Page:A New Survey of the West Indies or The English American his Travel by Sea and Land.djvu/66

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

5© JWwSumy Chap- VIÍÍ

I íliall fpeak hereafter. This Refreshment being ended, w proceeded to a better, which was a moft (lately Dinner botl of Fiih and Fleih ; no Fowls were fpared , many Capons Turkey-Cocks and Hens were prodigally laviihed, to ihev us the abundance and plenty of Provifion of that Country The Prior of this Cloifter was no Staid, Ancient, Greyheadei Man, fuch as uiually are made Superiours to govern youn; and wanton Fryers ; but he was a Gallant and Amorou young Spark, who (as we were there informed) had obtainei from his Superiour the Provincial Government of that Con vent, with a Bribe of a thoufand Duckats, After Dinne he had feme of us to his Chamber, where we obferved h lightnefs, and little favour of Religion or Mortification i; him : We thought to have found in his Chamber feme ftatel Library, which might tell us of Learning and love of Study but we found »ot above a dozen old Books, ftanding in corner, covered with daft and cobwebs, as if they wet aíhamed that the Treafure that lay hid in them, íhould be i much fl*gotten ar »d undervalued ; and the Guitarra (tfi Spanish Lute) preferred and fet above them. His Chambc was richly drefled and hung with many Pi&ures, and wit Hangings, feme made with Cotton- Wooll, others with v£ rious coloured Feathers of Mechonean, his Tables covere with Carpets of Silk ; his Cupboards adorned with fever; ions oí China Cups and Diihes, ftored within with fever; Dainties of Sweet-meats and Conferves.

This fight feemed to the zealcus Fryers of our Mifllon mol vain, and unbefeeming a poor and Mendicant-Fryer; toth others, whofe end in coming from Spain to thofe parts wa Liberty, and Loofncfs, and Covetouíntís of Riches, this figh was pleafing, and gave them great encouragement to ente further into that Country, where icon a Mendicant Lakayh might become a proud and wealthy Dives. The difcouri of "the young and light-headed Ptior, was nothing but van boaftingof Him f elf, of his Birth, his pans, his favour wid the chief Superiour or Provincial, the love which the beft La dies, the richeft Merchants Wives of the Town bare unto him of his clear and excellent Voice, and great dexterity in Mufick

whereo