MILES PHILIPS A.D. 



1568. 



five dayes wee came to a towne within five leagues of 

 Mexico, which is called Quoghliclan, where wee also 

 stayed one whole day and two nights, where was a faire 

 house of gray friers, howbeit wee saw none of them. 

 Here wee were told by the Spaniards in the towne, that 

 wee had not past fifteene English miles from thence to 

 Mexico, whereof we were all very joyfull and glad, hoping 

 that when we came thither, we should either be relieved, 

 and set free out of bonds, or els bee quickly dispatched out 

 of our lives : for seeing our selves thus caried bound 

 from place to place, although some used us courteously, 

 yet could wee never joy, nor be merrie till wee might per- 

 ceive our selves set free from that bondage, either by 

 death or otherwise. 



The next morning we departed from thence on our 

 journey towards Mexico, and so travelled till wee came 

 within two leagues of it, where there was built by the 

 Spaniards a very faire church, called our Ladyes church, 

 in which there is an image of our Lady of silver & gilt, 

 being as high, & as large as a tall woman, in which 

 church, and before this image, there are as many lamps of 

 silver as there be dayes in the yeere, which upon high 

 dayes are all lighted. Whensoever any Spaniards passe 

 by this church, although they be on horse backe, they 

 will alight, and come into the church, and kneele before 

 the image, and pray to our Lady to defend them from all 

 evil ; so that whether he be horseman or footman he will 

 not passe by, but first goe into the Church, and pray as 

 aforesayd, which if they doe not, they thinke and beleeve 

 that they shall never prosper : which image they call in [III. 478.] 

 the Spanish tongue, Nuestra sennora de Guadalupe. At Nuestra 

 this place there are certain cold baths, which arise, spring- 

 ing up as though the water did seeth : the water whereof 

 is somewhat brackish in taste, but very good for any that 

 have any sore or wound, to wash themselves therewith, 

 for as they say, it healeth m.any : and every yeere once 

 upon our Lady day the people use to repaire thither to 

 oifer, and to pray in that Church before the image, and 



419 



Sennora. 



