he supplied with laymen who were traveling secretly to the Indias,
and he received from them special bribes, putting upon them habits
of the order, that they might in this way get as far as the registry
in Vera Cruz and afterward return to their own condition. The said
father thus retained in his hands all the allowance which he had
received. I would not dare to make this statement to your Majesty
if I did not know it from the relation of those very seven religious
whom he brought hither from Espana. Additional evidence is a letter
(which I saw) from Dr. Antonio de Morga, written soon after his
arrival in Mexico, in which he gave this information to persons from
there. Nothing has been done in this matter because of the fear and
subjection in which the said father Leon has placed those of us who
might speak and demand justice for this and other most unjust acts
of which he has been guilty. I testify to your Majesty that his cell
and manner of dress are like those of a trading merchant, and not of
a poor and abstinent friar; and, through the trade conducted by the
Chinese here, I know that he has invested a great amount of money in
sending merchandise to Mexico. Now this he could not do except at the
expense of the convents; for in the larger and richer houses he has
granted offices to those of his party and those under his control,
while he dislikes and ill-treats the virtuous and grave religious from
Espana. All this causes us sorrow and affliction, especially because
of the offense committed against our Lord God, and the loss to our
order and the disservice of your Majesty and of your Majesty's holy
zeal, and because your Majesty's directions are not fulfilled. May
your Majesty be pleased to put an end to all this by exercising your
authority and sending as promptly as possible an inspector from the
province of Castilla, accompanied by religious like himself. Such a
one may amend this and take these two religious from here, depriving
them of the titles of which they have made so bad a use. I beseech your
Majesty to pardon my boldness in having dwelt so long on this matter. I
may have failed, in my manner of writing, to observe the respect and
form due to my king and lord, but I believe that I have not been at
fault in purpose or zeal. I am now occupied in the service of your
Majesty as chief chaplain and vicar of the galleys and fleets of your
Majesty in these kingdoms, upon the important expedition which is now
being