OCR Text |
Show communicate a right to another which he has not and Crueltie: in tile Weficlndi'es. I 77 leis themfelves be of fuch a Character as obliges Thus when any one buys or receives 'em to be acquainted with Law and Equity, as Ci~ any thing from a Perfon who fells or gives it, and vilians, Judges, and the like; or when they ask ad- et has no right to it, he is unjuft if he keeps it, and is oblig'd to make reftitution. The Reafon is vice, content themfelves with confulting only one' Perfon, tho they have opportunity of advifing with evident, becaufe 7tis no lefs than the commillion of many; or ask counfel of intereited Perfons, and fuch Theft, wilfully to retain any thing againlt the will of him to whom it appertains. And tho this thing as will notanl‘wer according to the Diétates of their 1 76 A Relation of the Spanifh Voyage: firl‘t himfelf. fliould have paft through a thoufand hands before it came to you, you would have no right to withold it from the proper Owner, becaufe thefe were all Confcience, inftead of confulting Men of Integrity wflowill give advice according to the Rules of Law and Equity; or when they addrefs themfelVes to Perfons whof'e ,Honel'cy is fufpeéted upbn good grounds. A Man is not excufable under fuch Cir- unlawful Polfeflbrs, and confequently ought to have made reftitution. And tho fome human Laws give cumltances as thefe, tho he ask Caunfe‘l of the permiffion to retain a thing which one has bought Learned in the Law; and after having taken their with Mony that is coin'd with the King's ftamp, and v Advtce, acts contrary to Right and Equity. Thefe is current in the Commonwealth, yet this is no law- four Circumftanc'es being regarded, may be of great ful Title to it, becaufe human Laws mul'c not pre- nfe to eafé fc‘rup‘iilous perfons of their doubts, and fcribe contrary to the Law of God and Nature, nor to give 'em peace of Confciende. And by thefe Principles it may be eafily known to good Morals, which forbid Theft, and the withthat the Spaniards uniuftly retain, molt of their In- olding of another man's Goods againfl: the confent of the rightful Owner. Inferiors, and fuch are Kings dian Slaves againft the Law of God: and if they themfelves in refpeét of the Divine Majefty, can't have a right to any of "cm, the number is very fmall, jultly eltablifh any thing in prejudice to the Law of and they have reafon to dotib‘t Whether thefe have been lawfully made Slayes; becaufe thofe they have God, which is fuperior to all other Laws. from the Indians have been brOUght to‘ 'em as He that buys ftolen Goods knowingly, is an ACaTrnbu te extorted from 'em againft their will, by CCiTOI‘V .21 the Robbery: and if he does but fufpeél they itolen, and has not bin f0 diligent as he fear, Menaces and Torments ; fo that they have no might have bin, to inform himfelf whether tth lift T1t1e to 'em: or if they have bought 'em of were lawfullv gotten, he can't keep 'em with a good Confcicnce; becaufe no man can innocently d0 that Indium, they have us'd unfair tricks to procure 'em, which evpofes him to Sin. And if we will not take lTorture's to deliver up their Subjects into their the pair»: to t‘ntorm our felves whether that WhiCll Juiids" threatning otherwife to accu‘fe 'eml to the is fold or Viven to us be lawfully gotten, when we "ges for worlhipping and offering Sacrifices to are in doubt about it, we can't be the lawful Pof- 30:53 fo that the poor Critiques when they could. feflbrs, becaufe this is a culpable and wilful [gna- u (give the Spaniard: as many Indian: as they dea t" ed, Us'd to [heal 'em where they could; 'Tis "‘1 When thefe Diford‘ers came to be known to his rance. Thofe who have in fuch cafes confulted Mt" capable of giving information, are excufable, 11:1,; vmg‘terrified the Caciques, and conftrain'd 'eni N Maid??? |