es of these our kingdoms
and seigniories, as well as in those of our Indias, islands, and
Tierra-Firme of the Ocean Sea; we will also that there be appointed
for said office of corredor de Lonxa, the person or persons whom the
city may see fit to appoint; and that the said person or persons
through the said appointment, and by virtue of this, our decree,
shall be authorized to enjoy and exercise the said office in all cases
and matters pertaining to it, in such wise as the other corredores de
Lonxa of the other cities, towns, and villages of these our kingdoms,
and of our aforesaid Indias, enjoy and exercise it. And they shall
enjoy the income and fees annexed and pertaining to the said office,
provided that the income which said persons shall give each year be
for the estates of said city, to be expended and distributed for
the common welfare of the same, and not for any other thing--for
which purpose we direct the present decree to be given, signed by
my hand and countersigned by our secretary. Madrid, June twenty-one,
one thousand five hundred and seventy-four.

_I The King_

[_Endorsed_: "Registered."]

Opinion of Fray Martin de Rada on Tribute from the Indians

Most Illustrious Lord:

Your Lordship [89] asks me to give, in writing, my opinion of affairs
in this land; and to invent a remedy which shall result more to the
service of God, our Lord, and of his Majesty, and to the security of
the consciences of those who live in this land. I say the same that
I said lately in conversation with your Lordship, when your Lordship
asked me in the autumn whether it would be right that the Indians
should give tribute. I told your Lordship that I had determined to call
an assembly of all the religious that were in this land, so that all
of us in common could discuss the affairs of the country. Until then,
it did not seem to me that any change should be made, except that the
Spaniards should raise tribute by similar methods to those employed
farther down on the coast--namely, a small amount of rice, equivalent
to seventy gantas, [90] and a piece of cloth, for each Indian giving
tribute. Having assented to this--although some religious, and that
rightly, have found fault with the tribute, both in the pulpit and in
the confessional, and in other and private discussions--I waited until
all should come here, and the conference should be called as I desired,
in order that everything might be better reasoned out. Seei