The Mainland

In the Year 1514, a certain unhappy Governour Landed on the firm Land or Continent, a most bloody Tyrant, destitute of all Mercy and Prudence, the Instrument of God's Wrath, with a Resolution to people these parts with Spaniards; and although some Tyrants had touched here before him, and Cruelty hurried them into the other World by several wayes of Slaughter, yet they came no farther than to the Sea Coast, where they comitted podigious Thefts and Robberies, but this Person exceeded all that ever dwelt in other Islands, though execrable and profligate Villains: for he did not only ravage and depopulate the Sea-Coast, but buried the largest Regions and most ample Kingdoms in their own Ruins, sending Thousdands to Hell by his Butcheries. He made Incursions for many Miles continuance, that is to say, in those Countries that are included in the Territories of Darien and the Provinces of Nicaraqua, where are near Five Hundred Miles of the most Fertil Land in the World, and the most opulent for Gold of all the Regions hitherto discover'd. And although Spain has bin sufficiently furnished with the purest Gold, yet it was dig'd out of the Bowels and Mines of the said Countries by the Indians, where (as we have said) they perished.

In 1514, a certain wretched governor landed on the mainland. He was a bloodthirsty tyrant without mercy or sound judgment, an instrument of God's wrath. He intended to settle these lands with Spaniards. Some tyrants had arrived before him, and cruelty had sent them to the next world through various forms of slaughter. Yet those earlier tyrants had gone no farther than the coast, where they committed enormous thefts and robberies. But this governor surpassed all the tyrants who had lived on other islands, though they were vile, depraved villains. He not only ravaged and depopulated the coast but also reduced vast regions and great kingdoms to ruins. Through his massacres, he sent thousands to Hell. He raided for many miles through the territories of Darien and the provinces of Nicaraqua. These territories contain nearly five hundred miles of the most fertile land in the world. They are also richer in gold than any other regions discovered so far. And although Spain has received ample supplies of the purest gold, Indians dug that gold from these countries' depths and mines. There, as we have said, the Indians perished.

This Ruler, with his Complices found out new inventions to rack, torment, force and extort Gold from the Indians. One of his Captains in a certain Excursion undertaken by the Command of his Governeur to make Depraedations, destroy'd Forty Thousand Persons and better exposing them to the edge of the Sword, Fire, Dogs and variety of Torments; of all which a Religious Man of the Order of St. Francis, Franciscus de S. Romano, who was then present was an Eye-Witness.

This ruler and his accomplices devised new ways to torture and torment the Indians to force gold from them. On one raid ordered by his governor to plunder, one of his captains killed more than forty thousand people. He killed them with swords, fire, dogs, and various forms of torture. A member of the Order of St. Francis, Franciscus de S. Romano, was present and witnessed all these atrocities.

Great and Injurious was the blindness of those praesided over the Indians; as to the Conversion and Salvation of this People: for they denyed in Effect what they in their flourishing Discourse pretended to, and declar'd with their Tongue what they contradicted in their Heart; for it came to this pass, that the Indians should be commanded on the penalty of a bloody War, Death, and perpetual Bondage, to embrace the Christian Faith, and submit to the Obedience of the Spanish King; as if the Son of God, who suffered Death for the Redemption of all Mankind, had enacted a Law, when he pronounced these words, Go and teach all Nations that Infidels, living peaceably and quietly in their Hereditary Native Country, should be impos'd upon pain of Confiscation of all their Chattels, Lands, Liberty, Wives, Children, and Death itself, without any precedent instruction to Confess and Acknowledge the true God, and subject themselves to a King, whom they never saw, or heard mention'd before; and whose Messengers behav'd themselves toward them with such Inhumanity and Cruelty as they had done hitherto. Which is certainly a most foppish and absurd way of Proceeding, and merits nothing but Scandal, Derision, nay Hell itself. Now suppose this Notorious and Profligate Governour had bin impower'd to see the Execution of these Edicts perform'd, for of themselves they were repugnant both to Law and Equity; yet he commanded (or they who were to see the Execution thereof, did it of their own Heads without Authority) that when they phansied or proposed to themselves any place, that was well stor'd with Gold, to rob and feloniously steal it away from the Indians living in their Cities and Houses, without the least suspicion of any ill Act. These wicked Spaniards, like Theives came to any place by stealth, half a Mile off of any City, Town or Village, and there in the Night published and proclaim'd the Edict among themselves after this manner:

Those who ruled over the Indians were deeply and harmfully blind about the conversion and salvation of these people. Their actions denied what their fine speeches claimed, and their hearts contradicted what their tongues declared. Matters reached this point: the Indians were ordered to accept Christianity and obey the Spanish King. Refusal meant bloody war, death, and permanent slavery. It was as if the Son of God, who died to redeem all humanity, had made such a law. As if his words, Go and teach all Nations, authorized these demands against unbelievers living peacefully in their ancestral homeland. Without any prior instruction, these people were ordered to acknowledge and confess the true God and submit to a king. Otherwise, they would lose all their possessions, lands, freedom, wives, children, and even their lives. They had never seen this king or even heard of him. And his messengers had already treated them with such inhumanity and cruelty. This approach is certainly utterly foolish and absurd. It deserves nothing but outrage, ridicule, and indeed hell itself. Now suppose this notoriously wicked governor had been authorized to enforce these decrees, though the decrees themselves violated law and justice. Yet he gave the following orders, or those enforcing the decrees acted on their own, without authority. Whenever they took a fancy to a place, or chose one, that was rich in gold, they would plunder it. They would criminally steal the gold from the Indians, who lived in their towns and homes without suspecting any wrongdoing. These wicked Spaniards approached places secretly, like thieves, stopping half a mile from a city, town, or village. There, at night, they published and proclaimed the decree among themselves as follows:

You Cacics and Indians of this Continent, the Inhabitants of such a Place, which they named; We declare or be it known to you all, that there is but one God, one hope, and one King of Castile, who is Lord of these Countries; appear forth without delay, and take the oath of Allegiance to the Spanish King, as his Vassals.

You Cacics and Indians of this continent, inhabitants of the place they named, we declare to you all: There is only one God, one hope, and one King of Castile, who rules these lands. Come forward without delay and swear allegiance to the Spanish King as his vassals.

So about the Fourth Watch of the Night, or Three in the Morning these poor Innocents overwhelm'd with heavy Sleep, ran violently on that place they named, set Fire to their Hovels, which were all thatcht, and so, without Notice, burnt Men, Women and Children; kill'd whom they pleas'd upon the Spot; but those they preserv'd as Captives, were compell'd throughTorments to confess where they had hid the Gold, when they found little or none at their Houses; but they who liv'd being first stigmatized, were made Slaves; yet after the Fire was extinguisht, they came hastily in quest of the Gold. Thus did this Wicked Man, devoted to all the Infernal Furies, behave himself with the Assistance of Profligate Christians, whom he had lifted in his Service from the 14th to the 21. or 22. Year, together with his Domestick Servants and Followers, from whom he received as many Portions, besides what he had from his Slaves in Gold, Pearls, and Jewels, as the Chief Governor would have taken, and all that were constituted to execute any kind of Kingly Office followed in the same Footsteps; every one sending as many of his Servants as he could spare, to share in the spoil. Nay he that came hither as Biship first of all did the same also, And at the vory time (as I conjecture) the Spaniards did depraedate or rob this Kingdom of above Ten Hundred Thousand Crowns of Gold: Yet all these their Thefts and Felonies, we scarce find upon Record that Three Hundred Thousand Castilian Crowns ever came into the Spanish King's Coffers; yet there were above Eight Hundred Thousand Men slain: The other Tyrants who governed this Kingdom afterward to the Three and Thirtieth year, depriv'd all of them of Life that remain'd among the Inhabitants.

At about the fourth watch of the night, or three in the morning, the attackers rushed at the designated place. The poor innocents were deep in sleep. The attackers set fire to their huts, which were all thatched. Without warning, they burned men, women, and children. They killed whomever they pleased on the spot. But when they found little or no gold in the houses, they tortured their captives into revealing where the gold was hidden. Those who survived were branded and enslaved. Yet after the fire was put out, the attackers hurried back to search for gold. This was how that wicked man behaved, a man devoted to all the Furies of Hell. He had help from the depraved Christians he recruited into his service from the year 14 to 21 or 22. His household servants and followers also helped him. From them he received as many shares as the chief governor would have taken. These were in addition to the gold, pearls, and jewels he received from his slaves. Everyone appointed to any royal office followed the same course. Each sent as many servants as he could spare to share in the plunder. Even the first man to come here as bishop did the same. At that very time, I believe, the Spaniards robbed this kingdom of more than a million crowns in gold. Yet records of all these thefts and crimes show scarcely three hundred thousand Castilian crowns reaching the Spanish king’s treasury. Yet more than eight hundred thousand people were killed. The other tyrants who governed this kingdom afterward, until the year 33, killed every inhabitant who remained.

Among all those flagitious Acts committed by this Governour while he rul'd this Kindom, or by his Consent and Permission this must by no means be omitted: A certain Casic, bestowing on him a Gift, voluntarily, or (which is more probably) induced thereunto by Fear, about the weight of Nine Thousand Crowns, but the Spaniards not satisfied with so fast a Sum of Money, sieze him, fix him to a Pole; extended his Feet, which being mov'd near the Fire, they demanded a larger Sum; the Casic overcome with Torments, sending home, procur'd Three Thousand more to be brought and presented to them: But the Spaniards, adding new Torments to new Rage and Fury, when they found he would confer no more upon them, which was because he could not, or otherwize because he would not, they expos'd him for so long to that Torture, till by degrees of heat the Marrow gusht out of the Soles of his Feet, and so he dyed; Thus they often murder'd the Lords and Nobles which such Torments to Extort the Gold from them.

Among all the governor’s wicked acts while ruling this kingdom, one must not be left out. He either committed these acts himself or allowed them with his consent. A certain Casic gave him a gift weighing about nine thousand crowns. The gift was voluntary, or, more likely, given out of fear. But the Spaniards were not satisfied with so large a sum. They seized him, tied him to a pole, stretched out his feet, and held them near the fire. They demanded more money. Overcome by the torture, the Casic sent home for three thousand more crowns, which were brought and handed over. But the Spaniards grew still more furious and inflicted new tortures when they found he would give no more. This was either because he could not or because he would not. They kept him under torture until the heat gradually made marrow gush out through the soles of his feet. And so he died. In this way, they often murdered lords and nobles, torturing them to extort gold.

One time it hapned that a Century or Party of One Hundred Spaniards making Excursions, came to a Mountain, where many People shunning so horrid and pernicious an Enemy conceal'd themselves, who immediately rushing on them, putting all to the Sword they could meet with, and then secur'd Seventy or Eighty Married Women as well as Virgins Captives; but a great Number of Indians with a fervent desire of recovering their Wives and Daughters appear'd in Arms against the Spaniards, and when they drew near the Enemy, they unwilling to lose the Prey, run the Wives and Maidens through with their Swords. The Indians through Grief and Trouble, smiting their Breasts, brake out into these Exclamations. O perverse Generation of Men! O Cruel Spaniards! What do you Murder las Iras? (In their Language they call Women by the Name of las Iras as if they had said: To slay Women is an Act of bloody minded Men, worse than Brutes and Wild Beasts.

Once, a party of one hundred Spaniards on a raid came to a mountain. Many people were hiding there to escape such a horrifying and destructive enemy. The Spaniards immediately attacked them, killing everyone they could find with their swords. Then they took seventy or eighty women captive, both married women and virgins. But many Indians took up arms against the Spaniards, desperate to recover their wives and daughters. As the Indians approached, the Spaniards, unwilling to lose their captives, ran the wives and young women through with their swords. Overcome with grief and anguish, the Indians beat their chests and cried out: O wicked breed of men! O cruel Spaniards! Why do you murder las Iras? (In their language, they call women las Iras, as if to say: Killing women is the act of bloodthirsty men, worse than brutes and wild beasts.)

There was the House of a Puissant Potentate scituated about Ten or Fifteen Miles from Panama, whose name was Paris, very Rich in Gold; and the Spaniards gave him a visit, who were entertained with Fraternal Kindness, and Courteously received, and of his own accord, presented the Captain with a Gift of Fifteen Thousand Crowns; who was of opinion, as well as the rest of the Spaniards, that he who bestow'd such a quantity of Money gratis, was the Master of vast Treasure; whereupon they counterfeit a pretended Departure, but returning about the Fourth Night-Watch, and entring the City privily upon a surprize, which they thought was sufficiently secur'd, consecrated it with many Citizens to the Flames, and robb'd them of Fifty or Sixty Thousand Crowns. The Dynast or Prince escaped with his Life, and gathering together as great a Number of Men as he could possibly at that instant of time, and Three or Four Days being elapsed, pursued the Spaniards, who had depriv'd him also by Violence and Rapine of a Hundred and Thirty or Forty Thousand Crowns, and pouring in upon them, recover'd all his Gold with the destruction of Fifty Spaniards, but the remainder of them having receiv'd many Wounds in that Rencounter betook them to their Heels and sav'd themselves by flight: but in few days after the Spaniards return, and fall upon the said Casic well-arm'd and overthrow him and all his Forces, and they who out-liv'd the Combat, to their great Misfortune, were expos'd to the usual and frequently mention'd Bondage.

A powerful ruler named Paris had his home about ten or fifteen miles from Panama. He was very rich in gold. The Spaniards visited him, and he welcomed them courteously, treating them like brothers. Of his own accord, he gave the captain fifteen thousand crowns. The captain, like the other Spaniards, believed that anyone who gave so much money freely must possess vast treasures. So the Spaniards pretended to leave, but returned during the fourth watch of the night. They slipped into the city by surprise, believing it secure enough. They offered the city and many of its inhabitants to the flames, and stole fifty or sixty thousand crowns. The ruler or prince escaped with his life and gathered as many men as he could at that moment. After three or four days, he pursued the Spaniards. Through violence and plunder, the Spaniards had also robbed him of a hundred and thirty or forty thousand crowns. He attacked them and recovered all his gold, killing fifty Spaniards. The remaining Spaniards suffered many wounds in the clash, but took to their heels and escaped. But a few days later, the Spaniards returned well armed and attacked the same Casic, or chief. They defeated him and all his forces. Those who survived the battle had the great misfortune of suffering the usual enslavement, already mentioned so often.