even if there were instruction there would be no one to receive it;
and the Indians would have to be conquered anew. In particular some
arrangement should be made so that the Indians shall receive benefit
and profit from us, by introducing justice where none has existed,
and continuing commerce, so that they will conceive love and affection
for us and will be disposed to receive the faith whenever there may be
anyone to teach it. Thus, I told the bishop, the least troublesome
way was for affairs to remain in the same condition until after
your Majesty had been consulted. Otherwise the land would be lost
if the encomenderos should abandon it, which would without doubt
come to pass if they could not be supported therefrom. Moreover,
in accordance with these conclusions of the bishop your Majesty
would be obliged to make restitution of more than one hundred and
fifty thousand pesos, and there would be lost every year more than
thirty thousand pesos of income. As for the encomenderos, there was
not enough property in the world for restitutions, nor would there be
greater cause for pity than that an encomendero who has spent so many
years in conquering this land should be deprived of the bread for his
sustenance therein. Furthermore, in that letter I said to the bishop
that, although it is true that your Majesty commits to him only the
arrangements for the disturbed encomiendas and those unpacified (and
these are the only ones in doubt), nevertheless, it was necessary
in that case for us to meet, in order to discuss them all and give
our opinions regarding them. Moreover I told him that, even though
his opinion and advice were right and proper, yet, in carrying them
out there were inconveniences and difficulties which endangered this
land. For that reason I did not agree with him, and was of another
opinion. Being unable to agree, it was better to advise your Majesty
and await your consequent commands. As we had already waited so long,
we could wait a little longer for the resolutions of your Majesty.

11. After several days the bishop replied to this letter by another of
great length. He still insisted on the observance of his conclusions,
saying that it was unnecessary to await new orders from your Majesty,
as your Majesty had already remitted them to him and to me. He
proceeded to interpret the aforesaid clause of the instruction after
his own manner. He declares that your Majesty commands the payment
of a small portion,