whom we can trust without
great harm to the Indians and very little benefit; because those who
could go and be of service to the Indians do not wish to, and those
who wish to are not suitable. Thus your Lordship will see how right
I was in saying that to appoint many alcaldes-mayor and lieutenants
is a greater harm to the Indians, and this is not a fancy of mine
but a common saying in all the land.

It is very amusing to me that your Lordship places to my account the
coming of so many Indians to me that I may favor them, just as if
I called them, or were a party to driving them away. It is evident
that your Lordship knows but little of the Indians, since you say
this. In order that I may tell you some truths, as your Lordship
wished to tell me, please know that the Indians are much dissatisfied
and complain that you receive them very ungraciously and roughly, and
thus many do not dare to appear before you. This can but be a great
obstacle to what is needed to be done in this country. If my meeting
them with a friendly aspect and treating them kindly is the cause of
their coming to me, I do not think that I shall mend my ways in this,
because I know what they need. As far as being protector is concerned,
that obstacle has been removed, for it is some time since I abandoned
the office of protector; and by no means would I take it up again, for
I do not wish to know more sorrow than I have known, without any other
result than to grieve my heart at the sight of it. When his Majesty
shall learn the reasons which I had for giving it up, I am sure that
he will not regard me as undutiful to him in having abandoned it.

In conferring the prebends and benefices I abide by the royal
rights of presentation in what I am obliged to; but to station a
clergyman in a Christian Indian village [_doctrina_] when there
is someone who opposes, is a thing that I have sometimes done,
and will do henceforward, because I know that it is proper to do so
for the service of God and the good of the sheep which I have in my
charge. Against this there is no right of patronage; nor would it occur
to the king to wish that this should not be done, nor would it occur
to me to defraud the royal right of patronage; for I know very well
the obligation under which I am to keep it, and I know when anyone
acts according or contrary thereto. Surely I am surprised that your
Lordship should meddle in such trifles as to ask from me an account of
the title under