A Voyage to ^ 



Tome can fcarce read the Mais. It is eafy to jud ge whether 

 fuch ignorant Shepherds are capable of inftru&ing their 

 Flocks, and confequently how the Indians are inftru&ed, 

 whom the Spaniards are obliged to teach their Religion, 

 when they are in their Service. 



The Religious Men, excepting the Jefuites^ are ftill 

 more unlearned than the Clergy, and much addi&ed to 

 Libertinilm, which the too great Veneration the People 

 have for their Habit, very much facilitates; I can here in- 

 fert a Fragment of the Sermon which was made at the Do- 

 minican Monaftery, on the Feftival of their Patriarch, 

 whilft we lay at Taleaguana. The Fryar, who made the 

 Panegyrick, enlarged very much upon the Friendfhip there 

 was between S. Veminick and S. Francis, whom he com- 

 pared to Anteros and Cupid: Then, contrary to his own 

 Intereft, he affirnvd. That S. Francis was the greateft 

 Saint in Heaven : That when he came intcrthat Heavenly 

 Abode, the Bleffed Virgin finding no Place worthy of him, 

 withdrew a little from her own, to make room for him 

 between herfelf and the Eternal Father: That S. Daminick 

 coming to Heaven; S. Francis^ his Friend and faithful 

 Witnels of his San&ity upon Earth, would, out of Hu- 

 mility, have given him the one Half of his Place 5 but 

 xhat the Bleffed Virgin, by thofe Offers, guefs'd he was a 

 great Saint, and would not have him fliare in his Friends 

 Place; therefore flie withdrew a little farther, to allow 

 an entire Place for him > fo that thofe two Saints now fit 

 between her and the Eternal Father. Let no Man believe 

 I have invented this Story for my Paftime ; there are Wit- 

 nelfes of three Ships who can teftify the Truth of it. 

 What Impreffion muft fuch a Difcourfe make on the Minds 

 of the People, and more particularly of the Indians? No 

 doubt but that they will look upon the Apoftles as incon- 

 fiderablePerfons in the Sight of God, when compared with 

 thofe two Founders of Orders ; for thofe People are of a 

 dull Comprehension in Matters of Religion. 

 Ill , „ ^ . v ^ 1, ■^.^^^>'^-^ 



