igious of the Augustinian order has been
the coming of the discalced friars of the order. They have been very
well received and several of the others have begun to join with them,
intending principally to escape the tyranny of their provincial. In
this way the others and he himself, will be corrected, when the good
result of their coming shall be evident in this effect, and in the
conversion of souls which your Majesty has so much at heart. I have
aided them in so far as to provide them with a house, where they
now are.

In the vicinity of this city, and within it, there are Indians without
number who have come from their native places to escape the labor of
tilling the soil and raising animals as they have been commanded. They
make their living by buying and selling provisions and other things,
to the great damage of this community. I have brought suit that
they may be compelled to return to their native places; and finally
they have been commanded to do so, a certain number of them being
retained for the service of each religious order; these are gathered
by the religious into villages. The execution of this decree is very
necessary, and your Majesty accordingly ordained it at the suit of this
city. Your Majesty will please command that this decree be enforced
without exception, especially by directing that these villages for the
service of the religious orders be broken up. Each order having been
allowed as many as thirty Indians, that number has greatly increased
by the protection given to them. The reason why they protect them is,
that the Indians serve them either for nothing or at less than the
ordinary rate of pay, and the sum allowed them for these Indians who
serve them is distributed among those who remain; but, in order to
get these servants cheaply, the religious contrive that there shall
be many of them. If those who are necessary are permitted to remain,
it is but just that the religious should pay them the regular rate.

Your Majesty has commanded that no one shall enjoy any positions
of profit in these islands without being resident here; and that
if encomenderos are absent they shall not receive the tributes. In
particular, your Majesty has decreed by your royal letters, at the suit
of this city, that the encomiendas of the mariscal Gabriel de Ribera,
who has long been absent, shall be vacated. The governor accordingly
vacated them, giving part of them to Don Jhoan Ronquillo, and placing
part of them