Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/560

540 mayor or high sheriff, one canciller who kept the royal seal, with a number of minor attaches, divided into three courts, two for civil and one for criminal cases. Changes continued to take place, and by law of 1776 a regente was appointed for each audiencia, who constituted a kind of chief justice, with power to regulate the duties of theoidores, to form special courts, to sit as judge in any court, and to preside in absence of the viceroy or president. Indeed, he absorbed a certain degree of authority from the latter, and was entitled to special respect. About the same time the number of oidores was reduced to ten, with five alcaldes del crímen and two fiscales, forming only two courts. A special fiscal attended to treasury matters. The inferior audiencias had only five oidores, with president, regente, and two fiscals, in two courts, together with alguacil mayor, canciller, and minor attaches, but without alcaldes. The alcaldes del crímen had cognizance, in first instance, in civil and criminal cases within five leagues of the capital, and in second instance of criminal cases for all the audiencia district, with appeal only to themselves. In death penalties the affirmative votes of three alcaldes were required, and in cases of doubt oidores could be assigned to assist in obtaining a decision.

The audiencia courts had hours and days for certain