who have served for many years in this country without any pay.  Many of them fall sick from the great sufferings that they undergo, because of the unhealthfulness of this country, both in food and climate, and from other causes.  However, these would be much more numerous, if there 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 needy; that these men are useful in this country, because they are, like the others, ready for whatever occasions arise; that they have no other place to go to except the said hospital, when they become sick; and that his Majesty is under obligations to provide them with a hospital, as he has not rewarded their services.