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Governor Salazar sold farming rights to pay for the castillo construction

Source: The Menendez Marquez Cattle Barony at La Chua and the Determinants of Economic Expansion in Seventeenth-Century Florida #163

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Before Governor Hita y Salazar's administration there had been no charge for the use of either the King's lands or his waters except the 2.5% tithe on the fruits of the land: maize, cattle, and garden stuff, and an occasional excise tax for a special purpose. (Stos Heras and Domgo Leturiondo, September 13, 1656; Frco Ramirez, Frco Menendez Marquez and Juan de la Cueva, June 2, 1627.) The governor lacked the funds to pay the laborers on the castillo and the viceroy was ignoring his letters. He decided to raise the money himself through land sales and quitrents, or usufructs. Ranchers were charged fifty pesos for each of their estancias. Farmers paid four reales (later reduced to one) per yugada, which was the area that a yoke of oxen could plow in one day. The minimum for each farmer was five pesos. (Governor Hita y Salazar, October 30, 1678; Frco Rocha and Frco Cigarroa, July 10, 1685; Consejo, October 13, 1687.) Indian chiefs, who appreciated the new source of income, began allotting and charging for the use of their old fields--a practice which they called "imposing tribute"--and they disputed the governor's right to assign the realengo. (Frco Rocha and Sdor Cigarroa, March 2, 1680.) Estancia holders who wanted their licenses made inheritable and not subject to the quitrent could buy titles of inheritance for fifty pesos a league. It is unclear whether this was computed by a square league, a league on one side of a square, or a radial league. Between 1677 and 1685, these titles brought in 2,500 pesos. (Frco Rocha and Frco Cigarroa, March 20, October 6, 1685; Governor Hita y Salazar, October 30, 1678.) [Note: The petitions of Marcos Delgado [December 1694] in the Florencia Visita of 1694-1695, and of Lorzo Horruytiner, May 6, 1685 suggest that the measurement was radial.]
(Bushnell MM)