consequently, had he but become a Christian, large numbers of people
would have followed his example, for he was regarded by the rest,
even in distant parts, as a pattern to follow. This Indian had two
wives, and being frequently urged, with many entreaties and arguments,
to abandon one of them, so great was his love for his sons that he
could not make up his mind to divorce one of the women, preferring
not to be separated from their children. He was urged in the church,
before all the people of the village, to divorce one of his wives;
but he only answered that he had already been told this. Many of
our fathers, as well as his encomendero, therefore besought him
with great earnestness to be baptized, but all in vain. But finally,
seeing that all the rest (and especially one of his sons, also much
esteemed and beloved) were abandoning their wives, he said that
he would do the same after he had harvested his rice, for which
the time had arrived--alleging as a reason that since he and they
had toiled together in the sowing, they should together enjoy the
harvest; and when that had been done, he would remain with but one
wife. But the Lord, who already had just cause against him, by His
lofty judgments prevented him from carrying out this intention; for,
very soon afterward, when he suspected no misfortune, he was stabbed
by an Indian whom he tried to seize. No second blow was needed, for
he fell to the ground dead, thus ending his disobedience and obduracy.



Of the fervor of the Christians of Ogmuc. Chapter XXXXV.


Our fathers in the residence at Ogmuc, having proceeded with due
prudence and caution, had up to this time baptized only eighty-eight