ng commendaries in perpetuity,
his majesty appointed a commission to inquire into its merits, and as to
what would be the best possible manner of carrying it into effect. The
following were the gentlemen appointed: the marquis of Mondejar as
president of the council of the Indies, the licentiates Gutierre
Velasquez and Tello de Sandoval, the doctor Hernan Perez de la Fuente,
the licentiates Gregorio, Lopez, and Briviesca; and the doctor
Riberadeneyra, auditors of the royal council of the Indies; and besides,
there were several others of his majesty's privy councillors.

This distinguished body of prelates and cavaliers met together in the
residence of Pedro Gonzalez de Leon, where the council of the Indies
hold their sittings, and began to deliberate on the subject of the
distribution of commendaries in perpetuity in New Spain, Peru, and if I
mistake not, also in New Granada and Bobotan. The reasons which were
adduced for carrying this into effect were indeed just and Christian.
For it was said, among other things, that those Indians who were
distributed in perpetuity would receive better treatment; would be more
thoroughly instructed in the Christian doctrine, be attended in sickness
as children, and their lives would be altogether made more comfortable
to them. It would be an incitement also for those who possessed
commendaries to attend more to agriculture and the breeding of cattle.
The endless lawsuits about the possession of Indians would cease
altogether; no inspectors would be further required in the townships;
and the soldiers would live in peace and friendship with each other as
soon as they found that the presidents and governors durst no longer
distribute the vacant commendaries among their relations for party
purposes, as was too often the case. Besides which, if perpetual
distribution were carried into effect, and the commendaries were solely
given to men who had rendered services to the crown, his majesty's real
views would not only be carried out, but it would be an effectual means
of dispossessing the crew of vagabonds in Peru of the lands they had
unjustly seized, and put it out of their power to create further
dissensions.

After this august body had well argued these points pro and con, the
several deputies and we, the other cavaliers, were required to give our
opinion, and the greater part voted for the distribution in perpetuity.

Of those who were opposed to it the bishop of Chiapa was first and