things, not to our
especial advantage. And well do we know that your Majesty is not so
wealthy that you can be liberal in proportion to your greatness;
but only in the points most necessary and important to the Divine
service and worship, and to your Majesty's honor and glory, at whose
expense it flourishes throughout Christendom--especially in this city,
fortified post, and empire of almost all the nations discovered and
known; for in that it equals Roma, and the cities of most commerce in
the whole world. That is the reason that has always moved us to urge
and petition your Majesty, representing the following points. [_In the
margin_: "July 30, 1625. [98] Reply to the cabildo, encouraging them;
and tell them that what they say in their letter will receive care
and attention, without particularizing the paragraphs or the things
that they say."]

One of the things which this cathedral has considered, and considers,
intolerable, is that it always has to be governed by friars. That is a
matter that has in itself many grave inconveniences, that would take
long to relate in a letter which demands brevity. We wish only for
your Majesty to understand and to be assured that the seculars can be
better governed than any other clergy; and that they live with greater
quietness and peace, not only in their souls and spiritual government,
but in what concerns the temporal. Not only do the seculars recognize
this, but the religious themselves; for the secular is always in the
midst of affairs, while the friar must necessarily incline himself
to his order and to those with whom he has been reared. It would be
worse if such a person had not been, in his order, of much learning
and of known virtues, but rather the contrary. Your Majesty will
consider the estimation that all will have for such a man who knew
him before. When this is so, it does not result to edification, which
is your Majesty's intent, but to depreciation of and contempt for the
episcopal dignity, which requires the highest perfection. God our Lord
would be greatly pleased if the honors, dignities, and prelacies of
this country be given to those who have served and labored in it. From
that three blessings of high importance will follow. The first,
that your Majesty will have fulfilled your obligation in accordance
with the excellent principle of distributive justice. Thus have our
sovereigns Kings Philipo Second and Third, of glorious memory, your
Majesty's grand-fathe