58 o The ^aturall and Moral! 



prifonerSjto the knowledge of hirnfelfe,giving them light 

 and libertie by his holy Gofpel. And to the end you may 

 the better vnderftand this, and give credite therevnto, I 

 willaieadge fome examples which in my opinion are fit 

 for this hiftory. 



Offome miracles which GodkaihfiewedAt the Indies, 



in favour of the faitbjbeycnd the defer t ofthofe 



that wrought them. CHAP, 27. 



SAint Croix of the mountdine, is a very great province, 

 and farreftom thcKingdomeof Per*, neighbour to 

 diverie infidell nations , which have not yet any know-, 

 ledge of the Gofpel , if fince my departure,the fathers of 

 our company which remanc there, have not intruded 

 them, Yetthis province of S. Croix is cbriftned.ahd there 

 are many Spaniards, and great numbers of Indians bapti 

 zed. Themanerhow Chriftianiriecntred r was thus. A 

 fouldier of a lewd life, refidcnt in the province of Cfer. 

 &#, fearing punifhment, being purfued for his offences, 

 went farre vp into the conn trie , and was received curte- 

 ouily by this barbarous peopIe.The Spaniard feeing them 

 in a great extremity for water, snd that to procure mine, 

 they vied many fiiperftmous ceremonies, according to 

 their vfuall maner', hcfaidvntothem, that if they would 

 do ss he faid.they ftould prefen tly have raine, the which 

 they willingly offered to pcrforme. Then the fouldkr 

 niadea greit croiTe,the which he planted on a high and e- 

 minent'place, commanding them to worfhip it,and to de 

 mand water, the which they did. A wonderful thingto fee, 

 there prefently fel fuch aboundance of raine,asthe Indisns 

 tooke fb great -devotion to the holy crofle, as they fled vn~ 



ta 



