ping
the said archbishop subsided, and in fact have died away; and they
are allowing me to live and govern in peace. Until now, I have been
unable to have peace during these ten months, by whatever means I
have sought and striven. May God grant that it last, and that those
fathers content themselves with governing within their gates, and do
not endeavor to govern and manage your Majesty's governors--which
they attempted to do the second or third day after I was received
as such in these islands. One Fray Sebastian de Oquendo, a restless
and impudent friar, and extravagant in his speech, came to give me
his opinion, and to counsel me as to what persons were suitable for
alcaldes-mayor and captains of the districts where those religious
have their missions--praising some, and speaking evil of others;
and endeavoring to make me believe that what he told me was the only
thing that was advisable for your Majesty's service. He continued to
do that twice more within one week, until I asked him who had told
him that I needed his counsel and opinion to execute and carry out
your Majesty's service, which was in my charge. Thereupon, he talked
no more to me, but he has spoken evil things of the government in
the pulpit at various times--and so scandalously that it obliged the
Audiencia and its president to request his superior to cause him to
leave the city for a season, together with Fray Francisco de Paula,
another restless preacher, and a disturber of the peace and quiet and
of the minds of your Majesty's vassals. The superior refused to accede
to this request; accordingly, those fathers are always overbold and
impudent in the pulpits. Unless your Majesty have the goodness to
command that this be corrected, those of the province and those of
this new congregation will have recourse to your Majesty, in order
to lodge their complaints--those of the province declaring that your
Majesty's patronage is not being observed, and that the aid given
to Fray Diego de Collado is contrary to the royal patronage. This
is the first time that has been seen in these islands, that the
friars have defended the royal patronage, for they are through and
through opposed to the said royal patronage. If your Majesty would be
pleased to see it quite plainly, the royal patronage rules that the
provincials shall propose two or three persons as priors and guardians,
and that the government, representing your Majesty, shall appoint one
of these. By decrees