archbishop were directed to assess the tribute the crown Indians were to pay in future, in lieu of personal service.[1]
Persons having slaves in the capital were forbidden to remove them. This policy was earnestly recommended to Velasco by his predecessor, on the ground that the slaves would thereby be enabled to obtain their freedom with greater certainty.[2]
In pursuance of the royal command of June 1, 1549, the viceroy determined to check the practice of forcing the natives to carry heavy loads, and gave orders accordingly.[3] It was even found necessary in some cases to check the clergy who had assumed temporal as well as spiritual authority. But as their acts could not be openly corrected without bringing disgrace upon the church, the viceroy asked for the privilege of exercising more private measures, which request the crown granted. Likewise the crown interposed its authority as late as 1558, to prevent caciques from abusing their subjects, capital punishment, mutilation of limbs, and other inflictions by their order being forbidden. The supreme jurisdiction in civil as well as criminal cases was formally assumed by the crown; and July 8, 1557, it was ordered, to prevent the caciques from robbing the wages of the laborers they employed, which had become a common practice, that such wages should be paid before the ministro doctrinero.
The thraldom of the chiefs over the macehuales, or
- ↑ An earlier cédula, July 7th, had enjoined the fixing of Indian tribute, and did away with the necessity of its being paid in gold-dust by any native. Mendieta, Hist. Ecles., 471-4; Torquemada, iii. 254-5.
- ↑ 'Con cargo que no le saque de la ciudad, porque dándoles lugar que los lleveu fuera, no consiguen tan en breve la libertad.' Mendoza, Rel., Apuntam. y Avisos, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., vi. 509.
- ↑ Some say they could not carry for money, because they were so ill-paid. 'Ni que fuese de gracia, ò por voluntad de los propios Indios, ni oprimidos, y forçados.' Torquemada, i. 618. In June 1552 the king commanded that orders of the viceroy should be obeyed, even when appealed from and the appeal allowed by the audiencia. Puga, Cedulario, 132. The king had also contemplated the reappointment of a protector of Indians in New Spain, but for some reason failed to do so for some time. Mendieta, Hist. Ecles., 481; Beaumont, Crón. Mich., v. 143-5, MS., 860-1.
