who, although he has served for many years, and
well, in the States of Flandes and in these islands, as he occupied
good positions, took away from them one hundred thousand pesos,
which is sufficient pay and remuneration for a soldier; besides that,
the marquis of Cerralbo has given him a post in Nueva Espana in the
castle and government of Vera Cruz. There are two other encomenderos:
Don Fernando Centeno, who also took one hundred and fifty thousand
pesos from here, and who also has been occupied and busied in the best
posts of Nueva Espana by the same viceroy; and Esteban de Alcacar,
who took two hundred thousand pesos from here, to whom your Majesty
had granted, as a reward, the government of Terrenate, but which he
refused. As regards the services of Don Fernando Centeno, the soldiers
speak of him with but scant respect. He was condemned to lose his head,
for having refused to fight under Don Geronimo de Silva, on an occasion
when they let the Dutch enemy escape, although the Spaniards could have
punished their boldness; and also on other occasions, it is said that
they did not proceed as honorable soldiers. I cannot attest to your
Majesty what I have not seen, but the above is his reputation here. But
granting that, and that one is occupied and the other does not admit
of so honorable a post, it renders those who have served well, and are
here at present, very disconsolate to see the former rewarded and very
rich, and the latter poor and with no reward. And determining to inform
your Majesty of all these reasons, and obeying the general decree by
which no one may enjoy an encomienda if he leave these islands, and
another special decree issued very recently, in which your Majesty
is pleased to order some of the largest encomiendas to be assigned
to the royal treasury, in order to give the religious the wine and
oil which you have been pleased to grant them as a favor, so that
it may not be necessary to take it from your royal treasury as has
been done hitherto--I gave orders to the royal officials to place the
proceeds of the three said encomiendas in the royal treasury, until,
after your Majesty were informed of all the reasons which I present
from here, you might order what is most advisable and is your pleasure.

I petition your Majesty to be pleased to order that these consequences
be not allowed; for with them, all those who should have ordinary
favor with the viceroys of Nueva Espana, will take measures to obt