Page:A New Survey of the West Indies or The English American his Travel by Sea and Land.djvu/32

 Arragon, of Murcia, of Catalonia; So likewise in America there is the Province of Mexico, of Mechoacan, of Guaxaca, of Chiapa and Goatemala, of Camayagua, Nicaragua and the like. Every Province of these hath a head named the Provincial, chosen by the chief of the Province every three years, which Election is called a Provincial Chapter, and the former a General Chapter, which also is allotted to be in some chief City, commonly in Italy, France, or Spain. When the Provincial Chapter is kept, then by the consent of all that meet in it is there one named by name of Procurator or Diffinitor, who is to go in the name of the whole Pro- vince to the next Election of the General, and thereto de- mand such things as his Province shall think fit, and to give an account of the state of the Province from whence he is sent. Thus from the West India's are sent Procurators, who commonly are the best Prizes the Holland Ships meet with, for that they carry with them great Wealth, and Gifts to the Generals, to the Popes and Cardinals and Nobles in Spain? as Bribes to facilitate whatsoever just or un just, right or wrong they are to demand. Among other businesses their charge is this, to make known the great want of Labo- rers in the abundant and plentiful harvest of the India's (though not all Provinces demand Preachers from Spain, as I will (hew hereafter) and to desire a number of thirty or forty young Priests, who may be fit for any Indian Language and to succeed the old standers.

The Order of the Province being read to the General or his General Chapter, then are Letters Patents granted unto this Procurator from the General, naming him his Vicar General for such a Province, and declaring his suffi- ciency and worthy parts, (though none at all in him, as I have been witness of some) the great pains he hath taken in the new planted Indian Church, and how fit he hath been judged to convey to those parts, a Mission of such as shall Voluntarily offer themselves for the Propagation of Christianity amongst those Barbarians. Then the Tauny Indian fryer being well set out with high Commendations, and fairly Painted wish flattering Elogies,- prefects these