Reduction of the Chichimecas, 1566 
155 
tributes for the master could be lowered, and if it should have grown they 
could be increased. This last, it seems to me, would be a very sufficient 
reason for any master to try to improve his land. 
In this valuation of which I have spoken no personal rights should be 
taxed, unless it should be labor on farms with moderate work and a 
moderate wage. 
In this taxation your Majesty should have a part as your quota, such 
as one-twentieth, so that it would be more readily known what part would 
fall to your Majesty and what the master would take, if he agreed to the 
valuation. 
And, even though there should be no complaints from the Indians, 
visits should be made to these masters by the oidores of the audiencias 
where they should be situated, and if with these measures the encomendero 
or master should turn out to be good the business would be on the right 
road, while if he were bad the Indians of the bad one should be incorpo¬ 
rated in the royal crown of your Majesty, without obligation to give them 
[him] their contributions. I add that I believe lack of experience and 
other faults may have caused me to err, but I know that I do not err in 
my desire to do right in the service of your Majesty, whose life and royal 
state may our Lord increase for many years. 
Sacred Catholic Imperial Majesty, your servant kisses the royal feet 
of your Majesty. 
Doctor Hernán Pérez S. 
To the viceroy of New Spain, ordering him to send a report with his 
opinion concerning the suggestion that it would he suitable for the 
reduction and pacification of the Chichimecas to use the methods 
here recited; namely, to establish towns and monasteries in their 
lands. [1566.] 
The King. To the Marquis of Villamanrique: ... I am informed 
that the rebel Chichimecas of that country are waging more formidable 
warfare than ever before, expenditures of combating them are increasing, 
and the present order to effect their reduction and pacification and to 
secure the roads by presidios of soldiers is not considered suitable, as all 
the men who have been pursuing the Indians are tired out, and that it 
would therefore be necessary to adopt some other course. It has seemed 
fitting to very expert men to establish three or four towns on a cordillera 
which encloses the pass into the Chichimeca lands from the said towns, 
to keep the pass closed, and make war on the Indians in their own lands, 
instead of waiting for them to come out for the same purpose. It is also 
suggested that together with the towns three or four monasteries of friars 
should be founded, for the purpose of attracting the Indians with gentle 
methods after harassing and constraining them by use of the towns. These 
methods it was considered would be the best means of doing away with 
the Indians. The towns were to be settled by natives of Tlascala and 
other parts, the settlers to be free from tributes and to have other advan- 
