Their Priests were bloody Men, a Brood of Vipers, and had such an Ascendant over their Princes, that they made them believe _their Gods were angry_, and not to be appeased without 4000 or 5000 Men to sacrifice in a day; so that, right or wrong, they must make War on their Neighbours, to procure those Victims to keep their Priests in Humour. The next, is an Instance of _Spanish Cruelty_, in this Country, that could have no Original but Hell, the Seat of the old Serpent. It runs thus, _viz._ _Barthol. de las Casas_ Bishop of _Chiapa_, in a Letter to the _Emperor Charles V._ gives this account of the Barbarity of the _Spaniards_ towards the poor Inhabitants, Natives of the Land. ... “Their Kings and Princes, says the Bishop, the _Spaniards_ scorch’d to death, or tore in pieces with Dogs: The poor People they burnt in their Houses, and dash’d out the Brains of their Children: Those that were spared, they forced to carry greater Burdens than they were able to bear, by which thousands of them were destroy’d: Others who escap’d, died of Famine in the Woods, after they had kill’d their own Wives and Children, and eat them for hunger. In this one Province they murder’d above two Millions of Men, not sparing those of Quality, who had civilly entertain’d them. They tortured the Natives with the most hellish Inventions, to make them discover their Gold. _Diego de Valesco_, in particular, spared none that fell into his hands, so that in a Month’s time he murder’d ten thousand: He hang’d thirteen Noblemen. “Some they starved to death, by thrusting their Heads betwixt Pieces of cloven Timber: Others they buried alive, leaving their Heads above Ground, at which they bowl’d with large Iron-Bullets: They also forced them to eat one another.—— Besides other hellish Cruelties too dreadful to be related[221].” _N. B._ This _Barth. de las Casas_ had been a _Friar_, and afterwards made Bishop of _Chiapa_, was a Man of more Piety and Justice than is commonly found among _Friars_. It was he, who procur’d the _Indians_ their Liberty from being Slaves to the _Spaniards_, which they enjoy to this day, so that they are paid for what they do, about half a Crown a Week. Footnote 221: _Acosta_, _Gage_—The Civil and Moral History of the _Spanish West-Indies_, in _Atlas Geogr. America_. XXXIII. The _Ibitobaca_ is a Serpent of _Chiapa_, near four Foot long, and of a crimson Colour, adorn’d with a pleasing Diversity of black and white Specks; wearing its Bones as a Necklace, or the Ruff in Queen _Elizabeth_’s Reign, who destroy’d the Invincible Armada, and made good old _England_ a Terror to _Spaniards_. XXXIV. The _Iquanna_ is the Birth of _Mexico_, a Serpent like the Pope’s Anathema, of a terrible Front, but harmless; a glittering Comb on the Head, with a Bag under the Chin; a long Tail, and sharp Bones on its Back, standing up in the form of a Saw.