I, Hernando de los Rios, administrator of the royal hospital of
this city, declare that, because of the small amount of income and
alms received by the said hospital, the needs of the sick are not
provided for. It is impossible to give them everything requisite
for their health, inasmuch as there are many sick there, both of
the ordinary troops and the mercenary soldiers, to whom his Majesty
gives medicines, and for whom he supplies a physician, as he is
bound to do. The same provision is made for the other poor and needy
inhabitants and citizens to whom his Majesty is under obligations,
as they are old soldiers and settlers 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 España 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.