[53] Información, a legally-attested document establishing proof of some act or crime (Escriche, Diccionario, II, 156). In the broader sense an información was an opinion or a body of evidence on a special topic drawn up and legally attested by the proper authority. These informaciones appear to have been submitted by the audiencia, or by individual oidores, contadores, oficiales reales and others, but in all cases they were legally drawn up and sworn to. An información was always a special report, drawn up in compliance with a request or command and is thus to be distinguished from a regular yearly or semi-annual report.
[54] Recopilación, 2–23–13, 12, 15.
[55] King to the Audiencia, July 1, 1598, A. I., 105–2–1.
[56] King to the Audiencia, December 7, 1610, Blair and Robertson, XVII, 151–152.
[57] King to the Audiencia, August 17, 1628, A. I., 105–2–1.
[58] Recopilación, 1–14–1.
[59] Ibid., 1–14–31 to 34, 38, 40, 91, 92; 2–33–11 to 15. Hundreds of these reports appear in A. I., 105–2–1 to 10.
[60] Recopilación, 1–14–2, 3, 4.
[61] Ibid., 1–14–90, 91, 20. Missionaries were so badly needed in the colonies in the sixteenth century that they were sent free of expense. The governors and viceroys were commanded to pay particular attention to them, assisting and providing for them in all possible ways. “Until the members of the different orders were enabled, by their sufficient numbers and increased prosperity, to establish themselves in communities ... both king and pope extended privileges and protection to them in order to facilitate the labors of their calling.” (Bancroft, History of Mexico, III, 702.)
[62] Recopilación, 3–14–4.