he cathedral church which is to be erected in those
islands, we ordered you in our decree of the thirteenth day of July
of the past year 1579, to give them from our treasury a competent
stipend, which was to be in proportion to the amount yielded by the
said tithes. Now the said bishop has reported that, in case the said
prebends or other benefices which were to be established in the said
church become vacant, it would be necessary to defer the appointment of
other persons thereto until orders could be despatched from here; and
thus the said church would remain without the divine service. In view
of this inconvenience, he petitions us to give orders that, whenever
dignities, canonries, and other benefices of the said church become
vacant, they shall immediately be filled by other worthy persons,
with the same stipends as those received by their predecessors;
or to order what else is our pleasure. With the approval of our
Council of the Indies, we favor this; and therefore order you that,
whenever the said dignities, canonries, and other benefices of the
cathedral church in those islands shall become vacant, you fill them
with competent persons of the required rank, who shall serve in the
place of those through whom the vacancy occurs, at the same stipend
as that received by their predecessors, until we make our appointments.

_I, The King_

By order of his Majesty:

_Antonio de Eraso_

Letter from Ronquillo de Penalosa to Felipe II

Royal Catholic Majesty:

This city has begged me to inform your Majesty about three things
solicited by the citizens. May your Majesty command accordingly by
a royal decree addressed to me, in order that I may inform them if
these things are fitting for the service of your Majesty.

First, that your Majesty may have me informed whether it is convenient
that this city be the capital of this government. At present it is the
largest city, has the largest population, and is the best governed in
this kingdom. It is well situated, so that from it the governor may
easily reach the settlements in these islands. Although the place is
unhealthful, it would nevertheless for the present be convenient that
this city be the capital of this government and the headquarters of
the governor.

As to whether the repartimientos of the Indians should be made
permanent, I will say that at present such a course would be by no
means beneficial to your royal service, as it would cause the soldiers
to l