The Spanish colonies in central and south America were facing an internal problem in the 17th century. In fact, colony governors and priests did not get along. Governors were in charge of ruling colonies for the viceroy (King of New Spain) and the priests had to evangelize the natives. However, personal interest (fortune) stood in the way of governors from accomplishing their task of governor. Hence, they worried about exploiting the natives for their own personal benefit. Governors had to pay for the debt they owed to the Spanish crown. The Spanish crown usually paid for the voyage of governors to the new world.
The priests thought that governors were making their job harder, because they were trying to teach the natives that they are all humans and children of God. However, governors were teaching them that they were inferior to the white race, therefore they needed to work for their superior to get salvation. This was a serious conflict between these two protagonists. Sometimes Franciscan friars excommunicated some Spanish governors for their behavior. I find this story interesting because I never learned such a story in textbooks or books about colonization. This shows another perspective of the Spanish colonization in America.
Source: American Colonies The Settling of North America, by Alan Taylor.
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