OCR Text |
Show 36 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyager and Cmeltie: in the Welt-Indies. 77 'em; others of them they took alive, and fold for (who has fince been fuppos'd to be a Heretick, be- Slaves. Caufe he never went to Mafs himfelf, nor fuffer'd . . . Before the Spaniards had took theirKing Prrfoner, others to go) commanded his Men to take all the they were receiv'd in all thefe Provmces wrthfing. Indians with their Wives and Children, and put 'em ing, dancing, and all the higheft demonftrationsol into fome very large place capable of containing 10y, as if come to bring Peace and Plenty With 'em 'em all; and then to declare to "em that if they had into the Country: They frankly and voluntarily a mind to redeem their Liberty, with that of their gave 'em immenfe Sums of Gold and Silver; for Wives and Children, they muft necelfarily lay down which all the Compenfation they had was to be a certain Sum, which this unjult Governor had tax'd run through, and cut with Lances and Swords, and 'em according to his own capricious Humour; and mall'acred without pity. One day when they came to urge 'em the more to anfwer his Requirement, he out to meet the Spaniards to do 'em the more ho- barbaroufly prohibited his Men to give any Vié'ruals nour, the Flemi/b Commander having order'da to thefe poor Creatures, till each of 'em had paid great number of 'em to all'emble together in a cer- the Sum impos'd on him. Many of 'em fent to their tain Houfe, cut 'em all in pieces immediately, only Houfes for the Sum demanded, being willing to do fome of the poor Wretches got upon the Beamsto what they could to redeem their Liberty, and to avoid the fury of the Souldiers; upon which this have leave to go feek fomething to eat: Yet they Commander caus'd the Houfe to be fir'd, and de- were no fooner got out of the Clutches of this co- ftroy'd them in the Flames. The whole Country vetous Governor, but he inftantly fent Soldiers to was foon turn'd into a Defert; for all that efcap'd take 'em again, and fubjeét 'em to the fame Confineu the Souldiers Rage retir'd into the Mountains. ment from which they had ranfom'd themfelves The Spaniards after this pafs'd into a vaft Pro- with {'0 much difficulty: to that they dy'd in this Vince upon the Confines of that of Sr. Martha, Captivity with Hunger and Thirit, unlefs they fpeewhere they found the Natives following their 0le- dily bought their Liberty again, which they forc'd nary bufinefs in profound Peace. All the While they "em to do by this barbarous ufage. So that many continued here they liv'd at the charge of the in of 'em were taken and retaken thus three or four diam, who ferv'd 'em with as much Affection and times, and every time oblig'd to ranfom themfelves Diligence, as if they had ow'd their Lives to 'em5 my, They bore with their troublefom Humors, and continually receiv'd ill Treatment from 'em with in' Credible Patience. The Indian: moreover to quallfl with great Sums. Thofe that were not able to pay the Tax laid upon 'em, continued in this cruel Prilbn till they pin'd away with Hunger and Mil‘ery. Thus was this opulent Province that abounded with Gold, t.V Of Gold, and many other things of great valueYet thefe Tyrants, when upon the point of leaVln‘é made defolate in a very little time. There was one pleafant and fertile Vale ravag'd by thefe' Brutes, winch extended no lefs than forty Leagues; they 76m: mltead of gratefully acknowledging all the burnt a Town in it confifting of a thoufand H‘oufes. 800d Ofites they had receiv'd of "em, refolv'd 1? put 'em all to the Sword. The Flemi/b Gina," litter this refolving to advance farther into the Lountry to difcover a new way to Peru, they made W10 ufe theirill Temper, brought 'em a prodigiOUS quanu- |