Synopsis: Part history, part fantasy, this odd work chronicles the evangelisation of America by the Catalonian Benedictine Bernardo Buil (or Boyl), Abbot of Monserrat, who with twelve of his followers travelled with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to Hispaniola (Haiti) in 1493. The account of the early Benedictine missionaries' achievements is laced with marvels and miracles, the actual voyage of the monks being conflated with other, legendary voyages. The book begins with a lengthy and fantastic account of the Atlantic voyages of St. Brendan, the 5th century Irish monk, e.g. a mass celebrated by St. Brendan on the back of a whale. Other fantastical elements include cannibals attacking and roasting members of the Spanish crew and Indian noblemen riding a sea-monster. (Synopsis adapted from Christie's Auction House, Ursus Rare Books, and Charles Agvent books.)