The Dominican Mission of 1606


I, Fray Diego Duarte, [8] of the Order of St. Dominic, affirm that
his Majesty by his royal decree, which I present herewith, commanded
that in addition to the thirty religious and four servants whom in
accordance with his said royal decree I received permission to convey
to the Feliphinas Islands, I should conduct ten other religious,
making forty in all; and that for the despatch of all of them your
Lordship should give me what was necessary at the expense of his
royal treasury. This allowance is to be in conformity with the report
mentioned in the said decree (which your Lordship has sent to the
royal Council of the Yndias), which states the cost of the passage
to the Yndias of each religious. Since the time is now far advanced,
it is necessary for me to receive the payment for the said religious
in order that they may make their voyage in the fleet which is about
to be despatched to the province of Nueva Spaña, and that his Majesty's
commands may be fulfilled. This cannot take effect unless your Lordship
provide me with the money necessary to buy clothing and ship supplies,
and what else is needed.

Therefore I beg and pray your Lordship to give commands that, in
addition to the seven hundred and seventy thousand seven hundred and
fifty-two maravedis which the treasurer Don Melchor Maldonado has been
commanded to deliver to me, in conformity with the said royal decree
issued from the royal council of the treasury, for the despatch of