Friars, 1566 
93 
after taking the advice of our fiscal of our Audiencia there, you make 
an investigation and ascertain what expenses were incurred by Pedro de 
Ahumada Samano in the campaign against the aforesaid Indians. When 
you have ascertained sufficiently and are informed what amount he ex¬ 
pended, you will draw upon our officers of the province of Nueva Galicia 
for that amount. And I command them to take from the maravedís 1 
which are in charge of our treasurer and pay to Pedro de Ahumada, or 
whoever holds his power of attorney, the amount that you draw in com¬ 
pensation of the above-mentioned services upon presentation of this my 
cédula or a transcript thereof signed by a public notary, taking therefor 
his receipt or that of his representative. Upon your warrant the amount 
shall be paid and so entered upon the books. Dated at Madrid, October 
17, 1562. I the King. Countersigned by Eraso, and signed by Vásquez, 
Castro, Valderrama, Don Gómez Zapata, Doctor Francisco Her¬ 
nández de Lievana. 
Reply to the oidores, alcaldes mayores of Nueva Galicia concerning the 
matter of salt. [1562.] 
The King. To our oidores , alcaldes mayores of the royal Audiencia of 
the provinces of Nueva Galicia: In your letter written to us on March 24 
of the current year, I have noted what you say concerning a discovery, 
in that kingdom in the district of the mines of Zacatecas, of certain lakes 
in which the water collects in the rainy season, and afterwards, being 
evaporated by the sun, leaveá a large quantity of good salt. This, being 
necessary for refining silver with mercury, silver being the metal now 
most continuously refined, has acquired a value second only to quicksilver, 
because it has not hitherto been obtainable. Therefore, because the miners 
and other persons were beginning to quarrel over the collection and use 
of the salt, wasting it and gathering it before it was thoroughly crystal¬ 
lized, you have considered in view of these things that if a tax were placed 
upon it the miners and other persons would be better supplied and might 
without much expense enjoy the use of it. And you have voted to declare 
that this salt was and is ours and have made it a crown monopoly, as 
appears from the auto which you have issued concerning the matter. . . . 
From the Forest of Segovia, September 22, 1562. I the King. 
The king to the Audiencia [of Nueva Galicia ], concerning 
friars. [ 1 566. ] 
The King. To the oidores, alcaldes mayores of our Audiencia of Nueva 
Galicia: You know very well the obligation under which we hold those 
lands and the kingdom of the Indies, which is to effect in every way and 
by good means the conversion of the natives to our holy Catholic faith. 
Inasmuch as the religious who have been and are now in that land have 
had special care of this work ever since the first discovery, and have har- 
8 
