Note 2 — Letter from Fernando de Silva to Felipe IV

I found this city without regidors, because the Audiencia had removed those who held that office. By virtue of a decree of your Majesty, the observance of which was demanded by the fiscal, those offices were offered at auction; but only two of them were sold. The purchasers were persons whose standing did your Majesty but know, you would surely not consider yourself served that [these offices should be sold] for so small a price as is two thousand pesos for each—and one thousand pesos of that sum was paid in due-bills. They should be discontinued, to be conceded to the persons of highest standing in this community, who because of their good character will attend more carefully to your Majesty’s service, and the conservation and increase of the community, than do those who buy them; for the latter generally try to get from the community the sum that the offices cost them. However, I am ordering the proclamations to be continued; and if there are no persons to buy the offices, after the time-limit has expired I shall appoint the most suitable persons to them, with the guarantee that, if your Majesty shall not consider this satisfactory, they shall pay to the treasury the maximum price for which any of the offices shall have been sold.”2 [In the margin: “Gather what [66] has been decreed and bring it here for all the councilors. Bring the general decree which was despatched ordering those offices to be sold. Inform the governor and Audiencia that there must be no innovation.”]