CHAPTER XIX.

THE ECCLESIASTICS IN CHIAPAS.

1550.

A CONVENT FOUNDED BY THE MERCED ORDER CIUDAD HEAL APPOINTED

A CATHEDRAL CITY LAS CASAS A BISHOP HE ATTEMPTS TO ENFORCE
THE NEW LAWS HE REFUSES ABSOLUTION DURING HOLY WEEK His
CONTROVERSY WITH THE AUDIENCIA OF THE CONFINES HE DEPARTS
FOR SPAIN His DISPUTE WITH SEPULVEDA His APPEAL TO THE CON
SCIENCE OF PHILIP THE AUDIENCIA TRANSFERRED FROM PANAMA TO
GUATEMALA DEATH OF THE APOSTLE OF THE INDIES His CHARACTER
THE DOMINICANS IN CHIAPAS.

THE province of Chiapas was at first included in

the see of Tlascala, and paid tithes to that bishopric
till it was transferred to the diocese of Guatemala in

153G. When Ciudad Heal was laid out, under the

direction of Mazariegos, an allotment was assigned
for a church building, and its erection was begun
almost immediately. 1 The first parish priest of Ciudad
Real was Pedro Gonzalez, who was appointed by the
cabildo in 1528, with a salary of three hundred pesos
de oro. On his death Pedro Castellanos succeeded to
the benefice in 1532. 2 In 1537, through the exer-
tions of Bishop Marroquin, a convent of the order
1
As early as May 28, 1528, fines were appropriated to the building of the
church. Hemesal, Hist. Chyapa, 277; Juarros, Hist. Gnat., 03. It was dedi
cated to Nuestra Seilora de la Anunciacion, but afterward, when the name of
the city was changed, San Cristobal was chosen as the patron saint, and
this name was retained after it was erected into a cathedral. Remesal, Hist.
Chyapa, 274; Nueva Esparto,, Breve Res., MS., ii. 390; Colic, Mem. y^Not-., 122.
2
Both these priests were army chaplains, the latter receiving his appoint
ment from Pedro de Alvarado in the name of his Majesty. The religious
fervor of the Spaniards at Ciudad Real was to say the least lukewarm. In
1528 Pedro Gonzalez was ordered to say mass daily on pain of forfeiting his
salary. Another ordinance was that citizens were to attend church in proper
time El Espanol que desde el Euangelio adelante estuuiere f uera de la Yglesia,
;

tiene pena de tres pessos; while a third was to the effect that no citizen was
(328)
 ciri>A!< L
:

founded l>y
i

ri- and IVdro I J,-uii, j JI L On the IM

May i! ition, d the cahild
mem land on which to i oimd ;i n
ry t
l.ut
though their requesl \\ It!. [ 1,111
ri time/ Jn i 539 (fray Mai i
I )ard
superior, in
company with Fr;y Juan /;:!il.;tiiu
>k

]>(>.-
n of ili ildii: I indii
it it wjis sittiatrd too 1 ar iVoin tli. incur
former petitioned lra m-w and for contribu
and assistance in erecting a n.-w com 1 1 :

(|U->t
nirt witli a lilx-ral rrspons-
.

in afh-r \ itli i

means of ,suj|M)i-
5
Uy a
jtapal l)iill is-in-d on tlic lOtli ..! Mardi I.IDS,
Ciuda 1 I! al was appointed -tlu-dral
city,
ih
cesc be Milj-ct to tin archbishopric
t S \ .ml 1
>i i

the pop- to hiniseir the apjh.int!h<-nt of the;

i

vin<^

iii The salary of tin- li>hop

o hundred ducats a
year, paj able iVom i

:
. while the pri\ ii and nin-s
the bishopric \ ;il-

in
S]>ain.
The clnnvh patronage a:

or dignitaries were conceded t<> the n of [ in.

he lin,
I f tll d>o lel t to 1

the einpero,
ili:
ity
1

<>!i thos.

:!!!. I

was si :

toabast filt
-<
ami a sugar- in ill.
6
Acci.nl:
i. 1-

in a cc.;
ic bu:
330 THE ECCLESIASTICS IN CHIAPAS.

On the 14tli of April 1538, Juan cle Arteaga y

Abenclano, a friar of the order of Santiago, was ap
pointed to the charge of the newly created bishopric,
but it was not until nearly three years later that he
was consecrated at Seville, whence he issued a docu
7
ment framing o the constitution of his diocese. The
prelate did not like to take possession, for on his arrival
at Vera Cruz in 1541 he was attacked with a severe
fever, and though he succeeded in reaching Puebla de
8
los Angeles he died there shortly afterward, his dio
cese remaining in charge of the bishop of Guatemala
until the arrival, in 1545, of Bartolome de las Casas.
Lying between the territory under the jurisdiction
of the audiencias of New Spain and the Confines
were the provinces of Chiapas, Soconusco, Yucatan,
and Tezulutlan, so remote, even from the latter court,
that a strong hand was needed to enforce therein the
new laws. In 1543 the apostle of the Indies after
refusing the bishopric of Cuzco, lest his avowed disin
terestedness should be doubted, accepted the prelacy
9
of this extensive diocese, one fourth of the tithes
7
In Nueva Espana, Breve. Res. MS. it is
, ,

remarked that a copy of this document is no

where to be found, but that Remesal makes
mention of it as being identical with that of
the Guatemalan bishopric, except in the exor
dium. In the cathedral of Chiapas no account
of it exists. See Remesal, Hist. Chyapa, 202.
The personnel of the cathedral was to consist
of a dean, archdean, precentor, chancellor, and
treasurer, besides two canons and other ecclesi
astics. Gonzalez Ddv da, Teatro Edes. ,
i. 189.
8
Remesal states that the immediate cause
of his death was taking poison during the night
in mistake for water. Mazariegos inclines to
the opinion that the fatal draft was taken while
Arteaga was delirious with fever. Mem. Chi-
apa, 45. According to Calle, Mem. y Not., 122,
Abendano was a native of Estcpa. Some of
ARMS OP THE CITY OF CHIAPAS. the mem bers of his
chapter went to Santiago,
and others remained at Ciudad Real in a destitute condition, but were provided
for by Marroquin. They asked that their allowance be given them from the
revenues of that church, but this was refused by Marroquin until the emperor s
decision should be known. Pachecoand Cardenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 278-9.
9
In his memorial to the audiencia Oct. 22, 1545, Squier s MSS., xxii. 176.
Las Casas claims Yucatan and Tezulutlan. June 4, 1545, Bishop Marroquin
acknowledges receipt of the prince s letter assigning Soconusco to Las Casas.
Id., 121.
 ARRIVAL OF DOMINI- : 1

<>f liis
l.islmprir ;HK! an additional sum ~>00,000

maravrdi s pavaM.- l.y the CrOWD I

.ilu
1 I I

Sunday <! I and having l.y vii tu.- of a r\al <

!i-cl tin- liberation 11 tht- Indian sla .

brought to Spain from UK -

\\ -rld L jl>ail

at San I j icar <>n tin- I 1 1 li of .lulv. *j

I i

\\\<
l.y
Ladrada. and forty-five I ) Miiiniraii t iiar>. indmli
Tom . tli-ir \ i nd his BD
i
Quint ;

1M, the ioih; HL-!I. ,., h. :><-,

tii tth.
332 THE ECCLESIASTICS IN CHIAPAS.

to the bishopric of Chiapas. After touching at Santo

Domingo where he was detained over three months
awaiting a vessel, he sailed for Campeche, where
he arrived on the 6th of January 1545. Las Casas
soon aroused the opposition of the colonists by insist
ing on the enforcement of the new laws, so exasperat
ing them that they refused to acknowledge him as
their bishop, on the ground that his papers were de
fective. They could not, indeed, prevent him from
taking possession of the bishopric, but they could and
did withhold the tithes, thus compelling him to send
to Ciudad Real for money to defray his expenses.
His messenger reached Ciudad Real early in Feb
ruary and the cabildo s answer is dated the 12th of
the same month. They sent him a few hundred pesos
which had been advanced by the public administra
11
tors on the security of one of the citizens.
From Campeche, Las Casas despatched by sea to
Tabasco ten of the friars, but the vessel being
overtaken by a storm foundered off the island of Ter-
minos, and nine of the ecclesiastics together with
twenty-three Spaniards were drowned. Las Casas
and the remainder of the Dominicans soon afterward
departed for Ciudad Real, where his reception was
cordial and enthusiastic. He was escorted into the
city under the pallium; a house had been prepared
for his reception, and thither all classes flocked to pay
him homage. 12
The cathedral chapter consisted, on Las Casas ar
rival,of the dean, Gil Quintana, and the canon, Juan
de Perera, besides which dignitaries there were three
priests in the diocese. The Dominicans, who were
also kindly received, having reported their arrival to
the provincial in New Spain, established a temporary
convent and began their labors.
In the enslavement of the natives, the settlers of
11
Pacheco and Cardenas, Col. Doc., vii. 211-14.
12
Las Casas, Relation de entrada, in Pacheco and Cardenas, Col. Doc., vii.
157.
 I

is ahundaiit
III their Sul>-e<|UeHt
t! them 1

inurh harsh]!- nd cru -lty. 14 -;:!\ )

>

tde to him ly the Indian- protect I

.
.1- i. ,n, hut th-
ility of any ext
natives lie well ki w< . id tl.

on vigorous ii lirmlv
1

his ei would be seconded l>y

theaudie i h ir

enforcement of the n-\v lav Las ( ,

hail
misjudged the- character o( the
>hall Bee hereafter.
I
ll"
11 ^ 1(1
apni-oadi of Imly week lie
hui injudicious p of refusing absolution to all v. 1m
should not forthwith liherate th.-ir slav< <!

this chief of certain sins I.T which he

t h"

liims.-h
right of granting absolution, jmhli- i .<

ion of this mea -lire eau-ed

<-at

1lit lich urther im-r, hy hi- . I i i r< ( i;

:i to any rompromi- In their d

to. the dean, who, failing
applied
took upon himself the responf
hi>h(p.
ibilii

absolution in certain & <-, I

di-an purposhi place him HIM! . hut \

latter Mi^pectinir hi-

design refused to \\ h<

Ujion the former, detei mined not to ho thus thwart.

it hi- hailill and a i
.
\\ attendants with 01

MI.- IS cxrf-siK yd .;ili<l<> en line, r i;>.i

nay

I
a-; in Los Caaas
mi. I >sed

1
itin.L;
tha;
1 triiuitr. l-i;:

LVC.S h"W.

. in /
111 1.

,;
fully rnslav.

1.
334 THE ECCLESIASTICS IN CHIAPAS.

bring the contumacious dignitary, if necessary, by

force. The dean resisted, and with this object drew
a sword, with which he wounded himself in the hand
and the bailiff in the leg. 16
At this juncture an alcalde, who among others had
been attracted by the disturbance, added to the ex
citement by loudly shouting: "Help in the name of
the king Thereupon the citizens hurriedly gathered
!"

from all sides with arms in hand and prevented the

arrest of the dean. Las Casas was beside himself
with rage, and the settlers were equally exasperated.
That throughout holy week they should be deprived
of the sacraments for no other reason than that they
held slaves was a measure without precedent in the
New World, and their indignation was increased by
the numerous letters of sympathy and condolence
received from all parts of New Spain. The dean in
the mean time had escaped to Guatemala where he was
absolved by Bishop Marroquin and permitted to say
mass. Las Casas made a requisition for him, but it
was ignored, 17 and he was obliged to content himself
with declaring him anathematized and excommuni
cated. 18
Las Casas was baffled but not defeated. He re
ceived an invitation to assist in the consecration of
Bishop Valdivieso at Gracias d Dios, which it will be
remembered was then the seat of the audiencia of the
Confines, and thither he repaired. The news of the
occurrences at Ciudad Real had, however, preceded
him, and with the exception of Herrera all the
1
oidores were prejudiced against him.
Las Casas found little sympathy from his brother
prelates, Bishop Marroquin, as has already shown, been
entertainingo a bitter dislike toward him. Indeed, the
16
Las Casas, Eel. loc. cit.
,

17
Las Casas y Valdivieso, Carta, Oct. 25, 1545, in Squier s MSS. t
xxii.
122-3.
18
Las Casas, ltd. , loc. cit.
ia
ln a letter dated July 20, 1545, the audiencia informed the emperor ot
Las Casas doings at Ciudad Real, and charged him with usurping the juris
diction of the crown. Carta, in Sqider^s MSS., xxii. 111-12,
 R]

apoetle of the I n.li.-s waa in some r-

the nohle work to which IK- jiad de his
impetuoui character and ardent / al hlindi
judgment and making him impatien
-

rition
and heedl ,f the rights of othe Thu- be made
i
aemies where tin- .f h; nanded int<
.

friends and active Mippor; \-\-\\- \\ an the

prominent ecclesiastics in the New \V.,rld \ I the
(jiirstion of slavery as lie
regarded it. and
his condemnation of jt
unqualified
their learning and piety.
Under these circumstances it is not mere
^3
t!

bated, his appeals to tin- audiencia w<

din I ded and thai, meeting only with ivliutls. he

departed in <li for his n th an time
dio< 1

tli biers of Ciudad lu-al had by their importuni-

liiveli the vicai- u iid al of Las ( irom 1

eii The bishop was not disposed, how< \v

the J Ii- la tli in i the eilicaey of t h- nc\\ l:i

struggle,
had r a severe >hoek, for
1
\^y thi-
ml ot the detei inineil \; i hem t !
:hoiit
the provil He had expected that th oidd he
opj I, hut not to thi- nid now there \\

in ing the.he hostile attitude <f t

Over the turbulent inhabitants of Ciu al he

d no fiiither desire to rule, and had all
third time a-ked the emperor to allow him to he
ferred to Vera Paz, and that bishops be appoint
i -i- the pro\ of Soeonusco, Ch: ml Yn
inee>

No i urthei- trouhl red

1

ween the l>i>h>p

and the e..l.>ni^

In I
5 17 I --mharked for Sp
ias <
Tl
ion ot the new laws of which he mu>l have heard

/.

I his Buh> n \\\i\

.sal. l!i~t. <

^7. 1 am ii.

1 kn-iv .*t that

I

..s 011 li. -^i Joes not iiuli-

B such hostility.
336 THE ECCLESIASTICS IN CHIAPAS.

before his departure, was a death-blow to his hopes

in the new world. During: O the first two. years after t/

his arrival his efforts in behalf of the natives appear

to have produced nothing more than a few decrees,
comparatively unimportant. Later he resigned his
bishopric, and retired to the college of San Gregorio
de Valladolid, still continuing, however, to take an
active interest in Indian affairs, although he had
already passed his seventy-fifth year. From this re
treat he soon issued to defend the principles which it
had been his life-long labor to maintain.
The conquerors had found a champion in Doctor
Juan Gines Sepulveda, who contended that it was
lawful to make war on the natives and enslave them
in order to promote their conversion and prevent
human Las Casas presented thirty propo
sacrifices.
sitions in refutation of this view in which he main
tained that over a nation whose only sin was idolatry
no authority could be justly exercised save by peaceful
conversion. Though this was clearly a condemnation
of the policy of Spain in the New World, the sincerity
of Las Casas and the justice of his cause prevented
the king from taking offence at his boldness, and in
duced him to permit the unrestricted publication of
his works while those of his opponent were forbidden
to be printed. Henceforth he continued to be con
sulted on all questions of importance concerning the
Indians, his time being devoted mainly to the writing
of his history.
In 1555 Philip, who had lately ascended the
throne, and was then in England, proposed to sell the
right of the crown to the reversion of the encomien-
das. Las Casas, ever on the alert, saw that this
meant perpetual slavery, and determined to exert all
his powers to prevent the measure. Through the
king s confessor, who had written to him on the sub
22
ject, he made a bold and earnest appeal to the royal
2
For a copy of the letter see Pacheco and Cardenas, Col. Doc., vii. 290,
338; also Las Casas, Oeuvres, ii. 120-180; this latter version is defective.
 DKATII OF I.

Tin- appeal was not in vain,

tli: Or the final einancip.
lia!

II to the IS \Vorld
Bentation to tin- ;n<-il of I ndi-s of th
ine and prejudi hd
nat ivea of ( mala l>v t!

the andiencia of tli- Cmifin. Jn 1569, p

. the and
la. J Ie did not live to
howev; r, for falling ill at Madrid, be died in .July
in his niin-ly
, -lid \var. II.-

IM .-oiniiio ij, in tliu convent j

chaj
of At<

Judi;-r<l ly liis v/orks Las (

philanthropisl
ot Iiisa^o. Lik. all vi-_

iona:
on wliicli t
ln-y d
Unflinching <-oura^
;
-
and tenacity with which 1: in-
inrd
:

i;i 1 lis coin; -r tl;

and hi i alihoi ivM*-.- for thrir <));

by his aihuv to i all".

ferings, until it had become the all-al ^?

)ivd 1;
y and word. n
a<-t I
j>u;

could intimidate hii T<> Ivti

1 1- lir>itati-(l not in I

can T an
<>f

. ;lid i or t:

t tViomls. the cnniit;,

in !!. adinittol thai 1

n Mil ra gainst his opp<

md tot hi
d his i
ivju.-n:
-
with which 1

unlii for dealing i

Hairs t! Id.

I A ;
of 1

ritahli"
aiTOgai
t hat thi oahly dii
Ti
HIST, c II. 22
338 THE ECCLESIASTICS IN CHIAPAS.

his motives none can doubt, and while no defence can

vindicate the name of his adversaries from the charge
of injustice and cruelty, the errors of Bartolome de
Las Casas are forgotten, and his spirit of noble self-
devotion and high-souled philanthropy will make him
known to all posterity as one of the greatest benefac
tors of his race.

The establishment of the audiencia of the Confines

and the attempted enforcement of the new laws
produced the same excitement in Chiapas as in other
territories, but the transfer of this province to the
jurisdiction of the new audiencia caused no change in
its local government. The alcalde mayor, however,
still the chief authority, ruled with greater rigor, and

by the appointment of deputies in all of the native

towns greatly increased the burden of their inhabi
23
tants.
solicitation of Las Casas, Diego Ram
Through the
irez, of whom
mention has been made in connection
24
with the history of Mexico, was sent to investigate
the alleged oppression of the natives and their oppo
sition to their Dominican teachers. He appears to
have been an upright judge, and favorable to the
Indians, but even his efforts, supported as they were
by various decrees25in their favor, did not accomplish
the desired object.
After the departure of Ramirez, matters relapsed
into their former condition. Within less than a year,
however, Cerrato having taken charge of the audi
encia determined to remedy these abuses, declaring
that the natives continued to be destroyed without
pity, the previous official
visits having accomplished
23
nothing.
2:J
RoUes, Chiapa, 27-8.
2t
//is. Max., ii. 570 et seq., tins series.
fiamirez, Cartas, April 26, 1548, A},ril 20, 1540, in Pacheco and Car
25

denas, Col. Doc., vii. 201-4; Fr. Torre, Carta, Aug. 3, 154S, in Squier s MSS. t
.xxii. 94-6.
*6
Carta, Sept. 28, 1548, in Squier s MSS., xxii. 81-2.
 -TOXIO I ,L. 339

Before the arrival

i
done to improve 1 1.

condition nati?
encoui. 1
by tL in i
he i

or during their j. nini- m point

t ;it.

.Inde.-d, it v, to believe Remesal, and in tl

Stance ni;iy certainly do we ml! I

morally and religiously more degrad

ian than under domination. Id-.! ]>a^an

openly practised, and to their former vie

tho Spaniards, which their chiefs,
t :

jtrivcd in o-i cat

part of their authority, were ]
W
less to restrain. Little cared the en ho
souls or Bodies of the Indians if t!
-juir-
r

were but promptly paid. l h labors oi the 1 mini-

cans were ofc-ouis-- interrupted l>y
th-- p<

which they were subjected i

of i
ip-
of Las ( Alms were
]><>rt
.-
rel u-

becoming exha
their supplies soon
ih.
mpoi ary convent and proc.-cd.-d t

town of Chiapas whence, having fixed upon int.

their 1. of .dually
OJ
their labors <.\
r the provin<
Tir d
in tin ir
way every obstacle that self ii

could devise, but tl

friars <
.
til
opposition, and
v. hen in I .

came to their
BUpporl th
tablished ivents including t!

Real, ami had visited and carri

the n UK >tes1
pa; t he provin
\nton i>

I
it in (

r inriii
dili in P<> short a

.1 tl
regret t

aut!
In- a-

tliy oi - m *
340 THE ECCLESIASTICS IN CHIAPAS.
order to avoid a very long list. He was indebted to Conde de la Gomera,
president of the audiencia of Guatemala, for access to the archives and official
papers of different cities. To him he dedicates his book. The advantages
enjoyed by Remesal in this respect render the work an exceedingly valu
able contribution to Central American history. Its value, however, is less
ened by the great number of typographical and other errors which it con
tains. These are very important, especially where dates are concerned.
While a large number of them are quite obvious, very many incidents of
great importance must be verified as to time of occurrence, by reference to
other authors. In the portion of his work which relates to the conquest of
Guatemala, many inaccuracies are observed. In fact, Ramesal was hurried,
and often biassed. His style is clear and pleasing; free from the redundant
and inflated form so common a century later. He submitted his manuscript
to Tortjuemada, by whom it was highly approved and its publication advised.
This occurred in the city of Mexico. But meantime a storm was brewing else
where. The work was by no means to the liking of certain parties in Guate
mala. By means of letters addressed to different parts of Mexico, but more
particularly by a special messenger who preached a crusade against the new his
tory, these enemies raised up a tempest of indignation against Remesal and his
book, especially in Oajaca. Through the influence, however, of sensible and
powerful friends in Mexico and Guatemala all opposition \vas overcome. See
pages 747-51 of his work. The author was born in the town of Allariz in Galicia,
and on the 9th of October 1613, nearly five months after he left Spain, arrived at
Guatemala, where he was most kindly received by the Dominican order. Dur
ing the time he remained in their convent, he failed not to observe the excel
lent system of government under which the society worked, and occupied
his time in perusing the acts of the chapters held in the convent. He was so
impressed with the excellence of these laws and regulations that he proceeded
to make a kind of summary of them. While thus employed, a work on the
origin of the province, written by Friar Tomas de la Torre, fell into his hands.
This suggested to him to undertake a history that would embrace both secu
lar and ecclesiastical matters. With unconquerable diligence and ardor he
prosecuted to the end the work thus projected. On one occasion, when suf
fering from a fibrous abscess in the face, he carefully perused in a single "day
the whole of the first book of the archives of Guatemala city, after having
submitted to a severe surgical operation on his right cheek. Twice he jour
neyed over all New Spain, collecting information and, in particular, studying
the books of the cabildos of different cities and towns. The evidence he thus
obtained was in many instances at variance, he states, with printed books
and histories of his own religion. The authors of these whose names he does
not mention he would not condemn, however, but excuse on the ground
that later research will necessarily produce different accounts of events. See
his preface. Remesal was a fearless writer. Perhaps he had some leaning
to the descendants of the conquerors, yet he does not hesitate to denounce
the acts of the first colonists, to deal with Alvarado in a manner severely
condemning him, and to endorse Las Casas with regard to the cruel oppres
sion of the Indians. But his statements are to be accepted with caution,
especially where Las Casas or the Dominican order is concerned. No effort
is spared to hold them up to the gaze of an admiring posterity, and to expose
the errors and perverseness of their enemies. To this end all sorts of prob
able and improbable situations and adventures are described, wherein the
religious eventually triumph. Many important facts are glossed over, or
omitted, the true versions of which it is evident must have come within his
observation. Numerous speeches, sermons, conversations, even the thoughts
and feelings of the leading actors, are described with a minuteness of detail
that is astonishing considering the lapse of time over 75 years. The account
of the prosecution of the religious by Baltasar Guerra may be looked upon as
a fiction, while the author s inventive faculty has had much to do with that
of the opposition to Las Casas in Ciudad Real. His version of Las Casas
doings in Gracias d, Dios seems also greatly exaggerated.