[Preparer's notes:

  1) Though the original title does not appear in this version, this
     is (apart from the preface) a translation of:
    "Brevisima relacion de la destruccíon de las Indias", by
    Bartolome de las Casas, originally published in Seville in 1552.
  2) The original archaic spelling and punctuation has been retained]

                         POPERY
                   Truly Display'd in its
                       Bloody Colours:
                       Or, a faithful
                         NARRATIVE
                          OF THE
Horrid and Unexampled Massacres, Butcheries, and all manner of
Cruelties, that Hell and Malice could invent, committed by the Popish
Spanish Party on the inhabitants of West-India
                         TOGETHER
With the Devastations of several Kingdoms in America by Fire and
Sword, for the space of Forty and Two Years, from the time of its first
Discovery by them.

———————————————————————————————————Composed first in Spanish by Bartholomew de las Casas, a Bishop there,and Eye-Witness of most of these Barbarous Cruelties; afterward Translatedby him into Latin, then by other hands, into High-Dutch, Low-Dutch,French, and now Taught to Speak Modern English.———————————————————————————————————London, Printed for R. Hewson at the Crown in Cornhil, near the Stocks-Market. 1689.——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

                           THE
                         ARGUMENT
                   OF THIS NARRATIVE
                       By way of
                         PREFACE
                         TO THE
                         READER.

The Reverend Author of this Compendious Summary was Bartholomaeus de lasCasas alias Casaus, a Pious and Religeous person, (as appears by hiszealous Transports in this Narrative for promotion of the ChristianFaith) elevated from a Frier of the Dominican Order to sit in theEpiscopal Chair, who was frequently importuned by Good and Learned Men,particularly Historians, to Publish this Summary, who so prevailed withhim, that he Collected out of that copious History which might andought to be written on this subject, the contents of this conciseTreatise with intention to display unto the World the Enormities, &c.the Spaniards committed in America during their residence there, totheir eternal ignominy; and for the author finding that no Admonitionsor Reprehensions, how mild soever could operate upon or sink into therocky-hearted Tyrants in those Occidental parts; he therefore took up afirm resolution, being then about 50 years of age (as he himselfdeclares) to run the Hazards and Dangers by Sea, and the Risque of along voyage into Spain there to acquaint and Certifie the mostIllustrious Prince Phillip the Son and Heir of his Imperial MajestyCharles the Fifth of Blessed Memory, with the Horrid crimes, &c.perpetrated in those countries, part whereof he had seen, and partheard from such as boasted of their Wickedness. Whereupon hisCaeserean Majesty moved with a tender and Christian compassiontowards these Inhabitants of the Countries of America, languishingfor want of redress, he called a Council at Valedolid, Anno Dom.1542. consisting of Learned and Able Men, in order to the reformationof the West-Indian government, and took such a course, tha