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 HIDALGO AND MORELOS

ALTHOUGH the politicalfunctions of the Spanish Inquisitionhave

been greatlyexaggeratedby a certain school of writersthere can
be no questionthat,except when the prerogativesof the Holy See
were involved, it was always ready to assist its masters and to
demonstratethatthe cause of the state was the cause of religion.
This was especiallythe case in the laterstage of its careerafterthe
outbreakof the French Revolutionhad threatenedthe monarchical
principle,and it is prominently manifestedin the trials,by the In-
quisitionof Mexico, of the two foremostmartyrsof the war of in-
dependence-Hidalgo and Morelos.'
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla,the parish priest of Los Dolores,
who firstraised the standardof revoltin conjunctionwithAllende,
Aldama and Abasolo, and who was elected generalissimoof the in-
surgent army, was a singularly interestingcharacter. Born in
1753, he received his education at the universityof San Nicolas
in Valladolid (Michoacan), wherehe became rector and theological
professor. In the formalaccusation presentedduringhis trialit is
asserted that he took only the degree of bachelor and refusedto
presenthimselfforthatof doctor because he said the facultywere
a pack of ignoramuses; that he was known whilethere as el `orro,
or the fox,because of his cunning,and that he was finallyexpelled
in consequence of a scandalous adventurein the course of whichhe
was obliged to escape at nightthrough a windowof the chapel-
but such statementsmay be received with allowance. Taking
orders,he finallysettledat Los Dolores as cma-,where,in spite of
a large revenue,he encumberedhimselfwith debts. He was fond
of music and dancing and gaming,and his relationswvith women
were of a charactercommonenough withthe clergyof the period.
His abounding energyled him to establish potteriesand to intro-
duce silk-culture,which may doubtless account for his indebted-
'The following details,forthe mostpartI believehitherto inedited,are derived,in
so faras concernsthetrialof Hidalgo, froma transcript of theoriginalrecords,made in
I865 by SefiorJose Maria Lafragua and kindlycommunicated to me by David Fer-
gusson, Esq.
As regardsthetrialof Morelosmyauthority is a reportof the InquisitorFlores,ac-
companiedwiththedocuments, made to the SupremeCouncilof theInquisition,Novem-
ber 27 and December 29, I815. It is preservedin the Archivesof Simancas, In-
quisicion,Sala 39, Legajo I473.
( 636)
 Hidalgo and Morelos 637
ness. He was regarded as a prodigyof learningand kept up his
intellectualinterests,translatingtragedies of Racine and comedies
of Moliere, the latterof whichhe caused to be acted in his house,
his favoritebeing Tartufe. 'fhe priestGarcia de Carrasqueda,who
enjoyed his intimacyfortwelveor thirteenyears, when on trial be-
forethe Inquisition,deposed thattheyused to read togetherCicero,
Serry,Fleury's EcclesiasticalHistory,Rollin's AncientHistoryand
an Italian work on commerce by Genovesi, and that he praised
highlythe orations of iEschines and Demosthenes,Bossuet, Buf-
fon's Natural History,Pitaval's Causes Celbres and various his-
torical books. He was fond of discussing questionable points in
theologyand emittingopinionsnot wholly orthodox on such sub-
jects as the stigmataof St. Francis,the House of Loreto, the Ve-
ronica,whetherSt. Didymus or Gestas was the penitentthief,the
transmissionof originalsin,the identityof the Three Kings and the
like, and his high reputationforlearningcaused him to be accepted
as an authority. Altogetherhe presentshimselfto us as a man of
unusual physicaland intellectualenergy,not overniceas to the em-
ploymentof those energies,of wide culture,of vigorous and in-
quiringmind and of small reverenceforformulasor forauthority.
Such a characterwas not likelyto escape thenoticeof the Holy
Office,and as early as July i6, i8oo, Fray Joaquin Huesca, of the
orderof Mercedand a teacherof philosophy,denounced himto the
commissionerof Valladolid for various unorthodox utterancesat
which Fray Manuel Estrada of the same orderhad been present,
and the latteron being examined confirmedand exaggerated the
accusation. In transmitting this to the tribunal,July i9, the com-
missionerreportedthat Hidalgo was a most learned man who had
ruined himselfwithgambling and women,that he read prohibited
books whichpervertedhis spirit,and thatwhileprofessorof theology
he had taughtfromJansenistworks. The Inquisition necessarily
undertook an investigation which lasted formore than a year and
includedthetestimonyof thirteenwitnesses,withthe resultof show-
ing that Hidalgo had deniedthe doctrineof rewards and punish-
ments in this lifeand the authenticity of the texts on which it was
based; he had spoken disparaginglyof the popes, one ofwhomwas
probablyin hell, and of the governmentof the church by ignora-
muses; he had assertedthatno Jewof soundjudgmentcould-becon-
vertedbecause therewas no proof thatthe Messiah had come; he
had deniedthe perpetualvirginityof the Virgin,and had asserted
thattransubstantiation and auricular confessionwere unknown to
the primitivechurch,and he had assentedto the popular errorthat
therewas no sin in fornication. He was describedas revolutionary
638 H. C. Lea

in his tendencies,speaking of monarchs as tyrants,and cherish-

ing aspirationsfor liberty; he was well read in currentFrench
literatureand had littlerespectforthe censorship-in short,he was
an afrancesado. The commissionerof San Miguel el Grande re-
ported,March ii, i 8o i, much about Hidalgo's disorderlylife,and
that he carriedthe Alcoran about withhim,but in a second report,
of April I 3, he statedthatduringthe recentEaster Hidalgo had re-
formed,a matterwhichwas widelydiscussed and seems to have at-
tractedgeneral attention. In due time,on September I8, I 8o i, all
the testimonywas laid beforethe fiscal,or prosecutingofficerof the
Inquisition,who reported,October 2, thatif Hidalgo had uttered
the propositionsattributed to himhe should be arrestedwithseques-
trationof property,but thatthe witnesseswere contradictory, while
Estrada had the reputationof an habitual liar. He therefore
recommendedthat the case be suspendedand the papers be filed
away forfuturereference, to whichthe tribunalassented.
Nothing more was heard about Hidalgo until July 22, I807,
when a priest named Jose' Maria Castilblane came forwardto say
thatin r8oi Estrada had told hinm scandalous and hereticalthings
concerninghim. More serious was a denunciationmade, May 4,
I808, by Maria Manuela Herrera,aged forty-oneand describedas
a woman of good reputationwho frequentedthe sacraments. By
commandof her confessorshe deposed that she had once livedwith
Hidalgo as his concubine,when he told her thatChristhad not died
on the cross but that it was anotherman; also that therewas no
hell-this latter,she supposed, being to quiet her conscience,for
they had an agreementthat she was to provide him withwomen
and he was to provide her withmen. This was again laid before
the fiscalwho reported,June 8, in favorof awaitingfurtherproof.
Then, March I5, I809, Fray Diego Manuel Bringas deposed that
he had found Hidalgo in possession of prohibitedbooks, such as
De Auxiliis,both underhis own
Serry's Historyof thzeConigregations
name and that of Augustin Leblanc; also his Di'ssertationsoni
Chiristand thteVirgini,in which he speaks without measure of
Maria de Agreda and that Hidalgo praised this work and called
Maria a deluded old woman.' Still, with singular moderation,no
1The learned Dominican Jacques-Augustin Serry's Historia Congregationumt de
Az4xiliis,issuedalso underthe nameof AugustinLeblanc, is in theSpanishIndex (In-
dice Ultimo, p. 249) but not in the Roman. His Lxercitationes de Ch7zisloejusque V.
Matre are in both.
Maria de Agreda was a Spanish mysticof the seventeenthcenturyin behalfof
whose canonizationSpain has made persistent unsuccessfulappeals to the
and hitherto
Holy See. Her Ciudad Mfisticade Dios has been more thanonce condemnedin Rome
but has escaped a permanentplace on the Index throughconsiderationforSpanish sus-
ceptibility.
 Hida/go and Morelos 639
actionwas taken to check Hidalgo's audacityand had he been con-
tent to leave politics alone it is safe to say that the Inquisition
wouldcnot have troubled him,though it was vexing hundreds of
otherswithfarless excuse.
When, however,he startedthe revolution,Septemberi6, I8I0,
this lethargygave place to the utmost activity. The officialGa-
zette of September 28 asserted that he was disseminatingamong
the people the doctrinethat there is neitherhell, purgatory,nor
glory; an extractfromthiswas forthwith sent by the Inquisitionto
its commissionerat Queretarowith instructionsto obtainverifica-
tion,whichhe had no troublein doing,althoughthe evidence was
purelyhearsay. Withoutwaitingfor this,however,the testimony
whichhad so long slumberedin the archivesof the secretowas laid
beforethe califeadoresor examiners,October 9, withinstructions to
reportat once. This they did the next day to the effectthatas Hi-
dalgo was a sectaryof French libertytheypronouncedhim a liber-
tine,seditious,schismatic,a formalheretic,a Judaizer,a Lutheran,
a Calvinistand stronglysuspect of atheism and materialism. It
was not difficultto reach such conclusions in view of successive
edicts of the Inquisitionwhich had been issued in 8o8 and I809
directedagainstall proclamationsand emissariesseeking to pervert
the loyaltyof the colonists in favor of the ambitious schemes of
Napoleon, forin these the doctrineof the sovereigntyof the people
was definedto be a manifestheresy.
Immediatelyon receivingthe reportof the examinersthe tri-
bunal resolvedthat,as Hidalgo was surroundedby his armyof in-
surgents and could not be arrested,he should be summoned by
edict to appear withinthirtydays, in defaultof which proceedings
would be had against him in absentia. On the I 3th this edict was
ready and on the I4th it was posted in the churchesand was dis-
tributedthroughoutthe land with all possible speed. It is a sin-
gular medley of politicsand religion,illustrating
the duplicatechar-
acter of the Inquisitionof the periodand the enormousadvantageto
the governmentof possessing control over the ecclesiastical estab-
lishment,wherebyan attack on the civil power could be made to
assume the appearance of an assault on the faith. All the heretical
utterances, discredited nine years before by the action of the
tribunal,are put forwardas absolute facts. It is impietythat has
led him to raise the bannerof revolt,and to seduce numbersof un-
happy dupes to followhim. In the inabilityto reach him person-
ally he is summoned,underpain of excommunication, to appear for
trialwithinthirtydays, as otherwisehe will be prosecutedin rebel-
dia, to definitivesentence and burningin effigyif necessary. All
VOL. IV.-42
640 H. C. Lea

thosewhosupporthim or haveconversewithhim,and all those

who do not informagainthis revolutionary projects,are declared
guiltyof thecrimeof fautorship of heresyand subjectto thepen-
alties decreedforit by the canons. Whento thisare added the
proclamations of excommunication issued againstthe insurgents
by the Archbishopof Mexico and the bishopsof the disturbed
districts,it will be seen how powerfulwas the restraining in-
fluenceexercisedby the Churchover a populationtrainedto
obedienceand how fiercewerethepassionswhichbravedits ana-
themas.'
In fact,the hatredof the creolesand of the Indiansforthe
Gackzupines, of thenative
thatfour-fifths
or Spaniards,was so bitter
clergytook the sideof the insurgents in spiteof thecensuresof
theChurchand questionsof faithbecame inextricably involvedin
theconflict between the factions. To the Hidalgo
loyalists became
a heretic,and indeeda heresiarch, and the confessional was so
largelyusedto sustaintheircausethatinself-defence theinsurgents
incurred thechargeof a newheresyby asserting thatconfessionto
a Gachupinpriestwas invalid. Theyderivedgreatcomfort, more-
over,throughtheirbeliefin theprotection of Our Lady of Guada-
lupe, who was universally revered,and especiallyby the Indians,
as the sovereignpatronessof Mexico. On the fatefuli6th of
September, whenHidalgowas marching on San Miguelel Grande
at the head of his littleband of insurgents, in passingthrough
Atolonilahe chancedto takean imageon linenof the Guadalupe
Virginand giveit to one of his mento carryas a banner. It was
adoptedby theotherbandsas theyroseand it becamethestandard
of the insurrection,usuallyaccompanied withan imageof Ferdi-
nandVII. and of the eagle of Mexico and the inscription " Viva
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe! Viva FernandoVII.! Viva la
Americay muereel mal gobierno! " To stimulateher interven-
tion,Hidalgoissueda proclamation, just beforethedisastrousday
of theBridgeof Calderon,in wvhich he ordereda novenaofmasses
dedicated to our lady ofGuadalupe, " as theswornMaecenasofall
theAmericannation." Second in rankas a tutelary powerof the
insurrection was Our Lady of Puebla,and againstthesetheloyal-
ists pitteda new-comer, Our Lady ofLos Remedios,who was de-
nouncedas a Gachupinaby thenatives. It was as thoughthere
1 These comprehensiveexcommunications led to a resultnotwhollycreditableto the
Church. A writerin I822 calls attentionto the factthat while theleadinginsurgents
who werecapturedwere formally reconciledto the Churchbeforetheywere shot,the
to the censuresand were finallyreceivedto the
mass of thepeople neverpaid attention
sacramentswithouthavingbeen absolved. El Sol, Mexico, February27, 1822, p. 107.
 Hidalgo and Morelos 641
werethreeHomericdivinities presiding overand participating in
thestruggle.'
The Inquisition laboredearnestly to getevidence ofsacrilegious
actscommitted bytheinsurgents and,as theywerebeatenback,it
had itsemissaries in theterritories abandoned bythemcollecting
testimony as toindividualswhohadsympathized withtherevolt or
had opposedtheposting oftheedict. The mostactiveofthese
wasFraySimonde la Mora,whoaccompanied theroyalarmyin
itsadvance. He reported thatitwas useless to attempt to enum-
eratethecommon people,buthe sentthenamesof fifty-nine per-
sons of standing, manyofthemecclesiastics, withthe evidence
againstthem, andthenotesonthemargin of therecord showthat
theirnameswereforthwith entered forprosecution.
Theedictwas dulypostedin thetownsoccupied bythearmy,
butinthecourseof a night ortwoitwas generally torndownor
renderedillegiblewithpaint, inspiteoftheheavypenalties forthus
impeding theInquisition.Hidalgofeltit necessary to issue a
manifestoinhisdefence, protesting thathehadneverdeparted from
thefaith,andpointing outthecontradictory characterofthemiscel-
laneousheresies imputed to him. To thisthe Inquisition replied
withanother edict,January itscharges
26, i 8 i i, reiterating against
him,stigmatizing himas a cruelatheist, and prohibiting sundry
proclamations issuedbytheinsurgents.2
Meanwhile thetrialofHidalgoinabsentia wasproceeding through
itsseveralstagesas elaborately anddeliberately as though hewere
a common hereticintimeof peace. On November 24, I8IO, the
tribunaldeclared that,as it had evidencethatHidalgoon Octo-
I The followingmadrigal,composedby an ecclesiasticof San Miguelel Grandeand
verypopularwith the insurgents, shows how they identifiedtheir cause with that of
religion.
"Quien es tu perfecta guia?
Maria.
Quien reinaen tu corazon?
Su religion.
Quien su causa defiende?
Allende.
Pues mira,escuchay atiende
Que el valores lo que importa,
Pues por eso te exhorta
Maria, religiony Allende."
2One of theseproclamations shows the savage characterof the insurgentwarfare.
It setsforththeconditionsof the struggle,of whichthe followingwill suffice.
4. The Europeanwho resistswith armswill be putto the sword.
5. When threatened with siege or battle,beforecommencingwe will put to the
swordthenumerousEuropeansin ourhands,and will thenabide thefortune of war.
6. The Americanwho defendsa Europeanwitharmswill be putto the sword.
Thus was justifiedin advance the executionof Hidalgo and otherchiefs,and the
crueltyof thestrifewas equallyshared.
characteristic
642 H. C. Lea

ber 27 was acquaintedwiththeedict,thethirty days' termshould run

from October 28. On November 28, accordingly,the fiscal de-
manded that he should be treatedas rebeldeor contumacious,and
thatten days, as usual, should be givento him to appearin person.
The three termsof ten days each with two days additionalwere
scrupulouslyobserved. Then furtherdelay followedand it was not
until February7, i8i i, that the formaltrialbegan with the pres-
entationof the accusationby the fiscal. This was in the ordinary
form,recitingthat Hidalgo was a Christian,baptizedand confirmed,
and as such enjoying the privileges and exemptionsaccorded to
good Catholics, "' yet had he leftthe bosom of the Holy Churchfor
the filthy,impure and abominable faithof the hereticalGnostics,
Sergius, Berengar, Cerinthus, Carpocrates, Nestorius, Marcion,
Socinus, the Ebionites, Lutherans,Calvinists and other pestilent
writers,Deists, Materialistsand Atheists,whose works he had read
and endeavoredto reviveand persuade his sect to adopt theirerrors
and heresies, believing wrongly,like them,as to various articles
and dogmas of our holy religion,and revolutionizingthe whole
bishopricsof Valladolid and Guadalajara and greatpart of the arch-
diocese of Mexico, being, moreover,the chief cause of the great
abominationsand sins which have been and still are committed.
All this and more which I shall set forthconstitutehim a formal
heretic, apostatefrom our holy faith,an atheist, materialistand
deist, a libertine,seditious, schismatic, Judaizer, Lutheran and
Calvinist,guilty of divine and human high treason,a blasphemer,
an implacableenemyof Christianity and the state,a wicked seducer,
lascivious, a hypocrite,a cunning traitorto king and country,
pertinacious, contumacious and rebellious to the Holy Office,
of all of which I accuse him in general and in particular." The
fiscal then proceeds to recite the evidencetaken since I8oo, to-
getherwith a long statementof the culprit's share in the insur-
rection,windingup by asking that withoutrequiringfurtherproof
he shall be condemned to confiscationand relaxation(the euphe-
mistictermforburning)in person,ifhe can be had, and if not then
that he be torturedifhis
in effigy,or if the evidencebe insufficient,
person can be had.
The inquisitorsreceivedthe accusation and gravelyordered a
copv to be given to Hidalgo, accordingto routine; then,in view
of his contumaciousabsence, due notification was made in the halls
and proper recordwas taken of it. After the usual intervalof ten
days and two days, on February I9, the fiscal accused the contu-
macy of the absentand fugitiveHidalgo in not answeringthe ac-
cusation and asked thatthe case be concludedand receivedto proof.
 Hidalgo and Morelos 643
The inquisitorsassentedandtheproofwaspresented.Thenanother
intervaloccurred, untilMay 20,whenthefiscalcalledforthepubli-
cationof witnesses, whichwas dulyorderedto be madewiththe
ordinary suppressionof theirnames. Of this publicationa large
portionconsisted ofevidencetakenduringtheinsurrection, showing
acts of sacrilege,contempt fortheInquisitionand itsedictsand the
like,on thepartofHidalgoand hisfollowers. If was orderedthat
a copyof this be givento him and thathe answerit in the next
audience,of whichannouncement was made in the hallsand duly
recorded. It was notuntilJune14 thatthenextstepwas takenin
ordering thata copyofbothaccusationand publication be givento
himand thatby the thirdday he putin his answerwiththeassent
ofhis advocate-an advocatebeingappointed forhimin theperson
of the licenciateJose Maria Rosas. Then anotherwitnesswas
foundin thepriestGarciade Carrasqueda, a prisoneron trial,to
whom allusionhas been made above. His evidencewas taken,
June2i, and on the 27thwas submittedto calificadores who,on
August12, presented a longand learnedly argumentativereport,in
whichtheycharacterized theseveralpropositions attributedto Hi-
dalgo withthecustomary selectionof objurgatoryepithets
asfalsa,
proxirnaa error,escandalosa,ofensivade
i;npia, temeraria,inyuriosa,
piadososoidos,blasferma, malsonante, sapiens haeresim,ilena de escan-
dalo, erronea,sapiens erroremLutlieranorum, Judaicay forrnalhnente
heretica,iniuriosaal espiritude la S. Ml.Iglesia, and theyconcluded
that ifhe who utteredthemdid so withfullknowledgeof theirim-
port,he was a formalheretic.
This was practicallythe last act of the long-drawn-outcomedy,
althoughsome additionaltestimonyconcerningHidalgo was taken,
February Io and 20, I812, in the trial of that habitual liar Fray
Manuel Estrada, who had fallen into the clutches of the Holy
Office. Events had moved fasterthan the Inquisition. On March
21, i8I i, Hidalgo had been capturedat Bajan, whence he was car-
ried two huindredleagues furtheroffto Chihuahua,where he was
executed July31, whilethe calificadoreswere stillbusy in formula-
ting his heresies. No notice of this was given to the Inquisition,
which was treatedwith singulardiscourtesy,savoringof contempt.
The explanation of this probablyis that if the Holy Officehad
been apprised of the capture it could rightlyhave claimed the
prisoneras a hereticprimarilysubject to its supremeand exclusive
jurisdiction; theremighthave been dangerin escorting him back
throughthe recentlydisturbedprovinces; the processes of the In-
quisitionwere notoriouslyslow and afterit had triedthe culpritand
penanced him in an auto he would still have to be condemnedby a
644 H. C. Lea

militarycourt. It was in everywaymorepoliticto despatchhim

in far-offChihuahua,and the local military and ecclesiasticalau-
thorities
co-operated tothisresult, leavingtheInquisitionto findout
whatit couldand notevenforwarding whichHidalgo
a supplication
had addressedto it on JuneIO.
The Holy Officewaitedpatiently forelevenmonthsafterthe
catastrophe and then,on June25, I8I2, it wrotewithmuch sol-
emnity to itstwocommissioners in Chihuahua, reminding themthat
the edictof OctoberiO, I8IO, renderedit theirdutyto keepthe
tribunaladvisedofthecaptureofHidalgoandofall subsequent oc-
currences.Theyshould havegoneto himin prisonand exhorted
himto makea declaration on all pointsconnected withtheedictand
whatever else weighedupon his conscience. All signsof repent-
ance shouldhavebeenobservedand reported, and at least hiscon-
fessionto his judges,in so faras the Inquisition was concerned,
shouldhavebeensentto it. The alcaide,theecclesiastics and the
military mustnowbe examinedas to hisstateof minddur-
officers
ing his imprisonment, so thatthetribunal mayknowabout hisre-
pentanceor impenitence and be enabledto renderjustice. The
two commissioners are to workin harmony, withpowerof sub-
delegation, and they are made before
responsible, God and the
King,forthe dischargeof theirduty.
The Holy Office evidently tookitselfseriously and heldthatthe
judgmentas to Hidalgo's heresiesstilllay in its hands. There
musthavebeena flushofindignation and woundedpridewhen,on
January2, I8I3, theinquisitors receivedan answerfromSanchez
Alvarez,one ofthecommissioners, datedOctober27, I8I2, report-
ingthathe had appliedto NemesioSalcedo,thecommandant-gen-
eral,who had orderedhimto suspendall actionand thathe, Sal-
cedo,wouldexplainthe absolutenecessity of this. The tribunal
had to waittillFebruary27thbeforeit receivedSalcedo'sexplana-
tion,dated October22, showinghow its supremejurisdiction in
matters ofheresyhad been overslaughed withas littleceremony as
that of a pie-powdercourt. With profuseexpressionsof respect
Salcedo statedthatthepeace and prosperity of the provinces re-
quiredthatthematter shouldnot be agitated. Hidalgowas nota
hereticand would not have been permitted to receivethesacra-
burialhad he not beendulyabsolvedand
mentsand ecclesiastical
reconciledto the Church. A royal order,he said, of May I 2,
to the bishopsand
faculties
i8i0,l had conveyedpapal inquisitorial
theBishopof Durangohad subdelegated thedoctrinalcanonofhis
it is to be bornein mindthatat this
of thisstatement
' In weighingthetruthfulness
date bothFerdinandVII. and Pius VII. wereprisonersof Napoleon.
 Hidalgo and Morelos 645
church,Doctor FranciscoFernandezValentin,thus constituting him
a papal inquisitor. As such, to him were communicated the
answersof Hidalgo on his trial,who ratifiedthemin his presence;
he also verifiedthe manifestoof Hidalgo, whichwas published,and
he absolved him. He also saw the supplicationof Hidalgo to the
Inquisition,which would have been forwardedsooner,but forthe
risk of its being intercepted. It was now enclosed,togetherwith
the other necessary papers. Accompanyingthis letterwere ex-
tractsfromHidalgo's examinations,his manifestoto the insurgents
and supplicationto the Inquisition.
It was somewhatbrutalto have kept the tribunalso long in the
dark, on a matterconcerningits highest privilege,and to have de-
tained, for sixteen months,on a frivolouspretext,a supplication
addressed directlyto it; but its positionwas precariousand it did
not dare to complain. In Spain Napoleon had abolished the Inqui-
sition,in so far as he could, in i8o8, and in the national Cortesof
Cadiz a discussionwas then on footwhich,on February I2, I8I3,
reached a similarresult. The news of this,however,had not yet
reached Mexico when the tribunalon March 13thtook action on
these papers. It evidentlyplaced no faithin the storyof a papal
inquisitorsuddenlycreatedin the wilds of Chihuahua,forit wholly
ignoredhis action. The fiscalreportedto the tribunalthat in spite
of Hidalgo's supplicationfor pardon and endeavorsto satisfythe
charges against him,therewere not meritsenough to absolve his
memoryand famenor,at the same time,to condemnf him,as it ap-
peared that he had made a generalconfessionand had been recon-
ciled. Thereuponthe tribunalorderedthe papers to be filedin the
proper place and the case to be suspended-an expressionof dis-
satisfactionand a confessionof powerlessness. On March 29th,
it acknowledgedSalcedo's letterand drilythankedhim.
Hidalgo's supplicationto the Inquisition,dated fromhis prison,
June I0, i8i i, is a long and dignifieddeclarationof submission,
calmly and clearlyreasoned and manifesting completecommandof
his theologicallearning. But forhis confinement, he said, he would
hastento throwhimselfat the feetof the tribunal,not only to seek
pardon for his insubordinationbut to vindicatehimselffromthe
charge of heresyand apostasy which was insufferable to him. He
answeredthe various accusationsof the edict,denyingthat he had
led an immoral life and exculpating himselfwith much dexterity
fromthe heresiesimputedto him; but if,he added, the Inquisition
deemned his utterancesheretical,though he had not hith2rtoso con-
sidered them,he now retracted,abjured and detested them. He
concluded by begging to be relieved fromthe disgraceof heresy
646 H. C Lea
and apostasy; thetribunal couldreposeentirefaithin hisstatements
for,ifhe had committed thosecrimes, thepositionin whichhe now
foundhimselfwould impelhimto confessthemfreely in orderto
gain the pardon and absolution that would open to him the gates
of heavenand would close themif withheldthroughhis denial.'
It is evidentthatwhenwriting thisappealhe had no knowledgeof
a papal inquisitorclose at handempowered to removetheexcom-
munication, whichcould be doneonlyby theauthority whichhad
imposedit.
The frameof mindrevealedin thisdocument, whichis unques-
tionablygenuine,servesto refute theimputation forgery
of so gen-
erallyascribedto Hidalgo's manifesto of May I8, addressed" A
Todo el Mundo" and publishedin orderto quietthe population.
Its effusiveness
and extravagance of repentance and theearnestness
of itsexhortation to hisfollowers to submithave not unnaturally
createdsuspicionfromtheirviolentcontrast to thedeepconvictions
he
and recklessenergywithwhich precipitated and sustainedthe
insurrection,butit can be acceptedas authentic withoutquestioning
his good faith. He was impulsive andenthusiastic and liableto the
revulsionsincidentto his temperament.His cause had beendis-
ownedby God; he had been capturedas a fugitive withina few
monthsafterhe had been at the head of eightythousandmen.
The gravewas yawningforhim as the portalto the hereafter in
whichtherewas,in his belief,no escape from eternal torment for
one who had died as a rebelto the Church. He was a fervent
Catholicwhoseexcommunication cut himofffiomthe sacraments
essentialto salvationunlesshe couldprovehimself worthyof them
byearnestrepentance and by theamendment whichcouldbe mani-
festedonlythroughzeal in undoingthatwhichhad broughtupon
himtheanathema. That undersuch pressurehe should seekto
averttheendlessdoombyheart-felt was natural,
contrition however
strangeit mayseemto those broughtup in a different faith,who
can sympathize withhisaspirations forlibertybut cannotrealizethe
tieswhichenchainedhimto hisreligiousconvictions.

Althoughtheextinction by thedecreeof the

of theInquisition
of
cortes Cadiz was in
operative Mexicofor but littlemorethan a
1 A V. S. reverentementesuplicorecibaesta mi solicitud,haga de ella el uso que
sea de su superiorbeneplacito,concediendome el honorque sera para mi muiapreceable
de borrarmela nota de heregey apostatade nuestrasanta religion,creyendosin temor
algunocuantohe espuestoa V. S. pues las circonstancias en que me hallo me hariancon-
fesaringenuamente esas crimenessi los habia cometido,para alcanzarel perdony abso-
lucionesque debean franquearme las puertasdel cielo y que me les cerrariansi por ne-
garlosno se me dieran.
 Hidalgo and More/os 647
year,whenthetribunalresumedits functions in January, I8I5, it
had naturally beenweakenedby the suspension. But one inquisi-
tor,Manuelde Flores,had stuckto hispost,and he endeavored to
demonstrate hispoliticalusefulness byan edictofJuly8, I 8 I 5,con-
demning and prohibiting variousproclamations oftheinsurgents, in-
cludingtheirconstitution ofNovember22, I814, whichwas largely
modelledon thatofCadizin I 8 I 2.
The capture,November5, I 8 I 5, oftheinsurgent chiefMorelos
afforded Floresan opportunity, ofwhichhe eagerlyavailedhimself,
of bringing hisdiscredited tribunalpromninently intopublic notice.
JoseMariaMorelosshareswithHidalgothe foremost place in the
Mexican Valhalla. Born in I764 of humbleparents, he was an
agricultural laborerfromtheage offourteen to thatof twenty-five,
whenhe returnedto his nativeValladolidand applied himselfto
the study of grammar,philosophyand morals. Enteringthe
Church,he tookfullordersand afterservingtemporarily the cure
of Choromucohe obtainedthatofCaraguaro,whichwas underthe
rectorship of Hidalgo. It must have beena slenderbenefice, for
on histrialhe explainedhisnothavingtheindulgence of theSanta
Cruzadaby theplea thatbeforetheinsurrection he was too poorto
pay for it,and afterward the insurgents regardedit as merelya
deviceforraisingmoneyto carryon thewar againstthem. His
moralswere those of his class: he admittedhaving threechil-
dren,bornof different mothers duringhispriesthood,buthe added
thathis habits,althoughnotedifying, had notbeenscandalous, and
thetribunal seemedto thinkso, for littleattention was paid to this
duringhis trialand in thecalifcacion whichprecededhissentence
it is not even alluded to. He joined Hidalgo,October28, I8Io,
and musthavequicklydistinguished himself,
forthatchiefgave him
a commission to raisethe Pacificcoast provincesand afterhis
deaththeburdenof maintaining theunequalcontestfellmainlyon
Morelos,who was raisedsuccessively to the gradesof lieutenant-
governor and captain-general withtheofficialtitleof MostSerene
Highness.
Unlike Hidalgo,who was hurriedoffto Chihuahua,Morelos
was broughtto thecityof Mexicofortrialand execution, arriving
thereon November2I. He was carriedto theInquisition, not as
its prisoner but " on deposit,"and Flores,to preservethe secrecy
of the Holy Office, stipulatedthat the guard accompanying him
should notgo up stairsor penetratebeyondthe firstcourt-yard,
and it was notuntilI:3o A. M. of the22nd thathe was immured
in the secretprisons, in a cell so dark thathe could not read the
breviary whichwas givenhimon his request. The 22nd was occu-
648 H. C. Lea

piedwithan effort to obtainpermission to tryhim-a competencia,

or struggleforjurisdiction, carriedon in a verydifferent spiritfrom
themasterful audacitywhichaforetime inthesefrequent contests had
enabledthe Inquisitionto triumphover the royal and spiritual
courts. The viceroyCalleja desiredthat Morelos should be de-
gradedfrom thepriesthood withinthreedaysbytheepiscopaljuris-
dictionin orderthathisexecutionshouldbe prompt, and testimony
forthatpurposewas alreadybeingtakenbythesecularand spir-
itualcourtsactingin unison. Flores,therefore, had no timeto lose
in puttingforward theclaimof histribunal, and thefiscaldrewup
an elaboratepapershowing thattherewerepointsin thecase which
camewithin itsjurisdiction.On the 23d a consultawas assembled
consistingof the episcopalOrdinaryof Valladolidand the con-
sultoresof the Inquisition, whichrepresented to the viceroythat,
althoughMorelos was subject to both the secular and spiritual
courts,theywerepersuadedthatforothercrimeshe wasjusticiable
by theInquisition and thathistrialby thattribunal would redound
to thehonorand gloryof God as wellas to theserviceoftheKing
and thestateand be efficacious in undeceiving the rebels. More-
over,it promisedthat the trialshouldbe concludedwithinfour
days. Somewhatunwillingly Calleja grantedthe requestand no
timewas lostin commencing themostexpeditioustrialin the an-
nals ofthe Holy Office-a grimcomedyto gratify thevanityofthe
actors,forit couldhaveno influence on thefateoftheprisoner save
in so faras theInquisition alone couldabsolvehimfromitsexcom-
munications underwhichhe inferentially lay. Flores,in boastingof
theactivity displayed, adds,that theywere much embarrassed by
Morelosbeingfrequently takenfrom them for examination in the
othercourts, whichprovesthattheauthorities regarded theInquisi-
tionas merelya side-show.
Hurriedas weretheproceedings all the formalitiesrequiredby
the cumbrousmethodsof the Holy Officewere duly observed.
That same day,November23,thefiscalpresented hisclamnosa,bas-
ingit on Moreloshavingsignedtheconstitutional decreeofNovem-
ber22, i814, as wellas variousproclamations condemned as heret-
ical by the Inquisition; also on his celebratingmass when under
excommunication and his replyto the Bishop of Puebla,whenre-
proachedforso doing,thatit wouldbe easierto get a dispensation
afterthewar than to survivethe guillotine;also an edict of the
BishopofValladolid,July22, i814, declaring himto be an excom-
municated heretic.Therewas stilltimefora morning audienceand
the prisonerwas broughtbeforethe tribunalwherehe was sub-
jectedto thecustomary examination as to his genealogyand whole
 Hidalgo and More/os 649
careerand thefirst monition was givenadjuringhimforthelove of
God and theVirginto save his soul by confessing the truth. In
the afternoon he had his secondaudienceand secondmonition.
On themorning of the 24ththe thirdmonition was given in the
thirdaudience,in whichhe admittedthatat Teypanhe had cap-
tureda packageof theedictsagainstHidalgoand had used them
to make cartridges.The pompousformulasurginghim to dis-
chargehisconscience in orderthattheInquisitionmightshowhim
itscustomary mercymusthaveseemeda ghastlyjest to a manwho
knewthathiscaptorswouldspeedilyshoothim,and theycontrast
somewhatludicrously withthe feverish anxietyof theinquisitor to
havea handin theperformance.
That same afternoon the fiscalpresentedthe accusationand,
considering thebrieftimeallowedforits preparation, its long ac-
cumulation ofrhetoric is creditableto theindustry ofthedraughts-
man. He describesMorelos as abandoningthe Churchforthe
filthyand abominableheresiesof Hobbes, Helvetius,Voltaire,
Lutherand otherpestilent writers,rendering hima formalheretic,
an apostatefromthe holyfaith, an atheist, deist,liber-
materialist,
tine,seditious, guiltyofdivineand humanhightreason, an implaca-
ble enemyof Christianity and thestate,a vileseducer,a hypocrite,
a traitor to kingand country, cunning, lascivious,
pertinacious and
rebellious to the Holy Office. He shows howrebellionis heresy
and all' rebelliousacts are directlyor indirectly heretical. To
Morelos,in thebottomofhisheart,Christand Belialare equal and
he is even suspectof toleration.As usual, the accusationcon-
cludesby askingforconfiscation and relaxation. The remainder
of theafternoon and themorning audienceof the 25thwereoccu-
piedwiththedefendant's answersto thetwenty-four articlesof the
accusation. From what he said it appearsthat the insurgents
claimedto be opposingthe Frenchdomination in Spain,and that
Ferdinand's restorationin I8I4 was largelydisbelievedor was as-
sumedto be onlyanotherphaseofNapoleon'ssupremacy, showing
thatFerdinand couldnotbe a sincereCatholic.
Thatsamemorning thepublication ofwitnesses was made,con-
sistingwhollyof documents, such as the constitution of October
22, I8I4, sundry proclamations signedby Morelosand hisprinted
letterto theBishopofPueblatogether withtheletteroftheBishop
of Valladolid declaringhim to be an excommunicated heretic.
This was thewholecase againsthim,butit was sufficient.He was
orderedto answerwiththeadviceof his counseland thethreead-
vocatesof prisoners werenamedto him,of whomhe selectedDon
JoseMariaGutierrez de Rosas-apparentlythe sameone who had
650 H. C Lea

appeared forHidalgo. He was sent to his cell to be broughtback

directlyafterwards foran interviewwithhis counsel,who was sworn
in as was customary. There was no time to make copies of the
papers, so the unusual course was adopted of entrustingthe orig-
inals to Rosas with instructions to returnthemand presentthe de-
fencewithinthree hours. In the afternoonhe did so, and in view
of the haste requiredof him he musthave been a ready writer,but
he was more occupied in defendinghimselffor undertakingthe
case than in makinga plea forhis client. 1fe savagely denounced
the insurrectionand the cortes of Cadiz whose principlesit repre-
sented,and he concluded abruptlywitha fewlines alleging the re-
pentance of Morelos fromwhich he hoped for absolution. The
inquisitorthereuponiorderedthe fiscalto be notifiedand the case to
be definitely concluded.
The next morning,November 26, Flores assembled hiiscalf-
cadoresand exhibitedto them the proceedings and the condemna-
tions of the insurgentconstitutionand proclamations. One of the
assistants,Fray Domingo Barreda,opinedthatthe accused savored
of heresy,but the rest unanimouslyagreed that he was a formal
hereticwho denied his guilt and was not only suspect of atheism
but an atheistoutright. In the afternoonwas held the consulta
de fe to decide his sentence. Withouta dissentingvoice it agreed
thata public auto de fo should be held in the audience-chamberthe
next morningat eight o'clock, in presenceof the officialsof the In-
quisition and of a hundred prominentpersons to be desigintedby
Flores; that Morelos should then be declared g,uiltyof malicious
and pertinaciousimperfect confession,a formalhereticwho denied
his guilt,a disturber and persecutorof the hierarchyand a profaner
of the sacraments; that he was guiltyof high treason human and
divine,pontificaland royal, and that he be presentat the mass in
the guise of a penitent,in shortcassock withoutcollar or girdleand
holding a green candle which,as a heretic and fautorof heretics,
he should offerto the priest. As a cruel persecutorof the Holy
Officehis propertyshould be confiscatedto the King. Although
deservingof degradationand relaxation for the crimes subject to
the Inquisition,yet,as he was ready to abjure, he was, in the un-
likely case of the viceroy sparing his life,condemnedto perpetual
banishmentfromAmerica and fromall royal residencesand to im-
prisonmentforlifein one of the Africanpresidios,, withdeprivation
of all ecclesiasticalbeneficesand perpetualirregularity. His three
childrenwere declared subject to infamyand to the legal disabilities
imposedon the descendantsof heretics. He was to abjureformally
and be absolved from the excommunicationsreservedto the Holy
 Hzdalgo and Morelos 651
Office,he was to make a generalconfessionand through lifeto re-
cite the seven penitentialpsalms on Fridaysand a partof the rosary
on Saturdays. Moreover,a tablet, inscribedwith his name and
offences,suspended in the cathedral,was to carryto posteritythe
memoryof his misdeeds.
This prostitutionof religion in the serviceof politicswas car-
riedout to the end. The next morning,November 27, as Flores
reports,the auto was duly celebrated in the most imposing scene
ever witnessed in the audience-chamber, which was crowded with
fivehundredof the most importantpersonagesof the capital. The
mass was followedby the terribleceremonyof degradationfromthe
priesthood,performedby the Bishop of Oaxaca; Morelos was de-
liveredto the royaljudge and returnedto the secretprisons,whence,
at I:3o A. M. of the followingnight,he was transferred to the cit-
adel. Flores mightproudlyclaim to have vindicatedthe jurisdic-
tion of the Holy Office,though at some sacrificeof its dignity,in
the shortesttrialof a formalhereticto be found in its records,but
the object of the indecenthaste requiredby Calleja is not apparent,
forMorelos was not executed untilDecember 22.
This trialmay be said to mark the close of the activecareer of
the Mexican Inquisition,for although it was not abolished until
1820, and althoughit continuedto molestand persecute aspirants
for liberty,there is no trace of its having subsequentlycelebrated
an auto defe.
HENRY CHARLES LEA.