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Rh seventeenth century; but to judge from the continually increasing numbers and depredations of robbers, it could not have been an efficient force.

In 1710, at the urgent request of the inhabitants of Querétaro, Miguel Velazquez de Lorea, a native of that city, was appointed as provincial alcalde of the Santa hermandad in that district. The energy of this officer and his success in the suppression of brigandage were so great that later his powers were greatly increased. Hitherto the tribunal of the Santa hermandad had been subordinate and responsible to the criminal court at Mexico; in 1719 it was ordered that the sentences pronounced by Velazquez should be final, and he was exempted from the obligation of reporting his decisions to that tribunal. By royal cédula dated May 22, 1722, his conduct was approved and he was confirmed in office. From this time the acordada may be considered as established as an independent tribunal. Velazquez, retaining his position of provincial alcalde, was appointed judge of the new court, and rigorously did he perform the judicial duties of his calling. Scouring the country with his men, he assailed the brigands wherever he could find them, and none escaped who fell into his hands. A hurried trial over, the inexorable judgment was passed, and in a few minutes the culprit, having been shrived by the court chaplain, was dangling from the nearest tree, or was shot through with arrows.