myself, held in your Majesty's fort about one month ago. At
that time Fray Christoval, who was managing this bishopric, said that,
less than one month previous, some chiefs of La Laguna (which is five
leagues from this city) had asked him when the Castilians were going
to leave. They will have been already undeceived in this regard,
and the insolent and audacious designs of the hostile mestizos and
foreigners will have received a heavy blow when they see this city
enclosed and defended by land and sea.

Although the cathedral church was being finished when the vessels
left, after the portal was built--although with opposition and a
suit, as your Majesty will see by the accompanying papers--I had
your Majesty's arms placed upon it. Truly, that was sufficiently
contrary to the will of these priests here, who--just as if your
Majesty were some foreigner, and not the sovereign, as you are,
of all this land--declare that, wherever the arms of St. Peter are
placed, those of your Majesty are unnecessary, to such a state has the
insistence and license of the ecclesiastics here come. Finally, as to
the building of the church, it is so far advanced that, notwithstanding
the little still to be done, the divine offices are celebrated therein
with due propriety. The canons receive their pay from their stipends,
and are content therewith. There is need of a prelate--who, as I have
written your Majesty, should be not a theologian, but a canonist,
in order to serve suitably God and your Majesty. The work on the new
convent of Sanct Andres and Sancta Potenciana for the shelter and
training of girls is well under way, although for lack of money not
so far advanced as I would like. However, the girls are being cared
for in the house first assigned them.

As I have written to your Majesty, I have four galleys fitted up,
which are actually patrolling the coast, and acting as a defense to
these islands whenever needed, although they cost me abundance of
complaints, both in and out of the pulpit, from these blessed fathers,
who have compelled me to make the enclosed inquiries; and yet, with the
rumors and dangers current at the present time, these four seem but
few to the theologues. My only regret is my inability to provide and
fit them with all the things that they lack, as I wrote your Majesty.

In accordance with clause 7 of your Majesty's instructions, whereby
I was ordered to allow the Indians to pay their tribute in land
products o