Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.
Scope and place. This entry covers §§1-9 and §16 of libro III, capítulo XV of Juan de Solórzano Pereira's Política Indiana in the 1736 Madrid impression, which run from the left column of page 304 to the right column of page 305. The chapter is headed "DE LA TOTAL PROHIBICION, QUE ay de enagenarse las Encomiendas: y si se admiten en ellas renunciaciones, transacciones, ò compromissos?" and its printed SUMARIO, on page 303 and the left column of page 304, runs to head 58. §§10-15 and 17-20, on what creditors could take, and §§21-33, on dowry and renunciation, are treated in separate entries. This is the first range of the chapter opened by this corpus.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
The rule and its first ground. At §1, "Este derecho, pues, que por la merced de las Encomiendas, y possession de ellas se adquiere à los Encomenderos, segun se ha dicho, por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey." Two reasons are given: the vulgar rule of law that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others, and that a form and manner of enjoying or succeeding to something "que se halla dada, y establecida por ley publica, y universal, no se puede quebrantar, alterar, ni mudar por pactos, conciertos, ni contratos de los particulares."
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
The second ground is the one the corpus was looking for, and it is stated as the institution's own purpose. At §2, "como al principio en estas Encomiendas, no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal, no se debio permitir facilmente à los Encomenderos, que apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo, y que los ingenios, y condiciones los diferencian." The prohibition on alienation is thus argued from the protective charge rather than only from the personal character of the grant: the man was chosen, so the duty could not be subcontracted.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
The legislative record, and what it is also evidence of. At §3, many Cédulas Reales treat the prohibition expressly and are to be found "en el Segundo Tomo de las impressas, mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados." The wording is not of selling the grant but of selling, renting and transferring the people. A prohibition enacted repeatedly and ordered to be punished severely is evidence of what the law said and of what it was thought necessary to forbid; it is not evidence that it was obeyed, and these paragraphs name no case, no encomendero punished and no sum. That the repetition is itself a record of the practice is this corpus's inference from the form of the provision rather than a statement on the page, and the claim is set at 0.85 for that reason.
confidence 0.85Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
The author immediately denies that any of this is peculiar to the Indies. §3 continues that the rule is not to be held "por nuevo, ò por riguroso, pues por las mismas causas, ù otras semejantes, se prohibe lo mismo en los Usufructos, Emphiteusis, y Mayorazgos, como es notorio." The encomienda is being reasoned about throughout the chapter with the categories of European property law — usufruct, emphyteusis, entail and above all the feudum — rather than with rules of its own.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
The penalty quoted is the feudal one, and it is severe. At §4, on feuds, "los Vassallos no los puedan vender, ò renunciar por dinero, ni enagenarlos en otra manera alguna contra la voluntad, ò sin consulta de los Señores, de quien los recibieron, ni en perjuicio de los que están llamados à la sucesion de ellos: y esto con tanto aprieto, que se manda, que el que intentare contravenirlo, pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano." The mutilation of the notary belongs to the feudal law the chapter is arguing from, not to any cédula of the Indies quoted here, and the text does not say it was ever applied to an escribano in the Indies.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
Whether a viceroy could cure an unlawful transfer is treated as a live dispute and then closed for the Indies. At §5 the question is put whether the penalties are incurred by the bare promise to sell, or where the attempted alienation is void on some other ground; Antonio Capicio is reported for the view that viceroys may confirm such sales of feuds, and the Regent Ponte for the contrary, "refiriendo una Pragmatica del Reyno de Napoles, que assi lo declara" and concluding that Capicio's opinion is not to be heeded. At §6 the author says the contrary view "en nuestras Encomiendas, y Virreyes de Indias procede mas sin duda: porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren." The viceroy's own standing instruction made him the enforcer, not the dispenser.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
The prohibition is extended to everything short of outright sale. At §7, "no solo se prohiben las enagenaciones de las Encomiendas; sino que tambien hallo Cedulas, que no permiten, que se arrienden, ni presten, ni dén en prendas", the footnote placing them at "Sched. ann. 1529. 1541. 1559." At §8 the legal doctrine behind that extension: "que en prohibiendo la ley la enagenacion, es visto, aver querido prohibir, y prohibido todo aquello, por donde se camina à ella", from which Ponte concludes in feudal terms that what cannot be alienated or ceded cannot be mortgaged either. None of the three cédulas was opened in its own register.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
The reason particular to the Indies is the sharpest sentence in the range, and it concedes what it defends. At §9, "Y en los de las Encomiendas se puede tambien añadir, que como nuestros Reyes han cuidado siempre tanto de la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos, como por la misma razon se vedó, à los que los reciben de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores." The simile is the author's own: the thing forbidden is trading in the people of the grant as though they were slaves, and the same was forbidden to those holding Indians by mita or repartimiento for the mines. The paragraph closes with Gregorio López on the adjacent question "si un Señor por necesidad puede vender su adscripticio", and then, between the asterisks this impression uses for editorial matter, a citation of "L. 30. tit. 12. lib. 6. Recop." added by the 1736 editor Francisco Ramiro de Valenzuela. That law was not collated here.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
The prohibition covers the gratuitous transfer as well as the sale. At §16, "Assimismo hallo estar igualmente prohibidas qualesquiera cessiones, renunciaciones, y traspassos de las Encomiendas en favor de terceros, sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad", the author referring back to another chapter for the many cédulas that treat it. A renunciation in favour of a child is the exception the same chapter reaches at §§21-33 and is treated in a separate entry.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary
What this entry establishes and what it does not. It establishes that the standard treatise on the law of the Indies states a total prohibition on alienating, transferring, renting, lending, pledging or mortgaging an encomienda without the king's consultation and special dispensation; that it grounds the prohibition twice over, on the personal character of a royal favour and on the holder's charge as patron and defender of the Indians, which he was not to put "en ombros agenos"; that it cites cédulas ordering severe punishment of those who sold, rented or transferred the Indians themselves, and cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 against renting, lending and pledging; that the viceroys' own Instrucciones, capítulo XXIX, made them responsible for preventing and punishing such transfers rather than confirming them; and that the Indies-specific reason given is that the kings' care for the liberty and good treatment of the Indians could not permit encomenderos to trade in them "qual si fueran esclavos", the same being forbidden to holders of mita and repartimiento labour. It establishes nothing about enforcement: no case, no name, no date, no penalty levied, no escribano punished and no encomendero deprived appears anywhere in the range. The cédulas of §3 and §7 are known only as this treatise places them in a printed tome this corpus has not reached, and the closing citation of §9 is the 1736 editor's addition rather than the author's text. The people whose sale is being forbidden appear in these ten paragraphs only as the object of the prohibition; none is named, no complaint of theirs is reported, and the chapter's next range holds that the enjoyment of their tribute could lawfully be handed to a stranger for the holder's lifetime.
confidence 0.9Política Indiana, libro III, capítulo XV, §§1-9 and §16 — the total prohibition on alienating an encomienda: at §1 that the right acquired by the merced and possession of an encomienda, 'por ser personal, y concedido por indulgencia, y providencia Real por una, ù otra vida para remuneracion de los benemeritos, no admite enagenacion, ni cesion alguna, hecha en favor de otro tercero; sino es precediendo consulta, y dispensacion especial del Rey', on the vulgar rule that personal benefices and favours do not pass to others and that a form of enjoying or succeeding established by public and universal law cannot be broken by private pacts; at §2 the second ground, that in these encomiendas 'no solo se pretendia remunerar meritos; sino dar tambien Patronos, y defensores idoneos à los Indios, con cuyo cuidado mejorassen de vida, y costumbres en lo espiritual, y en lo temporal', so it was not to be permitted that encomenderos 'apartassen de sí esta carga, y la pusiessen por solo su arbitrio en ombros agenos, pues nadie ay, que ignore, que no son todos los hombres iguales para todo'; at §3 that many Cédulas Reales in the Segundo Tomo of the printed ones treat this prohibition expressly, 'mandando castigar severamente à los que vendieren, alquilaren, ò traspassaren los Indios, que les fueron encomendados', and that the same is forbidden in usufructs, emphyteuses and mayorazgos so the rule is neither new nor rigorous; at §4 the feudal penalty, that a vassal contravening 'pierda el Feudo, y los Escribanos, que en razon de ello hicieren Escripturas, queden infames, y les corten la mano'; at §5 Antonio Capicio's view that viceroys may confirm such alienations of feuds against the Regent Ponte, who cites a Pragmática of the Kingdom of Naples and concludes Capicio is not to be heeded; at §6 that in the Indies the answer is clearer 'porque en el Cap. XXIX. de sus Instrucciones se les ordena, que estén con cuidado, que no se hagan estas enagenaciones, y traspassos de ellas, y castiguen, à los que las hicieren'; at §7 cédulas of 1529, 1541 and 1559 that do not permit encomiendas to be rented, lent or given in pledge; at §8 the doctrine that in prohibiting alienation the law is seen to have prohibited everything by which one travels to it, so they cannot be mortgaged either; at §9 the reason particular to the Indies, that since the kings had always taken such care of 'la libertad, y buen tratamiento de los Indios, no pudieron, ni debieron permitir à los Encomenderos, que los deduxessen en comercio, qual si fueran esclavos', the same having been forbidden to those who receive Indians 'de Mita, ó Repartimiento para las minas, ù otras labores', with Gregorio López on whether a lord may sell his adscripticius out of necessity and an asterisked addition of the 1736 editor citing L. 30 tít. 12 lib. 6 Recop.; and at §16 that any cessions, renunciations and traspassos of encomiendas in favour of third parties are equally prohibited 'sin licencia, y dispensacion particular de su Magestad' · primary