The Governor and the Regular Clergy: Support for the Franciscans Like the rest of the Floridians the Franciscans were almost completely dependent upon outside aid for their existence. Since tithes produced such a meager sum, the king had awarded a 158-peso (115 ducats) stipend to each of the 43 missionaries serving in Florida at the opening of the 18th century. [Note 86 king to FL oficiales 10/27/1700] Like the garrison, they received aid from the subsidy allocated annually to Florida from New Spain and special grants of flour, wine, oil, salt, and other necessities. In the 17th century this appropriation for the regular clergy went to the provincial of Santa Elena, residing in either Cuba or Saint Augustine, who then distributed the money and supplies among his brethren in Florida. [Note 87: Consejo 1/29/1706] In 1698 this system underwent a slight change when the king gave civil authorities in Saint Augustine partial control over the religious subsidy. ...According to the Franciscans, the 158 pesos were inadequate to fulfil their needs. The Indians were destitute and continuously looking to the friars for help. Without money for food and clothing they were helpless to prevent the Indians from shifting their allegiance to the English or from fleeing to the mountains. In their petitions to the Council of the Indies, the Franciscans pointed out that missionaries in the Mexican province of Michoacan received 300 pesos a year. With the miserable conditions existing in Florida, the friars believed they deserved an equal amount. Flatly rejecting the request, the Council only sent a short dispatch to the viceroy of New Spain, ordering him to speed delivery of the special subsidy to the friars. [Note 89: Consejo 1/29/1702] (Tepaske GSF)