BOOK II. 



CHAPTER I. 

 INTRODUCTORY. 



COLONIAL SYSTEM EARLY GRANTS OF POWER TO RULERS IN 



MEXICO, BY THE EMPEROR CHARLES V ABUSE OF IT. 



COUNCIL OF THE INDIES LAWS. ROYAL AUDIENCES CA- 



BILDOS FUEROS. RELATIVE POSITIONS OF SPANIARDS AND 



CREOLES. SCHEME OF SPANISH COLONIAL TRADE. RE- 

 STRICTIONS ON TRADE. ALCABALA TAXES PAPAL BULLS. 



BULLS DE CRUZADA DE DEFUNTOS OF COMPOSITION. 



POWER OF THE CHURCH ITS PROPERTY INQUISITION. THE 



ACTS OF THE INQUISITION REPARTIMIENTOS. INDIANS 



AGRICULTURISTS MINERS MITA. EXCUSES FOR MALAD- 

 MINISTRATION. 



Before we present the reader a brief sketch of the viceroyal 

 government of New Spain, it may, in no small degree, contribute 

 to the elucidation of this period if we review the Spanish colonial 

 system that prevailed from the conquest to the revolution which 

 resulted in independence. 



As soon as the Spaniards had plundered the wealth accumulated 

 by the Incas and the Aztecs in the semi-civilized empires of 

 Mexico and Peru, they turned their attention to the government 

 of the colonies which they saw springing up as if by enchantment. 

 The allurements of gold and the enticements of a prolific soil, 

 under delicious skies, had not yet ceased to inflame the ardent 

 national fancy of Spain, so that an eager immigration escaped by 

 every route to America. An almost regal and absolute power was 

 vested by special grants from the king in the persons who were 

 despatched from his court to found the first governments in the 

 New World. But this authority was so abused by some of the 

 ministerial agents that Charles V. took an early occasion to curb 



