Procuradores of New Spain 
129 
view of it the partition could be made, and in the meantime you ordered 
that the persons holding allotments should enjoy them, and after their 
deaths their children and wives, it always being understood that the 
said partition was to be made, for it was and is to the advantage of all 
that touches upon the service of God, the preservation of the natives, the 
increase of your revenues, and the perpetuity of the land, for the reasons 
that will be stated. While this permanent remedy was being expected 
every day, certain laws and ordinances, 4 which your Majesty ordered 
should be observed, went to New Spain, by some of which not only was 
the measure that they expected, and which was right, not given, but what 
they had gained and what your Majesty had given them for their services 
and which they had well merited was taken away from them, giving them 
punishment instead of reward, to the total destruction of the said land and 
of the Spaniards who were in it. What is still more grievous and with 
anguished tears is bewailed, is to see and feel that the devil is trying to 
return to those lands which he held under his rule for so many thousands 
of years—which may God not permit—for, according to what is seen 
and understood, unless some measure is quickly taken, very disastrous 
occurrences, unforeseen by man, which the enemy of human nature seeks 
with subterfuges, cannot fail to take place. Besides the reasons that will 
be stated, it will be evident from the reports made by prelates, and by 
persons of religion, learning, Christianity, example, and experience, and 
furthermore by the evidence and demonstration of what has happened and 
is happening, which is the best proof of all, that the matter has come to 
be no longer an affair of words but of acts. That from New Spain alone 
there have come nearly six hundred married couples, besides many other 
people who crowded all the boats that there were—and the same will 
happen in those that are to go—appears, moreover, in the diminution of 
your royal revenues, and in the fact that the merchants of these kingdoms 
are abandoning the commerce of the Indies, which was the greatest and 
best of any hitherto known. There is no need to refer to the disquiet and 
disturbances which have arisen in Peru and in all the Indies from these 
New Laws, which is sufficient injury but only for what concerns the New 
World we beg, with all the reverence that we owe and are capable of, that 
your Majesty order measures to be taken to remedy this, and that it be 
done as quickly as possible, by taking measures in two particular matters. 
One requires more haste than the other, for which, as things are, there 
is no need to ask with much insistence; but for what we owe to the service 
of your Majesty, we supplicate that immediately and with all the haste 
possible the disturbed state existing in New Spain be remedied and quieted 
by ordering positively that the said ordinances be not put in practice, for 
if this be not sent at once those who are there will have no remedy nor 
hope for safety with words, or measures, or other security. To prove 
this, no more reasons are necessary than the experience which has been 
had and is being had, and if there is longer delay the remedy will come at 
a time when there will be no need for it. It is clear that, even though the 
said laws were not injurious and harmful for the land, reason shows the 
