an account whenever I order it” Four per cent
of all profits of the fifth part of “all gold,
silver, precious stones, pearls, drugs, spices, and
of all other metals and things found and produced in
the said lands, and of which the rights pertain to
us,” and four per cent of all tributes, are
assigned forever to Alvarado (provided that such sum
does not exceed six thousand ducats each year), and
are divided in due ratio between the provinces discovered.
This is clear of all rights or taxes. In answer
to Alvarado’s request for a tenth of all lands
and vassals discovered,—selected as he
may see fit, and accompanied by the title of duke,
with the dominion and jurisdiction of the grandees
of Castile,—the king grants him four per
cent pro rata in each part, and the title of
count, “with the dominion and jurisdiction that
we shall decree, at the time when we shall order the
said title bestowed. This shall be granted after
the said discovery, and after you shall have signified
what part you have selected, provided that we shall
not have to give you your said part from the best or
the worst of the said islands and provinces, or the
chief city of a province, or a seaport.”
Other privileges are: the life-title of governor
and captain-general of all places discovered, with
an annual salary of three thousand ducats, plus one
thousand ducats over and above this sum, to be paid
from the incomes and profits accruing to the king from
these discoveries, but these shall not be paid unless
the incomes and profits reach that figure; his heir
shall be governor of two hundred leagues of land,
with the same salary and gratification, and under
the same condition Stone forts may be built, at his
own expense, in such places as he may select, which
he and two generations of his heirs shall hold, with
an annual salary and gratification of one hundred
and fifty thousand maravedis for each one of the forts,
to be paid under the same conditions as the foregoing.
He shall have the perpetual office of high constable
in all lands discovered and conquered. No similar
agreement shall be made with others for seven years,
if he fulfil his promises. Provision will be made
later as to the natives of the lands discovered.
Men and goods may pass freely from Puerto de Caballos
(conquered by Alvarado) to Guatemala, and orders are
to be given by the king that the governor of Honduras
shall place no obstacles in the way of such passage;
and meanwhile Alvarado’s claims to the above
port are to be investigated. The governor of
Honduras will be required to furnish Indians as porters,
for whose services the current price must be paid,
as well as for all carts and other equipment used,
but as much as possible must be carried by waterways.
One hundred and fifty negro slaves may be taken from
“these our kingdoms, or from the kingdom of Portugal
for the said fleet or for the preparation of the said
fleet, free of all taxes;” but the adelantado
must send an account to Spain, signed by the officials