nd should be assigned to others, without permitting
reply or excuse; and if any other procedure was followed it was
directed that it should be held as null and void. I made inquiries
to find out if the said Don Francisco Tello had complied herewith. I
discovered that, although he found the said mariscal in Mexico, he
had not complied with the commands given by the said section, but
that he had brought him with him to this city, and in a short time
had given him permission to return to Nueva Hespana for three years,
under color of having business to do for this city. I also found that
the said mariscal had appealed to the Audiencia, affirming that the
time was too short, and I learned that he received license to remain
for an additional year, making four in all. In truth, however, the
power of attorney held by the said mariscal had been revoked by the
city before he left it in the year 1600. Upon this, I wrote to the
said mariscal in Mexico that, since he was aware of the decree of
his Majesty with regard to his absence, he should return to fulfil
the duty of residence to which he was obliged in these islands, as
soon as the time of his license had expired. If he should go beyond
the period allowed, I informed him that his encomiendas would be
vacated and would be assigned to others. Since he has not fulfilled
the requirement of residence, and since the said term is at an end,
therefore, in virtue of the said section of the instructions and in
fulfilment of what is decreed by another and separate royal decree,
I have commanded that the encomiendas should be vacated, and that
one of them, the encomienda of Bonbon, should be granted to General
Don Juan Rronquillo del Castillo, a man whose merits, services, and
abilities are known to all. This encomienda is at the present time in
his possession. The income from the other encomiendas I have commanded
to be placed in the royal treasury, which is being done. As for the
report of the said mariscal, made to me in Mexico, that he was there
with the permission of the Audiencia and governor on business for the
city, I wrote your Majesty, in a letter on the second of November of
the year 1601, that it seemed to me proper for permission to reside in
Nueva Espana to be given him, in view of his services and age, since
he was serving with eight musketeers in defense of this country. After
I arrived here and saw how this matter had been arranged, in view
of the aforesaid facts, and of th