of which he was a native;
the other, Fray Pablo Colmenero, who came from Salamanca, and was
a native of Galicia. [60] Both of them were religious of excellent
abilities. I embarked at the port of Acapulco for the Philipinas,
with only twenty-eight. Although it is true that at the time of
embarkation some nine were absent, who had not yet arrived at the
port, yet even if they had arrived they could in no wise have been
embarked; for the ship which was given me was very small, and had
accommodations for no more than twelve friars at the most. So true
is this, that the treasurer of his Majesty of this City Of Mexico,
one Birbiesca, who was then at the port to despatch the ships by
command of the Marques de Montesclaros, told me not to embark more
than twelve. This I swear to be true _in verbo sacerdotis_. I left
in that very port several religious, with permission and order to
return to Mexico until they could go to the Philipinas; and I was
many times sorry for those whom I had embarked, on account of the
poor accommodations that we had. Four of them died at sea, between
here and the Philipinas (three of these being priests, and the other
not), all of them being friars from whom much was hoped. I have made
information of all this before the notary of the ship itself (who was
called Francisco de Vidaurre), with witnesses who were aboard--which,
with the favor of God, I myself shall take to Espana, as I am now on
the way there. This was in the year of 1606.

The very next year two religious of my company--priests, confessors,
and preachers, Fray Jacinto Orfanel and Fray Joseph de San
Jacinto--went to the Philipinas with Don Rodrigo de Mendoza, nephew
of the marques, who was commander for two patajes; and this year, 608,
I sent four others of the same qualifications with the lord governor,
Don Rodrigo de Bibero.

Thus of all my company, except six who have died, only one has failed
to go to the Philippinas. To this one, I confess, I gave permission
to remain; and he is at present in the province of Oaxaca as minister
and interpreter, and so has not been obtained for it unfairly, since
religious go from Spana to this province also at the cost of the
royal exchequer. It was at the time expedient and even necessary
to give the permission; and if his Majesty should try to tie the
hands of him who takes the religious in charge, in this matter, it
would be the occasion of many grave injuries to his royal service,
and still more