Cornelio Smout Pedro Miguel, alias Dubal Henrrique Servaer

GRANT TO SEMINARY OF SANTA POTENCIANA

In the seminary for orphan girls, which was founded in this city by order of King Don Filippe, our sovereign and the father of your Majesty, four classes of persons are sheltered:  the daughters of old conquerors and soldiers of these islands, who, as these have nothing to leave them, are left unprotected; the illegitimate daughters of Spaniards and Indian women (and they are numerous), every one of whom is ruined if she is not sheltered here, because of the great laxity [of morals] in the country; and all are taught and instructed until they depart married.  Some married women who quarrel with their husbands are also sheltered there, until the trouble is smoothed over; and there are some poor widows.  It is a work of great charity, and one that prevents great offenses to God.  But it receives so little aid that the girls are in need.  They are barefoot and almost naked, have wretched food, and live in very narrow, obscure, and damp, and consequently unhealthy, quarters.  They are treated at the hospital.  They have a church, so poor that it has no one to give it a shred as an ornament.  The rearing of the girls suffers great injury from their being mingled with the married women, for there is no money with which to build them separate quarters.  All of these things are causes that prevent them from living acceptably, and keep them under forcible restraint; while from growing up amid so great poverty and destitution of all things, they do not attract the attention of Spaniards, and lower themselves by marrying Indians.  Consequently, all the good ends sought in their rearing are frustrated, and among those ends, the growth of the Spanish population in these regions.  I consider myself as the chaplain of this seminary to advise your Majesty of all this (for I think that it is contrary to your royal pleasure and purpose), so that, as its author and only patron, you may correct that state of affairs.  It can be corrected by giving the institution some more Indians in encomienda; by adding three more toneladas, in the distribution of the cargo, to the three that are given annually; by raising to thirty its twelve Indians of service, who bring it water and wood; and by ordering that ornaments be given to its church from the royal treasury, as is done to the other churches, and from the royal hospital the necessary medicines, at the written request of the physician and the rectoress.  And at present, for enlarging and fitting up the house, your Majesty could give some alms.  For its good management, your Majesty might aid the pious intent of Licentiate Hernando de los Rios, procurator of this city, to bring nuns to found a convent in this city, from which nuns might be sent every three years to govern this seminary; for through lack of persons who can be placed in charge of it, and who are suitable