Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/236

 St. Francis, and the other from the Order of St. Dominic. They should bring the most extensive powers Your Majesty can obtain, because these countries are so distant from the Roman Church, and the Christians who actually live here and will hereafter reside here are so far from religious discipline and, as human beings, subject to sin, that His Holiness should grant to these religious men very ample powers to be handed down by persons who always reside here, be it either to one General or to a Provincial of each Order in this country.

The tithes farmed in these countries have been farmed in some of the towns, and in others they are offered by public crier; they have been farmed since the year 1523 until now, for before then it did not seem to me that they should be levied, as they were insignificant in themselves, and because at that time those who had land spent more in keeping themselves during the war than their profits amounted to. Whatever else Your Majesty may command for your services will be done.

The tithes of this city for the year 1523 and 1524 were adjudged to the highest bidder for five thousand five hundred and fifty pesos of gold, and those of the towns of Medellin and Vera Cruz are estimated at one thousand pesos of gold. For the present year they are not yet adjudged, and I believe they will go still higher; I do not know how much the other towns brought, as they are distant and I have as yet no information. This money will be used to build churches, pay priests and sacristans, providing the ornaments and other necessary things for their upkeep. The different accounts will be submitted to the treasurer and the accountant of Your