Our Catliolic Heritage in T e:cas
one large copper spoon; four brass candlesticks; one lamp and wick; one rug or mat to place before the altar; four 1netates with eight pestles to grind corn; four cooking pans; and four hundred pesos in silver to pur- chase corn. The Marquis declared that the mission already had a large painting of San Francisco Xavier with a beautiful gold frame as well as a chalice, paten, little spoon, wine and water bottles of silver, and a white vestment. The Guardian now petitioned the viceroy to allow the College of Queretaro to begin operations, and informed His Excellency of the readiness of Aguayo to furnish all the necessary supplies and pro- visions. The viceroy quickly consented to the request and issued a decree ordering the immediate formal establishment of the new mission for Chief Juan Rodriguez and the Indians of Rancheria Grande, which was to be founded on the site chosen by Aguayo in 1722, and cared for by one of the missionaries now stationed at San Antonio de Valero without expense to the royal treasury. Father Mezquia, the Guardian of the College, upon receipt of the viceregal decree instantly instructed the Father President of the mission in San Antonio to proceed with the foundation.zi By the time the viceregal decree arrived in San Antonio, Father Gonzalez was no longer there. It fell to Father Fray Miguel Sevillano de Paredes, the newly appointed President of the missions of the Que- retaran College in Texas to carry out the instructions of the Guardian and the orders of the viceroy. In a long report written in January, 1726, shortly after his arrival he gives in detail the reasons why he was unable to comply with the orders received for the formal establishment of the Mission of San Francisco Xavier de Najera. Three or four days after his arrival, he called Juan Rodriguez and all the Indians of Rancheria Grande in San Antonio at that time to appear before him. Great was his surprise when only twelve warriors, and not all of them with families, came in response to his call. Agreeable to the order of the viceroy of July 2, 1725, and the instructions from the Guardian of the College, he informed the Sanas he was going to provide permanent quarters for them. He explained to them, through an interpreter, their duties and pointed out the advantages of mission life. He told them that the establishment was going to be founded at their request, and that they could choose between himself and Father Fray Joseph Hurtado, the other missionary 21Qrder of the Viceroy for the establishment of San Francisco Xavier, July 2, 1 7 2 5. Arc/eivo de la Sa11ta Cruz de Queretaro, 1716-1749 (Dunn Transcripts, University of Texas).
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