The tears of the Indians being an historical and true account of the cruel massacres and slaughters of above twenty millions of innocent people, committed by the Spaniards in the islands of Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, &c. : as also in the continent of Mexico, Peru, & other places of the West-Indies, to the total destruction of those countries / written in Spanish by Casaus, an eye-witness of those things ; and made English by J.P.

Of New Spain in particular.

AMong other grand murthers of theirs, they committed one more notorious in the City Cholula, which did contain above thirty thousand families. All the potent men of that Region, with the Priests who brought along with them their chief Priest also, came to meet the Spaniards; and that their reception and entertainment might be the more honourable, they agreed to entertain the Spaniards in the houses of the greatest Noble men; but here the Spa∣niards consulted how to begin their mas∣sacres, or as they call'd them, chastisements of the people, that they might keep in awe every corner of the Countrey with the terror of their cruelties. For this was their common custome, that they no soo∣ner had set sooting in any place, but they committed immediately some notorious violence upon the people, that the rest might stand in the greater fear of them. They sent therefore to the supreme Lord of the City, as also to all the other Lords and Governours, that they should give them a meeting, but they were no sooner come to parley, but they were all imme∣diately

laid hold on, leaving none to car∣ry back these bad tidings to the rest; first they demanded of them six thousand In∣dians, to carry the Luggage which they had with them, which when they were brought together they shut up in their houses. It was a sad spectacle to behold this poor people preparing themselves to carry those burthens. They came naked, covering on∣ly their secret parts, and at their shoulders hung a little Net wherein they kept their food; and thus while they stooped under their burthens, they lay open to all the cuts and blowes of the Spanish weapons. Now being in this manner gathered toge∣ther in a great and wide place, part of the Spaniards all in armes, stood at the door to keep the rest out, while others with Swords and Launces kill'd the innocent Lambs, so that not one escaped. After three or four daies were expired, some that had hid themselves among the dead bodies all over besmeered with bloud, came with all submission imploring mercy and compassi∣on from them; but they not at all regar∣ding their tears, nor moved with their lamentations, immediately hew'd them to pieces. All the Lords and Noble men, were kept a while in chains, and after∣ward at the Commandement of the Spanish Captain, tied to stakes and burnt to death.

But the King of the whole Countrey esca∣ped, with about thirty or forty men, be∣taking himself to a Temple which was like a Castle, and in their language called Quu; there defending himself a good part of the day; but the Spaniards out of whose hand few of them, especially the souldiery escap'd, setting the Temple on fire, burnt them all that were within alive, who as they were dying, brake forth into these lamentations: O wicked men, how have we injured you, that you should thus tor∣ment us? Away, away to Mexico, where our chief Lord Montenchuma will revenge our quarrel. This is also reported that while the Spaniards were busily acting this blou∣dy Tragedy, killing and destroying above six thousand innocent creatures, their chief Captain in sport sung these verses:

One flame the Roman 'City now de∣stroyes, And shrieks of people made a dismal noyse, While Nero sung, and moved with de∣light, From Tarpey Hill beheld the wofull sight.

Another butchery was by them commit∣ted in the City of Tepeaca, which was a

much larger City then the former. Here they put to the sword an infinite num∣ber of people, with many additions of cruelty.

Departing from Cholula they came to Mexico, the King whereof Montenchuma sent the Peers and Nobles of this Realm with innumerable presents to meet them, who all the way testified by several sports and solemnities, the joy which they had for their arrivall; When they approached neer the wal of the City, the Kings Brother came forth with many Noble men to meet him, who brought many gifts of Gold and Sil∣ver, to present them with. Coming to the entry of the City, there stood the King himself with all his attendants, who being carried in a golden Litter accompanied them to the Palace which was prepared for them. But that very day, as was told me by some that were there, they seised upon the King, little suspe∣cting any such matter, setting a guard up∣on his person of above eighty Souldiers: after that they put him in chains. But here passing by many things which might be said; I will relate one thing worthy ob∣servation. The Governor being call'd away to quell one of his Captains that had taken armes against him, and having left Montenchuma with a guard of above a

hundred, it came into the mindes of the Spaniards to do something which might render them dreadful and terrible to the Indians; which was a policy, as I said before, they did often use. In the mean while all the Nobility and commonalty of the Ci∣ty minded nothing else but to exhilarate the minde of their captive King with se∣veral varieties of sports and recreations. Among which there was none that they used more then dancings and revellings, which they performed all night long in the streets. These exercises they in their lan∣guage call'd Mirotes, but the Islanders Areytos. To these recreations they bring together all their wealth and richest garments, and what ever they do esteem precious; using them as the greatest testimonies of glad∣nesse. The Nobles also and Princes of the Royal bloud every one according to their degree, were busie in these sports in those places which were nearest the houses where the King was detained captive. Not far from the Palace there were above two thousand youths, being all the children of the Nobility, and indeed the flower of the Nobility which were in Mantenchuma's Kingdome. To these came the Captain of the Spaniards with a small party of Soul∣diers, sending other Troops to other parts of the City, as if they only came to be

spectators. But the Captain had given com∣mand that at a certain hour they should fall upon them; and he himself being about to lead the way, cry'd out, St. Iago, let us rush in upon them. The word being thus given, the Souldiees all fell on, and with their swords began to hack and hew those delicate bodies, spilling that generous and noble bloud with such an unheard of malice, that they left not one alive. And doing thus to others in other places, there fell a dismal fear and amazement up∣on the whole Countrey. Nor will these poor creatures doubtlesse ever forget as long as the world stands, to lament and bewail in their solemnities the sad cala∣mity and ruine of the whole seminary of their Nobility, of which they were wont so much to boast.

The Indians beholding this unheard of cruelty and injustice committed upon such a number of innocent souls, having with long patience endured the captivity of their King, who had charg'd them to be quiet, now ran all to their arms, and falling upon the Spaniards, wounded many, the rest narrowly escaping: at length the Spa∣niards putting a Dagger to the brest of the King Montencuma threatned to kill him unlesse he would look through the win∣dow and command his subjects to lay down

their armes. But the Indians at that time contemning the commands of their King, chose them a Captain whom they made chief Commander of all their Forces. By this time the forementioned Governour was returned from subduing his enemy, bringing with him a greater number of Spaniards then he carryed away with him. Whereupon the Indians desisted from do∣ing any thing more untill he was en∣tred into the City. But then gathering together very great Forces, they fought so vigorously, that the Spaniards despai∣ring of victory resolved to retreat in a tempestuous night and to leave the City. Which being known to the Indians, they cut off abundance of them upon the bridges of the Lakes: neitheir can any man de∣ny but that they did it justly, for the rea∣sons above rehearsed. Afterwards the Spa∣niards having recollected more forces, there followed that great contention in the Ci∣ty, wherein they committed so many se∣veral butcheries upon the Indians, by killing and burning both the Commonalty and the Nobility in a most barbarous man∣ner.

Having committed so many detestable slaughters upon the Indians in Mexico, and other places distant ten, fifteen and twenty miles from thence, this tyrannical plague

proceeded to infest and depopulate the Ci∣ty of Panuco. There was a wonderful fre∣quency of people in that Countrey, nei∣ther were the slaughters, that were there committed, lesse remarkable. In the like manner they laid waste the Provinces of Tatepeca, Ipilcingonium, and Columa, every one of which is of as large a compasse as the Kingdomes of Legiona and Castile. It is a very hard thing, if not altogether impossi∣ble, to recite all the murthers and cruelties there committed; besides that, it would cloy the reader.

Here we must observe, that they entred into these Kingdomes and territories, (which for the abundance of people ought to have been the joy of all true Christians) upon no pretence, but as they said to re∣duce them to slavery. For at their first entrance they commanded them to swear fealty and obedience to the King of Spain, & those that would not come in and sub∣mit themselves to the will of such unjust and cruel men, they proclaimed rebels, and and accus'd them of that crime to the King. The blindnesse of the chief Gover∣nours of the Indies not permitting them to discern, that no man can be called a Rebell who is not before a Subject.

This cruel Tyrant leaning upon this pretence, sent two other Captains excel∣ling

himself in fury, and impiety to Guati∣mala the most fertile and most flourishing Kingdome both for men and fruit of any that were situated southward. They had also received commands to visit the King∣domes of Naco, Honduras, and Guaimara looking toward the north, and being di∣stant from Mexico above three hundred miles; the one was sent by land, the other by sea, being both of them well furnished with men and ammunition for Horse and Foot.

And this I dare affirm, that the enormi∣ties committed by these two Captains, and by him especially that was sent to Guatimala (for the other dyed an evill death in good time) are enough to fill a parti∣cular volume, so many were the slaughters, violences, injuries, butcheries, and beastly desolations which they perpetrated, as do not only amaze the present, but must of necessity strike a horror into future ages: for in this place their abominations and devastations were more fatal then in any place before.

As for him that went by sea, he vex'd all the shore with his incursions and cruelties, to whom there came certain out of the Kingdome of Yucatan, which lies in the way to the Kingdomes of Naco, and Nay∣mura, whither he was then marching, and

brought him many presents, yet he was no sooner come into the Countrey, but he sent the souldiers to depopulate and waste the same, who ceased not to com∣mit many abominable outrages. Among the rest, a certain seditious rebel entring into a region bordering upon Guatemala, burnt up their City, killing the Inhabi∣tants, and laying waste all the Countrey, which he did on purpose, that if he should be pursued by his enemies, they might be liable to the revenge of the Indians as they passed along; which happened accor∣dingly, for there the chief Commander from whose power the foresaid Captain had rebell'd, was slain; but he was suc∣ceeded by many other fell tyrants, who with their wonted cruelties and captivity destroyed the people, selling them to those that brought garments and other pro∣vision, and by that kinde of servitude, which they practised from the year 1524. to the year 1535. they depopulated and made desert the provinces of Naco and Honduras, which seemed to be the Elysium and Paradise of the world in every re∣spect. And I have lately seen them so de∣stroyed, that it would move the most stony heart to compassion. In these eleven years there prrished in this Countrey above two millions, scarce two thousand now re∣maining,

who daily diminish through the hardnesse of their servitude.

But as for that abominable tyrant that exceeded all that were before in tyranny, and is equall to all that remains behinde, let us now finde him out in Guatimala.

He going through the Provinces adjoy∣ning to Mexico toward Guatimala, which are above four hundred miles in length, minded nothing else all the way he went, but slaughters, rapines, burnings, depo∣pulations, compelling all upon the fore∣said pretence to submit themselves to their cruelties, in the name of the King of Spain, whom they had never seen nor heard of, and whom they could not but think more unjust and cruel then his Ministers and Officers, yet giving them no time to deli∣berate, they wasted all before them with fire and sword.