111 [Ch.inh.] Valid in the kingdom of Sr. Don Carlos because there is no other in the treasury.

Transcription

1 38 Year of 1791 Expediente brought by Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy regarding blows that he received from the one who is mentioned therein. Judge The Governor of the Province of Texas Lieutenant Colonel Don Manuel Munoz. I Iv [Blank] [Ch. in h.] 1791 No [Ch.inh.] Valid in the kingdom of Sr. Don Carlos because there is no other in the treasury. t the 4 th, and as legal paper [de parte] [Rubric of Munoz] [I], Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, of this community and a descendant of the first settlers of this villa of S[a]n Fernando, capital of the province of Los Texas, with the deepest humility and as best befits the law, appear before Your Lordship and say: That after my father, Don Xpt6bal de los S[an]tos Coy, retired to the province of Coahuila with his entire family, I was assigned to Punta de Larnpazos to serve at that church as notary public, with a formal title that was issued in my favor by Sr. Don [??? ] Martinez, who was at that time visitador of the Holy Bishopric [Mitra] of Guadalaxara, in which occupation I remained for five years, more or less. And at [the church] of La Candela I had been previously pronotary for three years. Desiring to come back and visit my beloved home country, I used a permit that was granted to me by the senor priest, Don Pedro de Esparza, and having arrived at this villa, I found there as vicar priest and ecclesiastical justice Sr. B[achill]er Don Pedro Fuentes, who sought me out to hand over to me the sacristy of this parish church, offering me the stipend produced by the parish [campanas]and that I should teach school to the citizens' children who were sent there. In this employment I remained about twelve years, serving in the church with proper zeal, as is well known, as well as is [the fact] that as a result of it no complaint was ever voiced or made by the people of this community. When the aforesaid Sr. B[achill]er Don Pedro Fuentes was transferred, Senor Governor, to the parish of the town of Tlascala[?], he left to this I I Iv church in the hands of the Reverend Missionary P[adr]e Fr[ay] Josef Mariano Rojo, and to its president, Fr[ay] Josef Fran[cis]co Lopes, matters respecting dispensations

2 39 [bulas] and other responsibilities connected to this dependency. Under their orders, I continued with the duties of sacristan, having under my charge the holy cups and other furnishings for which the aforesaid president acknowledged receipt. And he again put me in charge of the distribution of the dispensations until the arrival of the current senor priest, B[achill]er Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, to whom I made delivery with the same legal formality and with the same inventory that I compiled at the departure of the aforesaid Sr. B[achill]er Don Pedro Fuentes, as the aforesaid legal formality is evident. And so is how faithfully I have served, as is shown by the accompanying certifications from the senor priest Fuentes and the reverend p[adre missionaries]. Once Your Lordship has seen these, you will please order them returned to me for the purposes that might serve my rights. After having made the aforesaid delivery to the current senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez, I asked him for the corresponding receipt, and he replied to me that he was satisfied and that it was not necessary to issue the aforesaid receipt; but feeling apprehensive, I humbly requested again that he give me a receipt, which he absolutely refused [to do]. A short time later, I was surprised by his calling me a thief and appointing Don Fran[cis]co de la Mata as sacristan. And since it was not true that a single item was missing from the church, the denigrating term was silenced[?], with no claim filed against me. Nevertheless, I sought to sue him for what I was rightly owed according to what was stipulated, and the aforesaid senor [priest] offered me in the presence of Juan Ant[oni]o Romero the eighth part of the parish taxes, in addition to which [he said] that he would clothe me and look upon me with much love and affection, explaining to me that he was making the assignment of the eighth part of the [church] taxes to me just as the reverend p[adre]s had assigned it to me. The result of this offer was insults and outrages, stemming perhaps from my refusal to agree to the responsibilities that he was entrusting to me, about which I have informed the senor governor of the bishopric [mitral. He pleased to instruct me to come to this villa without worry that the aforesaid / /2 senor priest would involve himself with me for anything other than paying me what he rightly owes me. None of this has taken place, and instead he has threatened me repeatedly, telling me he will have me rot sealed away in a room or buried in the corner. I always doubted, Senor Governor, that such statements from a senor priest could be true, until yesterday, the thirteenth of the current [month of] November, when the afore-mentioned senor priest had me summoned to his house. I went there immediately, trusting that it was to make the aforesaid payment to me, and when I arrived I found in the room with the aforesaid senor priest the alc[ald]e de seg[un]do voto of this villa, Don Pedro Flores, the manager [mayordomo] of the mission of S[a]n Antonio, Don Ramon Fuentes, the citizen Don Luis Mariano Menchaca, and the sacristan, Don Fran[cis]co de la Mata. I greeted them, and they all responded, with the exception of the senor priest, who faced me and asked, "What money have you handed over to me from the senor priest Fuentes?" to which I replied with the greatest humility, "I have turned over nothing. The one who delivered [it] to you was Don Josef Bustillo." And at this moment he began to strike me on the left cheek, which mark I pointed out to Your Lordship, and after receiving these blows, I turned my right cheek to him

3 40 so that he might vent his rage. Upon seeing this submission, he repeated his blows on me with both hands, shouting curses at me, until he laid his hands on a pole. Upon seeing this act, the afore-mentioned alcalde ordered me to leave, which I did, and the aforesaid senor priest came after me to the outside door. And since the confirmation of this outrage is important to my rights, Your Lordship will please cause to appear before your superior authority the aforesaid Don Pedro Flores, Don Ramon Fuentes, Don Luis Menchaca, and Don Fran[cis]co de la Mata, and after the formal oath that they take, let them declare whether the aforesaid senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, offended me in the manner described. In addition, Your Lordship will please order added to this, my document, the certification by Don Josef Antonio de Bustillo y Zevallos that proves my having delivered to him the money that / /2v the aforesaid senor priest denies-in the presence of the afore-mentioned [officials]-having received. And for proof of the offer of the eighth part of the aforesaid parish taxes, Your Lordship will also please to summon before you Juan Ant[oni]o Romero, so that under the same oath he might declare what he knows he heard the aforesaid senor priest say, and when everything is concluded, to order that I be given the original proceedings or, if that is not possible, an authentic copy of them, in order to pursue the claim that serves me. Therefore I ask and beseech Your Lordship to please to order done as I have requested, because what I petition is just. I swear in due form not to act in malice, and on the necessary [oaths], etc. Ygn[aci]o de los Santos Coy [D. S., 1-2v pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] [Ch. in h.] Auto of In the villa of S[a]n Fernando and presidio of S[a]n Anttonio de admission Bexar, on the fourteenth day of the month of November of this current year of seventeen hundred ninety-one, before me, Don Manuel Munoz, lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the royal armies of His Majesty, political and military governor of this province of Los Texas, subdelegate for the two offices [causas] of treasury and war, who act in receivership with attesting witnesses in the absence of any notary, there being none as prescribed by law, the preceding document was presented by Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy. When I had seen it, I found it to be presented and admitted and in its consequence I said: That in order to receive the depositions for which this party asks, so as to clari- / /3 fy and prove the truth about the blows that he claims were given to him by the senor priest of this villa, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, in the house of his residence on the thirteenth of the current [month], Don Pedro Flores, alcalde ordinario de segundo voto of this villa, Don Ramon Fuentes, manager of the mission of S[a]n Antt[oni]o Valero, Don Luis Mariano Menchaca, of this community and a merchant there, and the sacristan Don

4 41 Fran[cis]co de la Mata be called before this government. And when they are in my presence and that of the witnesses, let us receive the oath that they take in formal compliance with the law upon Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, and by virtue of that, let them be questioned about the points that are contained in the aforesaid document. And [when they have] ratified their depositions, let us proceed to make the corresponding [interrogation] of Don Juan Ant[oni]o Romero. When these proceedings are concluded, let an official copy be made, which will be given to the part of Don Ygnacio Santos Coy, as he requests, for the purposes that might serve him, and the certifications with which he accompanies his aforesaid document will be returned. By this auto, 1, the aforesaid governor, determined, ordered, and signed this with the attesting witnesses as is stated [above]. This I swear. Amendment==fourteen==for the purposes==v[aile. [In margin: "F"] Man[ue]l Munoz [D. S., 2v-3 pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Deposition of the al- 1 In the aforesaid / /3v villa, on the sixteenth day of calde, Don Pedro FloresJ the month of November of this current year of seventeen hundred ninety-one, I the afore-mentioned governor of this province of Los Texas, who act in receivership with attesting witnesses in the absence of any notary, said: That in order to collect the information called for in the auto issued on the fourteenth day of the aforementioned [month of] November, Don Pedro Flores, current alcalde ordinario de segundo voto of this villa, appeared at this government [office]. And when he was in my presence and that of the witnesses, I received his formal oath which he made on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which charge he promised to tell the truth about what he might know and were asked. And when he was read the contents of the aforesaid document and the auto issued by me, he was asked about what happened in the incident involving the senor priest of this villa, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, and Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy on the thirteenth of the current [month], explaining in clear and intelligent language whatever he may have witnessed, observed, and heard, so as to arrive at an understanding of the truth of the event, he replied: That while he was in his house of residence on the thirteenth of the current [month of] November, a boy of about twelve or thirteen years of age, the son of the citizen Juan Ramon, arrived and told him, "the senor priest says for you to arrest Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy because after the aforesaid senor priest sent for him, he has not come." That in view of this message, and [the fact] that he saw no basis for such an arrest, the deponent decided to go to the house of the aforesaid senor priest in order to learn from him directly what he was asking for, and when he arrived he found that with the afore-cited senor priest were Don Ramon Fuentes, Don Luis

5 42 Mariano Menchaca, and the sacristan, Don Fran[cis]co de la Mata. And after he greeted him, / /4 the senor priest said these words to him: "I sent word to you to arrest Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy for having called me a liar." That at this moment the aforesaid Don Ygnacio appeared, and then the aforesaid senor priest said these words to him: "Why have you said that you gave me twelve pesos on behalf of P[adr]e Fuentes?" to which the aforesaid Don Ygnacio replied, "I did not deliver them to you, but to Don Josse Bustillos." And that when he had finished malcing this reply, the aforesaid senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, stepped forward and began to strike him on the left cheek, to which act the afore-mentioned Don Ygnacio just said, "May it be God's will." And the aforesaid senor priest continued to strike him until he pushed him behind a bench, shouting the words that he was a skinflint [tinoso] and others that [Flores] could not understand because of the anger and rapidity of the aforesaid senor priest. That then the aforesaid senor priest grabbed a pole with which to beat the aforesaid Don Ygnacio, and that in view of this excess, the deponent ordered Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy to leave, which he did. And he remained throughout this episode in the greatest humility, nor did he repeat any other words while he was receiving the blows than to say, "May it be God's will," as he has stated. That in view of this fact, and of [the fact] that the deponent had brought to the attention of the aforesaid senor priest the list of the debts owed by soldiers and citizens, with another [list] that had been given to him by Don Josse Bustillos, so that [Padre Gomez] might see that it was paid, and the aforesaid senor priest replied to the deponent that it was fine-from which he understood that the aforesaid senor priest was convinced, and that there was no justice in the complaint that / /4v he was making against the aforesaid Don Ygnacio de los Santos, nor did he have any reason to order him arrested-he [Flores] went therefore to learn from Don Josse Bustillos about the delivery of the aforesaid business [i.e., debts] to the aforesaid senor priest, and the afore-cited Bustillos told him that the aforesaid senor priest had been given the money through a note [esquela] that he had written to him, and [that] Lieutenant Don Fran[cis]co Amangual had delivered everything that was owed to the aforesaid senor priest and to his predecessor, Don Pedro Fuentes, which [Flores] heard the aforesaid Amangual to say. That this is as much as he can state in truth under the oath that he has made, and under the same [oath] he states that he knows of no complaints made against the aforesaid Don Ygn[aci]o de los Santos during the entire time that he was sacristan of this church, and rather, he saw the great estimation that the priest Fuentes held for him. He affirmed and ratified [the above] when this, his deposition, was read to him. He said that he is more than forty years old and signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses. This I swear. [In margin: "F"] Man[ue]l Munoz Pedro Flores

6 43 [D. S., 3-4v pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Deposition of Don 1 Luis Mariano MenchacaJ Immediately thereafter, and on the aforesaid day, month, and year, 1, the aforesaid governor, who act / /5 in receivership with attesting witnesses in the absence of any notary, said: That consequent to what is called for in an auto of the fourteenth of the current [month] and in order to continue with [gathering] this information, Don Luis Mariano Menchaca, a merchant of this community, should be summoned. And when he was in my presence and that of the witnesses, I received his oath, which he made on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which charge he promised to tell the truth about what he might know and were asked. And when he had been read the document filed by Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, of this community, and the auto issued following it, he was asked whether on the thirteenth of the current [month] he was with the senor parish priest of this villa, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, which other individuals were present, and what took place between the aforesaid senor priest and Don Ygnacio de los Santos, explaining in clear and intelligent language what he saw and heard. He replied: That on the thirteenth of the current [month of] November he went to the house of residence of the senor priest because he had been asked in a letter of the fourth of October of this current year by Sr. Bachiller Don Pedro Fuentes to go to the present senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, with the list of debtors [dependencias] that he enclosed [and] of the sums that had been received by the aforesaid senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, and he found that with [Gomez] were Don Ramon Fuentes and Don Fran[cis]co Mata. And after the greeting and giving / /5v him a seat, they continued on with a [ledger?] book and other papers they had in hand. That seeing this activity, the deponent said these words: "Senor Priest, you are busy. The business that I have brought is to show you this list and what Sr. B[achille]r Don Pedro Fuentes has written to me." And when he had handed him the list of the individuals who had paid-while the aforesaid Sr. Fuentes was calling for me to be given the sums that appeared therein and had been received-[padre Gomez] stood up with the list in his hand, shouting to the boy, "Call that devil, that demon, that cursed one, that skinflint Ygnacio Santos." In the meantime he called for Alcalde Don Pedro Flores to come, and when the latter had come, the senor priest spoke to him, denying that he had received anything at all of what was contained in the list of debtors of the priest Sr. Fuentes, to which the alcalde replied, "Senor Priest, you gave me the list so that I might execute it upon the ones owing debts to the priest, Sr. Fuentes, and you made an agreement [composici6n] because of having received a vale for six pesos on what was owed by Bruno Menchaca, twenty r[eale]s that I delivered to you by my own hand from Matheo Rodriguez, and with regard to what was owed by Jacinto Ramon, it was already paid since it was [brought by?] his servant. To this, the senor priest Gomez replied, "That's true," and he continued on saying, "Don Ygnacio Calvillo has delivered a cow to me, and I do not know what [value] he will ask me for it, but whatever it might be, he was also obliged to pay." At this moment, and without a thought for his confession, he faced Don Ygnacio de los Santos, who had just arrived, and said these words to him with / /6 the list in hand: "Since when have you delivered to me the money that is in this list, that you say I have received?" to which the aforesaid Ygnacio de los Santos replied, "I did not deliver it to you, and the one I gave it to is Don Josse

7 44 Bustillos." And the senor priest repeated, "That is false. You are lying," and the aforesaid Santos, with great humility and submission, repeated these words: "Yes, Senor Priest, you have received the money." With this utterance, the aforesaid senor priest began to administer blows to Ygnacio de los Santos, which he even dealt with both hands, and it seemed to [the deponent] that there were more than eighteen blows suffered by the aforesaid Don Ygnacio in total humility, until he was cornered behind a bench, without saying another word other than, "May it be God's will," which he repeated several times, until the senor priest said, "For these [people] there is nothing like a truncheon," and he went to a corner of the room and grabbed a pole. At this moment the aforesaid alcalde and one who is responding said to Don Ygnacio de los Santos that he should leave, which he did, and the aforesaid senor priest followed with the pole to the door. He came back venting his anger at everyone, saying that the title of the senor commandant general had been concealed from him by the present senor governor, and that therefore word had come from the captain at La Bahia that P[adr}e Fr[ay} Josse Manuel Pedraxo had come to see him so that they might talk and become friends. "But what do I have to do with the missionaries; let them go with God, I do not wish to visit them." [He said] that everything Bustillos is saying is false and usurious, and therefore he wanted his duties to be / /6v delivered to him in advance, and he did not wish to carry an account with anyone; that everyone is a bunch of liars and tricksters, and therefore he has asked permission three times with the intention of going to Mexico City to remove this governor from here, [and that] he has everyone tied up with papers that he has here. That in addition to all these fleeting comments, he would speak with vituperation about the citizemy on those occasions when he would dispatch the afore-mentioned alcalde to clarify with Bustillos those entries. And on the two occasions that the aforesaid alcalde went, according to what [the deponent knows]' he came back and told the senor priest that by a note the aforesaid senor priest had sent to Bustillos, he was paid two hundred twenty pesos, one real in money that was delivered to him by Lieutenant Don Fran[cis]co Amangual. That with all the above having taken place, the aforesaid senor priest told the deponent these words: "Well, it happens that this that I said I have received, and whatever else might come to mind, I am obliged to satisfy." That in view of this example [of behavior]' which he saw and experienced, [the deponent] sought to excuse himself and withdraw in the hope of not saying anything whatsoever regarding the assignment that he had been given by Sr. B[achille}r Don Pedro / /7 Fuentes, in order not to expose his reputation and person to an incident such as he had just seen against Don Ygnacio de los Santos, without regard to the respect of those who were present. That the ardor of the aforesaid senor priest was so great that he crumpled the list and tore it on one side, as he proved by showing the list itself. That this is what he knows and can declare under the oath that he has made, and which he affirmed and ratified when this, his deposition, was read to him. He said that he is more or less forty years old, that he is not subject to the general [impediments to testimony], nor motivated in any respect other than to tell the truth. And he signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and attesting witnesses, with whom I act as has been stated. This I swear==amendment==proffered==v[al}e. [In margin: "F"]

8 45 Man[ue]l Munoz Luis Mariano Menchaca Attesting[witness] [D. S., 4v-7 pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Deposition of Don1 Ramon Fuentes J In the aforesaid villa, on the aforesaid day, month, and year, 1, the aforesaid governor, who act in receivership with attesting witnesses, by virtue of what That in is called for in an auto of the fourteenth of the current [month], said: order to continue [compiling] the information called for, Don Ramon Fuentes should be summoned to my pre- / /7v sence, from whom, when he was in [my presence] and that of the witnesses, I received his oath, which he made on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which charge he promised to tell the truth about what he might know and were asked. And when he had been read the document presented by Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, and the auto provided following it, he was asked whether on the thirteenth of the current [month of] November he was in the house of residence of the present senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, which other citizens were present, stating their names, and what happened at that time between the aforesaid senor priest and the afore-mentioned Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, stating in clear and intelligent language everything that had gone on in order to arrive at an understanding of the truth about the event. He replied: That on the thirteenth of the current [month], when he was at the house of residence of the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, for the purpose of discussing the fiestas of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Don Luis Mariano Menchaca, a merchant and citizen of this villa, arrived, and after greeting him the aforesaid senor priest gave him a seat. And Don Luis, seeing that [Gomez] had a book and other papers, stood up and said to him, "Senor Priest, you are busy, and what I came for was to show you this list and letter from Sr. B[achille}r Don Pedro Fuentes." At that moment the aforesaid senor priest told him to sit down, and talcing in his hand the aforesaid list and reviewing it, he said, "Very well, none of this has been delivered to me by Don Ygnacio de los Santos." He ordered the latter summoned and at the same time he sent for Alcalde Don Pedro / /8 Flores. And when the latter arrived, the aforesaid senor priest said, "I have sent for you so that you might have this sacristan Don Ygn[aci]o Santos rot in jail for me." A short time later, the aforesaid Don Ygn[aci]o de los Santos appeared and with hat in hand greeted us all That then the priest, Sr. Moreno, said these words: "Here you will tell me the truth, or we will break skulls," to which the aforesaid Don Ygnacio replied most humbly, "Do whatever you wish." Then the aforesaid senor priest said, "What money have you delivered to me from the senor priest Fuentes?" to which the afore-mentioned Don Ygnacio de los Santos replied, "I have delivered nothing to you, but Don Josse Bustillos did." The senor priest replied, "Bustillos

9 46 delivered [the money] to me?" and Don Ygnacio answered, "Yes, Senor Priest, Bustillos delivered [the money] to you." And at this moment the aforesaid senor priest exploded, striking him with both hands, hitting him so many times the aforesaid senor priest injured the thumb on his right hand. Then he went to grab a pole and pursued as far as the street entrance the aforesaid Don Ygnacio, who, warned by Alcalde Don Pedro Flores, had withdrawn. That while these blows were being dealt, the aforesaid senor alcalde told him, "Calm yourself, senor priest, for the love of God," but neither for this commendable suggestion nor because of the presence of the others did the aforesaid senor priest cease to administer blows on the aforesaid Don Ygnacio de los Santos, who uttered no other words than to say, "May it be through God's love." That after having vented his rage, the aforesaid senor priest was to admit to the the aforesaid senor alcalde that he had received a note [vale] for six pesos from Bruno Menchaca, and twenty r[eale]s from Matheo Rodriguez, and taken responsibility for the debt / / 8v of his servant, Jacinto Ramon, which he would pay along with everything else that might be agreed upon. That when [Padre Gomez] ordered the aforesaid Don Ygnacio summoned, he told [the deponent?], "Go, see, and call that devil, that demon, that skinflint, that sacristan Ygnacio Santos." That after he returned from the front door where he had pursued Don Ygnacio de los Santos, the aforesaid senor priest uttered many words against everyone, and according to what [the deponent] recalls, they were that he wished he were in Mexico [City] in order to remove the governor, who had hidden [from him] the title of the senor commandant general, and therefore it had come to by way of the captain of the presidio of La Bahia that Padre Pedraxo had gone to make complaints and that now he was sorry for having done so, that this aforesaid padre had come to see him so that they might make peace [etc.] And he went on about this matter, it being about ten in the evening. That the aforesaid senor priest replied that he would go [meet Pedrajo] but that he did not do so and sent word that he was ill, because what business did he have with the missionaries? [Gomez said] that Bustillos was a liar and usurper [i.e., usurer?], that he did not wish to carry any account, nor give credit for his revenues, and that they were all a bunch of tricksters and liars. That he tore the list that Don Luis Menchaca had given him / / 9 on one side, as can be seen from it. That the aforesaid senor priest probably said many other things because he was in such a rage and because it is part of his nature to fire off many salty words [brabatas], but that he does not remember them. That those who were present at everything he has declared were the afore-cited Don Pedro Flores, Don Luis Mariano Menchaca, the sacristan Don Fran[cis]co Mata, and the deponent. That this is the truth of what he knows and can declare under the oath that he has made. He affirmed and ratified it when this, his deposition, was read to him, to which he adds that the aforesaid senor priest, when he said, "What business do I have with the missionaries?" (added) "Let them come to my house if they wish to make peace." He said he is over thirty years of age, and signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses. This I swear. Amendment==in it==for the purpose==v[al]e. [In margin: "F."] Man[ue]l Munoz Ramon Fuentes

10 47 [D. S., 7-9 pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Deposition of Don 1 Fran[cis]co de la MataJ In the villa of S[a]n Fernando and presidio of S[a]n Anttonio de Bexar, on the seventeenth day of the month of November of this current year of seventeen hundred ninety-one, 1, Don Ma- / /9v nuel Munoz, lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the royal armies of His Majesty, political and military governor of this province of Los Texas, and subdelegate for the royal treasury, who act in receivership with attesting witnesses in the absence of any notary, there being none as prescribed by law, by virtue of what is called for in an auto of the fourteenth of the current [monthl consequent to the document presented by Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, of this community, said: That by virtue of the consent of the senor parish priest of this villa, B[achille]r Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, as expressed in an official letter of this day, Don Fran[cis]co de la Mata, who performs the duties of sacristan of this church, appeared in this government [court]. When he was in my presence and that of the witnesses, I received the oath which he made on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which charge he promised to tell the truth about what he might know about what he were asked. And when he was [asked] about the appointment that the afore-mentioned Coy discusses in his afore-cited document, he was asked if on the thirteenth of the current [month] he was at the home of the senor priest, B[achille]r Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, with the alcalde de segundo voto of this villa, Don Pedro Flores, Don Ramon Fuentes, and Don Luis Mariano Menchaca being present, at the time when the aforesaid senor priest sent for the aforementioned Ygnacio de los Santos Coy. He replied: That he was at the home of the aforesaid senor priest, and with the individuals stated in the question, when the aforesaid senor priest sent for the aforesaid Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, who came to the presence of the aforesaid senor priest. Asked whether he saw the aforesaid senor priest strike blows on the afore-mentioned Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, and which individuals were / /10 present, he replied: That it is true that the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, gave three shoves to Don Ygn[aci]o de los Santos Coy, and he did not see [Gomez] strike him, but that present at that moment were Alacalde Don Pedro Flores, Don Ramon Fuentes, and Don Luis Menchaca. Asked whether he saw the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, grab a pole and come out with it to the front door in order to strike Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy with it, and whether the latter withdrew at the urging of the aforesaid alcalde, he replied: That what he saw and heard the senor priest say to Don Ygnacio de los Santos was the following: "Get out of here, you rogue, before you get your fill of clubbing," and that the aforesaid Don Ygnacio said, "Give it to me, Senor Priest. Give it to me, Senor Priest," and that he repeated these words on both occasions. And at this moment the alcalde and the others present told him, "Leave now, go," and after he had withdrawn the senor priest told the afore-cited Flores, Fuentes, and

11 48 Menchaca, "Gentlemen, you will pardon me, but this man is a rogue who has defamed the governor of this bishopric and myself, stealing from the church." Asked if he knows for what cause or reason the senor priest gave Don Ygnacio de los Santos the shoves that he has declared, he replied: That [it was] for having said publicly after the publication of the edict or title of vicar and ecclesiastical justice that the senor governor of the bishopric sent to the aforesaid senor priest, that it was assumed to be for the aforesaid senor priest, and if not, it was [due to] rash acts [viarazas] of the senor governor of the bishopric; for having informed B[achille}r Don Pedro Fuentes that he had / /lov received a sum of money from the perquisites of office [obenciones] that [some individuals] still owed to the aforesaid priest Fuentes; and [for] having informed the latter that he had delivered the sum to the current senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, as the aforesaid senor priest had been made aware by Don Luis Menchaca with a list that he produced, saying that he had a letter in which he was told this. For this reason [Gomez] sent for the aforesaid Ygnacio de los Santos and reproached him with these words: "Tell me, sir, what money have you turned over to me from the perquisites of office pertaining to the senor priest Fuentes, whom you went to inform?" To this the afore-mentioned Don Ygnacio de los Santos replied, "Sir, what I told the senor priest Fuentes was that Don Josse Ant[oni]o Bustillos had turned the money over to you," and that he made this reply in great agitation. And then the aforesaid senor priest Gomez said, "Gentlemen, now you see this rogue," and he began giving him the shoves that [the deponent] has mentioned. Asked whether he heard Alcalde Don Pedro Flores tell the senor priest that of the debts corresponding to the senor priest Fuentes, Bruno Menchaca had turned over a promissory note [vale] for six pesos, [and] twenty r[eale}s that / /11 Flores himself had delivered from Matheo Rodrig[ue]z, and whether the aforesaid senor priest replied that Don Ygnacio Calvillo had turned over a cow to him, and that he did not know how much to credit him for it, but that whatever it was, he was obligated to pay, [Mata] replied: That what the question contains is true, and that the senor priest added that Calvillo still owed him for one or two baptisms. Asked whether he heard the senor priest say, when he sent for Don Ygnacio de los Santos, "Go, call that rogue, that cursed devil, that demon," he responded that what he heard him say was, "Go and summon here that sacristan, devil, liar, or whatever he is." Asked whether he saw that in view of the shoves and other motives that preceded [them] Don Ygnacio de los Santos failed to show due respect, and what words he spoke to the latter, he replied: That he did not see the aforesaid Don Ygn[aci]o show disrespect to the senor priest, rather that he said, "Give it to me, sir," and that when he withdrew he said that they would meet again. Asked whether he personally heard Don Ygnacio de los Santos discuss the arguments that he has declared regarding the / / 11v title of vicar, he responded: That he has not personally heard the aforesaid Don Ygnacio de los Santos object to anything regarding the title of vicar and ecclesiastical justice issued in favor of the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, nor heard anything at all with regard to the senor governor of the bishopric. Asked whether he knows the origin of Don Ygnacio de los Santos being called a thief, and whether he believes it, and for what reason, he replied: That the deponent does not know nor does he say that Don Ygnacio de los Santos is a thief, but that others do. Asked which individuals are saying that Don Ygnacio de los Santos is a thief, he replied: That he is aware that the one who

12 49 informed the senor priest about this accusation [sindicato] was Don Fran[cis]co Travieso, who told him that he was selling the candlewax from the [church] establishment [fdbrica] for burials, and that he was one of those who had bought it from him, which is proven by his not wishing to hand over until now the inventory of the church's adornments, nor having turned over any more candles than were being used on the altar. Asked whether after Don Ygnacio de los Santos withdrew from the house of the senor priest, the latter said that the senor governor had concealed the title of the senor commandant general, and for this reason it had come to him by way of the captain of La Bahia, and that P[adr}e Fr[ay} Jose Pedraxo / /12 had gone to see the senor governor of the bishopric and now he was sorry, [Mata] replied: That he knows nothing of what is contained in the question, because he left right after the departure of the aforesaid Don Ygnacio, and that this is all he has to declare in truth under the oath that he has made. And he affirmed and ratified it when he himself read over this, his deposition. He said he is thirty-four years of age, that he is not covered by the general [exemptions] of the law, and signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses, with whom I act as has been stated. This I swear. [In margin: "F."] Man[ue]l Munoz Jose Fran[cis]co de la Mata [D. S., 9-12 pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Deposition of Don1 Juan Romero J In the aforesaid villa, on the aforesaid day, month, and year, 1, the aforesaid governor, who act with attesting witnesses, said that in order to carry out the demand that Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy makes in his document, Don Juan Antt[oni]o Romero should be summoned to this government [court]. And when he was in my presence and that of the witnesses, I received his oath, which he made on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which he promised to tell the truth about what he might know and were asked. And consequent to it he was asked if he knows Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, and what occupation he has exercised in this villa. He replied: That he has known Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy since he was a boy, both in this villa and in Candela, and that [Santos] was a sacristan at this church during the time that B[achille}r Don Pedro Fuentes was its priest / /12v and continued [as sacristan] with the current senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, until he placed Don Fran[cis]co Mata [in that position]. Asked whether he knows or has heard that Don Ygnacio de los Santos, during his tenure as sacristan, has fulfilled [his duties faithfully, or whether some adornment has gone missing from the church, or there have been complaints against him from any citizen or citizens of this villa, he replied: That he knows that Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy has faithfully carried out the duties of sacristan, without any of the adornments that

13 50 he oversaw in the church being missing, nor has any person made a complaint against him. Asked if, [when] the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, was living at his house, he heard the latter offer Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy the eighth part of the parish revenues, and to clothe him and look upon him with much love and affection, he replied: That when the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, was living at his house, he heard this senor priest offer Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy the eighth part of the parish revenues and [say] that he would clothe him and look upon him with love; that the latter began by praising the work of the aforesaid Don Ygnacio; and that the deponent with his wife, D[on]a Theresa Zevallos, pointed out at that time how well he had fulfilled [his duties] with the senor / /13 priest, B[achille]r Don Pedro Fuentes. Asked whether on the particulars of the question he had anything to add or delete, he replied: That he has already declared everything that he knows about the preceding question, that this as much as he knows and can declare in truth under the oath that he has made. And he affirmed and ratified it when this, his deposition, was read to him, and [said] that he is not covered by the general [exemptions of the law]. He said he is forty-six years of age, more or less, and signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses, with whom I act as has been stated. This I swear. [In margin: "F."] Man[ue]l Munoz Ju[a]n Antoni[0] Romero [D. S., pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Auto for the 1 ratifications J In the villa of S[a]n Fern[an]do and presidio of S[a]n Antt[oni]o de Bexar, on the eighteenth day of the month of November of this current year of seventeen hundred ninety-one, 1, Don Manuel Munoz, lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the royal armies of His Majesty, political and military governor of this province of Los Texas, and subdelegate for the royal treasury, who act in receivership with attesting witnesses, said: That since we have concluded the depositions of the / /13v individuals who are cited in his document by Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy, we should proceed to their ratifications, and for this purpose they should be summoned. And [when they are] concluded, let there be added to these proceedings the certification of the rexidor de cano, Don Josse Antt[oni]o Bustillos, as the aforesaid Coy requests. By this auto I so provided, commanded, and signed, as has been stated. This I swear. [In margin: "F."] Man[ue]l Munoz

14 51 [D. S., 13-13v pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Ratification by Don1 Pedro Flores J In the aforesaid villa, on the aforesaid day, month, and year, 1, the afore-mentioned governor, who act with attesting witnesses, ordered Don Pedro Flores to appear. And when he was in my presence and that of the witnesses, I received his oath which he made on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which charge he promised to tell the truth regarding what he might know and were asked. And when he was [asked] about the ratification called for in the preceding auto, he was read the deposition that he gave on the sixteenth of the current month, which runs from foxas three to four and its verso. And consequently he was asked if it were the same and if he ratified it, or whether he had anything to delete or add to what he had declared. He replied: That the deposition that had just been read to him was the same as he gave on the sixteenth of the current month; that it is written and set down the same way he stated and [which] occurred on the thirteenth at the house of the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, in the presence of the individuals that he mentioned in his narrative, which is true. And he ratified it once and as many more times as might be necessary / /14 and [said] that he has nothing at all to delete, but to add that when Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy was behind the bench, and the aforesaid Don Ygnacio's hat had fallen, the aforesaid senor priest said, "for this one, a club," at which point the deponent said, "That's enough, Sr. Priest, that's enough, Sr. Priest," which he repeated two or three times; that in fact, the aforesaid senor priest grabbed the pole, but did not hit Don Ygnacio with it because the deponent and Don Luis Menchaca had told him to leave; that for all [this] the individuals that he mentioned in his deposition-along with the sacristan Mata-were present, and neither he nor the others can deny the blows given to Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy by the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno; and that this is the truth under the oath that he has made. He affirmed and ratified it when this, his deposition, was read to him. He said he is more than forty years old and signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses. This I swear. [In margin: "F."] Munoz Pedro Flores [D. S., 13v-14 pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791]

15 52 Ratification by Don1 Immediately thereafter 1, the aforesaid governor, who Luis Menchaca J act in receivership with attesting witnesses in the absence of any notary, by virtue of what is called for in an auto dated the eighteenth of the current [month], said that Don Luis Mariano Menchaca should be summoned to ratify his deposition. When he was in my presence and that of the witnesses, I received his oath, which he made on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which charge he promised to tell the truth regarding what he might know and were asked. And when he was read / /14v the deposition that he gave on the sixteenth of the current [month], that runs from foxas four verso to seven in this investigation, he was asked whether it were the same, and whether he had anything to delete or add to it. He replied: That the deposition that was just read to him was the same that he gave on the aforesaid day, which is in agreement with the same thing that happened on the thirteenth of the current [month] in the house of the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno; that because it is true he ratified it again, without having anything at all to delete or add; and that this is the truth under the oath that he made. He affirmed and ratified it when this, his deposition, was read to him. He said he is more or less forty years old, and signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses, with whom I act as has been stated. This I swear. [In margin: "M."] Munoz Luis Mariano Menchaca [D. S., 14-14v pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Ratification by Don1 Ramon Fuentes J Immediately thereafter Don Ramon Fuentes was summoned, and when he was in my presence and that of the witnesses, following the oath which was received from him in due form and according to law, he was read the depo- / /15 sition that he gave on the sixteenth of the current [month] from beginning to end, which runs from foxas seven to nine in these proceedings. And consequently he was asked whether it were the same, if he ratified it, and whether he had anything at all to delete or add to what he had declared. He replied: That the deposition that was just read to him was the same as the one he gave on the afore-cited day, and that because everything that is stated in it is true, he ratified it again and as many times as might be necessary; that he had nothing at all to delete or add to what he confessed and [which] was done on the thirteenth of the current [month] by the senor priest, Don Fran[cis]co Gomez Moreno, to Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy in his own house, with the same individuals that he has cited being present, along with the sacristan Don Fran[cis]co de la Mata, on

16 53 the occasion when the aforesaid senor priest gave the blows to the aforementioned Don Ygnacio; and that this is the truth under the oath that he made. He affirmed and ratified it when this, his deposition, was read to him. He said he is more than thirty years old and signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses, with whom I act as has been stated. This I swear==testate==[_]teen==v[al]e. [In margin: "M."] Munoz Ramon Fuentes [D. S., 14-14v pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Ratification by Don 1 Fran[cis]co de la MataJ In the villa of S[a]n Fern[an]do and presidio of S[a]n Antt[oni]o de Bexar, on the / /15v nineteenth day of the month of November of this current year of seventeen hundred ninety-one, I, the aforesaid governor, who act in receivership with attesting witnesses as has been stated, said: That in order to ratify his deposition, Don Fran[cis]co de la Mata, who performs the duties of sacristan of this church, should be summoned to my presence. And when he was there with the witnesses, I received his oath, which he made in due form on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which [oath] he promised to tell the truth about everything he might know and were asked. Consequently, he was read the deposition that he gave on the seventeenth of the current [month], which runs from foxas nine to twelve in these proceedings, and he was asked whether it was the same, [and] whether he ratified it, or if he had anything at all to delete or add to his deposition that either through natural omission or personal respects he might have forgotten, since it was now the opportune time. Understanding [this] he replied: That the deposition that he just read himself is the one that he gave on the aforementioned day; that since everything that is written and set down in it is the truth, he ratified it once, twice, and as many times as necessary; that he has nothing at all to delete or add to what he declared; and that this is the truth under the oath that he made. He affirmed and ratified it when this, his deposition, was read to him. He said he is more or less thirty-four years old, and signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses, with whom I act as has been stated. This I swear. [In margin: "M."] Munoz Jose Fran[cis]co de la Mata

17 54 [D. S., 15-15v pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] Ratification by Don1 Juan Romero J Immediately thereafter 1, the afore-mentioned governor, who act in receivership / /16 with attesting witnesses, as has been stated, said: That in order for Don Juan Romero to ratify his deposition, he should be summoned to my presence. And when he was there with the attesting witnesses, I received his oath, which he made on Our Lord God and the sign of the Holy Cross, under which charge he promised to tell the truth about everything he might know and were asked. And when he had been read the deposition he made on the seventeenth of the current [month of] November, that runs fromfoxas twelve to thirteen in these proceedings, he was asked whether it was the same one and [told] that if he had anything to delete or add he should do so because it was the opportune time. He replied: That the deposition that was just read to him is the same one he gave on the seventeenth of the afore-cited [month of] November; that everything that appears in it is certain and true; that therefore he ratifies it again once, twice, and as many times as might be necessary; that he has nothing at all to delete or add to what he stated and is set down in it; and that this is the truth under the oath that he made. And he affirmed and ratified it when the present [deposition] was read to him. He said he is more or less forty-six years old, and he signed this with me, the aforesaid governor, and the attesting witnesses, with whom I act as has been stated. This I swear. [In margin: "M."] Munoz Ju[a]n Antonio Romero [D. S., 15v-16 pp., in E. 11/14/ /19/1791] In the aforesaid villa and on the aforesaid day, month, and year, I, the aforementioned governor, said: That since these proceedings are now concluded, let the certification of Don Josse Anttonio Bustillos y Zevallos be added to them, as requested by Don Ygnacio de los Santos Coy in his petition, which runs at the beginning of them, and let them be filed so as to avoid their misplacement. And let the /16v corresponding copy be made of them to give to the aforesaid Coy for the purposes that might serve his rights. Thus did I determine, order, and sign with my attesting witnesses, as has been stated. This I swear. Man[ue]l Munoz