Chapter 8. Translations


Section 1, Paragraph 5:

además haya la precaución de que ninguna ventana se levante, de donde se mire fuera de los límites del monasterio

["the precaution should also be taken that no window is installed from which one might see outside the limits of the monastery."]



Section 1, Paragraph 10:

vio este testigo que no tenian la clausura que hera rrazon tener y aun de presente no tienen casa bastante para la tener porque a visto este testigo que tienen en una pared de obra de cient pies de largo seys bentanas que con facilidad podran quitar las rrejas de madera que en ellas tienen por ser como es la pared de adobes y arruniada y vieja, y a visto este testigo que tienen el locutorio dentro en la dicha cassa en un patio de ella y el dicho monasterio tiene tres puertas a la calle.

[this witness saw that [the nuns] did not have the clausura that was appropriate, and even now they do not have a sufficient house to have [cloistering], because this witness has seen that they have six windows in a hundred-foot masonry wall, from which they could easily remove the wooden grilles, [the wall] being as it is made out of adobe bricks, and old and ruined, and this witness has seen that they have the room where they meet visitors inside in the said house in one of its patios, and the said monastery has three doors on the street.]



Section 2, Paragraph 9:

para se meter monga conmigo en el monesterio de la conçebçion

["in order to become a nun with me in the monastery of La Concepción."]

 

por ser como es muger enferma... no podria sufrir el travajo de la rreligion

["being as she is an ill woman, she could not endure the labor of religion."]



Section 2, Paragraph 10:

[las] profesiones parece fueron hechas sin el entero o entriega de alguna dote, o si la trajeron fueron gastadas en su substento, o consumidas con las inundaciones de Mexico

["professions appear to have occurred without the whole or any dowry, or if [the nuns] brought them they were spent in their sustenance, or consumed in the floods of Mexico."]



Section 2, Paragraph 10:

capellanías, partidos de vicario, confesores, mayordomo y oficiales de la casa

["chantries and support for the vicar, confessors, majordomo, and [other] officials of the house"]

 

pasan mucha necesidad e pobreza por aver les faltado gran parte de sus rentas y censos que se les an perdido e aruynado

["are enduring much need and poverty because of losing much of their rents and income which have been lost and ruined."]

 

muchos dotes de las con que entrava antiguamente por ser la tierra nueva se an perdido las posesiones sobre... y ansi a ydo en diminuycion la dicha rrenta

["because the land was new, possession has been lost of many dowries of those who entered formerly... and thus the convent's income has continued to decline."]

 

con lo qual... no se pueden sustentar las dichas monjas de solo comer

["with which ... the nuns cannot even be fed."]

 



Section 2, Paragraph 11:

para el pagar los capellanes vicarios y confesores que es fuerça tener

["to pay the chaplains, vicars, and confessors that it is forced to have."]



Section 2, Paragraph 16:

el mas principal e mayor e mas antiguo tiene la peor casa y vivienda y mas enferma e mas chica yglesia muy pequeña

["the most principal and greatest and oldest has the worst house and dwelling and the smallest little church."]



Section 2, Paragraph 20:

en las limosnas y cosas que con el tengo tratado y comunicado

["on the alms and things that I have discussed and communicated with him."]

 

que tenga mas posible y caudal para llevar adelante el ser y onrra que tiene

["that he might have more possibility and means to carry forward the being and honor that he possesses."]



Section 2, Paragraph 21:

munchos honbres que tienen hijas monjas en el dicho monesterio se an quexado a este to diziendo que si ellos no diesen a las dichas sus hijas de bestir tocar y calçar andarian desnudas y rrotas

["many men who have daughters who are nuns in the said monastery had complained to this witness, saying that if they would not give their daughters clothing, headewear, and food, they would be naked and ragged"]



Section 2, Paragraph 22:

muchas vezes vienen a este testigo como a su vezino a le rrogar que les preste dineros para comer

["many times this witness has been approached as a neighbor to loan [the nuns] money to eat."]



Section 2, Paragraph 24:

en tal manera que ay munchos dias que no tienen que comer por que el dia que no se pide limosna para ellas por las calles ese dia no comen

["in such a manner that there are many days when they have no food, for the day alms are not begged for them in the streets they do not eat."]



Section 2, Paragraph 25:

pues vra magt no tiene en esta tierra monesterios de frailes ni monjas como tiene alla en españa/ todos ayudan a la iglesia honbres y mugeres

["Your Majesty does not have in this land monasteries of friars and nuns as there are in Spain/ [here] everyone helps the church, men and women."]



Section 2, Paragraph 28:

as the Viceroy is accustomed to giving to powerful men who are not as needy as we are

["we live very richly and in consolation because of [the king's] being served to admit us under his royal protection and patronage."]



Section 2, Paragraph 29:

bibimos muy rricas y consoladas rreligiosas por averse servido de admitirnos debaxo de su anparo y patrocino rreal

["we live very richly and in consolation because of [the king's] being served to admit us under his royal protection and patronage."]



Section 3, Paragraph 7:

y estube haziendo grandes trazas para sin ser conocida entrar por criada de alguna ... y me tratarían muy mal pensando que era alguna mala mujer

["and I made great efforts to enter as someone's servant ... and [hoped] that they would treat me very badly thinking I was some bad woman."]



Section 3, Paragraph 10:

para que me ayude y sirva una indiçuela doncella que quiere recojida servir a dios y mi

["o that a little Indian maiden, who wants to serve God and me, may help and serve me."]

 

siz yndias o mulatas libres ... a servir para el comun de la dicha casa

["six Indian girls or free mulatas ... to serve the common [needs] of the house."]



Section 3, Paragraph 12:

la qual necesariamente se requiere al confeccionar las labores y al tejer las obras o al bordar o elaborar con aguja

["which is necessarily required to perform handiwork, to weave, or to embroider or work with the needle."]

 

las obras de sus manos de que se ayudan para su sustento

["the works of their hands, which aid in their sustenance."]

 

trabaxan bordan y cozen para ayuda a su sustento

["they work, embroider, and sew to help with their sustenance."]



Section 3, Paragraph 12:

Dios le avia prometido de acordar y dar salud a las personas que la regalassen

["God promised to hear [the prayers of] and give health to people who gave her gifts."]