t the sum
owed and applied for the expense and support of the instruction. Taking
into account the large number of tributarios and encomenderos of
your Majesty, this would amount to a very great sum, which would
not be collected for this reason, and your Majesty would lose much
more in these fourths. There is another inconvenience in the lack
of instruction, and that is, that where there is no instruction and
the payment of the fourth is excused and less tribute collected, the
consequence is very damaging for the other Indians; for they say that
the Christians pay more tribute than do those who are not Christians,
and consequently no one is willing to be converted. This effect would
cease under adequate instruction, as all would become Christians
and would pay the same tribute, there being no opportunity for the
aforesaid practice. Moreover, restitution of the amounts collected
would be obligatory in the places where there is no teaching. Over
this subject of payment of tributes I have had various arguments with
the bishop, as your Majesty will see by the papers which are sent
herewith. By them your Majesty may understand more accurately all
that has passed, and what the bishop and I have written and replied
to each other. Therefore, as briefly as possible, I shall report it.

10. The bishop founds his opinion on clause 32 of my instructions. This
treats of the encomiendas which are disaffected or have never
been pacified; and orders that I try to correct the excesses in
the collection of the tributes of such encomiendas as are without
instruction. From this the bishop formed his opinion, or merely on
account of his office of bishop--which, he thinks, makes him master of
everything. He commenced his argument by saying that, as the Indians
had no instruction, nothing could be collected from them, nor from
the obstinate infidels living among those who have instruction,
and who refuse the faith, even if instructed. He contends that,
if anything had been collected, it should be restored. Also, that
in the encomiendas where there is justice or other temporal benefit
which tends to the spiritual, the third part of the tributes in the
large encomiendas could be collected, and in small ones, the half
thereof. This sum would be for the support of the encomendero, and is
even placed under certain conditions imposed by the bishop. He says
that from the encomiendas which do not have sufficient instruction
no tribute, or at least v