R. Hewson_ at the _Crown in Cornhil,_
near the _Stocks-Market._ 1689.
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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