Miscellaneous Facts and ObserdatioTis. 139 



out of the Country to the South Sea, where it was 

 thought to be consumed by the Ocean, and to have 

 found a grave in the waters, whilst the young ones 

 found it in the Land. Yet they were not all so buried, 

 but that shortly some appeared, which not being so 

 many in number as before, were with the former dili- 

 gence soon overcome. But whilst all this fear was, 

 these outcries were made by the Country and this 

 diligence performed by the Indians, the Priests got 

 well by it ; for every where Processions were made, 

 and Masses sung for the averting of that Plague. In 

 Mix co most of the Idols were carried to the field, es- 

 pecially the pictures of our Lady, and that of Saint 

 Nicholas Tolentine, in whose name the Church of 

 Rome doth use to bless little Breads and Wafers with 

 the Saint stamped upon them ; which they think are 

 able to defend them from Agues, Plague, Pestilence, 

 Contagion, or any other great and imminent danger. 

 There was scarce any Spanish Husbandman who 

 on this occasion came not from the Valley to the 

 Town of Mixco with his offering to this Saint, and 

 who made not a vow to have a Mass sung unto Saint 

 Nicholas; they all brought breads to be blessed, and 

 carryed them back to their Farms, some casting 

 them into their Corn, some burying them in 

 their hedges and fences, strongly trusting in Saint 

 Nicholas, that his bread would have power to keep 

 the Locusts out of their fields ; and so at the last 

 these simple, ignorant and blinded souls, when they 

 saw the Locusts departed and their Corn safe, cried 

 out to our Lady some, others to Saint Nicholas, Mi- 

 lagroy a Miracle, judging the Saint worthy of praise 



