A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies

which they tendred as the apple of the Eye, that they might be instructed. They also
erected Temples and Houses for them and they were desired to come to other
Provinces and Preach the Gospel, and introduce them into the knowledge of God, and
the Great (as they stiled him) King of Castile: And the Priests perswasions wrought so
effectually on them, that they condescended to that which was never done in India
before (for whatsoever those Tyrants who wasted and consumed these large Kingdoms
and Provinces, did misrepresent and falsifie, was only done to bring an odium and
disgrace upon the Indians). For Twelve or Fifteen Princes of spatious and well-peopled
Regions assembled, every one distinct and separate from the rest, with his own
subjects, and by their unanimous consent upon Council and Advice, of their own
accord sumitted themselves to the Government of the Castilian Kings and accepted of
them as their Prince and Protector, obliging themselves to obey and serve them as
subjects to their Lawful Liege Lord.
In Witness whereof I have in my custody, a certain Instrument Signed and Attested by
the aforesaid Religioso's.
Thus to the great joy and hope of these Priests reducing them to the knowledge of
Christ they were received by the Inhabitants of this Kingdom, that surviv'd the heat
and rage of the Spanish Cruelties: but behold eighteen Horse and Twelve Footmen by
another way crept in among them, bringing with them many Idols, which were of great
weight, and taken out of other Regions by Force. The Commander in chief of these
Spaniards summoned one of the Dynasts or Rulers of that Province which they entred
into, to appear before him, and command him to take these Idols with him, distribute
them through his Countrey and exchange every single Idol for an Indian Man or
Woman, otherwise he would make War against him. The abovesaid Lord compelled to
it by fear did so accordingly with a command, that his Subjects should adore Worship
and Honour them, and in compensation send Indians Male and Female into servitude.
The terrified People delivered up their Children, and by this means there was an end
made of this Sacrilegious Merchandize, and thus the Casic satisfied the greedy desires
of the (I dare not say Christian) Spaniards. One of these Sacrilegious Robbers was
John Garcia by name, who being very sick and at the point of dath, had several Idols
hid under his Bed, and calling his Indians that waited on him, as a Nurse,
commanded her not to part with those Idols at a small rate for they were of the better
sort, and that she should not dispose of them without one Indian, for each Idol by way
of Barter. Thus by this his private and Nuncupative last Will and Testament distracted
with these carking cares, he gave up the Ghost: And who is it that will not fear his
being tormented in the darkest and lowest Hell? Let us now consider what progress in
Religion the Spaniards made, and what examples of Christianism they gave, at their
first arrival in America, how devoutly they honoured God, and what expence of sweat
and toil they were at to promote his Worship and Adoration among the Infidels. Let it
be also taken into serious consideration, whose sin is the greater, either Joroboam's,
who made all Israel to sin, and caused two Golden Calves to be erected, or the
Spaniards who traffick and Trade in Idols like Judas, who was the occasion of such