iSS A Voyage to 



dicatron of the Play to the Blefled Virgin. One would have 

 judg'd by this pious Invocation, that the Play would be ta 

 the Edification of theSpe&ators ; but I was fufficiently un~ 

 deceived of that Notion, when I beheld an the Stage the 

 disagreeing Medley of Sigifmund's Piety embracing a Cru- 

 cifix, to which he made his Application under an Adverfity, 

 and the Licentioufncfsof Buffoons in the Play ; and of In- 

 terludes, or little Farces between the Ads, which confift- 

 ed of grofs Obfcenities, but a little wrapp'd up, or dif- 

 guifed. 



Btdi-Feaft. The next Day there was the Show of the Bull-Feaff„ 

 which was no better than that at Valparaifo^bdoxz fpokea 

 of;, a Spectacle as unfit to honour the Blelted Virgin as fucli 

 Comedies, finceit is forbid by the Ecclefiaftical Laws, by 

 reafon of the Danger of Death Men expofe themfelves to, 

 without any Neceffity, as frequently happens, and at this 

 Time it was very near happening to a Black, the Bull lcav- 

 ing him on the Ground fo much hurt^ that it was queftion- 

 ed whether he could recover. 



Maj^ertde. On Saturday Night there was a Mafquerade of Peopje 

 running about the Streets by Candle-light, as they do in 

 Frame at the Carnaval or Shrovetide : The Prime A&ors 

 were in a Cart, preceded by others on Horfe-back. On 

 that Cart I took Notice of a Man clad in the Habit of the 

 Friers of S. John of God y who I was affured was really a 

 Frier; but I could not perfuade myfelf that it was any o- 

 ther than a Mask, for on the Cart he flood up and dane'd 

 with Women fuch a Pofture Dance as the Blacks of the 

 Iflands dance at their Bangala, or Inftrument, whkh is 

 all that can be fa id with Modefly. Be that as it will^ 

 the Name of Our Lady of Mount Carmd often refounded 

 in the extravagant Cries, amidft the Reproaches and^ the 

 moft infamous Abfurditics with which they accofted fuch- 

 as pafs'd by at the very fame time, when on the other hand 

 they were making the Procelfion of the Rofary. As ridicu- 

 lous as this Cuftom appear'd, it may b^ faid as great Ex- 

 travagancies have been feen in France on the Feaft of Fools* 

 "~'7 W ~~ ~~ The 



