Two instances of this kind fell within my Knowledge; one before I came to Montserat, the other after.  The first was of one Slunt, who had been Bombardier at Monjouick; but being kill’d while we lay at Campilio, a Priest, whom I advis’d with upon the Matter, told me, that if he should be buried where any Corn grew, his Body would not only be taken up again, but ill treated, in revenge of the Destruction of so much Corn, which the People would on no account be persuaded to touch; for which Reason we took care to have him lay’d in a very deep Grave, on a very barren Spot of Ground.  The other was of one Captain Bush, who was a Prisoner with me on the Surrender of Denia; who being sent, as I was afterwards, to Saint Clemente la Mancha, there dy’d; and, as I was inform’d, tho’ he was privately, and by Night, bury’d in a Corn-Field, he was taken out of his Grave by those superstitious People, as soon as ever they could discover the Place where his Body was deposited.  But I return to the Convent at Montserat.

Out of the Chapel, behind the High-Altar, we descended into a spacious Room, the Repository of the great Offerings made to the Lady.  Here, though I thought in the Chapel it self I had seen the Riches of the Universe, I found a prodigious Quantity of more costly Presents, the superstitious Tribute of most of the Roman-Catholick Princes in Europe.  Among a Multitude of others, they show’d me a Sword set with Diamonds, the Offering of Charles the Third, then King of Spain, but now Emperor of Germany.  Though I must confess, being a Heretick, I could much easier find a Reason for a fair Lady’s presenting such a Sword to a King of Spain, than for a King of Spain’s presenting such a Sword to a fair Lady:  And by the Motto upon it, Pulchra tamen nigra, it was plain such was his Opinion.  That Prince was so delighted with the Pleasure’s of this sweet Place, that he, as well as I, stay’d as long as ever he could; though neither of us so long as either could have wish’d.

But there was another Offering from a King of Portugal, equally glorious and costly; but much better adapted; and therefore in its Propriety easier to be accounted for.  That was a Glory for the Head of her Ladiship, every Ray of which was set with Diamonds, large at the Bottom, and gradually lessening to the very Extremity of every Ray.  Each Ray might be about half a Yard Long; and I imagin’d in the Whole there might be about one Hundred of them.  In short, if ever her Ladiship did the Offerer the Honour to put it on, I will though a Heretick, venture to aver, she did not at that present time look like a humane Creature.

To enumerate the rest, if my Memory would suffice, would exceed Belief.  As the upper Part was a plain Miracle of Nature, the lower was a compleat Treasury of miraculous Art.