"Chorera in Cuba is burnt by the French" - de Bry - 1595

Benzoni, an Italian, acted as a mediator between different nations. The work describes life of the first nations of Central America. Benzoni wrote at a time when the Spanish treatment of the Indians was a concern, and described the cruelty of the Spanish towards the Indians and African slaves - the famous "Black legend". The work is beautifully illustrated with engravings of the Native Americans and Spanish conquistadors. It including images of Nicaraguans dancing, how they held their markets, and made war, and of slaves being harshly treated.

The text reads:

"When the town of Chorera was ransacked by the French, they were unable to find any loot, so they captured some of the Spanish and held them for ransom. Instead the Spanish launched a counter attack but when this failed the French set fire to the town and escaped with whatever valuables they could find. While burning the church, some of the French declared 'men who have no faith shall have no temple' "