204 MINES OF POTOSI. 



LIB. iv. \voorth thirteen Halls and a fourthe parte, not reckoning 

 the silver which hath bin caried away without custome, or 

 that hath beene entred in other royall custome houses, 

 or the silver that hath beene wrought in the country, which 

 is not entred, the which is innumerable, although the first 

 Registers of Entries are not so exactly kept as at this day ; 

 for, that in the beginning and first discoveries, they made 

 their receit by Romans, so great was their aboundance. 



But by the instructions and remembrances of Don Fran 

 cisco de Toledo, the Viceroy, in the yeare of our Saviour 

 Christ one thousand five hundred seaventy and foure, they 

 find seventy and sixe millions to that yeere : and from that 

 yeare to eighty five inclusive, it appeares by the royall 

 registers, there were thirty five millions more eutred. They 

 sent this accompt to the Viceroy from Potosi, in the yeere 

 I have mentioned, being then in Peru; and since, the 

 wealth that hath come from Peru by ship hath amounted 

 to much more. In that fleete where I came in the yeare 

 one thousand five hundred eighty seaveu, there were eleven 

 millions transported in the two fleets of Peru and Mexico, 

 whereof two thirds were in that of Peru, and almost the one 

 halfo for the King. I thought good to set this downe parti 

 cularly, to shew the power which his heavenly Maiestie hath 

 given to the Kings of Spaine, heaping so many Crowns 

 and Kingdonies vpon them, who (by the especiall favour of 

 heaven) have ioyned the East with the West Indies, in- 

 vironing the whole worlde with their Power. [It may be 

 thought that this provision has been made, through the 

 providence of our God, for the good of these people, living at 

 such a distance from their head, who is the Roman Pontiff 

 and Vicar of Christ our Lord. Also for the defence of the 

 same Catholic Faith and Roman Church in these parts 

 where the truth is so opposed and persecuted by the here 

 tics. For the Lord of Heaven, who gives and takes away 

 the kingdoms at his will, has so ordered it. We ought, 



