By decree of June 8, 1621, your Majesty orders, under severe penalties, that those who still owe anything of the proceeds from saleable offices can neither vote nor be elected as alcaldes-in-ordinary.  This has been observed; but certain persons, because of their revengeful dispositions and passions, have extended the decree to [cover] other and different debts.  Especially this year has the fiscal tried to prevent the votes of some regidors by obtaining statements [of their accounts] from the accountancy department—­some of which debts the visitor brought forward, although that had not been done hitherto, except when only royal officials have (and only in a few years) given a memorandum of those disqualified by evident debts; and in the three preceding years none of these same exhibits were of this sort.  They were a disqualification while the visitor was present here, and the interested parties demanded a declaration as the said royal decree did not concern them, and these statements were not obtained from the visit; they have made an appeal, in regard to these points, and they are pending in the royal Council.  None of those debts are regarded as evident while they are in litigation, and while the royal officials do not begin to investigate them.  I referred their petitions to the said royal officials, so that they could investigate and give their opinions.  Having examined it, I declared that those therein contained were able to vote and to be elected, in accordance with the aforesaid; and that, in a community so limited as this, it is not right to give permission to avenge one’s passions under pretext of this royal decree.  That extends, according to its terms, only to the debts for saleable offices.  Few would be the former regidors and alcaldes who would not be included; and it is advisable for your Majesty to be pleased to have the proper decision made known.

During disputes in this Audiencia, it is the president’s privilege to appoint judges; and when the auditors are challenged, he alone remains unchallenged.  Moreover, he has appointed them without any opposition, basing his action on the old custom of this Audiencia, and on the words of the law:  “The president, the members of my Council, and the auditors who shall remain unchallenged, shall appoint lawyers.”  But recently they have tried to make an innovation and to read the petitions of the recusants and to ascertain the causes that they give.  That they did in opposition to the accountant, Martin Ruiz de Zalazar, in regard to a plea of appeal.  As they were not in harmony, I appointed as judge an advocate of this royal Audiencia, who having been summoned to the session, and being asked whether the case had right of appeal, declared in favor of the said accountant:  without allowing him to vote the auditors made him leave the session, and proceeded by act against the party.  The said accountant again challenging him, because of these and other injuries, the said auditor, without allowing him to read the appeal,