x Explanations 
As arule the forms of proper names given are those of the particular docu- 
ments concerned. Since Spanish spelling in the old documents is extremely ° 
liberal, and since Spanish writers did not take kindly to the English spelling 
of English proper names, this method often results in a great variety of forms 
for a single name. But to attempt arbitrarily to unify spellings opened the 
way to erroneous identification of names, when so many thousands of docu- 
ments had to be dealt with in a short time, and to the adoption of wrong forms. 
The author can not say, for example, whether or not the form “ Picax-andé- 
Yns-tinsle de Ugalde” is preferable to several other forms of this name en- 
countered. All forms, therefore, were preserved as found. These considera- 
tions led to the practice stated, an attempt being made to give the necessary 
cross references in the Index. The inconsistencies of spelling in the manu- 
scripts extends in full measure to the use of accents. 
No attempt was made to indicate uniformly whether a given document is 
an original or a copy, though this information is often supplied in notable 
instances. As a rule, unless otherwise stated, the documents are originals. 
Nor was an attempt made to annotate in a uniform manner, with bibliograph- 
ical data, all items listed; this was done, in fact, only in a limited number of 
special cases. The author’s task was a different one. The length or the 
approximate length of documents is indicated where convenient, otherwise 
not. In many cases, to have supplied this information would have more than 
doubled the time necessary to do the work. Numerous cross-references have 
been supplied in the text, but many others will be suggested by the Index. 
Some changes have been made in the archive since this Guide was compiled, 
but few or none, it is believed, which will greatly impair its usefulness. The 
principal changes, perhaps, have been that of making accessible some sections 
of the Archivo General y Publico which were inaccessible when the investiga- 
tions were made, and the transfer of a few documents from other repositories 
to the Archivo General y Publico. 
TERMS DEFINED. 
Arancel=schedule of prices; tariff. 
Bando= proclamation ; edict. 
Borrador=rough draft ; blotter. 
Carta anua=annual letter or report, especially of the Jesuit provincial. 
Causa=trial ; investigation ; cause. 
Cédula=royal order or decree, more formal than a real drden (see p. 17 for 
fuller definition). 
Consulta= opinion or proposal ; consultation. 
Derrotero=itinerary; log book; diary of a journey; frequently used as 
synonymous with diario. 
Diario=diary ; journal. 
Dictamen = official opinion. 
Diligencia=judicial procedure; official act, or the official record of the act. 
Discretorio=the council of a religious body ; here usually refers to that of the 
Franciscan colleges de Propaganda Fide. 
