t
been obeyed.

And because your Lordship asks my opinion as to what ought to be
done, I say that, considering that the land is already subjugated and
divided into repartimientos--and for many reasons which, in order not
to be prolix, I omit--there is no reason to abandon it, since it is
very necessary that those who reside here should be supported. Your
Lordship ought, in the opinion of the majority of the captains, to send
his Majesty a true, simple, and clear report, without dissimulations,
of the methods that have been adopted in all this conquest; and of its
present condition, and the methods adopted in collecting the tributes,
so that his Majesty, as a thorough Christian, may decree what is to
be done in the matter. In the meanwhile, the least amount of tribute
possible should be taken for the support of all, considering that it
is not owed; and those who have repartimientos should support those
who have not. It seems to me that if the tributes should be regulated
to the one maez of food and raiment for each Indian, which I spoke
of above, there will be sufficient for both classes if our people aid
themselves with other profits that may be obtained. In order that this
may be collected with some tribute, your Lordship should in every way
try to protect these natives, and to do them justice; and to abolish
abuses and punish pirates, etc. We on our part, shall do what we can
to aid them, instructing them in our holy faith. Since this is my
opinion I sign it with my name. Done at San Pablo of Manila, on the
twenty-first of June, one thousand five hundred and seventy-four.

_Fray Martin de Rrada_

[_Endorsed_: "These opinions are to be kept on file, in order that
they may be passed upon by the Council."]

Reply to Fray Rada's Opinion

Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty:

Replying to the opinion that was given by the father provincial, Fray
Martin de Rada, of the order of St. Augustine, on affairs in this land,
and on the raising of tribute from its natives, we confess that it was
zealously done, in the service of God, our Lord, and for the security
of our consciences. In this estimation we hold and repute him. But,
as sometimes the very wise are misled--now through too great zeal, and
again by their ignorance of some things, which if they had understood
fully, they would not have been misled--we shall not fail to point
out in the "Opinion," certain things which we consider harsh, harmful
to this whole commun