e tyrant
began to put him to the following tortures.
6. Having put his feet in stocks, with his body stretched and his hands
tied to pieces of wood, they placed a pan of fire near his feet, and
a boy with a sprinkler soaked in oil, sprinkled them every now and
then to burn the skin well. On the one side there stood a cruel man
with a loaded arbalist aimed at his heart: on the other stood
another holding a terrible and fierce dog which, had he let it,
would have torn the king to pieces in a moment; and thus they
tortured him to make him disclose the treasures; until a Franciscan
monk, being informed of it, delivered him from their hands, though
he died at last of his tortures. They tortured and killed many
lords and princes of the provinces in like fashion, to make them
give up their gold and silver.
7. At this time a certain tyrant, going as inspector rather of the
purses and the property of the Indians than of their souls and
bodies, found that some Indians had hidden their idols, as the
Spaniards had never taught them about another better God. He took
the lords prisoner till they gave him the idols, thinking they would
be of gold or silver, and because they were not, he punished them
cruelly and unjustly.
8. And not to be defrauded of this purpose, which was to rob, he
compelled the said lords to buy back the idols from him: they bought
them with such gold and silver as they could find, to adore them as
their God like they were accustomed. These are the works these
wretched Spaniards perform, and the example that they give, and the
honour they procure for God in the Indies.
9. This great tyrant passed from the province of Mechuacan into that of
Xalisco, which was as full of people as a hive is of bees, most
populous and most prosperous, because it is one of the most fertile
and marvellous in the Indies. There was a certain town whose houses
extended nearly seven leagues. On his arrival there, the lords and
people came joyfully forth, bearing gifts, as all the Indians are in
the habit of doing when they go to receive any one.
10. He began to commit the usual cruelties and wickedness as all there
are in the habit of doing, and much more besides, to obtain the
object they hold as God, which is gold.
11. He burnt the