der to be
given, and gave, one of my decrees of the following tenor:

"The King. Inasmuch as there have been many differences in regard
to the manner in which the religious of the mendicant orders who
have missions of Indians in their charge in Nueva Espana, are to
be visited by their prelates, and whether it is advisable that they
possess missions; and inasmuch as various decrees have been despatched,
some of which have been carried out, but others, because of finding
some trouble in the execution, have not been observed; and desiring
to end those quarrels and establish the form most advisable for the
service of God and for mine: I ordered that, the papers that treat of
that matter having been collected, what had been done in that matter
be examined in an assembly of ministers and other experienced and
educated persons. The assembly having conferred on the matter, and
advised me of their opinion, I have considered it best to determine
and order, as I do by this present, that, for the present, and until
I order otherwise, the said missions remain to, and be continued by,
the religious as hitherto; and there shall under no consideration be
any innovation in that matter; and the assignment and removal of the
religious who are curas, whenever it may be necessary, shall be made
by my viceroy of those provinces, in my name, the latter observing
in those appointments and promotions the form, together with the
conditions and circumstances, with which it is done in the kingdoms
of Piru; and it is my will that the religious be not admitted to the
exercise or to the service of the said missions, or that they receive
the emoluments of them in any other manner. I also order that the
archbishop of those provinces may visit the said religious in what
refers to the ministry of curas and to nothing else--inspecting the
churches, the sacraments, the chrism, the confraternities, their alms,
and everything pertaining to the mere administration of the holy
sacraments and the said ministry of curas. He shall go to make the
visit in his own person, or shall assign or send for this duty such
persons as he shall choose and find satisfactory, to those districts
where he cannot go in person, or where there is no occasion for his
aid. He shall employ correction and punishment whenever necessary,
strictly within the limits and exercise of curas as above stated, and
nothing further. In respect to personal transgressions in the morals
and lives of