COUNCIL OF THE INDIES. 257 



was so inhuman, that Charles V., and 

 his successors, found themselves under the 

 necessity of gradually depriving them of 

 many of their privileges ; and thus, in most 

 of the provinces, the Encomiendas fell at 

 length into the hands of the crown ; certain 

 immunities of an inferior description, to- 

 gether with patents of nobility, being grant- 

 ed to their possessors, instead of the autho- 

 rity which they originally possessed. 



From that period, Spanish America was 

 nominally considered as an independent 

 kingdom, but united to Spain ; and the na- 

 tives were declared subjects of the king, in 

 the same manner as the Castilians. The 

 council of the Indies was formed for the ex- 

 press purpose of legislating (in conjunction 

 with the King of Spain) for Spanish America; 

 a code was instituted, called Recopilacion de 

 Indias ; and various enactments and regula- 



VOL. 1. s 



