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Show A Relation of the Spanilh Vgage: and Crue/tz'es in the Well-Indies. more a Man‘s natural Infirmites. increafe, the more of any thing, but infiead of following the Diétates 208 299 of reafon, are on all occalions driven down the im-l the delire of heaping up Wealth fortihes'it felf, as petuous Current of their beloved Vice, all their 'tis obfervable in 01 Men, that the nearer they apThoughts and Defires are directed this way, and proach their end, the more covetous they'ufually grow', becaui'e as their Health and Strength gra- ' yet they can never quench the infatiable Thirit that preys upon their Souls. dually dirninilh, they think they have the more need . But I mult now apply all thefe Reafons to the fab-,' of the alliftance of the things of this World. [ed in hand: and i befeech your Majeity to ive Thefe Reafons make it evident, that if any Jurifdiétion or Government be given to covetOhs Men, . attention to the Confequences I draw from em. they will not fail to opprels and vex thofe that are g All the Spaniards that leave their own Country tQ fubjeé'ted to them, that they may maketheml‘elves go into the Indies are poor, and 'tis only Avarice rich at their coils, and that nothing will hinder 'em [ that drives them thither, for they don't only prefrom gratifying their Avarice whenever they have - tend to raife .themfelves a little above a condition of a fair occafion; for this Vice is the root and fpring of all others, 'tis the fource of Treafon,,Fraud, Perjury, Violence, Rapine, and barbarous Cruelty. This Paflion is faid to be blind, becaufe it occafions Poverty and Want, but to amafs vaft Treal'ures to} gather, without fetting any Limits to their unmea- furable Covetoufnefs, that they may be able to buy honorable Ofiices and Emploiments, andadvance blindnefs in the Mind, and benights the Reafon with . themfelves far above their degree. We have been many 5 a; rears afew capin is - Blight by experience that the groll'ell: Darknefs, and hinders him that - 1° ~ . ' 3 danger. The 1 tivated with it from perceiving his nidrds who were in the meanefl: and bafefl: condition,- fight of Gold, tho it caufes the commiflion of all and always led a miferable Life, have confiderably manner of Crimes, and is the fource of Calumnies, r! alter'd their fortune by the Riches they have brought gives him more Joy than the light of the Sun, be- from the New World, and likewife introduc'd caufe he finds his Account in the ruin of others. It excludes Fidelity, and banilhes Union and Con- great corruption of Manners throughout all Spain, The love of Mony is now grown to that height, cord ont of the World, it violates Charity, and ‘ that Gold and Silver feem the only Gods that are produces all manner of hlifchief ', it knows no Com' ‘ worlhip'd. They that know not how to advance palhon, but induces Men to difclaim their very Pa- rents, and break all the ties of Faith and .Amitl'a themfelves by indultry and labor, do it by plundring and robbing without any fear of puniihment. "1 hey it never ful'r'ers a Man to fympathize with his Neigll- ‘ take away from the poor Indians all they find in their bour's Miferies, but even makes him difregard hi5 houfes, and after all make 'em work to get [till more Relations as if utterly unacquainted with them. Opt of their fweat and labor; f0 that if any Authol flty over the Indian: be allow'd 'em, they'l certainly The covetous Man never forgives himfelf his OWQ Expences, and leads a miferable Life in the midll or Plenty and Wealth. This greedy humor {'0 darkens the llnderitandings of thofe that are bewitch'd bl' If, that they know: not how to- make a right Judgmel‘; o abufe it to enrich themfelves, while this deteilable covetoufncfs reigns in their minds. And what can the poor Indians do to {bake of? their tyrannical WW, fince they arenaturally meek, quiet and time» ‘ Ions, |