| to remedy this condition, your majesty should send to govern them not those who solicit that charge, but those whom your majesty shall seek--christian men, without greed; for such men are what the people desire, and would suit them and us. let your majesty send hither a man who comes alone, and without obligations to relatives or friends (in serving whom they neglect their duty to the early comers, whose blood has been spilled), who is content with the salary that your majesty assigns him (which is always quite sufficient), and who hopes for advancement by your majesty through his services; and who will not, by making himself rich in two years, destroy this country, or prevent others from enjoying it and gaining a livelihood. | |
by doing this, your majesty will have one of the best possessions in the yndias. but if things go on as heretofore and there is no one to attend to it, it cannot continue long. if it shall please your majesty to entrust the government to men who live here, there are those who could conduct it very well and creditably, without the many disadvantages which attend those who come from espana. the foregoing is such information as i can give your majesty from here regarding the transgression and observance of the royal commands, laws, and decrees; and of the present state of this country, the wrongs that occur in it, and what matters ought to be remedied. on account of the little time before the ship departs, not all of this letter is so polished as to be fit to appear before your majesty. if this relation is deficient (as it cannot fail to be) it is not in lack of truth or in desire to serve your majesty and secure the welfare of these souls whom, because of their sins and my own, i have in charge. |
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| if there is anything which to your majesty appears worthy of remedy, i humbly ask for it; and if i have said anything about which it appears to your majesty i ought to have been silent, i also humbly beg that i may be pardoned. since your majesty knows that i am five thousand leagues distant from your court, and surrounded by so many griefs and afflictions, you will not be surprised at what i say, but at what i leave unsaid--and even why i myself did not go to beg for the remedy; for it certainly is a different thing to see and endure it here, than to hear it mentioned there. for this office shall always be chosen persons who are thoroughly competent and well approved--whose purity of family descent, and exemplary life and habits, have been previously ascertained through written information. | |
 besides this, confidence is placed in their prudence, moderation, and temperance, which qualities will enable them to exercise aright the trust conferred upon them, and they will exercise it, for the public good, for the better transaction of business, and not for any private ends. | |
| above all, it behooves them, and they are earnestly charged, not to employ the name and title of the holy office for avenging individual wrongs, or for the intimidation or affront of any person. the more such a person shall suspect the inquisitor's friendship, the more prudently must the latter deal with him; otherwise, not only will god be therein offended, but the holy office will be greatly wronged. as soon as the commissary receives his appointment, and before he makes use of his powers, he must accept it in the presence of an apostolic notary or a royal scrivener, in whose presence he shall give oath of secrecy and fidelity according to the minute accompanying these instructions. he will show the said title to the governor, and to the ecclesiastical and lay cabildos, in order that they may receive, treat, and recognize him as a commissary and agent of so holy an office. he will take great care not to exceed his commission, but to fulfil it, observing these instructions and other particulars which will be sent to him, which treat of the manner of receiving acknowledgments, substantiating testimony, and visiting ships. | |
| to show the certificate of appointment to the cabildos is only a mark of courtesy, and in no way a necessary proceeding; for there is no need of their permission or approbation. the commissary is advised of this because the patent for his commission does not require any other contrasignature or permission for its validity. secrecy is the surest means, which the inquisition is to employ very rigorously, for the detection and punishment of crimes. therefore the commissary is strictly charged to observe secrecy in reference to these instructions, or any others which shall be sent to him, or letters written to him about business, and all else that comes to his notice in the capacity of commissary. he shall impose the same secrecy upon all those who act as accusers or witnesses, or who ratify their former testimony, and upon all honest persons who are present at such ratification--ordering all the said parties to observe secrecy, under pain of excommunication, and under the obligation of the oath which they took when making their depositions. | |
| the commissary, moreover, shall impose other punishments, pecuniary or ; and shall enlarge on gravity of the sin committed in the disclosure of a secret by a witness, with warning, that the inquisition punishes from the standpoint of , and according to character of person and the nature of transaction.. .. |