re were no place in which to
succor their necessities. As is well known, not one of the sick has
(and there is not in this city) any other place where they can go
except to this hospital. It is well known how much more it costs his
Majesty to transport a man from Nueva Espana than to sustain him after
having brought him here; and for the common welfare of this community
and its conservation, it is necessary to have men here. Hence, and
since charity to the sick is so great a service to God our Lord,
I beg and entreat your Lordship to be pleased to assign to the said
hospital from the royal exchequer what is necessary for its efficient
administration and maintenance, in consideration of the fact that
the income apportioned to it is inadequate, because of its heavy
expenses. If necessary, I am ready to undergo investigation, and I
take oath in due form that this petition is made with no ill intent,
and I beg justice.

_Hernando de Los Rios_

February 16, 1594: Investigation shall be made in regard to the
contents of this petition. The witnesses whom the administrator of
the hospital shall present in the course of the legal verification
which he has been ordered to make shall be examined in accordance
with the following interrogatory.

1. First: Whether they are acquainted with the said hospital.

2. _Item_: Whether they know that there is no other hospital in
these islands and city where the Spanish, especially the soldiers,
can be treated.

3. _Item_: Whether they know that the majority of the soldiers
serve for pay, and that there are, as a rule, fifty or sixty sick,
or even more.

4. For the fourth question: Let them state whether they know that,
by failing to give them the necessary attention, his Majesty would
be put to greater expense and cost, and this community would suffer
great harm and loss, because of the death of many, and because of the
much greater expense to the king, our sovereign, in transporting one
soldier here than in supporting two.

5. _Item_: Let them state whether they know that, because of the
small pay and the dearness of food, and because of their discomfort
and their heavy toil in mounting guard and in sentinel duty, many
fall sick daily and die; and that for this reason, the said hospital
always contains more sick men than it can take care of.

6. _Item_: Let them state whether they know that many of the old
sailors and soldiers, who have served his Majesty here, are poor and