arms as a memorial of their
native place and country, they could find none more suitable. Therefore
I believe that the city will adopt with ready compliance such design
as your Majesty may ordain. For this purpose, I have ordered that, on
the facades of the principal gate of this city, and in other places,
where I have had your Majesty's arms placed, collateral stones be
placed for those of the city, as yet left blank, until your Majesty
shall determine what shall be decreed in the matter.

The procession made here on Corpus Christi day, with the assent of the
bishop, passed before his residence; and although but twenty or thirty
paces from the royal buildings, the procession did not go to them,
which they could have done at the cost of so little time and space,
and would not, on that account, have been prevented from returning
to the house of the bishop. Will your Majesty order in this regard
according to your pleasure.

The city is concerned, and I believe I wrote to your Majesty, about
the ten per cent duty imposed in Mexico recently on merchandise from
this country; and although I desire nothing so much as that there be
found a way to provide for the pressing need in which your Majesty
finds yourself in these necessitous times, still, with your Majesty's
permission, I will say only concerning this, that, although it is
true that the profits of this merchandise, if well administered,
might endure this duty, yet the citizens of this country are poor,
the money and capital are restricted, and the land is new; and at
the beginning these gains were larger than now, since, because of
the heavy expenses, the net profit obtained is much less. Likewise
it appears that the same statement is true of the natives, who feel
keenly so many burdens, and who are suspicious that we are gradually
increasing them. Therefore they say the Castilians have good words
but few deeds, and those evil. Those who might better carry this
burden are the Chinese, because of the great profit and gain that
they make and obtain here in so little time. But I fear also that if
they are annoyed, they will not come and will abandon the trade, by
which this country lives and increases. I do nothing but put both of
these considerations before your Majesty, so that you may ordain in
everything what is most to your service. May our Lord preserve your
Majesty for many happy years as Christendom has need, and as we, the
vassals and servants of your Majesty, d