ips ought to
be witnessed by the freighters who are usually appointed, and by an
auditor, in order to prevent the lading of goods not included in the
apportionment and for which no permit was given by the said officials,
as an acknowledgment that the duty was paid. Since it is not right to
allow opportunity for the irregularities and fraud which are reported
to have occurred, and of which the citizens have complained, I charge
and command you to restore order and to employ the remedy which most
fits the occasion, appointing for the allotment of the merchandise
and the lading of the ships persons in whom great confidence can be
placed. You will see that all this be done according to equity, by
being yourself present at times, if that seem best, and you will take
the necessary measures that my royal rights be in no manner defrauded.

I have heard that the ordinances are disregarded in assigning
encomiendas of Indians, and that some persons who are enjoying
encomiendas for life relinquish these, in order that they may be
bestowed on others whom they choose, and influence the governors to
assign the encomiendas to those persons. Since through many decrees of
the emperor and king, my sovereign, it is decreed and ordained that
no such relinquishment and renunciation of Indians be made, and that
encomiendas of this sort may not be allotted, I command you to observe
and strictly carry out what is ordered by the instructions sent to the
governors your predecessors, regarding the equitable manner in which
the Indians of those islands must be allotted to the persons who are
most deserving, and have rendered most service therein. Again I order
and command you not to confer relinquished encomiendas, or assign them
again, without notifying me of it, so that I may order what seems
best to me. In case you shall have disposed of such encomiendas,
I order that such allotment be null and of no effect.

I have been informed that it has become the custom in these islands to
grant at the cost of my treasury the wine for the celebration of mass
to the priests of the orders--not only to those in the encomiendas
allotted to my crown, but to those in private encomiendas; and that
there is no obligation to grant this aid to the doctrinas in private
encomiendas. I therefore command you to give orders that no wine
for the celebration of the mass be granted on the account of my
treasury to the secular priests, or to those who give instruction
in p