But if it is true, most Christian king, that the intent of your Majesty in sending Spaniards to these lands is that God may be known, His faith preached, and His holy law received here; and that these Indians, by love, good works, and example, may be led to the knowledge of God and obedience to your Majesty—­what law or right permits individuals to transgress in this matter by their greed and self-interest, and to do the opposite of that for which your Majesty sent them?  This purpose is that in your royal name and with holy royal authority they may govern this country, dignified for this task by very honorable titles, and remunerated by large salaries, your Majesty so affectionately charging them to treat these natives well, and giving them for that purpose such holy laws, ordinances, and instructions.  Yet these men turn aside their eyes from all this and close them to the injuries and ill-treatment which these unfortunates receive.  What abhorrence to our holy faith arises in their minds from this conduct, and what an impediment to the conversion of the infidels is thus formed!  And those who are already converted are regretting that step; for these men concern themselves so entirely with getting rich in the shortest possible time, to which end they are continually planning and undertaking every means which seems to them best suited to attain that object—­even though it may be contrary to your Majesty’s commands and prohibited by the laws of the kingdom and the ordinances of the Yndias, and though it may be injurious and prejudicial to those whom they were charged, by the authority of your Majesty, to make free, and to secure from all those wrongs.  If this be true, what punishment would be fitting for such a crime?  Or how could your Majesty so overlook a thing so pernicious, that you should not order it to be punished rigorously, and should not remedy evils which so greatly need correction?  But whether this is so or not, it is not for me to accuse or to speak ill of any one.  I only say, and truthfully, that this land is ruined; and it is doubtful whether, if it experiences another year like the two just past, it will endure till the third—­and this is no exaggeration.

In the ship which just arrived from Nueba Espana came certain royal decrees—­a remedy for some evils of which information had been given.  It seems that the country received thereby some alleviation of its troubles, but I do not know what will follow.  It is a great misfortune to have your Majesty so far away.  For if you were near us, all these ills would soon disappear—­as I hope, by the Divine goodness and your Majesty’s holy zeal, that they will not endure longer than till you shall hear of them, not by my report, but by information which may be quite sufficiently obtained in Nueba Espana; for what I say here is for no other purpose than that your Majesty may be informed of what is going on, and that you may order it to be remedied.