three other encomenderos;
the islands of Marinduque and Masbate, and all the others which
extend thence to the mouth of the channel; in Camarines, the islands
of Catanduanes and Lagunay, and those along the coast and many others
which are in this condition. In all the aforesaid places it may be
considered a general rule that religious teaching did not, and does
not exist--or at least has existed for so short a time that it is
practically the same as if it had never existed. Moreover, from all
the aforesaid places and from others like them, since they have been
in such condition that one could travel through them in security (and,
if ministers should come, their inhabitants could be instructed), it
has been possible to collect a certain amount of tribute, for aid,
and support, and expenses. Not all, or even half, of the tributes,
however, could be collected; if the encomiendas are rather large, only
the third part is obtained, and if they are small, only half. Moreover,
whatever collections were made from these encomiendas could not be
made until they had been prepared as aforesaid. Inasmuch as this
matter is a most difficult one, on account of the danger incurred
in collecting from the Indians what they do not owe, and when they
are not willing that it should be collected, and of depriving the
encomenderos of what is due them in case they have fulfilled their
obligations toward the Indians, this shall be the rule regarding
such action as has been taken hitherto by the confessors, namely,
that an encomendero who has simply made collections among the Indians,
without having done them any temporal or spiritual good, shall not be
entitled to collect any tributes; if, however, through his endeavors,
or by trading with them, they are so well-inclined that he can go about
safely among them, and they themselves can be instructed when they
have ministers, the encomenderos shall be entitled to collect from
them the portion which we have named above. In order that from this
time forth, the king in the royal encomiendas, and the encomenderos in
theirs, may, as has been stated, collect the third part or the half,
the following conditions must be observed:

First: That the encomenderos shall endeavor, with the utmost diligence
and care, to establish sufficient religious instruction in their
encomiendas. In case they are unable to do so, they shall write
to his Majesty, requesting him to provide the necessary number of
ministers to