of the orders of your Majesty
and of the government; for besides the comforts that are brought from
Castilla at so heavy an expense to the treasury of your Majesty, such
as wines, raisins, almonds, and quince preserves, and other things
which are not found here, and are indispensable for the hospitals--and
although these things and the medicines were delivered to the steward
and apothecary, the said officials did what the religious ordered
them; and, to keep the devotees of religion contented, dispersed
and spent many of those things outside of the hospitals. I made the
steward whom I found in the hospital of the Spaniards settle his
accounts, which were in very bad condition; but it will cost him his
property. I appointed a new steward to whom all the aforesaid articles
which came from Nueva Espana were delivered, on his responsibility
and account. This man asked for the keys to the pantries, in order
to keep them, but the religious refused; consequently, I was obliged
to issue strict order that the keys be given up. The provincial of
that order gave way to anger, saying that the taking the keys of the
pantries to keep them was to his discredit. With the devotion which
I have always had toward that order, and my love for its religious, I
requested the said provincial to charge himself with, or have given to
some religious, the said articles, with the obligation to give account
of his expense at the end of the year to the person whom I should
order to do that. He replied that I could not do that, according to
his rule; nor could he subject himself to give account of anything;
the steward, however, continues to exercise his duty and care.

[_In the margin_: "Having dismissed the discalced religious from the
hospital, although it is thought that in this he will have desired
the greater service of his Majesty and the convenient regulation of
the matter, he might, before executing it, and before having made this
innovation, have given some notice of it, as he has been notified to
do in other points. Let him do that from now henceforth. In regard to
the condition of the edifice and the other matters, let him advise
immediately; and of the manner in which the hospital is governed,
and what has been the practical result of the change, without making
any alteration in the state in which this despatch shall find it,
and without going any farther."]

4. Various decrees of their Majesties, your holy father and your
prudent grand