ce in the power of the ambition or the personal interests of a
governor, but command that this be done immediately, as I understand
your Majesty has already disposed and ordered.

It is very necessary that your Majesty should order that if any
secular priest commit some transgression, your royal Audiencia should
not immediately summon him, but should give notice to the prelate
and ordinary to remedy it. This should apply to complaints sent
by the alcalde-mayor against the clergyman; the alcades-mayor are
not so abject that they would not have even then their share of the
fault. In short, they are ecclesiastics; and it seems just that in the
meantime the prelates should not be behind in punishing them, and in
righting matters. The secular clergy should not go, on information
that may often be false, before audiencias and tribunals that are
not ecclesiastical; for thus the ecclesiastical state is much injured.

The liberty of the cabildo of the city, and due secrecy for matters
discussed there are very necessary; and if any secretary or regidor has
failed in this matter, it would be highly desirable that your Majesty
command that he be punished. If this be not done, your Majesty cannot
be informed, or right matters. For the love of God, will your Majesty
favor in all matters the city and cabildo, and not leave this matter
of favoring them to the governors and auditors; for it is clear that
these persons will not be pleased that there should be anyone who
can have power to advise your Majesty, or oppose them. I beg your
Majesty to be pleased to issue your royal decree so that the city may
rent out the privileges of the commission exchange, which they hold
by your Majesty's favor; and that provision be made for them to rent
it to the Chinese. Further, this concerns the trade of the Chinese,
as there is no other trade here, and nothing else for which the said
exchange could serve. These men, too, are in great need of aid, both
for the marriages of their daughters and for the payment of their
debts to the Chinese. Your Majesty should command that permission
be given them to have all their money brought from Mexico, as it
has remained there these two or three years--which is a great pity,
in the condition in which this city is, and with the impaired credit
of the Spaniards in their relations with the Chinese. The Chinese
merchants, too, are being ruined, because the Spaniards are not
prompt with their payments. They weep, and