COLONIAL SPANISH TERMS
Audiencia; The highest royal court of appeals within a jurisdiction, serving at the same time as a council of state to the Viceroy or Governor. It as also a court of first instance in certain cases (casos de corte), usually involving higher officials. It was divided into two chambers, one for criminal cases (sola del crimen). The judges of the audiencia (pidores) varied in number. In 1583 the audiencia of Mexico had six. The term was also applied to the area of district under the audiencia's jurisdiction. The five dignidades, who had other functions in addition to the two mentioned on page 9 were:

Dean. President of the cabildo and presided over its meetings in the absence of the bishop. He was usually its senior member. He was in charge of all ceremonies and divine worship and acted more or less as the pastor of the cathedral church.

Archdeacon (arcediano). He was originally the head of the deacons who participated in the cathedral ceremonies. By the sixteenth century he was the examiner of those who presented themselves for ordination. He sometimes acted as administrator of the diocese in the bishop's absence and was ordinarily expected to have at least a bachelor's degree in canon law. In the sixteenth century this was the most powerful position on the cathedral chapter of Mexico.

Schoolmaster (maestrescuelas). He was in charge of the cathedral school, if there was one. He was required to offer Latin classes to all clerics and aspirants who asked for them, and he was ordinarily required to have a bachelor's degree in canon law or philosophy.

Choirmaster (chantre). He was in charge of the cathedral choir and had to do some of the singing personally.

Treasurer (tesorero). Person in charge of the administration of the physical plant and revenues from the patrimony, or foundation, of the cabildo. Included thefabrica, or income for the upkeep and maintenance of buildings, and the superavit, or superfluous funds at the end of each year.

Visita;

(1) General or specific investigation of governmental operation and abuses.

(2) Tour of inspection made by a bishop or his delegate of the parishes in the diocese.

(3) Tour of inspection by an oidor in some area of the audiencia's jurisdiction

(4) Church of ease, visited at times by nonresident priests. Settlement on the circuit of a priest or friar.

(5) The homebase of a band in Indians attached to but not resident at a mission - so named because it was visited at set intervals by the missionary.