A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies

great scandals. These are the good Deeds of the Spanish Dons, who often, nay very
often to feed their Avarice, and accumulate Gold have sold and still do sell, denied and
still do deny Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
The Indians now findint the Promises of the Religious, that the Spaniards should not
enter into this Countrey, null and void; nay that the Spaniards brought Idols from
other places to be put off there; when as they had delivered up their own to the Priests
to be burnt, that there might be only Worship of the true God established among
them; they were highly incensed against these Friars, and addressed themselves to
them in these Words following: Why have you deceived us, binding your promises with
false protestations, that the Spaniards shoudl not be admitted to come hither? And
why have you burnt our Gods, when others are brought from other Regions by the
Spaniards? Are the Gods of other Provinces more sacred than ours? The Friers as well
as they could (though they had little to return in answer) endevour'd by soft Language
to appease them; and went to these Thirty Spaniards, declaring the evil actions they
were guilty of, humbly supplicating them to withdraw themselves from that place.
Which they would by no means condescend to, and what is most flagitious and wicked
perswaded the Indians, that they were introduc'd by those Priests; Which being made
known to them, These Indians resolved to be the death of these Monks, but having
notice thereof by some courteous Indians, they stole away from thence by night, and
fled; but after their departure the truth of the matter and the Spanish Malice being
understood; they sent several Messengers who followed them fifty Miles distant
beseeching them in the name of the Indians, to return and begging pardon for that
ignorant mistake.
The Priests relying on their words, returned, and were caress'd like Angels sent from
Heaven; and continued with them, (from whom they received a Thousand kindnesses)
four or five months. But when the Spaniards persisted in their resolution not to quit
the place, although they Vice-Roy did use all endeavours and fair means to recall
them, they were Proclaim'd Traitors, guilty of High Treason; and because they
continued still exercising Tyranny and perpetrated nefandous Crimes, the Priests were
sensible they would study revenge, though it might be some considerable time before
they put it in execution, fearing that it might fail upon their own heads, and since they
could not exercise the function of their Ministry securely and undisturbed by reason of
the continual Incursions and Assaults made by the Spaniards, they consulted about
their departure, and did leave this Kingdom accordingly which remain'd destitute of all
Christian Doctrin and these poor Souls are at this day involv'd in the obscurity of their
former Misery and Ignorance, they being deprived by these accursed Spaniards, of all
hopes of remedy, and the irrigatioon of Divine knowledge, just like young withering
Plants for want of Water: for in that very juncture of time, when these Religioso's took
leave, they embraced the Doctrine of our Faith with the greatest Fervency and
Eagerness imaginable.