A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies

unforunately had with her) to her foot; and no sooner had she done, yet the Dogs were
at her, tearing the Child, but a Priest coming that way Baptiz'd it before quite dead.
When the Spaniards left this Kingdom, one of them invited the Son of some Indian
Governour of a City or Province, to go along with him, who told him he would not leave
or desert his Native Countrey, whereupon he threatned to cut off his ears, if he refus'd
to follow him: But the Youth persisting resolutely, that he would continue in the place
of his Nativity, he drawing his Sword cut off each Ear, notwithstanding which he
persever'd in his first opinion, and then as if he had only pincht him, smilingly cut off
his Nose and Lips.
This Rogue did lasciviously boast before a Priest, and as if he had merited the greatest
applause, commended himself to the very Heavens, saying, "He had made it his chief
Trade or Business to impregnate Indian Women, that when they were sold afterward,
he might gain the more Money by them."
In this Kingdom or (I'm certain) in some Province of New Spain, A Spaniard Hunting
and intent on his game, phancyed that his Beagles wanted food; and to supply their
hunger snatcht a young little Babe from the Mothers breast, cutting off his Arms and
Legs, cast a part of them to every Dog, which they having devour'd, he threw the
remainder of the Body to them. Thus it is plainly manifest how they value these poor
Creatures, created after the image of God, to cast them to their Canibal Curs. But that
which follows is (if possible) a sin of a deeper dye.
I pretermit their unparallel'd Impieties, &c. and only close all with this one Story that
follows. Those haughty obdurate and execrable Tyrants, who departed from this
Countrey to Fish for Riches in Perusia, and four Monks of the Order of St. Francis,
with Father James who Travelled thither also to keep the Countrey in Peace, and
attract or mildly perswade by their Preaching the remnant of Inhabitants, that had
outlived a septennial Tyranny, to embrace the knowledge of Christ. I conceive these
are the persons who in the year 1534, Travelling by Mexico were sollicited by several
Messengers from the Indians, to come into their Countrey, and inform them in the
knowledge of one God, the true God, and Lord of the whole World: to this end they
appointed Assemblies and Councils to examine and understand what Men they were,
who called themselves Fathers and Friers, what they intended and what difference
there was between them and the Spaniards, by whom they had been so molested and
tormented: but they received them at length upon this condition that they should be
admitted alone, without any Spaniards, which the Fathers promised; for they had
permission, nay an express Mandate from the President of New Spain to make that
promise, and that the Spaniards should not do them the least detriment or injury.
Then they began, to Preach the Gospel of Christ, and to explicate and declare the
pious intention of the King of Castile, of all which they had notice by the Spaniards for
seven years together, that they had no King nor no other but him, who oppressed
them with so much Tyranny. The Priests continued there but forty days, but behold
they bring forth all their Idols to be committed to the flames; and then their Children