Although the cathedral church was being finished when the vessels left, after the portal was built—­although with opposition and a suit, as your Majesty will see by the accompanying papers—­I had your Majesty’s arms placed upon it.  Truly, that was sufficiently contrary to the will of these priests here, who—­just as if your Majesty were some foreigner, and not the sovereign, as you are, of all this land—­declare that, wherever the arms of St. Peter are placed, those of your Majesty are unnecessary, to such a state has the insistence and license of the ecclesiastics here come.  Finally, as to the building of the church, it is so far advanced that, notwithstanding the little still to be done, the divine offices are celebrated therein with due propriety.  The canons receive their pay from their stipends, and are content therewith.  There is need of a prelate—­who, as I have written your Majesty, should be not a theologian, but a canonist, in order to serve suitably God and your Majesty.  The work on the new convent of Sanct Andres and Sancta Potenciana for the shelter and training of girls is well under way, although for lack of money not so far advanced as I would like.  However, the girls are being cared for in the house first assigned them.

As I have written to your Majesty, I have four galleys fitted up, which are actually patrolling the coast, and acting as a defense to these islands whenever needed, although they cost me abundance of complaints, both in and out of the pulpit, from these blessed fathers, who have compelled me to make the enclosed inquiries; and yet, with the rumors and dangers current at the present time, these four seem but few to the theologues.  My only regret is my inability to provide and fit them with all the things that they lack, as I wrote your Majesty.

In accordance with clause 7 of your Majesty’s instructions, whereby I was ordered to allow the Indians to pay their tribute in land products or in money, as they chose, your order has been observed hitherto.  Experience has shown that the carrying of this measure farther means the ruin of the country; for since the Indian sees that he can pay his tribute with ten reals, which he makes in one day’s gain, all the rest of the year he makes merry and spends his time in idleness and leisure, drunkenness and magabalijas, which are his sources of income.  Therefore they do not sow their fields, raise animals, or weave their cloth, or cultivate the fruits of the earth.  On this account no rice is found, nor one mata or lampote, [11] which is worth more than three from China.  There is no cotton, wax, gold, or other article of exchange; and all the trade here in these things has been lost, as well as the great cheapness of these things when the Indians paid their tribute in produce, and not as they might choose.  When it became evident that the country was falling into ruin, and the pressure brought to bear by the encomenderos in opposition to the religious orders, and the injuries and annoyances resulting from this method of collecting the tribute were seen, it was determined that it should be collected in produce, as your Majesty will see by the resolution taken there.  Therefore we shall collect the tribute in accordance with this decision, until your Majesty shall be pleased to order otherwise.