the said soldiers, you shall order that it be collected
for the present for the above purpose.

12. One of the things most conducive to the good government of the
state and the happiness of the members and parts composing it, is
the equitable administration of distributive justice. Accordingly, I
command that the offices at your disposal and the advantageous posts
of the country be given to men who merit them by their services and
capacity, in such manner that the offices be filled by old citizens,
who have lived in the country at least three years, and are citizens
of it; and the encomiendas to soldiers who shall have lived there in
actual military duty and service. Among them you should always give the
preference to those who are most deserving; including, with the other
circumstances of greater and better services in the country, their
length of residence there. They must not be sons, brothers, relatives,
servants, or friends of yours; for--besides that you are advised that
you are not to grant encomiendas of Indians or provide offices to
such men; and, with this end in view, a sufficient salary is given
you to enable you to help them--it is not right for men who are but
new arrivals, and have done no work, to enjoy the fruit of another's
toil. If rewards are bestowed justly, all will serve willingly in the
hope of attaining reward. Therefore it is my will that you observe
this order; and, that it may be thus inviolable, I declare that, now
and henceforth, your said sons, brothers, servants, and friends shall
be incapable of holding the said encomiendas or offices. And because
certain persons, who already hold encomiendas in the said islands,
and with these easily [can satisfy] whatever needs they may have,
are begging for further reward, you are advised not to grant them
any more until many others--who, as I have been informed have been
there for so long a time and are deserving, and have toiled in the
conquest and maintenance of the country, to a much greater extent
than those who are petitioning anew; but who have not been rewarded,
and therefore are poor, irritated, and querulous--shall be provided
and rewarded with encomiendas and other posts and means of gain. You
shall take especial care to reward those whose names follow:

13. Diego Ronquillo, former governor and captain-general of those
islands, who, I am told, exercised the said offices excellently and
to the complete satisfaction of the country.

Don Ro