n days,
and he returned after that with a party of soldiers who asked for
him--as your Majesty will learn more minutely from the relations that
will be sent of everything, and from that one which the governor will
send. According to what we believe, his relation will not be the most
authentic, but that which, he thinks, can accomplish for him most,
for the discharge of so heavy a responsibility as God will have
placed upon him, for the time when he shall go to give account to
Him. Will your Majesty look carefully into this cause, as a father,
patron, and defender of the Church, so that in the future others may
not take this as a precedent, and a greater evil befall us--if it be
that an evil greater than this has [ever] occurred. It may [again]
occur, under the sole pretext that it is service to your Majesty, and
that alone must be accomplished--which is the governor's sole excuse,
and the pretext that they give for the evil deed. The Church remains
very much dejected, the orders and inhabitants very disconsolate,
and the Indians wretched; and every estate of the people of these
islands is afflicted over the new administration of the governor--all
through anxiety of acquiring for your Majesty; so that in a short
time it will all be drained, and there will be no more to drain,
and this Christian Church will be ruined. The governor seems to be
striving for its ruin rather than its advancement. It is a matter
that demands a speedy remedy, as your Majesty will learn by letters
and relations from well-intentioned persons, which will be sent
secretly. For neither the Audiencia, nor the city, nor anyone else
dare send openly, because of their fear of the governor's harshness;
and, from the Council, certain agents usually send the governors
the original letters written from this place, in which account of
government matters is given. Of this we inform your Majesty, although
in brief and succinctly, because of our desire that God may send us
protection and consolation through the wise decisions of your Majesty.

Because of the governor having removed the religious from the hospital,
it became necessary for our vicar to retire to the convent of our
father [St. Francis]; which is quite distant from here. On account
of the difficulties caused by the excessive heat, and the severity
of the rains during the rainy season, he cannot come at all hours
to confess us and to administer the holy sacraments as we need,
especially at night. W