of the Order of St. Augustine."]


Sire:

Considering its importance to the service of your Majesty, it has
seemed best to this Audiencia to give an account of the manner in
which the archbishop of these islands proceeds; for he is harsh of
temper and resents the acts of the Audiencia which declare that he
has committed fuerza. [2] He has often said, for this reason, that
they treat him very ill, and put him in such a position that he must
retire to his cell and give up his office altogether; for they do not
esteem him nor allow him to administer justice. The Audiencia having
declared him guilty of fuerza in having imposed excommunication on
those who without his permission entered the house of retirement of
Santa Potenciana--which was established by your Majesty's order and
at the expense of your royal exchequer, that orphan girls and poor
maidens might be sheltered there, and instructed and taught, and remain
there until they should be married--he would not obey the act of the
Audiencia, thus imposing on them the responsibility of employing
the correction and severe measures which your Majesty commands by
his royal laws; but if these were executed in a land so new as this
it would cause a scandal, which would result in much harm that could
not be remedied. To avoid this, it was agreed to send the record of
their proceedings and to make a report to your Majesty, so that you
might command what should be most expedient for your royal service.

[_In the margin_: "Let this clause, with the proceedings referred to,
be taken to the official reporter; provision and decree have been
made elsewhere."]