Because of the importance of attention to duties of citizenship on the part of citizen encomenderos—­both for the conservation and defense of the said islands, and for their settlement and increase—­I charge you to grant leave to no encomendero, under any considerations, to absent himself from the said islands, even if he should have permission from the viceroy and Audiencia of Nueva Espana.  If anyone should absent himself without permission from me, or unless you shall have granted him permission for unavoidable reasons, you shall deprive him of his encomienda, and bestow it upon another and more deserving citizen.  Inasmuch as Mariscal Gavriel de Rivera, Captain Juan Pacheco Maldonado, and other citizens went to Nueva Espana by permission of former governors, and although they have petitioned me for a prolongation of their stay there, not only have I not conceded this to them, but I have answered them bidding them to return.  They were warned that their encomiendas would be declared vacant, as the time granted by their permission is already expired, unless they should have returned within the period by which they were bound.  If you ascertain, upon your arrival at Nueva Espana, that they have not returned to the said islands, then you shall deprive them of the said encomiendas, and give the same to others.  You shall admit no objection or excuse, for whatever you do contrary to this, now and henceforth, I hereby declare as invalid and null and void.

As I was petitioned, in behalf of the said islands, to grant them a concession ordering exemption from the duties on the first sale of the goods that they send to the port of Acapulco and other places, and also that the twelve pesos per tonelada of freight shipped by the citizens of those islands be not collected at the said port of Acapulco—­this is the duty imposed by Don Goncalo Ronquillo—­answer was made them that the proceeds from these duties were very necessary in order to pay the soldiers and for other expenses.  Accordingly Gomez Perez was ordered in his instructions to have them collected for the above-named purpose, and you shall do the same, until I ordain and order otherwise.

Much has been reported of the disadvantages arising from the trade between those islands and China.  The Portuguese have complained of this, and declared it to be of great harm to them in their trading.  They allege other reasons, in order to persuade me that this trade should be prohibited.  But other reasons, proving the contrary, have not been lacking here, the first and foremost (and it is true) being that, by this means, the land already discovered can be conserved, and the gospel can be introduced into other lands farther on—­a matter that under any other regime would be difficult and almost impossible; and although the Portuguese offer other important arguments, this is what most influences me.  Therefore, in order to adopt the method which will best harmonize these difficulties, my council discussed the matter, and advised what you will see in the decrees which have been despatched on this occasion, and which shall be given you.  I order you to have them observed and obeyed to the letter.  However, if any disadvantages should result, or if there are any other more desirable methods, you shall advise me of all, so that after investigation, the advisable steps may be taken.