r, what your Lordship can do is to bring suits in the courts
(and, even then, not in all cases), and be satisfied with the decision;
or else perform your own duties in the matter. As bishop, your Lordship
is concerned with the collections of tribute, in that in confession
you should deny absolution to anyone who confesses that he has not
fulfilled well the charge of an estate. I do not know whether you,
as bishop, can command the confessors that they all should refuse
absolution in this or that case, provided the said confessors and
your Lordship be of the same opinion and doctrine. As for special
commission, I do not know if your Lordship have one, unless it be in
the unruly and unpacified encomiendas. With this supposition there
remains to your Lordship no other foundation on which to act. Neither
does his Majesty commit it to you, nor do I find how your Lordship
can be occupied in dealing with [_illegible in MS._] more than to give
your opinion on it; and here ends the prerogative which your Lordship
can claim in this matter. You make strenuous efforts in what does
not properly concern you, and fail to remedy what is most necessary
and close to your office, which is what I mentioned above about
religious instruction. I beg of your Lordship that, putting aside human
considerations, you order that this be attended to, which the good of
these souls demands with [_illegible in MS._] necessity. Since in this
way there are needs now, there will be at least many more. Meanwhile,
until ministers are provided more liberally from Spain, let them all
get along as best they can, and accommodate themselves, establishing
houses wherever they wish to, and where no better opportunity is to
be expected. God knows that this does not [_illegible in MS._] your
Lordship, because you interfere with my office. As far as this is
concerned, if I could [_illegible in MS_.] with it and my commission,
or even give it all to your Lordship, and perform my duty, [I would ask
(?) _--illegible in MS._] your Lordship to do it, if it were not for
the obstacle which that would put in the way of the careful guidance
and [_illegible in MS._] who manage affairs.

Neither does your Lordship resolve to order that, on account of the
great lack of religious ministers which exists, provision may be made
in the encomiendas that laymen of good life and example may instruct
the Indians, bringing them thus to a knowledge of the true God, as well
as into friendship