Page:The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 (Volume 08).djvu/156

 introducing justice where none has existed, and continuing commerce, so that they will conceive love and affection for us and will be disposed to receive the faith whenever there may be anyone to teach it. Thus, I told the bishop, the least troublesome way was for affairs to remain in the same condition until after your Majesty had been consulted. Otherwise the land would be lost if the encomenderos should abandon it, which would without doubt come to pass if they could not be supported therefrom. Moreover, in accordance with these conclusions of the bishop your Majesty would be obliged to make restitution of more than one hundred and fifty thousand pesos, and there would be lost every year more than thirty thousand pesos of income. As for the encomenderos, there was not enough property in the world for restitutions, nor would there be greater cause for pity than that an encomendero who has spent so many years in conquering this land should be deprived of the bread for his sustenance therein. Furthermore, in that letter I said to the bishop that, although it is true that your Majesty commits to him only the arrangements for the disturbed encomiendas and those unpacified (and these are the only ones in doubt), nevertheless, it was necessary in that case for us to meet, in order to discuss them all and give our opinions regarding them. Moreover I told him that, even though his opinion and advice were right and proper, yet, in carrying them out there were inconveniences and difficulties which endangered this land. For that reason I did not agree with him, and was of another opinion. Being unable to agree, it was better to advise your Majesty and await your consequent commands. As we had already waited so long, we