Having intreated of the Natural History of the Indies, I will hereafter discourse of the Morall History, that is to say of the deeds and customes of the Indians. For after the heaven, the temperature, the scituation, and the qualities of the new world; after the elements and mixtures—I mean mettals, plants, and beasts, whereof we have spoken in the former Bookes, as occasion did serve; both Order and Reason doth invite vs to continue and vndertake the discourse of those men which inhabite the new world. And therefore I pretend in the following bookes to speake what I thinke worthie of this subiect. And for that the intention of this Historie is not onely to give knowledge of what hath passed at the Indies, but also to continue this knowledge, to the fruite we may gather by it, which is to helpe this people for their soules health, and to glorifie the Creator and Redeemer, who hath drawne them from the obscure darkenes of their infidelitie, and imparted vnto them the admirable light of his Gospel. And therefore I will first speake in these bookes following what concernes their religion or superstition, their customes, their idolatries, and their sacrifices; and after, what concernes their policie and government, their lawes, customes, and their deedes.