ost power in this country. About
two months ago the governor gave him the appointment of archdeacon,
although the dignity was not vacant. They exiled me from the kingdom
and condemned me to two thousand ducados fine, because I would not give
the collation, he being at the time excommunicated. It was given to him
by an unauthorized judge, while I was exiled and had left governors
for the archbishopric. I am certain that the master of the schools,
who is investigating it for the cabildo, will inform your Majesty of
this in a very distorted way; for he is a great friend to the said Don
Andres Giron, and gave him entertainment and presents when he exercised
the duties of judge-conservator, and they did not leave each other's
side. He cannot enjoy the income which your Majesty gives him from
your royal treasury with a good conscience, for I have not given him
canonical investiture; nor can it be given or confirmed, conformably to
clause seven of the royal act of patronage; for he is guilty of many
grave misdeeds, which will be presented in the royal Council. Rather,
he is deserving of punishment; for he brought this commonwealth to the
verge of ruin, as will appear from the relations and other information.

The precentor is named Master Don Gregorio Ruiz de Escalona. He
is a learned and exemplary man, a son of your Majesty's treasurer,
Juan Ruiz de Escalona, who died, and brother of the treasurer who
now fills the place, Don Baltasar de Escalona. He is thirty-three
years of age, and came from Espana while a boy, with his parents. He
has served in this cathedral for ten years as a medio-racionero, an
entire canon, and master of school. At present he has been precentor
for about a year and a half, all the time _ad interim_, until this
year the confirmation of the prebend which he held arrived. He is a
good preacher and has ability; and your Majesty should favor him with
some of the dignities for his virtue, learning, and exemplary life.

The schoolmaster is named Don Fabian de Santillan. He is a creole of
this country, and is thirty-six years of age, more or less. While he
was chaplain to Don Juan Nino de Tavora, formerly governor of these
islands, a canonry became vacant and was given to him. He has studied
no branch of learning, except Latin; and if he knew that well it
would not be so bad. While he was a canon he was suspended from the
cabildo for four months, on account of his licentious life and evil
example. He has lost