treated severely by the theologians, I dared, on this account, to do
what no one else would have done. There is no lack of religious who,
since their arrival here, condemn my action, and say that I am obliged
to constrain the conquerors still further, or to pay the compensation
myself. I assure your Majesty that these scruples have constrained me,
and do so today, to such an extent that this is the principal thing
among other matters of considerable import of which I have to give
an account to his Holiness and to your Majesty. There is no doubt
whatever that he who does the damage is obliged to make restitution;
and all the more when the injured persons are living as they, or their
children and heirs, do in these islands. From investigations which
I have had made regarding those persons who inflicted the injuries,
I am assured that the sums collected as restitution do not amount to
the hundredth part of the valuation of the damages. As my age makes it
impossible for me to go to Spain, and since your Majesty, as a most
Christian prince, so earnestly desires and strives for the welfare
of these natives, I shall send herewith a memorandum of what I have
done in this case, and of what each of the conquerors has paid, and
of the injuries committed--although it would be impossible to relate
them all. I do this so that your Majesty may be pleased to grant to me
and to all this land mercy and grace, when my actions are considered
there; and, if it should be necessary, to procure the approbation
of his Holiness to compromise the matter by releasing them from the
remainder of the restitutions, as full restitution is impossible. To
attempt to do more would be only to harass them, with no other result
than burdening their consciences. Thus I will be freed from these
intolerable scruples and continuous vexations in which I am placed.

Your Majesty seems to hold me guilty for having encouraged the slaves
to leave the Spaniards. I do not know how blame can be placed on me
therefor, since the Indians held as slaves by the Spaniards (who were
unwilling to let them go) have been declared free by your Majesty. It
was evident that the former could not be absolved, any more than
if they had stolen property; and your Majesty knows that, in the
jurisdiction of the conscience, there is not the liberty that there
is in external matters. Your Majesty may pardon a life, or remit the
penalty of the law to him whom he may consider meet; but the trib