A Why age to 



low Bows made them, they offer their Sleeves to bekifs'd 

 in the open Streets and in the Churches, whither they go 

 on Purpofe to difturb the Faithful, who are attentive to 

 the Sacrifice, to have Homage done to their pretended 

 Dignity , differing very much therein from the Sentiments 

 of the firft of the Weftern Monks, S. Benedict, who chofe for 

 his Religious Men the Habit of the Poor in his Time, and 

 S, Francis, a ridiculous Habit, to render himfelf contemp- 

 tible in the Eyes of Men. In Ihort, it is well known that 

 to prevent their meddling with worldly Affairs, the King of 

 Spain has been formerly obliged to make ufe of his Au- 

 thority, and yet he has not prevail'd. Herrera, Anno 1551^ 

 writes thus: 'The King charged. Don Lewis de Velafco, the 

 Viceroy, to tale Care that the Prelates and Religious Menfljould 

 keep within the Bounds oj their own Employments, without in- 

 terfering with thofe of others, as they had fometimes done, becaufe 

 that belong d to the King and his Lieutenants. To conclude, 

 fhall they preach up the Example of Continence? this is 

 the general Vice, which fcarce allows of any Exception 

 among thofe whom Age has not difabled. Neither are 

 they very referv'd as to this Point, but excufe themfclves 

 with the Neceffity of having a She-Friend to take Care of 

 them, becaufe the Monafteries allow them nothing but 

 Diet ; fo that they are obliged to intrigue to keep in with 

 them, dealing in Merchandize, and fometimes in Slight of 

 Hand, which have often wam'd the French trading along 

 the Coaft to miftruft them as Sharpers. The Captain of 

 the Mary Anne y in which I went thither, had ftvere Expe- 

 rience of it, one of them taking a Bag of 800 Pieces of 

 Eight out of his Round-houfe. 



This Diflipation is alfo the Reafon why they fcarce ap- 

 ply thernfelves to Study ; out of the great Towns there 

 are fome, who can fcarce read Latin, to fay Mafs. Nay 5 

 I knew a Profeflfor of Divinity in a Monaftery, who per- 

 form'd it very irnperfeftly. In fliort, it is manifeft, that 

 1110ft of them only make themfelves Friers in order to lead 

 a more cafy and more honourable Life. It is faid, that 



the 



