xico who ought to do something for the good of the city--if for
no other reason than the damage they do it by raising the price of
merchandise with the large amount of money they bring--I decided for
this once to levy upon all, upon citizens and inhabitants of this city
and these islands as upon all others who were therein, an assessment
and contribution of two per cent, upon the cargo and appraisement of
everyone, as appears from the decree to this effect, a copy of which
I send your Majesty. All, citizens and others, were satisfied and
were ready to pay the contribution which fell to the share of each,
for they plainly saw how just it was to ask it. But, the very moment
the bishop and his friars knew of the matter, they called a formal
meeting of their theological council and in it considered whether I
had authority to levy the assessment, whether I had received orders
from your Majesty to that effect or not, and whether I had incurred the
censures of the bull concerning the Lord's supper [_De cena Domini_],
inasmuch as this was a new impost. They resolved, in fact, that I had
no authority to do this, and were even on the point of declaring me
excommunicated. The city was so upset and disturbed by them that open
scandal almost resulted. I do not now discuss the character of this
assessment, for your Majesty will see the justification for imposing
it. All I have to say is that certainly, in addition to my ordinary
difficulties with the bishop, this last trouble is due specially to
the president and the auditors, although they know well how necessary
and useful the wall is. It was because of the lack of it that the
English, when they plundered the ship "Sancta Ana," were able to
get away with their booty so safely. It would have been possible to
attack them and to force them to give it up in the island of Oton,
where they lay at anchor for some days, if it had not been that the
president and auditors were unwilling to run the risk of leaving the
city when it had no wall. If we had had any, no matter how few the
people in it, it would have been safe. But they have not said or done
anything to help me. On the contrary, they have joined the bishop in
denouncing and attacking this tax because it affects them. They have
loaded themselves with cloths and merchandise in such quantity that
their share of the tax is likely to amount to something; and this they
would be glad to avoid, like the good merchants they are. I at least do