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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A22928	The naturall and morall historie of the East and West Indies Intreating of the remarkable things of heaven, of the elements, mettalls, plants and beasts which are proper to that country: together with the manners, ceremonies, lawes, governments, and warres of the Indians. Written in Spanish by the R.F. Ioseph Acosta, and translated into English by E.G.; Historia natural y moral de las Indias. English	Acosta, José de, 1540-1600.; Grimeston, Edward, attributed name.	1604 (1604)	STC 94; ESTC S100394	372,047	616

the Indian sea the other that of China And I have observed as well by my owne navigation as by the relation of others that the Sea is never divided from the Lande above a thousand Leagues And although the great Ocean stretcheth farre yet doth it never passe this measure I will not for all this affirme that wee sayle not above a thousand leagues in the Ocean which were repugnant to trueth being well knowne that the shippes of Portugal have sailed foure times as much and more and that the whole world may bee compassed about by sea as wee have seene in these dayes without any further doubt But I say and affirme that of that which is at this day discovered there is no land distant from an other firme land by direct line or from some Islands neere vnto it above a thousand leagues and so betwixt two firme lands there is no greater distance of sea accompting from the neerest parts of both the lands for from the end of Europe or Affricke and their coastes to the Canaries the Isles of Acores Cape Verd and others in the like degree are not above three hundred leagues or five hundred from the Mayne land From the saide Ilands running along to the West Indies there are scant nine hundred leagues to the Ilands of saint Dominick the Virgins the Happy Ilandes and the rest and the same Ilands runne along in order to the Ilandes of Barlovent which are Cuba Hispan●ola and Boriquen from the same Ilands vnto the Mayne land are scarce two or three hundred leagues in the neerest part farre lesse The firme land runnes an infinite space from Terra●Florida to the land of Patagons and on the other side of the South from the Straight of Maggellan to the Cape of Mendoce there runnes a long Continent but not very large for the largest is the Travers of Peru which is distant from Brasil about a thousand leagues In this South Sea although they have not yet discovered the ende towards the West yet of late they have found out the Ilands which they call Salomon the which are many and great distant from Peru about eyght hundred leagues And for that wee finde by observation that whereas there bee many and great Ilandes so there is some firme Land not farre off I my selfe with many others doe beleeve that there is some firme land neere vnto the Ilands of Salomon the which doth answere vnto our America on the West part and possibly might runne by the heigth of the South to the Straightes of Maggellan Some hold that Nova Guinea is firme Land and some learned men describe it neere to the Ilands of Salomon so as it is likely a good parte of the world is not yet discovered seeing at this day our men sayle in the South Sea vnto China and the Philippines and wee say that to go from Peru to those parts they passe a greater Sea then in going from Spaine to Peru. Moreover wee know that by that famous Straight of Maggellan these two Seas doe ioyne and continue one with an other I say the South sea with that of the North by that part of the Antarticke Pole which is in fiftie one degrees of altitude But it is a great question wherein many have busied themselves● whether these two Seas ioyne together in the North part but I have not heard that any vnto this day could attayne vnto this point but by certaine likelihoods and coniectures some affirme there is an other Straight vnder the North opposite to that of Maggellan But it sufficeth for our subiect to knowe that there is a firme Land on this Southerne part as bigge as all Europe Asiae and Affricke that vnder both the Poles we finde both land and sea one imbracing an other Whereof the Ancients might stand in doubt and contradict it for want of experience To confute the opinion of Lactantius who holdes there be no Antipodes CHAP. 7. SEeing it is manifest that there is firme land vpon the South part or Pole Antartike wee must now see if it be inhabited the which hath bene a matter very disputable in former times Lactantius Firmian and S. Augustine mocke at such as hold there be any Antipodes which is as much to say as men marching with their feete opposite to ours But although these two authors agree in theis ieasts yet doe they differ much in their reasons and opinions as they were of very divers spirits and iudgements Lactantius followes the vulgar seeming ridiculous vnto him that the heaven should be round and that the earth should bee compassed in the midst thereof like vnto a ball whereof he writes in these tearmes What reason is there for some to affirme that there are Antipodes whose steppes are opposite to ours Is it possible that any should bee so grosse and simple as to beleeve there were a people or nation marching with their fe●te vpwardes and their heades downwardes and that thinges which are placed heere of one sort are in that other part hanging topsie turvie that trees and corne growe downwardes and that raine snow haile fall from the earth vpward Then after some other discourse the same Lactantius vseth these words The imagination and conceit which some haue had supposing the heaven to be round hath bene the cause to invent these Antipodes hanging in the aire So as I knowe not what to say of such Philosophers whoe having once erred continue still obstinately in their opinions defending one another But whatsoever he saieth wee that live now at Peru and inhabite that part of the world which is oposite to Asia and their Antipodes as the Cosmographers do teach vs finde not our selves to bee hanging in the aire our heades downward and our feete on high Truly it is strange to consider that the spirit and vnderstanding of man cannot attaine vnto the trueth without the vse of imagination and on the other part it were impossible but he should erre and be deceived if hee should wholy forbeare it We cannot comprehend the heaven to be round as it is and the earth to bee in the middest of it without imagination But if this imagination were not controuled and reformed by reason in the end we should bee deceiued whereby we may certainely conclude that in our soules there is a certaine light of heaven whereby wee see and iudge of the interior formes which present themselves vnto vs and by the same we alow of or reiect that which imagination doth offer vnto vs. Hereby we see that the rationall soule is above all corporall powers and as the force and etenall vigour of truth doth rule in the most eminent part of man yea we plainely see that this pure light is participant and proceedes from that first great light that whoso knoweth not this or doubteth thereof we may well say that he is igmorant or doubtes whether he be a man or no. So if we shall demaund of our imagination what it thinkes of the roundnes of

lands and habitations Some peopling the lands they found and others seeking for newe in time they came to inhabite and people the Indies with so many nations people and tongues as we see By what meanes tame Beasts passed to the Indies CHAP. 21. THe signes and arguments which offer themselves to such as are curious to examine the Indians maners and fashions helpe much to maintayne the foresayd opinion for that you shall not finde any inhabiting the Ilands that are farre from the maine Land or from other Ilands as the Bermudes the reason whereof is for that the Ancients did never sayle but alongst the coast and in view of land whereupon it is reported that they have found no great Ships in any part of the Indies capable to passe such Gulphs but onely Balsae Barkes and Canoes which are all lesse then our long boates the which the Indians doe onely vse with the which they could not runne through so great a Passage without apparant danger of ship-wracke and although their shippes had beene sufficient yet had they no knowledge of the Astrolabe or Compasse If then they had beene but eight or tenne dayes at Sea withoutsight of land they must of necessitie loose themselves having no knowledge where they were wee know many Ilandes well peopled with Indians and their vsuall navigations the which was such as they may well performe in Canoes and boats without any Compasse to sayle by Whenas the Indians of Peru which remayne at Tombes did see our first Spanish shippes sayling to Peru and viewed the greatnesse of their sailes being spread and of the bodies of the ships they stoode greatly amazed not beeing able to perswade themselves that they were shippes having never seene any of the like forme and greatnesse they supposed they had beene rockes But seeing them advance and not to sincke they stood transported with amazement vntill that beholding them neerer they discovered men with beards that walked in them whom then they held for some gods or heavenly creatures Whereby it appeares how strange it was to the Indians to have great Ships There is yet an other reason which confirmes vs in the foresayd opinion which is that these beastes which we say are not likely to have been transported by Sea to the Indies remayne onely on the maine Land and not in any Ilands foure dayes iorney from the maine Land I have made this search for proofe thereof for that it seemes to me a point of great importance to confirme me in mine opinion that the confines of the Indies Europe Asia and Affricke have some communication one with another or at the least approch very neere together There are in America and Peru many wilde beastes as Lyons although they be not like in greatnesse fiercenesse nor of the same colour redde to the renowmed Lyons of Affrica There are also many Tygers very cruell and more to the Indians then to the Spaniardes there are likewise Beares but in no great aboundance of Boares and Foxes an infinite number And yet if wee shall seeke for all these kindes of beastes in the Ilands of Cuba Hispaniola Iamaica Marguerita or Dominica you shall not finde any So as in the sayde Ilands although they were very fertile and of a great circuit yet was there not any kind of beastes for service when the Spaniards arrived but at this day there are so great troopes of Horses Oxen Kyne Dogs and Hogges which have multiplied in such abundance as now the Kine have no certaine master but belong to him that shal first kil them be it on the mountaines or on the plaines which the Indians do onely to save their hides whereof they make great traffick without any regard of the flesh to eate it Dogges have so increased as they march by troopes and endammage the cattell no lesse then wolves which is a great inconvenience in these Ilands There wants not onely beastes in these Ilands but also birdes both great and small As for Parrets there are many that flie by flockes but as I have said there are few of any other kinde I have not seene nor heard of any Partriges there as in Peru. Likewise there are few of those beastes which at Peru they call Guancos and Vicunas like to wilde Goates very swifte in whose stomacke they find the Beezars stone which many do greatly value sometimes you shall finde them as bigge as a hens egge yea halfe as bigge againe They have no other kinde of beastes but such as we call Indian sheepe the which besides their wooll and flesh wherewith they clothe and feede themselves do serve them as Asses to beare their burthens They carrie halfe as much as a Moyle and are of small charge to their masters having neede neither of shooes saddle nor oates to live by nor of any furniture for that Nature hath provided them of all these wherein she seemes to have favoured these poore Indians Of all these creatures and of many other sortes whereof I will make mention the maine land at the Indies aboundes But in the Ilands there are not any found but such as the Spaniards have brought It is true that once one of our Friars did see a Tigre in an Iland as hee reported vnto vs vpon the discourse of his peregrination and shipwracke but being demanded how farre it was from the maine land he answered sixe or eight leagues at the most which passage Tigres might easily swimme over We may easily inferre by these arguments and others like that the first Indians went to inhabite the Indies more by land then by sea or if there were any navigation it was neither great nor difficult being an indibitable thing that the one world is continued and ioyned with the other or at the least they approach one neere vnto another in some parts That the linage of the Indies hath not passed by the Atlantike Iland as some do imagine CHAP. 22. SOme following Platoes opinion mentioned before affirme that these men parted from Europe or Affricke to go to that famous and renowmed Atlantike Iland and so passed from one Iland vnto another vntill they came to the maine land of the Indies for that Critias of Plato in his time discourseth in this maner if the Atlantike Iland wereas great as all Asia and Affrike together or greater as Plato saies it should of necessitie containe all the Atlantike Ocean and stretch even vnto the Ilands of the new world And Plato saieth moreover that by a great and strange deluge the Atlantike Iland was drowned and by that meanes the sea was made vnnavigable through the aboundance of banckes rockes and roughnesse of the waves which were yet in his time But in the end the ruines of this drowned Iland weresetled which made this sea navigable This hath been curiously handled and discoursed of by some learned men of good iudgement and yet to speake the truth being well considered they are ridiculous things resembling rather to Ovids tales then a Historie or

hath been said in the first booke neither is it knowne if there be any habitations in the other two Zones of the Poles and whether the land continues and stretcheth to that which is towards the Antartike or South Pole Neither do we know the land that lies beyond the straight of Magellan for that the greatest height yet discovered is in fiftie ●ix degrees as hath beene formerly saide and toward the Artike or Northerne Pole it is not knowne how farre the land extendes which runnes beyond the Cape of Mendocin and the Caliphornes nor the bounds and end of Florida neither yet how farre it extendes to the West Of late they have discovered a new land which they call New Mexico where they say is much people that speake the Mexicaine tongue The Philippines and the following Ilands as some report that know it by experience ranne above nine hundred leagues But to intreate of China Cochinchina Syam and other regions which are of the East Indies were contrary to my purpose which is onely to discourse of the West nay they are ignorant of the greatest part of America which lies betwixt Peru and Bresill although the bounds be knowne of all sides wherein there is diversitie of opinions some say it is a drowned land full of Lakes and waterie places Others affirme there are great and florishing kingdomes imagining there be the Paytiti the Dorado and the Caesars where they say are wonderfull things I have heard one of our company say a man worthy of credite that hee had seene great dwellings there and the waies as much beaten as those betwixt Salamanca and Villadillit the which he did see whenas Peter d'Orsua and after those that succeeded him made their entrie and discoverie by the great river of Amazons who beleeving that the Dorado which they sought was farther off cared not to inhabit● there and after went both without the Dorado which they could not finde and this great Province which they left To speake the truth the habitations of America are to this day vnknowne except the extreamities which are Peru Bresill and that part where the land beginnes to straighten which is the river of Silver then Tucuman which makes the round to Chille and Charc● Of late we have vnderstood by letters from some of ours which go to S. Croix in the Sierre that they go discovering of great Provinces and dwellings betwixt Bresill and Peru. Time will reveile them for as at this day the care and courage of men is great to compasse the world from one part to another so wee may beleeve that as they have discovered that which is now knowne they may likewise lay open that which re●●nes to the end the Gospell may be preached to the whole world seeing the two Crownes of Portugall and Ca●●ille have met by the East and West ioyning their discoveries together which in truth is a matter to be observed that the one is come to China and Iappan by the East and the other to the Philippines which are neighbours and almost ioyning vnto China by the West for from the Ilands of Lusson which is the chiefe of the Philippines in the which is the Citie of Mamill● vnto Macan which is in the I le of Cauton are but foure score or a hundred leagues and yet we finde it strange that notwithstanding th●● small distance from the one to the other yet according to their accoumpt there is a daies difference betwixt them so as it is Sunday at Macan whenas it is but Saterday at Mamille and so of the rest Those of Macan and of China have one day advanced before the Philippines It happened to father Alo●●● Sanches of whom mention is made before that parting from the Philippines he arrived at Macan the second day of Maie according to their computation and going to say the Masse of S. Athanasius he found they did celebrate the feast of the invention of the holy Crosse for that they did then reckon the third of Maie The like happened vnto him in another voyage beyond it Some have found this alteration and diversitie strange supposing that the fault proceedes from the one or the other the which is not so but it is a true and well observed computation for according to the difference of waies where they have beene we must necessarily say that when they meete there must bee difference of a day the reason is for that sailing from West to East they alwaies gaine of the day finding the sunne rising sooner and contrariwise those that saile from East to West do alwaies loose of the day for that the Sunne riseth later vnto them and as they approach neerer the East or the West they have the day longer or shorter In Peru which is westward in respect of Spaine they are above sixe houres behinde so as when it is noone in Spaine it is morning at Peru and when it is morning heere it is mid-night there I have made certaine proofe thereof by the computation of Eclipses of the Sunne and Moone Now that the Portugalls have made their navigations from West to East and the Castillans from East to West when they came to ioyne and meete at the Philippines and Macan the one have gained twelve houres and the other hath lost as much so as at one instant and in one time they finde the difference of twentie houres which is a whole day so as necessarily the one are at the third of Maie whenas the others accoumpt but the second and whenas the one doth fast for Easter eve the others eate flesh for the day of the resurrection And if we will imagine that they passe farther turning once againe about the world vsing the same computation when they should returne to ioyne together they should finde by the same accoumpt two daies difference for as I have saide those that go to the Sunne rising accoumpt the day sooner for that the Sunne riseth to them sooner and those that go to the setting accoumpt the day later for that it goes from them later finally the diversitie of the noone tide causeth the divers reckoning of the day And now for as much as those that doe saile from East to West change their noone tide without perceiving it and yet still follow the same computation they did when they parted of necessitie having made the compasse of the worlde they must finde the want of a whole day in their computation Of the Volcans or Vents of fire CHAP. 24. ALthough we finde vents of fire in other places as mount Aetna and Wesuvio which now they call mount S●ma yet is that notable which is found at the Indies Ordinarily these Volcans be rockes or pikes of most high mountaines which raise themselves above the toppes of all other mountaines vpon their toppes they have a plaine and in the midst thereof a pitte or great mouth which discends even vnto the foote thereof a thing verie terrible to beholde Out of these mouthes there issues smoake and sometimes

month doth answer to our Iuly The ninth moneth was called Yapaguis in the which they burnt an hundred sheepe more of a chesnut colour and they do likewise kill and burne a thousand Cuyes to the end the frost the ayre the water nor the sunne should not hurt their farmes and this moneth doth answer vnto August The tenth moneth was called Coyarami in the which they burnt a hundred white sheepe that had fleeces In this month which answereth to September they made the feast called Situa in this manner They assembled together the first day of the moone before the rising thereof and in seeing it they cryed aloude carrying torches in their handes and saying Let all harme goe away striking one an other with their torches They that did this were called Panconcos which being doone they went to the common bath to the rivers and fountaines and every one to his own bath setting themselves to drink foure dayes together In this moneth the Mamacomas of the sunne made a great number of small loaves with the blood of the sacrifices and gave a peece to every stranger yea they sent to every Guaca throughout the realme and to many Curacas in signe of confederation and loyaltie to the Sunne and the Ingua as hath bin said The bathes drunkennesse and some relickes of this feast Situa remaine even vnto this day in some places with the ceremonies a little different but yet very secretly for that these chiefe and principall feasts have ceased The eleventh moneth Homaraymi Punchaiquis wherein they sacrificed a hundred sheepe more And if they wanted water to procure raine they set a black sheepe tied in the middest of a plaine powring much Chica about it and giving it nothing to eate vntill it rained which is practised at this day in many places in the time of our October The twelfth and last month was called Aymara wherein they did likewise sacrifice a hundred sheepe and made the feast called Raymicantara Rayquis In this moneth which aunswered to our November they prepared what was necessary for the children that should be made novices the moneth following the children with the old men made a certaine shew with rounds and turnings and this feast was called Ituraymi which commonly they make when it raines too much or too little or when there is a plague Among the extraordinary feasts which were verymany the most famous was that which they called 〈◊〉 This feast Ytu hath no prefixed time nor season but in time of necessitie To prepare themselves thereunto all the people fasted two dayes during the which they did neyther company with their wives nor eate anie meate with salt or garlicke nor drinke any Chica All did assemble together in one place where no straunger was admitted nor any beast they had garments and ornaments which served onely for this feast They marched very quietly in procession their heades covered with their vailes sounding of drummes without speaking one to another This continued a day and a night then the day following they daunced and made good cheere for twoo dayes and two nights together saying that their prayer was accepted And although that this feast is not vsed at this day with all this antient ceremony yet commonly they make another which is verie like which they call Ayma with garmentes that serve onely to that end and they make this kind of procession with their Drummes having fasted before then after they make good cheere which they vsually doe in their vrgent necessities And although the Indians forbeare to sacrifice beasts or other things publikely which cannot be hidden from the Spaniardes yet doe they still vse many ceremonies that have their beginnings from these feasts and auntient superstitions for at this day they do covertly make this feast of Ytu at the dances of the feast of the Sacrament in making the daunces of Lyamallama and of Guacon and of others according to their auntient ceremonies wherevntowe ought to take good regarde They have made more large Discourses of that which concerneth this matte● for the necessary observation of the abuses and superstitions the Indians had in the time of their gentility to the end the Priestes and Curates may the better take heede Let this suffice now to have treated of the exercise wherewith the divell held those superstitious nations occupied to the end that against his will wee may see the difference there is betwixt light and darknes betwixt the trueth of Christ and the lies of the Gentiles although the ennemy of God and man hath laboured with all his devises to counterfet those things which are of God Of the feast of Iubilee which the Mexicaines celebrated CHAP. 29. THe Mexicaines have beene no lesse curious in their feasts and solemnities which were of small charge but of great effusion of mans blood Wee have before spoken of the principall feast of VitZiliputZli after the which the feast of Tezcalipuca was most solempnized This feast fell in Maie and in their Kalender they called it Tozcolt it fell every foure yeeres with the feast of Penaunce where there was given full indulgence and remission of sinnes In this day they did sacrifice a captive which resembled the idoll Tezcalipuca it was the nineteenth day of Maie vpon the even of this feast the Noblemen came to the Temple bringing a new garment like vnto that of the idoll the which the Priest put vpon him having first taken off his other garments which they kept with as much or more reverence than we doe our ornaments There were in the coffers of the idoll many ornaments iewelles earerings and other riches as bracelets and pretious feathers which served to no othervse but to be there and was worshipped as their god it selfe Besides the garment wherewith they worshipped the idoll that day they put vpon him certaine ensignes of feathers with fannes shadowes and other things being thus attired and furnished they drew the curtaine or vaile from before the doore to the end he might be seene of all men then came forth one of the chiefe of the temple attired like to the idoll carrying flowers in his hand and a flute of earth having a very sharpe sound and turning towards the east he founded it and then looking to the west north and south he did the like And after he had thus sounded towards the foure parts of the world shewing that both they that were present and absent did heare him hee put his finger into the aire and then gathered vp earth which he put in his mouth and did eate it in signe of adoration The like did all they that were present and weeping they fell flat to the ground invocating the darkenesse of the night and the windes intreating them not to leave them nor to forget them or else to take away their lives and free them from the labors they indured therein Theeves adulterers and murtherers and all others offendors had great feare and heavinesse whilest this flute sounded so as some could

would favour their cause and partie even for the good of the Infidells who should bee converted vnto the holy Gospel by this meanes for the waies of God are high and their paths admirable Of the maner how the Divine providence disposed of the Indies to give an entrie to Christian Religion CHAP. 28. I Will make an end of this historie of the Indies shewing the admirable meanes whereby God made a passage for the Gospel in those partes the which we ought well to consider of and acknowledge the providence and bountie of the Creator Every one may vnderstand by the relation and discourse I have written in these bookes as well at Peru as in New Spaine whenas the Christians first set footing that these Kingdomes and Monarchies were come to the height and period of their power The Inguas of Peru possessing from the Realme of Chille beyond Quitto which are a thousand leagues being most aboundant in gold silver sumptuous services and other things as also in Mexico Moteçuma commaunded from the North Ocean sea vnto the South being feared and worshiped not as a man but rather as a god Then was it that the most high Lord had determined that that stone of Daniel which dissolved the Realmes and Kingdoms of the world should also dissolve those of this new world And as the lawe of Christ came whenas the Romane Monarchie was at her greatnes so did it happen at the West Indies wherein we see the iust providence of our Lord For being then in the world I meane in Europe but one head and temporall Lord as the holy Doctors do note whereby the Gospel might more easily beimparted to so many people and nations Even so hath it happened at the Indies where having given the knowledge of Christ to the Monarkes of so many Kingdomes it was a meanes that afterwards the knowledge of the gospell was imparted to all the people yea there is herein a speciall thinge to bee observed that as the Lordes of Cusco and Mexico conquered new landes so they brought in their owne language for although there were as at this day great diuersitie of tongues yet the Courtlie speeche of Cusco did and doth at this day runne above a thousand leagues and that of Mexico did not extend farre lesse which hath not beene of small importance but hath much profited in making the preaching easie at such a time when as the preachers had not the gift of many tongues as in olde tymes He that woulde knowe what a helpe it hath beene for the conversion of this people in these two greate Empyres and the greate difficultie they haue founde to reduce those Indians to Christ which acknowledge no Soueraigne Lorde let him goe to Florida Bresill the Andes and many other places where they have not prevailed so much by their preaching in fiftie yeares as they have done in Peru and newe Spaine in lesse then five If they will impute the cause to the riches of the countrie I will not altogether denie it Yet were it impossible to have so great wealth and to bee able to preserve it if there had not beene a Monarchie This is also a worke of God in this age when as the Preachers of the gospell are so colde and without zeale and Merchants with the heat of covetousnes and desire of commaund search and discouer newe people whether wee passe with our commodities for as Saint Austin saith the Prophesie of Esaie is fulfilled in that the Church of Christ is extended not onely to the right hand but also to the left which is as he declareth by humaine and earthly meanes which they seeke more commonly then Iesus Christ. It was also a great providence of our Lord that whenas the first Spaniardes arrived there they founde ayde from the Indians them selves by reason of their partialities and greate diuisions This is well knowne in Peru that the division betwixt the two brothers Atahulpa and Guasca the great King Guanacapa their father being newly dead gave entry to the Marquise Don Francis Pizarre and to the Spaniards for that either of them desired his alliance being busied in warre one against the other The like experience hath beene in New Spaine that the aide of those of the province of Tlascalla by reason of their continuall hatred against the Mexicaines gave the victory and siegniory of Mexico to the Marquise Fernando Cortes and his men and without them it had beene impossible to have wonne it yea to have maintained themselves within the country They are much deceived that so little esteeme the Indians and iudge that by the advantage the Spaniards have over them in their persons horses and armes both offencive and deffencive they might easily conquer any land or nation of the Indies Chille standes yet or to say better Aranco and Tu●●●pel which are two citties where our Spaniards could not yet winne one foote of ground although they have made warre there above five and twenty yeares without sparing of any cost For this barbarous nation having once lost the apprehention of horse and shotte and knowing that the Spaniards fall as well as other men with the blow of a stone or of a dart they hazard themselves desperately entring the pikes vppon any enterprise How many yeares have they levied men in New Spaine to send against the Chychymequos which are a small number of naked Indians armed onely with bowes and arrowes yet to this day they could not bee vanquished but contrariwise from day to day they grow more desperate and resolute But what shall wee say of the Chucos of the Chiraguanas of the Piscocones and all the other people of the Andes Hath not all the flower of Peru beene there bringing with them so great provision of armes and men as we have seene What did they With what victories returned they Surely they returned very happy in saving of their lives having lost their baggage and almost all their horses Let no man thinke speaking of the Indians that they are men of nothing but if they thinke so let them go and make triall Wee must then attribute the glory to whom it appertaines that is principally to God and to his admirable disposition for if Moteçuma in Mexiço and the Ingua in Peru had bin resolute to resist the Spaniards and to stoppe their entrie Cortes and Pizarre had prevailed little in their landing although they were excellent Captaines It hath also beene a great helpe to induce the Indians to receive the law of Christ the subiection they were in to their Kings and Lords and also the servitude and slaverie they were helde in by the divells tyrannies and insupportable yoake This was an excellent disposition of the Divine Wisedome the which drawes profite from ill to a good end and receives his good from an others ill which it hath not sowen It is most certaine that no people of the West Indies have beene more apt to receive the Gospel then those which were most subiect to