Luís Sánchez, 1566 
15 7 
tages in order to induce many to go and settle. The increase in the num¬ 
ber of soldiers for these towns would be very little, for the presidial 
soldiers and the captains who move with expeditionary companies would 
serve for this purpose. The expense and trouble would arise only from 
construction of the towns and monasteries and transporting the people, 
for after these things had been accomplished there would be peace and 
safety in the future. The matter having been considered and discussed 
by the members of my Council of the Indies, it was thought necessary to 
have your report of all that was occurring and what would be proper to 
order. I therefore command you to send me your report and opinion at 
the earliest opportunity. Dated at San Lorenzo, June 19, 1566. I 
the King. 
To the viceroy of New Spain, ordering him to send a report with his 
opinion concerning the suggestion that it would he fitting to com¬ 
mand that the Indian towns to he founded near the Chichimecas 
should contain at least one hundred heads of families, and that trib¬ 
ute should not he demanded for one or two years from those who 
should he reduced. [756(5.] 
The King. To the Marquis of Villamanrique: It has been reported 
to me that it would be fitting to command that all the Indian towns which 
are situated in lands affected by war near the Chichimecas, or among them, 
should be reduced and gathered together, and that there should be no In¬ 
dian town of less than one hundred heads of families, because if there are 
towns of ten, twenty, or thirty Indians or less, the result is that the Chi¬ 
chimecas will come to these towns, burn them, and kill the inhabitants. 
It is also suggested that those who are to be reduced by being taken away 
from their houses and fields would have nothing to pay tribute with, as 
they are all so poor and miserable; hence those who are to be taken from 
one town to another ought to be excused from paying tribute for one or 
two years until they have built their houses and gone back to work. Under 
such a plan they would gladly move, and, being near together, they would 
assist and defend each other. Moreover, it would follow that they would 
be well instructed and the sacraments would be administered to them 
easily. San Lorenzo, June 19, 1566. I the King. 
Memorial presented hy the Bachiller Luís Sánchez, a resident of Chillarán 
de Pareja, to President Espinosa in Madrid, on August 26, 1366. 
Very Illustrious Sir: If they are properly viewed, it is certain that all 
the things which may be said concerning the affairs of the Indies are 
reducible to a single point, namely, the protection of the bodies and souls 
of the Indians, or their destruction and extinction, which has been and 
is going on daily. Those who truly favor the Indians both with words 
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