into paralysis； one member will be useless； the other in vigour。 I am
very much afraid that we have greatly precipitated its declension and
ruin by our contagion； and that we have sold it opinions and our arts at
a very dear rate。 It was an infant world； and yet we have not whipped
and subjected it to our discipline by the advantage of our natural worth
and force； neither have we won it by our justice and goodness； nor
subdued it by our magnanimity。 Most of their answers； and the
negotiations we have had with them； witness that they were nothing behind
us in pertinency and clearness of natural understanding。 The astonishing
magnificence of the cities of Cusco and Mexico； and； amongst many other
things； the garden of the king； where all the trees； fruits； and plants；
according to the order and stature they have in a garden； were
excellently formed in gold； as； in his cabinet； were all the animals bred
upon his territory and in its seas； and the beauty of their manufactures；
in jewels； feathers； cotton； and painting； gave ample proof that they
were as little inferior to us in industry。 But as to what concerns
devotion； observance of the laws； goodness； liberality； loyalty； and
plain dealing； it was of use to us that we had not so much as they； for
they have lost； sold； and betrayed themselves by this advantage over us。
As to boldness and courage； stability； constancy against pain； hunger；
and death； I should not fear to oppose the examples I find amongst them
to the most famous examples of elder times that we find in our records on
this side of the world。 Far as to those who subdued them； take but away
the tricks and artifices they practised to gull them； and the just
astonishment it was to those nations to see so sudden and unexpected an
arrival of men with beards； differing in language； religion； shape； and
countenance； from so remote a part of the world； and where they had never
heard there was any habitation； mounted upon great unknown monsters；
against those who had not only never seen a horse； but had never seen any
other beast trained up to carry a man or any other loading； shelled in a
hard and shining skin； with a cutting and glittering weapon in his hand；
against them； who； out of wonder at the brightness of a looking glass or
a knife； would exchange great treasures of gold and pearl； and who had
neither knowledge； nor matter with which； at leisure； they could
penetrate our steel： to which may be added the lightning and thunder of
our cannon and harquebuses； enough to frighten Caesar himself； if
surprised； with so little experience； against people naked； except where
the invention of a little quilted cotton was in use； without other arms；
at the most； than bows； stones； staves； and bucklers of wood； people
surprised under colour of friendship and good faith； by the curiosity of
seeing strange and unknown things； take but away； I say； this disparity
from the conquerors； and you take away all the occasion of so many
victories。 When I look upon that in vincible ardour wherewith so many
thousands of men； women； and children so often presented and threw
themselves into inevitable dangers for the defence of their gods and
liberties； that generous obstinacy to suffer all extremities and
difficulties； and death itself； rather than submit to the dominion of
those by whom they had been so shamefully abused； and some of them
choosing to die of hunger and fasting； being prisoners； rather than to
accept of nourishment from the hands of their so basely victorious
enemies： I see； that whoever would have attacked them upon equal terms of
arms； experience； and number； would have had a hard； and； peradventure；
a harder game to play than in any other war we have seen。
Why did not so noble a conquest fall under Alexander； or the ancient
Greeks and Romans； and so great a revolution and mutation of so many
empires and nations； fall into hands that would have gently levelled；
rooted up； and made plain and smooth whatever was rough and savage
amongst them； and that would have cherished and propagated the good seeds
that nature had there produced； mixing not only with the culture of land
and the ornament of cities； the arts of this part of the world； in what
was necessary； but also the Greek and Roman virtues； with those that were
original of the country？ What a reparation had it been to them； and what
a general good to the whole world； had our first examples and deportments
in those parts allured those people to the admiration and imitation of
virtue； and had begotten betwixt them and us a fraternal society and
intelligence？ How easy had it been to have made advantage of souls so
innocent； and so eager to learn； leaving； for the most part； naturally so
good inclinations before？ Whereas； on the contrary； we have taken
advantage of their ignorance and inexperience； with greater ease to
incline them to treachery； luxury； avarice； and towards all sorts of
inhumanity and cruelty； by the pattern and example of our manners。 Who
ever enhanced the price of merchandise at such a rate？ So many cities
levelled with the ground； so many nations exterminated； so many millions
of people fallen by the edge of the sword； and the richest and most
beautiful part of the world turned upside down； for the traffic of pearl
and pepper？ Mechanic victories！ Never did ambition； never did public
animosities； engage men against one another in such miserable
hostilities； in such miserable calamities。
Certain Spaniards； coasting the sea in quest of their mines； landed in a
fruitful and pleasant and very well peopled country； and there made to
the inhabitants their accustomed professions： 〃that they were peaceable
men； who were come from a very remote country； and sent on the behalf of
the King of Castile； the greatest prince of the habitable world； to whom
the Pope； God's vicegerent upon earth； had given the principality of all
the Indies； that if they would become tributaries to him； they should be
very gently and courteously used〃； at the same time requiring of them
victuals for their nourishment； and gold whereof to make some pretended
medicine； setting forth； moreover； the belief in one only God； and the
truth of our religion； which they advised them to embrace； whereunto they
also added some threats。 To which they received this answer： 〃That as to
their being peaceable； they did not seem to be such； if they were so。
As to their king； since he was fain to beg； he must be necessitous and
poor； and he who had made him this gift； must be a man who loved
dissension； to give that to another which was none of his own； to bring
it into dispute against the ancient possessors。 As to victuals； they
would supply them； that of gold they had little； it being a thing they
had in very small esteem； as of no use to the service of life； whereas
their only care was to pass it over happily and pleasantly： but that what
they could find excepting what was employed in the service of their gods；
they might freely take。 As to one only God； the proposition had pleased
them well； but that they would not change their religion； both because
they had so long and happily lived in it； and that they were not wont to
take advice of any but their friends； and those they knew： as to their
menaces； it was a sign of want of judgment to threaten those whose nature
and power were to them unknown； that； therefore； they were to make haste
to quit their coast； for they were not used to take the civilities and
professions of armed men and strangers in good part； otherwise they
should do by them as they had done by those others；〃 showing them the
heads of several executed men round the walls of their city。 A fair
example of the babble of these children。 But so it is； that the
Spaniards did not； either in this or in several other places； where they
did not find the merchandise they sought； make any stay or attempt；
whatever other conveniences were there to be had； witness my CANNIBALS。
＇Chapter XXX。 of Book I。＇
Of the two most puissant monarchs of that world； and； peradventure； of
this； kings of so many kings； and the last they turned out； he of Peru；
having been taken in a battle； and put to so excessive a ransom as
exceeds all belief； and it being faithfully paid； and he having； by his
conversation； given manifest signs of a frank； liberal； and constant
spirit； and of a clear and settled understanding； the conquerors had a
mind； after having exacted one million three hundred and twenty…five
thousand and five hundred weight of gold； besides silver； and other
things which amounted to no less （so that their horses were shod with
massy gold）； still to see； at the price of what disloyalty and injustice
whatever； what the remainder of the treasures of this king might be； and
to possess themselves of that also。 To this end a false accusation was
preferred against him； and false witnesses brought to prove that he went
about to raise an insurrection in his provinces； to procure his own
liberty； whereupon； by the virtuous sentence of those very men who had by
this treachery conspired his ruin； he was condemned to be publicly hanged
and strangled； after having made him buy off the torment of being burnt
alive； by the baptism they gave him immediately before execution； a
horrid and unheard of barbarity； which； nevertheless； he underwent
without giving way either in word or look； with a truly grave and royal
behaviour。 After which； to calm and appease the people； aroused and
astounded at so strange a thing； they counterfeited great sorrow for his
death； and appointed most sumptuous funerals。
The other king of Mexico；＇Guatimosin＇ having for a long time defended
his beleaguered city； and having in this siege manifested the utmost of
what suffering and perseverance can do； if ever prince and people did；
and his misfortune having delivered him alive into his enemies' hands；
upon articles of being treated like a king； neither did he in his
captivity discover anything unworthy of that title。 His enemies； after
their victory； not finding so much gold as they expected； when they had
searched and rifled with their utmost diligence； they went about to
procure discoveries by th