— We order that in the City of Santo Domingo on the Island of Hispaniola reside our Royal
Audiencia and Chancellory, as it has been established, with a president, who shall be governor and captain general; four judges of civil cases [
oidores], who shall also serve as judges of criminal cases [
alcaldes del crimen]; a crown attorney [
fiscal]; a bailiff [
alguacil mayor]; and a lieutenant of the Gran Chancellor; and the other necessary ministers and officials, which will have for district all of the Lesser Antilles, and the coast of
Tierra Firme, and in them the Governments of Venezuela, New Andalusia, Riohacha, which is of the Government of Santa Marta; and in
Guayana or Province of El Dorado, the regions which it now has and no more; dividing territory in the south with the four
Audiencias of the
New Kingdom of Granada,
Tierra Firme [Panama],
Guatemala and
New Spain, along the coasts which run along the west of
North Sea, with the Provinces of
Florida, and with the rest in the North Sea; and that the president-governor-captain general can order and will order what is necessary in military matters and relating to the good governance and defense of said Island of Santo Domingo, according to what the rest of our governors-captain generals of the provinces of our Indies can and should do, and fill the governorships and other offices, should they become vacant in the district of this
Audiencia, until we can fill them, and do, apply and provide the other matters that relate to government, and that the judges of said
Audiencia do not intervene in these matters, nor the president in those relating to justice, and that all sign the sentences and ordinances of the judges.