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.Casas, Bartolomé de las
History
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.
Casas, Bartolomé de las
Indians, Treatment of -- Latin America; Spain -- Colonies -- America
I must acquaint your Sacred Majesty, that the only way to succour and
support this tottering Region is to free it from the Power of a Father
in Law, and marry it to a Husband who will treat her as she ought to be,
and lovingly entertain her, and that must be done with all possible
Expedition too, if not, I am certain that she will suddenly decay and
come to nothing by the covetous and sordid Deportment of the Governours,
_&c._ And a little after he writes thus, By this Means your Majesty
will plainly know and understand how to depose the Prefects or Governours
of those Regions from their Office if they deserve it, that so they may
be alleviated and eas'd of such Burthens; which if not perform'd, in
my Opinion, the Body Politick will never recover its Health. And this I
will make appear to your Majesty that they are not Christians, but Devils;
not Servants of God and the King, but Traitors to the King and Laws,
who are Conversant in those Regions. And in reality nothing can be more
obstructive to those that live peacably, then Inhumane and Barbarous
Usage, which they, who lead a quiet and peacable Life, too frequently
undergo, and this is so fastidious and nauseous to them, that there can
be nothing in the World so odious and detestable among them, as the
Name of a Christian: for they term the Christians in their Language
_Yares_, that is, Devils; and in truth are not without reason; for
the Actions of those that reside in these Regions, are not such as
speak them to be Christians or Men, gifted with Reason, but absolute
Devils; hence it is, that the _Indians_, perceiving these Actions
committed by the Heads as well as Members, who are void of all Compassion
and Humanity, do judge the Christian Laws to be of the same strain and
temper, and that their God and King are the Authors of such Enormities:
Now to endeavour to work upon them a contrary perswasion is to no purpose;
for this would afford them a greater Latitude and Liberty to deride
Jesus Christ and his Laws. Now the _Indians_ who protect and defend
themselves by force of Arms, think it more eligible, and far better to
dye once, than suffer several and many Deaths under the _Spanish_ Power.
This I know experimentally, Most Invicible _Casar_, &c. And he adds
farther, Your Majesty is more Powerful in Subjects and Servants, who
frequent these Kingdoms, then you can imagin. Nor is there one Soldier
among them all, who does not publickly and openly profess, if he robs,
steals, spoils, kills, burns His Majesties Subjects, 'tis to purchase
Gold: He will not say that he therein does your Majesty great Service,
for they affirm they do it to obtain their own Share and Dividend.
Wherefore, Most Invincible _Casar_, it would be a very prudential Act
for your Majesty to testifie by a rigid Correction and severe Punishment
of some Malefactors, that it is disservice to you for your Subjects to
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account