dship says now, I freed
them from that error, and proved to them that it was not expedient that
the friars should live otherwise than in a community. I discussed the
same thing with his Majesty, and it seemed well to him and so it was
provided. In confirmation of this, the fathers of St. Dominic who came
to these islands brought a brief from his Holiness, confirmed by the
royal Council, which orders that in each house there should be at least
four religious; and they tell me that in the [_illegible abbreviation
in MS._] they praised it greatly and were much edified. In this way,
wherever your Lordship thinks of making a short cut, you take a longer
route. To give to the Indians ministers [as you propose?] will be to
give them those who would destroy them, or at least who would be of
very little profit to them. Do not think that I am so careless that I
would have waited till now if I had thought that what your Lordship
says would be expedient; but as I know how important it is for the
good of my sheep that those who teach them should live uprightly, I
am more pleased to see the religious living together than to see them
separated. I am sorry in my heart when I know that some religious is
alone in a house, and if I could remedy it I would do so; but I do
what I can in not consenting that, through taking too many houses,
the friars may be left alone in others. Your Lordship will do me
the great favor and kindness not to treat of any other matter which
shall be contrary to this, because I know that it is to destroy the
religious and ruin religious instruction. The provincial who shall
do this will give me a very bad example; and I shall understand that
he cares more about establishing houses than about looking after his
friars or religious instruction. On this account the religious and
I have had some quarrels, but I know that they have not been right;
for my zeal and desire has not been to prevent their having houses,
but to prevent their taking so many that they could not support those
establishments without harm to themselves and to the Indians. When your
Lordship says that two are sufficient in Batan, you show clearly that
you are not well informed of what is needed in order that there be
religious instruction; for in Batan there is need of two more friars
in order that it may be well instructed. As to what your Lordship
says about provision for the encomiendas of Ylocos, you have as much
care for them as if you forgot t