n when the death of the most Serene Queen, Dona
Isabella was known here, which was in the year 1504. For up to that
time, only some provinces in the island had been ruined by unjust
wars, but not entirely: and these were nearly all kept hidden from
the Queen. Because the Queen, who is in blessed glory, used great
solicitude and marvellous zeal for the health and prosperity of
these people, as we ourselves, who have seen the examples of it with
our eyes and touched them with our hands, well know.
24. Another rule to be noted is this; that in all parts of the Indies
where the Christians have gone and have passed, they ever did the
same murder among the Indians, and used tyranny and abominable
oppression against these innocent people; and they added many more
and greater and newer ways of torment. They became ever crueller,
because God let them precipitate themselves the more swiftly into
reprobate judgments and sentiments.

The Two Islands of San Juan and Jamaica

In 1509 the Spaniards passed over to the islands of San Juan and Jamaica,
(83) which were so many gardens and hives of bees, with the same object
and design they had accomplished in Hispaniola, where they committed the
great outrages and iniquities narrated above. They even added to them
more notorious ones, and the greatest cruelty; slaying, burning, roasting,
and, throwing the Indians to fierce dogs. They oppressed, tormented, and
afflicted all those unhappy innocents in the mines, and with other
labours, until they were consumed and destroyed, because there were in the
said isles more than a million souls, and to-day there are not two hundred
in each. All have perished without faith and without sacraments.

The Island of Cuba

In the year 1511 the Spaniards passed over to the island of Cuba,
(84) which as I said, is as long as from Valladolid to Rome, and
where there were great and populous provinces. They began and ended
in the above manner, only with incomparably greater cruelty. Here
many notable things occurred.
2. A very high prince and lord, named Hatuey, who had fled with many of
his people from Hispaniola to Cuba, to escape the calamity and
inhuman operations of the Christians, having received news from some
Indians that the Christians were crossing over,