1. America was discovered in 1492 by the Spaniards that inhabited. After that many of them migrated over for 49 years. The first place many of the Spaniards started to migrate to was the Spanish Island [San Salvador], it had lots of space [about 600 mile around] and very fertile soil.
2. On all sides of this island were islands that had an overwhelming population of Natives and Forreigners [Way too mnay]
3. The main land or continent [10,000 miles of land near shore] was about 250 miles north and parts had already been discovered, while others would be found in time. This land was far too over populated. THE ARTICLE SPECIFICALLY SAYS, “And such a multitude of people inhabits these Countries, that it seems as if the Omnipotent God has Assembled and convocated the major part of Mankind in this part of the World.”
4. According to the article, these people in the land are Men of gods creation, innocent, simple, have a great understanding of all craft, fine and delicate, obedient, and loyal to their people [I THINK THE PEOPLE OF POWER is what they mean], yet they have the desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness.
Yet they behave themselves very patiently, submissively and quietly towards the Spaniards, who they have to cope with and in a way live under. The Natives finally decided to live without revenge against the Spaniards and lay aside all the hatred, commotion, and quarrel.
5. This makes the Natives very tender, delicate, softhearted people, making them, after a few years, stupid and with unbalanced temper and altogether are incapable of hard labour. By one or more offsets or disturbances, “the very issue of Lords and Princes” who they live among them very wealthily and abundant, use it all up. They become as tender as the Children of their caretakers or labourers. This nation became in need of attention or action and poor, have nothing, consequently making them neither snobbish or arrogant or ambitious.
9. The Spaniards first assaulted the innocent or easily mislead people, cruelly like starved Tigers, Wolves, or Lions would. Starved because of not have studied for the past 40 years after their first landing. This massacre of the 3 million unfortunate people, in Hispaniola alone, that were killed so inhumanely and barbarously butchered and harassed [With several kinds of torments, never heard of before] left a trace. [So 300 of these people are vividly remembered]
13. The Spaniards absolutely depopulated Ten Kingdoms, of great extent than all of Spain and the Kingdoms of Arragon and Portugal together, that is to say for 1,000 miles that are now desolate and absolutely ruined, keep in mind that formerly, no other Country had been more populous then this.
14. During the 40 year space, either they exercised their eagerness to shed blood and hateful tyranny [Tyranny meaning ruled by one of absolute power] in these regions of over twelve million people, including men, women, and children that undeservedly died, or, the less likely, say that over 15 million people died of natural causes.
16. The main motivation for the Spaniards to endeavor the barren land of these people and exterminate was gold; they figured that if they were to grow wealthy in such a short amount of time, they might, to a degree, earn worthiness, as were in no way consistent with their persons.
Their ambition and miserly desire to gain and continue gaining wealth, which was what they want/desired most, and the vast wealth of those regions; the Humility and Patience of the Native people (which made their approach to these lands more easily attainable) did much promote the business: whom they despicably condemned, that instead of treating them like beasts, they treated them like the scum or filth of the Earth; And they were so anxious and corcerned with their own lives and souls, that instead of converting them to Christianity like they were supposed to, they killed all those people without those people understanding the true faith or sacraments.
17. The Spaniards never even received any wrong doings or injuries from the Natives. The Natives actually referred to them as people descended from Heaven, until they had no choice but to start defending themselves, which was proved by repeated injuries, violent Torments, and injust Butcheries.
Of the Island HISPANIOLA
3. They began considering when and what should be and would neededly be the means that they might expel the Spaniards from their country and start defending themselves. But what they used as both offensive and defensive “weapons” were things that looked like reeds that they would use to play a boys sport with one another more than Manly arms and Weapons. [So they weren’t trying to use them for harm, more of just a little more protection for themselves. I think that this makes them very caring and thoughtful]
4. The Spaniards noticed yet they were well weaponed with lances and swords, which they began exercising their bloody Butcheries and deceive or surprise the natives and overrun their cities and towns, not even sparing the women and children, atleast not the women so much. They were ripping up their stomaches and tearing them to pieces. [I don’t feel that this was necessary at all. The Natives were protecting themselves yet not trying to harm anyone and still the Spaniards were being ruthless and brutal towards them, without the slightest bit of consideration. And these Spaniards called themselves strong believers of the Christian faith. I wonder how they see themselves doing these things as ok.]
5. [THIS PART I DIDN’T THINK I SHOULD TRANSLATE BECAUSE IT IS SO BOLD AND SO GRUSOME THAT I DON’T THINK I WOULD HAVE GRAPPED THE WHOLE MEANING IF IT WAS RE-WORDED] “They laid Wager among themselves, who should with a Sword at one blow cut, or divide a Man in two; or which of them should decollate or behead a Man, with the greatest dexterity; nay father, which should sheath his Sword in the Bowels of a Man with the quickest dispatch and expedition. They snatch young babes form the Mothers Breasts, and then dasht out the brains of those innocents against the Rocks; others they cast into Rivers scoffing and jeering them, and call’d upon their Bodies when falling with derision, the true testimony of their Cruelty, to come to them, and inhumanely exposing others to their Merciless Swords, together with the Mothers that gave them Life,” [This is absolutely horrible, I don’t think they had a right to do these things. It shouldn’t be fun or interesting to them. They should have seen what they were doing to another human being. It’s not as though they are taking revenge, which would be slightly more responable but still not ok. They had absolutely no reason to be so Cruel in my eyes.]
6. [SAME AS IN 5] “They erected certain Gibbets [gallows], large, but low made, so that their feet almost reached the ground, every one of which was so order’d as to bear Thirteen Persons in Honour and Reverence (as they said blasphemously) of our Redeemer and his Twelve Apostles, under which they made a Fire to burn them to Ashes whilst hanging on them:”[That is so cruel. They wanted them to suffer more, knowing that they weren’t far away from the ground and safety. And for them to bring up the lord and his apostles is downright wrong. They are almost using him as an excuse for their wrong doings.]
7. [SAME AS IN 5 and 6] “But those they intended to preserve alive, they dismiss’s, their Hands half cut, and still hanging by the skin, to carry their letters missive to those that fly from us and ly sculking on the Mountains, as an exprobation of their flight.” [So those they didn’t kill they left brutally tortured, with a task. There really was no mercy.]
8. [SAME AS IN 5, 6, and 7] “The Lords and Persons of Noble Extract were usually expos’d to this kind of Death; they order’d Gridirons to be placed and supposed with wooden Forks, and putting a small Fire under them, these miserable Wretches by degrees and with load Shrieks and exquisite Torments, at last Expir’d” [The Spaniards that were out exploring weren’t the only ones that were a part of this so they weren’t only doing these things out of their own person greed or cruel mindset]
9. [SAME AS IN 5, 6, 7, and 8] “I once saw Four or Five of their most Powerful Lords laid on these Gridirons, and thereon roasted, and not far off, Two or Three more over-spread with the same Commodity, Man’s Flesh; but the shrill Clamours which were heard there being offensive to the Captain, by hindring his Repose, he commanded them to be strangled with a Halter. The Executioner (whose Name and Parents at Sevil [Sevilla, a city in the south of Spain] are not unknown to me) prohibited the doing of it; but stopt Gags into their Mouths to prevent the hearing of the noise (he himself making the Fire) till that they dyed, when they had been roasted as long as he thought convenient. I was an Eye-Witness of these and and innumerable Number of other Cruelties….”[It almost seems as if in this time it was somewhat normal, even though I am sure that this isn’t the case. It is inhumane]
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