sh vessels described by Rios Coronel; and of their construction,
equipment, crews, lading, management, etc. On p. 214 is an engraving
of one of these great ships.

[100] See decrees relating to this in _Vol_. XIV, pp. 182, 270.

[101] This is the fiber obtained from the husk of the cocoanut;
the word is of Indian origin, and from it is derived the English
"coir." See, with description of the manner in which this fiber
is manufactured into rope in India, Pyrard de Laval's _Voyage_, i,
pp. 250, 285: ii. pp. 374, 443.

[102] _Obispo de anillo_: a bishop _in partibus_ (see _Vol_. VIII,
p. 68). The Spanish dictionaries define _obispo de anillo_ as auxiliary
or suffragan, bishop. The Academy's dictionary adds: "To these bishops
the pontiff assigns one of the churches formerly owned by them, but
now in the power of heathen." Consequently the _de anillo_ becomes
equivalent to _in partibus infidelium_. A bishop _in partibus_ is
one consecrated to a see which formerly existed, but which has been,
chiefly through the devastations of the followers of Mahomet, lost to
Christendom. The creation of such bishops exists from the time of Leo
X; but they existed _de facto_ from the time when the first Christian
see became vacant from hostile inroad or through the action of a
hostile government. The Moorish conquest in Spain resulted in many
of such bishops fleeing to the still unconquered parts, where they
wandered from place to place, with no particular duty, but officiating
as opportunity offered. This state of affairs led to great abuses,
for a bishop whose see was _in partibus_ would often enter some remote
portion of the diocese of a more fortunate brother, and there exercise,
in various ways, without the permission of the bishop of the diocese,
his episcopal office. Clerks whom their own bishop would not have
promoted to priests' orders often received through the agency of
these wandering bishops the ordination which they desired. A decree
of the Council of Trent forbade that abuse. The title _in partibus_
was often given in Protestant countries, where to appoint a bishop
to a local see would have aroused hostility. Besides the vicars
apostolic in a non-Catholic country, the vicars of cardinal-bishops,
auxiliary bishops in countries where it is usual to appoint them, and
papal nuncios, usually have their sees _in partibus infidelium_. They
can attend general councils, and, since they are considered as truly
wedded to the churches