to return in answer) endevour'd
by soft Language to appease them; and went to these Thirty Spaniards,
declaring the evil actions they were guilty of, humbly supplicating
them to withdraw themselves from that place. Which they would by no
means condescend to, and what is most flagitious and wicked perswaded
the _Indians_, that they were introduc'd by those Priests; Which being
made known to them, These _Indians_ resolved to be the death of these
Monks, but having notice thereof by some courteous _Indians_, they
stole away from thence by night, and fled; but after their departure
the truth of the matter and the Spanish Malice being understood; they
sent several Messengers who followed them fifty Miles distant
beseeching them in the name of the _Indians_, to return and begging
pardon for that ignorant mistake.

The Priests relying on their words, returned, and were caress'd like
Angels sent from Heaven; and continued with them, (from whom they
received a Thousand kindnesses) four or five months. But when the
Spaniards persisted in their resolution not to quit the place, although
they Vice-Roy did use all endeavours and fair means to recall them,
they were Proclaim'd Traitors, guilty of High Treason; and because they
continued still exercising Tyranny and perpetrated nefandous Crimes,
the Priests were sensible they would study revenge, though it might be
some considerable time before they put it in execution, fearing that it
might fail upon their own heads, and since they could not exercise the
function of their Ministry securely and undisturbed by reason of the
continual Incursions and Assaults made by the Spaniards, they consulted
about their departure, and did leave this Kingdom accordingly which
remain'd destitute of all Christian Doctrin and these poor Souls are at
this day involv'd in the obscurity of their former Misery and
Ignorance, they being deprived by these accursed Spaniards, of all
hopes of remedy, and the irrigatioon of Divine knowledge, just like
young withering Plants for want of Water: for in that very juncture of
time, when these Religioso's took leave, they embraced the Doctrine of
our Faith with the greatest Fervency and Eagerness imaginable.

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_Of the Province of St. _MARTHA.

The Province of St. _Martha_ was rich in the Neighbouring Golden Mines,
and a fruitful Soil, nay the People were very expert and industrious in
thos