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Rh that no member of the order should be present at the election of officials in Indian towns, or in any way interfere with those officials in the discharge of their duties, or assume a right to inflict corporal punishment on or demand pecuniary penalties from Indians. Marriage cases of an objectionable or doubtful nature were to be referred to the diocesan. The religious were to win the natives by kindness, "con amorosas y graciosas palabras," not preaching words to amuse, but sound doctrine to fructify their souls. The Indians were not to be charged for the administration of the sacraments, ringing of bells, or other service, but their gifts might be accepted. The penalties for violations of the rules passed by the chapter were quite severe. If they grew careless there was an eye upon them; the king had to remind the Dominicans, and with them the Austin friars, on the 18th of July, 1562, that they were mendicants.

The Dominican community founded in Mexico in 1526 was ruled from this time to 1535 by a vicario general; from 1535 to 1568, by a provincial whose term was of three years; from and after 1568, of four years. The first to hold the office was Domingo de Betanzos,