A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies
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Bartolome de las Casas >> A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies
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8 POPERY
Truly Display'd in its
Bloody Colours:
Or, a faithful
NARRATIVE
OF THE
Horrid and Unexampled Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of
Cruelties, that Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish
_Spanish_ Party on the inhabitants of _West-India_
TOGETHER
With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in _America_ by Fire and
Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from the time of its first
Discovery by them.
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_Composed first in_ Spanish _by_ Bartholomew de las Casas, _a Bishop there,
and Eye-Witness of most of these Barbarous Cruelties; afterward Translated
by him into_ Latin, _then by other hands, into_ High-Dutch, Low-Dutch,
French, _and now Taught to Speak Modern English_.
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_London,_ Printed for _R. Hewson_ at the _Crown in Cornhil,_
near the _Stocks-Market._ 1689.
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THE
ARGUMENT
OF THIS NARRATIVE
By way of
PREFACE
TO THE
READER.
_The Reverend Author of this Compendious Summary was_ Bartholomaeus de las
Casas _alias_ Casaus, _a Pious and Religeous person, (as appears by his
zealous Transports in this Narrative for promotion of the Christian
Faith) elevated from a Frier of the_ Dominican _Order to sit in the
Episcopal Chair, who was frequently importuned by Good and Learned Men,
particularly Historians, to Publish this Summary, who so prevailed with
him, that he Collected out of that copious History which might and
ought to be written on this subject, the contents of this concise
Treatise with intention to display unto the World the Enormities,_ &c.
_the_ Spaniards _committed in_ America _during their residence there, to
their eternal ignominy; and for the author finding that no Admonitions
or Reprehensions, how mild soever could operate upon or sink into the
rocky-hearted Tyrants in those Occidental parts; he therefore took up a
firm resolution, being then about 50 years of age (as he himself
declares) to run the Hazards and Dangers by Sea, and the Risque of a
long voyage into_ Spain _there to acquaint and Certifie the most
Illustrious Prince_ Phillip _the Son and Heir of his Imperial Majesty_
Charles _the Fifth of Blessed Memory, with the Horrid crimes,_ &c.
_perpetrated in those countries, part whereof he had seen, and part
heard from such as boasted of their Wickedness. Whereupon his_
Caeserean _Majesty moved with a tender and Christian compassion
towards these Inhabitants of the Countries of_ America, _languishing
for want of redress, he called a Council at_ Valedolid, _Anno Dom.
1542. consisting of Learned and Able Men, in order to the reformation
of the_ West-Indian _government, and took such a course, that from that
time their Tyranny and cruelty against those_ Barbarians _was somewhat
repressed, and those Nations in some measure delivered from that
intolerable and more then_ Aegyptian _Bondage, or at least the_
Spaniards _ill usage and treatment of the_ Americans _was alleviated
and abated. This Book mostly_ Historical, _part_ Typographical, _was
Published first by the Author in_ Spanish _at_ Sevil, _after that
Translated into_ Latin _by himself; and in process of time into_ High
Dutch, Low Dutch, French _and now_ English; _which is the Sixth
Language it has been taught to speak, that anyone of what Nation soever
might in this Narrative contemplate and see as in a mirror the dismal
and pernitious fruits, that lacquey and attend unlimited and close
fisted Avarice, and thereby Learn to abhor and detest it,_ Cane pejus &
angue: _it being the predominant and chiefest motive to the comission
of such inexpressible Outrages, as here in part are faintly, not fully
represented. Which sin the Pagan_ Indians _themselves did exprobate in
the_ Spaniards _with all Detestation, Ignominy and Disgrace: for when
they had taken some of them Prisoners (which was rarely) they bound
them hand and foot, laid them on the ground, and then pouring melted
Gold down their Throats, cried out and called to them aloud in
derision,_ yield, throw up thy Gold O Christian! Vomit and spew out
the Mettal which hath so inqinated and invenom'd both Body and Soul,
that hath stain'd and infected they mind with desires and contrivances,
and thy hands with Commission of such matchless Enormities. _I will
then shut up all this, being but an Extract of what is in the Prefatory
part of the Original. I earnestly beg and desire all Men to be
perswaded, that this summary was not published upon any private Design,
sinister ends or affection in favor or prejudice of any particular
Nation; but for the publick Emolument and Advantage of all true
Christians and moral Men throughout the whole World._
Farewell
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THE CRUELTIES
OF THE
Spaniards
Committed in
AMERICA.
America was discovered and found out _Ann. Dom._ 1492, and the Year
insuing inhabited by the _Spaniards_, and afterward a multitude of them
travelled thither from _Spain_ for the space of Nine and Forty Years.
Their first attempt was on the _Spanish_ Island, which indeed is a most
fertile soil, and at present in great reputation for its Spaciousness
and Length, containing in Circumference Six Hundred Miles: Nay it is on
all sides surrounded with an almost innumerable number of Islands,
which we found so well peopled with Natives and Forreigners, that there
is scarce any Region in the Universe fortified with so many
Inhabitants: But the main Land or Continent, distant from this Island
Two Hundred and Fifty Miles and upwards, extends it self above Ten
Thousand Miles in Length near the sea-shore, which Lands are some of
them already discover'd, and more may be found out in process of time:
And such a multitude of People inhabits these Countries, that it seems
as if the Omnipotent God has Assembled and Convocated the major part of
Mankind in this part of the World.
Now this infinite multitude of Men are by the Creation of God
innocently simple, altogether void of and averse to all manner of
Craft, Subtlety and Malice, and most Obedient and Loyal Subjects to
their Native Sovereigns; and behave themselves very patiently,
sumissively and quietly towards the _Spaniards_, to whom they are
subservient and subject; so that finally they live without the least
thirst after revenge, laying aside all litigiousness, Commotion and
hatred.
This is a most tender and effeminate people, and so imbecile and
unequal-balanced temper, that they are altogether incapable of hard
labour, and in few years, by one Distemper or other soon expire, so
that the very issue of Lords and Princes, who among us live with great
affluence, and fard deliciously, are not more effminate and tender than
the Children of their Husbandmen or Labourers: This Nation is very
Necessitous and Indigent, Masters of very slender Possessions, and
consequently, neither Haughty, nor Ambitious. They are parsimonious in
their Diet, as the Holy Fathers were in their frugal life in the
Desert, known by the name of _Eremites_. They go naked, having no
other Covering but what conceals their Pudends from publick sight. An
hairy Plad, or loose Coat, about an Ell, or a coarse woven Cloth at
most Two Ells long serves them for the warmest Winter Garment. They
lye on a coarse Rug or Matt, and those that have the most plentiful
Estate or Fortunes, the better sort, use Net-work, knotted at the four
corners in lieu of Beds, which the Inhabitants of the Island of
_Hispaniola_, in their own proper Idiom, term _Hammacks_. The Men are
pregnant and docible. The natives tractable, and capable of Morality or
Goodness, very apt to receive the instill'd principles of Catholick
Religion; nor are they averse to Civility and good Manners, being not
so much discompos'd by variety of Obstructions, as the rest of Mankind;
insomuch, that having suckt in (if I may so express my self) the the
very first Rudiments of the Christian Faith, they are so transported
with Zeal and Furvor in the exercise of Ecclesiastical Sacraments, and
Divine Service, that the very Religioso's themselves, stand in need of
the greatest and most signal patience to undergo such extream
Transports. And to conclude, I my self have heard the _Spaniards_
themselves (who dare not assume the Confidence to deny the good Nature
praedominant in them) declare, that there was nothing wanting in them
for the acquisition of Eternal Beatitude, but the sole Knowledge and
Understanding of the Deity.
The _Spaniards_ first assaulted the innocent Sheep, so qualified by the
Almighty, as is premention'd, like most cruel Tygers, Wolves and Lions
hunger-starv'd, studying nothing, for the space of Forty Years, after
their first landing, but the Massacre of these Wretches, whom they have
so inhumanely and barbarously butcher'd and harass'd with several kinds
of Torments, never before known, or heard (of which you shall have some
account in the following Discourse) that of Three Millions of Persons,
which lived in _Hispaniola_ itself, there is at present but the
inconsiderable remnant of scarce Three Hundred. Nay the Isle of
_Cuba_, which extends as far, as _Valledolid_ in _Spain_ is distant
from _Rome_, lies now uncultivated, like a Desert, and intomb'd in its
own Ruins. You may also find the Isles of St. _John_, and _Jamaica_,
both large and fruitful places, unpeopled and desolate. The _Lucayan_
Islands on the North Side, adjacent to _Hispaniola_ and _Cuba_, which
are Sixty in number, or thereabout, together with with those, vulgarly
known by the name of the Gigantic Isles, and others, the most infertile
whereof, exceeds the Royal Garden of _Sevil_ in fruitfulness, a most
Healthful and pleasant Climat, is now laid waste and uninhabited; and
whereas, when the _Spaniards_ first arriv'd here, about Five Hundred
Thousand Men dwelt in it, they are now cut off, some by slaughter, and
others ravished away by Force and Violence, to work in the Mines of
_Hispanioloa,_ which was destitute of Native Inhabitants: For a certain
Vessel, sailing to this Isle, to the end, that the Harvest being over
(some good Christian, moved with Piety and Pity, undertook this
dangerous Voyage, to convert Souls to Christianity) the remaining
gleanings might be gathered up, there were only found Eleven Persons,
which I saw with my own Eyes. There are other Islands Thirty in
number, and upward bordering upon the Isle of St. _John_, totally
unpeopled; all which are above Two Thousand miles in Lenght, and yet
remain without Inhabitants, Native, or People.
As to the firm land, we are certainly satisfied, and assur'd, that the
_Spaniards_ by their barbarous and execrable Actions have absolutely
depopulated Ten Kingdoms, of greater extent than all _Spain_, together
with the Kingdoms of _Arragon_ and _Portugal_, that is to say, above
One Thousand Miles, which now lye wast and desolate, and are absolutely
ruined, when as formerly no other Country whatsoever was more populous.
Nay we dare boldly affirm, that during the Forty Years space, wherein
they exercised their sanguinary and detestable Tyranny in these
Regions, above Twelve Millions (computing Men, Women, and Children)
have undeservedly perished; nor do I conceive that I should deviate
from the Truth by saying that above Fifty Millions in all paid their
last Debt to Nature.
Those that arriv'd at these Islands from the remotest parts of _Spain_,
and who pride themselves in the Name of Christians, steer'd Two courses
principally, in order to the Extirpation, and Exterminating of this
People from the face of the Earth. The first whereof was raising an
unjust, sanguinolent, cruel War. The other, by putting them to death,
who hitherto, thirsted after their Liberty, or design'd (which the most
Potent, Strenuous and Magnanimous Spirits intended) to recover their
pristin Freedom, and shake off the Shackles of so injurious a
Captivity: For they being taken off in War, none but Women and
Children were permitted to enjoy the benefit of that Country-Air, in
whom they did in succeeding times lay such a heavy Yoak, that the very
Brutes were more happy than they: To which Two Species of Tyranny as
subalternate things to the Genus, the other innumerable Courses they
took to extirpate and make this a desolate People, may be reduced and
referr'd.
Now the ultimate end and scope that incited the _Spaniards_ to endeavor
the Extirptaion and Desolation of this People, was Gold only; that
thereby growing opulent in a short time, they might arrive at once at
such Degrees and Dignities, as were no wayes consistent with their
Persons.
Finally, in one word, their Ambition and Avarice, than which the heart
of Man never entertained greater, and the vast Wealth of those Regions;
the Humility and Patience of the Inhabitants (which made their approach
to these Lands more facil and easie) did much promote the business:
Whom they so despicably contemned, that they treated them (I speak of
things which I was an Eye Witness of, without the least fallacy) not as
Beasts, which I cordially wished they would, but as the most abject
dung and filth of the Earth; and so sollicitous they were of their Life
and Soul, that the above-mentioned number of People died without
understanding the true Faith or Sacraments. And this also is as really
true as the praecendent Narration (which the very Tyrants and cruel
Murderers cannot deny without the stigma of a lye) that the _Spaniards_
never received any injury from the _Indians_, but that they rather
reverenced them as Persons descended from Heaven, until that they were
compelled to take up Arms, provoked thereunto by repeated Injuries,
violent Torments, and injust Butcheries.
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Of the Island HISPANIOLA.
In this Isle, which, as we have said, the _Spaniards_ first attempted,
the bloody slaughter and destruction of Men first began: for they
violently forced away Women and Children to make them Slaves, and
ill-treated them, consuming and wasting their Food, which they had
purchased with great sweat, toil, and yet remained dissatisfied too,
which every one according to his strength and ability, and that was
very inconsiderable (for they provided no other Food than what was
absolutely necessary to support Nature without superfluity, freely
bestow'd on them, and one individual _Spaniard_ consumed more Victuals
in one day, than would serve to maintain Three Families a Month, every
one consisting of Ten Persons. Now being oppressed by such evil usage,
and afflicted with such greate Torments and violent Entertainment they
began to understand that such Men as those had not their Mission from
Heaven; and therefore some of them conceal'd their Provisions and
others to their Wives and Children in lurking holes, but some, to avoid
the obdurate and dreadful temper of such a Nation, sought their Refuge
on the craggy tops of Mountains; for the _Spaniards_ did not only
entertain them with Cuffs, Blows, and wicked Cudgelling, but laid
violent hands also on the Governours of Cities; and this arriv'd at
length to that height of Temerity and Impudence, that a certain Captain
was so audacious as abuse the Consort of the most puissant King of the
whole Isle. From which time they began to consider by what wayes and
means they might expel the _Spaniards_ out of their Countrey, and
immediately took up Arms. But, good God, what Arms, do you imagin?
Namely such, both Offensive and Defensive, as resemble Reeds wherewith
Boys sport with one another, more than Manly Arms and Weapons.
Which the _Spaniards_ no sooner perceived, but they, mounted on
generous Steeds, well weapon'd with Lances and Swords, begin to
exercise their bloody Butcheries and Strategems, and overrunning their
Cities and Towns, spar'd no Age, or Sex, nay not so much as Women with
Child, but ripping up their Bellies, tore them alive in pieces. They
laid Wagers among themselves, who should with a Sword at one blow cut,
or divide a Man in two; or which of them should decollate or behead a
Man, with the greatest dexterity; nay farther, which should sheath his
Sword in the Bowels of a Man with the quickest dispatch and expedition.
They snatcht young Babes from the Mothers Breasts, and then dasht out
the brains of those innocents against the Rocks; others they cast into
Rivers scoffing and jeering them, and call'd upon their Bodies when
falling with derision, the true testimony of their Cruelty, to come to
them, and inhumanely exposing others to their Merciless Swords,
together with the Mothers that gave them Life.
They erected certain Gibbets, large, but low made, so that their feet
almost reacht the ground, every one of which was so order'd as to bear
Thirteen Persons in Honour and Reverence (as they said blasphemously)
of our Redeemer and his Twelve Apostles, under which they made a Fire
to burn them to Ashes whilst hanging on them: But those they intended
to preserve alive, they dismiss'd, their Hands half cut, and still
hanging by the Skin, to carry their Letters missive to those that fly
from us and ly sculking on the Mountains, as an exprobation of their
flight.
The Lords and Persons of Noble Extract were usually expos'd to this
kind of Death; they order'd Gridirons to be placed and supported with
wooden Forks, and putting a small Fire under them, these miserable
Wretches by degrees and with loud Shreiks and exquisite Torments, at
last Expir'd.
I once saw Four or Five of their most Powerful Lords laid on these
Gridirons, and thereon roasted, and not far off, Two or Three more
over-spread with the same Commodity, Man's Flesh; but the shril
Clamours which were heard there being offensive to the Captain, by
hindring his Repose, he commanded them to be strangled with a Halter.
The Executioner (whose Name and Parents at _Sevil_ are not unknown to
me) prohibited the doing of it; but stopt Gags into their Mouths to
prevent the hearing of the noise (he himself making the Fire) till that
they dyed, when they had been roasted as long as he thought convenient.
I was an Eye-Witness of these and and innumerable Number of other
Cruelties: And because all Men, who could lay hold of the opportunity,
sought out lurking holes in the Mountains, to avoid as dangerous Rocks
so Brutish and Barbarous a People, Strangers to all Goodness, and the
Extirpaters and Adversaries of Men, they bred up such fierce hunting
Dogs as would devour an _Indian_ like a Hog, at first sight in less
than a moment: Now such kind of Slaughters and Cruelties as these were
committed by the Curs, and if at any time it hapned, (which was rarely)
that the _Indians_ irritated upon a just account destroy'd or took away
the Life of any _Spaniard,_ they promulgated and proclaim'd this Law
among them, that One Hundred _Indians_ should dye for every individual
_Spaniard_ that should be slain.
_Of the Kingdoms contained in_ Hispaniola.
This Isle of _Hispaniola_ was made up of Six of their greatest
Kingdoms, and as many most Puissant Kings, to whose Empire almost all
the other Lords, whose Number was infinite, did pay their Allegiance.
One of these Kingdoms was called _Magua,_ signifying a Campaign or open
Country; which is very observable, if any place in the Universe
deserves taking notice of, and memorable for the pleasantness of its
Situation; for it is extended from South to North Eighty Miles, in
breadth Five, Eight, and in some parts Ten Miles in length; and is on
all sides inclosed with the highest Mountains; above Thirty Thousand
Rivers, and Rivulets water her Coasts, Twelve of which prodigious
Number do not yield in all in magnitude to those famous Rivers, the
_Eber, Duer,_ and _Guadalquivir;_ and all those Rivers which have their
Source or Spring from the Mountains lying Westerly, the number whereof
is Twenty Thousand) are very rich in Mines of Gold; on which Mountain
lies the Province of rich Mines, whence the exquisite Gold of Twenty
Four Caracts weight, takes denomination. The King and Lord of this
Kingdom was named _Guarionex,_ who governed within the Compass of his
Dominions so many Vassals and Potent Lords, that every one of them was
able to bring into the Field Sixteen Thousand Soldiers for the service
of _Guarionex_ their Supream Lord and Soverain, when summoned
thereunto. Some of which I was acquainted with. This was a most
Obedient Prince, endued with great Courage and Morality, naturally of a
Pacifick Temper, and most devoted to the service of the _Castilian_
Kings. This King commanded and ordered his Subjects, that every one of
those Lords under his Jurisdiction, should present him with a Bell full
of Gold; but in succeeding times, being unable to perform it, they were
commanded to cut it in two, and fill one part therewith, for the
Inhabitants of this Isle were altogether inexperienced, and unskilful
in Mine-works, and the digging Gold out of them. This _Caiu_ proferred
his Service to the King of _Castile,_ on this Condition, that he would
take care, that those Lands should be cultivated and manur'd, wherein,
during the reign of _Isabella,_ Queen of _Castile,_ the _Spaniards_
first set footing and fixed their Residence, extending in length even
to _Santo Domingo,_ the space of Fifty Miles. For he declar'd (nor was
it a Fallacie, but an absolute Truth,) that his Subjects understood not
the practical use of digging in Golden Mines. To which promises he had
readily and voluntarily condescended, to my own certain knowledge, and
so by this means, the King would have received the Annual Revenue of
Three Millions of _Spanish_ Crowns, and upward, there being at that
very time in that Island Fifty Cities more ample and spacious than
_Sevil_ it self in _Spain_.
But what returns by way of Remuneration and Reward did they make this
so Clement and Benign Monarch, can you imagine, no other but this?
They put the greatest Indignity upon him imaginable in the person of
his Consort who was violated by a _Spanish_ Captain altogether unworthy
of the Name of Christian. He might indeed probably expect to meet with
a convenient time and opportunity of revenging this Ingominy so
unjuriously thrown upon him by preparing Military Forces to attaque
him, but he rather chose to abscond in the Province _De los Ciquayos_
(wherein a Puissant Vassal and subject of his Ruled) devested of his
Estate and Kingdom, and there live and dye an exile. But the
_Spaniards_ receiving certain information, that he had absented
himself, connived no longer at his Concealment but raised War against
him, who had received them with so great humanity and kindness, and
having first laid waste and desolate the whole Region, at last found,
and took him Prisoner, who being bound in Fetters was convey'd on board
of a ship in order to his transfretation to _Castile,_ as a Captive:
but the Vessel perished in the Voyage, wherewith many _Spaniards_ were
also lost, as well as a great weight of Gold, among which there was a
prodigious Ingot of Gold, resembling a large Loaf of Bread, weighing
3600 Crowns; Thus it pleased God to revenge their enormous impieties.
A Second Kingdom was named _Marien,_ where there is to this day a
Haven, upon the utmost Borders of the Plain or open Countrey toward the
North, more fertil and large than the kingdom of _Portugal;_ and really
deserving constant and frequent Inahbitants: For it abounds with
Mountains, and is rich in Mines of Gold and _Orichalcum,_ a kind of
Copper Mettal mixt with Gold; The Kings name of this place was
_Guacanagari,_ who had many powerful Lords (some whereof were not
unknown to me) under his subjection. The first that landed in this
Kingdom when he discovered _America_ was an Admiral well stricken in
years, who had so hospitable and kind a reception from the aforesaid
_Gracanagari,_ as well as all those _Spaniards_ that accompanied him in
that Voyage, giving them all imaginable help and assisstance (for the
admiral's vessel was sunk on their Coasts) that I heard it from his own
mouth, he could not possibly have been entertained with greater
Caresses and Civilities from his own parents in his own Native Country.
But this King being forced to fly to avoid the _Spanish_ slaughter and
Cruelty, deprived of all he was Master of, died in the Mountains; and
all the rest of the Potentates and Nobles, his subjects, perished in
that servitude and Vassalage; as you shall find in this following
Treatise.
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