INTRODUCTION. 



69 



Alexander VI. by his bull of 1501, transferred to the 

 kings of Spain all jurisdiction which he and his suc- 

 cessors might have claimed, over the churches to be 

 established in the new world. The king of Spain 

 became the head of the church in America, almost as 

 completely as Henry VIII. of the church of England. 

 The nomination of all bishops, and to other benefices 

 of the church of America, is therefore a royal prero- 

 gative, although they are presented to the pope for his 

 sanction. But his holiness, can hold no communica- 

 tion with the church in America, excepting through 

 the council of the Indies. All briefs, bulls, and dis- 

 pensations must be sent to Spain, and be sanctioned 

 by the king before they can reach America. The 

 tythes, the ecclesiastical first fruits, and the profits of 

 vacant benefices, belong to the crown in consequence 

 of this concession. The popes have in vain endea- 

 voured to get back the extensive authority they had 

 thus parted with; but it has been found of too much 

 importance in a political point of view ever to be re- 

 stored. An attempt was even made by one of the 

 kings of Spain to establish a patriarch in America, so 

 as to be entirely independent of the church of Rome. 

 ^^The Spanish policy has reduced the political author- 

 ity for the purpose of increasing that of the king, 

 which has become in the Spanish Indies the centre of 

 power; and the source of every favor, of every employ, 

 either civil or ecclesiastical. The consequence is, that 

 whatever profession a Spaniard embraces in America, 

 his hopes are always dependent on the king. From 

 the lowest officer to the viceroy, from the door-keeper 

 to the chiefs of justice, from the meanest notary of the 

 administration to the intendant; from the porter of a 



