COLLECTION GUIDE
Prepared by Ruth Olivera, March 1994.
The collection consists of three separate and unrelated manuscripts. Two of them originate in Mexico City and have to do with the Inquisition. The other originates in Madrid and concerns a route to the fabled land of Quivira in what is now New Mexico.
1. 1572, December 3 - 1574, March 1. "Processo contra Miguel Morgan yngles de los que vinieron en la armada Joan Aquines." This bound document is the record of the proceedings, depositions, and judgment against Miguel Morgan on the charges of Lutheranism by the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Mexico City. Morgan, whose real name was Morgan Tillert, was a crew member in the naval armada of John Hawkins (called Joan Aquines here) in the attack on San Juan de Ulúa. Abandoned along with other shipmates on the coast of Mexico north of Veracruz because of lack of food, he lived peacefully for several years in Texcoco before his apprehension by the Inquisition. DsS. 137 leaves, 4º.
An article titled "Antonio de Espeja, as a familiar of the Mexican Inquisition, 1572-1578," by G.R.G. Conway, which appeared in the New Mexico Historical Review, Vol. VI. No. 1, January, 1931, contains a translation into English of the first record in the "Processo" in which Doctor Pedro Moya de Contreras, the Chief Inquisitor, gives instructions to Antonio de Espejo for the arrest of Morgan. It also contains a translation of Espejo's report to Moya de Contreras after the arrest with details of his conversation with Morgan, a man of some means whose property was confiscated at that time. A copy of this article is included here with this collection.
Additional documentation on the fate of Miguel Morgan and others in his expedition may be found in Libro primero de votos de la Inquisición de México 1573-1600 published by the Archivo General de la Nación, 1949 (LAL BX1760.M615). See especially pp. 21 and 26 for transcriptions regarding Miguel Morgan. Also published by the Archivo General de la Nación is Corsarios franceses e ingleses en la inquisición de la Nueva España, 1945 (LAL F2161.I57), which contains the testimony of Miguel Morgan in the trial of David Alexandro on pp. 237 to 249.
Outline of the contents of the "Processo contra Miguel Morgan":
f. 1 1572, December 3. In Mexico City Doctor Pedro Moya de Contreras sends Antonio de Espejo to arrest Miguel Morgan. It is signed by Contreras. (pp. 2-3 of the Conway article)
ff. 2-24 1572, October 11-September 23. Testimony of Guillermo Calens against Miguel Morgan.
ff. 16-18 1572, December 6. Antonio de Espejo reports to Moya de Contreras on the arrest of Miguel Morgan. (pp. 4-7 of the Conway article)
ff. 20-25 1573, January 16-September 28. Testimony of Ricart Guillermo against Miguel Morgan.
ff. 26-29 1573, February 9-September 28. Testimony of Thomas de Ebren against Miguel Morgan.
ff. 30-34 1573, February 9-September 25. Testimony of Joan Mun against Miguel Morgan.
ff. 36-42 1573, February 19-September 21. Testimony of Roger Armar against Miguel Morgan.
ff. 44-45v 1573, May 6-September 25. Testimony of Guillermo Griffin against Miguel Morgan.
ff. 46-82 1572, December 9-1573, February 14. Testimony of Miguel
Morgan, age 41 years, born in Wales. His genealogy is given with assertion
of his upbringing in the Roman Catholic Church and mention of his marriage
and children. He has always been and always has wanted to be a good
Catholic. He tells of the landing of Captain John Hawkins at Río de la
Hacha and the burning of the town and says that everyone on board the
flagship was made to listen to Guillermo Sanders preach Lutheranism.
-f. 57-57v Morgan names all those on board the ship.
-f. 58v Morgan testifies on Guillermo Calens.
-f. 59v Morgan testifies on Jo. Breton.
-f. 60 Morgan testifies on Guillermo Broun.
-f. 61v Morgan testifies on Jo. Guillems.
-f. 62 Morgan testifies on Joan Mun.
-f. 62v Morgan testifies on Maills, muchacho.
-f. 64 Morgan testifies on Guillermo Lo, niño.
-f. 69v Morgan testifies on Thomas Gudal.
-f. 70v Morgan testifies on Robert Cuc (Cue).
-f. 70a Morgan testifies on Thomas Penrric.
-f. 70av Morgan testifies on Jorge Ribli and Jorge Dey.
-f. 72 Morgan testifies on Juº Farenton.
-f. 72v Morgan testifies on Roger Riert.
-f. 73 Morgan testifies on Joan Perin.
-f. 73v Morgan testifies on Guillermo Corniels.
-f. 74 Morgan testifies on Guillermo Grifi (Grifin).
-f. 74v Morgan testifies on Pablo Flamenco.
-f. 75 Morgan testifies on Thomas Sul.
-f. 76 Morgan testifies on Pablo Haquines (relative of John).
-f. 76v Morgan testifies on David.
-f. 77 Morgan testifies on Joan Prey.
-f. 77v Morgan testifies on Juº Bron.
-f. 78 Morgan testifies on Juº Ley.
-f. 78v Morgan testifies on Robert Plinton.
-f. 80v Morgan testifies on Roberto Garata.
ff. 83-88 c. 1573, August 31. Criminal accusation by Licenciado Bonilla, fiscal of the Inquisition, against Miguel Morgan in 34 charges or "capítulos."
ff. 88v-91v Miguel answers each charge "verdad o no." He denies most charges.
ff. 92 Licenciado Bonilla accepts the confession of Miguel Morgan.
ff. 92v-93 1573, September 9. Morgan is again questioned. He declares his faith in the Roman Catholic Church and asks for mercy. Bonilla accepts the confession and says the evidence is now to be proved.
ff. 93-95 1573, September 21 and December 5. Morgan is again questioned and he swears by the truth of his answers. The fiscal asks for a review of the original charges.
ff. 96-103v n.d. Recapitulation of ff. 2-45v of the testimony of various persons against Miguel Morgan: Calens (49 capítulos), Espejo (6 capítulos), Ricard Guillermo (13 capítulos), Thomas Ebren (9 capítulos), Juº Mun (11 capítulos), Roger Armar (16 capítulos), Grifin (4 capítulos).
ff. 104-110v n.d. Morgan responds to each of the above charges as he has responded previously.
f. 111 1573, December 14. Warned to tell the truth, Morgan declares he has told the truth and the wrongs he has done and begs for mercy.
f. 111v 1574, January 12. Members of the Inquisition all vote to subject Morgan to "question de tormento" on his adherence to the heresies of the Lutheran sect.
ff. 112-117 1574, January 14-16. Morgan is warned by Doctor Moya de Contreras, then taken to the chamber of torture where he first denies he served the Lutheran sect, although he may merit torture for other sins. A cord is tightened around his arms and Morgan, naked and on his knees, resists until the cord is turned for the fourth time. Then he confesses his belief in the Lutheran sect for two and a half years. (There is mention of Francis Drake on ff. 115, 115v, and 117.)
f. 117v 1574, January 17. The verdict of the Inquisition is that Miguel Morgan be admitted to reconciliation, with the confiscation of his property, 200 lashes while being led through the public streets, and eight years in the Spanish galleys without pay. There is one dissenting vote as to the punishment from Doctor Miranda.
ff. 118-120 1574, January 21-February 18. Ratification by Morgan of the charges against Joan Perm, Joan Le, Mails, Joan de Samano, Joan Store, David Alexandro, Thomas Ebren, Guillermo Lo, Roberto Cuc, Pablo Haquines de la Cruz, Joan Gre, and Andres Myn, with the testimony against them of Roldan Escalart, a Frenchman caught by Hawkins. Also the ratification by Morgan of the charges against Joan Farenton, Roberto Barata, Thomas Marquee, Henri Nunan, Frances Drac, and Nicolas Enten.
ff. 121-121v 1573, February 18. More ratification by Morgan of charges against some of the above, including Francis Drac.
ff. 122-127v n.d. Confessions of Miguel Morgan and Guillermo Grifin are stated; the two are reinstated in the Catholic Church, and their sentences are pronounced and signed by Doctor Moya de Contreras.
ff. 128-128v 1574, February 28-March 1. The abjuration of Miguel Morgan and Guillermo Grifin is signed by Doctor Moya de Contreras and by Miguel Morgan. The two promise to keep secrer all that happened in the prison of the Inquisition. The pulic punishment is administered as ordered. An account of the delivery of these two criminals to the galleys is to be found in the trial of Guillermo Calens.
2. 1678, December 10. Order issued by the King of Spain in Madrid to the Viceroy of New Spain, Fray Payno de Rivera, directing him to investigate the feasibility of the proposal made by Fray Alonso de Benavides in 1630 to open a route from the Bahía del Espíritu Santo (in Northern Florida) to the Reyno de Quivira (in New Mexico east of Santa Fe) for the purpose of converting the Indians, and to determine whether the presence of the English and French in the provinces of Florida pose a threat to the Spanish in view of a recent petition to the Kind of France made by Diego de Peñalosa, former governor of New Mexico now exiled by the Inquisition and living in Paris, who wants to lead an expedition to Quivira reputedly a land rich in silver and gold. This document appears to be a late 18th or early 19th century handwritten copy of the original. D. 2 leaves, 4º.
3. 1775, August 11-October 30. "Diligencias Sobre unos pañuelos estampados que remitió el Alguacil ma[yo]r de VeraCruz con inscripciones en Lengua Ynglesa -Se prohivieron-." Proceedings in the investigation made by the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Mexico City concerning certain linen handkerchieves, one of which has been sent by the Chief Constable of Veracruz for examination. The handkerchief with figures and inscriptions in English is given to a translator to determine the meaning. The inscriptions contain good advice for everyday living, but consist of an unacceptable mixture of the sacred and the profane, and considering the use to which the handkerchieves are to be put, the Inquisition rules that they are prohibited. The merchants responsible for selling these handkerchieves are questioned in an effort to retrieve the items. As it is impossible to wash out or erase the inscriptions, the remaining handkerchieves are burned. DsS 11 leaves, 4º.
Latin American Library Home Page
Last updated: October 28, 1996