1026 NORTH AMERICAN LINGUISTICS. 
Molina (Fr. Alonzo de) — continued. 
"a copy of the Doctrina Cristiana wliich is taught." The archbishop hastened 
to comply with the king's demand, beginning by requesting from the religious 
orders the respective notices concerning the towns of which tbey had charge. 
But they excused themselves from doing this, saying that they had royal letters 
in which they were directly questioned concerning these matters, and therefore 
the archbishop had to confine himself to reporting on what he had under his own 
charge. Concerning the copy of the catechism, he merely said that it was sent, 
without stating whether it was printed or in manuscript, or who was the author. 
Many years ago I obtained the original reply of Sr. Montufar, a manuscript of 
201 leaves in folio ; bu t of the answers of the friars, only those of several Augustan 
priors came into my hands at that time. 
In April, 1875, Sr. D. Alfredo Chavero brought to my notice a valuable old man- 
uscript [Codice franciscano. No. 830 a] which had belonged to Sr. D. J. F. Rami- 
rez, and I had hardly opened it when I met with what purported to be the reply 
of the franciscans to tliat royal letter: a document full of interesting notices, as 
this order was the oldest and most extensive of all. Fortunately the fathers 
were not content, like the archbishop, with saying that the copy of the catechism 
was sent, for they even incorporated it into their relation, prefixing to it the fol- 
lowing preface : 
"Copy and relation of the Catechism of Christian doctrine which is taught to 
the Indians of this New Spain, and the method that the priests of this province 
use in teaching them. 
"It is known that several kinds of Doctriuas have already been composed in 
this country in the languages of the natives, mostly in the Mexican tongue, 
which is in general use, such as small or irief Doctrinas, with which they teach 
the children, as well as other larger ones from which older and more intelligent 
persons may learn at length the mysteries of our faith. Of the smaller ones, 
which are called ' Doctrinas Cristiauas,' and of which a copy is now requested, 
four or Jive kinds were prinied, all of which contain the same in substance and 
opinion, although they differ in the manner of arrangement and diction, and 
some of them are fuller than others; and there should be properly but one Doc- 
trina for this people, because wherever this conformity may be carried out, no 
persons would be excused when questioned in other jiarts where the Doctrina is 
different, by saying that they did not teach thus in their village. The best of 
these Doctrinas, and the most correct in language and other particulars, I under- 
stand, is one which P. Fr. Alonso de Molina composed, and which is now to fte 
printed the second time in the Mexican language, and translated into the corre- 
sponding Spanish in the opposite column. I say that it will be the best, with- 
out prejudice to any one, because this father is the best Mexican interpreter we 
have among the Spaniards in New Spain, and he has been of great service in 
composing treatises and other useful works in this language. And as a copy of 
the Doctrina Cristiana is requested, it has been placed here in the language of 
the Indians, with its Spanish translation, as follows." 
He then adds the text of the work in both languages. In a note at the end it 
is said that it is heing printed for the second time, and it was probably finished in 
1571, as both the license and the privilege of the Vocaiulario of the same year 
include wna Doctrina cristiana breve. 
This document gives us, therefore, certain information respecting two editions 
in the sixteenth century, which have entirely disappeared, with so many others. 
The following jireface in the two languages precedes the work: 
"Here begins a work of instruction called Doctrina Cristiana, which it is 
required that all the children and young persons of the natives of this New Spain 
should learn; in which are discussed the most necessary things to learn, know 
and practice for the salvation of Christians, and that they may know how to 
