as possessed this country and collected tribute from his
vassals--who have received great benefit in being such; for in the
time when they were heathens they were subjected to many tyrannies,
imposed upon them by the chieftains whose subjects they were, who
took from them their wives and property during their lives. Now they
are secure in all these things, and much benefited in spiritual and
temporal goods. They are in no wise oppressed by the collection of
the tribute; and if the effect of this royal decree must continue and
be in operation as provided therein, there will be many difficulties,
such as have already commenced with the seeking of delay. Your Majesty
will hold nothing securely, and for the same reason will have no
justification for possessing this land. I am sending your Majesty
a copy of the instruction and directions which are ordered for the
execution of these measures, and one of the answers by the natives
of La Laguna; so that, seeing these difficulties, your Majesty may be
pleased to order a review of this affair and a determination of what
is most expedient for the service of your Majesty. In the meantime
I shall put matters into the best state possible.

10. _That two sermons have been preached on the bulls, and that very
little alms have resulted; that at present they are considering how
to preach to the Indians and that no doubt they will succeed, when
it will be necessary to send more bulls, according to the memorandum
of the treasurer_.

Before I came to these islands the first preaching of the bulls
concerning the holy crusade had commenced; and last year occurred the
second, which is now in progress. I have written to your Majesty my
sentiments in this matter; and now I say again to your Majesty that,
although the bulls which are preached here and disposed of among the
Spaniards are very necessary for them, the alms proceeding from this
source, allotted to your Majesty, are of very little importance,
because there are not many people here--for the Spaniards do not
amount to two thousand, and of these there are very few who are not
exceedingly poor. The proceeds of the first preaching, when reckoned
up, do not reach two thousand pesos; and that these alms might be of
more importance, I have considered how the bulls might be preached
to the Indians. I have found that in the time of Don Luis Perez many
difficulties arose, as it was said that they are a people only partly
and newly converted, a