al faith, which remains in His holy church, in the
apostle St. Peter and his successors, who are the pontiffs, bishops,
and confessors who in His name administer instruction and point out
the way to heaven. Our Lord had liberated them from the blindness
and tyranny in which they were as subjects of the devil--who not only
caused the damnation of their immortal souls, which are to be cared
for, but likewise harassed their bodies and consumed their lives.

What is still more weighty, the most cursed and perverse sect of
Mahoma had begun, through its followers and disciples, to spread and
scatter through some of the islands of this archipelago its pestilent
and abominable creed; but the true God was pleased at that time to
bring the Spanish people into these islands, which was a cure and
remedy for the mortal sickness which the said Mahometan sect has
already commenced to cause in them. Besides this, the Spaniards had
freed them from the tyranny with which their kings and lords were
possessing themselves of their wives and goods, which was the greatest
injury which could be inflicted upon them. They were also reminded
of the great favor that God our Lord had granted them in giving
them for their king and natural lord the Catholic king Don Phelipe,
our sovereign, to maintain them and keep them in peace and justice,
with much gentleness and love. Our lord might have deferred the
conquest of these islands, and it would have been made by other kings
who are not so Catholic, as a punishment for the idolatry which they
practiced; then they would have fallen into greater blindness and sin
than before, and they would not have been so rich and well-provided
as they are, nor would their property have been so safe. All this
is greater advantage than they had in olden days, while they were
infidels. All this was declared to the above-named persons, so that,
in conformity with his will and pleasure they might render submission
to his Majesty, and acknowledge him as such king and natural lord; and
this, notwithstanding what they may have given by word or deed, for
the greater justification of the tributes enjoyed and being enjoyed,
which they have given and paid, and henceforth may give and pay, both
to his Majesty and to his vassals. And this writing is evidence in
all times that of their own will and pleasure they have rendered the
said submission and acknowledgment to their said king and lord. All
the said governors and chiefs, lords