Handbook for translators of Spanish historical ... - University Library

HANDBOOK FOR TRANSLATORS OF SPANISH HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
Inspector's Commission.
[ TRANSITION ]
We, Eon Fray Alonso de Montufar, by divine mercy Archbishop
of Mexico, and [memberj of the coiincil of His Majesty,
etc. , holding in high esteem your loyalty and good
character, Bachiller Alonso Fernandez de Sigura, our Vicar
General of the Indies ^ prouisor de los yndios , , [believing
that] you will faithfully and diligently carry out and
execute whatever we should commit and entrust unto you,
[and] confiding in the Lord, it is our will and pleasure to
appoint you, and by this writ we do appoint you, as our
Judge inspector general [ Juez visitador general j for all of
our bishopric of Mexico and bishoprics adjoining thereto.
Therein you may visit, and you shall visit, all the
cities, villas . towns, mines, ranches estancias . , and
[
villages, and in each of them you may investigate, and
you shall investigate, all matters, causes, and things concerning
both clergymen and laymen, both officially and
as between private parties; and those that have alreadybeen
filed, you will accept in the condition in which you
may find them; [you shall] also [investigate] others that
should be considered, and that may be considered, in all
our aforesaid bishopric in a visitation; and you shall ex-
j
amine] the condition of churches and hospitals and all other
places dedicated to divine worship. You are hereby empowered
to file, and you shall file, a charge or charges
against all persons, religious as well as lay, Spanish or
Indian, of whatever rank and condition, who are fornicators,
blasphemers, usurers, perjurers, witches, procurers, practisers
of incest , bigamists , as well as against all other
persons who may fall into any of the cases or things that
pertain to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, whether [Such
charges] arise from denunciations, complaints, or from
official or any other source whatsoever. After charges
have been filed, you shall seize the persons of the accused
parties; and, if it should be necessary, you are empowered
to ask for and demand the aid of the royal police in order
that, in all lawsuits and cases that may be pleaded and
tried before you, you may hear, and you shall hear, the
parties as a Judge. Once they are given a hearing, you may
adjudge them, pronouncing upon each and every one of them
whatever sentence or sentences you may deem advisable and
which you may find agreeable according to law dealing Just-
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