there shall be no lack in this. Accordingly,
we shall have recourse in other districts to the clergy
whom I mentioned above as being at leisure, who will
be occupied with their own support. The plans
for this, as I say—taking away here, and
replacing there, and distributing and selecting them
in order that each one may receive a little—this
is all matter for your Lordship and for the obligations
of your office. It is much more your Lordship’s
duty that you should attend to this business than it
is to prevent the king and his encomenderos from enjoying
what in justice they ought to, because they do not
give you ministers or because they have not them.
Your Lordship can remedy and provide for this only
in one of three ways—either as a protector
of the Indians, or as bishop, or as one who has a
special commission for it from his Majesty. As
protector, what your Lordship can do is to bring suits
in the courts (and, even then, not in all cases),
and be satisfied with the decision; or else perform
your own duties in the matter. As bishop, your
Lordship is concerned with the collections of tribute,
in that in confession you should deny absolution to
anyone who confesses that he has not fulfilled well
the charge of an estate. I do not know whether
you, as bishop, can command the confessors that they
all should refuse absolution in this or that case,
provided the said confessors and your Lordship be
of the same opinion and doctrine. As for special
commission, I do not know if your Lordship have one,
unless it be in the unruly and unpacified encomiendas.
With this supposition there remains to your Lordship
no other foundation on which to act. Neither
does his Majesty commit it to you, nor do I find how
your Lordship can be occupied in dealing with [illegible
in MS.] more than to give your opinion on it;
and here ends the prerogative which your Lordship
can claim in this matter. You make strenuous efforts
in what does not properly concern you, and fail to
remedy what is most necessary and close to your office,
which is what I mentioned above about religious instruction.
I beg of your Lordship that, putting aside human considerations,
you order that this be attended to, which the good
of these souls demands with [illegible in MS.]
necessity. Since in this way there are needs
now, there will be at least many more. Meanwhile,
until ministers are provided more liberally from Spain,
let them all get along as best they can, and accommodate
themselves, establishing houses wherever they wish
to, and where no better opportunity is to be expected.
God knows that this does not [illegible in MS.]
your Lordship, because you interfere with my office.
As far as this is concerned, if I could [illegible
in MS.] with it and my commission, or even give
it all to your Lordship, and perform my duty, [I would
ask (?) _—illegible in MS._] your Lordship
to do it, if it were not for the obstacle which that
would put in the way of the careful guidance and [illegible
in MS.] who manage affairs.