Wherefore, as best we can, we ask and require you that you consider what we have said to you… and that you acknowledge the [catholic] church as the ruler and superior of the whole world, and the high priest called pope, and in his name the king and queen doña juana our lords, in his place, as superiors and lords and kings of these islands and this tierra-firme by virtue of the said donation…if you do so, you will do well, and that which you are obliged to do to their highnesses, and we in their name shall receive you in all love and charity, and shall leave you, your wives, and your children, and your lands, free without servitude, that you may do with them and yourselves freely that which you like and think best, and they shall not compel you to turn christians…but, if you do not do this, and maliciously make delay in it, i certify to you that, with the of god, we shall powerfully enter into your country, and shall make war against you in all ways and manners that we can, and shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the church and of their highnesses; we shall take you and your wives and your children, and shall make slaves of them, and as such shall sell and dispose of them as their highnesses may command; and we shall take away your goods, and shall do you all the mischief and damage that we can, as to vassals who do not obey, and refuse to receive their lord, and resist and contradict him; and we protest that the deaths and losses which shall accrue from this are your fault…what are the spaniards claiming with this declaration? what role will the indians have if they accept (how does it compare, for example, to the way serfs or peasants served their lords)? 2. what will happen to those who fail to swear allegiance? who do the spaniards claim are responsible for these results? 3. given that this was often read only in spanish and not translated into native languages and that even those who swore allegiance were often mistreated (and indians came to know this), why did the spaniards insist on this declaration, in your opinion?