_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