ronage. But the latter is
here regarded by them as nothing. Then they draw copies of what my
predecessors in this government thought.

[_Marginal note_: "Ecclesiastical council. In regard to this matter
of the religious, in another section what has been written you is
the order that you must observe; and to the Audiencia, so that they
may order that in no case shall religious be admitted as witnesses,
except in the manner ordered. The same has been said in regard to
the insertions, so that like things or matters may be embarrassed in
no manner. Thus shall you fulfil the order. In accordance with this,
general letters are being written to the provincials of the orders,
which will be given them by your hand. In regard to what you say here
of the sermons, and that the religious reserve approbation or reproof,
with censure or gratefulness, for the persons whom they wish, this is
prohibited by different general laws, councils, orders, etc. In some
of their own special rules, a penalty is assigned them, among others,
of reserved excommunication [29] to the [_MS. holed_]lation. Thus shall
you be advised of this, so that you may govern yourself according
to the matters that arise; and you shall inform those fathers. You
shall endeavor to avoid the trouble caused you by what you say in
this section, and shall reduce matters to plain and open terms, so
that what you say at the last shall not contradict what you say in
the beginning. Have general letters written to all the provincials
of the orders, who already know that it is forbidden under the most
severe penalties by divers councils, canonical rules, orders, laws,
etc., and by our decrees, for preachers to censure the government
in the sermons that they give to the people or in conversation with
private persons, or to speak evil of their ecclesiastical or secular
superiors, by censuring their management or action, in order that the
people or private persons may not cast discredit on their superiors
and be scandalized. Neither shall they meddle or interfere in secular
affairs; but shall continue in their seclusion, and in the observance
of their vows, as they are obliged. Inasmuch as it has been learned
that, contrary to the tenor of all this, and to the serious harm of the
administration of justice, many religious and preachers, and others
who hold special offices transgress against the above rules, from
which results odium cast on the religious, factions, the intimidation
of