friars, who went from here, took a commission from the nuncio (quite
contrary to the custom among religious orders), from which no benefit
has resulted. Accordingly, although the said commission is clearly an
affair of no value in law, the office of the grantor having expired,
yet since those religious are very scrupulous, and have but little
knowledge of this matter, it might be well that the present nuncio
revoke the commission, and that the said custodia be governed by the
authority of the order, as are all the other provinces of our order.

Hitherto the province of San Josepe [in Mexico], of the descalced
friars from Castilla, has had charge of that custodia, by apostolic
brief; and it was not subject to me, nor might I send friars thither or
remove them. But when the said province considered how inadequately it
could govern the custodia, the brief was renounced in the session of
the chapter which was held in this year 85 at the town of Cadahalso,
and that custodia has been assigned to me; and henceforth whatever
may be necessary can be supplied for the said province, [17] by order
of the council.

As for sending friars to the said custodia, I have information that a
religious of the same descalced order, who comes from that country to
discuss this matter, went direct to Monzon without going to Madrid
to report the needs of his custodia to his Majesty. Therefore it
appears to me that the sending of religious, and other matters,
might be suspended until his arrival.


Fray Geronimo de Guzman