gether with the archbishop, both of us summoning
the provincials of the orders who reside here, and charging them with
the reformation of the matters contained in the section that treats
of this.

He who made such a relation to your Majesty might have made it more
complete by saying what is so true, that there are in these orders
(in which also there are those of every sort, as in all countries),
religious so virtuous and exemplary that if laymen did not divert and
engage them in their affairs, they would, I believe, work miracles. But
they are so importuned that many cannot stay in their cells; nor do
those who go to their cells to disturb them leave them until they
negotiate with them what they desire. It might easily happen that any
one who had received an unmerited favor from their hand, gave pay for
it by such a relation, which is the one practiced here. The relation
that I can make for your Majesty is, that there are among them men very
pentitent and of most exemplary life, and of great utility for souls;
and also others who render vain any merits in one who does not fulfil
their command and will. If it has been said that they distress the
Indians, this is not to be believed of all of them, for most of them
at most times respond with great charity and love to the defense of
the natives of their districts, even when the latter are of such a
nature that almost all do not care to have this protection.

In what pertains to your Majesty's service, according to what I
have experienced, I can say that thus far all the orders--each one
in what concerns it generally--have often responded well, for which
I render them many thanks. The fact is, that since that does not
keep them satisfied in all matters (for that is impossible), I have
found the secret for this particular, namely, to refer everything to
the religious of the district where such [_i.e._, personal, by the
Indians] service is rendered to your Majesty, making them masters and
intermediaries in the pay, which takes precedence of all else, as I
have done. Everything is executed in a wonderful and perfect manner;
but without this expedient, there is nothing to hope, but rather the
reverse. For anything that the religious do not wish cannot be done,
by any means or method; for no one has any influence without them,
except themselves. In my opinion, and that of many, they are lords
in the temporal and spiritual affairs of the Indians, both men and
women, and even of