accompany
it were recognized. Consequently, it remained in that condition until
the year six hundred and eleven, when the collection of the said duty
was again charged to Governor Don Juan de Sirva [_i.e.,_ Silva]. He,
trying to carry out its provisions, recognized the same difficulties,
for the many reasons advanced by the city, which were so just and
relevant that they obliged him to call a treasury council. Having there
discussed and conferred upon those reasons, and it having been seen
that they were so urgent and necessary that they strictly prevented
and ought to prevent the execution of the said royal decree of 604,
he suspended it for the time being, giving your Majesty notice
[thereof]. The decree remained in this condition until the year
six hundred and twenty-five, in which the royal officials again
discussed the matter of the collection of the said two per cent,
during the government of Don Fernando de Silva. He, recognizing
the same obstacles, and that those obstacles were much greater then
because of the worse condition and the notable change and damage to
which the affairs of the said city had come--the property, traffic,
and means of gain of its inhabitants--with a great reduction and
difference from that which they had in the said year of six hundred
and seven, concurred with what had been provided by his predecessor,
the said Don Juan de Silva, and ordered that no innovation be made
in it. The same was done by the governor who succeeded him, Don
Juan Nino de Tabora. Thus, the said governors, as each confronted
the matter, always came to see very plainly the said difficulties,
which at present are not only of the above-mentioned character, but
are impossible to overcome because of the condition of affairs, the
poverty of the inhabitants, and the great decrease and diminution of
the trade and commerce of former times. That is given more prominence
by the efforts of the visitor, Licentiate Don Francisco de Rojas,
who made strenuous efforts to have the collection of the two per
cent carried out. Nevertheless, he saw with his own eyes the said
disadvantages that resulted from the said collection. One of them
was the resolution of the inhabitants not to export their goods and
merchandise; nor could they do so, because of the great losses,
both past and present, which they have encountered. This is the
greatest damage that can happen to the royal treasury; for if the
export and commerce ceases, not only will