1. Translation and Cultural Context of
La Constitución Política de las Comunidades de
Castilla
by
Erin Fick
Dr. Lola Lorenzo and Dr. Oscar Pereira Zazo, Co-Advisors
A undergraduate thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science with Honors with
Highest Distinction in Spanish and Mathematics
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
July, 2015

2. 2
Translation and Cultural Context of La Constitución Política de las Comunidades de Castilla
by Erin Fick
Abstract
The idea of a political constitution written by the common people rather than by the government
has been repeated throughout history. La Constitución Política de las Comunidades de Castilla
(The Political Constitution of the Communities of Castile) is one of such constitutions, written in
the early 1500s by the comuneros of the kingdom of Castile, Spain. This thesis focuses on this
constitution in two ways: (1) the translation of this document into English and (2) providing a
cultural context surrounding the writing of the original document. In the first aspect, a glossary
introduces many difficult words that were faced during translating. A short paper explaining the
methods used during the process of translation follows, along with the actual English translation.
The second part of this thesis, the cultural context, includes a paper on the historical context
surround the writing of the constitution and the consequences of the document in the kingdom of
Castile. Finally, a paper exploring the phonetic differences between Old Spanish used in the
original copy and the modern-day Spanish in the first translation of this document (see: special
thanks) finishes the thesis. This thesis primarily makes a part of Spanish history accessible to
English speakers, while also exploring the different aspects of a historical document.
Special thanks to Joseba Moreno for providing his translation of La Constitución Política de las
Comunidades de Castilla from Old Spanish to modern-day Spanish for my use in this thesis.

3. 3
Traducción y Contexto Cultural de La Constitución Política de las Comunidades de Castilla
por Erin Fick
Resumen
La idea de una constitución política que estaba escrito por la gente común y no el gobierno ha
sido repetido a lo largo de la historia mundial. La Constitución Política de las Comunidades de
Castilla es una de ese tipo de constituciones, escrito por los comuneros del reino de Castilla en
España a principios del siglo XVI. Esta tesis se enfoca en esta constitución en dos maneras: (1) la
traducción de este documente al inglés y (2) la provisión de un contexto cultural acerca del hecho
de escribir el documento original. En la parte de la traducción, hay un glosario que introduce
muchas palabras que eran difíciles de traducir durante el tiempo de traducir. Sigue un ensayo
pequeño que explica los métodos que se usaban durante el proceso de traducir y luego la
traducción en inglés. El contexto cultural de esta tesis incluye un ensayo sobre el contexto
histórico acerca de la constitución y las consecuencias que este documento ha tenido en el reino
de Castilla. Por fin, hay un ensayo que explora las diferencias fonéticas entre el español antiguo
en el documento original y el español moderno en la primera traducción de este documento (ver:
agradecimientos especiales). Esta tesis hace que una parte de la historia española esté disponible
para los hablantes de inglés y también explora los aspecto diferentes de un documento histórico.
Agradecimientos especiales a Joseba Moreno por proveer su traducción de La Constitución
Política de las Comunidades de Castilla del español antiguo a español moderno para que yo
pudiera usarla en esta tesis.

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Índice
Traducción
Glosario ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Comentarios sobre el proceso de traducir La Constitución ..................................................... 11
Traducción al inglés
The Political Constitution of the Communities of Castile ................................................ 16
Contexto Cultural
Acerca de la historia de La Constitución.................................................................................. 58
Una comparación entre el castellano antiguo y el español moderno usando
La Constitución como ejemplo......................................................................................... 70
Bibliografía.................................................................................................................................. 80

5. 5
Glosario
Palabra o frase
Española
Significado en inglés
y comentarios
Primera vista
en capítulo…
Abonado To say or credit something as being good, (RAE) lxxxii
Acaecer To happen, to take place, (WR) lvii
Acostamiento Stipend, (RAE) lx
Agravado Offended, disrespected, harmed, (WR) cvii
Agravio Grievance, damage, (WR) xxiv
Albaquía Residual or the rest of some bill or rent that is still left to
be paid, balances due or remainders (RAE)
-Will be left as albaquía
lii
Alcabala Castilian sales tax, usually about 10 percent (Kamen)
-Will be left as alcabala
lxvi
Alcalde Elected or nominated local magistrates, (Kamen) xi
Alguacil Court clerk, sheriff, (WR) xiii
Alguacilazgos Office of alguacil, (RAE) xiii
Allende Further beyond, in addition to, as well as, (WR) lv
Almojarifazgo Word of Arabic origin applied to the customs duties in the
south of Spain, particularly those of Seville (Kamen)
-Will be left as almorjarifazgo
lxix
Amonedar To mint (a coin), (WR) lxxviii
Aparejo Preparation, (WR) lxxxi
Apelación Appeal, (WR) xlv
Apercibimiento Warning, (WR) lvii
Aposentar To lodge (a guest), (WR) ix
Apremiado Hurried, rushed, (WR) viii
Arancel Tariff, duty, (WR) xcii
Arrendador Tax farmer (Kamen) lii
Arrendar To rent, lease, (RAE) lii
Ayuntar (Ajuntar) To join together, (WR) lxxi
Baldamente Cripplingly, harmfully, (WR) lvii
Bochar To reject something, (RAE) xxvii
Botica Pharmacy, chemist, (WR) xcviii
Bullicio Hubbub noise, riot, (WR) lxxxii
Calidad Importance or gravity of something, (RAE)
The status of a person, their nature, age, and other
xxv
xxxviii

6. 6
conditions and circumstances and are required for some
position, (RAE)
Cámara Chamber, (WR) xxvii
Chancillería Castilian high courts in Valladolid and Granada, (Kamen) xiv
Canonjía Sinecure, clergy’s privileges, (RAE)
See: Dignidad, Ración
xxi
Casa Real Royal House, or Royal Family, (WR) x
Caudal Riches, wealth, (WR) iv
Causa Lawsuit, (WR) xxv
Cautelosamente Cunningly, (WR) xcvi
Cédula Document in which debt or other obligation is recognized,
(RAE)
xii
Celador Porter, security guard, (WR)
In general, one who watches over
iii
Celo Enthusiasm, zeal, (WR) lxxix
Codicia Greed, (WR) xxv
Cohecho Bribe, (WR) lxviii
Comendador Knight, commander, (WR) lxxxix
Competente Competent, proper, (WR) lvii
Comuneros Commoners of the Communities of Castile, (RAE) Introducción
Condado County, (WR) ix
Confederar To make an alliance, join in union with, (RAE) lxxxvii
Conferir To confer, (WR) lxxi
Conformar To be in agreement with, (RAE) lxix
Consejo de
Justicia
Council of Justice or Justice Council, (WR) Prólogo
Contador Counter, Accountant, (WR) xi
Convenir To be advisable, agreeable, (WR) lxxxiv
Corregidor Crown-appointed civil governor in main Castilian towns,
(Kamen)
-Will be left as corregidor
lvi
Corregimiento County subdivisions in Castile, (RAE) xiii
Criar To establish for the first time, to create, (RAE) xxiii
Cuento Million, (RAE)
- this definition only used in certain places
xxxvii
Cuero Leather, hide, (WR) lxxv
Cumplidamente Continually, (WR) xciv
Dehesa Pasture, meadow, (WR) lxxvii
Deleito Crime, felony, (RAE) xxv

7. 7
Derecho What is charged (in money), charges, (RAE) ciii
Desagraviar To make amends with, (WR) cvii
Despedir To release, to fire, (WR) iv
Dignidad Sinecure, clergy’s privileges, (RAE)
See: Canonjía, Ración
xxi
Disponer To mandate, to decree what is to be done, (RAE) liii
Dinero Silver and copper coin used in Castile in the 14th century,
equal to 2 coronados, (RAE)
x
Dobla Gold money in Castile, minted in the Middle Ages,
eventually replaced by the maravedí, (RAE)
li
Ducado Ducat, old money, (WR) xxvii
Eclesiástica Ecclesiastical, “of the church”, (WR) xxi
Embargar To seize, confiscate, (WR) lii
Enajenar To alienate, transfer, (WR) xlvi
Encabezamiento System of tax-collection by which a regions would agree
on the total of taxes to be paid, but exercise full local
control over assessment and collection, (Kamen)
-Will be left as encabezamiento
lxvi
Encomienda In mediaeval Spain, a grant of land by the king, usually on
condition that the holder assist in defense, (Kamen)
-Will be left as encomienda
lxii
Encubrir To cover, (WR) xcvi
Enmienda Correction, amendment, (WR) lxxxv
Escribanía Notary, clerkship, (WR) xiii
Escribano Notary, scribe, (WR) xiv
Estancia Every day spent sick in the hospital, (RAE) Prólogo
Estorbar To hinder, (WR) lxxi
Exenciones por
dineros
Tax exemptions, (WR) l
Exentar To exempt, (WR) cv
Expedir To dispatch, send out, (WR) xl
Extorsión Blackmail, (WR) xcvii
Fiador Guarantor, (WR) xcvii
Fiel cogedor (Ciellero), granary worker, (RAE) xcvii
Flandes Flanders, (WR) ix
Fortaleza Fortress, (WR) lxii
Frenero Bit-maker (bits for horses), (WR) cv
Ganados Herd (of livestock), (WR)
Earnings (i.e. income), (WR)
iv

8. 8
- the term used in translating will depend on the
context
Guarnicionero Harness making (for horses), (WR) cv
Hacerse eco de Repeat, talk about, discuss, (WR) viii
Hacer
Residencia
Make/do residence (literally translated)
- Hacer residencia is to have a set time in office,
such as a presidential 4-year term. I have
translated this as “have tenure”, not like a
teacher tenure, but a term in office
- Also can mean: “have an assessment” like a job
assessment. Depends on the context
v
Hacienda Fortune, wealth, (WR)
Or, more specifically, a house or residence, (WR)
iv
Hallarse bien de To be content with…, (RAE) xv
Herbaje Herbage, pastures, (WR) lxxvii
Herrador Farrier (a blacksmith who makes horseshoes), (WR) cv
Hidalguía Nobility, (WR) l
Hijodalgo Nobleman, gentleman, (WR) li
Idóneo Suitable, fit, (WR) lxxxiv
Imposición Deposit, investment, (WR) lxxv
(Las) Indias America, as it was originally called (16th
Century Spain) vi
Infantes Spanish name for royal children, the princes and princess
to be
- will be left as Infantes
x
Inhábil Unable, unqualified, (WR) lxi
Labrar To engrave, (WR) lxxviii
Libranza Money order, warrant (WR) xxvii
Librar To dispatch, (WR) xl
Ligeramente Subtly, slightly, (WR) lxxxii
Lugar In Galicia, a country home that is rented out, (RAE) lxxi
Lugarteniente Representative, place holder, (WR) xcviii
Maestrazgo “Masterships” of the Military Orders, (Kamen) lxiii
Maña Ability, skill, (WR) xcix
Maravedí Old Spanish coin, (WR)
- will be left in the Spanish form
ii
Meaja Ancient copper money used in Castile, valuing half of a
maravedí, (RAE)
xliv
Mengua Reduction, decrease, (WR) vii
Mercader Merchant, dealer, trader, (WR) lxxx

9. 9
Merced,
Hacer Merced
Merced – mercy, gift, favor (WR)
Hacer Merced – do/make mercy or a gift
- I have translated this as “make/give favors/gifts”
viii
Obispo Bishop, (WR) lx
Obispado Bishopric – an area served by a bishop, (WR) xxiii
Ocasión Danger, (RAE) lxxi
Osar To dare to, (WR) lxxx
Otrosí Furthermore iv
Ordenanza Ordinance, (WR) lxxxix
Partido,
Partir
A share, part, percentage, (WR)
To part, take in parts, (RAE)
xciv
Patrimonio Patrimony, heritage, assets, (WR) v
Pedimento Petition, (WR) xii
Perpetuo Lifetime, perpetual, (WR) xx
Persona
Interpuesta
Intermediary (person), (WR) xxv
Persona
Particular
Private citizen, (WR) lxxxvii
Perteneciente Belongings, (WR) xcv
Pesquisa An investigation, inquiry lvii
Pesquisidor Investigator, Inquirer, (WR) lvii
Plegar To submit to, yield to, (WR) viii
Prejudicial Harmful, damaging, detrimental, (WR) iv
Prelado Prelate, a high ranking church official, (WR) liv
Principado Principality, (WR) lxxxiii
Probanza Proof, evidence, (WR) ciii
Proceso Trial, (WR) ciii
Procurar To get, to make sure of Prólogo
Procurador Representative of the towns in the Castilian Cortes,
(Kamen)
Introducción
Protomédico The King’s doctors, (RAE) xcviii
Proveer To provide, supply xii
Provisión Provision, the providing of, (WR) xxi
Punir To punish, (RAE) xli
Ración Sinecure, clergy’s privileges, (RAE)
See: Canonjía, Dignidad
xxi
Rebeldía Rebellion, (RAE) xliv
Receptor Magistrate, (RAE) xiv

10. 10
Rectamente Properly, (WR) xli
Refrendario A person who authenticates or signs after their superior,
(RAE)
xl
Regidor ADJ – governing
Noun – town councilor, (WR)
Prólogo
Regimiento Office of regidor, councilor, (RAE) xiii
Remitir To remit, (WR) lxxix
Remitirse To comply with, (WR) xl
Restituir To return, (WR) xciv
Rezagar Something left behind, (RAE) xcii
Sacar Pan To take grains out of the Kingdom, (RAE) lxxxv
Salina Salt mine, (WR) lxix
Santa Junta de
Ávila
Holy Assembly of Ávila, (Kamen)
- Used here to refer to the political assembly where
these proposed changes are to be made
Introducción
Seglar Secular, (WR) xcii
Señorío Lordship, applied to jurisdiction over an area (Kamen) ix
Servicio A Service or grant of taxes made by the Cortes, and
renewable only by them (Kamen)
Prólogo
Sesmo A group of associated cities or towns, (RAE)
-Will be left as sesmo
lxx
Situado Salary, pay, (in Spain), (RAE) lxvii
Súbdito Subject (of the king) (WR) Prólogo
Suplicar To plead, beg, request, (WR) xl
Susodicho Aforementioned, what was said before as such, (WR) xxviii
Tasa Tax, fee, (WR) lxxvii
Tenencia Position/office of lieutenant (RAE) xxxix
Ternera Calf, heifer, (WR) civ
Tierra Firme Tierra Firme, a province of Spain at this time, located in
current-day South America
- Will be left as Tierra Firme
vi
Torpe Hopeless, inappropriate, (WR) xcv
Turbación Discomfiture, embarrassment, bewilderment, (WR) lxxxii
Vasallo Vassal, (WR) Prólogo
Vedamiento From the verb “vedar”, to ban or to prohibit, (WR) xlvi
Veinticuatro Local Councilors, (RAE) lx
**Las fuentes de estas palabras en paréntesis están citados en la bibliografía al final. He
abreviado los siguientes: (WR) - Word Reference, (RAE) – Diccionario de la Lengua Española,
y los otros corresponden con el nombre de la fuente en la bibliografía.

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Comentarios sobre el proceso de traducir La Constitución Política de las Comunidades de
Castilla
Método de traducir y dificultades en el proceso de traducir
Al empezar un proyecto de este tamaño, yo estaba muy nerviosa por la cantidad de
trabajo en traducir tantas páginas. Entonces, la primera cosa que hice fue organizar todo. Quise
tener un documento de tal formato para que pudiera leer el documento original en español al lado
de mi traducción al inglés al lado de comentarios y notas sobre significados de palabras difíciles.
Al principio, cree un documento Word con tres columnas para poder poner estas tres cosas una al
lado de la otra. Pero tenía un problema, que era cuando estás al final de la primera columna, las
palabras siguen en la segunda columna de la misma página, y no en la primera columna de la
página próxima. También el documento Word tenía problemas para distinguir entre lo que estaba
escrito en inglés y en español, y todo era subrayado en royo como si todas las palabras fueran
mal deletreadas.
No quise usar un sistema así, con tantos problemas, luego pregunté a mi profesora de mi
clase de traducción si ella tenía una buena idea de cómo establecer el formato en mi documento.
Ella mi dijo que debía usar una tabla en mi documento Word, porque las columnas de una tabla
siguen por todas páginas y se puede elegir el idioma por cada columna para que Word pueda
corregir las palabras mal deletreadas. Al usar este formato, la organización del documento
cambió a estar muy fácil de usar y no tenía ningún problema irritante que pudiera impedir el
proceso de traducir.
Ya que tenía todo bien organizado, mi próximo obstáculo fue cómo debo emprender un
proyecto tan grande. Antes de este documento, solo había traducido unas 12 páginas a la vez, y
esto lo hice con un compañero de clase. Un proyecto de unas 40 páginas me dio un poco de
miedo. Mi primer método era leer un capitulo entero, identificar palabras difíciles en el capitulo,

12. 12
mentalmente imaginar como iba a escribir la frase, y luego escribirla. Aunque este método
funcionó bien, gastó mucho tiempo y me hizo impaciente. Por consiguiente, busqué otro método
de traducir. Empecé a traducir frase por frase, y si no sabía como traducir una parte, lo puse en
amarillo en mi documento. Luego, regresé a las partes amarillas en cada capítulo y intentaba
traducirlas mejor, o las dejaba si no podía en aquel momento. Este método resultó ser más
rápido, y cuando había traducido una buen cantidad de páginas por mi primer método, ya
conocía la manera en que el documento estaba escrito. Una cosa común en La Constitución es
que tiene muchas frases que son muy largas y no se usaban muchas comas, y hay que dividirlas
en las partes subordinadas y no subordinadas. Por ejemplo, en el capítulo vii:
Ítem porque se ha dicho que Su majestad quería quitar la contratación de las Indias
e Tierra Firme que se hace en la ciudad de Sevilla y pasarla a Flandes, que esto se estorbe
y que en ninguna manera se haga,…
Yo lo dividiría así:
Ítem
porque se ha dicho que Su majestad
quería quitar la
contración
de las Indies e
Tierra Firme
que se hace en la ciudad de
Sevilla
y pasarla a Flandes
que esto (todo lo demás)
se estorbe
y que en ninguna
manera se haga,

13. 13
Aunque no hice un diagrama así por cada frase, lo podía hace en mi mente para mejor entender
lo que la frase quería decir y como debía traducirla. Este tipo de diagrama he aprendido en una
clase de lingüística sobre la jerarquía de frases.
Cuando encontré una palabra que no sabía como traducir, ni estaba en mi diccionario
entre inglés y español, ni había un significado del diccionario de la Real Academia Española que
podía usar en mi traducción, hice una búsqueda de Google con la frase. Este método me ayudó
algunas veces. Algunas palabras estaban escritas en otros documentos históricos de España (por
ejemplo, “hacer merced” yo encontré en un documento sobre la historia de España en este
tiempo). Otras palabras tenían conexiones con algún artículo de una enciclopedia en línea. Con
palabras en las cuales no podía encontrar nada por el internet, pregunté a Joseba Moreno (un
estudiante graduado en la universidad que hizo la traducción del español antiguo a moderno)
porque él ha hecho mucho con este documento. Él me ayudó con palabras como “hacer
residencia”. También, tenía que pensar y buscar por el significado de palabras en este tiempo –
“servicio” era una tasa del Rey, no un trabajo para otros como lo definimos actualmente. Con
todas estas fuentes y la época del documento en mente, podía encontrar una definición y traducir
bien estas palabras difíciles.
Ahora, con un documento bien organizado, un método de traducir, y fuentes de palabras
difíciles de traducir, tenía que hacer la parte más difícil que es hacer toda la traducción de
verdad. Este gastó la mayor parte del tiempo en hacer esta tesis. Empecé a traducir el 2 de marzo,
y terminé mi primera traducción el 19 de junio. Los primeros tres meses estaba en la universidad,
entonces casi la mitad de la traducción se hizo después del semestre de primavera. El acto de
traducir se aceleró durante el proceso por razones de mejor entender La Constitución y el
lenguaje que se usa en el documento. Después de tenerlo todo traducido, hice mi “segunda

14. 14
traducción” que era releer todo, bien traducir las partes en amarillo, y hacer que las frase en
inglés sonara normal y comunicara lo que el documento original quería decir. Con los
comentarios y las palabras en la tercera columna de la primera traducción, puse todos en un
glosario/diccionario que está en esta tesis.
Yo diría que esta traducción es una que pone importancia en comunicar la intención del
documento pero en una manera que los hablantes nativos del inglés pueden entender. Por
ejemplo, hay muchos casos donde se repite un mandato en La Constitución en dos formas
verbales: “ni se pueda hacer, ni haga merced alguna”, que podría ser traducido como “that they
cannot give nor give any favor”. Pero esta frase suena raro en inglés, y es mejor decir “that they
cannot give any favor” porque la repetición de un verbo en dos formas no funciona bien en
inglés. Esta frase tiene el mismo sentido en inglés pero no es tan extraño para leerlo. De acuerdo
con esta idea, tenía en mente de traducir por comunicar la intención de los comuneros.
También, hay algunas partes en La Constitución que no tienen ningún sentido en español.
Con estas partes, intenté traducirlos según lo que yo pensaba que la frase quería decir. Por
ejemplo:
Capítulo que se dé orden en los trajes y vestidos.
xc. Ítem que se dé forma y orden en los desordenados trajes y vestidos, y en el traer de las
sedas y brocados porque en esto recibe mucho daño la cosa pública de estos reinos y
vecinos de ellos.
En el título, dice que hay que dar orden en trajes y vestidos similares, pero luego dice que deben
dar orden en trajes desordenados. Este no tiene ningún sentido, y yo he supuesto que quieren que
den orden en trajes ordenados con sedas y brocados porque la cosa pública ha rebidio mucho
daño por tener trajes desordenados en dar orden en el reino.

15. 15
Conclusiones
Hay algunas cosas que debería haber hecho para hacer que fuera más fácil de traducir. El
ensayo que compara el español antiguo y el español moderno, yo lo hice antes de traducir mucho
de este documento. Esto hizo que entendiera mejor el lenguaje en algunas partes del documento,
y fue mejor hacer este ensayo a los principios de traducir. Pero escribí el ensayo acerca de la
historia después de traducir todo. Había muchas partes de La Constitución que requieren que
sepas algo de la historia, y no podía traducirlas bien la primera vez, y después de escribir el
ensayo tenía que regresar a estas partes y cambiarlas. Sería mejor si hubiera hecho este ensayo
antes o durante el proceso de traducir. Además, al hacer el glosario durante el proceso de traducir
me hubiera ayudado porque a veces tenía que buscar algunas veces diferentes por el significado
de una palabra que había traducido hace meses. Aunque hay muchas cosas que en retrospectiva
veo que yo debería haber hecho de manera diferente, esto no implica que he hecho la traducción
incorrecta sino que he hecho de una manera más difícil que la mejor manera posible. También, sé
que no hay una traducción perfecta, y que la mía no es perfecta tampoco. Pero, si la intención de
los comuneros de Castilla está comunicado en mi traducción, yo considero mi traducción como
un éxito.

16. 16
Complete copy of the Instructions given by the Commoners of
Valladolid to their procuradores1
in the Holy Assembly of Ávila,
considered the Political Constitution of the Communities of Castile
The Instructions of this noble village for the representatives who went to the Holy Assembly of
these Kingdoms
Prologue
Because the loyal vassals and subjects of the Royal Crown of the Kingdom have been in an
unrest thinking of the things that are good for their king and natural lord, and how to be able to
ensure such things, along with other things that are contrary to their king’s health and the good of
his soul, such as when he was ill, and how they should hinder these things in any manner
possible, and all the subjects that did not do as such came to understand that they did not love
their natural King and Queen as they should, and for this would be traitors and deserve such a
penalty that is determined by the laws of these Kingdoms.
Consequently, the Council of Justice and governing knights, the honored community and
representatives of the very loyal village of Valladolid, as loyal subjects of the Queen and her son,
the King, our lords, we have been thinking about what our representatives whom are going to the
Assembly of cities, which is being held in the noble city of Ávila, should and will ensure, as
such, we agree to give them the following chapters as instruction so, in said Assembly, they
propose and talk with the representatives in other cities and ensure that these chapters are
fulfilled and to the public good of these Kingdoms, and that the aforementioned cities would be
in agreement with these chapters. If some other things are requested by these cities, they should
1
Representative of the towns in the Castilian Cortes, see Glosario – will be written as
“representatives” in the rest of the document.

17. 17
communicate with said village and community of Valladolid, that they would communicate that
our intention is for the public good of the kingdom, and that the past offenses and exorbitances
are remedied, since this is what the service to God and to the Queen and the King, her son, our
lords, consists of.
Chapter so that the illness of our Lady Queen is known and cured
i. First, that with much diligence, it would be known if the illness of our Lady Queen is curable
and if it is as such, that it is cured quickly. Because if our Lord wishes to give her complete
health, if she would return to govern these Kingdoms, because it appears to us that there has been
much negligence and we do not know what more we can say in not having had known the cure
for Her Royal Majesty. And that while it is being cured, that she would be guarded, protected,
and defended by the communities of these Kingdoms and that they would have the guard of her
Royal self.
Chapter on the manner in which our King should ordain his Royal House
ii. Item that His Majesty the King, our Lord, would comply to ordain his house and that, being in
these Kingdoms, would want to live and make use of it throughout, just like the Catholic Lords,
King Don Fernando and Queen Doña Isabel2
and their grandparents did, along with the other
kings of unforgettable memory. And that all the officials in their house are native Castilians of
these Kingdoms, because living in such a manner will stop the vast and excessive spending, that
they have done and currently do in the table of His Highness to no avail. And that the excessive
spending would be stopped for the plates which are made for their officials and officials of their
house in their unorganized banquets which are held in the Royal table, which spend 50,000
2
Don/Doña are the Spanish words for Sir/Lady. I will leave them in their Spanish form, as this is
how they would be called in English since they are Spanish royalty.

18. 18
maravedís3
every day, spending rather like the Catholic Lords, King and Queen, and their
grandparents, the prince, Infantes4
, and with a multitude of dames, who spent 12,000 or 15,000
maravedís every day on their dinners. And that the salaries and money given to the wives and
children of some courtiers who don’t serve and have no purpose to His Highness would be taken
away.
Chapter that His Highness would do away with his current ministers, and that his new ones
are from these Kingdoms.
iii. Item that by his own doing, His Highness submits to remove his current ministers that he has
had up until now, because of the bad advice they have given, damaging to him and to the Royal
Crown. And that these ministers would never be able to secretly advise him, nor be in the justice
system. And that the King would choose new ministers who are native of these loyal Kingdoms
and who will watch over the public good, who will advise for the common good and what is
good for His Majesty, deferring their own particular benefits and interests.
Chapter that His Highness would do away with the officials of his house.
iv. Furthermore and likewise, that the King does away with and releases the officials of his
house, such as the secretaries, accountants, treasurers, and their aides, and whichever others,
because they have misused their positions so that in a very short period, having previously had
very little riches and estates, when they were put in their positions, not deserving more than what
they had, but now they have impossibly large estates and amounts of income, apart from their
bad livestock, and also because of their bad advice and because of the detriment they are to the
public good of these Kingdoms, and are still in the service of His Majesty.
3
Old Spanish coin, see Glosario
4
Younger royal children, who will be princes and princesses, see Glosario

19. 19
Chapter that the officials that have had positions in the house of the King would have an
assessment.
v. Furthermore, that all of these aforementioned officials and whoever else that may have had a
position in the house of His Majesty would have an assessment, and that they are held
accountable for their positions, for what they have done, and for the Royal estate and assets that
have come into their hands, and that this would also apply to the treasurers and officials of the
past crusades and of the current one, in addition to those who were in charge of paying past tax
grants.
Chapter that the Major and Minor officials from America would have an assessment.
vi. Item that this would also apply to the Major and Minor officials who were in charge of
preparations and supplies in America and Tierra Firme5
, especially those who have gained power
from the fortunes of gold, precious gems, and pearls, all of which have come to our Kingdom
from America and Tierra Firme.
Chapter that the contract in America, which is located in Seville, is not removed.
vii. Item since it has been said that His Majesty wished to remove the contract in America and
Tierra Firme, which was made in Seville, and move the contract to Flanders, that the removal
would be stopped and not able to be done in any way, since it would diminish, dishonor, and
greatly damage these Kingdoms.
Chapter about the favors of Indians that have been given and the manner that they should
be done henceforth.
viii. Furthermore, for the amount of favors that have been given, some residents of these
Kingdoms now have a large number of Indians from aforementioned America and Tierra Firme
5
A province of Spain at this time, located in current-day South America

20. 20
who work as slaves, digging and extracting gold, and much harm has followed and continues to
follow from this practice, so in the conscience of Your Highness and your Royal Estate, that
Your Highness would submit to remove these favors of Indians that have been made as such, and
that, being that they are Christians they would be treated as such and not as slaves, and the gold
that they dig and extract would be for Your Majesty, but giving them a certain part of what they
extract. And so that the gold extraction does not cease, that while they dig and extract this gold
they would be urged by the governors who reside there with them, and therefrom great profit and
benefits will follow and continue to affect these Kingdoms. Let the same be done for the Indians
who are given to those who reside there as well.
Chapter about guests.
ix. Furthermore, since the amount guests in these Kingdoms has been and continues to be very
excessive, which is not as such in any Christian or pagan Kingdom, much harm and many
problems, of which are not necessary to specify here, have followed and continue to follow
because of them. And there is no reason that the natives and subjects of these Kingdoms are to be
slaves, nor that they should stop enjoying the freedoms of which a native or subject of other
Kingdoms or Lordships of His Catholic Majesty enjoys, that this abominable slavery for guests
would be removed perpetually, and that the natives and subjects are not obligated to welcome
them, and also that the lodging would be paid by guests, as is done in the Kingdoms of Aragon,
Valencia, Catalonia and the Country of Flanders.
Chapter that the Royal Family, Prince and Infantes are given guest houses, and the manner
in which they should be in them.
x. Furthermore, that convenient guest houses have to be given and are given to those of the
Royal Family, the Princes, Infantes and Queen, and not to any other person, except with enough

21. 21
money so that if His Majesty is stopped in some city or village of the Kingdom for more than
thirty days, that the lodging is moved, because those who had had the guests for 30 days did not
receive any penalty and did not repay the lodgings the Lord King Don Juan the 2nd
decreed and
commanded, making laws under the petition of the representatives of the Courts.
Chapter so that none other than the Royal Family is lodged.
xi. Furthermore that this regarding the lodging in the Royal House of His Highness is announced,
which does not include those of the Council, local magistrates of his house and Court, court
clerk, nor any other judges or officials, neither accountants, lieutenants or officials, because all of
these people should be under a common rule as all others are.
Chapter that a document is not made in opposition to the lodging.
xii. Item that requests that it will be provided that no document is made in opposition to this
lodging, and that the residents of such cities, villages or places would not have receive any guests
against their will.
Chapter that no positions that His Majesty agrees to provide are sold or given away for
money.
xiii. Furthermore, that the positions in the Royal House of the tribunal of the council, the local
magistrates of the house and court, assistant court clerks in the townships, town councilors,
councilors of local governments, and clerkship, and whichever other positions in the cities,
villages and other places in these Kingdoms that His Majesty agrees to and is responsible in
providing and doing well with them, that in no way would these positions be sold or given away
for money. Neither that favors are given for those whom have sold positions and do not use the
positions, since the selling of the said offices is detestable and prohibited by the laws of these
Kingdoms, and even by laws of common rights. The Catholic Majesties, said Lords, King, and

22. 22
Queen, grandparents of His Majesty, and the other Kings, Lords and their ancestors, without
price or interest, freely provided the aforementioned positions and did well with them, and since
then, the opposite has been done and we have seen much harm and many problems from that.
Chapter that the positions of Justice and other public office are not given away for money.
xiv. Furthermore that this is also observed by the judges, officials and related positions, also by
the scribes, magistrates, court clerks, and whichever other officials of the hearings and High
Courts of His Highness.
Chapter that says that those in the Council, judges of the local magistrate, and other
justices must have an assessment.
xv. Item that all those in the Council, judges of hearings and their presidents, local magistrates of
the court and of said hearings, must and will have an assessment with their positions and the
justice they have provided, because those who have done well will be paid and receive favor, and
those who have not will forever be taken from their positions, as well as pay for the damages
they have done, and during the time when they have to have said assessment, they cannot use
their positions, since it is better if the truth is known, and the witnesses and complainants can
freely say their words, complaints, and that their parts are supplied during the assessment.
Chapter that the said assessment is done by three in three years or by four in four years.
xvi. Furthermore, this assessment must be done by three people in three years, or by four in four
years at the latest.
Chapter saying that the positions of the council and the hearings are not given to those who
request them.
xvii. Furthermore, that these positions of the council, of the hearings, and local magistrates of the
Court and said hearings, are not given as work to those who would request or plea. Before when

23. 23
a person would ask for the position as such, it would be obtained, that now this would not be
approved and that people are sought, satisfactory in words and consciousness, who are God-
fearing people, of good habit, and land-owners with estates and fortune, which is advisable in
having positions, and that these people are sought with diligence in all the Kingdom, so that they
can fill such positions and that they are given salaries and support that is advisable to them,
because not doing it in this manner has proven to cause large damages and issues in the past.
Chapter that no positions are provided to those who have recently finished college.
xviii. Furthermore, for those who have just come from their studies and college, that they would
not be provided nor can be provided the aforementioned positions, expect for those who had first
been targeting and training for a long time for the positions of representatives or in the Courts, in
the manner that they have experience, since in having done the contrary have many issues have
followed and unjust sentences have been given.
xix. Furthermore, that because of the issues that followed and still follow the sentences given by
the council and by the judges of said hearings, they must comply to a review by the same judges
that viewed them, because they are so enthusiastic and passionate about defending the first
sentences that they gave and in confirming them under a degree of review, as if they were the
representatives for those who first gave the sentences they should have provided, and that those
who had given the first sentence would not see the lawsuit or vote in the degree of review.
Except for what happens by the order of the judges of another room as is done with lawsuits, that
is passed from one room to another because of discord so they can better make the sentences and
processes of the revoking judges, and that the sentences of the others do not go to the judges who
revoked such sentences so that they don’t revoke the statements of the others for hatred and
enmity.

24. 24
Chapter that the judge and local magistrate positions are not lifetime positions.
xx. Furthermore, that the judge and local magistrates of the hearings are not lifetime positions,
and that, for the good of the Kingdom, this is maintained and obeyed without the possibility to
do the contrary, and that the judges and local magistrates are not made perpetual Lords of the
aforementioned positions.
Chapter that these positions are only given to natives of the Kingdom.
xxi. Furthermore, that these aforementioned positions of the council, house and court, such as of
hearings and of cities and villages of these Kingdoms cannot be given and are not given to
anyone other than a native and those from neighboring Kingdoms, and that naturalization papers
cannot and will not be given to a foreigner who is not native to these Kingdoms, and that this is
also done and maintained in providing sinecures of the council of the church, and whichever
other clerical or simple benefits, loans, or other ecclesiastical revenue, and that if anything of the
contrary has been provided, that they would think, talk, and discuss in a way so that such
sinecures and ecclesiastical revenue are returned to the natives of these Kingdoms, who are
worthy to be provided these things.
Chapter on the manner in which the Archbishop of Toledo is to be had.
xxii. Furthermore, that since providing the Archbishop of Toledo, who became the nephew of
Xebres6
, was and is very damaging to these Kingdoms because said Xebres is an enemy of the
public affairs of these Kingdoms, and in being his nephew at such a young age, he did not have
much sinecure, and in not having said sinecure, much of the revenue has been taken from the
Kingdom, and many noble knights and their children who were born in and lived in the house of
6
The meaning of Xebres is unknown – further research has shown that this may relate to
Monsieur de Xebres, which has something to do with Toledo, but more information is not
known.

25. 25
past Archbishops have not been cared for and supported. And that a just way to solve this
problem would be talked about and discussed, by means that they would solve the problem, and
in finding such a means with justice, it can be done that no god though would be lacking in the
solution, and that our representatives would be involved in it.
Chapter to divide the Archbishop of Toledo into three bishoprics.
xxiii. Furthermore, since with such a large sinecure and such large revenues from it, that it would
be talked about and discussed if it would be good and advisable to the Republic of these
Kingdoms to create and make three or four new bishoprics, since there are cities which would be
convenient and beneficial for the Archbishop, and that 12 accounts of revenues would be kept for
the Archbishop and that those others accounts are divided between said bishoprics, which seems
like it would be a grand honor of the Kingdom and the common, spiritual, and temporary good.
And even His Catholic Majesty had to do us a favor in providing us these bishoprics, and it
should be brought about in concordance with our attorneys.
Chapter that talks about the assessment of the officials and judges of the court, the
Crusade, and the Inquisition.
xxiv. Furthermore that all of the officials and judges of the court, and those who have been in
their positions, whoever that is a magistrate or official of the Crusade as well as the Inquisition,
and from any other related positions would have to have an assessment, in which they would
have to give an account and reasoning of their positions and the money and wealth that they have
had because of the positions, and of the confiscation of goods, the benefits received from said
confiscated goods, and who received them, because the said assessment will discover large
crimes and huge quantities of maravedís, which will be used and collected for His Majesty,

26. 26
undoing the grievances and theft which will be discovered and paid by those who did the crime
and are guilty of said act.
Chapter saying that the confiscated goods or any other confiscated item cannot be given as
a gift to the judges who will judge the cases on them.
xxv. Furthermore that the confiscated goods or those which have been confiscated for whatever
crime of whatever seriousness that may be, that they cannot ever be given as a gift in whole or in
part to the judge or judges who have judged or will judge in said lawsuit, and that the judges
cannot receive of such gifts by any intermediary, nor can their wives, children, servants, or kin
receive them, so they can better and more justly sentence, free from any greed or personal
interest.
Chapter that no gifts of these goods are given to those who were imprisoned.
xxvi. Item that they cannot and will not give any gifts of these goods to those who were
imprisoned, and to those whom claims were made against without first being condemned and the
past sentences made against that remain a judged thing.
Chapter that says that His Highness would not give favors, money, pearls, or jewels
without them first going through his Chamber.
xxvii. Furthermore, by experience we have seen and still see that those who give favors and
money issues of things that do not go to nor have not been brought to His Power, do these said
payments and favors very frivolously, having such power that they can give favors and money,
with this His Sacred Majesty has given favors of large numbers of ducats7
, precious gems, jewels
and pearls that would be sufficient to sustain the Royal House without the rejection of requests
and tax grants for His subjects, that it would please His Highness that from here forward, no
7
Another old type of money – 375 maravedís = 1 ducat (Kamen) , see Glosario

27. 27
favors or money is given without such money and quantity of maravedís first going through his
Royal Chamber and it is seen and known what is given and what will be lost.
Chapter about the revocation of the favors mentioned in the chapter before this.
xxviii. Furthermore, that the done favors up until now of any quantity of maravedís forbidden by
the manner in the aforementioned chapter and damaging to the Royal House and Estate which
are of infinite number of ducats, that the manner in which they are revoked is talked about and
that all of the aforementioned can be collected by the Chamber of His Highness and that the
manner in which this is discussed be in the said Assembly and is agreed upon by our
representatives.
Chapter saying that there will not be confiscations of goods expect in crimes of treason or
heresy.
xxix. Furthermore that there cannot and will not be any confiscation of goods expect in crimes of
treason and of heresy, and that in all other cases which would have involved confiscation of
goods, such goods would be inherited by the children, grandchildren, and descendants of the
condemned, since they were and are under the provisions of common rights and by the laws of
the parties of these Kingdoms.
Chapter saying that favors are not given in the name of the Royal Crown for goods that
have pending legal action.
xxx. Furthermore, that they cannot and will not give favors that are requested on behalf of the
Royal Crown of these Kingdoms for any type of goods that have and had pending legal action
without them first being given a sentence against the owners of the goods, and that the sentences
would remain as a judged matter, and that the favors that have been given up until now for such

28. 28
goods which had pending legal action would be revoked which are a cause of not freely
administering justice to them.
Chapter on how, on what, and for what they should spend and distribute the money from
the Crusades.
xxxi. Furthermore that the moneys of the Crusades which were granted for the war of the Moors
and the expenses and costs of the armies that His Catholic Majesty had to make and makes
against the enemies of our Holy Catholic Faith and to sustain the kingdoms and cities that he has
in Africa, that in no way is the money spent or can be spend in any other thing, except for the
Crusades which they were granted and are granted for, nor can they give any favors of what was
won and obtained in the said Crusades, not even part of it to a single person, because in addition
to being damaging to the public affairs, which one with good conscience would not do. Nor can
those who receive papal bulls of the Crusade enjoy the indulgences from said Crusade, not
spending what was received from the bulls on what our Most Holy Father commands, but rather
spending it on what is from the Crusades be left free for the income of the Kingdom His Majesty.
Chapter that the favors of maravedís from the Crusades be revoked.
xxii. Item that the favors of maravedís, which were given to particular individuals during said
Crusades, that the favors would be revoked and the quantity of the favors from the Crusades
would be collected from said individuals. For certain people, that the quantity of maravedís is
revoked and collected which were to be earned and gathered during said Crusades.
Chapter on the way which papal bulls should be taken.
xxiii. Item since in the preaching of these Crusades the papal bulls have become and still are
huge extravagances, the compelling and urging of the varying manners in which the bulls are
received, such that those who are to receive the bulls do this by forcibly giving the sermons, once

29. 29
and again detaining them in the churches where they preach and not allowing them to go to their
work until they take the bulls, and by these forces and oppressions, many people who don’t want
the bulls since they already have some or other indulgences which they think are sufficient for
them, are forced to take them. And at the time to pay, they sell them and auction off their own
property. They dispute the bulls and even the Pope who granted them, and in place of gaining
indulgences and remission of sins for the bulls granted to them, they win condemnation for their
soul and commit many sins. That from here on forward, it is ordered the taking of bulls will not
be done in this manner or any similar manner, nor make people be forced to buy in the sermon
against their will, except for the bulls taken voluntarily, because this would stop the other sins
which were committed in making people take them against their will.
Chapter in the manner in which the Kings of our Kingdom should reign.
xxxiv. Item since, by experience, we have seen and known the harm that these Kingdoms has
endured because of the foreigners who have come to reign in our kingdom, who are strange in
speech and their way of living, that if in said Assembly they discuss seeking a solution to this, so
that from here forward this would be remedied and solved forever, that our representatives would
be involved in it and that our representatives would be involved in the bringing about of this just
and virtuous solution in said Assembly.
Chapter saying that His Highness should marry the Infanta of Portugal.
xxxv. Item that as some remedy to the harm that we now have had occur because of a foreigner
in reign in these Kingdoms, that with much petition it is requested and supplied that our Lord and
King, His Highness, would be made to want to marry the Lady Infanta of Portugal, because we
have been informed that she is a very excellent person, very beautiful, a good friend of our
nation and all the Castilians who speak our Castilian as we do, and that she is very prudent and

30. 30
composed. And that she would follow in the footsteps of the Catholic Queen, Lady Doña Isabel,
her grandmother, and that she would be given a very large dowry of lots of money, much more
than any other place could give her, of which she could supply for her needs. And in marrying
them this way, we have more trust in His Highness, which shifts his love to these Kingdoms and
to its subjects, since they are the most important in the world, and so that said Lady Infanta,
being Queen of these Kingdoms, would fit well with our natives, and that the children of the
great knights and other knights of these Kingdoms would be raised in the Royal House, just as if
they were in the House of said Lady Queen and her grandmother, and if His Highness were to
marry some other Queen, foreign from these Kingdoms in speech and dress, the harm done by
this would be doubled.
Chapter that His Highness would not bring Flemings or the French to these Kingdoms.
xxxvi. Furthermore that since His Highness is returning to these Kingdoms in good time, that he
would not bring with him Flemings or French people, or any other men from other nations to
have positions in his Royal House, and that only natives of these Kingdoms would serve in these
positions, since there is an infinite number of able and adequate people to serve him who will
serve him with more love and loyalty
Chapter that there would be no unnecessary jobs in the Royal House.
xxxvii. Item since in the Royal House, especially after Lady Queen Doña Isabel’s soul suffered
from the sickness from which she passed away, the amount of unnecessary positions greatly
increased, with too many inspectors and paymasters with salaries greater than a million
maravedís, that all of these positions would be revoked and do not exist, and that in the General
Assembly, there are people who give a report about these positions, including the damage that
the Royal House and Estate have received and continue to receive.

31. 31
Chapter that nobody can have more that one position, and that they serve such position,
not a representative.
xxxviii. Item that in the House and Court of His Majesty, a person cannot have more than one
position, and that those with more than one position would quit, and that every position is served
by the person who has taken the office, of any quality and conditions that may be, and that they
cannot put a representative in such positions because they still keep their salaries of the said
positions, but their representatives carry other salaries of which is followed by a high cost,
without any advantage to the Royal Crown.
Chapter that all the Royal positions outside of the Court are served by those themselves
who have them.
xxxix. Item that the same is done in all the other Royal offices that serve and are served outside
of the Court and in the positions of lieutenant of the castles and fortresses of the Kingdom.
Chapter saying that the refrendarios8
of His Highness are not from the Council of Justice.
xl. Item that the refrendarios that His Highness had to issue bills and note for the Chamber, that
they are not nor can be from the Council of Justice since as they are sent by the Chamber, many
exorbitances are granted and many grievances are done, and although the injured parties of these
make a plea and the Council of Justice remits these pleas, finding that the refrendarios
themselves are defending what they issued and noted, being as they are people accepted by the
King and with His Royal person they are intelligent, the others on the Council do what the
refrendarios want.
Chapter that the refrendarios take no more except the salary given to them.
8
A person who authenticates or signs after their superior, see Glosario

32. 32
xli. Item that this refrendarios that note for the Chamber cannot receive any other thing except
the salary that His Highness pleases to give them, that this salary would be just and moderate
because by experience it has been seen that they have asked and been given many unfair things,
and by impositions on the Kingdom and that for all of this they have brought and bring warnings
of what they lack and of the impositions that they can put, and since all of the warnings go to
their hands, they ask what they want and have been granted it, and therefore cannot properly
advise, and if these said refrendarios or whichever of them whom have asked themselves or
through some intermediary for something for themselves of for their children or relatives, that
they would be very gravely punished and penalized and that they lose their positions and can
never return to said position or any other.
Chapter so that they moderate the salaries that are given to any judge.
xlii. Item that the excessive salaries and money aids which have been made and given to any
judge of these Kingdoms and their officials, from the greatest to the lowest, would be moderated
and are moderated because with so much salary and many money aids the Royal House is very
oppressed and much of their income is spent.
Chapter that no judge can receive favors form the penalties they sentence.
xliii. Item that no judge in these Kingdoms, from the greatest to the lowest, can receive any favor
from the penalties nor any part of them which they judge has sentenced and sentences, and that
the goods that are confiscated from the said penalties are not paid to their salaries, and if they
take it or ask for it, that they would be very gravely reprimanded and penalized and that they lose
their positions forever and cannot be provided with another.
Chapter that the local magistrates and notaries of the Court and High Court don’t take
from the rebellions and extras more than with the ordinary take.

33. 33
xliv. Item that the local magistrates and notaries of the Court and High Court cannot take, nor
take from the rebellions, nor from any other extras nor higher rights that what the ordinary local
magistrates of the cities, villages and other places in these Kingdoms have, and if they take more
then they would be punished for it.
Chapter saying that there are appeals in criminal sentences.
xlv. Item that, in the sentences in which the criminal lawsuit is death, mutilation of limbs, or
whipping, the magistrates of the Court and of the High Court make that there is a way to appeal
in the Court for those in the Council and for those in the High Court, and that there are judges to
hear, because huge issues have been seen in executing one single sentence or mandate of death
or cutting of limbs or whipping that such magistrates have given, and many injustices from these
orders have come from this, without knowledge of the case, knowing that they had no superiors
who would have amended it, and that such a quantity of civil cases there are, there are be appeals
and a place to appeal, and that in the criminal cases of death or cutting of limbs or whipping ,
many more appeals should be done, because whichever of these is much greater and of greater
harm that the civil cases.
Chapter that of the favors the Catholic King made and the things of which he transferred
their authority, that those to who they were given would show the deeds of them within a
certain period of time.
xlvi. Item since for how much the Lady Queen Doña Isabel suffered because of the Lord King
Don Fernando, as many things and much income of the Royal House were given and transferred
as a means of thanks, as a reason for tax grants and as a means of a pretend or feigned
agreement, that those to whom such favors were made have to bring and present the deeds,
contracts, and gifts which they were given within a short time because those which are found to

34. 34
be good and justly made for true and worthy causes, not against the prohibition and banning that
the Lady Queen Doña Isabel made in her testament, which banned said Lord King from
transferring anything of the Royal Crown, would stay as they are and those which are not found
as such would be annulled and revoked because the Royal Crown is very cheated by them, and
when these are known about, that there would be people that give serious notices.
Chapter that if those who have provisions or deeds of favors and do not present them
within the term, that they would be revoked.
xlvi. Item that those who were to bring said deeds and benefits within the assigned time and do
not bring them, that hereinafter they would be considered revoked and whatever what granted
and given would remain in use for the Royal Crown.
Chapter that the confirmation officials of provisions would change their reasoning that
they have for the confirmations.
xlix. Item since the confirmation officials of the privileges and provisions have charged a large
quantity of maravedís for confirming them. And this has been robbery because, to remove
bought property rights, a confirmation is not necessary, nor should confirmation rights be
obligatory, and that such officials are urged to change what currently unjust in the said
confirmations because we have been told that more that forty thousand ducats have been taken.
Chapter that those who have provisions of nobility would bring them to be seen and
examined and the bought provisions would be revoked.
l. Item because after the passing of said Lady Queen Doña Isabel, many letters of privileges of
nobility and tax exemptions have been given, because they were given to who tried to get them,
and this has been a great harm to the towns, that it is ordered that all of these to whom the said
privileges were granted, within a short time would bring the provisions which were bought for

35. 35
money, so that they can be seen and examined, and for those which were not given with just
cause, all of these will be annulled and revoked since they are damaging to the Royal Crown as
well as the public good of these Kingdoms, and those who do not bring them and present them
within the said time would remain as revoked unusable, and that the money given for them
would be returned to their owners.
Chapter that the magistrates of the noblemen do not have doblas9
.
li. Item since, as cause of the doblas which the magistrates of the noblemen and notaries give to
those who declare themselves as sons of a nobleman, sometimes some people declare themselves
as noblemen when they aren’t. That from here forward they cannot have rights with doblas nor
any others from the statements given.
Chapter that all the officials of the Court and their lieutenants have assessments.
lii. Item that all the judges and officials of the Court and whichever other related positions and
their lieutenants have to have an assessment, and that they would give a report and reason to
what they have unjustly done and of the bad notices which they have given every year about the
public affairs of the Kingdom and because this would be known much better if, by way of
albaquías10
they could rent out what they have poorly done in these and of the bad notices they
have given and of the shares they have had from it that they would have shown this since the tax
farmers had the ability to take them from their positions and discover that the Royal Crown and
Estate are very damaged because of this, in very large sums and quantities of maravedís, and it is
reasonable that those who have badly used their positions should pay.
Chapter that the gifts of maravedís that have been given to foreigners would be seized.
9
Type of money, eventually replaced by the maravedí, see Glosario
10 Residual or the rest of some bill or rent that is still left to be paid, balances due or remainders,
see Glosario

36. 36
liii. Item that since there is such a large quantity of favors of large sums of maravedís which
were given to foreigners which haven’t been collected or taken back, that they would send
people who are in or should be in such power that don’t agree with this to those people who were
given said gifts, but to none other, and that they would be sequestered in order to get such money
which was from tax grants of our Lords the Queen and her son the King and for the public good
of these Kingdoms.
Chapter that there would be two presidents in the Council, one a gentleman and the other a
prelate.
liv. Item since during the life of the Catholic Lady Queen Doña Isabel there were always two
presidents in her Royal Council, one a gentleman and the other a prelate, as requested by Her
Highness, that from here on forward there would be these two presidents and that they would be
natives of these Kingdoms.
Chapter that the increasing positions would be revoked.
lv. Item that since the passing of the Lady Queen Doña Isabel there has been much increase in
positions of all kind, those of which are much beyond the old number, which was and is against
what the laws of these Kingdoms decree and which has been and is harmful to the public affairs
of these Kingdoms that these increased positions would be revoked.
Chapter that they would not provide corregidores11
unless the towns request them.
lvi. Item that they would not provide corregidores to the cities and villages of these Kingdoms,
except for with these cities, villages, and communities within them request it, since it is decreed
as such in the laws of the Kingdom, and also that these cities and villages put their usual mayors
of science and conscience, that these mayors would have good intentions, and are the most
11
Crown-appointed civil governor in main Castilian towns, see Glosario

37. 37
adequate in these cities and villages, and then that they would decline the salaries that the
corregidores so cripplingly take without any benefits to the cities and villages where they live.
Chapter that the towns would give their usual mayors moderate salaries.
lvii. Item that the usual mayors that were placed by the cities and villages would be given a
moderate and proper salary from such cities and villages during the time that they have said
positions.
Chapter that they would not provide investigators and that they refer the lawsuits to the
towns.
lvii. Chapter since by experience we have seen that the investigators, which were named and sent
from the Council up until now, have been very extravagant and costly, in which injustices and
thefts have manifested which have never been remedied by the Council nor punished. That from
here on forward they cannot send investigators from the Council, and that the cases which were
to be sent would be tasked to the places where they occurred to the corregidores or usual mayors
of the cities and villages where they have occurred, and where those whom the cases are against
and against whom investigations need to be done, that they would send their goods and fortunes
to such corregidores and mayors who very diligently understand what was said, and in punishing
what was sent to them with warning that if they do not do as such, that at their own expense they
would send and supply an investigator to do so.
Chapter that if investigators are supplied, that the Chamber will pay them.
lix. Item since the same inconveniences have been seen continuously, which are the supplied
judges and investigators who collect their salaries from the guilty, giving them power to they
declare that the guilty are those from whom collect their salaries, even though there may not be a
guilty party, they still declare them, and from them they collect their salaries in a very

38. 38
disorganized manner with pressure of the selling and auctioning of their goods, of which has
never been resolved by the Council if it has been done properly or improperly. That from here
forward they can never supply judges or investigators so that their salary can be paid by who
they accuse as guilty, rather that the salary needed for the days occupied in making such
investigations would be paid by the Chamber and after when the lawsuits were determined they
could justly charge from those who should be charged.
Chapter that no town councilors, local councilors nor other officials live with Lords.
lx. Item since for how much that has been done against what the laws of these Kingdoms declare,
which have been made by the Lords King Don Fernando and Queen Doña Isabel, and by the
Lords King Don Felipe and King Don Carlos, our Lord, by the giving of permits to some local
councilors, other town councilors and jurors, and other officials of the Councils of the cities and
villages of these Kingdoms so that they could live with Lords and receive stipends, which has
been very damaging to the cities and villages where the said local councilors, town councilors,
jurors and officials of the Council stay, that the permits would be revoked and never again given.
That from here on forward none of them nor their children can live with a Lord unless it were
with His Highness, nor can another receive a stipend, but rather that they would receive large
penalties and lose their positions and that they would perpetually be disqualified from their
position and others.
Chapter that the Bishops would reside in their bishoprics.
lxi. Item providing that the Bishops reside in the bishoprics and that they don’t go to the Court
nor are outside of the bishoprics, especially all those of the Kingdom of Granada since there is
such need that they are in them.

39. 39
Chapter that the fortresses and encomiendas12
are given to natives of the Kingdom.
lxii. Item that the possession of the fortresses and Mayor’s office of the King and the
encomiendas of the Military Orders are not given nor can be given to anyone other that natives
and neighbors of these Kingdoms.
Chapter that the comendadores13
would have an assessment.
lxiii. Item that the accountants and officials of the aforementioned commands and those with
mastership of the Military Orders should have an assessment because it is known that they have
spent the income of said command, income belonging to those with said mastership of the
Military Orders and to those who have been given gifts from them and that which remains from
them would be for the Royal Crown.
Chapter that the possessions that have been given to foreigners would be removed.
lxiv. Item that the possessions of the fortresses that have been given to foreigners would be
removed from those who already have them and from those who have bought them.
Chapter that they would remove the property from Fonseca14
and given them to natives of
the Kingdom.
lxv. Item that they would remove the property that Antonio de Fonseca had in these Kingdoms
and that the property is provided to natives, friends and servants of the public affairs of these
Kingdoms.
Chapter that the alcabala15
would be reduced to the quantity that it was in the
encabezamiento16
when the Queen Doña Isabel passed away.
12
In mediaeval Spain, a grant of land by the king, usually on condition that the holder assist in
defense, see Glosario
13
One who has military power over the knights, see Glosario
14
Antonio de Fonseca was a Spanish Roman Catholic bishop
15
Castilian sales tax, about 10 percent, see Glosario

40. 40
lxvi. Item that the alcabalas of all these Kingdoms would be reduced and are reduced to the
quantity that it was in the encabezamiento in the time when the lady Queen Doña Isabel passed
away, and that it would stay as such perpetually and that it cannot be raised since this was the
intention and wish of the said lady Queen Doña Isabel as her testament and it appears that this
was meant for good by Her Highness, as such that the communities of these Kingdoms that did
not want to place such tax, that they would look and examine if they were justly taxed by the
aforementioned alcabala as the said lady Queen ordered in her testament.
Chapter that the towns have encabezamientos and pay the salaries with them.
lxvii. Item that the towns have to take and would take the said alcabalas from said
encabezamiento and would be obligated to pay the salaries of said alcabalas by putting together
sums from such encabezamientos, and the excess would be given to His Highness or to his
treasury and to pay for what was due to them up unto the amount of the excess of the salary of
such alcabalas, and with this they will cease the malice and cunningness of the landlords and tax
farmers, and they and the towns would not be exhausted with them like it has been up until now,
and that they would stop the promises and other infinite briberies which have happened because
of this and even stop the position of the major accountants and save the large salaries that they
carry.
Chapter that the encabezamientos would be enjoyed by the towns and more than what was
registered would be leased.
lxviii. Item that the said encabezamientos are generally enjoyed by all the neighbors of the places
which were registered to be taxed and that between them the alcabalas cannot be leased for
larger price nor for more than what the aforementioned encabezamientos had, nor can it be
16
System of tax-collection by which a regions would agree on the total of taxes to be paid, but
exercise full local control over assessment and collection, see Glosario

41. 41
divided up more between the neighbors of the said places to pay the said encabezamientos of
which was contained in them, except only for the costs that were done under the understating of
the aforementioned and in collecting the said encabezamientos.
Chapter that Their Highnesses are content with the income and other things taken from
the Kingdom without asking other tax grants.
lxix. Item that the Queen and the King her son, our Lords, would be content with the said
alcabalas that are in the Kingdom which were given and decreed for the support of the Royal
Estates, in agreement with the chapter before this, and with the other usual incomes that in are
carried in their Kingdom and with the penalties from the Chamber and confiscation of goods
associated with this and with the income from those with mastership of the Military Orders and
from the salt mines had in these Kingdoms which are property of the Royal Crown, and with the
tax grant and tributes brought from the earnings of the Kingdom and with the almojarifazgos17
and dry ports, since in these there is a large count of maravedís, and that they would not ask for
other special tax grants from their Kingdom and subjects of said Kingdom, nor that they would
make the subjects collect and pay taxes, since this would be damaging to their consciences and
very harmful to the public affairs of these Kingdoms, nor that they would banish the subjects nor
impose others to do so, and that the tax grants that some representatives of the Courts were
awarded in the city of La Corunna that would not pay, nor any other similar thing would be
banished or paid in any time.
Chapter that the cities and villages of the Kingdom that have a vote in the Court would
name their representatives and freely give them power.
17
Rents and taxes from the Muslims in Spain, see Glosario

42. 42
lxx. Item that from here on forward, when they make the Courts and the representatives are
named from the cities and villages that have a vote in the Courts, that the Council of Justice,
Town Councilors, those in charge of sesmos18
, or representatives of the communities if there are
any, and if not, that they would request for them, that they would freely and by their will give the
powers for said representatives, without Their Highnesses having to send instructions or orders
on their part, in such a manner that they give the powers and that the representatives who were
thus named would go with said powers to the Courts where they were called. That, as good a
loyal representatives of their cities, villages, or towns, they completely understand in all which is
service of Their Highnesses, not being damaging to their towns and to the public good of these
Kingdoms, and that if they do not do as such, that they would be under the penalties that said
towns normally give for this.
Chapter that the representatives of the Courts in the Courts would join and talk amongst
themselves, and that they would not be given a president.
lxxi. Item that in such Courts, the representatives can join together, confer, and talk with one
another freely, and that they are not given a president to be with them, since a president would be
given to impede them so that they would do not understand the best of what Their Highnesses
ask of them.
Chapter that the representatives of the Courts cannot ask for favors, or be under certain
penalty.
lxxij. Item that such representatives that were sent to said Courts not before nor after in the time
in which they were in those Courts that until they return to their houses cannot receive any gift of
any quality for themselves or for their wives, children, nor relatives because of having been
18
Group of associated towns or peoples, see Glosario

43. 43
representatives and being it in said Courts, whether the gifts be for themselves, for any cause of
another person, or color, they cannot receive any gift of any quality, or else it would be under
penalty of death or loss of goods, since such representatives, being free from greed, by not
receiving anything they will better understand that they are under the service of God and the
King and the public good of these Kingdoms, and also in the cities, villages and communities
which they were commissioned to.
Chapter that they would revoke the gifts given to the representatives in the Courts of A
Coruña19
.
lxxii Item that all the gifts of any quality which were made to the representatives of the Courts
who now are in the Kingdom of Galicia would be revoked and not be given to anyone else, and
that they do not and cannot use them, or be under large penalties. That these favors given by the
King Don Fernando of whichever villages and places and other things of the Royal Crown would
be revoked.
lxxiii. Item that the favors to whichever villages of forgiveness of rent for country homes or debt
forgiveness that were given by the Lord and King Don Fernando as governor of these Kingdoms
would be revoked since that was against what was ordered in the laws of these Kingdoms and
was against the prohibition that the Queen Doña Isabel made in her testament, which she made in
that time to provide that governor of these Kingdoms would revoke such favors from whichever
persons they were given to, just as if the Queen Our Lady revoked them and the aforementioned
Lord King Don Fernando had revoked the favors that the Lord King Don Felipe, who in blessed
glory had and did revoke them, from when he started to reign until he passed, as that in the same
way they would revoke and not given to anyone the favors that the King Don Carlos, our Lord,
19
A city in Spain, the northern coast of Galicia

44. 44
made again of villages and country homes in these Kingdoms, and the confirmation of the favors
and donations that he gave which the said Lord King Don Fernando, being governor, made and
gave, as many were against what is arranged and ordered in the laws of these Kingdoms and
against the royal privileges given and known by the said villages and country homes, so that they
could never separate from the Royal Crown of these Kingdoms, and as all of those favors were
done and made in a time of bad governing and by the Council and particular interests of bad
representatives and enemies of the Royal Crown and of the public good of these Kingdoms.
Chapter that they would revoke the pardons that were made for the sacar pan20
.
lxxv. Item that they would revoked the pardons or deposits that were made and deposited in the
time of bad governing of these Kingdoms to bring certain rights to give a license to export grains
out from these kingdoms, and to export the hides and leathers from the city of Seville, because
on the other side of a bad deposit, more damage is caused and is followed by much harm when
the grains and hides were taken outside of these Kingdoms and out of said city of Seville, and
that from here on forward they cannot take nor will take grains out of these Kingdoms nor the
hides of said city of Seville.
Chapter that they cannot take the livestock out of these Kingdoms.
lxxvi. Item that they cannot nor will take out any livestock from these Kingdoms for any other
kingdoms, even if they belong to His Catholic , since by experience we have known the huge
damages to the Kingdom and republic which have followed because of the taking and selling of
said livestock outside of these Kingdoms and in the increased price of meats, leathers, shoes, and
candles, which are more than twice as much of what they used to cost, and not taking said
20
There was a shortage of farmland in the nation, so grains were not allowed to be exported.
Literally translated, this means “to take bread”, but is thought of as taking grains out of the
country, see Glosario

45. 45
livestock would return all the prices to what they were, which would be a great benefit to these
Kingdoms.
Chapter that a tax would be placed on the livestock pastures.
lxxvii. Item since the price of meats, wool, and shoes have reasonable prices, which likewise has
increased because the price charged by the landlords of the pastures and the herbage for them has
increased greatly, that a reasonable and just tax would be placed on said pastures in order that the
great increasing of the rent and herbage prices would not be in the hands of the owners of the
pastures to do so whenever they wanted, since this is a universal damage to the Kingdom and its
public good, and that the same would be done in the pastures of those with mastership of the
Military Orders and all of their encomiendas.
Chapter that they would not take money or gold from the Kingdom.
lxxviii. Item that they cannot by any means take money of gold, silver, minted or engraved
money from the Kingdom since this is prohibited by the laws of these Kingdoms, and because of
when the King, our Lord, did the contrary when he came to these Kingdoms, the Kingdom is
now poor and lost, and in order that this be remedied, that all manners that can be found to
accomplish this would be sought, and that it cannot be done otherwise in any time.
Chapter that the punishments made by the representatives in some cities and villages in the
Kingdom would be decreased.
lxxix. Item that Their Highnesses would consider the morality of the punishment that some of the
representatives and other people of some communities have done to people and their goods,
because they were against the public good of their towns and against the universal good of the
kingdom, in order that these punishments would be changed with zeal and good intention

46. 46
towards the public good of the towns and these Kingdoms, of which lies in the service of the
Queen and King, her son, our Lords.
Chapter that this village can enjoy their festivals despite any adaptations that have been
given on the contrary.
lxxx. Item since because said King, our Lord, in the time of his bad council and governing, made
and gave certain provisions which were damaging and harming to the festival of this noble
village of Valladolid, and the village secretly claimed their rights of the festival because they
would have not dared to do it publicly because of the large penalties that were put on said
provisions and because they were not allowed to ask for a remedy against said provisions in said
time, that this noble village can and will freely have their festivals as is included in their rights,
and that the merchants and traders of the Kingdom can freely go to the festivals and can sell and
trade as they can do in the festivals of Medina del Campo and Medina de Rioseco21
despite said
provisions.
Chapter that the Monasteries of San Benito and San Bernardo22
in these Kingdoms would
not have country homes or vassals.
lxxxi. Item since for how much the exercising of the jurisdiction over the vassals in the
Monasteries of San Benito and San Bernardo and other orders in the Kingdom of Galicia and in
other parts of these Kingdoms is a danger to said monasteries because it can cause them to
separate from their contemplative life and be a distraction in their religion. That said monasteries
are provided money to cover such rent just like what the vassals and country homes rented for,
and such money could be provided by the alcabala from said vassals and country homes, and
that the homes and vassals of them with their civil and criminal jurisdiction would be used by the
21
Cities in Spain, in Galicia
22
Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard

47. 47
Royal Crown of these Kingdoms because this would be a very profitable thing for the Royal
Crown of the Kingdom. The monasteries will be left with the same amount of rent as they have
now with more ability to spend time in the contemplation and seclusion of their religion and this
would subtly put the Pope under the petition of Their Highnesses.
Chapter that communities of the Royal Crown would have the fortresses that are in the
cities and villages of these Kingdoms.
lxxxii. Item since it has been seen and experienced that the local magistrates and owners of the
castles and fortresses of the cities and villages of the Royal Crown commonly are against and are
enemies of said cities, villages and towns and give them many grievances, especially via times of
riots and disorder, and because in the stipend of these buildings they spend and consume huge
quantities of maravedís from the Royal Income of these Kingdoms. That from here on forward is
to be provided that the buildings and guard of such castles and fortresses would be given to the
same cities and villages where they are located, and that said cities and villages keep and guard
in not exhausting the resources of His Majesty and for the Royal Crown of these Kingdoms, and
as such many problems and damages would stop as such, and that the said cities and villages
cannot put powerful gentlemen as mayors in said fortresses, except for modest and good people
from said cities and villages, as large quantities of maravedís that were formerly spent on said
buildings will be saved for High Highness and the Royal Crown of these Kingdoms.
Chapter that the representatives of the country of Biscay and the province of Guipúzcoa
and Asturias of Oviedo are called and are given notice of what was done in the General
Assembly.
lxxxiii. Item that everything which was agreed on and determined in the said General Assemgly
of the cities and villages of these Kingdoms for the public good of them, that before it is

48. 48
published, the representatives of the country of Biscay and the provinces of Guipúzcoa and of
Álava and of the villages of Laredo and Antander, which are by the coast and sea, and the other
villages which are near to that district, would be called, and even if they were to call those from
the city of Oviedo and the principality of Asturias and the Kingdom of Granada, this would be
good so that all of them can communicate what is agreed on for the cities and villages of these
Kingdoms and their representatives, in order that they agree on it, since the country of Biscay
and provinces of Guipúzcoa and Álava and the mountains in the principality of Asturias are a
large part of these Kingdoms, and with compliance from them, we will be adament in our holy
intent and in the public good of these Kingdoms, which is of good intentions, without the
damages from Burgos, Leon, and Zamora and from the other places that have votes in Courts
that could be detrimental.
Chapter that the representatives of the Courts are chosen by the communities despite other
customs that they might have had.
lxxxiv. Item that from here on forward, the representatives of the Courts that used to be sent
would now be elected by the Justice Council, Town Councilors, and community of the cities and
villages to whom they used to be sent. That the representatives would be the most suitable and
sufficient that they can be and that they would do what they should for the public good of the
cities and villages that sent them. And in the Kingdom that there would be a custom to elect and
name the representatives from descendants of such cities and villages because as such is
advisable since it makes it so that they cannot be named by those who were in the Court.
Chapter that the representatives of this village would correspond with other
representatives of the Kingdom in what is for the universal public good of the kingdom.

49. 49
lxxxv. Item that in all the other things that were talked about and communicated in said General
Assembly, that they would be for the universal public good of these Kingdoms, to put in order
what is disorganized, to find remedies and corrections of past grievances done in the time of poor
government of these Kingdoms, and to punish and penalize the guilty. In these, as well as the
chapters contained in these instructions, the representatives, or at least good part of them, from
said Assembly can correspond on, and to our said representatives, we charge them that whenever
they can, they would be in agreement with said Assembly, and for diversity of votes of the
representatives, that they would not block any just and virtuous idea or intention that is for the
public good of these Kingdoms and to remedy or satisfy any past grievances. But if something
appears more serious than the aforementioned to the representatives, then they must consult the
village and representatives of the community and write to us about what they are consulting on
because we will respond to them saying what they should do.
Chapter that what was done and ordered in the Assembly would be established by means
of an irrevocable agreement.
lxxxvi. Item that all of the things contained in these instructions and the others ordered in said
Assembly, that they would and are established by way of an irrevocable agreement by the King,
our Lord, as was strongly ordered and asked for in said Assembly.
Chapter that the cities and villages of the Kingdom that have a vote in the Courts would
make an alliance and join in union to maintain and sustain what was done in the Assembly.
lxxxvii. Item in order that all the aforementioned would be and is fulfilled, and that nothing else
can be done, that the cities and villages of the Kingdom that have votes in the Courts would
make an alliance and join in one union, and that their representatives, under large obligations and
conviction, would always be the one to defend and guard what was promised, and solemnly

50. 50
swearing to die for one other by putting their lives and homes above it, and for the town
councilors of the cities and villages and other private citizens, and in this they understand what it
is to defend, guard, and complete the aforementioned, and the motives around this reaches all
cities, villages, and places of these Kingdoms, and representatives, town councilors, and other
private citizens of them, all the other cities and villages of them, would by themselves turn and
follow in the manner that all the Kingdom and community of it would be one body and one thing
in defending the aforementioned and that it will not be done for any nearby city that doesn’t
touch the entire communities of these Kingdoms, and that above all they would establish
writings and signatures with sufficient oaths for all of it.
Chapter that the Queen, our Lady would be given notice of all that was ordered in the
Assembly so that she can approve it.
lxxxviii. Item that the Queen, our Lady, would be given notice of all that was ordered and agreed
on in said Assembly, and that she is made to comprehend it all, because with her authority,
wishes, and consent it could be authorized, and it would be a perpetual signature of what was
ordered, and security for the towns and public good of these Kingdoms.
Chapter that an observer would be approved to be in the Audience to watch the hearings.
lxxxix. Chapter that it is approved and requested to His Highness that he orders to his Royal
hearings of this noble village of Valladolid, as they do in the city of Granada, where an observer
resides in every hearing, one who is a person of authority and of good intention, that such person
would also be provided in said Audiences in Valladolid, as during the life of the Lady Queen
Doña Isabel, when Don Juan of Aza was the observer, and afterwards the Bishop of Cordoba,
and after him the Knight Commander Aguilera, resident of the Village of Molina, in order that
said observer can appeal the lawsuits before the complainant, and so they can and do see the

51. 51
ordered lawsuits, and so they are careful to guard the ordinances and what was mandated and
provided in past visitations, and so His Highness would know how his officials serve in their
offices of said hearings and how justice is administered in them.
Chapter that command would be given only in suits.
xc. Item that order and command would not be given in the disorganized suits, but rather while
wearing silk and brocades, because in these unorganized suits, much damage is received to the
public good of these Kingdoms and neighbors.
Chapter that they use the Royal income to pay the Royal house.
xci. Item ordering and commanding that they would pay the Royal house from the royal income
since the money that would be given and paid to the salaries and the retirement, which those who
are in said Royal house have, as such would be spent and used in these Kingdoms, and because
the accumulation of said Royal income and not spending it in these Kingdoms would bring much
damage to the public good.
Chapter that the Ecclesiastic judges and their scribes would keep the Kingdom’s tariff in
the bringing in of fees.
xcii. Item that is it supplied that the Ecclesiastic and Conservative judges and their scribes and
officials should and do keep the tariff that they have, and that the secular judges and scribes of
the hearings and Courts of Their Majesties would also keep said tariffs, as Their Highnesses had
provided for their tariffs, since said Ecclesiastic judges and scribes of their hearings have very
large tariff fees, and for those who do not want any taxes, much damage to the republic of these
Kingdoms would follow because of it. That the official accountants and Crusade officials would
not give any notice to anyone, except to Their Highnesses, of money that is delayed in the paying
of said tariffs.

52. 52
xcii. Item that the officials of any Royal offices, such as the major accountants of bills and of the
Crusades and of America and of Tierra Firme, that they cannot give notice, nor notify anybody
of delayed monies, or of hidden monies, nor that they are obliged to go to the Chamber and
Treasury of Their Majesties, and they are obliged to make and give said notices to Their Catholic
Majesties, so that the ordered notices are paid and collected by their Chamber and they don’t
give any favors regarding the notices, as they have done up until now, and if they do not give
said notices to Their Highnesses, that they would lose their offices and they cannot be in any
other offices.
Chapter that if it is found that said officials have given notices as such, that they would pay
double what is owed to the Chamber.
xciv. Item since it has been found and will continually be found that these officials that have
given notices as such have split into parts the money with those to whom they gave said notices
that asked for favors from said delayed monies that they owed to His Highness and they have
them hidden because they were given a third of the said favors. That all that they received from
the splitting of said favors of their bad notices, since it was damaging and fraud of the Royal
Crown and of the Chamber of His Highness, that they would have to return double what they
owe to the Chamber of Their Highnesses.
Chapter that those who gave notices of things belonging to Their Highnesses, that such
things would be claimed for the Chamber.
xcv. Item since in addition to said inappropriate and unpleasant splitting of monies received by
those who gave said bad notices in order that said favors would be asked for, knowing very well
that is was so they could get paid from said favors, buying and leasing from the people who said
favors were given to. And to those who they gave notices to, they gave 5 thousand to 10

53. 53
thousand ducats, and afterwards they paid said favors more that 50 to 80 thousand ducats, and
they divided it up between themselves and with this have come to have the estates that they have,
when at the time they entered said offices, their houses were not worth 200 thousand maravedís.
That all of this would be claimed for the Chamber of Their Majesties because from this they can
justly pay for large quantities of ducats.
Chapter that all the rest would be paid by albaquías from what was leased, and claimed for
the Chamber.
xcvi. Item since in the leasing of the albaquías that were leased, with said officials knowing what
they should and could charge of said albaquías, it was they themselves who leased them to other
people, giving them very large commissions from because of how they leased them, and in
addition to that, because they have carried out the leasing, they have charges 10 to 20 times of
said albaquías, because it was them who leased them, and as all of this has been done cunningly
and hidden from His Majesty, that is, what they could charge of said albaquías, and that all what
is left of said albaquías that was charged beyond the normal price would be collected for the
Chamber of His Highness from those who charged, took, and collected of said albaquías in such
a manner.
Chapter that they would not lease albaquías, nor collect from them, except from that which
was delayed for 10 years.
xcvii. Item since because of the leasing of the albaquías for many years, many damages have
followed here from the blackmailing and bribery from the tax farmers, that the guarantors and
their wives, children, and family, and the towns with their faithful granary workers had to pay for
the Royal rent. That after the past 10 to 20 years, that they would ask them for the sum of said
rents, and they ask them for the money orders that were made in them, and the payment cards of

54. 54
said money orders which were not had nor shown after much time, having passed away the
people who received said money orders and paid them, exhausting and bankrupting their wives,
children, and family, and having to sell and auction all their goods to their guarantors. That much
damaged has followed from this to the public good of these Kingdoms, and that His Majesty
would supply that they cannot lease out the albaquías, nor sell them, except what was left from
10 or more years, and so that what happened before wouldn’t happen again, that they cannot rent
or sell albaquías because as such much money has remained unpaid or collected, all which was
the fault of the officials.
Chapter that the King’s doctors would not visit the pharmacies of the apothecaries.
xcviii. Item since because the doctors of His Majesty or their representatives visit the pharmacies
of the apothecaries who work with chemicals and spices, their compound medicines, and other
medicines, the doctors themselves not knowing about said medicines nor knowing which
medicines are which, nor if they are well or poorly made, and because of bribes made against the
rights of said apothecaries, causing them to approve what they should condemn and condemn
what they should approve. From this, widespread damages to the Republic of these Kingdoms
and neighbors of them has followed, that they would request to His Majesty and that he would
provide that from here on forward, said pharmacies and spice stores would not be visited by said
King’s doctors nor by their representatives, and that they are seen only by knowledgeable men
who are experts in the field of alchemy so they cannot receive any tricks or bribes.
Chapter that talks about the ability to defend of the cities in the Kingdom.
xcix. Item that because all other things in said Assembly, they would speak about and command
the manner in which the defending of the cities of these Kingdoms is to be done, and that this
manner would provide that the each person would pay so that all make an army for the defense