The Kingdom and Province of Guatimala

This Tyrant at his first entrance here acted and commanded prodigious Slaughters to be perpetrated: Notwithstanding which, the Chief Lord in his Chair or Sedan attended by many Nobles of the City of Ultlatana, the Emporium of the whole Kingdom, together with Trumpets, Drums and great Exultation, went out to meet him, and brought with them all sorts of Food in great abundance, with such things as he stood in most need of. That Night the Spaniards spent without the City, for they did not judge themselves secure in such a well-fortified place. The next day he commanded the said Lord with many of his Peers to come before him, from whom they imperiously challenged a certain quantity of Gold; to whom the Indians return'd this modest Answer, that they could not satisfie his Demands, and indeed this Region yeilded no Golden Mines; but they all, by his command, without any other Crime laid to their Charge, or any Legal Form of Proceeding were burnt alive. The rest of the Nobles belonging to other Provinces, when they found their Chief Lords, who had the Supreme Power were expos'd to the Merciless Element of Fire kindled by a more merciless Enemy; for this Reason only, becauase they bestow'd not what they could not upon them, viz. Gold, they fled to the Mountains, (their usual Refuge) for shelter, commanding their Subjects to obey the Spaniards, as Lords, but withal strictly and expressly prohibiting and forbidding them, to inform the Spaniards of their Flight, or the Places of their Concealment. And behold a great many of the Indians addrest themselves to them, earnestly requesting, they would admit them as Subjects, being very willing and ready to serve them: The Captain replyed that he would not entertain them in such a Capacity, but instead of so doing would put every individual Person to Death, if they would not discover the Receptacles of the Fugitive Governours. The Indians made answer that they were wholly ignorant of the matter, yet that they themselves, their Wives and Children should serve them; that they were at home, they might come to them and put them to Death, or deal with them as they pleas'd. But the Spaniards, O wonderful! went to the Towns and Villages, and destroy'd with their Lances these poor Men, their Wives and Children, intent upon their Labour, and as they thought themselves, secure and free from danger. Another large Village they made desolate in the space of two hours, sparing neither Age, nor Sex, putting all to the Sword, without Mercy.

As soon as this tyrant arrived, he carried out and ordered enormous massacres. Despite this, the chief lord went out in his sedan chair to meet him, accompanied by many nobles of Ultlatana. This city was the trading center of the whole kingdom. Trumpets and drums sounded amid great rejoicing. The welcoming party brought abundant food of every kind, along with the things the tyrant needed most. That night, the Spaniards stayed outside the city because they did not feel safe in such a well-fortified place. The next day, the tyrant ordered the chief lord and many of his fellow nobles to appear before him. The Spaniards arrogantly demanded a certain amount of gold from them. The Indians answered humbly that they could not meet his demands, since the region had no gold mines. Yet, on his orders, they were all burned alive, without any other charge against them or any legal proceedings. Nobles from other provinces learned that their chief lords, who held supreme power, had been consigned to merciless flames. Those flames had been lit by an even more merciless enemy. The lords were killed only because they had not given the Spaniards what they could not give: gold. So the remaining nobles fled to the mountains, their usual refuge, for shelter. They ordered their subjects to obey the Spaniards as their lords. But they strictly and expressly forbade their subjects to tell the Spaniards about their flight or hiding places. And behold, many of the Indians approached the Spaniards, earnestly asking to be accepted as subjects. They were willing and ready to serve them. The captain replied that he would not accept them as subjects. Instead, he would kill every one of them unless they revealed where the fugitive rulers were hiding. The Indians answered that they knew nothing about the matter. Still, they offered to serve the Spaniards, along with their wives and children. They said their families were at home. The Spaniards could go there and kill them or treat them however they pleased. But the Spaniards, what a wonder, went to the towns and villages and killed these poor people with their lances. The men, their wives, and their children were busy working, believing themselves safe and free from danger. In just two hours, the Spaniards laid waste to another large village. They spared no one, regardless of age or sex, and put everyone to the sword without mercy.

The Indians perceiving that this Barbarous and Hard-hearted People would not be pacified with Humility, large Gifts, or unexampled Patience, but that they were butcher'd without any Cause, upon serious Consultation took up a Resolution of getting together in a Body, and fighting for their Lives and Liberty; for they conceiv'd it was far better, (since Death to them was a necessary Evil) with Sword in Hand to be kill'd by taking Revenge of the Enemy, then be destroy'd by them without satisfaction. But when they grew sensible of their wants of Arms, Nakedness and Debility, and that they were altogether incapable of the management of Horses, so as to prevail against such a furious Adversary, recollecting themselves, they contriv'd this Strategm, to dig Ditches and Holes in the High-way into which the Horses might fall in their passage, and fixing therein purposely sharp and burnt Posts, and covering them with loose Earth, so that they could not be discern'd by their Riders, they might be transfixed or gored by them. The Horses fell twice or thrice into those holes, but afterward the Spaniards took this Course to prevent them for the future; and made this a Law, that as many of the Indians of what Age or Sex soever as were taken, should be cast into these Ditches that they had made. Nay they threw into them Women with Child, and as many Aged Men as they laid hold of, till they were all fill'd up with Carkasses. It was a sight deserving Commiseration, to behold Women and Children gauncht or run through with these Posts, some were taken off by Spears and Swords, and the remainder expos'd to hungry Dogs, kept short of food for that purpose, to be devour'd by them and torn in pieces. They burnt a Potent Nobleman in a very great Fire, saying, That he was the more Honour'd by this kind of Death. All which Butcheries continued Seven Years, from 1524, to 1531. I leave the Reader to judge how many might be Massacred during that time.

The Indians saw that these barbarous, hard-hearted people could not be appeased by humility, generous gifts, or extraordinary patience. Instead, they were being slaughtered without cause. After serious discussion, the Indians decided to gather together and fight for their lives and freedom. Since death was inevitable, they thought it far better to die fighting, sword in hand, taking revenge on the enemy. That was better than being killed without the satisfaction of striking back. But they recognized their lack of weapons, their nakedness and weakness, and their complete inability to handle horses. They could not overcome such a fierce enemy. So, after reconsidering, they devised a plan. They would dig ditches and pits in the road so that the horses might fall into them. They planted sharp, fire-hardened stakes inside and covered the pits with loose earth so the riders could not see them. The horses could then be impaled or gored on the stakes. Horses fell into these pits two or three times. But afterward, the Spaniards adopted a measure to prevent this from happening again. They made a law that all captured Indians, regardless of age or sex, should be thrown into the ditches they had dug. They even threw pregnant women and every elderly man they captured into the ditches, until all were filled with corpses. It was a pitiful sight to see women and children impaled or run through by these stakes. Some were killed with spears and swords. The rest were left to hungry dogs, deliberately kept short of food, to be devoured and torn apart. They burned a powerful nobleman in a huge fire, saying that this kind of death gave him greater honor. All these massacres continued for seven years, from 1524 to 1531. I leave the reader to judge how many people may have been massacred during that time.

Among the Innumerable Flagitious Acts done by this Tyrant and his Co-partners (for they were as Barbarous as their Principal) in this Kingdom, this also occurs worthy of an Afterism in the Margin. In the Province of Cuztatan in which S. Saviour's City is seated, which Country with the Neighbouing Sea-Coasts extends in Length Forty or Fifty Miles, as also in the very City of Cuzcatan, the Metropolis of the whole Province, he was entertain'd with great Applause: For about Twenty or Thirty Thousand Indians brought with them Hens and other necessary Provisions, expecting this coming. He, accepting their Gifts, commended every single Spaniard to make choice of as many of these People, as he had a mind to, that during their stay there, they might use them as Servants, and forced to undergo the most servile Offices they should impose on them. Every one cull'd out a Hundred, or Fifty, according as he thought convenient for his peculiar service, and these wretched Indians did serve the Spaniards with their utmost strength and endeavour; so that there could be nothing wanting in them but Adoration. In the mean time this Captain requir'd a great Sum of Gold from their Lords (for that was the Load-stone attracted them thither) who answered, they were content to deliver him up all the Gold they had in possession; and in order thereunto, the Indians gathered together a great Number of Spears gilded with Orichalcum, (which had the appearance of Gold, and in truth some Gold in them intermixt) and they were presented to him. The Captain ordered them to be toucht, and when he found them to be Orichalcum or mixt Metal, he spake to the Spaniards as followeth. Let that Nation that is without Gold be accursed to the Pit of Hell. Let every Man detain those Servants he Elected, let them be clapt in Irons, and stigmatiz'd with the Brand of Slavery, which was accordingly done, for they were all burnt, who did no excape with the King's Mark. I my self saw the Impression made on the Son of the Chiefest Person in the City. Those that escap'd, with other Indians, engaged the Spaniards by Force of Arms, but with such ill success, that abundance of them lost their Lives in the Attempt. After this they return'd to Gautimala, where they built a City, which God in his Judgement with Three Deluges, the First of Water, the Second of Earth, the Third of Stones, as big as half a score Oxen, all concurring at one and the same time, laid Level with its own Ashes. Now all being slain who were capable of bearing Arms against them, the rest were enslav'd, paying so much per Head for Men and Women as a Ransom; for they use no other servitude here, and then they were sent into Pecusium to be sold, by which means together with their slaughters committed upon the Inhabitants, they destroy'd and made a Desert of this Kingdom, which in Breadth as well as Length contains One Hundred Miles; and with his Associates and Brethren in Iniquity, Four Millions at least in Fifteen or Sixteen Years, that is, from 1524, to 1540 were murdered, and dayly continues destroying the small residue of that People with his Cruelties and Brutishness.

This tyrant and his accomplices committed countless wicked acts in this kingdom. His accomplices were as barbarous as their leader. Among these acts, one deserves special notice, marked with an asterisk in the margin. In the province of Cuztatan, where S. Saviour's City stands, the tyrant received an enthusiastic welcome. This country, together with the neighboring coast, extends forty or fifty miles in length. He received the same welcome in the city of Cuzcatan, the capital of the whole province. About twenty or thirty thousand Indians had brought chickens and other necessary supplies in anticipation of his arrival. He accepted their gifts and told each Spaniard to choose as many of these people as he wanted. During their stay, the Spaniards could use these people as servants and force them to perform the most menial tasks. Each Spaniard selected a hundred or fifty people, according to his own needs. These wretched Indians served the Spaniards with all their strength and effort. They stopped short only of worshipping them. Meanwhile, this captain demanded a large quantity of gold from their lords. Gold was the magnet that had drawn the Spaniards there. The lords answered that they were willing to hand over all the gold they possessed. To do so, the Indians gathered many spears gilded with Orichalcum. This metal looked like gold and did, in fact, contain some gold. They presented the spears to the captain, who ordered the metal tested. When he discovered that it was Orichalcum, or mixed metal, he spoke to the Spaniards as follows. Let that nation without gold be cursed to the pit of Hell. Let every man keep the servants he has chosen. Let them be put in irons and branded as slaves. His orders were carried out. Everyone who failed to escape was burned with the King's mark. I myself saw the brand on the son of the city's most important man. Those who escaped joined other Indians and fought the Spaniards. But they were so unsuccessful that many lost their lives in the attempt. After this, the Spaniards returned to Gautimala, where they built a city. God, in his judgment, leveled that city to its ashes with three floods. The first was water, the second earth, and the third stones as large as ten oxen. All three struck at the same time. Once everyone capable of bearing arms against the Spaniards had been killed, the rest were enslaved. A fixed ransom was paid for each man and woman, for they practiced no other form of servitude here. Then the captives were sent to Pecusium to be sold. Through this trade and their slaughter of the inhabitants, the Spaniards destroyed this kingdom and turned it into a desert. The kingdom measures a hundred miles in both length and breadth. With his accomplices and brothers in wickedness, the tyrant murdered at least four million people in fifteen or sixteen years. This was from 1524 to 1540. He continues daily to destroy the few remaining people through his cruelty and brutality.

It was the usual Custom of this Tyrant, when he made War with any City or Province, to take along with himas many of those Indians he had subjugated as he could, that they might fight with their Country-men; and when he had in his Army Twenty, or sometimes Thirty Thousand of them, and could not afford them sustenance, he permitted them to feed on the Flesh of other Indians taken Prisoners in War; and so kept a Shambles of Man's Flesh in his Army, suffered Children to be kill'd and roasted before his Face. They butcher'd the Men for their Feet and Hands only; for these Members were accounted by them Dainties, most delicious Food.

Whenever this tyrant went to war against a city or province, he followed his usual practice. He took as many of the Indians he had conquered as he could, to fight against their own countrymen. When his army included twenty or sometimes thirty thousand of them, and he could not feed them, he allowed cannibalism. He let them eat the flesh of other Indians taken prisoner in war. In this way, he kept a butcher’s market for human flesh in his army. He allowed children to be killed and roasted before his eyes. The men were butchered for their feet and hands alone, because these parts were considered delicacies, the most delicious food.

He as the Death of many by the intolerable Labour of Carrying Ships by Land, causing them to Transport those Vessels with Anchors of a vast weight from the Septentrional to the Mediterranean Sea, which are One Hundred and Thirty Miles distant; as also abundance of great Guns of the largest fort, which they carried on their bare, naked shoulders, so that opprest with many great and ponderous Burthens, (I say no more than what I saw) they dyed by the way: He separated and divided Families, forcing Married Men from their Wives, and Maids from their Parents, which he bestow'd upon his Marriners and Soldiers, to gratifie their burning Lust. All his Ships he freighted with Indians, where Hunger and Thirst discharg'd them of their Servitude and his Cruelty by a welcome Death. He had two Companies of Soldiers who hackt and tore them in pieces, like Thunder from Heaven speedily. O how many Parents has he robb'd of their Children, how many Wives of their Husbands, and Children of their Parents? How many Adulteries, Rapes, and what Libidinous Acts hath he been guilty of? How many hath he enslav'd and opprest with insufferable Anguish and unspeakable Calamities? How many Tears, Sighs and Groans hath he occasion'd? To how many has he bin the Author of Desolation, during their Peregrination in this, and of Damnation in the World to come, not only to Indians, whose Number is numberless, but even to Spaniards themselves, by whose help and assistance he committed such detestable Butcheries and flagitious Crimes? I supplicate Almighty God, that he would please to have Mercy on his Soul, and require no other satisfaction than the violent Death, which turn'd him out of this World.

He caused many deaths by forcing people to endure the unbearable labor of carrying ships overland. He made them carry these vessels, along with enormously heavy anchors, from the Septentrional to the Mediterranean Sea. The two seas are 130 miles apart. They also carried many of the largest cannons on their bare shoulders. Crushed under so many enormous, heavy burdens, they died along the way. I say no more than what I saw. He tore families apart, forcing married men away from their wives and young women away from their parents. He gave these young women to his sailors and soldiers to satisfy their burning lust. He loaded all his ships with Indians. Aboard those ships, hunger and thirst freed them from slavery and his cruelty through a welcome death. He had two companies of soldiers who hacked and tore them to pieces as swiftly as thunder from heaven. Oh, how many parents has he robbed of their children, how many wives of their husbands, and children of their parents? How many acts of adultery, rape, and lust has he been guilty of? How many has he enslaved and oppressed with unbearable suffering and unspeakable misery? How many tears, sighs, and groans has he caused? For how many has he caused devastation during their journey through this life, and damnation in the world to come? These include not only Indians, whose numbers are beyond counting, but even Spaniards themselves. With their help, he committed such detestable massacres and wicked crimes. I beg Almighty God to have mercy on his soul. May God demand no further payment beyond the violent death that drove him from this world.

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