with those whose business it was, and I pray your Lordship to tell me
if I did wrong in this. Your Grace says that I am new in the islands,
and unlettered; and on the other hand you say that those with whom
I have consulted are misleading me and are mistaken. I do not know
then what recourse your Lordship leaves for me to find it out, if,
as you say, I am a new arrival, and not a theologian, and you take
away from me the recourse to the experienced and the theologians. Now
since enough has been written and answered about this, I beg of your
Lordship not to weary yourself with answering this letter, which
is written only not to leave yours without reply. At least do not
answer until the treatise is finished which you say you are composing,
in which may it please the divine goodness to give your Lordship so
much light that his Majesty, seeing it, may confirm it and approve
it as a thing from your hand--with the result that all may be of
one opinion in this island, and that all the service of God may be
set in order and freed from difficulties, and that these divisions
and encounters may cease; for I assure your Lordship that in many
ways the state is very much scandalized, and that that matter is ill
carried out which you said would be improved concerning the pulpits,
for this affair was discussed with no little liberty in that place
today. May our Lord keep your Lordship. From the office, March 8, 1591.




Letter from the Governor to the Bishop


As your Lordship was absent from this city, and many things presented
themselves to me which were important to the service of God and of his