OCR Text |
Show 194 A Relation of tire Spanifl] Voyage: what he taught thofe Indians under his Conduét, he could make no other Anfwer than that he taught 'em to make the fign of the Crofs, but pronounc'd the words wrong that are us'd in that Ceremony. When the Indians of one Province had brought all theirldols to the Millionaries, with Proteflations that they now detefted that impious Worlhip, and were refolv'd to ferve the true God for time to come the Spaniards fold thefe very Idols to other Indians, or exchang'd 'em for Slaves. What concern of Mind can the Spaniard: be fuppos'd to have for the Salvation of there People, when they only defign to enrich themfelves, and thereby to be qualified for Employments above their Rank; and when they are {‘0 ignorant, that they don't know the Creed, or ten Commandments? They are fordidly covetous, and indeed give themfelves up to all forts of Vices; f0 that their Lives are infamous and abominable. The Indians are comparatively more honefl: and virtuous than they are : for tho they are Pagans and Idolaters, yet are content with one Wife, as Nature teaches 'em, while they fee Chriftians take fourteen or fifteen Women, how exprefly foever the Law they profel's forbids it. Many of the Indians fcarce know what it is to rob one another, to offer Violence to any one, or to commit Murder: Whereas they fee the Chril‘tians guilty of all thefe, againfi all Reafon and juftice, and that they violate all their Oaths, fo that there is no ground to put the leall; confidence in 'em. The poor Indians that are Witnellcs of the Crimes of fuch as call themfelves and Crue/tie: in the Welt-Indies. 1 9; nably vicious; they fancy (as I have before (aid) that your Majeflfy drinks human Blood, and eats the Flelh of Men. And tho thefe things may appear flrange and furprizing to your Majefty, they are no news to us who have been accuftom'd to 'em. And we can't but wonder, that fome extraordinary marks of the Divine Anger and Indignation have not been infliéted on Spain to make her fmart for the Crimes committed by the Spaniard: in Amema. Your Majefty may by this time very well perceive the Charaéter of thofe Men to whom the charge and care of the Souls of the Indians is committed. And 'tis no wonder that there's f0 little done either for ‘ their temporal or fpiritual Advantage, fince the difcovery of the Indies, under fuch Conduit. God is no more known there now than he was before, un- lefs it be in the Province of Mexico. And that flight Inftruétion the People have had there has coil: 'em very dear: Tho the Son of God commanded his Difciples to give that freely which they had freely receiv'd. The Indians were committed to the Spaniards, on condition they would undertake to teach 'em the Chriftian Religion: therefore fincc they have acquitted themfelves f0 ill of that Commillion, they ought to make reftitution of all they have taken from 'em under this pretext. However, God will not be mocked, who fees all things, and is awitnefs of all the wicked Actions of the Spaniards, Chriflians, think the God they worlhip is the vileft Who have made it their bulinefs only to torment and inflave thefe poor People initead of taking and melt uniuft God in the world, becaufe he does Care to inform "em of the Truth. not immediately infliét fome fignal Punilhmcnt on thefe fecular Men are not very proper to be made thofe that pretend to ferve him, for their fiagitious Lives. They alfo think your Maiefity the mail cruel Of all Princes, becaufe your Sublet'ts are fo aborgill- ill ferv'd in not having had good Information given Ynu of the ill deportment of your Subjects. For l'reachers of the Gofpel. And indeed Your Majei‘ty has been 'us not to be doubted but your Majefly would na l' 0 2 have |