A rare, early seventeenth-century message from the Marquis de Montesclaros (1571-1628), Viceroy of Nueva Espana, to Fray Diego de Soto, Provincial of the Province of Michoacan on the subject of the spiritual care and welfare of the Indigenous population.
Born in Guadalajara, the Marquis de Montesclaros fought in the Portuguese campaign under the Duke of Alba and was awarded the Order of Caballero de Santiago in 1591. He was appointed governor of Seville, during which time he became interested in New Spain and became Viceroy of New Spain from 1603 to 1607 and thereafter governed Peru in the same capacity from 1607 to 1615.
This important communication conveys the terms of the Royal reformation the procedure for the conversion of the Indigenous population (most of whom would have been Purépecha) to the Provincial Diocese of Michoacan. A short preamble is followed by the five-part Royal message.
The King and his counsellors hoped the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Indigenous people would evolve with the least possible inconvenience to them. As such, it was desirable to gather those who were scattered in mountain passes and wild places into communities, where they might be taught the doctrines of Christianity in an atmosphere of cleanliness and in climates to which they were accustomed. On the other hand, those who already lived in communities where facilities existed for their conversion to the Faith, should not be removed to other places.
In cases where Indians had been transferred from habitable dwellings and farms to other localities, in order to prepare for conversion, they were allowed to return home, given that information derived from the superior prelates and Mayors of the districts concerned, satisfied all parties. Where converts, on returning to their homes, found others in possession, they were to be entitled to dispossess the newcomers, even if their properties had been handed over to the latter with the authority of the Viceroy. This is a distinct break from the practice of removal and re-settlement which was re-introduced by Montesclaros’ predecessor, the Conde de Monterrey, and which characterised so much of the Native and Indigenous experience of colonization in the Americas.
After each part, the Viceroy’s comments appear on the right-hand column of each page, the opposite column was reserved for the Provincial’s observations. These were filled in by the latter after consideration had been given by him and a number of the representative Fathers of his Province, to the proposed reforms.
The manuscript closes with two short messages to the Marquis - one signed by Fray Diego de Soto; the other by this Provincial and three members of his Chapter, including Fray Balthasar de los Reyes. Both of these postscripts are intended as assurances to the Viceroy that everything will be done to give the fullest effect to His Majesty’s wishes.
Cline, H.F., “Civil Congregations of the Indians in New Spain, 1598-1606” in The Hispanic American Historical Review, Vol. 29, No. 3, (August, 1949), pp.349-369.
