24.  The more spiritual among them try to go to China, Xapon, Camboxa, and other kingdoms, in order to preach the gospel, unmindful of their duties here, for which they were brought.  This anxiety makes them restless, and they invent journeys and conquests which disturb the rulers and the Spaniards.  All this gives rise to other objectionable things.

25.  They will accept no curacy in any province, unless rich enough to suit them.  They abandon the rest, so that there are many islands and provinces whose people ask for baptism but are unable to obtain it, for the lack of persons to administer it as well as to impart instruction and to live with the Indians to see that they do not apostatize.

26.  Many of the religious treat the Indians very cruelly, just as if they were slaves or dogs.  On failure to please, they are beaten, or subjected to any penalty that presents itself, on the pretext that they were remiss in attention to religious instruction.

Ecclesiastical judges and prelates

27.  They meddle with the royal jurisdiction.  Hitherto they have not been restrained, for they would immediately pronounce excommunication and offer other insults.

28.  In the cases tried by them, they practice notorious coercion, insulting the parties to the case, executing all that they decide and determine, whether right or wrong—­and all this without having any education, or having any person to guide them.

29.  The religious have attorneys who speak both languages, and interpreters, whom they invest with authority, and from whom the Indians suffer innumerable offenses and many grievances.

30.  Their officials and clerks collect excessive fees and do not keep to the fixed rate.

31.  Although his Majesty had ordered no pecuniary fines to be imposed on the Indians for any cause or pretext whatsoever, they are compelled to pay fines of gold and reals, which decrease their property and estate.

32.  Some of the judges are quite at variance with others, especially in regard to conservators; and they excommunicate one another and the town, with considerable offense and scandal.  Bulls and briefs have been published, unknown to, and not passed or received by, the council.

33.  When complaint is made of the excesses and crimes of any ecclesiastic or religious, their superiors do not punish them.  On the contrary, saying that it does not befit the dignity of religion to say that they have committed crimes and that they have received punishment, they let the matter drop.

34.  The ecclesiastics and religious quietly take away from and add to the instruction at will, and without the supervision of the governor and the ecclesiastical superior, contrary to his Majesty’s orders.  This occasions many difficulties.  They do not allow the bishop to visit their curacies, for fear that the injustice of their action will be discovered.

Secular government