V 508 ) 



and litigations about lands and boundaries would ceafe, and the office 

 of vilitadors or infpe(5lors would be unneceffary. The minds alfo of 

 the foldiers would be tranquillized, in knowing that the prefidents and 

 governors had not the power of beftowing lands when they fell vacant, 

 on their clients and favourites. His Majefty alfo in doing this would 

 exonerate his royal confcience, in recompenfing thofe who had ferved 

 him faithfully. To thefe, many other good reafons were added. It 

 was alfo propofed to deprive the turbulent and rebellious in Peru of their 

 diftrids. After all this had been well debated and confidered in the 

 illuftrious affembly, we proceeded to give our opinions in favour of the 

 perpetual repartition. 



It was then oppofed by the Bifhop of Chiapa, his affociate Fray 

 Rodrigo of the order of St., Dorr^inic, the Bifhop of Palencia, the Mar- 

 quis of Mondejar, and two oydors of the royal council of his Majefty. 

 The Marquis of Mondejar did not however fpeak upon the occafion, 

 but remained as it were on the look out, to fee which party was likely to 

 carry the queftion. The arguments ufed by the others againft the 

 repartition were, that many in Peru had now life eftates, who fo far 

 from deferving perpetuities, merited confifcation, and that if peace was 

 once eftablifhed in that country, if the foldiers who were unprovided 

 for faw that there was no fund for that purpofe, they would become 

 mutinous and caufe new troubles. The Bifhop of Mechoacan who was 

 of our party hereupon alked the licentiate De la Gafca, how it had hap- 

 pened that he did not chaftize the mutineers as he very well knew them^ 

 whereas on the contrary he had given them lands. To this the other 

 replied, laughing, that he had hanged and quartered many of them, 

 and thought it no fmall atchievement to have efcaped from amongft 

 them fafe and found. More was alfo faid on this fubjed. 



It was propofed, and approved by many prefent, that the few of 

 the real conquerors of New Spain who now remained, including thofe 

 who came with Cortes^ with Narvaez, and with Garray, ftiould re- 

 ceive 



