etc. From this house of your Lordship, March 19, 1591.




Letter from Salazar to Dasmariñas

_Jesus_

Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from your Lordship,
and intended to begin a reply immediately; but there are so many
occupations crowding upon me that they do not leave me time to take
breath; and although I came out here to finish the little treatise
which I had promised your Lordship, I see that neither here nor there
have I opportunity to do anything.

I was much pleased with the earnest zeal which your Lordship showed
in your letter, but you must know that as I am old and have seen so
many things, I do not care very much for what I hear, but wait for
what may be done; because laying down general rules and instructions
for what is to be done is a very easy thing, but very hard to put
into practice. Who doubts that the preaching of the gospel is the
most important thing for which we have come here? but yet I see that
this is the least object of solicitude; and, if you do not think so,
look at the progress of the natives. I know very well that there is
plenty of care about temporal things; and, as long as these present
themselves, religious instruction is to cease--or the Indians must
support it, even if they never understand it So we all say that the
Gospel is the principal thing, but our works show what it is that
we care most about. Ordinances, decrees, and provisions which speak