religious of the order of St. Francis. Care and diligence will be
exercised, in the future, to provide those who, as you shall advise
us, are needed.

It is very advisable and necessary for the Indians to have a protector
and defender, as is the case in Piru and Nueba Spana. And since,
as you say, the bishop, to whom I had entrusted it, is unable to
attend to the affairs, acts, and judicial procedures which require
personal attention, you, as governor, shall appoint the said defender
and protector, to whom you shall assign a suitable salary. This
salary shall be paid from the tributes of the Indians, distributed
proportionally among those assigned to my crown and those allotted
to private individuals, without at all infringing for this purpose
upon my moneys that proceed from other sources. Notwithstanding this,
you are to understand that the bishop is not to be deprived of the
general superintendence of the protection of the said Indians.

You report that, upon your arrival at those islands, you found that
the Indians of Sirean, Yllocos, and Cagayan were paying ten reals,
and had been doing so since the tribute was imposed, because, as they
were more wealthy, heavier tribute was imposed on them than on the
others. You say that you are in doubt, because your instructions state
that the tribute of eight reals is to be increased and raised to ten,
whether you are to understand that all the tributes are to be raised
two reals; for if so, then those who formerly paid ten must now pay
twelve, just as those who were paying eight now pay ten. Inasmuch as
the intention was that all the tributes should be raised two reals,
you shall order that those Indians who were paying ten reals shall
pay twelve, now and henceforth. You shall adjust this with the mildest
possible means.

Respecting the duties that are to be paid on the gold dug in those
islands--about which you say there has been a dispute, since the
former fiscal of the Audiencia there claimed that it should be the
fifth, while the city contradicted him, and petitioned that it be
but the tenth--you shall endeavor, conveniently and mildly, now
and henceforth to introduce the fifth, since it is the right that
pertains to me. If you shall encounter in this great difficulties
and annoyances, you shall leave the matter in its present shape. You
shall advise me of the condition of the country and the mines, and the
annual amount of the said fifth, based on the present value o