I 



NOTICES OF PERU. 231 



the religious. A few months passed away, and Dona Juana 

 de Cepeda was espoused by a gallant cavalier, Don Ernan 

 Gonzalez de la Torre. He had served in many battles against 

 the Indians with Pizarro ; he raised the siege of Lima, and 

 contributed greatly to the general pacification of Peru ; when 

 the Marquis was assassinated, he had gone to meet the judge, 

 Vaca de Castro. This cavalier was both valiant and wealthy, 

 yet with Dona Juana he received a rich dower, in her treasure 

 of nobleness and virtue. The nuptials of such a pair were pub- 

 lished far and wide, for they were powerful and rich ! 

 • So soon as the news reached our Fray Augustin in his hum- 



ble dwelling, he went to congratulate Dona Juana upon her 

 good fortune, and to manifest his joy on seeing virtue rewarded 

 in the opulence of her house. They conversed about the spi- 

 rit ; and when he found her properly disposed, he lamented 

 his poverty, the inconvenience of his dwelling, and above all, 

 complained that, having neglected to bring with him a part of 

 the cedula of the emperor, he could obtain neither aid, nor 

 even a site whereon to found a chapel. Having impressed 

 upon Doila Juana that God had given her great prosperity and 

 wealth, he told her that it was now her duty to repay heaven 

 in part for the blessings she had received, by assisting him in 

 his deplorable situation. 



The pious lady spoke to him consoling words, but, as every 

 prudent wife should do in such a case, withheld an answer to 

 the prayer, till after she had consulted with her husband. The 

 Fray Augustin, confiding more in God, in whose cause he was 

 embarked, than in the promises of the world, as a less devout 

 man might have done, returned to his cell, to await the result 

 of this visit. 



The next day. Dona Juana de la Cepeda sent for the lonely 

 Father, and when he arrived, told him, in great joy, that 

 through the blessing of God, his desires should be fulfilled. 

 Her husband had given her power to afford unlimited aid, and, 

 to contribute the more to his convenience, desired him to build 

 the chapel near his own house, in which he most generously 

 offered all that heart could ask. And in order to accomplish 

 her vow, and to comply with her obligation, she further wished 



