the Spaniards. There is no one who can oppose
or who does oppose them, for there is no one from whom to obtain
redress, not only in such things, but in regard to the complaints of
Indians. For the provincials and superiors have before their eyes
the end of their offices, and the necessity of their returning to
be inferiors. Consequently, so long as your Majesty furnishes no
remedy--either by your order that some superior should be sent who
would not have to remain here afterward without acting as superior;
or by giving authority to the bishops of those districts over the
ministers of the missions--it must continue forever as hitherto. Well
might Maestro Don Fray Diego de Guevara tell the little rigor that
the provincial of St. Francis displayed toward certain friars who
lost respect for him--among whom was one who went for the bishop with
a sword and dagger, as if the right of each one was to lie in such
armor. I have heard that he drew up a testimony in order to give your
Majesty an account of it, and also of what little need there is for
a bishop in his bishopric.

I can also tell what happened to me with this same provincial, when,
on the arrival of the morning of holy Thursday, I freed Pedro Alvarez,
government notary--who is said to be some relative of his, and who
was arrested on the charge of that desertion of which I have already
written your Majesty in the present letters, telling you that I would
have recourse to the judge who tried his cause. He succeeded in making
the provincial resolve, and decide obstinately as to what he had to do
for him, or had to preach of me, just as he pleased. He fulfilled it,
as a man of his word. Although it was not much, it was so uncertain,
that his conscience obliged him, according to what the other religious
say, to retract it publicly in another sermon. This is Fray Pedro de
Sant Pablo, one of those considered here as a most holy man. I think
that he must be one.

As appears, by his protection and by that of Fray Joan Baptista of
the same Order of St. Francis, Pedro Alvarez resolved to have me told
that, unless I determined to give to his office the distribution of
the Sangley licenses, he would write [information] against me. That
threat did not give me any anxiety, but such audacity made me angry,
as did the fact that those fathers had given hospitality in their
house for it, if not for my being a magistrate, at least for what I
represent, and since this is the royal pat