Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/449

Rh 1735, the provincial proposed to the audiencia a temporary arrangement, which was rejected May 12, 1736, on two grounds: first, that the provincial had insulted the archbishop-viceroy and the members of the audiencia; and second, that he had paid no respect to the censuras issued against the priests administering the haciendas of the society. It was ordered that the collection of the whole tithes for 1734 should be made, and that a copy of the proceedings should be forwarded to the royal council at Madrid. The provincial had objected to the second order to pay the decimal tax, entering a solemn protest against it, and adding that as it would not be decent for his people to use other weapons than those of reason, the collector of tithes would need no armed force to effect his purpose, but only assistants to measure, count, and weigh.

The subject having been duly considered in the king's council, it was decreed that the payment of the tithes should be enforced, and censures, if necessary, applied. The society was required, under that decree, to produce sworn statements of the produce of its estates subject to tithes; afterward, if it had any exceptions to make, to send them to the royal