Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/107

 MEXICO. 75 The independence of the Ecclesiastical establishments throughout America, forms a very singular feature in the Spanish Colonial Policy. By the Bull of Alexander VI. dated 1502, Ferdinand II. was constituted, as effectually, the head of the American church, as Henry VIII. was of that of England : and whatever subserviency the Court of Madrid may have shown towards Rome, in other respects, its most bigoted monarchs have displayed great firmness in repelling the encroachments of the Holy See wherever America was concerned. True to the principle of concentrating every branch of authority in the crown, they would allow no Spiri- tual jurisdiction to interfere with the Royal prerogative: Papal bulls were only admitted into the colonies on receiving a Regium Exequatur from the Council of the Indies ; and the severest penalties were not only enacted, but enforced, against ecclesiastics, who attempted to infringe this wise regulation. The Pope could hold no intercourse whatever with any part of America, except through the medium of Spain, by which means the Cruzada, or distribution of Bulls, became one of the branches of the Royal revenue. The King bought them up at a certain price at Rome, and retailed indulgences, and dispensations, of all kinds, to his American subjects, at an enormous profit. The speculation was managed with as much regularity as the monopoly of tobacco ; and, although several squabbles arose between the Courts of Madrid and Rome, in the course of a traffic, which was as lucrative, as it was discreditable, to both, the Pope, after several ineffec- tual attempts to obtain a larger share of so advantageous a concern, was forced to leave his Royal partner in possession of nearly the whole of the profits. It was a question, in which not merely the avarice, but the whole policy of Spain was interested. The main-spring of her Colonial System was, to teach all classes to look to the King, and the King alone, for advancement. Spaniards have always been a nation pf employes, and the surest hold upon them was to concentrate