fore the
president and Audiencia, or before the one who shall have charge of
the supreme government of the province; and, declaring his petition,
the viceroy, Audiencia, or governor shall make the relation officially,
with information concerning his standing, learning, morals, competency,
and other details. After it is made, he shall send it separately
from those persons. Likewise the approval of their prelate shall be
obtained, and warning is given that those who come to petition for a
dignidad, benefice, or ecclesiastical office without such investigation
shall not be received.

"We desire and it is our will that no person can hold, obtain, or
occupy two dignidades, or ecclesiastical benefices in the provinces
of the Yndias, either in the same or in different churches. Therefore
we order that if any one shall be presented by us for any dignidad,
benefice, or office, he shall renounce what he shall have held
previously, before his collation and appointment.

"If the one presented by us does not present himself, within the
time contained in the presentation, to the prelate who must make
the appointment and canonical installation, after the expiration of
the said time the presentation shall be void, and no appointment and
canonical installation can be made by virtue of it.

"Inasmuch as it is our will that the above-contained be observed
and obeyed, for we believe that such procedure is expedient for the
service of God and for our own, I order you to examine the above,
and to observe and obey it, and cause it to be observed and obeyed
in all those provinces and villages, and their churches, _in toto_,
and exactly as is contained and declared, for what time shall be our
will. You shall accomplish and fulfil it, in the ways that shall appear
most advisable to you. You shall take for this purpose such measures
and precautions as shall be advisable, in virtue of this my decree; and
I give you for that complete authority in legal form. Accordingly we
request and charge the very reverend father in Christ, the archbishop
of that city, and member of our Council, and the reverend fathers
in Christ, the archbishop of Nueva Espana, the venerable deans
and cabildo of the cathedral churches of that country, and all the
curas, beneficiaries, sacristans, and other ecclesiastical persons,
the venerable and devout fathers provincial, guardians, priors,
and other religious of the orders of St. Dominic, St. Augustine,
St. Francis, and