Provisionment

But the Spanish Fathers […] came into a hostile country, carrying little provisionment but their breviary and crucifix.

Those were wartime provisionments, with Michel being granted "economy" (i.e., commission) contract arrangements; the navy thereby consented to bear much of the risk and cost, including costs engendered by long delays en route, as in 1747-1748, when six cargoes of Michel's masts were tied up in Holland at one time, the carrier being unable to proceed to France.