on the People of
* the New World, and to fend Prelats and Monks
* thither to convert and inllruct 'em in the truth of
* the Catholic Faith. Therefore I befeech my Lord
* the King, and the Princefs my Daughter, to labour
* with all their might to render this Enterprize
* fuccefsful, and to fecure the Indians from receiving
*any damage either in their Eftates or Perfons, but
* on the contrary to take care they be treated with
* all forts of kindnefs j and that ftriu: and fpeedy
' Juftice be executed upon any one that fliall offer
*'era the leafl Injury, and to keep exactly to the
* terms of the Apoftolic Brief difpatched for this
* Grant. Thefe are the exprefs Words of that II-
luftrious Princefs : And yet no fooner was fhe ex-
pir'd, but the Spaniards began to abufe the Indians,
and to offer 'em all the Outrages of which we have
been fpeaking, and could give your Majefty a more
limple Relation* To
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 201
To all the foregoing Reafons it may be added,
that t\\Q Spaniards are declaiM Enemies to the Mi-
ansj and deiign nothing but their deftrudion, arid
to get polTertion of their Country *, which is fo un-
doubted a truth, that 'tis altogether needlefs to
prove it. For he is properly a Man's declared Ene-
my, who goes about to aCcufe him of forae ca-
pital Crime, that deferves death ; who deprives hini
of his Liberty and the grcateit part of his Goods ;
who makes a cruel War upon him and inflaves him ^
who feeks all Occafions to kill him, and takes away
his Wife and Children to inflave 'em ^ who ufurps^
all the Goods of his Relations whert they die, and
ifnjuftly ravifhes from him all that is dear to him.
Certainly fuch Violences as thefe are againft the
Rights both oi People and Princes^ and4isfiiffici-
ent to demonltrate the Spaniards to be the declared-
Enemies of the Indians^ tliat they have done 'em all
the mifchief which we have been relating. For
they have calumniated and accus'd 'em of the; moffc
horrible and infamous Crimes that cart be imagin'd,
meerly to get polTdhoh of their EffEtes, andftrip
'em of all they had under this pretext j whereas the
pradices they charge 'em with are purely imagi-
nary, and flich as have never been fo much as heard
of in the great Illands of New Spain, Cuba, Jamaica^
and St. John, tho they h we been all very populous ;
for .after the molt exad Enquiries we were able to
to make, we could never find the leafl appea-
rance of thofe abominable Sins, to which fome few
Perfians are addided. The Indians of the Kingdom
of Tucatan know not what this unnatural Vice is.
Nor are there any great number of 'em that eat hu-
man Flefh. They are farther accusM of Idolatry ^
but Men have no right to punifh 'em for this Crime,
which ought to be left to the judgment of God.
Our Anceltors were formerly Idolaters, as the In-
dinns
ao2 A Relation of the SpanKh Voyages
diam are now % and the whole Univerfe was pollu-
ted with this Sin before the coming of Chrift, and
before the Apoftles had preach'd the Chriftian Faith.
For God difpers'd them up and down the World to
diflipate the darknefs that was fpread over the
Earth : and they did not employ violence and force
of Arms to punifli Idolatry, or other Sins that were
the Confequences of Infidelity ^ they made ufe of
nothing but the good Examples of their Virtue and
Holincfs, together with their Dodrin, which con-
tain'd the Menaces and Promifes of the Word of
Godi and we ought to do that in the Indies^ which
they did in other parts of the World. This was the
Courfe which Chrift himfelf firft took, and then
oblig'd his Apoftles to follow his Example. The
Son of God came to feek and to fave that which was
loft. Which of our Anceftors could have been fav'd
if they had been put to death for Crimes commit-
ted in the time of their unbelief? the exprefs Words
of the Gofpel are contrary to this Method j for
Chrift fays to his Difciples, Thus it is written^ and
thus it behoved Chrip to fujfer and to rife from the dead
the third day ^ and that repentance and remiffton of Sins
fljould he preach'' d in his Name among all Nations^ be^
ginning at Jerufalem : yind ye are Witneffes of thefe
things^ Luke 24. 46, 47, 48. which evidently proves
that the Gofpel ought to be at firft preach'd to Infi-
dels, by declaring of Peace, and the remifllon of
Sins that are paft, fince Chrift has given no power
or permiflion to men to punifh 'em.
The Spaniards have moreover prefumM to main-
tain that the Indians were like brute Beafts, utterly
uncapable of difciplin, and unfit to receive the light
of Chriftianity. Your Majefty has good reafon to
punilh thofe that declare fuch notorious Fallhoods :
For under this Colour they have obtain'd of your
Majefty a power to poflefs themfelves of the Indies
as
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indlcs. 20 j
as their abfolute Property ,and to do the Indiam what
mifchief they pleafe. Thus have they imposed on
the Confcience of the molt Catholic King j and ob-
tain'd leave to carry away the Inhabitants of the
Iflands and Countries that lie near Hifpaniola, and
have accordingly forc'd 'em out of their own Coun-
try againfl all Law and Equity ^ fo that an innume-
rable multitude both of Men and Women that in-
habited above fifty Iflands, fome bigger than the Ca-
naries, have beendeftroy'd, infomuch that there are
but eleven Perfons left. I have been an Eye-witnefs
of this defolation, as well as Peter de Life, who is a
man of honor and credit, and now a Monk of the
Order of St. Francis. He built a Brigantine, and
man'd it with Sea-men to make a review of thofe
once populous Iflands ; and they found in all that
vail Country but eleven People (as has been faid)
tho they fpent two years in making this Voyage.
'Tis impoflible for me to txprefs to your Majelly,
on the one hand, the great meeknefs, goodnefs of
temper, and finccrity of the People of the NTcw^
World, and on the other, what enormous Rava-
ges and Cruelties the Chriftians have exercifed up-
on 'em. Your Bowels would be mov'd with Com-
paflion, and your heart too much afFeded, if an ex-
ad defcription of all this were made you.
Cruel Wars have been raisM in divers rich Pro-
vinces, without any fair occafion, but only to gratify
the covetous humour of the Spaniards : At thf fame
time they flatter themfelves that they have Authority
from your Majefl:y to employ force and violence to
inflave thefe People. And all the difference they make
between thofe Indians they look upon as their Sub-
jeds, and thofe whom they treat as Slaves, is, that
they fell the latter publicly, but ufe a little more for-
mality about felling the former, by feeking pretences
to hide their Injuftice. In the unjuft Wars they have
made
204 A Rehtion of the Spanifh Voyages
made with 'era^ after having kiird the Mailers of Fa-
Hiilies,they have alfo murder'd their Wives and Chil-
dren, and polFefsM theoifelvesof all they had. And
God is now.pleas'd every day to fliew usby his fevere
Chaftifements that he has been grievoully offended
by thefc Robberies and Cruerties." The Welfare of
the Indians both as to Body and Soul is in the great-
eft danger-, for if they muftbe fubjeO: co'the abfo-
lute Power of the Spaniards^ tbty'l utterly' deftVoy
'em, without fparing any, fomuch asto pt^opagate
their Race. : If the Law of Nature torbids us to
commit a Pupil to thechargeof one that is a mor-
tal Enemy to him or his Parents, or has embezerd
his Eftate, or fet him an ill Example ^ and yet he has
been given up to the care of. a Perfonof thisCha-
radler •, the Judges would be obliged to rectify the
matter, by taking him from under his Conduct,
whatever fecurity he offers to give for his fidelity.
'Tis much the fame cafe withthe I»«//^m in refpeO: of
the Spaniards^ for thefe would have it believ'd that
they are the Guardians, Tutors, and Protestors of
the other : tho 'tis only a fraudulent pretence to en-
fnare 'em. The Indians know well enough how to
govern themfelves, without being beholden to Guar-
dians ', and the Spaniards are no way capable of in-
ftruding 'em in the things of Religion, which yet
is the main thing the Indians want, and the greateft
kindnefs that can be done 'em. And 'tis eafy to fee
what difpofition the Spaniards have towards 'em, as
to their temporal advantage. So that 'tis moft cer-
tain they are their declared Enemies \ lince they have
ftrip'd *em of all their Goods, offer'd all forts of
abufes to their Perfons, and taken away their Wives
and Children, whom they have condemn'd to perpe-
tual Slavery ^ which courfe, together with the cruel
Wars made upon 'em, has almoft quite unpeopled the
New World. How is it pofGble that men that lead
fuch
md Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 205
flich kind ot\Live3, fliould infpire the Indians with
the deiire of embracing the Law of God, and the
love of .Virtue, efpecially; feeing they many ways
perfecure the very Monks, who are lb zealous for
the Retormation of thefe Idolaters? On the con-
trary, the spamards fpare nothing that may debauch
'em, and ex^pofe "em to all forts of Vice by the evil
Patterns they fet 'em : They teach 'em to fwear and
blaipheme the holy Name of God, tho in reality the
poor Indians don't do it defignedly, but only becaufe
they iieai: the. Spaniards i^fe fuch Expreffions. 'Tis
therefore, plain that the Spaniards ought not to have
any ]urifdi£tion over the Indians, if their advantage
either as to this Life or that to come be confider'd,
feeing they are the mortal Enemies of this People,
and think of nothing but how to deftroy 'em. Ic
would, therefore be a piece of great Injuflice to
abandon 'em to fuch Men, when their Difpofition
toward 'em is fo well known •■, it being a mortal Sin
to expofe one's Neighbor to evident danger of
lofing his Life : And we doubt not but your Majefty
will be cautious of falling under the guilt of fuch a
Crime, and not give up the Indians to thefiiryof
the Spaniards.
All juft andteafonable Laws, and thofe Philofb-
phers that have written on Morality are againll
placing any Government in the hands of neceflitous
and covetous Men, whofe greatelt end is to get rid
of their Poverty, and to deliver themfelves from
that mean condition in which they live, and there-
fore are ready to facrifice all the obligations of
Duty to the defire they have of becoming rich.
And becaufe this greedy Paffion is continually in-
creafing, and their Minds are v/hoUy fet on the ways
of heaping up Wealth, and filling their Chefts, they
find no reft but in fatisfying their Avarice. They
abhor Poverty as Nature docs a racuum^ and there-
fore
2o6 A Relation of the Spanifh Vcynges
fore have no other thoughts night or day but t6
contrive means of amairing together as much Trea-
fure as they can. Upon this account the Philofopher
determins that 'tis a dangerous thing to put Nations
or Provinces under the Government of fuch as are
covetous or needy, who are refolv'd to be rich at
any rate in the world. We are inform'd in Hifto-
ry that the Romans being about to fend two Confuls
to govern S^ain^ one of whom was poor and the
other covetous^ when this Affair was propos'd to
the Senat, Scipo j4fricanus gave his opinion that
neither of 'em was proper to make a Governor,
there being reafon to fear that both would abufe
their Authority to feather their Nefts out of the
public Stock j becaufc fuch kind of Perfons are like
Leeches in a Commonwealth, and make it their
principal care to gather fomething on every lide^
and to devour the Subftance of the People, making
themfelves rich at their charge, becaufe their
covetous Defires can never be fatiated as long a$
they remain in this World : Nay it muft be ad-
ded, that this Vice moft commoilly proves incura*
ble j fo that if Men greedy of Lucre get Authority
over any People, they will not fail to fpoil and ruin
'cm, becaufe the Paffion that animates 'cm, keeps no
bounds or meafures. No Laws nor Penalties with
which they can be menaced, will be ftrong enough
to reftrain 'em, as long as they are inverted with
Power *, and the more fuccefsful any covetous Man
finds his Induftry to be, the more earneftly does he
delire and purfne Riches, which he accounts the
fupreme Good. The delire of being rich produces
much the fame efFed in the mind of a poor cove-
tous Man, as the hope of Celeflial Happinefs would
in that of a good Man \ for as this perfedtly fills up
the Capacity of his Mind that ardently wilhes for
it, fo the Mifer's Soul can defire nothing befides
hoards
And Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 207
hoards of Treafure, wherein his Happinefs confifts,
becaufe Money anfwers all things : For this is that
which capacitates Men to undertake the greateft
Enterprizes, and to obtain whatever they defire in
this World, the highefl Employments, Honors and
Dignities, coftly Habit, and the moft delicious Dain-
ties j this facilitates their commiflion of all forts of
Crimes, gives 'em opportunity to be reveng'd on
their Enemies, to acquaint themfelves with Perfons
of great Quality, and to obtain their Favour and
Efteem. 'Tis on thefe accounts that the Men of the
world feek it with all their might, and expofe them-
felves to fo many Fatigues and Perils, as well as per-
petrate the greateft Villanies to procure it.
Now the pofTeflion of Riches can never fatisfy
the Soul, fo as to give it ^erfed content ^ for 'tis
perpetually craving what it does not yet poflefs.
Therefore the Worldling, who has chofen Mony
for his chief Good and laft End, is indifferent as to
other things, but devotes himfelf entirely to this,
employing all his care and diligence to increafe his
Bags \ and his thirft of Gold grows more and more
violent, by how much the more his Eftate fwells,
according to the Philofophcr's Maxim, that Motion
is by fo much the more impetuous, by how much
the nearer it approaches its end.
Avarice is a more incurable Evil than Concupis-
cence, becaufe its Objed, and the things it promifes
attrad the Hearts of Men with greater violence \
and the power of Mony is of a larger extent, be-
caufe it puts a Man in a condition to gratify his
Luft, whereas this on the other hand can't procure
him Riches. The love of Mony endures longer on
the Mind than the Appetite of fenfual Pleafures,
how violent and impetuous foever they may be for
a time. Covetoufnefs is always on the advance, and
feldom cxtinguifh'd but with a Man's Life: For the
more
i?o8 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyagef
more a Man's natural Infirmites incf eafe, the more
the defire of heaping up Wealth fortifies it felf ^ as
'tis obfervablein old Men, that the nearer they ap-
proach their end, the more covetous they ufually
grow 5 becaufe as their Health and Strength gra-
dually dirainifh, they think they have the more need
of the affillance of the things of this World.
Thefe Reafons make itevident, that if any Ju-
rifdidion or Government be given to covetous Men,
they will not fail to opprefs and vex thofe that are
fubjeded to them, that they may make themfelves
rich at their cofts ^ and that nothing will hinder 'em
from gratifying their Avarice whenever they have
a fair occafion ; for this Vice is the root and fpring
of all others, 'tis the fource of Treafon, Fraud,
•perjury, Violence, Rapine, and barbarous Cruelty.
This Pafllon is faid to be blind, becaufe it occafions
blindnefs in the Mind, and benights the Reafon with
the grofleft Darkn^fs, and hinders him that is cap-
tivated with it from perceiving his danger. The
light of Gold, tho it caufes the commiffion of all
manner of Crimes, and is the fource of Calumnies,
gives him more Joy than the light of the Sun, be-
caufe he finds his Account in the ruin of others.
It excludes Fidelity, and banifhes Union and Con-
cord out of the World •, it violates Charity, and
produces all manner of Mifchief ^ it knows no Com-
panion, but induces Men to difclaim their very Pa-
rents, and break all the ties of Faith and Amity •,
it never fuffers a Man to fympathize with his Neigh-
bour's Miferies, but even makes him difregard his <
Relations as if utterly unacquainted with them, i
The covetous Man never forgives himfelf his own ,
Expences, and leads a miferable Life in the midft of i
Plenty and Wealth. This greedy humor fo darkens
the llnderltandings of thofe that are bewitch'd by it,
that they know not how to make a right Judgment
^ of
and Cruelties in the WeH-Indies. 2051
of any thing, but inflead of following the Didates
of reafon, are on all occadons driven down the im-
petuous Current of their beloved Vice, all their
Thoughts and Defires are direded this way, an4
yet they can never quench the infatiable Thirlfc that
preys upon their Souls.
But I mu/t now apply all thefe Reafons to the fub-
jed in hand : and I befeech your Majefly to give
attention to the Confequences I draw from 'em.
All the Spaniards that leave their own Country tQ
go into the Indm are poor, and 'tis only Avarice
that drives thera thither \ for they don't only pre-
tend to raife themfelves a little above a condition of
Poverty and Want, but to amafs valt Treafures to-
gether, without fetting any Limits to their unmea-
furable Covetoufnefs, that they may be able to' buy
honorable Offices and Emploiments, and advance
themfelves far above their degree. We have beea
taught by experience that in a few years, many Sea-
wards who were in the meanefl; and bafelt condition,
and always led a miferable Life, have conOderabl/
alter'd their fortune by the Riches they have brought
from the New World, and likewife introduced
great corruption of Manners throughout ail S^a'm^
The love of Mony is now grown to that height,
that Gold and Silver feem the only Gods that are
worfhip'd. They that know not how to advance
themfelves by induftry and labor, do it by plundring
and robbing without any fear of punifhment. They
take away from the poor Indians all they find in their
houfes, and after all make 'em work to get Itill more
put of their fweat and labor ^ fo that if any Autho-
rity over the Indians be allowed 'em, they'l certainly
abufe it to enrich themfelves, while this deteftable
covetoufnefs reigns in their minds. And what can
the poor Indians do to fhake off their tyrannical
Yoke, fince they arc naturally ipeek, quiet and timq-
' B ' rous.
210 J KeCAtion of the Spanifli Voyages
rous, and dare not complain or murmur ^ or if they
fhould, have no body to hearken to 'em or defend
'em? The Spaniards who have an abfolute Power,
are always chiding and domineering over 'em wher-.
ever they are, in the Fields, on the Mountains, in
the Mines, in- the Defarts, or in the High- Ways.
They take all the furniture of their Houfes from
'em, which is their greateH; Riches, as well as ex-
pofe -em to the greateft dangers, and moft intolera-
ble Labours, beating and inflifting on 'em the fe-
verell Puniiliraents for the leafl Trifle, when they
hope to get any thing by it. What a piece of In-
juftice then muft it be to abandon fuch meek
and fubmilTive Creatures to the fury of fuch mea
as thefe, when they are in no capacity to refifl the
tyranny of their Perfecutors, but are made their
nieer tools ?
What would one fay of that Judg, who after
he has received information of the violent paflion of
a wild Spark in the heat of Youth, to a beautiful!;
Virgin, fhould notwithftanding order 'em to live to-
gether in the fame houfe, and give him an abfolute
power over her, but withal threatning to punifh
him feverely if he ofFerd her any violence ? Could
any one fafely confide in the PromJfes of lich a man
as this, whatever Proteftations he Ihould make of
moderating his paflion on fo critical an occafion ? It
is not to be doubted but fuch a Judg would commit
a mortal Sin, in thus expofing his Neighbour to fc
dangerous a Temptation, tho he fhould happen tc
abftain from the Sin to which he has fo great a pro
penlion. It almoft amounts to the fame thing t<
put the Indians under the Jurifdiftion of the S^a
niardsj who are their mortal Enemies •, for if the;
don't maflacre 'em in cold blood meerly out of th
hatred they bear 'em, they do it however to ge
their Goods, and rob 'em of their Treafure. An]
' a^d Cruelties in the Weft-Indies.^ 2 1 1
as in the former Inftance it would be next to a Mi-
racle for that amorous Youth not to abandon him-
felf to the Conduft of his Pafllon, when the Objea:
of it is committed to his difpofal j fo 'tis not to be
expeded that the Spaniards fhould abftain from com-
mitting all forts of Outrages on the Indians^ and fa-
crificing both their Ellates and Lives to their owa
Intereft, fmce their Avarice irritates 'em with
greater violence (if poflible) than Lull does the
other in the former cafe : fo that Laws back'd with
Menaces and Punifliments will make no impreifions
on the minds of thefe men, but they'l be fure ftill to
exercife a thoufand Cruelties on the poor Indians^ if
no other courfe be taken to give check to their Co-
vetoufnefs.
I entreat your Majelly to confider what befals any
Province to which you fend a Governor. If he be
covetous, and regardlefs both of his Honor or Reli-
on, what Diforders and Mifchiefs does he not bring
with him ? Tho he has not fo abfolute a Power as
the Spaniards have over the Indians whom they keep
in their Houfes ^ tho the Royal Council of Spain
think themfelves concerned to oppofe his Prevarica-
tions ^ and tho the King's Prefence one would think
fhould be a Itrong Bridle to restrain his Exadions :
yet in two years time, fuch a Governor as we have
bin defcribing will become rich, by the Rapine and
Extortion he commits in the Province put under his
care. What then is it likely th^ Spaniards yj'iW^o,
in the remotefl parts of the Indies^ when they have
an unlimited Power over the Indians^ and neither
Itand in awe of God nor the King ^ and when thefe
poor People are under fo great apprehenfion of
ftill more intolerable Cruelties, that they dare not
complain of the violence they fufFer? And how
Ihall they report their Grievances ? Ihall they go to
the Royal Council, which is it may be three or four
P 2 ^^ hundred
212 A ReUtion of the Spanifli Vojages
hundred Leagues from 'em ^ or fhall they addrefs
themfelves to your Royal Throne, which is diftant
above three thoufand ^ What courfe fhall they take
to prove the Infults, Vexations and Perfecutions
they endure from the Spaniards in Countries fo re-
mote, where they can expcd no relief?
^. "^The Spaniards are fo hardn'd by their exceffivc
Avarice, that they are not in the leafl touch'd with
the Groans and Complaints of thefe miferable Peo-
ple j for nothing makes impreffion on their minds
but Gold and Silver. The Condition to which they
advance themfelves in the Indies is fo far above their
former Hate, that it infpires 'em with intolerable
Pride and Arrogancy. They pafs away their time
in pleafure and feafting, and clothe themfelves after
fo fumptuous a manner, that nothing in the World
can be more magnificent. And withal it may well be
faid that nothing can equal the corruption, licen-
tioufnefs and dillblutenefs of their Manners j and to
fupply all thefe fuperfluous Expences and ExcefTes,
they fuck out the very Blood of the poor Indians.
Now feeing there's no hope of obliging the Spa-
niards to alter their Condud, and both the Laws of
God, and right Reafon, and all the Maxims of Poli-
cy and Prudence oppofe the giving of any Govern-
ment into the hands of covetous and indigent Per-
fons, who are prejudic'd with a violent defire of
gain: Much lefs ought your Majefty to fufFer the
Spaniards to ufurp a Title to the Indians as their
Free-hold, when they are fo greedy and infatiable,
that they'l make no diiEculty to facrifice all kinds of
duty to the defire they have of raking fums of Mo-
ny together any way in the World. For all their
Induftry will be employ'd in pillaging their Vaflals ;
and which is yet more to be lamented, while they
cruelly deprive 'em of temporal Life, they likevvife
take a cowrfe to expofe 'em to eternal Death.
There-
And Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 2 1 j
Therefore your Majefty ought to incorporate the
Indiei with the Inheritance of your Crown, that yoa
may be the univerfal Father, Protedor, <3overnor
and Lord of all the Indians.
1 add to all the foregoing Reafons, that the Spa-
niards impofe intolerable Burdens on the Indians^
and exadt fuch Services of 'em as reduce 'em to the
extremity of raifery and defpair. 'Tis their firft
and principal duty to ferve and obey their own na-
tural Princes j becaufe this is founded on the Law of
Nature. In the fecond place, they owe your Maje-
fty fervice and obedience, as being their univerfal
Soveraign ^ which is an obligation of Divine Right,
founded on the Engagement your Majefty has con-
tracted to fend 'em the Light of the Gofpel, and
to take care for their Inftruftion in the orthodox
Faith. The third kind of Service is that which the
Spaniards oblige 'em to render them whether they
will or no, which is a fevere and tyrannical Yoke, nay
more intolerable than what the Heathen Tyrants id-
posM on the primitive Chriftians ^ it may be liken'd
"to the torment the Devils inflict on the Damned in
Hell. The Violence of it is contrary to all the Laws
jOf Nature and Reafon, nor can it bejuftified by any
'human Laws. It muft be remembred that the In-
dians are naturally weak, going always naked, and
" continually expos'd to the heat of the Sun : 'tis there-
fore contrary to all Juftice that they fhould be op-
prefs'd with heavy Burdens far above their ftrength,
as well as contrary to Charity, and the Cuflom of all
reafonable Men. All the fervice thefe poor Crea-
tures do can't fatisfy the Spaniards^ who thef efoi e fee
an Officer over 'em ftridly to infped their Adions,
and render their fervitude ftill more terrible. This
Employ is ufually beftow'd on fome cruel and inexo-
rable Monfler, who always ftands over 'em to make
'cm work the harder, and pundlually to obey all his
P 3 ' Commands.
214 ^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyiges
Commands. The Executioners of the divine Wrath
in Hell can't be more wicked and hard-hearted than
this fort of Men : They brand 'em with hot Irons,
and are continually beating and abufing 'em *, they
are not content to make 'em labor without inter-
in iflion, and to fet 'em unreafonable Tasks, but al-
ways reproach and chide 'em while they undergo
this Toil, and befides all this, violate their Wives
and Daughters, or make Prefents of many of 'em
together to their Mailers on whom they depend,
and who fet 'em to work as fo many principal Ty-
rants, who alfo make it their bulinefs to invent cruel
and unfufFerable Torments. And to hinder the
Indians from complaining of their Mifcries, they
threaten to inform againft 'em, that they have feea
^em worfhip their Idols. This is the fad ftate to
which thele People are reduc'd. They depend on
no lefs than four feveral Matters, on your Majefly,
their Caciques^ the Spaniard to whom they are in-
flavM, and his Deputy, who is the greateft Plague
to 'era that can be. Nay, 'tis impoflible to tell how
jnany Matters they have, feeing all the Spaniards do-
mineer over 'em as fo many Tyrants, robbing 'em
by turns, and making no fcruple cruelly to abufe and
murder 'em.
Seeing the preaching of the Orthodox Faith k
the only thing that could warrant the redudion of
the Indians to a ftate of dependance on any foreign
Power, in order to their Converfion \ and feeing
none can pretend ori this account to be their lawful
Soveraign but your Majefty ^ it follows that your
Alajetty ought with all your might to oppofe the
Power which private Men afllime over 'era, and
which can't be look'd upon as any better than Ty-
ranny. Your Majefty is oblig'd for the common
good of all your Subje<fts to eftabliih a regular and
ftabie form of Governraeat among 'em, which niay
'•• • ''-'^'^ ■ ^- ':. conduce
and Cruelties in the Weft-Iildies. 215
conduce to their Gonverfion and Salvation : and fee-
ing the foveraign and lingle Power you have over
'em is fufficient for the end propos'd, other Jurif-
didions are not to be tolerated, becaiife they can
only prove burdenfom and incommodious, and con-
trary to the common Maxjms of Government re-
ceived in the World, which will not allow a People
to be fubjedt to feveral different Princes-, much
lefs fhould the Indians be thus fubjected, becaufe of
their Poverty, Meeknefs, Patience, Humility, and
the tendernefs of their Conflitution, partly occa-
fion'd by their going naked, their unwholfom Food,
and the Labor they undergo to get their living.
After all this 'twould be fufficiently tedious and un-
eafy to 'em if no other Duties were exadled of 'em
than thofe which your Majefty and their Caciques^
who are their immediat Princes, impofe. How then
can they be able to endure thofe excelFive Tasks,
thofe heavy Blows, Vexations and Abufes of which
we have fpoken above ? If your Majefly has a mind
to preferve the Indians from utter Deltrudtion, thefe
new Burdens ought not to be imposed on 'em, nor
fliould they be condemn'd to this fevere Slavery.
This would be to violate the Laws of Juftice and
Charity : For the Mafters of Policy and Prudence
ufually fay, that tho a Prince require extraordinary
afliftance of his Subje£l:s in fome prefllng Exigencies
of the Commonwealth ^ yet where thefe Subjeds arc
under other fubordinate and immediate Lords, to
whom they areoblig'dto pay the fame Duties, this
cannot be done, becaufe this would be to over-
charge 'em with endlefs Taxes : for 'tis contrary to
all Juftice to opprefs 'era with a double Burden, and
all good Laws formally condemn it ^ for the Rules
of Equity forbid all Oppreflion and Injury. There-
fore fince the Indians are already bound to ferve
their natural and immediate Princes, and to pay 'em
P 4 all
2 16 A Kehtion of the Spanifli Vojuges
all the homage and duty of Subjeds, it would be un-
juft to fubjedt 'em to fuch new Mailers as pretend to
a right of exading new Services of 'era. The
Taxes that are impos'd on any Eftate fliould be pro-
]^ortionate to the Revenue that may be cxpeded
If om it •, and there ought not to be more Homage
and Service annex'd td it than is reafonable lor
the advantage of him that owns that Eftate. If in-
animate things have this privilege, how much more
ought it to be fo with Men, who deferve to be
tis'd a little better ? Since therefore your Majefty's
Government alone is fufficient for the welfare and
advantage of the Indians^ to fet other Lords over
'era v/ould be to ad contrary to Juftice. For who
can deny it to be contrary to all the Laws of Equity,
to fubjed the Indians to the Spaniards ^ who mind no-
thing but to raife Eftates by making a Prey of 'em ?
An 'tis as oppofit to Charity to add new Burdens to
them that can fcarce bear fuch as are already im-
pos'd upon 'em, and to increafe the Calamities of
fuch as are fufficiently befet with AfRidtion, befides
the pains they take for the fubfiftence of their Wives
and Children* Charity teaches to do to others as
we would have them do to us, to fecure 'em front
all the Evil we can, and to relieve 'em in their In-
digence when they addrefs themfelves to us, and
Ihew us their NecefHties, becaufe we our felves are
'defiroiis of the Affiftance of others, when in diftrefs.
The Laws of Chrill are founded on fuch Maxims as
fehefe : Do to others what you would have others do to
you'^ and, Thou /halt love thy Neighbour as thyfelfj
in which one word, St. Paul fays, the whole Law is
containM. He farther fays, Bear ye one another^s
■^urdens, and fo fulfil the Law of Chrijl.
It is to be conlider'd, that all the Inhabitants of
ihe New World are born free : Nor do they lofe
this Liberty in recognizing your Majefty for their
Sove-
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. iij
Sovcraign, and univerfal Emperor of the indks.
On the contrary, if there be any defeOis in their
Polity, your Majefly^s Government may fupply em,
by which their Liberty will be render'd the more
compleat. This was the defign of that mofl Chrif-
tian Princefs, Queen Ifabdla^ as appears by all the
Writings (he left about this Affair. A few days be-
fore her Death ihe commanded General d'^kantara^
then Governor of Hffpaniola^ to treat all the Indians
as a free People. And in a general Aflembly of
Divines and Lawyers held at Burgx>s^ his Catholic
Majefty declar'd in Council, that the Inhabitants of
America were free, and commanded they fhould be
treated as fuch. The fame was done by your Ma-
jefty, after having confulted the moft learned Di*
vines and Canoni/ls in the year 1 523.
Now if it be an inconteftable Principle that all
the Indians are free, and that all of 'em that have
been, or fhall be difcover'd in time to come, can't be
fubjefted to any other Jurifdidion but that of your
Majefty, and that they owe to your Majefty alone
that Homage and Obedience which free Cities and
Nations are oblig'd to pay their lawful Soveraign,
'tis mofl evident that no private Men can pretend
to the fame. Nay, they are more free in refpeft
of us than other Nations, becaufe the Kings of
S^ain have no Title to 'em as their Subjeds by
right of Inheritance, or that of Purchafe, or of
Conqueft, as they might have had, if they had
been conquer'd in a lawful War, that had bin for-
mally declar'd, for the revenge of fome great
Offence which the Indians might have commited
againft the Spaniards^ or againft the univerfal
Church, or fome very confiderable Member of it,
for which they had refus'd Satisfadion when de-
hianded : or if they had unjuftly retain'd any Lands
or Goods of which they were unlawfully pofTefs'd.
But
2i8 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
But on the contrary, they have frankly and volun-
tarily fubmitted themfelves to your Majefty. And
yet they have bin hitherto not only negleded, but
treated by the Spaniards^ as wild Bealts are by Hun-
ters, tho they never did any thing to deferve fuch
ill ufage. They have yet feen nothing to convince
'em of your Majefty's Grandure, Juflice, Goodnefs,
and Magnificence, having found nothing but Ty-
ranny, Violence, Injufticc and Cruelty from the
Spaniards your Subjeds, whofe ill Aftions and bad
Examples render 'era infamous j fo that the Indians
look upon 'em as the vileft of Men. And this makes
'em think upon the Kings of Spain with horror,
who yet never gave 'em occafion to entertain fuch
thoughts of 'em. But they fancy your Majefty per-
fectly knows all the ill treatment they endure, and
that 'tis by your Confent and Approbation^ they
believe 'tis all done by your order, and that you
give your Protedion and Favour to thofe that infult
over 'em.
The Title your Majefty has to the Indians is
founded only on the Obligation you have taken
upon your felf to have 'em inftruded into the true
Faith, as appears by the Apoftolic Briefs granted
on this account : which ought to engage your Ma-
jefty to moderate your Government fo much the
more, and to treat 'em with the greater tendernefs
and kindnefs. The Kings of Spain fhould fignalize
the Firft-fruits of their Soveraignty over the Indies,
by the tokens of Peace and Love to thefe People,
and by taking care to furnifh 'em with good Ex-
amples : In a word, they ought to treat 'era'as their
Neighbors and natural Subjects, for fear the com-
miffion of any Injuftice or Cruelty among 'era (hould
prejudice 'em againft the Chriftian Faith, and in-
difpofe 'em to receive the Counfils and Maxims of
our Religion. There fhould not be the leaft occa-
fioi^
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 219
Hon given 'em on any account to blafpheme the
^ Name of God, - which would be an Obllacle to the
' great end of their Gonverfion. Nothing (hould be
left undone, that may make 'em love your Majefty,
and induce 'em to praife God on finding them-
felves under a Government fo eafy and commodious.
They deferve in fome refped to be dealt with after
this manner, becaufe of the freedom of their birth,
which makes it unjufl for any to violate their Li-
berty. 'Tis neceflary for the Honor of the Chrif-
tian Religion, that they embrace it voluntarily,
bfcaufe God himfelf will have men miake a free
choice in matters of Religion ^ nor is any man
whatfoever to be treated with violence in this cafe,
and forc'd to embrace a Religion againft his Will.
And temporal Princes commit a great piece of in-
juftice, if they put a force on the minds of their
Subjects in a bufinefs wherein they ought to have an
entire liberty of Confcience : they ihould rather
obferve the Rules which God, the Univerfal Sove-
raign of all his Creatures, has conftituted. There
is no Power or Authority on Earth that has a right
to violate the Liberty of any People, becaufe 'tis
the moil valuable thing they poflefs, and preferable
to all other things in the World. Hence it is there
are fuch advantageous Conltitutions in the Civil
Law in favor of Liberty. And the particular Cus-
toms of the Kingdom of S^ain prefcribe that no-
thing be determin'd in prejudice of a Man's Liberty
in doubtful things, nor the leafl force or conftraint
put upon men that are free. And v;hen their con-
sent to any thing is violently extorted, it ought not
to be imputed to 'em, becaufe 'tis an infringement
of the Law of Nature.
If 'tis unlawful to feize on the Goods of Men that
are free without caufe, much more is it to offer
violence to their Perfons, and to inflave 'em, which
IS
210 A Relation of the Spanlfh Voyages
is the greatefl Injury they can receive next to the
lofs of Life it felf. If a Father can't choofe himfelf
another Heir without the confent of his Son, who
has a natural Title either to the whole, or at leaft
a 4r/; part of his Father's Eftate 9 much lefs may
inferior Lords pretend to a right of appropriating
the Kings Subjects to themfelves, unlefs his Majefty
confent by abandoning his own Right,whichis found-
ed on the voluntary Agreement of his Subjeds. If
the current Mony of the Kingdom can't be alter'd
without the People's confent, becaufe the alterati-
on may be attended with great Inconveniences j
much lefs can the People themfelves be taken from
the Dominion of the King againft their Will, and
fubjeded to the abfolute Power of private Mafters ^
becaufe this forc*d Change is a Violation of their Li-
berty. It muft be farther added, that fuch as arc
tributary to your Majefty, can't pafs under the JuriC-
dii^ion of another Perfon, which would be more
uneafy and difadvantageous to 'em, and under which
they would perhaps be condemn'd to a more fervile
and laborious Gourfe of life. How much more
ought they who enjoy an entire liberty under any
Prince's Goverm'nent,to be prefervM in the poffeflion
of their Privileges ^ and how injurious would it be
to deliver 'em up as VaiTals to particular Lords,
who would probably abufe their Authority, and
treat their Perfons with violence, as well as greatly
prejudice 'em in their Eftates ? 'Tis moft injurious
both to the Lives and Liberties of Men, to depend
on divers Lords and Mafters, becaufe their Service
and Labors multiply according to the number of
thofe under whofe jurifdidion they are : And 'tis to
be prefumM they will not be all alike juft and equita-
ble.
'Tis very much the Interefl of Princes, not to fuf-
fer the number of their Subjeds to be diminifh'd,
becaufe
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 221
becaufe it will deprive 'em of much of the advan-
tage and fervice they may reafonably exped from
'em. And 'tis as much the Intereft of Subjeds, not
Vo fuffer themfelves to be transfer'd from the Do-
minion of the Prince under which they have always
liv'd, to that of an inferior Mailer. Thofe that
know the difference between the Government of
Kings, and that of particular Lords, which is ufual-
ly hard and fevere, will do any thing to be fecurc
from the latter ^ while they are well pleas'd with
the former, and readily difpofe themfelves to bear
a Yoke that appears fo much eafier and lighter
than the other. And this is the reafon why the ge-
nerality of Men do all they can to avoid falling un-
der the dominion of private Men to the prejudice
of that Royal Jurifdidion to which they have been
continually accuflom'd. And this Sentiment is juf-
tified by the fufFrage of all wife Men, and favor'd
by all juft Laws.
'Tis a general Rule, that a Prince can do nothing
that may caufe any confiderable damage to his Sub-
jeds, unlefs they freely give their own confent :
And this your Majefty every day obferves, where-
in you follow the fteps of your Anceltors, who to
avoid doing any thing contrary to the rules of Juf-
tice and Equity, frequently us'd to aflemble their
Council, and to take their advice who werePer-
fonsof great Wifdom and Senfe, and to make a due
improvement of it. In the prefent affair, it would
be injurious to the Indians to give 'em up to the Spa-
niards as their Vaffals, becaufe they ufe *em fo bar-
baroufly, and reduce 'em to the utmoft degree of
Servitude. And fuch a matter as this is not to be
concluded, without propofing it to the Indians^ and
obtaining their confent. For thus to change their
condition without confulting 'em, were to put a
treacherous trick upon 'em againft the Laws of Na-
ture,
222 J R elation of the Spanifh Voyage f
ture, Juftice and Chanty, becaufe this fubjedion
would be to a fevere and tyrannical Power ^ as is
evident by what the Indians have hitherto met with
from the Spaniards. Befide, fuch an alteration would
be contrary to the Will and Law of God, becaufe
it would hinder the progrefs of the Catholic Faith,
and infpire the Indians with hatred to the Gofpel,
and would tend to the general deftrudion of thofe
People whom your Majelly is bound to preferve and
proteft. This you owe 'em from a motive of Cha-
rity and Zeal for the good of your Neighbor, as you
are a Chriflian Prince, and moreover by the Obli-
gation of your Office, as the Vice-gerent of Jefus
Chrill.
From all the Reafons alledg'd, it may well be con-
cluded, that if even the Indians themfelves would
voluntarily confent to be inflav'd, and utterly re-
nounce their Liberty ^ yet this confent of theirs
would be void and null of it felf, becaufe a thing
every way fo mifchievous ought by no means to be
tolerated. Your Majefty would be oblig'd by the
Law of God to hinder 'em from ruining themfelves
in fuch a manner ^ becaufe the Tyranny the Spa-
niards exercife over 'em is fo great, that many of
the Indians have fallen into utter defpair under their
unfufferable Impofitions, and chofen rather to ftab
or poifon themfelves than to pine away gradually
under their miferable Bondage : Others have fled
into the Mountains, where they have become a Prey
to Tigers and Lions ^ others have died merely with
Sorrow and Anguifh, when they found they were
condemn'd to a Life fo full of Mifery and Toil,
without any hope of refpit or mitigation. I knew
a Spaniard who was fo famous for his Cruelty, that
above two hundred People kill'd themfelves, forae
one way and fome another, to avoid his Barbarities
i.i HifpanioU : A like number underwent the fame
fate
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 22^
fate i^ the Ifle of Cuha^ where this Tyrant exercis'd
his Violence and Rapine.
But tho the common Intereft of all Nations in
the World ought to prevent their Kings from alie-
nating them from their own Dominion to make 'em
the VafTals and Subjects of private Men, and tho this
is founded on natural Reafon and Juftice •, yet fome-
times in prefling Exigencies Princes may alienate a
part of their Territories to extricate themfelves out
of fome great and perplexing diiRculty, from which
they cannot otherwife get free. For inftance, if
they have no other courfe to take for the defence of
the Commonwealth, it feeras lawful for 'em to ex-
change the Jurifdidion they have over their Subjeds,
provided they fome way indemnify 'em, or repair
any damage this exchange may occafion. But 'twould
be impoflible to indemnify the Indians if they fliould
be left to the Dominion of the Spaniards^ who bring
upon 'em inexpreffible Calamities and Mifchiefs, that
can never be repair'd by any advantage they may
allow 'em ^ for they take a courfe to deflroy both
their Souls and Bodies. Therefore feeing the Con-
verfion of the Indians depends principally on your
Majefiy's Title and Jurifdidion over 'em, you ought
not to do any thing that may blafl the hope of this
Defign, and will infallibly hinder thefe People from
embracing Chriftianity. And it muft be remem-
ber'd they have freely and willingly chofe your Ma-
jefty for their Soveraign, which is a kind of Con-
trad they have made with your Majefly, that can-
not be violated without their Confent, unlefs it be
to put 'em in a condition more eafy, advantageous
and fecure, than what they enjoy under your Ma-
jelly's Dominion. And your Majefty is oblig'd to
promife and fwear to 'em, that >ou will always
preferve their Privileges, as they are ordinarily kept
in the generality of Kingdoms, when a free People
fubmit
224 -^"^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
fnbmit themfelves to the Government of a new
King. This Practice is almofl as antient as the
World, for ever finceMen began to fpread them-
felves upon the face of the Earth, it has always been
the cuftora of Princes to promife and fwear to 'em to
employ all their Power in preferving and defending
'era from OpprefTion. Which evidently proves that
your Majefty has not power to give up the Ind'tam
to the abfolute Dominion of the Spaniards^ who
have had the cruelty to deftroy fuch numerous Na-
tions of 'em, without any legal Procefs, or leave to
make their Defence. For it would be to ad contra-
ry to the Law of God and Nature to expofe 'em to
fo many Miferies, which are as fo many invincible
Obftruftions to hinder 'em from turning Chriftians.
Nor is there any Prince on Earth, who can juflly
pretend to have fuch a Power: for Soveraign
Princes have no Authority to do any thing that may
provoke the Juftice of God, who has not fet 'enj
over their People for their ruin and deftrudion, or
for the overthrow of the Church j but on the con-
trary has fet 'em in the World to defend the Church,
to bring their People to efpoufc the true Faith, and
edify 'em in it.
Reafon and the Law of Nature dired that thofe
who have made an ill ufe of the Privileges granted
to 'em, ihould be deprived of 'era. Now the Jurif-
didion allow'd the Spaniards over the Indians was
only on condition they would inftrud 'em in Reli-
gion, and defend 'em from their Enemies ^ and they
have not only fallen fliort of this Engagement, but
even barbaroully abus'd thofe they were oblig'd to
pi-oted. 'Tis remarkable in the Laws of Spain^
that if a Mafter treats any one of his Slaves inhu-
manly, he is oblig'd to fell him, becaufe 'tis but juft
that he who tyrannizes over his Subjeds fhould lofe
his Jurifdidion over 'em, which of right devolves
oa
And Cruelties in the Wef!-Indlesl i5 2 J
dn the Prince. He that abufes his Title is not wor-
thy to poflefs it : and a Man neither owes Homage
nor Obedience to a Tyrant. So that your Majefty
ought in quality of Soveraign Lord of the People
of the New World, to defend 'em, and do 'em
Jullice, when they are wrong'd \ and confequently
to refcue 'em from the power of the Spaniards, that
they may enjoy their Liberty.
'Tis moreover a Cuftom eftablifh'd by the Laws
of Spain^ That if the King grant any Privilege
contrary to the Catholic Faith, 'tis null and void, as
much as if it were contrary to the civil Good and
Welfare of the Kingdom, or to the Rights of any
particular Perfons. And the fame account is to be
made of any Privilege given contrary to the Law
of Nature: as for example, if a King fliould take
away any private Man's Eftate, to beftow it on ano-
ther. Therefore your Majefly cannot diveft the na-
tural Princes of the Indians of their Dominion over
'em, to inveft: the Spaniards with it, who not only are
Foreigners to 'em,but alio treat 'em after a tyrannical
manner. 'Tis therefore neceflary for your Majefty^
to revoke fo unjull a Privilege, deftrudive to the
People, and diredly oppofit to the Catholic Faith,
as well as to your Majefty's Service, the advantage
of your Kingdom in general, the good of many
Members of the Commonwealth in particular, and
which is contrary to Reafon, and the Law of Na«
ture.
'Tis farther conftituted by the Cuftoms of Spaing
in conformity to the Imperial Laws of your Ma-
jefty, as well as thofe of the Church, that when a
Privilege in procefs of time proves injurious, and
occalions more hurt than good, it ought to be im-
mediately aboli(h'd, without fo much as confulting
the Prince that granted it j becaufe from that very
pioment wherein this Privilege began to be detri-
Q. ' mentaL
226 A Relation of the Spanifli Foyages
mental, it ought to be fuppos'd the Prince dcfign'd
to revoke it : fo that it can have no more force or
authority, becaufe not according to the Prince''s In-
tention, who always ought to have Equity and the
Divine Will in view. Now fince the Privilege
granted the Spaniards to fubjed the Indians as Vaflals
is become lb pernicious, and occafions an irrepa-
rable damage to the Chriftian Religion, and to the
Crown of S^ain^ and lias bin the caufe of the ruin
of fuch vafl numbers of People, and of the defola-
tion of fome of the fineft Countries in the World ;
and feeing in all appearance it is the very reafon of
thofe Calamities with which God is now affliding
S^ain^ 'tis neceflary to apply a fpeedy Remedy, and
to go to the root of the Difeafe, in revoking fo
pernicious and tyrannical a Grant.
Befides, the Dominion of the Spaniards over the
Indians has never bin judicially approved by the
Kings of Spin. He that firfl fhar'd thefe poor
People among 'em, as if they had been fo many
Sheep, had no order to make this diftribution,
which abfolutely defolated and unpeopled NewSpain^
but exceeded the limits of his Power ^ fo that no juft
Confequence can be drawn from what he did. It
was the great General d^ Alcantara who began this
irregular courfe in America. In the year 1 502, the
moll ferene King Ferdinando and Queen JfaheUa fent
General De-Lares from Grenada to govern the new
Conquelts : At which time there were but three
hundred Chriitians in the Ifland of Hifpaniola. This
Governor was cxprefly charg'd to treat the Indians
as free Nations •, to be very kind, tender and chari^
table toward 'em, to do 'em exad Juflice on all
occafions, and not to impofe too fevere a Yoke on
'em, or to inflave 'em ; in a word, to proted 'em
"from all Injuries, left any Violence Ihould prove a
Stumbling-block to divert 'em from entertaining
the
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indie^' &f
the Chriftian Faith, and infpire 'em with an averfion
to the Profeflbrs of it. Gt\\Qx:x\De- Laves (Tarried
with him three thonfand Spaniards^ who landed 2^t
St. Domingo^ where they foon foli'nd themfelve^'re-
dnc'd to great' ftraits for wahtof.Food. However,
the flrid Orders he 'had receiV'd would not permic
him to do any Violence to the Indians, or to infringe
their Liberty in the leaft ^ upon which he writes
many things to the Queen againft the Indians, loop-
ing to render 'erti odious to hei" by his Lies and
Slanders, that he might have leave to abufe the popr
Wretches at his'pleafure. Among other things be
wrote,. that it would be impoflible to preac^^ ^Jie
Chriliian Faith to 'em, as long as they were fiiffer'd
to enjoy an entire Freedom, becaufe they indnflri-
oufly avoided, all manner of acquaintance with the
Chriftians j in fo much that they refus'd to Work
for 'em, tho they ofFer'd 'em Wages for their L,a-
bor, and chofc rather to wander ilp and down a§
Vagabonds, than to keep company vvith Chriftians
to inform themfelves of their Religion. As if jic
thought the Iwi/rfwi we're oblig'd to divine that
there 'was a new. Religion to b6 preach'd to 'cm,
which they ought to embrace; or that they oint^t^
as poor as they are, to forfake their Houfes, Wives
and Children, and to leave their Lands unmanur'd,,
to come to feek the Spaniards^ and fo expofe them-
felves to die with Hunger in a Journey it may be of
two hundred Leagues or more; or as if they were
Under any obligation to undergo the fatigue of bririgr
ing Provifion to the Spaniards fuclj a tedious way, as
this. ' ' , ' '' ■ ' ' ' ■ '' -"^
His Majefty, who was fincerely :zcalous fbi^ t'he
Salvation of thefe Idolaters, and publifhing the
Name of Chrift in the New World, anfwer'd the
General after this manner : '' We very ardently
** ^efire the Converfion of the Indiam to our iioly
228 J Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
*' Faith, and that they be taught the Myfteries of
*' the Catholic Religion ^ and think it neceflary to
"" the fuccefs of this Defign, that the Indians and
*' Spaniards converfe and live together. Therefore
" we by thefe Prefents command you to oblige the
*' Indians to deal with the Spaniards of Hifpaniolaj
" and to have Converfation with 'em, to alTifb 'em
'' in building their Houfes, and in getting Gold and
" other Metals out of the Mines, and to pay 'em
" their Wages exadly, according to their labor
" and defert. You Ihall likcwife order every Ca-
" ciquc to have a certain number of Indians always
" in a readinefs to be employ'd in fuch Work as
" fhall be affign'd 'em, provided that care be taken
" to preach to 'em, and inftrud 'em in the Word
*' of God on all Holy-days, and that they be always
*' treated as Free- men, and not as Slaves j and be-
** fure let them meet with no ill ufage, nor have any
*' occafion to complain : Yet let fome diftinSion be
" ftill made in favor of fuch as embrace the Faith.
*' But let no Perfon be permitted to wrong 'em, or
•' give 'em the leaft difgufl in any thing whatfoever.
Thefe are the very words of the Letter which the
King fent to the Governor of the Indies^ by which
his Majelty fufEciently fignified that his principal
defign in the Indies was the Salvation of thofe Ido-
laters, and that for that end they (hould converfe
with the Spaniards, which plainly proves he had no
other regard to this Commerce betwixt the Chrifli-
ans and thefe Infidels, but only as a neceflary means
for their Converfion. And it muft be farther ob-
ferv'd, that when the King gives order to obligo^
each Cacique to fend the Spaniards a certain number
of Indians to work for 'em, on condition of being
paid for their Labor, he did not intend that all the
Men in the Indies Ibould be bound to perform fuch
Tasks, much lefs that the Women, Children, old
Men,
unci Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 229
Men, and Chiefs of each Nation, whom the Indians
look upon as their natural Princes, fliould be thus
treated. The King defign'd there (hould be due
confideration had of their Neceflities, that they
Ihould have liberty to provide for their Wives and
Children, and go every night home to refiefli them-
lelves with their Families, and fleep in their own
Houfes. And it may be farther remarked in the
King's Patent, that he did not in the leaft delign
the Indians Ihould be made to work every day and
without intermifllon, feeing it provides they fhould
be paid daily after their Labor j his intention was
that they Ihould be engag'd by fair means to do
what was requir'd of 'em, and not forc'd to it whe-
ther they would or no ^ in Ihort, that they fhould
be us'd in all refpeds as a free People. Befides, the
King commanded that all their Labors Ihould be
moderate, and proportionate to their Strength, and
that they (hould reft on Holy-days and Sundays, that
their Wages ihould be futable to' their Work, fuffi-
cient to encourage 'em in taking pains, and to re-
lieve their Families in all their doraeftick NecefU-
ties.
If the King had a perfeQ: account of the nature
of the Land in the Indiesy of the Weaknefs, Pover-
ty, Meeknefs and good humor of the Inhabitants,
of the rigor and feverity of their Labors, and the
great difficulty of getting Gold out of the Mines ;
if he knew the defolate ftate in which they are often
left, and the little care taken to engage 'em to re-
ceive the Sacraments before they die, he would
without doubt employ fome efFedual means to put
an end to thefe Diforders. The firft Admiral of
the Indies^ who made the difcovery of this New
World, though the afted conformably to the King's
Intereft in rendering the Indians of Mm Spain tri-
butary, by obliging 'em to dig a certain quantity
0.3 of
2^ o^ u4 R elatioK- of. the Spanlfli Voyages
of Gold out of the Mines, and condemning others
that were remote from any Mines to other kinds of
Tribute. Some of the Spaniards he carried with
him, Ihook ofF the Obedience they ow'd tiie King,
and fet up for fo many Tyrants, committing Vio-
lence and Spoil beyond what can be eafily imagin'd
in the Province of Xavagua^ one of the fineft and
mofl populous Countries in the Indies. The King
being inform'd of thefe Ravages, wrote his mind
to General De-Lares, and order'd him to put a flop
to the Cruelty and Violence of the Spaniards on the
Indians^ and to govern 'em as a free People, which
Orders were not well executed : For the Spaniards-
fliut up tjie Indians by force in the Mines, to employ
'em in the toilfom work of digging for Gold, which
requires a very robuft Conftitution : And v/hea
they had got this Gold, they were forc'd to be all
day in the Water to wafli it. At firfl the Indians
were kepf in the Mines for a whole year, till the,
Spaniards found they were not able to endure fuch
hard and continual Labor, and therefore gave 'em
fome time of refpite, contenting theraielves to
keep 'em only for five Months in digging Gold, after
which they employ'd 'em forty days in melting it.'
This they pretended was a time of reft for thefe
poor Creatures, tho this latter fort of Work is
more toilfom than that of grubbing up of Roots,
and clearing Ground that isover-run with Wood:
fo that they don't know what a Holy-day or Sun-
day mearis throughout the whole year. They are
fometimes almoft famifh'd, having nothing given
'em fave afew dry Roots that yield but little Nu-
triment-^ Tho the moft liberal of the Spaniards difr
tribute, 3 Porker once a week among half a hundred
Indians^ which is little more thai! everyone a tafte.
Kay fome of *em have not been willing to give the
Vidians th^t fei'v'd 'em any thing at all to eat, but
out
^nd Cruehies in the Weft-Indies. 2^ i
out of mere Avarice fent 'ein to feed like Beads in
the fields, or to gather fjuit upon the Mountains,
after which they forc'd 'em to work two or three
days together without eating. One Man frankly
confefs'd to me that he had got a great Eflate in a
little time by this kind of frugality. What ftrength
can Bodies that are naturally of a tender Conflitu-
tion be fuppos'd to have when fed after this manner,
and opprefs'd befides with exceflive Labor? 'Tis
impoffible they Ihould fublilt long under this cruel
Bondagej which makes 'em lead a forrowful, lan-
guifliing and miferable Life, being deltitute both of
convenient Food and Reft.
Tho the King order'd each Indian to be paid in
proportion to his Work, that they might have fome-
thing to live on, and be capable of buying them-
felves Necelfaries ^ this Command has been ill ob-
ferv'd, for they had nothing at all for many years j
fo that they were put to the greateft Extremity,
and fuffcr'd Hunger to that degree that they defir'd
nothing more than to die, that they might find an
end of their Miferies. Thefe are the Calamities
the poor Indians have fuffer'd in the Service of
Chrillians, who have had no regard either to their
Souls or Bodies.
As for thofe Orders that have been given the
Spaniards to treat the Indians as a free People, not
to over-charge 'em with Labor, not to do 'em any
Injuftice, and to let 'em mind their own Affairs,
and order their bufinefs as they faw good, they have
bin no more heeded than the other. For they have
been made mere Slaves, and certainly have not fo
much liberty as Beafts. And the Spaniards^ as good
Chriftians as they are, are not at all mov'd by all
the Calamities thefe poor Wiretchesundergo,but look
upon them as the vilelt of Slaves, and not fit to have
the liberty of doing any thing they have a mind to
0.4 do.
'552 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
do. They are conftantly expos'd to the Cruelty of
thefe Tyrants, and not treated like human Crea- *
tures, but wild Beads, who are kept in Chains by
their Owners, and difpos'd of at their pleafure.
If they fometimes let 'em go to their own Country,
they will not fufFer 'em to carry their Wives and
Children with 'cm, nor hardly any thing to eat *, fo
that they are prefently conftrain'd to return, while
the Refiedion they make on their deplorable Con-
dition often makes 'em defire death to relieve 'em.
if the exceflive Labors impos'd on 'cm make 'cm
lick, as it often happens (becaufe, as I have ob-
ferv'd, the natural Temper of their Bodies is none
of the ftrongeft ) the Spaniards do not in the leaft
pity their Con^Jition, but opprefs 'em with intole-
rable Tasks, reproaching 'era as lazy, and only
feigning themfelves ill to be excus'd from Labor.
And when they fee their Sicknefs increafe, fo that
they become unferviceable, they fend 'em to their
own Country, which is fometimes forty or fifty
Leagues diftance, giving 'em nothing but a few fap-
lefs Roots to eat by the way, fo that they often die
miferably, not being able to accomplifh fuch a Jour-
ney. Sometimes we find fome of 'em on the Road
juft ready to expire, others groaning hideoufly in
the Agonies of Death, and others quite dead. Thofe
of 'em that are able to fpeak, fay nothing but Hun-
ger. Hunger. Your Majefty by this account may fee
that the Governor of the New World had little
regard to the Orders that were given him, to treat
the Indians as a free People.
That Governor was exprefly charg'd not to do
any thing to the Indians that might hinder ^em from
receiving the Principles of the Chriftian Religion,
or prejudice their Lives or Health, becaufe the King
had no defign to deflroy 'em : yet this Man faw in-
finit numbers of 'em perilh that were imploy'd ia
' "^ - . • melting"
dftd Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 255
melting of Gold. The Labors exaded of 'em were
like a furious Peftilence, which cuts off multitudes
of People in a little time ^ and yet this fad Spedacle
could not engage him to revoke his cruel Orders,
or fo much as mitigate the feverity of 'em. How-
ever he knew well enough that he was not able to
cxcufe his Proceedings either before God or the
King, being exprefly contrary to the Charge that
had been given him; and therefore us*d fo much
Subtilty and Artifice in the management of this
Affair, that none of his Cruelties on the Indians
were known in Spain for thofe feven years in which
he tyrannized over the New World. They that
came after him, trod in his fteps by deftroying the
Indians^ tho his Catholic Majefty recommended it
to 'em to induce the Indians to receive the Catholic
Faith, by fliewing allkindnefs to 'em, and not to
make War upon 'em on the account of Religion, or
to conftrain 'em to embrace Chriftianity by force,
but rather to treat 'em as the King's Liege People,
impofing a certain Tribute on 'em, as on his other
Subjeds. All this was exprefs'd in the Inftrudions
given to Pedrarias, when he was made Governor of
the Indies ^ notwithftanding which he enter'd Ame-
rica juil as a hungry Wolf falls on a flock of Sheep,
and made horrible (laughters on all fides, ufing fuch
unheard of Torments, and making fuch wafte and
fpoil, that nothing like it is to be found in any
Hiftory. He might have been look'd upon as a
heavy Plague, fent by God to execute his Wrath in
extirpating the Indians. This Man, and thofe that
accompanied him, cheated your Majefty of five or
fix Millions of Gold, and 'tis impoflible to compute
the Spoil they made in the Indies. They depopulate4
a Country of above four hundred Leagues, as rich,
fertil and pleafant as any in the World. AH this
Tyranny was us'd to make the Ittdiam deliver up
all
SJ4 -^ Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
all their Gold : But by the juft Judgment of God
they made no great advantage of their Robberies ^
and it would have bin more for their interelt to
have kept the Indians alive, and to have made a coa-
liderable Profit out of their hard Labors. If a par-
ticular account fhould be given your Majefly of all
the Diforders committed by the Spaniards in the
noble Province of Nicaraqua^ your Majefly would
be aflonifh'd ^ and if they had not ftill continued
their Tyranny over thefe poor People, every day
killing and deftroying 'em, I fliould not have ex-
pos'd my felf to the fatigue of fo tedious and trou-
blefom a Voyage, to give your Majefly an account
of it. When your Majefly isalTur'd that the Spani^
ards have depopulated fo many vafl and noble King-
doms, and that they ftill continue todeflroy what-
ever efcap'd the fury of former Governors ^ when
you are convinc'd that they have carried Fire and
Sword through feven Kingdoms that are larger than
Spain^ your Majefly will eafily be perfwaded that
,what I have faid is no Exaggeration. I have feen
thefe Kingdoms in a manner as full of People as
Hives are of Bees, where now there are none to be
found, having been all murder'd by the Spaniards ;
fo that there are only naked Walls and empty
Houfes to be feen in many once populous Cities.
The Orders given by the moll Catholic Queen Jfa-
bella to General Ds-Lares were very prudent and
ufeful, but he did not think fit to obferve'em ^ and
the Relation he gave the King and Queen of matters
from time to time, were very far from Truth, tho
fupported by the Tellimony of divers Indians. He
aded quite contrary to the Inflrudions given him,
violating all the Rules of the Law of Nature and
Reafon -^ by which 'tis evident he went beyond his
Commiffion, aiid prevaricated in thofe Letters he
direded to the Council of Spain^ by intermixing
Falf-
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 255
Falftioods in his account, and difguifing what was
true. And 'tis certain if your Majefty had been
inform'd how tyraniucally this Governor treated
the Indians^ you would never have entrufted your
Authority in his hands ^ and by confequence your
Majefly is oblig'd to declare that you deteft the Pro-
ceedings of this Governor as injuft and tyrannical,
and to abrogate all he has done, and declare that
the Indians ought not to have been fubjefted to the
Dominion of particular Men, and that all the In-
juries they have fuffef d are contrary to the Law of
God and Nature, as well as to the Imperial and
Canon Laws ^ feeing they have been tormented in
their Perfons, raolelted in their Liberty and Eftates,
and condemned to die. Your Majelty is oblig'd, as
you are a juft Prince, and an Enemy to Violence, to
fupprefs thefe vexatious Pradices, and to deliver the
poor Indians from the Tyranny of thofe that have
opprefs'd and tormented 'em.
If your Majeily negleft to take this cruel Yoke
from their Necks, they will infallibly perifli. And "
that lovely Country which is naturally fruitful and
populous will foon become a vail Defert ^ for the
Spaniards that go thither, don't go to people the
Country, but to inrich thcmfelves by pillaging it.
Thofe that have lately gon into Hifpaniola, and
other depopulated places, and carried thither the
Commodities of Europe^ have not been able to dif-
pofe of 'em, there not being People to buy 'em : So
that thefe Diforders are diredly oppout to your
Majefty's Interelt •, for what advantage can you re-
ceive from the ruin of thofe People ? And what will
the World fay of fo juit a Prince as your Majeily,
if when you are inform'd of the mifchief don by
your Subjects in thofe vail Kingdoms, and among
fuch multitudes of People, you ftould not apply fu-
table Remedies to fo dangerous a Difeafe ? It can't
be
2^6 A Relation of the Spanlfh Voyages
be thought that your Majefty, whofe Mind abounds
with fo much Goodnefs, and fo great a Zeal for
Equity and Juftice, can tolerate fuch cruel Opprefll-
ODS as thefe.
To what has been faid, it may be added, to de-
monftrate that the power the Spaniards have over
the Indians is prejudicial to the Crown of Spain^
that by this means your Majefty lofes an infinit
number of Subjeds, who are every day cut off with-
out any lawful occafion •, whereas if fufFer'd to live,
they would chearfully fubmit to your Majefly's Go-
vernment when they faw the difference between
your Majefty 's Yoke, and that Slavery in which
they are held by their private Mafters. If your
Majefty had once received 'em into the number of
your Subjects, fo that they might be fecur'd from
the inhuman Severities they now daily endure, they
would love and ferve your Majefty with incredible
Zeal, being naturally inclin'd to be very fubmiffivc
to their Princes.
Your Majefty may farther confider, that you lofe
imraenfe Riches by the cruel depopulation of the
Indies^ which otherwife you might juftly acquire j
for 'tis impofllble for the Spaniards to fubfift long in
the Indies^ if the Natives be exterminated. And
thofe Treafures fufficient to enrich all Spain, would
be no fmal] advantage to promote your Defigns, and
enable you to refift your Enemies. If there come
3!o Mony from the Indies, but that Spring of Trea-
■fure be fafFerd to dry up, Spain muft necefTarily
ioftain great Inconveniences for want of it. Ex-
perience already ftiews that the Indies don't furnifli
us with fo great a quantity as in time paft, and 'tis
likely to diminifh more and more for time to come.
Befides, the manner of extorting it from the Indians
can't polTibiy laft long, becaufe 'tis too violent a
courfe. The Ifle of Hifpaniola is an unexceptionable
Inftance
mA Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 237
Inftance of what I fay *, for whereas above three
Millions of very fine Gold were drawn out of it at
firft, it cannot now afford the tenth part of that
Sum. The leafl Refledion your Majefty can make
will eafily convince you how your Revenues every
day diminilh. Your Majefty has nothing certain and
liable in the Indies^ if the Land be not cultivated,
and the Inhabitants preferv'd for thofe Labors thac
are fo advantageous. You have now but a fmall
number of Indians in all New Spain, from whence
your Majefty might annually have drawn a Million
of Ducats, if the Indians had been preferv'd, and
your Majefty's Interelt at iirft regarded. There
have been yet greater Confufions and Diforders in
Peru^ and the Mifchief daily increafes j from which
Kingdom your Majefty might yearly receive two or
three Millions of Gold if the Indians were not
treated with fo much Injuftice and Inhumanity, ma-
ny of *em having been murder'd, togther with their
great King Atahalip. All the Gold the Chriftians
have taken by force in Fern would of right have
belong'd to your Majefty, becaufe that Indian Prince
would have voluntarily prcfented himfelf to your
Majefty with all his Treafures. The Church has
likewife receiv'd great damage by thefe Cruelties ^
for as your Majefty has been fruftr^ted of thofe
immenfe Riches, fo the Church has loft an infinit
number of Souls who have perilh'd in their Igno-
rance, when they might have been taught the Myfte-
ries of our Faith : fo that the Lofles fuftain'd both
by Church and State are irreparable.
The Kingdom of Spain, which your Majefty rules
with fo much Equity, is furrounded with Enemies,
and in danger of being wafted and ruin'd by the
Turks and Moors, thofe dedar'd Enemies of the
. Catholic Faith : Becaufe God, who is the juft j«dg
and Soveraign Lord of the Univerfe, is grievoufly
offended
2^8 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages
offended with the Violence and Madacres which the
Spaniards have committed in the Indies^ where they
have opprefl: and flaughter'd innumerable multi-
tudes of People. Thefe Indians have rational Souk
form'd after the image and likenefs of God, and
ranfom'd by the Blood of his Son, who keeps an
account of 'em, and will not think 'em of no value,
how ignorant and barbarous foever they feem to
•be. He was pleas'd to choofe Spain to the Service
of carrying the Light of the Gofpel into the New
World, and to engage thofe Nations to entertain
the Chriftian Faith. And it feem'd as if the Al-
mighty had difcover'd all thele Temporal Riches to
the Spaniards^ as a recompenfe for thofe Spiritual
Pleafures with which they were to enrich the Indies.
But the he open'd a way for 'em into thofe valt
Regions^ ib wealthy, fertil and pleafant, fo full of
Mines of Gold, Silver and precious Stones \ inllead
of being thankful for all thefe Favors, they have
committed the moft hainous Crimes to provoke him.
Now 'tis ufual for God to diftribute his Punilhments
by a rule of proportion, adjufting them to the na-
ture of the Offence. If Men fin by Pride, he covers
'em with Confufion and Shame v if they get any
. thing unjuftly through Avarice, he often fuffers 'em
to lofe their own Goods *, and they that have ftolen,
iare in turn rob'd themfelves. Thofe that opprefs
and murder others, he permits to fall into the hands
of fuch as treat 'em with the like Cruelty : They,
that take away their Neighbors Wives and violate
'em, have fometimes the fame Outrages committed
■ on their own. And fuch as ufurp Kingdoms that
don't belong to 'em, by God's Judgment come to
fee their own Kingdoms invaded by their Enemies ;
and thus it is with other Judgments which frequently
■ apffwer the different kinds of Sin. The Holy Scrip-
ture and other Hiltories are full of Inftances to thi$
h':' purpofe^
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies* 2^9
purpofe ^ and Experience every day furnifhes us
with fuch marks of the Divine Difpleafure as thefe.
The Moors once over-run Spain^ and this was in-
terpreted as a Judgment from God to puniih the
Crime of King Roderick^ who ravifh'd the Daughter
of Count Don Julian^ tho 'tis more probable it was
to punifh the Crimes of the People of S^ain^ and
the Injuries they ofFer'd their Neighbours, and that
the Crime of this King only fill'd up the meafure of
thofe Vices.
'Tis convenient to inform your Majefty what is
thought by Perfons of the beft fenfe, whoare go-
vern'd by no Prejudice, but only companionate the
Sufferings of the poor Indians. I have heard many
fuch Perfons fay, I pray God thefe extravagant
Cruelties don't one day fall heavy upon Spain ! It
may be fuch words as thefe that drop from many
wife Men, are fo many Advertifements and Menaces
from God, who has been highly incens'd againftthis
Nation by the Crimes of the Spaniards. And we
already fee that Spain is reduc'd to great Neceffities,
and I^lony is very fcarce among us \ tho more Trea-
fures have bin brought hither than Solomon poffefs'd
in all his Glory : Moft of thofe that have brought
thefe Riches from the Indies have made a miferablc
end, and their Children are reduc'd to extreme
Poverty, which juftifies the old Maxim, Vix gaudtt
tertius Hceres^ the third Heir feldom enjoys an ill-
gotten Eftate ^ and that Paflage of holy Scripture,
He that opprejfeth the poor to increafe his Riches /haU
furely come to want, Prov. 22. 16. Becaufe, as has
bin faid, the Divine Judgments bear fome propor-
tion to the Crimes that Men commit. If your Ma-
.jefby have the curiofity to inform your felf of the
detail of all thefe matters, we can fhew you a Lift
.:of the principal Tyrants that have committed the
greatelt Diforders in the Indies^ by pillaging and
i malfa-
240 ^ Relation of the Spanilh Voyages
inaflacring thofe poor People, and have themfelves
all died in a dreadful and defpairing manner. It
feems their Violence and Cruelty, the great quan-
tity of Blood fhed in the Maflacres they have com-
mited, and their other vicious Adions, the efFeds
of which arc yet to be feen, cry aloud to Heaven
for Vengeance^ while the Tears, and Sighs, and
Entreaties of fo many poor Innocents have iill'd
Heaven and Earth, and put all the World into a
Confternation, to the utter (hame and reproach of
all the Spanifh Nation, and of the Kings of Spain
too. Since then it depends only on your Majefty to
lay the Ax to the Root of all thefe Diforders, and to
do Juftice to thefe afflided People, it will be aa
Argument of your Prudence and Equity to employ
your Power to deliver the Indians from the terrible
Oppreflions and Calamities under which they yet
groan.
Your Majefty may be pleas'd farther to obferve,
that if the Spaniards have an Authority given 'em
over the Indians^ however it may be qualified, they
will infallibly abufe it^ for being naturally proud,
they'l become flill lefs obedient to your Majelly's
Commands: Nay the immenfe Sums which they'l
get in the Indies will enable 'em to confederate
with other Nations, to withdraw their Allegiance
entirely from your Majefty at long-run, and to fup-
port one another in their Rebellion. We already
fee that the richeft of 'em, that flatter themfelves
with the Title of Conquerors, are fo intolerably
prefumptuous, as to fet themfelves above the Rules
of common Juftice. Your Majefty's Vice-roy faid
not long fince in one of his Letters, that the Indians
ought to acknowlege no other God nor King than
himfelf. Your Majefty therefore fhould take it for
granted that it is not confiftent with the Security of
your Government, that there Ihould be any great
Lord
and Cruelties tn the Weft-Indies. 241
Lord in the Continent of the Wejl-Indies^ invelled
with an abfolute Jurifdidion over the Indians \ this
Power ought to be infeparable from your Royal
Perfon : 'Tis not convenient for the future to give
any one the Title of Count, Marquefs, or Duke over
either the Indians or Spamards that are fetled there;
becaufe 'twill prompt 'em to think too highly of
them lei ves, and to advance themfelves above their
Condition, which may have very mifchievous Con-
fequences : In a word, this may probably open *em
a way to make themfelves Kings of the Indies^ and
thereby devefl your Majefly of Ae Right you have
to thofe Countries.
Nor will it be m<5ie fafe to trufl this Power in
the hands of thofe Gentlemen that compofe your
Majefty's Council in the Indies^ which may alfo be
attended with Inconveniences*, for 'tis impoflible
for the Affairs of America to be well adminiltred if
the Members of that Council be abfolute Lords of
the Indians: To be fure then the King of Spain
fhall never know the truth of what palTes there j
this would produce nothing but Fraud and Im-
polture, and be an infallible means to compleat the
Ruin of the Indies. They that govern in the Indies^
induftrioufly endeavour to prevent the Court of
Spain from receiving any true Information how
matters ftand there, that they may fecurely pillage
the Country, and live at their own Difcretion.
They have oppos'd thofe Friers whofe Zeal carried
'em to America to preach, and have hinder'd 'em from
reaping the fruit they might have expeded froni
their Labors. The Judges and other Officers were
afraid the Converfion of the Indians would be pre-
judicial to their Temporal Intereft ^ and Avarice
bore fway in their Minds inftead of that Zeal they
ought to have had for the Salvation of thofe Infi-
^lils. God is witnefs that this is true, and 'tis not
R diScuIt
242 A ReUtton of the Spanifh Voyages
difficult to prove it. They continued to perfecute
the Monks, till one of 'em, pitying them iferable
cafe of thefe Idolaters, came on purpofe to inform
the King of S^ain of the Violence of his Officers,
and of the Obftrudions they rais'd againft the pub-
lication of the Gofpel there. Cardinal Ximenes at
that time manag'd the Affairs of Spain^ who being
well informed of the Affairs in the Indies^ imme-
diately refolv'd to devefl the Council there of the
Jurifdidion they pretended to have over the Indians^
as being very pernicious. But the Kings of Spain
are at fo vail a diltance from thofe Countries, that
they have not been able fpeedily to redrefs all the
preffing Grievances that inceflantly afflict thofe mi-
ferable People. Their Laws and Orders given at
fo great a diflance have no great Efficacy : and 'tis
next to impoflible for 'em to have a true account
what Perfecutions the Indians fuffer : Or if a true
Information fhould be had, they can only give fome
general Orders, without defcending to make fpe-
cial provifion againft all thofe Mifchiefs that can't
be well known unlefs they were upon the place
where they are aded. Befides, the Perfons to whom
thefe Orders are directed, commonly conceal 'em,
or defer the execution of 'em ^ fo that when they go ,
about to fulfil 'em, 'tis too late, and the Remedies
applied prove unfeafonable and ufelefs. Nay, they
are often fo wicked as to ad- in dired contradidion
to what is commanded 'em j and flatter themfelves
with hopes of never being call'd to account, becaufe !
they are fo remote from Spain.
If your Majefty would referve to your felf alone;
the Jurifdidion of the Indies^ without fharing it;
among the Spam(\rds^ it would be the greateft hap-
pinefs imaginable to the Indians^ and nothing could:
more rejoice 'em, becaufe then they would be con-
vinc'd they Ihou^d be no more expos'd to the In-
fults
afid Cruelties in the Wefl- Indies* 241
fults and Perfecutions of their Enemies j and would
have fo great a refpeft for your Majelly, obey you
fo univerfally, and love you fo fincerely, that they
would be always ready to facrifice their Lives for
your Service. You could then require nothing of
'em, but they would do it chearfully, becaufe they
feem to have a great propenfion to fubmit to
your Royal Crown •, whereas if the Spaniards arg
their abfolute Maflers, as their Obedience will
be forc'd, (o it will be of no long continuance,
and they'l do all they can to get free of fo fevers
a Yoke.
Moreover, when the Indians are once perfwaded
they are under your Protedtion, that they may liv^
fafely in their own Houfes, and need fear no injury
either in their Perfons or Goods ^ all that are re-
tir'd to the Mountains will foon come down to dwell
in the Plains, as they were wont heretofore. For
abundance of 'em have retreated to avoid the Crii*
elties of the Spaniards ^ and chufe rather to be de-
vour'd by wild Beafts in the Mountains, than to fall
into the hands of their Perfecutors, tho Chriftians.
The poor Wretches fufFer a world of Inconveniences
in thofe places whither they have retir'd, wanting
almoft all the Neceflaries of Life : And 'tis impofli-
ble to find 'em out to inftruft 'cm in the Chriilian
Faith : whereas if they liv'd together in Towns and
Cities, they might eafily be taught Religion, and a
regular fort, of Government eflabiifh'd among 'em,^
whereby they would be brought to the Service or
the True God, which would become familiar to 'em :
By this means the Ground would be cultivated, the
Roads frequented and rcnder'd more fafe, and the
Country no longer be defert and forlorn : The
Spaniards would be fupplied with Provilions, and
convenient places to lodg in on their Journeys, and
have a tlioufand other Advantages of which they
R 2 at<§
244 ^ delation of the Spanifli Voyages
are now deprivd by the Indians deferting their Ha-
bitations.
Your Ma jelly may remember that after a mature
examination of this Affair by many learned Men
and able Divines, they unanimouHy declar'd, that
the Dominion of the Indks could not be juftly given
to private Men, nor difmember'd from your Ma-
jelly's Crown. This Determination was lignified
to Ferdmando Cortez,, with orders to put it in execu-
tion. Your Majefty was pleas'd on the fame account
again to call together an AfTembly of Perfons of
great Learning and Virtue, who after a long de-
bate, declar'd that the Spaniards could not lawfully
be made Lords of the Indies. After which your
Majefty gave mofl exprefs Orders to prohibit it,
revoking all Grants to the contrary procured on
thofe falfe Accounts and Mifreprefentations that
had been given you. Your Majelty commanded the
Governor of Florida to put thefe Edifts in execution,
as may be Hill feen by his Inflrudions. Among the
principal Articles of thefe Conftitutions, one is.
That the Indians ought to be accounted free, and
not obliged to any other Services than the refl of
your Majelly's Subjects who enjoy their Liberty
under your Government : That they ought to
pay Tithes to God, unlefs excus'd for fome time,
and likewife fuch Tribute to your Majefty as is im-
pos'd lawfully, and in proportion to the Goods
they poifefs, and the quality of their Land, accord-
ing to the reaibnable Eftimate of thofe that govern
'em.
If it be defir'd that the Indians fhould be taught
the Catholic Faith, and brought to embrace our
Cuftoms, while they keep up a fort of Government
among themfelves, your Majefty ought not to give
tl)em as Slaves to any one whatfoever, either for
ever, or for a limited time , fcr this would be to ex-
pofc
a^d Cruelties in the Weft-Indies. 245
pofe 'em to the fame Mifenes they have hitherto
endurM, and perhaps to increafe them : for after
this there will be no dependence to be had on the
Orders a:.d Prohibitions made in favoiir of the
Indians^ whatever Penalties fhall be annex'd to fa-
cilitate their Execution ^ for thofe that have bin
already mide are very wife Edidts, and might be
very ufeful if put in practice. And one chief
Reafon againit giving the Indians for Valla Is to
the Spaniards^ is the fmall account theie latter
make of the Lives of thofe poor Creatures ^ for
'tis not to be iraagin'd with what Contempt they
look upon 'em, unlefs by thofe that have feenit:
Their excedive Covetoufnefs induces 'em to make
^m labor beyond their Strength, not caring what
becomes of 'em fo they get any thing by 'em.
If any Perfons give your Majefly a contrary ac-
count of thefe matters, yon ought to look upon 'em
as Enemies to the State, and dilaffecled to your Ma-
jefty's Service.
If your Majelly be convinc'd by the Arguments
produced, you will prevent the Spaniards from com-
mitting a great many Violences and Murders, of
which they are every day guilty. You will fecure
Spain from this Contagion, in preventing your
People at home from partaking of the Sins of
their fellow-Subjecls, and fharing the Plunder with
them which they have fo unjullly gotten. For all
Men of fenfe acknowledg that the Crimes of the
Spaniards in America render all Spain obnoxious to
the Curfe of God ^ that the courfe they take to be-
come rich is unjufl ^ that the Gold and Silver they
bring from the Indies is ftolen, and that they are
oblig'd to reflore it to the right Owners whom
they have unjuflly plunder'd : which likewife evi-
dences that thofe that partake of thefe ufurpM
Riches have no good Title to 'em j for they ought
R 3 to
§4^ A Relation of the SpaniOi Voydges
to have no Commerce with thofe publick Robbers^
nor to fell 'em any Commodities for their ftolen
Gold •■) they ihould not fo much as receive Prefents
from 'em, or confent to be their Heirs: And if fo,
it follows that all Spai7i is become guilty of the
Crimes of thofe Men ; fo that there are few but
liave reafon to be under trouble of Confcience, and
are in danger of Damnation^ becaufe there are fcarce
any who have j\ot participated of the Rapine of
thofe that have come from the New World.
It has bin obje^fled by the Spaniards^ that if they
have not a Jurifdidtion over the Indians as their
Vaflals, it will be impoifible for 'em to live in the I«-
dies^ and confequently that your Majefty will not be
able to keep thofe Kingdoms that have bin conquer'd
in your Name, nor to publifh the Catholic Faith
there. For they fay, if the Spaniards can't fubfift
there, the King of Spain can't preferve his Domi-
nion over the Indians^ nor maintain Monks among
'em to preach to 'em, fo that they mull be deftitute
of the Light of the Gofpel •, and thofe of 'em that
have already receiv'd it, will gradually lofe it for
want of frelh Inftrudion, and fo return to their for-
paer Idolatry, and other Sins.
They that reafon after this manner, do it not fb
much from a Principle of true Zeal and Compalfion,
left fo many Souls fliould perifh, as from a defire of
ppprefTmg thefe People, and that they may grow
rich by the Spoil they get from 'em. 'Tis only their
privat Intereft makes 'em talk at this rate •, for they
are not at all concern'd about your Majefty's Inte-
refl, or the Salvation of the poor Indians. 'Tis not
the Good of the Public, or the Glory of God that
moves'em •, for their Conduct fufficiently (hews what
little- refpe6t they have to the Law^ of God, which
forbids 'em to do the leaft hurt to any one, how
great an advantage foQver it might procure 'em.
They
and Cruelties in the Weft-Indies* 247
They ought to know, if they have the true Senti-
ments of Chriflianity, that tho your Majefty ihpuld
run the risk of loiing all your Conquefts in the /«-
dks^ and be rendered uncapable of . caufing tjie
Chriftian Faith to be preach'd among the Indians j it
were better to forgo all fuch great Advantages, than
to obtain 'em by ruining the Inhabitants after the
inanuer hitherto. pradis'd. It had bin no great Mif-
fortune to your IV|ajeIlyj if your Empire had not
extended fo far as the Indies ^ and 'tis an ill way of
going to v/ork, to endeavour to eltablifh Chriftianity
there. by fuch criminal Methods. The reafon of
which is evident, becaufe we are forbidden to do evil
that good may come^ Rom. 3. 8. God is not pleas'd
with the greateffc Sacrifices if polluted with any Sin,
but abhors all fuch Offerings. 'Tis a moll hainous
Sin, and worthy of eternal Damnation, to maflacre
Infidels on pretence of introducing the Chriftian
Faith among 'em, and of extirpating a part of 'em
to fave the reft. God dos not require Men to re-
ceive his Word on fuch hard terms, and abfolutely
forbids fuch a kind of Zeal for the Salvation of Souls
as this. He would not have us pretend to be more
concern'd about the Salvation of Souls than himfelf.
That which he requires of us is to keep within the
compafs of his Laws, and not to exceed the Limits
he has prefcrib'd. For 'twould be an Argument of
much Stupidity, and a great fm for any one to throw
a Child into a Well to baptize it, and fo to drown
it on pretence of faving its Soul. And is it not a
greater Crime, and more odious and abominable in
the light of God, to fcandalize, deftroy and maffa-
cre fo many thoufand People, under the pretext of
putting the reft in the way of Salyation ? 'Tis our
bullnefs to do all the Good we can in conforming our
felves to God's Commandments, and keeping with-
in the bounds he has fet us, leaving the reft to him-
R 4 felf.
248 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyages.
fclf. But this is a falfe Glofs which the Spaniards
ufe to cover their Avarice •, for the Salvation of the
Indians is no part of their Care j all they mind is
rather to ruin and inflave 'em, than to make Chrif-
tians of 'em. Therefore in oppofition to all their
falfe Pretences, we aflure your Majefly, that if you
pleafe to refer ve to your felf alone the Dominion
of the Indies without admitting the Spaniards to
aflume the quality of Lords and Mafters over the
Indians^ it will be an infallible means to eftablifh the
Catholic Faith among them. The Spaniards will be
able to live commodioufly among 'em in greater
numbers than they have hitherto done ^ and all
other Inconveniences will be remov'd, which will
mightily conduce to the Glory of God, the Advan-
tage of the Indians^ the Aggrandizement of your
Empire, and the general Good of all Spain.
FINIS.
c o
THE
ART
OF
Travelling to Advantage.
^/■" m M S commonly thought that the Advantages
■ of Travelling are always out-balanc'd by
M^ the Inconveniences that attend it j that
"^^ tho a Man is at never fo much Charge in
his Voyages, he muft ftill undergo a great deal of
Hardlhip ^ and when all is done, the Profit he reaps is
not to be compar'd with the Fatigues he endures.
But nothing can be more falfe than this Opinion j for
in truth, the advantage of Travelling infinitely fur-
mounts the trouble of it : and as the Experiment of
a Chymilt, whatever it colls him, is very well re-
warded when he makes fome confiderable difcovery
of Nature ^ fo that Traveller that knows how to
improve his Mind as he ought by his Voyages, is al-
ways well requited for the Inconveniences he has
fuftain'd.
The Prejudice that fome entertain, that the want
of that Experience which is to be gain'd in Voyages
and aftual Difcoveries, may bo fuppHed by reading
Books that treat of fuch matters, or by the force of
the Imagination, which gives its own fhape to all
tilings it reprefents, and never makes 'em appear as
t.hey are in themfclves, is a mere Illuflon : For what-
2 The Art of Travelling.
ever foreflals and prepoITeires the Judgment is fo
little capable of forming the Mind, that 'tis the ve-
ry thing which corrupts it, and deprives it of its
natural relifli for Truth, and that difpofition to re-
ceive it, which ferves as a foundation for Reafon to
build upon. That which is found in Books is not
always true ^ for-befides that Decency will not per-
mit Men to write but within the compafs of certain
Rules, Flattery, the humor of the Time and Nation
wherein a Man lives, the public Intereft, or the ma-
nagement of private Affairs, always make fome dif-
ference between what a Man writes, and what may
be thought .by: thofe among whom he lives : Which
forms an almolt invincible Obftacle in the way of
Truth, and hioij^p her from fhewing her felf ia her
proper fliape.",
But in Travelling we find all imaginable hel^ and
afTiflance to fiirnilh our Minds with Experience and
Knowledg \ for what is conceal'd in Books is by
this means openly difcover'd to us •, and we judg of
things with more fafety, becaufe we fee 'em with
greater perfpicuity when the Curtain is drawn afide.
When we go to the very Principles of things, and
draw Water at the Fountain, the tafte and quality
of it mufl needs be mofl agreeable. This is the way
to know Men as they really are, and not only as the
Lntereft of fome Perfons makes 'em appear tobe^
^nd to judg of their Adions, Manners, and Poli-
ticks in themfelves, and not on the Credit of fo-
reign Relations •, fo that the Mind receiving thence
a pure and vivid light, that fets it above the dan-
ger, of Prejudice, is at the fame time confirm'd and
ihi^rov'd on folid grounds, and at length rais'd to
tfe upper Region of Policy where its great Plieno-
mena appear. " ,.
W'e are taaghjija the Book of EcclefiaJies^th2Lt to
become wife a Afr^a mult go into ftrange Couniries,
- ""^•' • ■ ■ ' • -, Saficns
The Art ofTravelimg, ^
Sapiens in terram alienigenarum Gentium pertr^nfiet \
and it follows afterwards, in abfconditis fuis concilia-
himr^ by that means he Ihall be acquainted with the
moft profound Notions of Wifdom, that is, of
RELIGION^ Occulta Proverbiorum exquiret^ he'll
make a fcrutiny into their Maxims, Manners and
Cuftoms, that is, into MORALITY: bona enim
& mala in hominibus tentabit , he'll have the advan-
tage by converfing with the Living ( which is much
better than to confult the Dead) to know the fources
of that Good and Evil which Men do either to
themfelves, or one another, that is, in one word,
POLICY. Thefe are the three fundamental Prin-
ciples by which a wife Man ought to regulate his
Condud, and in thefe he ought to accomplilh himfelf
by Travelling : For a Man is confirra'd in his Reli-
gion by the knowledg he acquires of the importance
and certainty of it ; he forms a folid Scheme of
Morality from the different Pradices he obferves in
the World, and informs himfelf in the true Rules
of Polic)/ by the ufe he finds other people make
of 'em. From which it follows, that if a Man
would be wife, he ought to travel -^ and 'tis hard-
ly to be expefted that any one who negleds this
method, will prove eminent for Prudence and Po-
liticks.
This Art of Travelling to advantage requires
four Conditions that are all abfolutely neceflary in
every one that would fucceed in it. The firft is,
'That his Mind be already form'd and fix'd, and yec
this in fuch a manner as not to be ftriclly determin'd.
The fecond is, That he be not prepoflefs'd with Pre-
judices. The third is, That his Capacity bear a
proportion to the Science or Bufinefs to which he is
devoted, and in which he defires to be accomplifhM.
And the fourth is. That he want no alTiflance
Ii^eir^ry to bring hira into acquaintance with the
bef!-
4 The Art of Travelling,
beft Mailers, and that he knov7 their Sentiments at
the firft hand.
I lay,the firll Condition is to have the Mind form'd,
but not determin'd j that is, it mould not be fo
crude as, eagerly to receive all forts of ImprelFions,
and yet fufficiently difpos'd to give a free admiflion
to Truth, which will perhaps be underflood better
by an Example. One that travels too young is im-
mediately diflatisfied in the exercife of the Religion
he profelTes, by the different manners of Worlhip
he difcovers abroad ^ therefore the greennefs of his
Age makes him run a greater risk than is commonly
thought in the difcuffion of matters of Religion,
tho it renders him very fit to endure Fatigues, the
difference of Climats, of Food, and of the various
Seafons of the Year. Nor is a Man any more fit to
improve by Travelling when too much advanc'd in
Years, becaufe his Mind is too much determin'd,
and in no very good difpofition to learn what he
thinks he knows well enough already. So that that
part of a Man's Age from twenty five to thirty five
is the moft proper time for Travelling, becaufe his
Mind is neither wholly crude, nor entirely form'd 9
that which he has already learn'd only difpofes him
to judg the better, while he feeks to be inform'd
after another manner \ and thus he makes fo fair a
decifion of what he learns, that all the Sophifms in
the World will never (hake him. By this 'tis eafy
to fee whence it is that fo few are the better for
Travelling, and can only give an account of fuch
Circumftances as Soldiers and Poftilions might ea-
fily relate •, 'tis to be attributed either to their too
great Youth or too great Age.
The fecond Qualification of a Traveller is, That
he be void of Prejudice in every thing, about which
he defires to receive Information j becaufe Prejudice
produces fuch an Effe<?: upon our Reafon, as a Film
does
The Art of Travelling, 5
docs upon the Eye ^ it calls fuch a Mill upon it, and
renders it fo uncapable to make a fair Judgment of
what is proposed to it, that nothing can be more
oppofite to the difcovery of Truth than PrepoIIeili-
on,.which if it bear fway in the Mind, will give little
hope of improvement by Travelling.
The third Qiiality requifite is, To have a Capacity
of Mind proportionate to the bufinefs to which a man
applies hirafelf, and in which he feeks to be accom-
plifh'd : For feeing the Rudiments of Painting and
other Arts are not to be learn'd by Travelling, and
obferving the finefl Strokes of the beft Mailers j
but a Man mull be cut out for a bufinefs before he
prefuraes to feek Improvement in it by going abroad :
They that fuppofe to turn a Blockhead into a Man of
Parts by fending him into foreign Countries, will
find themfelves raillaken. He that has but a fmall
Natural Capacity will never have a large one, what-
ever courfe be taken to improve it : 'Tis true, he may
learn by Travelling to fill up what Capacity he has,
but he'll never be able to go beyond it ^ for the
Minds of Men have their feveral degrees of height
and Itrength, as well as their Bodies ^ and as 'tis
.impolfible by all the Art in the World to add one
inch to a Man's Stature when at his full growth, fo
'tis utterly impracticable to enlarge the Capacity
of his Mind beyond the Bounds which Nature has
prefcrib'd.
The fourth Qualification is. To be furnifli'd with
all necelTary Afliftance to facilitate his Accefs to the
Mailers of thofe Arts and Sciences he has a mind to
learn i in which refped every Country has a diffe-
rent Genius •, fo that 'tis often feen, that what may
contribute to a man's afllllance in one place, will by
no means do him any good in another. For in-
ftance, In Germany a man Ihall never get inward
with Gi cat Men by being profufe in his Expences,
but
6 The Art of Travelling.
but will by this means be the more likely to fall un-
der fufpicion, and become much lefs welcome than
one of another Charader. To gain Efteem there,
a Man mult bring with him a good Reputatiefti, a
diftinguiih'd Birth, or an extraordinary Merit. In
Italy the quite contrary Humor obtains. And in the
Levant neither one nor t'other takes place, but an
Air of Simplicity, Sincerity and Honefty will in-
troduce a Man into any Company. An eloquent
and voluble Tongue does well in Poland^ but very
ill in Spain^ and Hill worfe at Conjiantmople : A great
fhew of Devotion will naturalize a Man in Portugal^
but render him ridiculous in the Northern King-
doms. A pleafant and merry Humor will fpoil a
Man's bulmefs in Auflria and Italy ^ but give him eafy
accefs in England.
As for the knowledg of Tongues, befidesthatit
is impoflible to acquire all a Man wants if he travel
any thing far, and that it will not do him all the
Service that is commonly imagin'd, if he has only a
mind to run through Europe^ it is a great occafion of
the Corruption of Manners, by eafily introducing
Men into places of Debauchery -, and on the other
hand it has been obferv'd, that it contributes very
little to the forming of the Mind : for befides that
it is not the common People that a Man ought to be
curious in confulting •, and among Men of figure the
knowledg of their Language renders a Man ob-
noxious to fufpicion, 'tis fufficient that a Man can
fpeak any one Language that is known : As the
Italian Tongue is very common in Greece and the
LefFer Jfia^ befides the help one may have from
Interpreters, of whom there are great numbers for
all the living Tongues in Euroiie. And if you fpeak
a dead Language with any Native of a foreign
Country, he has no advantage above you ^ and if
you are better vers'd in ic than he, he'll be fure to
fopply
The Art of Tra^velling, 7
fupply what he wants in Expreflion by the degree
of Knowledg, wherein he excels you in refpedt of
the matter about which you converfe, and will give
you a greater infight into it in half an hour's Dif-
courfe, than you Ihould have obtain'd it may be in
twenty Vifits, if you had made ufe of his Native
Language. 'Tis fufficient if you have Language
enough to make your felf underllood about your
neceffary Affairs ; and there are always People to
be found, who will make ufe of your Native Lan-
guage, to difcourfe with you fo as not to be under-
ftood by others, that they may learn fomething of
you that others don't know ^ and that they may
give you occafion to learn fomething of them which
you don't yet underltand. But Curiofity ought to be
kept within the bounds of Patience and Difcretion,
and that being fupposM, there's fcarce any thing
but a Man may be capable of it in Travelling ^ if
one can but add to the Conditions I have been men-
tioning a lively and yet obfequious Fancy, an eafy
and faithful Memory, a fweet and iniinuating Hu-
mor, a Curiolity that is not impatient, and an im-
partial way of judging. Thefe are the Qualities that
give a Man an eafy and agreeable reception into all
Companies, and prepoflefs the People of any Na-
tion with favourable thoughts of a Traveller who is
endow'd with 'em. Thele cut his Work fliort, re-
move all Obftacles in the way of his acquaintance
with them, and bring them into fuch a familiarity
- with him, as will be fure to engage their Confidence,
if he be but careful to obferve himfelf, as well as
ftudy the Temper of others. Thefe are the Vehi-
cles of Policy, which by difcovering the Humor,
Inclinations and Genius of every Nation, infenfibly
bring us to the knowledg of their Maxims, their
Reafons of State, their Defigns, their Condud and
^various Sentiments. In .a word, 'tis by the help of
thefe
8 The Art of TrAvellmg.
thefe Qualifications, that a Man becomes a Froteus
in foreign Countries, and knows how to transform
himfelf into the fhape of others, ^d fo to conceal
his own. And by confequence muft needs reap ad-
vantage by all the good he fees or ficars, which is
agreeable to his Gharader, and the Capacity of his
Mind.
I iay, he fhould have a lively, but obfcquious Ima-
gination, which may pafs for a Paradox among fuch
as judg haftily, juft as they feel their Fancies touch'd ^
and fuppofing a lively Imagination can never be ob-
fequious without lofmg its Vivacity at the fame time,
will tell me I require an impoffibility : 'tis there-
fore convenient to undeceive em by a fcnfible Com-
parifbn. When on.e that feeks for Game fees fome-
thing move in a Bufh, his firft motion is to put him-
felf in a pofture to fhoot ^ but if he difcharges im-
mediately without any further Obfervation, he may
well be counted rafh, and his precipitancy will fpoil
his Defign : whereas if he has prudence and patience,
he'll obferve what 'tis that ftirs, and endeavour to
difcover what Game may be in tlie Bulh, which way
it came, and whither it goes, which gives him the
greater advantage to dired his Aim, fo that his fliot
can hardly mifs. There's no Comparifon can be
more juft and applicable to the cafe in hand. A
Traveller that has a mind to make fome Difcoveries
in the Myfteries of State-Policy, is prying and ob-
ferving with an Activity like that of one who is
feeking after Game j every rhii^g that appears more
than ordinary ought to ftrike his Mind fo as to ex-
cite his Attention : but nothing ought to determine
him but his Reafon, and a due application of the
Principles of Policy j he (hould fee and hear, and
take a meafure of every thing, without imagining
he has got any thing till he has meafur'd it with
that profound DifculTion I have been commendingr-
Stated"
The Art of Travellmgl g
Stdtefmen are extremely crafty, and know how to
dodg with a Stranger, efpecially when they fee in
him a great Vivacity and Eagerncfs to receive what
they tell him.
Thefe Artifices are us'd in all Nations more or
lefs according to the degree of their Refinement and
Subtilty : Therefore the intelligent Traveller muft
imitate the cunning Hunter, who fometimes makes
as if he did not fee his Game, merely to furprize
it the more eafily : He mufl make as if he did not
hear Ibme things, and as if he underllood much lefs,
and difcover'd nothing at all \ from whence one of '
thefe two things mufb neceifarily follow, either that
he will be fuppos'd to be ignorant and ftupid, which
will render him lefs fnfpeded, and occafion a new
Explication of the matter difcourfed of in more
open and intelligible terms j or elfe that the Per-
fbn he converfes with, will immediately give ano-
ther turn to the Subjed in hand by different Ex-
prelfions, and the variety of Terms cannot choofe
but give fome light into what he would conceal or
difguife.
He may alfo learn fomewhat from the common
report of a Province or City, to inform him what is
the predominant Genius of a Nation, or of the Court
that governs it, only with this difference, that what
he is told of the Spirit of any Nation, is generally
and almoft infallibly true j whereas the Idea that is
given of a Court is almoft always falfe ; fo that
'twould be a kind of Miracle if ever it fhould
happen to be true. There is in the Voice of the
Publick a certain trad of Truth, Simplicity, In-
genuity and Sincerity, which keeps the Multitude
either from being eafily deceived themfeJves, or
from deceiving others ^ and fo much the more, be-
caufe ( as Origen fays ) God, the firit Caufe of all
things, has referv'd only this way to make an im-
S preffion
DO The Jrtjtf Travellmg.
prefilori of Truth on the Minds of the Populace, who
are not capable of any other difcuflion of things,
much lefs of refitfd Politicks ; which gave occafion
to that wife faying, The Voice of the People is the
p^oice of God. But the Court is another World,
where all things are compounded, and from whence
Simplicity, Candor, Sincerity, and oftentimes even
Jultice and Truth are exil'd. And feeing the Men
of this World are different from others, 'tis not to
be wonder'd at if one is deceiv'd by their Difguifes,
and if the warm Fancy of a young Man is every
day impos'donby them: For every thing they do
is with defign, and therefore 'tis no wonder that
there's double dealing in all Affairs, fo that one
knows not where to have 'em. Hence it is that
thofe Authors that write Relations of the State of
Princes Courts, are carried away with ib many
Ulufions : For the more account they make of that
certain knowledg they pretend to have of 'em, and
the more the Miniftry fee they depend upon it, the
more they vary in their difcourfe with fuch an Au-
thor, to deprive him of the fight of what he aims
at, by embarafling his Mind with diverfity of Me-
diums.
There's no Rock more dangerous to an intelligent
Traveller, than the popular Reports which a Prince's
Council either purpofely fpreads abroad, or fuffers
to be divulg'd : There's no ftrefs to be laid on fuch
Stories, and a Man ought to be careful not to fuffer
himfelf to be furpriz'd by 'em. A wife Roman on
fuch an- occafion one day faid to me, Se queflo foffe
<viro^ non lo faprebbe il popolo. " The Credit the Peo-
" pie give this Report may be enough to convince
" you that there's no fuch matter at the Palace, but
" that the bufmefs is either already finifh'd, or elfe
" 'tis a Itroke that is not refolv'd, and it may be
'* not thought on ^ for if it was either the one or the
^' other,
The Art cf Travelling. , . ^ ^
" other, you may be fure the People would have
'^ known nothing of it.
However 'tis true, that common Reports as they
precaution the Fancy inftead of inftru6\ing it, d6
not fail to furnifh a Traveller with fuch Notices, as
muft needs turn to his account. Thefe Reports
Salujl very wifely calls, Experimenta Nationum, The
Trials of the People -, for there is at Icaft fo much
probability in 'em, that they have fome Principle
that gives rife to 'em, and that they have givea
fome colour to an End which a Court is willing to
hide by fome fpecious means.
I confefs the Italians excel all Chriftian Nation^
in this method of Travelling ^ but the People of
the Eaft infinitely out-do the Italians themfelves :
'and 'tis from the long Converfation I have had with
both, that I have receiv'd what Light I have in this
matter, efpecially the way of abating the heat of
Fancy, and preventing it from being tranrported
beyond due bounds by its Vivacity, in which the
Ealtern People are inimitable j and 'tis a Qiiality
one can't behold in 'em without Aftonifhment.
But feeing a Fancy that is tradable and obedient
determines nothing, and what it difcovers may a§
well deceive it as inform it ^ it ought to commit the
difculTion of all to the Judgment, that fo it may come
to a refult: For this purpofe the Judgment ought X.6
be fublime and clear, tho thefe two Qualities are
not fo compatible as at the firit glance they feem t6
be: for the elevation of the I\Iind expofes it to
Mills and Clouds, tho clearnefs of thought is com-
mon to an extenlive Soul. The former is like the
tops of Mountains which reach to the Clouds, and
alraofl: always feem cover'd. with a Alilt to them
that ftand in the Plain. That is, to explain the
Siffiilitude \ That Genius which is naturally fub-
limej being iefs capable than others of floopirir
S 2 dow
1 2 The Art of TrAvelling.
down to the many frivolous Circuraftances which
Concur to the difcovery of the politick Spirit of a
Court, often happens to pafs fuch a Judgment as is
not free from all Objedions, or elfe his way of ex-
preflion is lefs clear and intelligible than that of
others. On the contrary, they that afFed clearnefs
of Judgment creep on the ground as it were, ftill
following the natural extent of their Minds which
ferves for a Line to diredt their fteps j and as with-
out this they could never go diredly to the end they
have in view, fo by the help of it they do every
thing with a becoming Juftnefs and Deliberation.
Happy are they whofe Genius is both fublime and
extenlive, for the elevation of their Minds iliews
'em what Souls of an inferior Rank could never
have difcover'd ^ and their exteniion ferves to help-
to render every thing prefent to 'em without con-^
fufion, becaufe the elevation of their Minds gives
'em a profpedt of every thing ^ fo that they fee both
diftindly, and as it were at one view, whatever
is neceiTary to dired 'em to make a right Judg-
inent.
To inculcate this matter the better, it may not
be amifs to make ufe of a Comparifon. Suppofe
three Men walking in the field together difcover an
Objed at a diftance : one of 'em having obferv'd
it, fays 'tis a Cart going on the top of a Hill ; ano-
ther fuppofes it to be a Bufh wav'd up and down by
the Wind ^ and the third is confident 'tis a Man on
horfeback riding againft the Wind. Now it being
naturally impolfible for the fame Objed to be at
once a Cart, a Bufh, and a Man on horfeback, 'tis
moll certain that at leaft two of the three are
niiftaken in their Judgments •, and if one of them
judges right, it mult be he that conHders with the
gre'atell force of thought all poffible Motions of that
Gbjed about which he has thought fit to make- a »
Judg-
The 4^t of TrdveRing. 1 5
Judgment. This difcovery is not to be afcrib^d
precifely to the fenfe of feeing, fince this is fuppos'd
to be ^;like in all three *, therefore the truth ot this
Judgment muft be attributed to the quality of his
Mind who has the bell notices of the matter.
The application of this Comparifon iseafy : Tra-
vellers often think they have difcover'd every thing
that pafles in a Court, thofe Enterprizes that are yet
only to be feen at a diftance, and thofe Defigns that
are ftill more remote •, yet 'tis not pofiible that all
that make thefe Obfervations Ihould have the fame
elevation of Mind, and none but fuch as have a very
fublime and clear Judgment are capable of fpeaking
accuratly of what they have obferv'd. Hence it is
that we fee fo many different accounts of foreigt>
Countries, and yet all of 'em publifh'd for truth by
their refpedive Authors ^ and indeed they may be
fo, but this in proportion to the Charader of the
Minds of thofe who compos'd 'em in their Travels,
according to the Judgment they made of things.
If I had not read in the account of the Voyage to
Athens the Hiflory of one Hkros Damashinos of Ca-
loyero^ with whom I had jufl fuch another interview
as the Author of that Relation fays happen'd to
him, I would here give an account of it at large \
but fhall now only add fomething which that Tra-
veller feems not to have met withal. There were
three Gentlemen of different Countries and my felf
one day difcourUng with this illuftrious Caloyer about
the Policy of the Turks^ which each of us pretended
to look upon as barbarous and uncultivated, on pur-
pofe to give him an occalion to fpeak of it after fuch
a manner as might give us light into it. He told
us he had no skill in Policy either in general, or in
the ufe of it among the Turh ^ and that he made it
his bufmefs only to underftand and explain the holy
Scripture to his Difciples of Athens : but hefaid if
S3 we
^ ^ The uirt of Tra,velling,
we would addrefs our felves to the Turh^ as to the
Vaivode of Athens^ or any other Perfon of Note,
they would be fure to give us fatisfadion in thofe
niatters.
I remember I was the only Perfon in the company
that could not be perfwaded that this Caloyer was
unacquainted with Politicks. A very ingenious Po-
iander thought he was too much devoted to the ftudy
of the Scripture to have any great matter of skill
\n other things. A German that was of our com-
pany took him for a Perfon only vers'd in the No-
tions of the School-men, and capable of criticizing
on the holy Scripture : an Italian that was with us
maintain'd that as he was one of that remnant of
GreeJvs who feem to be the Pofterity of the Pcafants
of former times ; he had not fubtilty of mind
enough to penetrate into fuch Politicks as were as
burdenfom to 'em as they appeared violent and un-
reafonable.
We pufh'd our Curiofity yet further, and by good
luck a Sangiac who was upon his return from Candle
to the Port, and pafs'd through Athens^ was fo kind
a^ to inform us of many things we had a mind to.
know ; and among other things told us there was no
Man in the World knew more of thofe matters
than this Grecian. It may eafily be imagin'd I hug'd
my felf for iudging differently of this Man from the
reft of the company. And at laft, after many earneffc
SoUicitations, we engag'd this learned Caloyer to take
off the Mask, and (hew us that he was under fuch a
iejious d.ifguife of Simplicity as would have dece^v'd
4 ihoufand People.
'' 'To return from this Digreflion *, I fay, to judg
vvell of all that prefents and ftrikes the Imagination
of' a mar; in travelling into foreign Parts, vvhetlier
It concern Pveligion, Morals or Politicks, there's
^eed of both elevation and clearnefs in the Judg-
ment i
The Art of Tramllmg. ^
ment '-, that is to fay, fuch a meafure of both, as
may difpofc things in fo much order that they don't
perplex and confound the Minds of other Men, rtd,r
produce any thing in 'em but Light. And thfs
Qualification is not to be acquir'd'if a Man is Sot
born with a futable difpofition. It can't be well e^-
plain'd but by;Pradice ^ however, to give fome Idea
of it, it feems to htc to confift in three things:
Firft, In laying the ftrefs of one's Judgment on that
which makes the leaiir appearance in an Intrigue or
Negotiation ^ for Policy being the Academy of Dif-
guife, and an exercife of Cratt and Subtilty, gene-
rally that which appears lealtin a politick Obfer-
vation may pafs for the moft real and true part of
it. Secondly, In never counting any thing fuffi-
ciently explained to determine one's mijid about it,
that io the unexpected founding of fome Circum-
ftance or other, that does not feem to be thought
of, may give one a difcovery of fomewhat of which
the Miniftry of a Court perhaps is not aware. And
fo much the more in as much as fpeculative Policy
being fupposM impenetrable, and not beginning to
appear till 'tis going to be put in execution, 'tis in
the Circumftances of the Execution that you are
to feek the certain difcovery of the Defign. Third-
ly, In the oppofition of one thing to another \ for
akho the means employ'd in any particular politick
Defign may be abfolutely alter'd from one day to
another, becaufe there's no Medium always ellential
to and infeparable from Policy, yet 'tis certain, con-
lidering how Men are made, that 'tis probable the
Council of a Prince don't alter their common No-
tions, nor take up Refoiutions as contradictory one
to another as Black to White : and therefore the
Oppofition an intelligent Traveller difcovers in the
Affairs on which he is making obfervation, ought to
fufpend his Judgment, and to oblige him to for-
S 4 bear
l6 The Art of Travelling.
bear determining his Opinion, till time give him
fiirther light. The firft of thefe Rules forms the
Judgment, and renders it folid *, the fecond culti-
vates and refines it ; and the third advances it to
Perfedion. The firft is owing more to Nature than
Experience j the fecond depends as much on Expe-
rience as on a Genius: and the third raifes the
Mind to a confummate Prudence, which is the higheft
pitch of politick Wifdom.
That Traveller who has not an elevation of Mind
capable of fuch Inventions as may out-wit another,
may make ufe of the fecond Charader of a prudent
Mind, namely, to enquire much into things, and
determine but little about 'em j but if a Man wants
both the one and the other of thefe Qualities, we'll
venture to prophefy that he'll never become a Po-
litician.
The Memory in the judgment of many paffes for
one of the moft excellent Faculties of the Soul :
But few confider, that feeing it brings out nothing
but what has been committed to it before, when
there is Confufion in the Mind, there muft alfo ne-
cefiarily be the like diforder in the Memory. 'Tis
a great advantage to a Traveller to have a Memo-
ry eafily imprefilble, provided it be faithful ^ for if
a Man becaufe he has feen much, goes about to utter
a great deal without giving an intelligible account of
matters, by reafon of that Confufion which the ama-
zing diverfity of Things, Names and Circumftances
ordinarily occafions, his Memory appears to be a
mere Labyrinth of Perplexity.
I have always look'd upon an eafy Memory to be
like a handfome Face, which hides a great many
Infirmities in a cra2y Body, and ftrikes the Fancy
more than all thefe Imperfedions, tho they really
much out-balance it. For befides that fuch a Me-
mory ferves for a Rock for the Imagination to fplit
on.
The An of TrAveliing. 17
on, and this becomes as dangerous to the Reafon
and Judgment, fuppofing it noc to be incompatible
with the regular exercife of either of thefe j yet
'tis molt certain a great multiplicity of Fads require
either abundance of time to range 'em in good or-
der, or a prodigious heat of Fancy to melt 'em
down (as it were) altogether, without making any
alteration in 'em. So that it feems an impoflible
fuppofition, that an eafy Memory can be flrong and
true, fo as not to divert from that fteady Applica-
tion which the Judgment requires.
And yet both are neceffary for a Traveller, ^o
that one of thefe Qualities without the other would
be of no ufe to get the knowledg of the States
Refolutions of any foreign Politicians : For if what
he learns to day is not fupported with all thofe
Circumilances that may render it more than pro-
bable to his difculTion, and is not produc'd afrefii in
all its Circumftances when any Affair that bears a
proportion to it prefents, 'tis eafy to conceive that
ail the Circumftances that help'd him at firll to de-
cide the matter in hand being reprefented to him but
by halves, and in the room of thofe that are omit-
ted others fubftituted which alter the ftate of the
cafe t 'tis not difficult, I fay, to conceive that fuch
an eafy Memory muft caft him into confufion, be-
caufe it does not faithfully revive all thofe Cir-
cumftances. This Conclufion may be fet in a clearer
light by an Example.
The Vilier Kara Alujlapha who befieg'd rienna
remember'd the Advice, and a great many of the
Projects Count Tekely had given him in his Tent at
their enterview beyond Buda before this great En-
terprize : And his Memory reproduc'd that in his
extremity, which his Pride had made him defpife.
The Count perfwaded him to polfefs himfelf of the
Bridges of riema on the North-fide before he made
1 8 The Art cfTravellmg.
a formal Siege, prefuming that by this means he
would either block up the late Duke of Lorrain
with his Troops in Leopaljlat, or oblige him to quit
it with the more fpeed, and a greater number of his
iMen, which would make the Circumvallation more
eafy, and the Garifon probably lefs numerous, or
elfe the Duke would expofe himfelf to be firft routed
in the field : and never was any Advice more wifely
given, or more ra(hly contemn'd.
When this Vifier was mortified by the Refiflance
of the Befieged, and refolv'd to attempt any thing
to repair the damage he had fuflain'd, and the time
he had loft in this Siege, he was willing to have re- -
courfe to Count Tehly''s Counfel, and would needs
endeavour to be mafter of thofe Bridges, without
conlidering the difference of Time and other Cir-
cumftances ; he gave his Orders for the execution
of this Defign, but inflead of depriving Vknna of
good part of its Garifon, or of weakening thofe
Succors which the Prince of Lorrain manag'd fb
lone, and to fo good purpofe againfl him, as he
might certainly have done in the former Jundure,
he diminifh'd his own Force, and fent his Troops to
be cut in pieces without being able to execute the
Orders they had receiv'd.
By this one may judg that an eafy Memory is al-
ways dangerous when 'tis unfaithful ^ tho I confefs
'tis lefs fo in the fpeculation of a Traveller than in
the conduft of a Statefman, who ought from the
very firfl ftep he takes to dillruft it more than de-
pend on it. Memory is a great help at the Bar, and
in the Pulpit, but 'tis the leafl Qualification of a
Statefman. Tis by reading (which is a kind of
Travelling ) and by Travelling ( which is a living^
fort of reading) that a Man is to be convinced of
this Truth, that an eafy Memory being ufually
treacherous when 'tis over-charg'd with many things
that
The Art of Travelling, . 1 9
that have no mutual connexion, nothing is to b^
omitted that may render it lefs eafy and mor^
faithful.
I think I have obfervM by Experience three Rules
that contribute much to reduce the Memory to this
ftate, which is certainly no eafy matter to accom-
plifli. The firil is, for a Man to learn well the chief
foreign things about which he has a mind to employ
his Memory, without troubling himfelf to retain the
proper Names of Places, Perfons and Times, of
\vhich Gazetteers feldom fail to give a very particu-
lar account for the information of the Curious, be-
(jaufe 'tis th^ir province to know things of this
kind. The fecond is. To join that which one de-
fires to know, to what one knows already by fome
M^ocha of FaQs^ Times, or Conjundures, which re-
semble and refer one to another ^ as, for inftance,
to join to the raifmg the Siege of Vienna the politick
Propofition made by the King of Poland for his
cldell Son to be married to the Archdutchefs as his
Reward for relieving that City. The third is, to
unite and accommodate both the one and the other
to the Circumflances and adual Conduft of the
Country where a Man is at prefent, or whither he
is. to return ^ bccaufe what pafles there can't eafily
efcape the Alind, being often reviv'd by the Memo-
ry, and therefore that which has been link'd to it
, will alfo be retain'd, and the Memory render'd faith-
ful to fuch a degree, that all things will be eafily re-
colleded.
I fay a Min ought in the firfl place thorowly to
pofTefs his Mind with the firil difcoveries he makes
in his Travels, that is to fay, after he has made a
deep fearch into the Precepts of Policy (without
which nothing is to be expected of him ) to look on
. every fide upon that which firfl; ftrikes his Mind in a
jmamier different, from the Prejudices he has brought
out
20 The Art of Travelling,
out of his own Country, that fo he may objeft a-i
gainft his own PrepoflefTion all thofe Reafons that
he imputes to the Prejudices of others, which is fit
to be demonltrated by an Example.
A French Man that goes to Rome furnifli'd with
many Advantages and Recommendations that give
him accefs to Perfons of Qiiality, is prefently loaded
with Civilities, without being taken into that kind
of Familiarity with them, which is fo agreeable to
his Humor : This makes him impatient, and it fecms
no fmall Punifhment to him to continue fix weeks
at Rome^ to live all the while in an Inn : But at
length the Reafons of this kind of Treatment are
open'd to him, and he comes to underftand that the
Italian loving Splendor tho he is not rich, and af-
feding to be liberal without incommoding himfelf,
waits to regale him after a magnificent manner and
in good company, when he finds a proper time for
it, and then his Splendor, Profufion and Magnifi-
cence will appear at once. He muft therefore ex-
amine all the Reafons of this kind of Condud ^ and
by oppofing this liberty the Italians referve to them-
felves, to the ordinary profufenefs of that Nation,
he'll be convinc'd that they do well at Rome not to
live in that familiarity he fo much defir'd. Thefe
Difcoveries will be ferviceable to him at Conflanti-
nopk^ and he'll appear a knowing Man in other places
in proportion to the faithfulnefs of his Memory in
reviving the Reafons, and different refpeds that
have determin'd him at Rome. This is what I call
a thorow poflefling of the Mind with that which
one defires to commit to Memory.
The fecond method is, to join things together by
iorae Epocha that is remarkable, and not eafy to be
chang'd. This Connexion is like a Guide always
going before the Judgment with a light in his hand,
io that he feldom miftakes his way who is conduded
by
The Art of TrA-velling, 21
by it. The E^cha contributes much to the fidelity
of the Memory, and the things being allied toge-
ther by a proper reference and proportion, 'tis al-
moffc impolTible that the revival of 'epi in the Me-
mory fhould not be exadt and true.
The reafon of which is not from the nature of
thofe Incidents which accidentally happen to be
link'd together, but from the immediate applica-
tion of the Mind, which becaufe it omits nothing
that may give it a deep imprelTion of a thing, can't
fee two different Circumftances which concur to the
fame Fad, without making a certain fix'd Point, as
well for the Time, as other Conjundures : 'Tis this
that has occafion'd fo many Digreffions in antient
Hiftorians, who have not been able to refifl that
natural Inclination of Ihewing in the fame Treatife,
what they had obferv'd at the fame time, and by
the fame difcoveries.
. In fine, the third method of rendering the Me-
mory faithful is, to reunite the Notices one receives,
and the Conjunctures that prefent, to what adually
palTes in one's own Country •, becaufe the revival
of what is aded there muft needs be frequent and
of long duration, and a Man's mind will neceflarily
be concern'd about it j and feeing this obliges a
Man to join to his prefent Obfervations, that which
pafs'd in his own Country when he was there, he
is as it were tied fafl; to the Circumftances of things
fo that he cannot eafily miftake 'em, but is neceffa-
rily oblig'd to revive 'em in his mind. Tis true,
there muft be ftrength of Thought, Labor and Time
to reunite thefe things after long Voyages, efpeci-
ally if our Traveller has not had much correfpon-
dence with his own Country : But Experience every
day (hews that 'tis no impoffible thing.
This is, in my opinion, the innocent Art of ren-
dering an eafy Memory faithful j let us now pafs
to
i2'i The Art of Travelling.
to the other Qualifications of a Traveller.
It has been faid that he ought to have a fweet and
infinuating Humor, not by a^ltudy'd compoiing of
himfelf, which will foon betr% him when he tarries
long in a place, but by a docility of Mind, which
makes a Man as it were naturally comply with things
that one would think muft needs fliock him, to judg
of him by the guft of his Country. 'Tis this
fweetnefs of temper which becomes Affability in
thofe who are in public Polls, but in Travellers it
fhould always be Condefcenfion, without degene-
rating into a fervile weaknefs of Mind : And they
ought to have the art of ufing this Condefcenfion
after an advantageous manner, fo as to engage thofe
with whom they converfe, either to confide in 'era,
or to inform 'em. Suppofe, for inflance, that one
happens to be with an Englilh-man who boafts of
his own Nation, in refped of its Strength, Courage,
Trade, Plenty and Independence j and fcarce ever
fpeaks of a French-man, an Italian, or a German,
without contempt ; a Traveller who has docility^
and yet firmnefs of Mind, will in finccrc terms give
his Suffrage to applaud what is good in the EnglilH
Nation, and in their Politics, without undertaking
to make comparifons between Nation and Nation^
or fo much as between Man and Man, which ought
to be induftrioully avoided ^ becaufe there are al-
ways in foreign Countries fome Perfons that go un-
der a difguife, whofe Genius, Country, Intereft and
De(igns,*can fcarce ever be difcover'd, but yet by
this means may be won upon. In obferving this
Conduct, our Traveller would not fail to attract the
Confidence of fuch an Englilh-man, and fo might
get out of him why the ErigliQi Nation is fo fickle
and unlleady in the midft of all its Profperity, why
they are fo eager after Gain amidlt fo great Riches,,
aad why they are fo unfic for long Enterprizes and
tedious
The Art of Travellmg, 2 j
tedious Conquefts, tho they have fuch good Armies
and Fleets. In a word, he'd learn more of this
Englifli-man in three days, than he could perhaps
in reading all the Hiftorians that have written of
that Country.
But to give the Demonftration of this, when ever
any thing flatters and pleafes a Man to fuch a degree
as to make him defpife what does not feem to bear a
proportion to it, either he is a Fool, or under a dif-
guife, or an intelligent Man fetupon his own Inte-
relt, and over-zealous for it. If the firfl, a wife
Traveller will eafily difcover him, and contemn
him, without troubling himfelf to talk with him.
If the fecond, he'll make trial of him by the Rules
I have been laying down j fo that this Man under a
Mask fhall not be able to proceed far without being
either reduc'd to filence, or elfe betraying himfelf.
If the laft, he can't be a man of Knowledg but by
the universal Principles of Policy, in which he has
no advantage above our Traveller, or elfe by fuch
particular Decifions he has made as are proper to
his Country ; and in this point he excites all the
Curiofity of our Traveller, who for his own fatif-
fadion mufl; apply himfelf to receive Inllrudion
with all that nice Complaifance which we have been
already fuppoling ^ he mull hearken, applaud, and
enquire: for Attention and Applaufe always pro-
cure the Efteem and Confidence of him that fpeaks ^
and a fweet, ingenuous and modeft way of inquiring
always returns with fome difcoveries ; Experience
ibews that it never fails to get fome degrees of
knowledg out of thofe upon whom 'tis duly tried.
The Information I have received even from a Ser-
vant as it were by accident, of a Vifit made by a
certain Perfon to his Maftcr, has furnifh'd me
with the firft: occafion of diving into an Affair, of
which I had not the leail: thought, and the difco-
ver y
24 ^^^ A^f of Tra-Velling.
very of which gave me that fatisfadion which is a-
greeable to one that travels for his Information.
But to render this Effedt the more certain ; to this
quality one ought to add a Curiofity that is not im-
patient. Curiofity is needful in travelling, but then
it ought not to be too brisk and lively, that one
may the better diflemble the Motives of it, and
cover 'em with the ufual pretexts of fuch a vaia
Curiofity as only applies it felf to the defcription
of Churches, Palaces, Gardens, Fortifications, and
the detail of fuch Counfels and Circumftances.as
the raeancft Servants of a Court always underlland,
as well as thofe that compofe Hiltorical Relations. .
There muft be Curiofity to mitigate the uneafinefs
and difficulty a man mull be fure to meet with in
accommodating one's way of Living, Habit and
Manners, to the Cuftom of Countries fo unlike one's
own : for feeing Self-love hath more prefiing Rea-
fons when it deprives it felf of what is pleafing to it,
to expofe it felf to that to which it has an averfion *,
'tis necelfary that it be requited for quitting what it
fo naturally likes, by fome other fatisfadion which
the Fancy has the art to reprefent as greater, more
rare, and more durable ^ without which there's no
probable ground to exped a Man fhould travel with
delight, and 'twould be an unadvifed thing to at-
tempt it. For to fuppofe that all thofe advantages
a Man may make ufe of in Travelling will excufe
him from all kind of uneafinefs, is to pleafe one's
felf with a mere Delufion, efpecially when a Man
goes out of the Chriftian part of Europe. Curiofity
therefore mufl ferve inftead of all other Pleafure to
make amends for the Expence and Uneafinefs to
which our Traveller is expos'd.
This Curiofity deprives it felf of what it defigns
to obtain, when it once appears to be impatient,
and it really is impatient when ever it appears to
be
The Art of Travellmg, 2 5
be fo. iMen of all Countries in the World are
tram'd after fnch a manner, that no Man is willing
to oblige another to his own difadvantage j and the
moft grateful and officious Perfon that can be will
never give an occalion of getting an advantage over
him by what Ire difcovers. All that obferve a Tra-
veller have in this refped the fame impreflion \ eve-
ry body fufpedts that Man to have fome fpecial de-
lign, who leaves his Family and his Country to ex-
pole himfelf to Sicknefs and other Dangers and In-
conveniences, which are inevitable. Ihey that fup-
pofe he has only a fenfual Curiolity are always in-
dulgent enough to fatisfy him in that refpedt, be-
caufe felf-love obliges a Man to difcover whatever
is curious in his own Country to a Stranger: but ic
being anotner fort of Traveller that 1 have been
fuppofing, ramely, on£ who feeks to get an infighc
into State-Policy i the chief Advice I would give
him, is not to de- eft himfelf of Curiolity ( for that
would be unreiibaable ) but not to be impatient in
feeking to give it latisfadion.
Impatience is the daughter of Defire, and th's
if it be reafonable, mull be the production of rhe
Judgment, which will fully convince a Man that
whatever fets him at a greater diftance from the
end he has in view, can't be proper to lead him to
it. Now Impatience will infallibly fet our Tra-
veller at a greater diftance from the End he pro-
pofes, and confequently cannot be fit to promote
the Pleafure he expects from it. But to make it
the better underftood how and why Impatience re-
tards the fatisfadion of the Curiofity, one need on-
ly obferve that it produces fuch precaution in the
Minds of thofe with whom a Traveller converfes,
as becomes a kind of Partition-wall, that he mult
cither pierce through or break down before he can
difcover what is aited on the other iidt of ic. The
T more
i6 The Art of Travelling,
more impoitunate a Man of underftanding perceives
a Stranger to be to get information, the lefs willing
he is to fatisfy him, and keeps the greater guard
on himfelf not to gratify his defire till he is as it
were neceflitated to do it, and has learn'd fomething
of this Traveller that may oblige him to it. This
Obilacle is fo great that one miiil not think either of
flighting it, or of overcoming it without a confide-
rable fpacc of time, and a great deal of manage-
ment, if a Man prefumes to do the former, he'll
find every body prejudic'd againfl him, when the
Perfon he has flighted comes to explain himfelf after
a manner that is difadvantageous to him : and if he
depends on the latter courfe, he engages himfelf in
a great Charge with more than a moral uncertainty
of fucceeding in his Defign.
Would it not therefore be much better for our
Traveller to appear free and eafy in the prefence of
fuch Perfons. that they may not become fo cautious,
but may attribute that only to his Curiofity which
by his Impatience he'll give 'em occallon to impute
to a defire of knowing the prefent ftate of the Go-
vernment in which they are concerned? And on
this head it will not be improper to alledg an Ex-
ample of which I have been a witnefs my felf. I
liappcn'd to be in a certain foreign Court, where '
there was a Dutch-man who had a great deal of •
Wit, and made too great an appearance not to be
fiifpecled \ this Perfon defir'd Audience of one of
the principal Minillers of State, who in converfa-
tion making ufe of that right which his Rank and
Authority gave him, ask'd him. What was the Mo- \
tive of his Tra'uds ? The Dutch- man thinking to
make his Court to him, anfwer'd, that it was fo*
iearn of him as well as by the Example of other Perfons
of his figure^ to underftand the Goverment of a State.
1 he Minilter coldly replied, Ton bad need of a great
deal
The An of Travellmg, 27
deal of time ^ and a ripenefs of^ge to fucceed in a hufmefs
of this nature. To which this Stranger made this
foolifli return, My Curioftty (fays he ) and impatience
after Kmvcledg may ahridg both the one and the other.
At this Anfwer the Statefman rofe up and left him,
with thefe words, For my part^ Sir^ J perceive I JhaU
contribute nothing to either. And the Dutch-man was
driven to defpair to find himfelf fufpedted by a
Minifter of State, who had receiv'd him with affa-
bility, and now look'd upon him as a Man of no
fenfe.
Needs any more to be faid to (hew that Curiofity,
which is fuppos'd necefTary to a Traveller, ought
not to be impatient? But for this end there's need
of a great deal of judgment, and a good faculty
of difcerning the Humor of Nations, and the Tem-
per of particular Mens Minds, which is a Talent
that one can't communicate to any Man.
After all it is not impoflible not to be impatient
to learn what one goes fo far to feek : for as our
Traveller has not affign'd his Voyages a precife
fpace of time, much lefs does he pretend to pre-
fcribe Laws to foreign Nations ^ 'tis his bufinefs to
accommodate the extent of his Curiofity to the
meafure of his Capacity, and to proportion the
effeds of it to the good fuccefs he has had in fo-
reign Difcoveries : All Occafions, Seafons and Con-
jundures are not equally proper for this purpofe.
There are fome States in which nothing at all
is to be learn'd during the time of War, and
others wherein one can get no information but in
Ifuch a time. In one place Peace is an Obftacle to
politick Difcoveries, in another War fhuts up all
the Avenues to the confidence of particular Peffons.
There are fome Minilters under whofe Conduft Men
dare not fpeak, and others under whofe Govern-
ment people fay any thing. Hence it is that fome
T 2 Travel-
28 The Art of TrAvetling,
Travellers learn more tlian others, iho perhaps they
rire Fcifons af like Ability and Curiofity. And if
I may be permitted to add my Opinion, I Ihall not
llruple to fay, that a Man ought to travel at feveral
liines and occalions to the fame Court, to be well
alibr'd of Improvement, and that he has penetrated
into the Maxims and Conduct of it.
Let any one judg after this, whether Impatience is
not an invincible Obltacle to Curiofity, and how
great a difadvantage they mult be under, whofe too
j;r€at Vivacity precipitates 'em, and whofe warm
Temper expofes 'em rather to the Cenfure than
procures 'em the Confidence of foreign Nations.
'Tis Hill much worfe when a Man has not fuch
a politick undetermined pollute of Mind as to a£t
v/ith impartiality, and not to fhevv any prejudice or
a Itrong inclination to the Maxims of his own
Country on the one hand, and on the other hand
an indifference for thofe of others. And this being
the great and indeed the original fault that Men
carry into other Countries, one can't too much ar-
gue againft it, and (hew the danger of it.
Univerfal Reafon, which is the foundation of
Policy, direfts that a Man of Honor part from his
own Country UHdetermin'd in hisl\lind, that is, fo
difposM to learn of all Men according to the fore-
mention'd Paflage of the wife Man ^ Bona enim (^
mala ex bominibus tentabit ^ He JJiall try what vs good
and evil amot^g Men : That he may appear docile
to every Man, and receive any one courteoufly who
is willing to give him any Information. 'Tis not
only ufelefs but dangerous to travel without this
difpofition ^ for the diverfity of Minds one meets
with being the only remedy againft Prejudice, an
inco; ii lerate and heady Traveller often ruins his
Heal:h, as well as corrupts his Reafon, by every
-thing which might otherwife improve the one and
reftore
The Arp of Travelling. 1 9
reflore the other. 'Twas this that made tJie Jare
Eleftor Palatine fay, That Mm is a fool that ^ces out
of bis own Country without hopes of returning with
more Honor ^ IVifdom and Knovckdg than ichat he carried
abroad.
This difpofition being fuppos'd will be followed
by another, and that is, that a wife Traveller will
never return undetermin-d in his Mind, as he was
when he went out : But fully convinc'd what is the
greateft and mofl: folid Advantage, with which he
has had the addrefs to form his Mind in proportion
to the Capacity he has had of calling abundance
of differing matters together, only to extrad oi»t
of 'em what might contribrre to his improvement in
Knowledg.
This temper of Mind is more ealHy fpokcn of
than found; for the Mind mull be moulded af er
an extraordinary manner to be capable of that do-
cility wliirh places a Man at the feet of others to
learn their Inftruclions ^ and 'tis next to a Miracle
to find a Genius of this Character, which is fix'd
and fclid enough to com^ to a determination in the
midfl of fuch a prodigious number of Maxims
which all refult from Reafon as their Principle, tho
the Effecls they produce appear fo oppoGte one to
another. And again there is danger- lell this do-
cility with which a Man prepares himfelf in going
abroad, fhould degenerate into Irrefolution, Eaiincfs,
and fervile Complaifance at his return. That which
is to befeen in the greatelt part of thofe who are
willing to make too deep and prying a fearch into
matters of Religion in prejudice to the eilablifli'd
Syilems, who often by their too curious Enquiries
are brought at lafl to fit loofe from all Religion, sni
die in this irrefolution of Mind, often happens to
thofe middle-v/itted Perfons whofe Minds are tracta-
ble in appearance, but weak in reality, fo that by
T 3 the
^o The Art of Travelling,
the very profped: of the many different Maxims of
Government, they become uncapable of governing ;
becaufe their Minds are not endowM with a vigor
and heat fufficient to melt down all fuch matters
together, and to extraft out of 'em only what pre-
cifely futes with the Government of the Country in
which they live.
One may every day fee not only a great many
Travellers, but even Minifters of State and Am-
bafiadors, whofe Minds are fo fram'd, that their
Heads turn round inltead of becoming firm and lia-
ble at the appearance of fo many different Circum-
itances and Meafures. On which account the old
Prince Lubomirsh was wont to fay, that fuch fort of
Men are fent abroad to learn the art of being regular
Fools. Indeed fuch Perfons appear fo little furnilhed
with the general Ideas of Policy, and fo deeply
prepofTefs'd with the particular Maxims of their
own Country, that their Weaknefs is difcover'd
aim of!: as foon as they begin to talk.
To fpeak yet more plainly for the good of the
publick, 'tis Ignorance that determines the Judg-
ments of fome Travellers ^ even before the Maxims
of foreign Countries are known to 'em, they go from
home fo full of Prejudice, that they are refolv'd to
return poffefs'd with greater Opiniatrety than when
they went out : whence it comes to pafs either that
they can learn nothing becaufe of their prevention,
or elfe they fee and obferve fo much that they can
come to no decifive Judgment, like thofe who have
inore Viftuals in their Stomachs than they have natu-
ral heat to digeft. To this purpofe the late Prince
Charles of L'/rra'm us'd to fay \ If thefe Travellers
would learn with a de/tgn of improving in Knowledge
they would a^ becomingly ^ but to prefufne they know every
things before they are capable of learning^ is the way to be-
come a difiinguifhi^d Fop,
And
The Art of Travelling. ^ i
And Ignorance in this matter contains in it three
refpeds, which the greateft part of the World does
not fufficiently confider, at leaft they feldom or ne-
ver unite 'em all together. The firfl regards the
Principles of univerfal Policy ^ which Perfons of or-
dinary Parts almoft perpetually confound with the
aftual Determinations of the Government of their
Country. 'Tis true, there are every where fome
Minds more fublime and Judicious, who go to the
bottom of things, and feek out means of repairing
the Defeats of the Politicks of their Country : but
it generally fo happens that Perfons of this Genius
are feldom advanc'd into favor, and meet with ve-
ry little Refped in a State •, whether it be that they
want Docility to accommodate themfelves to the
Humors of others, or Subraiflion to procure them
Patrons, or Ambition to pufli 'era forward. It was
of this fort of Men that the Duke of Parma once
faid, Tijey were of the fame ufe to States^ a5 Props to
old Houfts to hinder their fall.
The fecond fort of Ignorance refpedts Perfons of
another Genius, who furpaffrng the former as well
in Number as Authority, are in polfefiion of the
privilege of fetting a value upon things, and giving
weight to Decilions that are made : and hence it al-
mofb neceffarily comes to pafs, that that is fuppos'd
to be belt and trueft, which appears to be moft au-
thoriz'd, and moil generally receiv'd. And this
Miflake is almoft irreparable, if we take the mat-
ter in genera], in as much as the number of juft and
fublime Minds being every where very fraall, and
that of narrow Capacities almoft immenfe in pro-
portion to the other ^ there is between both a fort
of middle-iiz'd Underftandings, to whofe Decifion
thofe of a fubordinate Rank pay a blind deference,
which produces that publick ImprefTion which ob-
tains on the generality of People, that fuch as fill
T 4 the
? 2 The Art of TrAvelling.
^Iie fivfl places in any Government, are ordinarily
^he wifcit and ablefl Men. This popular Opinion
i«; often heard without contradiction, and this li-
1 iKC encreafes the number of the Sufrraees that are
given 'em, by which means People are confirm''d
and rivettcd m their Ignorance.
'Y\\t Dutch with fbme appearance of Reafcn va-
lue themlelves upon their fcrupulous care of avoid-
ing the fitTt of thefe Inflances of National Igno-
rance i becaufe they indeed apply themfelves more
than any other Nation to dive into the Principles
and fpecial Ufes of univerfal Policy : And we de-
sign hereafter to fV/ew what is their Motive, and how
it is fupported, \n a Trcatife of the Politic Genius
of the United Provinces. But they have too little
firmnefs to keep 'em from falling into the fecond
Error, which vviil always mightily check the Projeds
they lay in particular Determinations.
On the contrary, the Spaniards very Hupidly fall
into aii the faults of the firlu Miitake by their negli-
gence and contempt of the Principles of Univerfal
■ Policy, which they feem not to know, but only fo as
to appropriate them to themfelves without any di-
fiindlion of A<^ions, Feifons, Interefts and Obfta-
cles, which foils 'em at every turn, and defeats 'em
ill all l^reatics. But they preferve among 'em the
-liberty of fpeaking with f.rmnefs of Mind about
public Affairs againll the fecond In/lance of Natio-
jial Ignorance ; and therefore the Duke of Holfle'm
.J'loen faid one day at f'^enna with a ,£;reat deal of foli-
ciity ; By thefrfl cGnrfe the Dutch willfufpoYt themfelves
^ gyeat vohilc^ but never advance very far : Whereas the'
Spaniards have enough to do to fujl^in themfelves by
reafon of the actual vreaknef of thtjr prefent Situation ^
■but if ever they come to ncoi/er themfelves^ they can't
Jail of making a very ^reat advance.
The
The Art of TraveUwg. ^ ^
The third refped of this National Ignorance
proceeds from the Indifpolition Men are in to know
others, by reafon of the little fincerity and appli-
cation they ufe to get the knowledg of themfelves,
which betrays 'em into frequent Miftakes, and oc-
caQons 'em to take the Faults of a Nation for the
Genius of it, and the Art of augmenting thofe
Faults ( inftead of mending 'em ) for Motives of
governing it. Nay more than this. Men are wil-
ling to mifunderftand their cwn Properties which
might be cultivated, and by that means negled the
Rem-edies by which they might continually reftify
them.
Perhaps thefe Metaphyfical Abflradions will not
fute every body's Palat j but I have already de-
clar'd that I fpeak in general without making a
particular application of things, and am unwilling
to offend any one. However 'tis certain that every
Nation has its faults, its fmgular qualities, its bright
and dark fides ^ and if an Inllance of this be de-
fir'd, the love of Riches will one time or other
ruin the Dutch^ but the indefatigable Induftry they
are capable of to acquire Wealth, will be their
fupport a long time. Ambition is a fault in the
French^ which may run to dangerous Extremes •, but
their Valor and Adtivity will ferve a great while
to fuftain 'em.
To avoid being ignorant of any thing that relates
to this, both thefe are to be throughly confider'd,
and exadly balanc'd one againft the other ^ and a
Man Ought to be convinc'd by himfelf which fide
has the greateft weight, either to do the moll
Mifchief, or procure the mofl Good. But in good
"earneft do Men ufually begin their Voyages with
fuch a preliminary Knowledg as this? And yet lefs
than this will not fuffice to travel to any pur-
pofe •, and for want of this Difcuffion, Men carry
nothing
54 ^I'he Art ofTrarjelling.
nothing but Ignorance with them into Foreign
Courts.
I could advance a great deal on this Head, but
fhall produce only two Examples, which may ferve
to inftrud others, and 'tis in what I have been a Wit-
nefs my feif.
A certain Gentleman that made a good Appea-
rance, and had very great Recommendations (a
fatal help in a Foreign Court when a Man has not
the art of fupporting them well by his ownConduft )
was ask'd by a Minifler of State, What was the oc-
calion of his Travels, becaufe he feem'd to be of a
weak Conftitution, and confiderably advanc'd in
Years, and therefore probably had fome particular
defigu in view. The Gentleman ingenuoufly an-
fwer'd : 5'/V, 7 travel to acquaint my f elf with Europe,
and to take occafton hereafter to make my own Country
acquainted with itt The Minifler replied j If the
Pencil that is to draw your Pi{fure of Europe is like that
xcith which you defcribe your own Country^ there will be
7nore Fancy than Truth in your Originals, Sir^ I can
fcarce believe (return'd the Gentleman) that there are
any more perfect ones than thofe I have left in my own
Country. Upon which the Minifler rofe up and faid,
5/V, you feem to me to be rather firuck with one certain
ImpreJJion than to have a true kmwledg of things j yopCU
judg of us by that in which you mojl excel : Have a care
that you he not judg'd of here by that in which you are mofi
deficient.
This Stranger was call into fo great a perplexity,
when he compared this Anfwer with the firfl Com-
pliments of Efteem for his Country, and for the Re-
commendations he brought from thence, that he was
quite nonplus'd. And tho he would feveral times
fain have recover'd himfelf, and endeavor'd by
great Expence, Induflry and Converfation with in-
genious Men to inform himfelf better than he had
done;
The Art of Travelling, ^5
done •, all fignified nothing but to give occafion ro
have it faid to him at the end of eighteen Months,
Sir^ you had need to come and confult m ^ you fee a
Man learns much if he knows but little when he lea-ves his
own Country ^ and that he has made no fmall advantage^
who has acqiiir'^d by his Travels the art of Learning.
The fecond Inftanceis of one who was fent with
the Charge of a Negotiation to a Court, where he
had Orders to tarry only fo long as was necelTary to
perform his Duty, and to w^ait for an Anfwer. He
came and lodg'd in a Publick Houfe, where he was
complimented on the part ot the Chief Minifter by
an Abbot, who found him ready to fit down at
Table, very much difpleas'd at the way of drefTing
the Viduals which was prepared according to the
guft of the Country: After the firll Compliments
were pall, this Envoy could not help faying. What
fo)t of a Country have you here. Sir ? Here is not fo
good eating a5 in other places where Jrhave been^ and
nothing mar fo good as at my own Table. Sir, ( faid
the Abbot ) Men reafon here as they ought to do, but
do not mMch trouble their heads about the art of Cookery ;
that they leave to other Nations to carry to the higheft
pitch of Ferfe^ion they pleafe. What (reply'd the
Envoy ) can there be juft reafoning in a Country where
every thing feems out of order .^ At which the Abbot
rofe up and faid, Tou fhall judg of our Country ( if
you pleafe ) by your felves ; and we'll refer our felves
in this matter to your Opinion, provided you don*t prC'
tend to fubje{l ours to your plcafure.
By the recital of this foolifh Difcourfe of the
Envoy, the Miniiler of State had a fufficient difco-
very of his Character : the day following he came
to his Audience, where nothing was difcours'd but
State-Affairs ; and as he was going out, fays the
Minifter in a tone of Railery: Be fureto get a good
Pinner, Sir, c{nd pray crdtr your tnatters foai to dine
with
^6 The Art of Travelling,
with me to morrow. The Envoy did not fail to
come, and oppofire to him was plac'd one of x.hoX'-'
fecret Cenfoys, who penetrate a Man as foon as !^
begins to open his Mouth, without regard ro li
Office, of which they never fpeak diredr ^ -
diredly. He was magnificently regard, an "
the time when the Table allows a liberty o^' :
Difcourfe^ Well Sir^ fays this Cenfor, hoir
like this Country ? There^s nothing but Miign^iice}
( fays the Envoy ) evtry nhere^ hiitytt here's one thr: r
fpanting : to which the other wittily reply'd •■, /. '
be nothing but your yipprobationj we can do well em-.
without it.
Indeed this Envoy was not long enough at tr..-.
Court to improve himfelf by it : for when he left
it he was fo entirely difpleas'd with it, that Uf
fignifying his Difguft, he gave occafion to 'em-t<!>
let him know a thc«aftnd -ways^ that they wer^:
every jot as much difgufted with him. At his ' '
turn he made a ridiculous Defer iption of this Co .
but Men had need take care what they fa/, ^r
there happened to be a Stranger in the comf 7
who made this difdainful Reply : If your own (
try (faid he) could not furnt/Jj you with c^.- ; ^r
Senfe^ how could you expe&- that a Court whu ' -^t
did but jujh pafs through fJjould teach you what . d
no difpo/ition to learn ? This Repartee was l 1
to that Court of which this Envoy had gj^ , jo
unfutable a Character, and 'tis certain he v. ■ :;^
time pafs'd there for the greateft Fool that e^ - 1^
honour'd with a public Employ: Thefe ?..r :>?
EfFeds of Ignorance, and a fottilh Prejudice.
That is never to be learn'd in Travelling v, liicii
'tis fuppos'd a well-bred Man ought to know he-
fore he engages in Travels. For the Principles
of Society and Policy are fo link'd together, that
he that tranfgrelTes the former, renders himfelf ri>
diculouj
The Art of Travelling, ^j
diculous wh€n he fpeaks, co fignify fomc unjuft Pre-
ference that he makes in it.
The confounding of a perfonal Determination
of a Minifter of State, together with a National
Determination, is a fecond Stumbling-block, againft
which the gieateit part of inconfiderate and raw
Travellev:; break their Shins : Who when they are
fpoken to about the adual Symptoms of the Go-
vernment of their Country, on purpofe to put 'em
upon difco'jriing, if inftead of intimating by a wife
Reply, that they know how to diftinguilh the In-
terefts and Deiigns of their Country from the
perfonal JMouves of thofe who govern it, which
on that account determine them otherwise, they
confound them both together, they pafs for Fools,
and mere Butterfiies, that always flutter about that
which calls the greatefl Light. And after a Man
has once made Inch a falfe flep, let him try as
long as he pleafes, he'll find it impoflible to fet
himfelf right again in the Efteem of Men of fenfe,
Railery will take its turn after ferious Difcourfe ^
and the greater Expence he fball be at to intro-
duce himfelf into good Company, the more ridi-
culous will he appear to 'em. And if you tell
thefe ftup'id Creatures, or (if you pleafe) thefe
pretended Politicians, that they err in the firffe
Principles of Policy, they'll treat you as a ridi-
culous and whimfical Perfon ^ nay fome of 'em
have been fo ill-temper'd as to endeavour to render
a Man fufpei^ed, for having had refpedt and kind-
nefs enough for his Country to advertife 'em of
their Miftake.
The Faults of every Nation are known in all
foreign Countries : Nay they compofe divers Axi-
oms of 'em, which are not altogether falfe j for
after all, if they are not all of 'em abfolutely true,
there's fomething in 'em infallibly fo. And whe-
ther
^8- The Art of Travelling.
ther it be Prejudice or Time that has given Au-
thority to this fort of Proverbs, 'tis certain who-
ever Ihocks 'em, goes for an extravagant Man.
The Art of Travelling teaches a Man to keep
his equal dillance from the Extremities of wholly
denying, or wholly confefling fuch National Faults.
For 'tis equally dangerous to err on either hand,
which very few Peiffons confider : He that denies a
Fault that is imputed to his Country, pulls an old
Houfe upon his head in irritating the People among
whom he refides atprefent, which muft needs be a
great piece of Imprudence. Nor is that Traveller
much wifer who falls into the other Extreme, that
is, coldly and tamely to grant every Story that is
impos'd on his Country •, for tho he fhould capti-
vate fome vulgar Minds by this Air of Sincerity,
he'll be fure to get the Reputation of a Fop among
Perfons of Note. 'Tis ftill worfe when a Traveller
grants that with which his Country is reproach'd,
only to take his turn immediately to twit that
Nation where he is thus attack'd with that Fault
which is imputed to it in our Traveller's Country •,
for this is to infult over People at their own home,
and therefore can't choofe but irritate 'em. And
the wifeft Men will difapprove of any man's coming
into a Country to reproach it with a Fault, which
*tis always afliam'd to be thought to have, and
perfeftly hates to hear laid to its charge. What
then muft a Man do in this cafe ? Why that which
no body will ever teach you, if you negled to
learn it before you leave your own Country \ And
that is, to ftudy well the Defeds and Virtues
of your Country by fetting 'cm in oppofition one
to the other, that fo you may oppofe 'em when
occalion requires to what is imputed to you, and
may fpeak of the one, without fignifying any thing
for or againft the others, by entering into a parti-
cular
The Art of Travelling, J 9
cular Examination and Confutation of 'em. By
this Condudt you'l pafs in Foreign Nations for a wil^
Man, by this means your Capacity will be knovvn,
and you'l be confider'd and efteem'd in proportioa^
c to the Knowledg you appear to have, and to the
Advantage others may have of learning by you-
to become acquainted with a Nation which perhaps-;
they never defign to fee. And fince one Story!
draws out another, that which you give concerning;
your Country will infallibly procure you the know-
ledg of the Nation where you arej and by this
Addrefs you'll eafily get. a folid underftanding of;
what you came to feek, namely, the difcovery of-
the Genius, Policy, and Manners of a. whole Nation,,
This is the Produd: of Skill in the Art of Travellings
I'll give one Inftance which formerly touch'd me
very fenfibly. A certain Italian being in Lithuania^
one of the principal Lords of the Country faid to
him in Converfation : Whence is it, Sir^ that the
Italians never forgive an Injury ? My Lord, reply'd
the Italian, "'tis becaufe they are never eaftly offended.
Now this being the great fault of the Polijh and Li-
thuanian Nobility, the Repartee was very witty, and
as it feem'd to me, the molt fubtil and ingenious
Cenfure that a Man could pafs on 'em. The Lithua'
nian Nobleman receiv'd the Impreifion of it fd pru-
dently, that he even afFefted to expofe the fault
of his Country yet farther, in making this return:
Sir, ( faid he ) we Jhould he as eafily offended as you
have been made to believe of us in your Country, if
we could be capable of being difpleas^d to hear the Truth
told us with fo good a Grace. He afterwards pre-
fented him with a Horfe, and order'd that he
fhould be conducted at his Charge from his Eftate,
which lies within tv/o days Journy of Grodnaw^
as far as DantzJck, Whither this Italian had a mind
to go.
And
^o The Art of TrAvelling.
And now let any one put in the room of what
he has been reading, fuch a difpofition of Mind as
the greatefl part travel with, and he'll eafily per-
ceive what is produced by that bufy Preference
which determines on the firft Prejudices, which
are almoft always falfe, and may eafily judg by
this whether it was not necefTary to give the Pub-
lick a method of Travelling. I intend hereafter
to treat of the Politic Genius of all the Courts of
Europe J and hope the manner in which I Ihall dif-
courfe of 'em will fute the relifh of the World j
becaufe I am to treat of the Fads and Maxims of
common life and Converfation, without which 'tis
impoflible to penetrate into the true Spirit of
thofe Courts : And I fhall begin with the Port, or
Ottoman Court.
FINIS.
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