Hieronimo de Legaspi,
immediately upon arriving here and making his acquaintance, what
I heard and saw of his proceedings; I will therefore dispense with
repeating that, since I am fulfilling my obligation by what I have
already written concerning him to your Majesty, and what I am doing
here, on my own part, and shall do, to curb him in his way of life
and his lawless acts. And I do not repeat what might be added,
as it is almost all of the same sort as those of which I have
written--being the effects of a depraved character, as is evident,
for his will is governed by unfitting motives. He has, moreover,
a son who is accustomed to argue with him, increasing his covetous
disposition, although there is no need for that. [_In the margin_:
"Let the papers in regard to this matter be examined."]

[In accordance with] what your Majesty has commanded that the
archbishop and I should do, calling together the provincials of the
orders resident in these islands, notice has been given them concerning
the things which your Majesty mentions concerning their methods of
procedure, and the incidental exactions and excessive fees which some
of them levy upon the Indians--for masses, burials, and suffrages;
[7] for the building of vessels, and of churches and their houses;
and for repartimientos and new impositions with which they were
loading down and harassing the natives; and charging them with the
reformation of this. It did not seem necessary to the archbishop,
but for my part I shall nevertheless carry it out, informing each one
of the provincials separately, and trying to further the royal will of
your Majesty, without allowing scandal to result by making this public,
and difficulties from such things becoming known. I would already
have done so if I were not waiting for an opportune occasion when I
should be free from the occupations that I have had--encounters with
enemies, the equipment of vessels, procuring supplies, and the many
other things for the service of your Majesty. These can be attended
to only with great difficulty, lacking the favor of the religious
orders, [which much be considered] in order not to annoy them; for
most of them are very easily irritated, especially those of the Order
of St. Dominic. For, even when they have no cause for displeasure,
there is no one who can bring them to reason, since it appears that
they regard it as their vocation to be opposed to the government
and to the governors, as they hav