understands it well. To those here who understand the trade, it has
appeared that the cloves and other spices will go at less cost by
way of Nueba Espana, and with less risk and more quickly than by
way of India; and that to preserve the supply of cloves, so that it
may not be destroyed, it is necessary that your Majesty should not
permit the Indians of those islands to be allotted, but should retain
them under your Majesty's direct control, and they should be dealt
with as the king of Portugal dealt with them. For if the Spaniards
try to subjugate them, and order them to pay tribute, all will be
lost--especially in view of the ill-treatment which the Castilians
will inflict upon the natives if the conquered land be given to them
as an encomienda (even though it be with name of pacification), as we
have seen them do in all lands where they have been. The Indians would
receive such harm at the first entrance of the Spaniards that it would
not be repaired in many years. Your Majesty will pardon my boldness
and accept my desire, which is very strong, to serve your Majesty,
in stating what I and many conscientious persons here feel. Your
Majesty will adjust the matter as shall serve your interests.

It is now three years since certain Franciscan religious left this
island to go to China (as your Majesty will already know), without
notifying the governor. Now they have determined to do the same thing;
the custodian, whose name is Fray Pablo de Jesus, has gone thither with
his companions, without saying anything to the governor, for which I
am very sorry. For lack of their labors here, many Indians who were
already Christians have remained without instruction, which I consider
a great disadvantage. But, knowing that God moves the hearts of men (a
matter that we cannot understand), I will overlook that. The governor
took this with more asperity than I wished, for he sent after them, and
the person who went thither treated them very rudely; but finally God
ordained that they should arrive at this island. The governor ordered a
proclamation to be made (its contents will be seen by the copy of the
ordinance which I send to your Majesty), which even to me seems very
harsh toward an order of so high character and strict obedience as is
that of the discalced Franciscans. I advised the governor not to act
with so much severity, but he did not see fit to grant my petition. I
have since learned that the same person who went after them