ot aim at expediency.

[_In the margin_: "There is nothing to answer."]

3. By a decree of your Majesty which came in the past year,
ninety-eight, the governor of these islands was commanded to
discontinue a number of false musters which were being paid, and
additions to the expenses of the royal treasury. Without mentioning
the decree, he pronounced an edict in which he commanded the officials
of the royal exchequer of your Majesty to erase them from the royal
books, and pay them no more. Afterward, with different pretexts and by
various means other salaries and additional expenses were incurred,
which it had never been customary to pay--as, for instance, paying
salaries to the captains, alferez, and other officers of war for the
citizens in the villages. The governor appointed, as alferez of the
captain of the town of Arevalo, Don Juan Fajardo; and designated as
his salary that of the post of musketeer, for which he served in the
said post of alferez. Having appealed it before the Audiencia, after
examination and review there, he was commanded to pay the said salary
for the time while he had served in the post of alferez. Captain
Francisco Rrodriguez, as he was of the troops from Zubu, when he
was alcalde-mayor there was ordered by the said governor to give
a hundred pesos of additional cost. He appealed from this, and his
case is pending in the Audiencia. Although these things appear of
little importance, so far as events hitherto are concerned, they
may be very important for the future; for, as they are said to be
confirmed by the Audiencia the governors will take it as a precedent,
in order to be able to make the same move with the other captains
and alferezes. The expenses of the royal treasury will thus suffer
a large increase, and in matters which never have been done nor are
now necessary. It would be well, if your Majesty were so pleased,
to command that all the wages, salary, and additional expenses which
have been given in the said manner be returned to the royal treasury
by the person who ordered them, and that henceforward none should
by any means be granted; and, if it be expedient to give any, your
Majesty should be informed and a royal order for that purpose awaited.

4. In some provinces where there was one alcalde-mayor only, they
have been so multiplied that now there are three, and each one with
a deputy--all with salaries from the royal exchequer. To some of them
the governors give, beside the s