Luís de Velasco, 1610 
169 
gamble in any other private house. If you, after performing this duty, 
see or learn that they have not reformed, suspend them from their offices 
without awaiting further command from me. And in order that all this 
may stop, as well as the evil custom which has been introduced there of 
excessive gambling among the women, you will take notice of the conduct 
observed by them after you warn them and their husbands to desist 
and to cease permitting it. If this is not sufficient you will command the 
judges to punish them with the pecuniary fines and exile which their ex¬ 
cesses merit, without regard of persons. As to gambling-houses, you will 
ascertain whether it would be suitable to increase the legal penalties; if 
so, you will act according to your judgment, but in such a way that it will 
not be turned to the profit of justice, but may rather serve as a terror and 
punishment to the guilty. You will in everything so attend to the reform 
that there shall remain no trace of what has passed, and that all may know 
that if they transgress in this manner they shall experience rigorous pun¬ 
ishment. Dated in San Lorenzo, September 7, 1594. I the King. By 
command of the king, our lord, Juan de Ibarra. Signed by the Council. 
1610. Certified copy of the decree issued by Don Luis de Velasco, vice¬ 
roy of New Spain, in favor of Francisco de Sosa Penal osa, admini¬ 
strator and protector of the Chichimecas Indians, to prevent the jus¬ 
tices there from trying the cases of the said Indians. 
1610. Don Luis de Velasco, cavalier of the Order of Santiago, vice¬ 
roy, deputy of our lord, the king, his governor and captain-general of New 
Spain, and president of the royal Audiencia sitting in it, etc.: Inasmuch 
as Francisco de Sosa Peñalosa has made me a statement that, although 
the administration and protection of the Chichimecas Indians who are 
reduced to peace and settled with some Tlaxcaltecos in Chalchiguitis and 
its vicinity, and the receiving into the said peace of those who may come 
to renew it was entrusted to him, yet the regular justices there are med¬ 
dling in it and attempting to try the cases and affairs that occur among the 
said Indians. This they have not the power or right to do, with the results 
that there are many difficulties and disputes. And he asks me as a remedy 
for it to order the said justices not to try the said cases but to leave them 
to the captain or chief that may be there. And [the statement] having 
been examined by me, by the present writing I order the regular justices 
of the said district of Chalchiguitis not to interfere in any manner in trying 
the cases and business of the Tlaxcaltecos and Chichimecas Indians who 
are settled there, or will settle there in the future, nor in those of the one 
who administers or may administer the affairs of the said Indians, but to 
leave all to the captain or chief under whose charge administration and 
protection may be, so that he may try the said cases in conformity with 
the order which has been given for it, with warning that if the said jus¬ 
tices do the contrary, action will be taken against them as against persons 
