hink that these monks went there in the
year thirty-four.
16. They sent ahead certain Indians from the province of Mexico as
messengers, to inquire whether the natives were satisfied that the
said monks should enter their country, to bring them news of the one
only God, who is God and true Lord of all the world.
17. They [the Indians] assembled many times and consulted about the
thing, having first made many inquiries as to what sort of men these
were, who called themselves _fathers_ and _brothers_, and as to what
they laid claim; and in what they were different from the Christians
from whom they had suffered so many offences and such injustice.
18. They resolved at last to receive them, on the condition that they
came alone with no Spaniards. The monks promised this because the
Viceroy of New Spain had granted them this privilege and had given
orders that no more Spaniards except the monks were to be allowed to
enter the country, nor should the Indians suffer any harm from the
Christians.
19. The friars, as is their custom, preached to those people the gospel
of Christ, and the holy intentions of the king of Spain towards
them. With such love and pleasure did they receive the doctrine and
example of the monks, and so greatly did they rejoice over the news
of the kings of Castile, of whom in all the past seven years the
Spaniards had never given them information nor that there was any
king other than he, who tyrannised and destroyed here, that after
the monks had preached there forty days, the lords of the country
brought and consigned to them all their idols that they might burn
them.
20. And afterwards they gave them their own children, whom they love
more than the light of their eyes, that they might train them. And
they built them churches, monasteries and houses: and friars, were
invited to other provinces, to preach and bring the natives to the
knowledge of God and of him whom they called the great king of
Castile.
21. And, persuaded by the monks, the Indians did a thing never done
again up to the present day; and all that some of those Tyrants
pretend about those kingdoms being destroyed by the friars, is
falsehood and lies.
22. Twelve or fifteen lords, each ruling many vassals and large
territories, assembled t