up to the present time have been so contrary to natural law, and proved
so great an impediment to religion and evangelical preaching, and so
harmful and prejudicial to the inhabitants of these islands. Indeed,
if we should hear, as God does, the complaints and outcries which
continually arise in the hearts of these people, we would clearly see
how much more cause there is for comforting them than for favoring
those who have inflicted upon them such injury. And yet, if we but
consider this carefully, we shall see that the Spaniards have done
themselves still greater harm, since they have deprived the Indians
merely of their property, but have incurred the condemnation of their
own souls.

I, my Lord, do not wish, nor do I pretend, that the encomenderos
should die of hunger, or that your Lordship should lack the means to
fulfil your obligations; but I do maintain that we should have such
care for what is right for the Spaniards as not to sicken more souls,
or cause the gospel to be received in this land not gladly, but by
force, and in such wise that it will not avail those who receive it.

The king, our lord, need only decree that this matter be left to the
conscience of those who govern here; for his Majesty cannot examine
it with his own eyes, and, consequently, the entire burden falls upon
your Lordship and upon those of us who have to decide what shall be
done. This affair is not one of so little risk as not to require a
most careful consideration; for to deprive the Spaniards of the right
of collecting the tributes from their encomiendas, when they might
just as well do so, is to deprive them of their very property, and
give them permission to collect from those who do not owe tribute,
and to free them from obligation to the Indians. Thus the entire
responsibility would fall upon those who might express their opinion;