ard the
reasons would have a copy of the charges given to the party; and the
suit having been brought to trial the defense might even manage with
crafty pleas to frustrate the zeal of the superior. In such cases
(which are quite ordinary where the said subjection to bishops and
viceroys is allowed) the superior will come out disaccredited and
justly angry, and the accused triumphant; for his evil conscience
and the zeal of his prelate will put him on his guard, and he will
be forewarned of each attack.

How many scandals will follow from this, and how many discords,
edicts, and enmities! how many expenses in money, and how much
bribing of witnesses and intercessors! both of servants and friends
of the governors, who are usually benefited by religious of that
sort. They are generally aided as much by cunning as by what they
spend in order to succeed in their designs, without considering that
they are trampling upon all the three essential vows of the estate
which they profess--namely, poverty, obedience, and chastity.

Therefore, if the desires of his Majesty are that the regulars shall
live in accordance with their own laws; that the natives of the Indias
be well instructed; and that they be not molested by the officials
of the two estates: the remedy for that is to leave the regulars to
their observance without obliging them to become more subject than
they have been hitherto. If this is either not advisable or cannot
be done, it would be better for the orders that the secular clergy
should administer those missions.

For how is it possible that such missionaries should not be covetous
if they are inclined to that vice as an efficacious means to maintain
themselves in their posts, to attain others that are larger and more
wealthy, to defend themselves from the zeal of their prelates? Such
will have the power of loading the Indians with pecuniary fines and
of doubling the fees; and even perhaps there will not lack some who
will avail themselves of trade and commerce to attain that end.

The subjection will result only in advantage to the governors and
ordinaries, in trouble to the Indians (for the latter furnish the
wealth of such ministers) and disservice to his Majesty; since it means
the ruin of religious discipline. The Indians being harassed and the
governors and ordinaries being interested parties, all contrary to his
Majesty's holy intent, the Indians will come to have disinclination
instead of love to affai