with which they have served him, at the cost of their lives and possessions. [The king confers the encomiendas upon certain persons, who thus assume obligations to the Indians; that they may fulfil these, he orders them to collect the tributes.  Accordingly, the alcaldes-mayor do not appear in the king’s provisions regarding this matter, and Salazar questions the governor’s right to appoint them.] Neither the king of Castilla nor his ministers can exercise, in regard to the Indians, more authority than what the church confers upon them; and the church has not over the infidels as much authority as some who think otherwise have given your Lordship to understand. ...  The church did not grant’lordship over the Indians to the kings of Castilla with the principal object of establishing justice among them, but did so in order that they should furnish to the natives religious instruction—­which always, and in every instance, can and ought to be given them. [No tribute should be imposed upon the Indians unless religious instruction is given to them; and to allow them the fourth part of the tax is not to benefit their souls.  The bishop insists that the governor is responsible for taking such measures as shall remedy the present abuses, and urges him to accept the plan proposed by the clergy.] If your Lordship, after reading what I here state, shall decide to pursue and carry into execution the opinion and resolution which you have communicated to me, I cannot, without violating the obligations of my office, decline to release the consciences of those whom I have in charge.  From this your Lordship’s house, on the fourth of March of the year 1591.

Fray Domingo, Bishop of the Filipinas.

Letter from the Governor to the Bishop

[Two days later (March 6) Dasmarinas answers, at considerable length, the letter written by the bishop.  He adopts a conciliatory tone, disclaiming any intention to be arbitrary, unfair, or unfriendly.  He explains his position in regard to the collection of tributes, saying that the plan laid down in his recent decree is but temporary, awaiting only the provision by the king of a sufficient number of religious teachers.  He reminds Salazar that encomiendas and tributes were established in the land as soon as the Spaniards had obtained a foothold there, when only some half-score priests were to be had.  Religious instruction is the chief but not the only reason for collecting tributes; and, until it shall be adequately provided, it is but reasonable to collect for the benefit of justice bestowed upon the Indians.  The tax also is very moderate; “since an Indian pays here one peso, while in Nueva Espana he pays three or four pesos, by way of tribute.”] The advantages resulting to the Indians are not so small as your Lordship thinks.  If we had no other example of this, the one which is afforded by the province of Pintados would be sufficiently convincing—­seeing that, before the Spaniards