THE SEVENTH BOOKE 



Of the Naturall and Morall Historic of the 



Indies. 



CHAP. i. That it is profitable to understand the actes of the 

 Indians, especially of the Mexicaines. 



LIB. vn. EVERY History, wel written, is profitable to the reader : For 

 Eccies i as ^ Q Wise man saith, &quot;That which hath bin, is, and that 

 which shall be, is that which hath beene/ Humane things 

 have much resemblance in themselves, and some growe 

 . wise by that which happeneth to others. There is no 

 Nation, how barbarous so ever, that have not something in 

 them good, and woorthy of commendation ; nor Common- 

 weale so well ordered, that hath not something blame 

 worthy, and to be controlled. If, therefore, there were 

 no other fruite in the Historie and Narration of the 

 deedes of the Indians, but this common vtilitie, to be a 

 Eelation or Historie of things, the which in the effect of 

 truth have happened, it deserveth to be received as a profit 

 able thing, neither ought it to be reiected, for that it con- 

 cernes the Indians. As we see that those Authors that 

 treate of naturall things, write not onely of generous beasts, 

 notable and rare plants, and of pretious stones, but also of 

 wilde beasts, common hearbes, and base and vulgar stones, 

 for that there is alwayes in them some properties worthy 

 observation. If, therefore, there were nothing else in this 

 Discourse, but that it is a Historie, and no fables nor 

 fictions, it were no vnwoorthy subject to be written or read. 



