that found in graves or other places where it shall have been hidden,” and in other goods, the following order is to be observed:  one-fifth of everything taken in battle, or taken from villages, or for ransoms shall be paid the king; he shall receive one-half of all treasure found in graves or places of worship, or buried, and the person finding the treasure shall have the other half; but any person not announcing his find shall lose “all the gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls, and in addition one-half of his other possessions.”  The strict observance of the contract is ordered.  This contract was first made in 1638; in 1639, a section was inserted confirming the partnership of Alvarado and Mendoza, in which the latter was to receive one-third of all profit; in 1541, in accordance with the new agreement between the two men, a clause was added to this contract, giving equal rights to each. (No. ii, pp. 7-26.)

Mexico, September, 1542.  On the fifteenth of this month Mendoza commissions Gonzalo Davalos as his treasurer on the expedition, Guido de La Bezaris [23] as his accountant, and Martin de Islares as his factor.  The treasurer is to receive an annual salary of seventy-five thousand maravedis, “to be paid from the profits that shall pertain to me in those lands, it being understood that if this amount is not reached, I am not obliged to pay it from any other source.”  The usual duties of treasurer are to be observed by him.  On the eighteenth of the month very full instructions are given to Villalobos by Mendoza.  The principal injunctions of these instructions follow:  he will report at Puerto de la Navidad, where the vessels for the expedition have been prepared; these will be delivered to him by Mendoza’s agent, who shall make a full declaration of everything in the equipment of the vessels “except the merchandise and articles of barter, the slaves, the forge ... because they must be under the charge of the treasurer and officials whom I am sending in the fleet for that purpose; and other things I specify in their instructions, and in those of Juan de Villareal [his agent] in regard to it.”  He shall sign this declaration in the records of the notary and in the books of the accountant and treasurer.  All the “artillery, ammunition, war supplies, and weapons, shall be given into the charge of the captain of artillery, and all the vessels of the fleet into the charge of the commander of the fleet, together with all their equipment, tackle and rigging, and provisions.”  In each ship, a pilot, master, boatswain, and notary shall be appointed.  Each ship shall be put in charge of its master, and the notary for that ship shall take full notes of everything transferred to the former’s keeping.  The master shall also have care of the artillery of his vessel, such charge being imposed by the captain of artillery.  For greater security the merchandise and articles for traffic, and the officials having them in charge, are to be apportioned among the vessels.