WITTE, Nicolas (vit-teh), Flemish missionary, known also as FRAY JUAN DE SAN" I?ABLO, born in Bruges about 1505; died in Mexico, 21 October, 1565. It is said that he was a relative of the Emperor Charles V., who gave him a high office at court, but in 1532 he fled to the convent, of San Agustin and became a monk, despite the emperor's entreaties. As he longed to labor in the New World, and had refused several bishoprics, he obtained leave in 1543 to go to New Spain. He learned the Indian dialects in Mexico, took charge in 1548 of the missions in the northern provinces, preaching in the native languages with remarkable success. he was given by the Indians the name of "El Noco," which means friend, or protector. Owing to his great favor with the emperor, he abolished in his missions the enforced labor to which the Indians had before been subjected, and, making known at court their true condition, succeeded in obtaining several imperial decrees, enacting improvements and measures for their welfare, not only in Mexico but in the whole of South America. He was prior successively of the convents of Chilapa and Mexico. Witte left to the convent of Burgos a rich library of books about Aztec and Toltec monuments. Besides manuscripts that are preserved in the archives of Simancas, and several letters published in the recent Spanish state publication "Cartas de Indias," he wrote "Ensayo sobre la lengua Mexicana" (Seville, 1561).