'HiUorie of tke Indies, lib.?. 



ally hath bccne, and is in tructh the fame thing,but not 

 fuch as idolatry faines 5 as the dcad,orfome things pro. 

 per vnto them, which men worfhippe through vanitic 

 and flatterie , fo as wee reduce all to foure kindcs of i- 

 dolatry , which the infidells vfe $ of all which it behoo- 

 veth vs to fpeake fbmcthing, 



That the Indians havefome knowledge of God. 

 CHAP. 3. 



FIrft, although the darken efle of infidelitieholdeth 

 thefe Nations inblindeneflc , yet in many thinges 

 the light of truth and reafon works fomewhat in them. 

 And they commonly acknowledge a fupreame Lorde 

 and Author of all things , which they of Peru called 

 ffytifacfoi and gave him names of great excellence , as 

 Fachacamac,mPachayachachic, which is, the Creator 

 of heaven and earth: and Vfapu, which is admirable,and 

 other like names . Him they did worfhip , as the chie- 

 fcft of all, whom they did honor in beholding the hea 

 ven . The like wee fee amongeft them of Mexico, and 

 China, and all other infidelles - Which accordeth well 

 with that which is faide of Saint Paul } m the Ads of the 

 Apoftles , where hee did fee the Infcription of an Al- 

 tare 5 IgnotoDeo : To the vnknowne God . Where- 

 vpon the Apoftle tooke occafion to preach vnto them, 

 faying, He whotne yw worfhip without knowing , him doc I *&** 

 preach vatoyou. In like fort, thofe which at this day do 

 preach the Gofpel to the Indians, find no great difficul- 

 tie to perfvvade them that there is a high God and Lord 

 overall, and that this is the Chriftians God, and the 

 true God. And yet it hath caufcd great admiration in 

 me, that although they had this knowledge, yet had 



they 



