ficient, they hindered me so in it that it was impossible
to administer justice. At last, as I thought that the notary's
imprisonment had been long enough--although during his trial he had
no guards who could levy costs on him--at the news that the men and
possessions of your Majesty and of private individuals that we desired
from Nueva Espana were in safety, and that the enemy were waiting,
I released him (in part as a demonstration of the thanks due our
Lord), among other prisoners who had not been tried, and who had no
one to plead for them, whom I also released. Such, then, is the end
of that affair.

[_Marginal note_: "Let them observe the laws and what I have commanded
by the decrees that I have given. Advices are being sent to the
Audiencia in accordance with this." _In another hand_: "Have letters
of this tenor sent to the Audiencia, so that they may observe the
decrees of enforcement [_lo acordado_]. Let it be noted that since
the distance from those islands to these kingdoms is as is known,
and the delay and obstacles in the replies and receipt of letters
is the same and in some cases greater, it is commanded and ordered
that he who shall be guilty of opposing what is ordered for the good
government of those islands, both in military and in civil matters,
will be punished with the severity and example that the case requires;
for it is not right that he who merits it be unpunished in matters
of such importance, involving loss and delay."]

15th. Also the auditors claim the right of trial and jurisdiction in
the lawsuits of the seamen. That has come to such a pass that when
I ordered that a sailor, one Luys Rivero, should be hanged for an
atrocious murder that he had committed--of whose trial and of what
passed then I enclose a sworn statement--they actually ordered that
he be not executed. That happened on a day when I had left this city,
on account of having ordered that on that same day a retired sergeant
be beheaded, who had deserted while under pay and after receiving
help, and had abandoned his colors at the time of the embarcation;
and in order to avoid the intercessions and importunities that they
lavish in order that justice might not be done. But this is only a
pretext of mercy, since punishment, when deserved, is the greatest
mercy--especially in this country, where the punishment of offenses
was so forgotten or almost never administered. For that reason, and
to lessen my grief over the execution by