ill provided, that, in place
of edifying the infidels and heathen who are here, it is a cause of
scoffing among them. They say that, as they see the monasteries so
richly adorned with ornaments that they have chalices of fine gold,
their God must be greater than that of the secular clergy and of the
friars; and they say other ridiculous things. And nevertheless there
is no one to look after it, nor any one who is grieved over it except
myself, who cannot remedy it. When I succeeded in discussing it with
the governor and the officials of your Majesty's royal treasury, they
shrugged their shoulders and said that, although your Majesty says
in the instructions in general terms that this should be remedied,
your Majesty does not point out how, or with what funds.

Besides this there is the little interest in spiritual things
and Christianity among the laity. Sire, I wish, that I were in the
presence of your Majesty to tell you by word of mouth of this matter,
which is the most pitiable thing which has ever occurred or ever will
occur to so Catholic and Christian a prince, and one on whom our Lord
has showered such singular favors as to allow in his day the opening
of the gate through these islands, for the bringing of the gospel to
realms so great, and so far removed from all that is good. This I say,
then, Sire, that it is a most pitiable thing that there is not a man in
all these Philipinas Islands--Spaniard, or of any other nation--saving
some religious, who make their principal aim and intent the conversion
of these heathen, or the increase of the Christian faith; but they
are only moved by their own interests and seek to enrich themselves,
and if it happened that the welfare of the natives was an obstacle
to this they would not hesitate, if they could, to kill them all in
exchange for their own temporal profit. And since this is so, what can
your Majesty expect will happen if this continues? From this inordinate
greed arises the violation of your Majesty's decrees and mandates, as
everyone is a merchant and trader--and none more so than the governor,
who has this year brought ruin upon the country. There comes each year
from Nueba Espana a million in money, contrary to the mandate of your
Majesty, all of which passes on to the heathen of China. From here,
in violation of your Majesty's decrees, cargoes are loaded for the
Peruvians and the merchants of Mexico, without leaving room for those
of this country--especially t