DESTRUCTION OF THE INDIES ***
[Preparer's notes: 1) Though the original title does not appear in this version, this is (apart from the preface) a translation of: "Brevisima relacion de la destruccíon de las Indias", by Bartolome de las Casas, originally published in Seville in 1552. 2) The original archaic spelling and punctuation has been retained]
POPERY Truly Display'd in its Bloody Colours: 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- _Composed first in_ Spanish _by_ Bartholomew de las Casas, _a Bishop there, and Eye-Witness of most of these Barbarous Cruelties; afterward Translated by him into_ Latin, _then by other hands, into_ High-Dutch, Low-Dutch, French, _and now Taught to Speak Modern English_. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- _London,_ Printed for _R. Hewson_ at the _Crown in Cornhil,_ near the _Stocks-Market._ 1689. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ARGUMENT OF THIS NARRATIVE By way of PREFACE TO THE READER.
_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 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._
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