7/2/1657.



I I

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF TRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO.


Publication No. 270.


A Report from the Council of the Indies to the King.

Source :-British Museum. Additional Mss. 36330.
Published by courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum.
Translated from the Spanish.

MADRID,
7h February, 1657.

SUMMARY.
The Council reports that Don Martin de Mendoca, the
Governor ef the Island of Trinidad and the Province of
Guayana, has died.

This Governorship is an appointment for a period of
five years and the salary is fixed at 3,000 ducats a year.

The Council recommended for this post Don Lorenzo
de Cienfuegos now with the Armada at Cadiz but he declined
to accept this post.

The Council then recommended Don Gaspar de Artega,
Captain of Curassiers, but he also declined the appointment.

The Council then recommended Don Francisco de
Santillana y Argote who had been Governor of Margarita
and who was then in Spain. He also declined this
appointment.

The Council finally recommended Don Pedro de Viedma
who was duly appointed.