to his Majesty, the latter is beyond any doubt the greater; besides, Espana is dispossessed of her sons, and the religious orders of their most illustrious members, who all perish in these islands, without any hope of their ever quitting mere beginnings and having any value per se.  This I consider, beyond all doubt, as the greatest expense and worthy of consideration; for the mines yield silver and the forests wood, while Espana only yields Spaniards.  It may give so many, that it may become barren, and be obliged to rear children outside, in place of its own.  Thus all the foregoing indicates the great zeal of our sovereigns, and that only the love of souls influences them; since the expenses of temporal things are so heavy and the profit nothing.  But I hope, through most merciful God, that the spiritual blessings are so many that not only will they equal but surpass the expense; so that if from so heavy expenses resulted only the salvation of even one soul, as says a doctor, our monarchs would be sufficiently remunerated.  But it is quite evident that the souls saved are innumerable; for had not the Lord His chosen ones here, He would not have imbued the hearts of our monarchs to persevere in the discovery of these islands; after their discovery, with their colonization; and, after their colonization, with their conservation at so much expense to them.  Moreover, the hopes for China and Japon are very great.  In Japon, not only are they hopes, but we already see that land sprinkled in all parts with the blood of innumerable martyrs, and as excellent as the primitive church could have.  And with such risk, what harvest can not be awaited?  Will it be a slight glory for our sovereigns, in the future, that God has chosen them as the instruments to enrich His church with so notable martyrs?  Indeed I think that their Majesties have understood this very well.  Thus, beyond doubt, their fervor will continue to increase, and will encourage this field, where the Lord gathers so much fruit daily.

Returning now to our subject, I say that, as the third article of the tributes, while they were irresolute and leaving it for another day, the chief Tupas was announced.  He was so humbled that everything was concluded to the governor’s taste.  Tupas made long excuses for his delay—­which were accepted then.  But he said that he was quite decided to make peace with the Castilians, and to serve them with all his men; since he recognized that, although his were the more numerous, they were inferior in valor to the Spaniards.  The natives wished from that moment to consider the Spaniards as their seigniors, and the latter’s king as their king.  They offered what vassalage was right in recognition of subjection.  Thereupon, they signed the treaty of peace under the most advantageous conditions.  All was done by act of notary.  The governor, in his Majesty’s name, gave them a general pardon for the death of Magallanes and his men.  He received them under his tutelage and protection, not only to