does his Majesty commit it to you, nor do I find how your Lordship
can be occupied in dealing with [_illegible in MS._] more than to give
your opinion on it; and here ends the prerogative which your Lordship
can claim in this matter. You make strenuous efforts in what does
not properly concern you, and fail to remedy what is most necessary
and close to your office, which is what I mentioned above about
religious instruction. I beg of your Lordship that, putting aside human
considerations, you order that this be attended to, which the good of
these souls demands with [_illegible in MS._] necessity. Since in this
way there are needs now, there will be at least many more. Meanwhile,
until ministers are provided more liberally from Spain, let them all
get along as best they can, and accommodate themselves, establishing
houses wherever they wish to, and where no better opportunity is to
be expected. God knows that this does not [_illegible in MS._] your
Lordship, because you interfere with my office. As far as this is
concerned, if I could [_illegible in MS_.] with it and my commission,
or even give it all to your Lordship, and perform my duty, [I would ask
(?) _--illegible in MS._] your Lordship to do it, if it were not for
the obstacle which that would put in the way of the careful guidance
and [_illegible in MS._] who manage affairs.

Neither does your Lordship resolve to order that, on account of the
great lack of religious ministers which exists, provision may be made
in the encomiendas that laymen of good life and example may instruct
the Indians, bringing them thus to a knowledge of the true God, as well
as into friendship and intercourse with us. From this would result at
least the favorable disposition which you wish them to have for the
time when there may be religious instruction for them, as his Majesty
orders in his charge regarding presentations. I have proposed this
to your Lordship on several occasions, but you do not set about it