the king of Castilla nor his officials have any greater power in the Indias than that given by the church, although the church does not have so much authority as this with the infidels. He still insists that your Majesty entrusted to both him and me equally the settlement of this matter; and that bringing justice into the land is like bringing firebrands. [Marginal note: "Answer him with what has been decreed in this."]
15. To this letter I replied by another which your Majesty will please to have examined, in which I answered his assertion that without giving instruction to the Indians we can collect tribute; for he said that where there is justice, three-fourths of the tribute can be collected, as this is a temporal good which tends to spiritual benefit and which prospers, directs, and administers equally justice, government, and good order. It is not my intention to leave things thus as the bishop points out, until your Majesty has been consulted in regard to furnishing or providing other means of instruction, since you have therefor so great care and holy zeal. Moreover, the tributes are so moderate here that each Indian pays eight reals, whereas in Nueva España he pays twenty-four and thirty-two. For we see that since the Spaniards went to the Pintados, although without then providing instruction, their communication and example, and the blessing of justice, alone have caused hostilities, and the razing of towns among the natives to cease; as also the wars by land and sea waged among them; this is no small gain. This assertion that the ministry of instruction is more important and noble than that of justice and other good works, I admit; but justice and its ministers, and the other necessary means for the
