his matter disposed of in
such manner that it may be to the advantage and not to the injury of
the Indians--which would result if this office were given through favor
or sale, instead of being conferred on a person who is unencumbered,
and very zealous in the service of your Majesty and for the welfare of
the Indians; of such there will be very few. He who is now protector
is very persevering, and is qualified for this appointment. His name
is Benito de Mendiola. [37] But this man might prove deficient; and
for the future, if it shall please your Majesty--since this should be
well done (for it surely is a very important matter), and the bishops
are, by right, fathers of the unhappy--it might be entrusted to him
whom the bishop appoints, your Majesty naming the salary or requiring
that it be raised here. If it please your Majesty, I will see that
the Indians pay it, which they will do very willingly. And if your
Majesty does not commit this to the bishop, he and the governor might
be entrusted to name the appointee, it being provided that together and
in no other way may they remove him--because many times the protector
has to ask things which the governor does not like. The governor
becomes angry at him, and if it is in his power, removes him--as I
have seen done more than once since I came. The inhabitants of this
city are among the most loyal subjects that your Majesty has in all
his islands; and the soldiers, although suffering so many hardships,
as above stated, and many more which cannot be told, are so obedient
to orders in the service of your Majesty that it is certainly a cause
for thanksgiving to God that, in so great an expanse of country,
there should be a prince so obeyed and feared, loved and reverenced
as is your Majesty in these regions. And since this condition of
affairs is conserved by subjects perceiving gratitude in their kings
and princes, and knowing that their rulers reward them for loyalty,
I humbly petition your Majesty to give attention to what I have said
(which is unquestionably true); and that you show them favor, in order
that they may know that your Majesty is pleased with their loyalty.

I understand that what they ask is, that your Majesty order that
the limits of this city's jurisdiction (which is five leagues) be
maintained; and that you make them a gift of some lands, of which
they have none, but without which no commonwealth can be sustained or
conserved. The cabildo of Mexico has, b