tell."
25. "I saw moreover that they called the Indian lords and chiefs, to
come peaceably, promising them safety, but as soon as they arrived
they burnt them. And in my presence they burnt two, one from Andon
and the other in Tumbala, nor was I able for all I preached to them,
to prevent them burning them."
26. "I call God and my own conscience to witness that, as far as I can
understand, the Indians only revolted on account of this ill
treatment which sufficiently justified their action as may be
clearly seen by everybody."
27. "The Spaniards have never dealt honestly with them nor kept their
word but, contrary to all reason and justice, they have tyrannically
ruined them and all their country, doing such things against them,
that they [the Indians] have resolved sooner to die, than suffer
such deeds."
28. "I say moreover, that the Indians are right in affirming that there
is more gold hidden, than has been discovered, for they have refused
to disclose it because of the injustice and cruelty shown them by
the Spaniards; nor will they disclose it as long as such treatment
continues, but rather will they die like the others."
29. "God our Lord has been much offended by these deeds, and His Majesty
very badly served and defrauded, for they have made him lose
countries that could very well provide food for the whole of
Castile, and in my opinion, it will be very difficult and expensive
to recover them."
30. All these are the formal words of the said monk; and bear the
signature also of the Bishop of Mexico, testifying that everything
was affirmed by the said Father, Fray Marcus.
31. What this Father says he has seen, should be considered here:
because this happened throughout fifty or a hundred leagues of
country and during nine or ten years, at the beginning, when there
were very few Spaniards: afterwards the sound of gold drew thither
four or five thousand Spaniards, who spread through many large
kingdoms and provinces, covering more than five hundred or seven
hundred leagues, all of which they have destroyed by practising the
same deeds and others still more ferocious and cruel.
32. Truly, from that time to the present day, a thousand times more
people have been destroyed and dispersed than he was told of; being
devoid of mer