Procuradores of New Spain 
141 
monwealth is made and sustained. This cannot be in New Spain unless 
there is perpetuity, and that cannot be unless they have Indians. No one 
wishes to sell what he has here and go 2000 leagues to plough and dig, 
for they could find in these kingdoms plenty of places to do that, and 
because it is not done there are many parts depopulated. 
Another reason. The necessity that the Indians shall be given in per¬ 
petuity to the Spaniards is shown also by the experience that has been 
had that the Indians of the islands and Tierra Firme, through not being 
given in perpetual encomienda, were all destroyed; for they [the Span¬ 
iards] were hirelings and not farmers, and only tried to drink their sweat 
and come away. They did not plant, or build, or raise cattle, because they 
had no property of their own. This experience alone is enough to make 
known the benefit that would follow from granting the said perpetuity, 
and the harm from not doing it. 
Another reason. In New Spain experience has shown that in the towns 
given in encomienda which have had many masters, because of the con¬ 
stant change they are not so well treated as those that have had but one 
master; and this has been shown very markedly among the Indians who 
have been placed in corregimientos, not only in the utter lack of planting 
and building, but also in the decrease in the number of Indians. 
Another reason. It is well known that the Indians have great affection 
and love for the encomenderos who have had them, and show them much 
gratitude and follow them and accept their examples and take their names. 
This is not done by those placed in corregimientos, for they do not know 
their masters. With the encomendero they are protected from the other 
Indians, their neighbors, so that they cannot take their lands and property 
and farms, or their women and children, which they are in the habit of 
taking from each other. 
It only remains to show, besides the above, that it is not desirable that 
the Indians shall be in corregimientos, for by giving them to the Spaniards 
in perpetuity, besides the great advantage to your 
royal revenues, they would be greatly benefited. 
It is deduced from the reasons given that by set¬ 
tling the land and planting and perpetuating it, 
also by establishing towns of Christians, besides those already established, 
so that they shall be in the territory of the Indian towns as they are in 
Spain and all the world, the land will be fortified and made safe, the faith¬ 
ful will join in making permanent buildings and making use of the 
materials of the country and will invent things to make of them and will 
work at it. The Indians will receive pay for their work, for no more is 
to be asked or taken from them than their tributes, and for what they do 
above that they are to be paid by these kingdoms. There will be trade 
in the things that are lacking there, and those that are raised there will be 
brought to these kingdoms. There will be constant commerce there, in 
which your Majesty will have your fifths and your duties, and the 
churches will have their tenths, and as it grows they necessarily must and 
will grow, if the ministers establish a truly Christian government. 
Another reason. Unless the Indians and tributes be given in perpetuity, 
and unless your Majesty agrees to all this, and to divide them, according 
11 
Give attention to this. 
