for this one time, furnish him with provision for the friars' support
during the voyage.

"Write to the viceroy of Nueva España 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 conducts the religious the
money which your Highness commands to be given for their voyage, unless
he first gives good and sufficient bonds that he will return the money
in case the religious do not embark; the second is, that the convent
of San Pablo at Sevilla and that of Santo Domingo at Sanlucar, where
the religious are entertained, demand from them three reals a day,
although your Highness grants only a real and a half; the third is,
that the registry clerks are unwilling to record the grants to the