-- They answered, that it was not in their power. -- 'If you
were really sent by Heaven for our conversion (said one of the
sachems), you would certainly have some supernatural endowments,
at least you would have the gift of tongues, in order to explain
your doctrine to the different nations among which you are
employed; but you are so ignorant of our language, that you
cannot express yourselves even on the most trifling subjects.' In
a word, the assembly were convinced of their being cheats, and
even suspected them of being spies: they ordered them a bag of
Indian corn apiece, and appointed a guide to conduct them to the
frontiers; but the missionaries having more zeal than discretion,
refused to quit the vineyard. -- They persisted in saying mass, in
preaching, baptizing, and squabbling with the conjurers, or
priests of the country, till they had thrown the whole community
into confusion. -- Then the assembly proceeded to try them as
impious impostors, who represented the Almighty as a trifling,
weak, capricious being, and pretended to make, unmake, and
reproduce him at pleasure; they were, therefore, convicted of
blasphemy and sedition, and condemned to the stale, where they
died singing Salve regina, in a rapture of joy, for the crown of
martyrdom which they had thus obtained.
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