d not support here a soldier, nor the bishop,
nor me, and everything would be lost. I replied to his question
as to what action I should order taken; and finally, as authority
(with added reasons) for the orders that were being carried out, I
cited several authors who were quoted in an opinion that I had from
the religious. He was greatly offended thereby as your Majesty will
see by his reply, and I have just entreated him to wait at least
until the ships arrive; and especially as, in a general meeting of
the orders which took place soon after my arrival, all agreed, and
he with them, in the opinion which I have now applied in my orders;
and 1 asked him, inasmuch as he had approved of it then, not to make
any innovation now. Finally, I begged him at least to refrain from
scandalizing the people from the pulpit, defending certain opinions
and refuting others very improperly and freely. Since the Augustinians
kept silence, they should not be obliged to answer for themselves.

16. This letter appeared to the bishop so disrespectful and bold
that in his reply there are but sharp and heated words against the
religious. He says that they err from the beginning, and that they do
not know the fundamental principles. He had imagined that the letter
was not mine alone, as he believed that I could not by myself have
seen the authors cited therein for its authority and doctrine. He
says that neither I, nor your Majesty, nor the pope has authority to
take from the infidels a single real; that it is true that he was of
the general opinion before, but that he erred then, and now is in the
right (It appears to me, however, that he errs now, and was then in
the right.) So firm is he in his opinion that he does not wish to
call it opinion, but truth. He declares that if all the orders in
this bishopric, and the universities of Salamanca and Alcala [8] in
addition, should say the contrary, he would not forsake his opinion;
and he is very certain that your Majesty will oblige me to follow his
opinion. He offers a treatise on the subject which he is preparing for
the explanation and elucidation of everything, and finally closes by
asking me to have the money paid which is owed by the royal treasury.

17. It is unnecessary to report here my reply to his letter; for,
besides being brief, inasmuch as I had said all that there was to say
in regard to the principal business, I did not care to attempt more
than to pacify him, and to reply by mea