ry
on the part of your Majesty, as witness the holy laws and ordinances
which, for the good government of these lands, your Majesty has made
and ordered to be observed.

But if it is true, most Christian king, that the intent of your Majesty
in sending Spaniards to these lands is that God may be known, His faith
preached, and His holy law received here; and that these Indians, by
love, good works, and example, may be led to the knowledge of God and
obedience to your Majesty--what law or right permits individuals to
transgress in this matter by their greed and self-interest, and to do
the opposite of that for which your Majesty sent them? This purpose is
that in your royal name and with holy royal authority they may govern
this country, dignified for this task by very honorable titles, and
remunerated by large salaries, your Majesty so affectionately charging
them to treat these natives well, and giving them for that purpose such
holy laws, ordinances, and instructions. Yet these men turn aside their
eyes from all this and close them to the injuries and ill-treatment
which these unfortunates receive. What abhorrence to our holy faith
arises in their minds from this conduct, and what an impediment to the
conversion of the infidels is thus formed! And those who are already
converted are regretting that step; for these men concern themselves
so entirely with getting rich in the shortest possible time, to
which end they are continually planning and undertaking every means
which seems to them best suited to attain that object--even though
it may be contrary to your Majesty's commands and prohibited by the
laws of the kingdom and the ordinances of the Yndias, and though it
may be injurious and prejudicial to those whom they were charged,
by the authority of your Majesty, to make free, and to secure from
all those wrongs. If this be true, what punishment would be fitting
for such a crime? Or how could your Majesty so overlook a thing so
pernicious, that you should not order it to be punished rigorously,
and should not remedy evils which so greatly need correction? But
whether this is so or not, it is not for me to accuse or to speak ill
of any one. I only say, and truthfully, that this land is ruined; and
it is doubtful whether, if it experiences another year like the two
just past, it will endure till the third--and this is no exaggeration.

In the ship which just arrived from Nueba Espana came certain royal
decrees--a remed