go to it but to its officials.  This would be the more true inasmuch as they, however justified they might be, would be unwilling to accept the things in kind, for fear of being obliged to give an account of them afterwards.  This might subject them to great danger of loss.  Above all, if the commissary were to reveal this matter to the officials, they would put an embargo on the whole affair, and he would undergo the risk of being unable to undertake the voyage.  This happened to me once, for, being very fond of following truth and honesty, I told the royal officials of this City of Mexico that two religious of my company had received my permission to remain here, as that was expedient for the service of God and of his Majesty, and declared that I did not require living expenses and ship-stores for them.  The officials, in place of trusting me at seeing that I proceeded without fraud or falsehood, cut off the provisions for all of my company, refusing for more than twenty days to give me what his Majesty commanded to be allowed for the support of the religious.  Thus I was almost on the point of being unable to make the journey; for I used up on their living in Mexico all of the ship-stores which I had provided for the sea.  Accordingly, in their desire to prevent two from remaining here, they incurred the risk that all of us might be compelled 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.