relief of his conscience, for which he sends us to those regions. Hence
it seems that sending us might be dispensed with; the more since his
Majesty entrusts this matter to his royal officials to whose direction
and command he subjects us religious. They, perhaps supposing that by
showing themselves rigorous in a matter of such piety they are likely
to be regarded as zealous for the protection of the royal treasury in
all other matters, draw the string until it breaks. But it is evident
that there are royal officials in the Indias who maintain princely
houses, perhaps without having inherited means for this from their
parents. With regard to them it is plainly known that they serve the
king solely for their own advantage; yet his Majesty trusts more to
them than to disinterested religious who ask for nothing but their
food and lodging on the road. If this costs much, it is because the
journey is so tedious. Although at this point it might be said that
the accounts of the royal officials have to be audited in due time,
and that therefore they are more to be trusted, I, who have seen
much of the world and know what happens in it, know also what is the
fact in this matter. It is, that he who goes out of office richest
at the time of the residencia goes out the best justified; hence,
for fear of that, he never fails to make his profit. I do not mean
to say that there should be no order or system in regard to the
grant allowed by his Majesty to the religious for these missions;
but I mean that his Majesty should command his officials to believe
them at least on their oath, and that when they are obliged to give
their oath they should not be annoyed as they have been hitherto.

The only objection to this is the irregularities of the fathers
commissaries who have taken religious to the Indias. These, it is
said, have obliged his Majesty to impose such restrictions in this
matter, and as a safeguard against irregularities which may occur in