The Provinces of Florida

Three Tyrants at several times made their entrance into these Provinces since the Year 1510, or 1511, to act those Crimes which others, and two of these Three made it their sole business to do in other Regions, to the end, that they might advance themselves to higher Dignities and Promotions than they could deserve, by the Effusion of Blood and Destruction of these People; but at length they all were cut off by a violent Death, and the Houses which they formerly built and erected with the cement of Human Blood, (which I can sufficiently testifie of these three) perished with them, and their memory roten, and as absolutely washed away from off the Face of the Earth, as if they had never had a being. These Men deserted these Regions, leaving them in great distraction and confusion, nor were they branded with less notes of infamy, by the certain Slaughters they perpetrated, though they were but few in number than the rest. For the Just God cut them off before they did much Mischief, and reserv'd the Castigation and Revenge of those Evils which I know, and was an Eye-Witness of, to this very Time and Place. As to the Fourth Tyrant, who lately, that is, in the Year 1538, came hither well-furnished with Men and Ammunition, we have received no account these Three Years last past; but wer are very confident, that he, at his first Arrival, acted like a bloody Tyrant, even to extasie and madness, if he be still alive with his Follower, and did injure, destroy, and consume a vast Number of Men (for he was branded with infamous Cruelty above all those who with their Assistants committed Crimes and Enormities of the first Magnitude in these Kingdoms and Provinces) I conceive, God hath punished him with the same Violent Death, as he did other Tyrants: But because my Pen is wearied with relating such Execrable and Sanguinary Deeds (not of Men but Beasts) I will trouble my self no longer with the dismal and fatal Consequences thereof.

Three tyrants entered these provinces at different times from 1510 or 1511 onward. They came to commit the crimes that others had committed elsewhere. Two of these three had also made such crimes their sole business in other regions. Through bloodshed and the destruction of these people, they hoped to gain ranks and promotions beyond anything they deserved. But in the end, all three died violent deaths. The houses they had built with human blood as mortar perished with them. I can fully testify to this about all three. Their memory rotted away and vanished from the face of the earth, as if they had never existed. These men abandoned the regions, leaving them in great turmoil and confusion. Though their massacres were fewer, those massacres brought them no less infamy than the other tyrants. For the just God struck them down before they could do much harm. He reserved the punishment and vengeance for the evils I know and witnessed until this very time and place. As for the fourth tyrant, he arrived here recently, in 1538, well supplied with men and ammunition. We have had no news of him for the past three years. But we are very sure that, on arriving, he behaved like a bloodthirsty tyrant, carried away to the point of madness. If he and his follower are still alive, we are very sure he harmed, destroyed, and killed vast numbers of people. For he was notorious for cruelty beyond all the others who, with their helpers, committed the worst crimes in these kingdoms and provinces. I believe God has punished him with the same violent death as the other tyrants. But my pen is weary of recounting such hateful and bloody deeds, the deeds of beasts, not men. So I will trouble myself no further with their dreadful and deadly consequences.

These People were found by them to be Wise, Grave, and well dispos'd, though their usual Butcheries and Cruelties in opressing them like Brutes, with heavy Burthens, did rack their minds with great Terror and Anguish. At their Entry into a certain Village, they were welcomed with great Joy and Exultation, replenished them with Victuals, till they were all satisfied, yielding up to them above Six Hundred Men to carry their Bag and Baggage, and like Grooms to look after their Horses: The Spaniards departing thence, a Captain related to the Superiour Tyrant returned thither to rob this (no ways diffident or mistrustful) People, and pierced their King through with a Lance, of which Wound he dyed upon the Spot, and committed several other Cruelties into the bargain. In another Neighboring Town, whose Inhabitants they thought, were more vigilant and watchful, having had the News of their horrid Acts and Deeds, they barbarously murdered them all with their Lances and Swords, destroying all, Young and Old, Great and Small, Lords and Subject without exception.

The Spaniards found these people wise, dignified, and friendly. Yet the Spaniards’ routine slaughter and cruelty, treating the people like beasts and burdening them with heavy loads, caused terrible fear and anguish. When the Spaniards entered a certain village, the people welcomed them with great joy and celebration. The villagers supplied food until all the Spaniards had eaten their fill. They also provided more than six hundred men to carry the Spaniards’ baggage and tend their horses as grooms. After the Spaniards left, a captain related to the chief tyrant returned to rob these entirely unsuspecting and trusting people. He drove a lance through their king, who died on the spot from the wound. The captain also committed several other acts of cruelty. In another nearby town, the Spaniards thought the inhabitants were more watchful and alert, having heard of their horrifying deeds. The Spaniards barbarously murdered them all with lances and swords. They destroyed everyone, young and old, great and small, rulers and subjects, without exception.

The Chief Tyrant caused many Indians (above Two Hundred as 'tis noised abroad) whom he summon'd to appear before him out of another town, or else, who came voluntarily to pay their Respects to him, to have their Noses and Lips to the very Beard, cut off; and thus in this grievous and wretched Condition, the Blood gushing out of their Wounds, return'd them back, to give an Infallible Testimony of the Works and Miracles wrought by these Preachers and Ministers baptized in the Catholick Faith.

The Chief Tyrant ordered the noses and lips of many Indians cut off, right down to their beards. Reports put their number at over two hundred. He had summoned them from another town, or they had come voluntarily to pay their respects to him. Then he sent them back in this terrible, wretched condition, with blood pouring from their wounds. They would provide undeniable proof of the works and miracles performed by these preachers and ministers baptized in the Catholic faith.

Now let all Men judge what Affection and love they bear to Christianity; to what purpose, or upon what account they believe there is a God, whom they preach and boast of to be Good and Just, and that his Law which they profess (and indeed only profess) to be pure and immaculate. The Mischiefs acted by these profligate Wretches and Sons of Perdition were of the deepest die. At last this Captain devoted to Perdition dyed impenitent, nor do we in the least question, but that he is overwhelmed and buried in Darkness Infernal, unless God according to his Infinite Mercy and boundless Clemency, not his own Merits, (he being contaminated and poison'd with Execrable Deeds,) be pleas'd to compassionate and have Mercy upon him.

Now let everyone judge how much affection and love these men have for Christianity. Let everyone judge why, or on what grounds, these men believe there is a God. They preach and boast that God is good and just, and that his law is pure and spotless. They claim to follow his law, but their claim is all they offer. The evils committed by these depraved wretches, these sons of damnation, were of the worst kind. At last, this captain, doomed to damnation, died without repenting. We have no doubt that he is engulfed and buried in the darkness of hell, unless God shows him mercy. Such mercy would come from God's infinite compassion and boundless kindness, not from any merit of the captain's own. The captain was stained and poisoned by his abominable deeds.