his Majesty should most highly value
them, on account of the fidelity with which they have served him,
at the cost of their lives and possessions. [The king confers the
encomiendas upon certain persons, who thus assume obligations to
the Indians; that they may fulfil these, he orders them to collect
the tributes. Accordingly, the alcaldes-mayor do not appear in the
king's provisions regarding this matter, and Salazar questions the
governor's right to appoint them.] Neither the king of Castilla nor
his ministers can exercise, in regard to the Indians, more authority
than what the church confers upon them; and the church has not over
the infidels as much authority as some who think otherwise have given
your Lordship to understand. ... The church did not grant'lordship
over the Indians to the kings of Castilla with the principal object of
establishing justice among them, but did so in order that they should
furnish to the natives religious instruction--which always, and in
every instance, can and ought to be given them. [No tribute should
be imposed upon the Indians unless religious instruction is given to
them; and to allow them the fourth part of the tax is not to benefit
their souls. The bishop insists that the governor is responsible for
taking such measures as shall remedy the present abuses, and urges
him to accept the plan proposed by the clergy.] If your Lordship,
after reading what I here state, shall decide to pursue and carry into
execution the opinion and resolution which you have communicated to
me, I cannot, without violating the obligations of my office, decline
to release the consciences of those whom I have in charge. From this
your Lordship's house, on the fourth of March of the year 1591.

_Fray Domingo_, Bishop of the Filipinas.

Letter from the Governor to the Bishop

[Two days later (March 6) Dasmarinas answers, at considerable length,
the letter written by the bishop. He adopts a conciliatory tone,
disclaiming any intention to be arbitrary, unfair, or unfriendly. He
explains his position in regard to the collection of tributes,
saying that the plan laid down in his recent decree is but temporary,
awaiting only the provision by the king of a sufficient number of
religious teachers. He reminds Salazar that encomiendas and tributes
were established in the land as soon as the Spaniards had obtained
a foothold there, when only some half-score priests were to be
had. Religious instruction is the