Manuscript/Mixed Material Hans Peter Kraus Collection: Royal cedula to the archbishops and bishops of the Indies

Title

• Hans Peter Kraus Collection: Royal cedula to the archbishops and bishops of the Indies

Names

• The King [Philip II of Spain]

Created / Published

• The Escorial, November 3, 1567

Headings

• -  Latin America--History
• -  New Spain--Politics and government
• -  Catholic Church--Appointment, call, and election
• -  Manuscripts

Genre

• Manuscripts

Notes

• -  The King had been advised that in some places encomenderos and royal justices had presumed to appoint beneficed clergy in the towns over which they had authority and that prelates had attempted to install beneficed clergy in the towns without royal approval, both of which were contrary to the rights and preeminence of the Crown. He therefore charges all the prelates of the Indies that in the future they should not make appointments to any dignity or benefice. In places where there are to be parish priests, the prelate can give them power to administer the sacraments and do other services pertaining to his office. In towns where a beneficed clergyman is needed, in order to avoid suspension of clerical services, the prelates can give permission for the clergy to serve in the benefices without installing them canonically, but within two years they are to present the permission and a letter of approval from the prelate before the Council of the Indies so that the Crown may formally present them, or whomever it pleases, for the office. By virtue of this royal presentation to the benefice, the prelates may install the beneficed clergy. If the clergy do not get the presentation within two years, the prelates are to remove them and give the interim appointment to others, who shall have the same obligation of petitioning the Crown for formal presentation. The bishops had been given the privilege of appointing clergy to no more than four vacant benefices in their churches, but because many of these appointees had neglected to get royal approval, they are also to be required to obtain formal royal presentation within two years, and if they do not, they are to be replaced by others, with the same obligation. The prelates are to report on the qualifications of the applicant so that the King will know whether to appoint him or someone else. The obligation of the cedula is retroactive, and those who had previously been installed in benefices without formal presentation are to obtain it within two years or be replaced.

Medium

• 2 leaves

Source Collection

• Hans Peter Kraus collection of Spanish American documents, 1433-1877

Repository

• Manuscript Division

Digital Id

• http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss31013.mss31013-06600

Online Format

• pdf
• image

IIIF Presentation Manifest

• Manifest (JSON/LD)