174. or ALLEYS HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 



merly : but, to fay truth, they are in the wrong ; for, firfl, there are many cities in 

 the liidies, where, without a court of this nature, I have feen vanity thrive in hveries 

 and fuperfluous expences as much as any where. Secondly, becaufe, abftra£ting 

 ' from paffion and intereft, which commonly do millead men in the adminiftration of 

 juftice, it cannot be denied but that the fovereign authority of this tribunal is of great 

 weight to maintain the quiet of the kingdom, by keeping an even hand in the adminif- 

 tration of juftice, and not fuffering that the tyranny fome affe£t, either by reafon of 

 their pr^erments or riches, Ihould flifle right reafon, or opprefs innocency, which has 

 not learned to court and flatter. 



Thus a royal Audiencia is a bridle to vice, a reward to virtue, a protection to the 

 poor, and a maintenance of right and reafon ; and this was the intention of our catho- 

 lic monarch : for this reafon did he ere6t this court, which is the more neceifary, 

 becaufe it is at that diftance from the royal prefence, and fo hard that the cries of the 

 poor fhould reach his ears ; for if fometimes they do arrive to his court, it is fo faintly, 

 that they can fcarce be heard : for this reafon, thofe who have the chufing and fending 

 the king's officers into fuch remote parts, ought to be the more careful to provide men 

 of chriftian principles, and well intentioned, as indeed they have been, and are ftill in 

 that kingdom ; and it is no more than is neceifary, for a good example to thofe new 

 chriftians the Indians. 



This royal Audiencia is the caufe iikewife, that much gentry comes from Europe to 

 tiie Indies, and fo help to people them, and to continue the good intercourfe between 

 Spain and that country, which is good for both. It cannot Iikewife be denied (though 

 that be but as an acceffory), that the prefence and afliftance of this royal tribunal at all 

 public feafts and exercifes, is of great countenance to them, and particularly to the 

 literary ads and commencements, whereby learning is encouraged ; and thofe who 

 employ therafelves in that honourable ftudy have a reward before their eyes, hoping to 

 attain to be advocates, referendaries, fifcals, and counfellors : for in the Weft-Indies 

 thofe places are all very honourable, and particularly in Chile, where the falaries are 

 larger than in other parts, and yet proviiions are cheaper ; fo that it is eafy to lay up a 

 good part of one's revenue. Befides thefe tribunals, there are others, as that of the 

 chamber of accounts, or treafury, for the management and adminiftration of the King's 

 revenue ; thefe officers do Iikewife vifit the ftiips that come in and out at the port of 

 Valparifo ; their offices are very honourable, and of great profit, and they are in the 

 King's gift, as thofe of the royal Audiencia are. 



The affairs of juftice, and things belonging to good government, are under the Au- 

 diencia ; but thofe of war and preferments belong to the governor, of whom we fhall 

 fpeak in a proper place. 



The bilhop is abfolute lord of all the church-government ; and though the bifhopric 

 of St. Jago is none of the richeft of the Indies, becaufe all the product of the 

 earth is fo cheap, and by confequence the tithes do not rife high, yet this very abun- 

 dance is part of the riches of the bifhopric ; for by this means the bifliop's family and 

 expences are the eafier fupplied, and he may keep more attendance, and yet lay up a 

 good part of his revenue ; whereas other biflioprics, though richer, have enough to 

 do to keep up the decency of their dignity. There is a numerous clergy, who make 

 a great cortege to the bifhop upon certain public days j and when he is received the 

 firft time, and takes poffeffion, the ceremony is very great ; for part of the royal Audi- 

 encia, the chapters, all the militia, horfe and foot, with the people, go oat to meet 

 him ; fo that it is a day of great pomp. 



The 

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