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.
7. For the seventh question: Whether they know that the hospital
possesses an income of but little more than one thousand five hundred
pesos, and that the gifts to it are very few.
8. For the eighth question: Whether they know that the said hospital
needs more than six thousand pesos for its maintenance, since its
expenses are high, and since there is no other food in this country
that can be provided for the sick than fowls, which are valued at
excessive rates--as, for instance, two reals, or two and one-half or
three reals.
9. The ninth: Let them state whether they know that the said hospital
uses many drugs from Castilla and other regions, which are very
dear, because they are brought from so great a distance as those who
know say.
10. For the tenth question: Let them state whether they know that
the said hospital is in great need of buildings for the service of
the poor, and the accommodation of the others who work in the said
hospital; since it has but one corridor, where the said sick are poorly
accommodated and crowded; and that therefore the said hospital needs
four more buildings.
11. For the eleventh question: Let them state whether they know that,
in addition to the things enumerated above, the said hospital has
need of a very large force of attendants, as brethren and slaves,
and of other services from Indian men and women, upon whom a great
sum of money is necessarily spent, both in wages and food; and that
they are badly accommodated, because they have no adequate house.
12. For question twelve: Whether they know that all the aforesaid is
public and well known.
_Hernando de Los Rios_
_Evidence on the part of the hospital_
In the city of Manila, on the fifteenth day of the month of April, one
thousand five hundred and ninety-four, Colonel Hernando de los Rios,
steward of the Spanish hospital of this city, in answer to the contents
of the petition and interrogatory above set forth, presented as witness
Fray Diego Muñoz, prior of the convent of Sant Pablo de San Agustin
of Manila, and commissary of the Holy Office. Oath was taken from
him _in verbum sacerdotis_, and he promised to tell the truth. Being
interrogated in accordance with the inquiry, he deposed as follows:
1. To the first question he answered that he knew of the royal hospital
of this city of Manila from the time of its establishment by Doctor
Santiago de Vera. This was his answer.
Being asked the usual questions prescribed by law, he said that he
was thirty-four years old and competent to be a witness.
2. To the second question, he answered that he knew there is no other
hospital for treating Spaniards throughout these islands except
that of the said city of Manila. Therefore Spaniards from all the
islands, especially ordinary soldiers and mercenaries, go there for
treatment. This was his answer.
3. To the third question he answered that he knew the number of
patients in the said hospital, as he had been in it many times. He
thought it contained ordinarily fifty or sixty sick soldiers. This
was his answer.
4. To the fourth question he answered that he knew that by not giving
proper attention to the sick, his Majesty would suffer greater expense
and cost in being compelled to send other men in their place to this
country. This will be a great expense to his Majesty, because of the
high cost of transporting each of those who go to the said islands;
besides, on account of the great distance of the country, and the
difference of its climate from that of our España, many men die. This
was his answer.
5. To the fifth question he answered that his reply was the same as
to the preceding question.
6. To the sixth question he answered that besides the mercenaries and
ordinary soldiers who are treated in the said royal hospital, many
others are also treated--namely, sailors, and old and poor Spanish
soldiers, who because they have not the means to be treated, have
recourse to the said hospital. These his Majesty is under obligation
to assist, because of their services. This was his answer.
7. To the seventh question he answered that he referred to the
attestation and certifications given by the officials of the royal
exchequer of these islands, and that he knew that the income is
insufficient for the heavy expense incurred by the said royal
hospital--as this witness and the other superiors of the religious
orders of this city have written to his Majesty, begging him to assist
the said royal hospital by increasing its income, since it is not
sufficient. This was his answer.
8. To the eighth question he answered that his reply was the same as
to the preceding question.
9. In answer to the ninth question he declared that he believed that,
since so many sick persons are treated in the said hospital, many
drugs must necessarily be used which are not products of this country,
and which must be brought from Nueva España and other regions. This
was his answer.
10. In answer to the tenth question he declared that he knew that the
hospital needs more buildings than it has, for the sick are many and
crowded. This was his answer.
11. In answer to the eleventh question he declared that he did not
know; but that he thought that for so many people as are there usually,
many servants are necessary. This was his answer.
12. In answer to the twelfth question, he declared, on his oath,
that the aforesaid is the truth and is public and well known; and he
affixed his signature to it.
_Fray Diego Muñoz_
Before me:
_Martin Sanchez de Leyba_, royal notary.
[In like manner, depositions were taken from Fray Alonso Jimenez,
provincial of the Order of St. Dominic; Father Antonio Sedeño, superior
of the Society of Jesus; Captain Pedro de Chaves, master-of-camp;
Diego Velazquez de Mercado, dean of the cathedral of San Pedro de
Manila; and Gaspar de Ysla, former steward of the hospital. Their
testimony is much the same as the one given above, nothing new being
brought out. The document ends as follows:]
In regard to this work I certify, in so far as I may, as to its
necessity and justice, for the welfare and amendment of all this
country and community; and that it is a work worthy the royal heart of
his Majesty, that it needs his royal and generous protection and favor,
and that God our Lord through His poor, will be greatly served in it.
_Luis Perez Dasmarinas_
Therefore I affixed my seal in testimony of accuracy.
_Gaspar de Azebo_
[_Endorsed_: "Inquiry in regard to the great advantage derived from
the royal hospital of Manila, and in regard to the affirmation that
the poor cannot be supported with its income."]