lled to remain. I stated this to the
royal officials and the viceroy in a petition, and gained nothing by
it. This is the kind of inconveniences which follow from practicing
honesty with regard to the decrees of his Majesty.

As for the aforesaid, I, Fray Diego Aduarte, vicar of the religious
of Saint Dominic who are going to the Philippinas, swear _in verbo
sacerdotis_ that it is true, and I sign it with my name. At Mexico,
January 20, 1605.

_Fray Diego Aduarte_

[_Endorsed_: "February 12, 1607, referred to Senor Don Francisco de
Tejada to examine the papers and report thereon to the council."

"February 16, 1607, examined; the decrees, within."]

[_Endorsed_: "Let the House of Trade state why dues are collected
from every religious who goes on his Majesty's account to the Indias,
and let it give an account of the amount charged for registration;
and in the meantime, and until further orders, let it take no fees,
and issue a decree that the officers shall not levy these dues.

"Let the approval of the religious conducted by father Fray Graviel
de San Antonio to the Filipinas be entrusted to Senor Don Francisco
de Vaste; and on the credit of this alone let the House of Trade,
for this one time, furnish him with provision for the friars' support
during the voyage.

"Write to the viceroy of Nueva Espana to direct the royal officials
and all other officers to despatch with promptitude and treat with
kindness the religious who go to the Filipinas by command of his
Majesty and at his Majesty's expense; and let them take no fees for
the despatch of their persons and their books, or for the warrants
for collection of the expenses which they incur on the journey.

"In regard to everything else contained in this petition and report
from father Fray Diego Aduarte, let that be decreed which is fitting
to the service of God and his Majesty."]

(Most Powerful Sire: I, Fray Gabriel de San Antonio [14], vicar of the
religious who by order of your Highness are to go this year to the
Philippinas, declare that father Fray Diego Aduarte, who conducted
the religious who last went to the said islands, found, in spite
of the liberal grant made by your Majesty to him, some difficulties
which greatly hindered his voyage, as appears from his report herewith
enclosed. Of all these difficulties the gravest are three. The first
is, that the officials of the House of Trade at Sevilla are unwilling
to pay to the commissioner or vicar who