as for the poor.  In this case I have not spent from the royal estate until after reviewing all other expenses of like nature, and consulting your Majesty.  This expense seems to be as necessary as the first provision of weapons and clothing to the soldiers.  Nevertheless, it is wise to warn them to be more careful in navigation, and more resolute in guarding their belongings.  In my opinion it will be convenient for your Majesty to have the goodness to send instructions on this point, stating especially whether it is possible to give aid, in weapons and clothing, in a moderate quantity, from the royal treasury.  It should be always forbidden to give money from the royal treasury even once, although it may thus happen that some soldiers, nobles, and cavaliers may suffer want, for lack of money with which to clothe themselves.  It is not convenient to grant encomiendas to all; and although they may ask for food at the houses of their friends, they are in need of clothing.  The only means of income here is the payment of the tributes to the encomenderos, whom I have tried to convince that all the soldiers be maintained thereby, as it is a very convenient method; but people of much caprice cannot be persuaded to this, nor can they clear their heads from vapors.  On account of the small number of troops here, as I have already stated, I have induced the people to do sentinel-duty and undertake expeditions under leaders—­of whom there are not a few, beginning with a brother of mine.  Although I do my best, it is impossible to avoid giving them some aid.  Last Christmas I aided several with tributes paid by some unapportioned Indians, declaring that, if they had belonged to the royal crown, I could not have done so.  I allotted the Indians to a captain by the name of Chacon, and the income arising from them was divided among several persons.  I preferred to have the transaction take place under authority of the officials, and to have it attested by the government notary.  Therefore this has been recorded, and together with the decree forwarded to your Majesty.  I trust that his Majesty will examine it, and send me information of what he may be pleased to provide.

In Nueva Espana, when an encomendero dies without an heir, the Indians under his charge revert to the royal crown.  When Guido de Lavazares was here, he arranged that in such case the Indians should be re-allotted; and thus it was done, being a law of the land when I came here.  As the country is so new, and but ill pacified, and there is so great need for people, and this concerns the community, I have followed the same custom since my arrival—­although I have assigned to the royal crown the majority of Indians who are left ownerless, thus combining both methods.  I have told the people that it is meet for his Majesty to receive income in order to support the friars and his servants here, as well as for the alms and assistance which have been described.  Nevertheless, it has seemed to me necessary that his