IT is hard to say what is certaine among the so many, & so uncertain opinions con∣cerning the originall of the Indians of the new world. If you aske, what is my opi∣nion upon the relation of Montezinus, I must say, it is scarce possible to know it by any Art, since there is no demonstration, which can manifest the truth of it; much lesse can you gather it from Divine, or hu∣mane Writings; for the Scriptures doe not tell what people first inhabited those Coun∣tries; neither was there mention of them by any, til Christop. Columbus, Americus Vespucius, Ferdinandus Cortez, the Marquesse Del Valle, and Franciscus Pizarrus went thither; and though hitherto I have been of this minde, that I would speake only of solid, and in∣fallible things, (as those things are which concerne our Law) and the obscurity of the matter, making me doubt, whether it would be worth a while for me to attempt it; yet at last I was content to be perswa∣ded to it, not that I look to get credit by it, but that my friends, and all who seeke for truth, that have put me upon this work, may see how very desirous I am to please them.

I shall speak somewhat in this Discourse, of the divers opinions which have been, and shall declare in what Countries it is thought the ten Tribes are; and I shall close, after that I have brought them into their owne Country, which I shall prove by good reasons, following the Revelati∣ons of the holy Prophets, who I beleeve cannot be expounded otherwise, whatever some thinke; yet I intend not to dispute these things, but according to my custom, shall lay downe fairly, and faithfully, the opinions of the Iewes only.

YOu must know therefore, that Alexis Vanegas saith, that the first Colonies of the West-Indies were of the Carthaginians, who first of all inhabited New-Spaine, and as they encreased, spread to the Iland Cuba; from thence to the continent of America; and af∣ter that towards Panama, New-Spaine, and the Isle of Peru. And he grounds him∣selfe on that reason, that as the Cartha∣ginians (who of old did most use the Seas) so those of Peru, and the Inhabitants of New-Spaine, did make use of pictures instead of let∣ters.

But this opinion doth not satisfie, be∣cause they anciently were white men, bearded, and civill in converse; but contrarily those of Parama, St. Martha, and of the isles of Cuba, and Barlovent, went naked. Farther∣more, who can thinke that the language which; he saith, they first spoke, should be so soone changed, that it should be wholly another: and there is no agreement between the one and the other. The learned Arias Montanus thinkes, that the Indians of New Spaine, and Peru, are the off-spring of Ophir the sonne of Jokton, the nephew of Heber. And he backs his opinion, by the name Ophir, which by transposition of letters, is the same with Peru; and he adds, that the name Parvaim in the du∣all number, doth signifie the Istimus between New-Spaine and Peru, which first was cal∣led Ophir, then Peru; and that these coun∣tries are that Peru, from whence King Solomon brought gold, precious stones, &c. as in 1 Kin. chap. 9.6.10. & 2 Chron. 9.21. This opini∣on seemes more probable than the other, and may be backed by another name of the River Liru, which according to Gomoras, lies in the 2d degree from the Equinoctiall line, from Panama 222. miles; as also by the name of the Province Jucatan, which may be derived from Joktan the father of Ophir. But besides that this notation is somewhat farre fetcht, it crosses what Josephus Acosta affirmes in 1. Histor. of Jud. c. 13. who sayth, that the name Peru was unknown to the Indians themselves before those Spaniards gave that name. Add to this what Garcillasso de la Vega in the first part of his Commentary on Peru, c. 4 saith, that when a certaine Spanyard, Basco Nun∣nez de Balboa, lived in that country, and asked a Fisherman, what was the name of that Pro∣vince, he answered Beru; (which was the Fishermans owne name, he thinking that was the question) and he farther said, that the name of the River where he fished, was called Pelu. Hence you may see, that Peru is made of both those words; which also many Spanyards besides him, we have mentioned, doe testifie.

Besides, who can thinke that Solomon neglect∣ing the East-Indies, a place so rich, and aboun∣ding with all things, should send a Fleet so farre off as to the West-Indies. Also we read in 1 King. 9. that Solomon made ships in Ezion-Geber on the shoare of the red Sea, which also Jehosophat did, with Ahaziah, as Ezra saith, in 2. Chron. 20. and it is certaine that those of those countries went that ordinary way to India. And it will not follow, that because the holy Scripture sometimes saith, that they went to Tarsis, and sometimes that they went to Ophir, that therefore both those places are the same; since that Tarsis is not, as some thinke Carthage, or Tunes in Africa; for that the navy of Solomon did not set sayle from Joppa, a Port of the mediterranean, but from Ezion-Geber, a Port of the red Sea, from whence they could not saile to Carthage, but to the East-Indies. The answer of Isaac Abarbanel to that argument, cannot be ad∣mitted, who saith, that an arme of Nilus did run into the red Sea, and another arme ran into the Mediterranean, by Alexandria in Aegypt; since it was never heard, that ships of great bur∣den, did swim in those rivers; and would not he then have built his Navy in the Port of A∣lexandria? It is more true that Tarsis is the Ocean, or Indian Sea; and because they came into the Ocean, after that they had sailed over the red Sea, which is but narrow, therefore the Scripture saith, They Sailed to Tarsis. Rabbi Jonathan ben Vziel followes this opi∣nion, who in his Paraphrase, for Tarsis, puts (the Sea.) The same saith Franciscus de Ri∣bera, in his Comment on Jonah, and also Rab∣binus Josephus Coen, in his Chronology; who ascribe the word Tarsis, to the Indian Sea; because that Ophir is the same country, which of old is called The Golden Chersonesus; and by Josephus, The golden Land; and at this day Malacca; from whence they brought Ivory, for the great number of Elephants which are there; none of which are in the West-Indies, And Solomons Navy stayd in those Ports of India, 3. yeares, because they traded with the Inhabitants I know that learned Grotius, and famous de Lact thinke differently; as also those quoted by them; but I shall not insist in confuting their opinions because I study bre∣vity. I doe like of, in part, the opinion of the Spaniards who dwell in the Indies, who by common consent doe affirme that the Indians come of the 10. Tribes. And truly they are not altogether mistaken, because in my opinion, they were the first planters of the In∣dies; as also other people of the East-Indies came by that Streight which is betweene In∣dia, and the Kingdome of Anian. But that peo∣ple, according to our Montezinus, made warre upon those Inhabitants the Isralites, whom they forced up unto the mountaines, and the in-land countries, as formerly the Brittaines were driven by the Saxons into Wales.

. . .

TO this opinion adde an argument taken from what Logicians call à simili; for he that will compare the Lawes and Customes of the Indians and Hebrews together, shall finde them agree in many things; whence you may easily gather, That the Indians borrowed those of the Hebrews (who lived among them) be∣fore, or after they went to the unknown moun∣taines. The Indians of Jucatan, and the Acu∣zainitenses do circumeise themselves. The To∣tones of New Spain, and Mexicans (as Roman and Gomaza in the generall history of the In∣dians testifie) rend their garments, if their hap∣pen any sudden misfortune, or the death of any. Gregorius Garcias in Monarchia Ingaso∣num, an Isle of Peru, saith, that Guainacapacus hearing that his son Atagualpa sled for feare of the army of his enemy, he rent his garments. The Mexicans, and Totones, or the Totonaca∣zenses kept continually fire upon their altars, as God commands in Leviticus. Those of Peru do the same, in their Temples dedicated to the Sun. The Nicaraguazenses do forbid their wo∣men who were lately brought a bed, to enter their Temples, till they are purified. The Inha∣bitants of Hispaniola think those do sin, who lye with a woman a little after her child-birth.

And the Indians of new Spain do severely pu∣nish Sodomie. Many of the Indians do bury their dead on the Mountains; which also is the Jewish custome, and Garcias saith, the name Chanan to found in those countries. You may wonder at this, that the Indians doe every 50. yeares celebrate a Jubily, with great pomp, in Mexico, the Metropolis of the whole Pro∣vince. Also that on the Sabbath-day all are bound to be present in the Temple, to perform their Sacrifices, and Ceremonies. They also were divorced from their wives, if they were not honest. The Indians of Pern, New-Spain, and Guatemala did marry the widdowes of their dead brethren. May not you judge from these things, that the Jewes lived in those pla∣ces, and that the Gentiles learned such things of them? Add also to what hath been said, that the knowledge which the Indians had, of the creation of the world, and of the universall Flood, they borrowed from the Israelites.

THe 4th ground of this opinion is, that the Indians are of a brown colour, and with∣out beards; but in the new world, white, and bearded men were found, who had never com∣merce with the Spaniards; and whom you cannot affirme to be any other than Israelites; because also as they could never be overcome, so they shall never be fully known: as appears by what followes. Petrus Simon a Francis∣can, in his History of finding out the firme land, saith, that in the raigne of Charles the 5. he commanded one called Philippus de Vire thi∣ther, to discover, and plant those countries; that he found them unknown toward the north of America about 5. degrees, in the Province of Omeguas, which is neare the Province of Venezuela, and now is called Garracas. And he having learned of their neighbours, the greatnesse of that people both in wealth, and in war, he determined to war upon them. Who when they had marched a good way, at last found a rich city, full of people, and faire buil∣dings; and not farre off 2 husbandmen tilling the ground; whom they would have made prisoners, that they might be their interpreters. But when they saw themselves set on, they fled apace towards the city; but Philippus d' Vire and his Soldiers followed them hard on horseback, and had almost taken them; where∣upon the husbandmen stood still, and with their Speares wounded Philip in the breast, piercing through his Brest-plate made of wooll to keepe off arrowes. He wondering at the dexterity of that people, judged it a wiser course, not to make war upon that Province, and people so expert in war, and who dared to resist armed men. Therefore he retreated with his Company. And to this day none goe to that people, neither is it known which way to go to them. It is probable that they are Israelites whom God preserves in that place against the day of redemption.