360 MEXICAN COMMUNION. 



LIB. v. idoll itselfe as of the tronchons which were consecrated, 

 and then they gave them to the people in maner of a com 

 munion, beginning with the greater, and continuing vnto 

 the rest, both men, women, and little children, who received 

 it with such teares, feare, and reverence as it was an ad 

 mirable thing, saying that they did eate the flesh and bones 

 of God, wherewith they were grieved. Such as had any 

 sicke folkes demaunded thereof for them, and carried it with 

 great reverence and veneration. 



All such as did communicate were bound to give the tenth 

 of this seede, whereof the idoll was made. The solemnitie 

 of the idoll being ended an olde man of great authoritie 

 stept vp into a high place, and with a lowde voice preached 

 their lawe and ceremonies. Who would not wonder to see 

 the divell so curious to seeke to be worshipped and re 

 verenced in the same maner that lesus Christ our God hath 

 appoynted and also taught, arid as the Holy Church hath 

 accustomed. Hereby it is plainely verified what was pro 

 pounded in the beginning, that Sathan strives all he can to 

 vsurp and chalenge vnto himselfe the honor and service that 

 is due to God alone, although he dooth still intermixe with 

 it his cruelties and filthinesse, being the spirite of murther 

 and vncleanenesse and the father of lies. 



CHAP. xxv. Of Confessors and Confession luhicJi the Indians 



vsed. 



The father of lies would likewise counterfeit the sacra 

 ment of Confession, and in his idolatries seeke to be honored 

 with ceremonies very like to the maner of Christians. In 

 Peru they held opinion that all diseases and adversities came 

 for the sinnes which they had committed, for remedy whereof 

 they vsed sacrifices : moreover they confessed themselves 

 verbally, almost in all provinces, and had Confessors ap 

 poynted by their superiors to that end, there were some 



