Final answer:
As a monarch of Spain during the time of the conquistadors, the detailed accounts of abuses from de Las Casas would prompt a reconsideration of the encomienda system, balancing the need for wealth with moral responsibilities towards indigenous peoples.
Step-by-step explanation:
If I were a king or queen of Spain who sent the conquistadors to the New World to Christianize natives and ship back gold and silver, the story detailed by Bartolomé de Las Casas would be quite alarming.
Given that he was once an encomendero himself, his critique carries significant weight.
De Las Casas's reports of abuses under the encomienda system would urge me, as a monarch, to consider the moral and ethical implications of the endeavor in the New World.
His advocacy for the fair treatment of natives, which led to the New Laws of 1542, seeks to rectify the brutal conquest methods employed by the conquistadors.
As a monarch, responding to such a report would be complex.
On one hand, the Crown would not want to lose the lucrative flow of wealth from the New World, but on the other hand, there would now be a moral duty to prevent further abuse and mistreatment of the indigenous peoples.
This could potentially involve reforming the encomienda system, more closely regulating the actions of conquistadors and settlers, and ensuring that conversion to Christianity is not forced but offered with compassion.