the death of the present encomenderos, their Indians were to revert to the crown, the heirs to be provided for from the royal treasury. New encomiendas were not to be granted under any circumstances, and those who maltreated their vassals should be deprived of them forthwith. All ecclesiastics, religious societies, and all officers under the crown must deliver up their serfs at once, and never after hold any, even though they should resign their office; and inspectors were to be appointed to watch over the interests of the natives, to be paid for their services out of the fines levied on transgressors. It was further ordered that no relative or servant of any member of the council of the Indies should henceforth act as solicitor or procurador in any matter touching the Indies; the residencias of oidores or governors were to be sent to Spain; all others were to be determined in the Indies, and the audiencia was empowered to take a residencia at any time; persons henceforth asking for royal favors must be recommended by that body to show that they are worthy.
Except by special permission from the crown further discoveries were restricted, so that Spaniards should have no further control over the Indians, their personal services or tributes. And finally the natives were to be converted to the Catholic faith, and be otherwise treated as "free vassals of the king, for such they are."[1] In addition to this the priests were requested to instruct their new charge, and tell them how the heart of his Majesty the emperor, and of his
- ↑ The additional articles of June 4, 1543, relate mainly to the first conquerors or their descendants, living in New Spain without sufficient means of support. They were to be preferred in public positions, or otherwise provided for; and again reiterating the diminution of tributes, and a general protective policy in favor of the natives so as to preclude all chances or attempts at oppression or extortion. Slaves should net be employed in the pearl-fisheries against their will, under penalty of death to the party so using them; nor when used as carriers was such a load to be laid on their backs as might endanger their lives. Questions concerning the possession or ownership of Indians must be transmitted for decision direct to the crown. The full text, reprinted from an original manuscript, may be found in Leyes y Ordenanzas, Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 204-27. Remesal, Herrera, Torquemada, and others give more or less extensive extracts.
