A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies: 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.

								

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