A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



^575- 



demned to be burnt, and with him one more of our 

 men whose name was John Gilbert. 



Now after that sixe yeeres were fully expired since 

 our first comming into the Indies, in which time we 

 had bene imprisoned and served in the said countreys 

 as is before truely declared, In the yeere of our Lord 

 one thousand five hundred seventie foure, the Inquisition 

 began to be established in the Indies, very much 

 against the mindes of many of the Spaniards them- 

 selves : for never untill this time since their first 

 conquering and planting in the Indies, were they 

 subject to that bloodie and cruell Inquisition. The 

 chiefe Inquisitor was named Don Pedro Moya de 

 Contreres, and John de Bovilla his companion, and 

 John Sanches the Fischall, and Pedro de los Rios, the 

 Secretary : they being come and setled, and placed 

 in a very faire house neere unto the white Friers, 

 considering with themselves that they must make an 

 entrance and beginning of that their most detestable 

 Inquisition here in Mexico, to the terror of the whole 

 countrey, thought it best to call us that were English- 

 men first in question, and so much the rather, for 

 that they had perfect knowledge and intelligence that 

 many of us were become very rich, as hath bene 

 alreadie declared, and therefore we were a very good 

 booty and pray to the Inquisitors : so that now againe 

 began our sorrowes a fresh, for we were sent for, 

 and sought out in all places of the countrey, and 

 proclamation made upon paine of loosing of goods and 

 excommunication, that no man should hide or keepe 

 secret any Englishmen or any part of their goods. 

 By means whereof we were all soone apprehended in 

 all places, and all our goods seized and taken for the 

 Inquisitors use, and so from all parts of the countrey 

 we were conveied and sent as prisoners to the citie 

 of Mexico, and there committed to prison in sundry 

 darke dungeons, where we could not see but by candle 

 light, & were never past two together in one place, so 



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