ors that your Majesty might give him, everything might be
well arranged. I dare say that I have information of no other person
who is more suitable, by his abilities and qualifications, which are
well known and have been shown in the service of your Majesty; and I
have such information concerning his conduct of affairs that I should
consider him very good for you to approve for this commission. If your
Majesty shall decide to send anyone to do this work, I warn you, in
order that he may fulfil his duties with exactness, as is due to the
service of your Majesty, that he should not come as subordinate to or
dependent upon the Audiencia or the governor, if it can be avoided;
but his only business should be to separate entanglements and untie
the knots. It will be no less unadvisable to have him remain here
with an office or allowance; for in such case he would not wish to
offend many persons, but would conciliate their good-will. If your
Majesty will accept mine, you will pardon me for being longer in the
answer than was the question.

As for several points mentioned in the royal decree of your Majesty
of the twelfth of December, one thousand six hundred and ten--by
which persons who come with the viceroys, governors, presidents,
captains-general, auditors, and royal officials, are prohibited
and incapacitated from receiving the favors and rewards of offices,
encomiendas, and other things which are usually given to those who
serve and labor; and preference over other claimants is given to the
sons and descendants of conquistadors, and likewise of the settlers;
and it is directed that for the distribution of the said favors or
rewards the new order and form should be followed which your Majesty
ordains in the said decree, taking away the power from those who
before held it in this matter, and giving what was held by them to the
auditors and fiscals--it has seemed best to me to inform your Majesty
of what presents itself to me in this regard, so that concerning all
this you may provide and command what is most suitable for your royal
service, and for the divine service, in behalf of which the former
is conducted.

This country is most distant from Espana of any which is known in
the world and it, with the persons who inhabit and maintain it,
are today the most borne down with troubles of all the Indias; for
here is the force of the war which is not felt there, and between
so many nations as are our neighbors, who can wage