331 SACRED VIRGINS. 



LlB - Y - off the blood, they bathed themselves in a pool, which was 

 within their monastery. They lived very honestly and dis 

 creetly; and if any were found to have offended, although 

 but lightly, presently they were put to death without re 

 mission, saying, shee had polluted the house of their god. 

 They helde it for an augure and advertisement, that some 

 one of the religious, man or woman, had committed a fault 

 when the}^ saw a Ratte or a Mowse passe, or a Bat in the 

 chappell of their idoll, or that they had gnawed any of the 

 varies ; for that they say a Catte or a Bat would not adven 

 ture to committe such an indignity, if some offence had not 

 gone before, and then they beganne to make search of the 

 fact, and having discovered the offender or offenders, of 

 what quality soever, they presently put them to death. 



None were receyved into this monastery but the daughters 

 of one of the sixe quarters, named for that purpose : and 

 this profession continued, as I have sayd, the space of one 

 whole yeare: during the which time, their fathers, and they 

 themselves, had made a vowe to serve the idoll in this man 

 ner, and from thence they went to be married. These virgins 

 of Mexico, and more especially they of Peru, had some re 

 semblance to the Vestall Virgins of Rome, as the Histories 

 shew, to the end wee may vnderstand how the devill hath 

 desired to be served by them that observe Yirginitie, not 

 that chastitie is pleasing vnto him, for he is an vncleane 

 spirite, but for the desire he hath to take from the great 

 God, as much as in him lieth, this glory to be served with 

 cleannesse and integrity. 



CHAP. xvi. Of f.li G Monasteries of religious men that tJie 

 devill hath invented for superstition. 



It is well knowne, by Letters written by the fathers of 

 our company from lappon, the number aud multitude of 

 religious men that are in those Provinces, whome they call 



