WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA l6l 



students is the students of Latin, who wear blue sashes to distinguish 

 them from the others ; their parents pay for their board and lodging 

 with the Fathers* of the Company, under whose direction they remain. 

 For the good administration of the college and for their advance- 

 ment in virtue and learning, they have a Rector and Minister of the 

 same Company of Jesus. Besides the above there is another college, 

 of San Gregorio, in which (and in the others) virtue and learning 

 are practiced and flourish. 



450. There is a small convent of the Order of the Glorious Patri- 

 arch St. Benedict (San Benito), named Monserrate, with an Abbot 

 and some friars. This has the reputation of great piety and rever- 

 ence in that splendid city and is much frequented by the faithful. 



451. There are in this royal city i6 very strict nunneries, of great 

 virtue and sanctity; among them there are many handmaids of God 

 who lead holy lives. The nunnery of Santa Ines ranks among the 

 strictest and finest of all Christendom. This was founded by Diego 

 Caballero with 33 nuns, in pious imitation of the number of years 

 our Lord passed on earth ; there may be neither more nor less, ex- 

 cept that when one dies, another enters in her place, to keep the 

 number full. They enter without dowry, for this noble knight, to 

 whom God had given much wealth, and who had no heirs, estab- 

 lished this nunnery with a total of 33 nuns and for their support he 

 left an annual income of 33,000 pesos, together with 2,000 pesos of 

 income for the patron or patroness of his family. They have excel- 

 lent music in this nunnery. 



452. Mexico contains the nunneries of La Concepcion, San Lo- 

 renzo, Santa Catalina de Sena, La Encarnacion, Santa Clara, Santa 

 Teresa, Jesus Maria, Regina Celi, San Jeronimo ; Santa Monica, 

 with an annex where they bring up children under instruction ; Santa 

 Isabel, of Franciscan barefoot nuns ; Santa Maria de Gracia, which 

 consists of two separate convents with one church and a boarding 

 school for girls already novitiates ; the nunnery of Las Recogidas is 

 very wealthy ; San Juan de Letran is a boarding school in which they 

 bring up orphan children. 



453. In this great city there are nine famous hospitals, in which 

 they care for the indigent sick of various nationalities, and with dif- 

 ferent diseases. These are : The general hospital for the Indians, 

 called the Royal Hospital, whose patron is His Majesty. This re- 

 ceives large revenues and charitable contributions ; and the sainted 

 Count of Monterrey when Viceroy of that kingdom gave it his favor 

 and assistance by establishing a theatrical playhouse (corral de 



