that they will abandon their doctrinas [i.e., Christian villages] if their power over the Indians is taken away.  This power is such that the Indians recognize no other king or superior than the father of the doctrina, and are more attentive to his commands than to those of the governor.  Therefore the friars make use of them by the hundreds, as slaves, in their rowing, works, services, and in other ways, without paying them, and whipping them as if they were highwaymen.  In whatever pertains to the fathers there is no grief or pity felt for the Indians; but as for some service of your Majesty, or a public work, in which an Indian may be needed, or as for anything ordered from them, the religious are bound to gainsay it, place it on one’s conscience, hinder it, or disturb everything.  Without doubt, if I did not exercise so much caution and moderation, some mutiny or rebellion might arise, in a country so new, at less opportunities than those which the bishop and his friars afford.  For they do not content themselves with opposing our proceedings in the tribunal of conscience [fuero interior], announcing them as sins or cases against conscience; but also, as soon as they assemble in their councils and enunciate their propositions, in the latter and in their pulpits they declare these acts to be unjust, wrong, and worthy of restitution.  Thereupon the bishop orders refusal of absolution in confessions, excommunicates, and proceeds in the outer court. [49] Thus if it is ordered in accordance with your Majesty’s commands that the citizens alone discuss [any matters], they say that that is not just, because it must be for the general welfare.  And if, by your Majesty’s command, it is ordered that the Chinese merchandise be bought at one price, theology declares that no such thing can be ordered.  If it is decreed that the Indians, in order that they may cultivate and weave their cotton, since it is so abundant in the country, should not wear silks and Chinese stuffs, nothing could be worse.  No sooner is the excise, or the merchant’s peso, or the two per cent duty imposed for the wall, than it is against conscience and the bull De cena Domini ["of the Lord’s supper"].  If I undertake to appoint magistrates to govern in peace and establish order among the Indians, they say that I am setting the land on fire.  If I pass any sentence in accordance with the merits of the case, there is murmuring, and [it is said] that such a thing has never been seen in these islands; and therefore there is no man more severe or of more evil disposition than I. They assert also that not a single arquebus-match should be lighted here, or a single soldier be kept; and that the pure gospel must be preached.  Thus, I behold myself, Sire, greatly restricted by these obstacles, and even more by the procedures of the bishop in matters in which he has no jurisdiction, and which do not concern his office—­because those that do pertain to him, he has most forgotten.  For I assure your