[The bishop declares that the conversion of the pagan Indians will not be hindered by his plan.  Not the least hindrance to the conversion of these islands is the harshness with which the tributes are collected from the Indians.] It is certain that when the faith is preached to the Indians on the plan and with the gentleness which our Lord ordained, attended with kind treatment and good examples, in accordance with the requirements of God’s law, the infidels will never consider whether or not they have to pay tribute.  For if they once reach a real understanding of what it means to be converted to God, and of the benefit which they receive from it, and the evils from which they are set free, not only will they not heed whether or not they are paying tribute, but they will, if necessary, surrender their goods and estates, in order not to remain without baptism.  We need not vex ourselves to secure the baptism of infidels who avoid baptism in order not to pay tribute; since it is not such whom God chooses, or whom the church needs.

The greatest difficulty for the Sangleys who sought baptism has been the command to cut off their hair.  It is certain that on this account many have failed to become Christians, whereat I have been exceedingly grieved.  Not that I have not always wished, and still desire, that all of that nation might be converted, and I have exerted myself to that end with all my strength; but when I see one of them hesitate as to cutting off his hair, it seems to me that he has not come for baptism in the right spirit, and for that reason I do not admit him to baptism.  Those, however, in whose hearts God has moved, and who truly understand what they are receiving (and there are many such), are not disturbed because their hair is cut, or because they are forever abandoning their native land.  On the contrary, these persons have broken all ties, and submitted to every requirement, that they might not remain without baptism.  It is true that we have baptized some of that nation without requiring them to cut off their hair, through our reasonable consideration toward them; but we have never consented that anyone of them should be baptized until he had made up his mind to allow his hair to be cut:  and then he did not know that we intended to baptize him without removing his hair.  From the above it may be inferred that the payment of little, or much, or none of the tribute is not in itself a reason for the infidels to avoid baptism; they do so because we oppose so many obstacles to the preaching of the gospel, and set so bad an example, and because it is so preached that they do not understand it.