University of Virginia Library

The Fourt ACT.

Enter House-Keeper, Player.
Play.
Now, Friend, we must still suppose
Our selves at Peru.

Hous. K.
What's he? a humane Bird.

Play.
A feather'd Preist, who must speak in the
Dumb show, and describe the condition of America,
Before the Spaniard surpriz'd it.

The Cruelty of the SPANIARDS in PERU.

The Argument of the whole design, consisting of six ENTRIES.

The Design is first to represent the happy condition of the People of Peru anciently, when their inclinations were govern'd by Nature; and then it makes some discov'ry of their establishment under the Twelve Incas, and of the dissentions of the two Sons of the last Inca. Then proceeds to the discov'ry of that new Western World by the Spaniard, which happen'd to be during the dissention of the two Royal Brethren. It likewise proceeds to the Spaniards Conquest of that Incan Empire, and then discovers the cruelty of the Spaniards over the Indians, and over all Christians (excepting those of their own Nation) who landing in those parts, came unhappily into their power. And towards the conclusion, it infers the Voyages of the English thither, and the amity of the Natives towards them, under whose Ensigns (encourag'd by a Prophecy of their chief Priest) they hope to be made Victorious, and to be freed from the Yoke of the Spaniard.

The First ENTRY.

The Audience are entertain'd by Instrumental Musick and a Symphony (being a wild Ayr sutable to the Region) which having prepar'd the Scene, a Lantdchap of the West-Indies is discern'd; distinguisht

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from other Regions by the parcht and bare tops of distant Hills, by Sands shining on the shores of Rivers, and the Natives, in feather'd Habits and Bonnets, carrying in Indian Baskets, Ingots of Gold, and Wedges of Silver. Some of the Natives being likewise discern'd in their natural sports of Hunting and Fishing. This Prospect is made through a Wood, differing from those of European Climats, by representing of Coco-Trees, Pines, and Palmitos; and on the boughs of other Trees are seen Munkies, Apes, and Parrots; and at farther distance, Vallies of Sugar-Canes.
The Symphony being ended: The chief Priest of Peru enters with his Attendant after him. The Priest is cloth'd in a garment of Feathers, longer than any of those that are worn by other Natives, with a Bonnet whose ornament of Plumes does likewise give him a distinction from the rest, and carries in his hand a guilded Verge. He likewise, because the Peruvians were worshippers of the Sun, carries the Figure of the Sun on his Bonnet and Breast.
The First Speech, Spoken by the Priest of the Sun:
Taking a short view of their condition, before the Royal Family of the Incas taught them to live together in multitudes, under Laws, and made them by Arms reduce many other Nations.
Thus fresh did Nature in our world appear,
When first her Roses did their leaves unfold:
E're she did use Art's Colours, and e're fear
Had made her pale, or she with cares lookt old.
When various sports did Man's lov'd freedom show,
And still the free were willing to obey;
Youth did to Age, and Sons to Parents bow.
Parents and Age first taught the Laws of sway.
When yet we no just motive had to fear
Our bolder Incas would by Arms be rais'd;
When, temp'rately, they still contented were,
As great examples, to be only prais'd.
When none for being strong did seek reward,
Nor any for the space of Empire strove:
When Valour courted Peace and never car'd
For any recompence, but publique love.
We fetter'd none, nor were by any bound;
None follow'd Gold through Lab'rinths of the Mine:
And that which we on strands of Rivers found,
Did only on our Priests in Temple shine.
Then with his Verge, each Priest
Could, like an Exorcist,
The coldest of his students warm,
And thus provoke them with a Charm.

The First Song.
In pursuance of the manner of their Life, before their Incas brought them to live in Cities, and to build Forts.

Chorus.


Chorus.


Chorus.


Chorus.


Chorus.

The Second ENTRY.

An Alman and Corante are play'd: after which a Trumpet-Ayr changes the Scene; where a Fleet is discern'd at distance, with

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a prospect of the Sea and Indian Coast; the Ships bearing in their Flags the Spread-Eagle, to denote the Austrian Family; and on the right side are seen some Natives of Peru, pointing with amazement to the Fleet, (as never having had the view of Ships before) and in a mourning condition take their leaves of their Wives and Children; because of an ancient prophecy amongst them, which did signifie, That a Bearded People (those of Peru having ever held it uncomely to wear Beards) should spring out of the Sea, and conquer them. The object having remained a while, the Priest of the Sun enters.
The Second Speech,
Describing briefly the pleasant lives of the Incas till this season of fulfilling that prophecy, when a Bearded People should come from the sea to destroy them; and two of the Incan Family ruine that Empire, which twelve of the Emperours had erected.
In all the soft delights of sleep and ease,
Secure from War, in peaceful Palaces,
Our Incas liv'd: but now I see their doom:
Guided by winds, the Bearded People come!
And that dire Prophecy must be fulfill'd,
When two shall ruine what our twelve did build.
'Tis long since first the Sun's chief Priest foretold,
That cruel men, Idolaters of Gold,
Should pass vast Seas to seek their Harbour here.
Behold, in floating Castles they appear!
Mine eyes are struck! Away, away
With gentle Love's delicious sway!
The Incas from their wives must fly!
And ours may soon believe
We mourn to see them grieve,
But shall rejoyce to see them dy.
For they by dying safety gain:
And when they quit,
In Death's cold fit,
Love's pleasure they shall lose Life's pain.
The Second Song,
Intimating their sorrow for their future condition, (according to the Prophecy) under their new Masters the Spaniards.


Chorus.

This Song being ended, a doleful Ayr is heard, which prepares the entrance of two Indians, in their feather'd habits of Peru! they enter severally from the opposite sides of the Wood, and gazing on the face of the Scene, fall into a Mimick Dance, in which they express the Argument of the Prospect, by their admiration at the sight of the Ships, (which was to those of Peru a new and wonderfull object) and their lamentation, at beholding their Countrymen in deep affliction, and taking their leaves of their Wives and Children.

The Third ENTRY.

A symphony , consisting of four tunes, prepares the change of the Scene; the prospect consisting of a plain Indian Country, by which are discern'd at distance two Peruvian Armies marching, and ready to give Battel, being led by the two Royal Brethren, Sons of the last Inca, Arm'd with Bows, Glaves, and Spears, and wearing Quivers on their backs. The object having continu'd a while, the Priest of the Sun enters.
The Third Speech,
Intimating the unhappy event of the love of the last Inca; for he (contrary to the custom of all his Royal Ancestors, who always marry'd their own Sisters) had chosen to his second Wife the beautiful Daughter of an inferiour Prince: his Priests and People having always believ'd no blood less distant than that of his Sisters, worthy to mingle with his own for propagation of the Emperial Race. This foreign Beauty so far prevail'd on his passion, that she made him in his age assign a a considerable part of his Dominion to a younger Son, his Ancestors never having, during eleven Generations, divided their Empire. This Youth, growing ambitious after his Fathers death, invaded his

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elder Brother at that unfortunate time when the Spaniards, pursuing their second discovery of the Peruvian Coast, landed, and made a prodigious use of the division of the two Brethren, by proving successful in giving their assistance to the unjust cause of the Younger.
How fatal did our Inca's passion prove,
Whilst long made subject to a foreign love?
Poor Lovers, who from Empire's arts are free,
By Nature may entirely guided be,
They may retire to shady Cottages,
And study there only themselves to please:
For few consider what they mean or do;
But Nations are concern'd when Monarchs woo.
And though our Inca by no Law was ty'd
To love but one, yet could he not divide
His publick Empire as his private bed.
In Thrones each is to whole Dominion bred.
He blindly pris'd his younger son's desert,
Dividing Empire as he did his heart.
And since his death, this made the younger dare
T'affront the elder's sov'rainty with war.
Ambition's monstrous stomach does encrease
By eating, and it fears to starve, unless
It still may feed, and all it sees devour.
Ambition is not tir'd with toyl, nor cloy'd with pow'r.
The Third Song,
Which pursues the Argument of the Speech, and farther illustrates the many miseries, which the Civil War between the two Royal Brethren produc'd.


Chorus.

After this Song a Warlike Ayr is play'd, to which succeeds a Martial Dance, perform'd by four Peruvians, arm'd with Glaves, who enter severally from opposite sides of the Wood, and express by their motions and gestures the fury of that Civil War, which, by the ambition of the younger Brother, has engag'd their Country; and then depart in pursuit of each other.

The Fourth ENTRY.

A symphony , consisting of four tunes, prepares the change of the Scene; which represents a great Peruvian Army, put to flight by a small Body of Spaniards. This object is produc'd in pursuance of the main Argument; for the Spaniards having first bred an amazement in the Natives, by the noise and fire of their Guns, and having afterwards subverted the elder Inca by assisting the younger, did in a short time attain the Dominion over both by Conquest. The object of this Scene having remain'd a while, the Priest of the Sun enters.
The Fourth Speech,
Intimating the amazement of the Peruvians at the sight of the Spaniards in Arms; the consideration of the great distance of the Region from whence they came; of the ill effects of Armour worn by a People whom they never had offended, and of the security of innocence.
What dark and distant Region bred
For War that bearded Race,
Whose ev'ry uncouth face
We more than Death's cold vissage dread?
They could not still be guided by the Sun.
Nor had they ev'ry night
The Moon t'inform their sight;
How durst they seek those dangers which we shun?
Sure they must more than mortal be,
That did so little care
For life, or else they are
Surer of future life than we.
But how they reasons laws in life fulfill
We know not; yet we know,
That scorn of life is low,
Compar'd to the disdain of living ill.
And we may judge that all they do
In life's whole scene is bad,
Since they with Arms are clad
Defensive and Offensive too.
In Nature it is fear that makes us arm;
And fear by guilt is bred:
The guiltless nothing dread,
Defence not seeking, nor designing harm.
[Exit.
The Fourth Song,
Pursuing the Argument of the amazement and fear of the Natives, occasion'd by the consideration of the long Voyage of the Spaniards to invade them.

Chorus 1.
When we our Arrows draw,
It is with dreadful awe:

2.
Moving towards them whom we are loth to meet,

3.
As if we marcht to face our destiny:

4.
Not trusting to our Arrows but our feet,
As if our bus'ness were to fly, to fly!

All in Chorus.

Chorus.

This Song being ended, a Saraband is play'd, whilst two Spaniards enter from the opposite sides of the Scene, exactly cloth'd and arm'd according to the custom of their Nation: and to express their triumph after the victory over the Natives, they solemnly uncloak and unarm themselves to the Tune, and afterwards dance with Castanietos.

The Fifth ENTRY.

A doleful Pavin is play'd to prepare the change of the Scene, which represents a dark Prison at great distance; and farther to the view are discern'd Racks, and other Engines of torment, with which the Spaniards are tormenting the Natives and English Mariners, which may be suppos'd to be lately landed there to discover the Coast. Two Spaniards are likewise discover'd, sitting in their Cloaks, and appearing more solemn in Ruffs, with Rapiers and Daggers by their sides; the one turning a Spit, whilst the other is basting an Indian Prince, which is rosted at an artificial fire. This object having remain'd a while, the Priest of the Sun enters.
The Fifth Speech.
The horrour of the Natives, bred by the object of the diversity of new torments devis'd by the Spaniards.
The Fifth Song.
Pursuing the Argument of the Speech, by a farther detestation of that cruelty, which the ambition of the Spaniards made them exercise in Peru.



Chorus.

This Song being ended, a mournful Ayr is play'd, preparing the entrance of three Peruvians, limping in silver fetters. They are driven into the Wood by an insulting Spaniards; with a Truncheon; then enter again loaden with Indian baskets full of golden Ingots, and silver Wedges, and lying down with the weight of their burthens, are raised by the blows of the Spaniard, and fall into a halting dance, till the Spaniard reviving their weariness with his Truncheon, drives them again into the Wood.

The Sixth ENTRY.

A symphony prepares the last change of the Scene, and an Army is discern'd at distance, consisting of English and Peruvians; the Van is led by the English, who are distinguisht by the Ensignes of England, and their Red-Coats. The Reer is brought up by the Peruvians, who are known by their feather'd Habits, Glaves, and Spears. There is likewise discern'd a Body of armed Spaniards, their backs turn'd, and their Reer scatter'd as if put to flight. These imaginary English

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Forces may seem improper, because the English had made no discovery of Peru, in the time of the Spaniards first invasion there; but yet in Poetical representations of this nature, it may pass as a Vision discern'd by the Priest of the Sun, before the matter was extant, in order to his Prophecy. This object having remain'd a while the Priest of the Sun enters.
The Sixth Speech,
Intimating their first adoration of the Spaniards when they landed, the behaviour of the Spaniards towards them, and a Prophecy that they shall be reliev'd by the English.
The Priest being gone, a wild Ayr is play'd, (differing from that in the First Entry) which prepares the comming in of a Spaniard out of the Wood, loaden with Ingots of Gold, and Wedges of Silver. He makes his footing to the tune of the Instruments; and after a while he discovers a weariness and inclination to sleep, to which purpose he lies down, with his basket for his pillow. Two Apes come in from opposite sides of the Wood, and dance to the Ayr. After a while, a great Baboon enters, and joyns with them in the dance. They wake the Spaniard, and end the Antique Measures with driving him into the Wood.
The Sixth Song,
Pursuing the Argument of that Prophecy, which foretells the subversion of the Spaniards by the English.
We shall no longer fear
The Spanish Eagle darkly hov'ring here;
For though from farthest Climes he hither fled,
And spatiously his wings has spread:
Yet th'English Lyon now
Does still victorious grow,
And does delight
To make his walks as far
As th'other e're did dare
To make his flight.
Chorus.
1
High,
2
high,
3
and high
4
Our Arrows shall flie,
And reach the winged for our prey.
Our Nets we'll cast, and Sprindges lay:
The Ayr, the River, and the Wood,
Shall yield us sport and change of food.
All in Chorus.
After all our disasters
The proud Spaniards our Masters,
When we extoll our liberty by feasts,
At Table shall serve,
Or else they shall starve;
Whilst th'English shall sit and rule as our guests.
This Song being ended, an Ayr consisting of three Tunes, prepares the grand Dance, three Indians entring first, afterwards to them three English Souldiers, distinguisht by their Red-Coats, and to them a Spaniard, who mingling in the measures with the rest, does in his gestures express pride and sullenness towards the Indians, and pays a lowly homage to the English, who often salute him with their feet, which salutation he returns with a more lowly gravity; whilst the English and the Indians, as they encounter, salute and shake hands, in sign of their future amity.