2Ô2
THE MESTA
A famous charter issued in 1347 by Alfonso XI confirmed and
extended the decree of 1343. In this brief, forceful document of
1347, the royal patron of the Mesta satisfied the unfulfilled as-
pirations of Alfonso X, as enunciated in the charter of 1273.1 He
declared that there was but one national pastoral organization
and all shepherds and sheep owners were subject to its rules. The
obvious corollary to this was that such an all-inclusive organiza-
tion, being the ward of the sovereign, owed certain financial
obligations to its guardian — “ since all are protected by the
crown, all should pay their just contributions to the crown.”2
The end of Alfonso’s reign in 1350 found the royal servicio y
montazgo firmly established. Many towns had been forced to
surrender their sheep tolls, and the original sheep servicio, which
in the previous century had yielded a mere 24,000 maravedis a
year, became thenceforth one of the larger items of royal revenue.
The sceptre had scarcely been released from the firm grasp of
Alfonso when the towns undertook to regain their montazgos.
The irresolute and troubled reigns (1350-90) of Peter, Henry of
Trastamara, and John I gave ample opportunity for the bartering
between towns and crown for tax privileges on the one hand and
political and military support on the other. Royal tax collectors
had to be withdrawn in the face of local demands.3 Estantes
were to be allowed to roam about over whole bishoprics without
incurring royal servicio assessments.4 Powerful cities and mon-
asteries were able to buy back their lost montazgo rights.5 In a
word, the troubles of the Castilian monarchy and the consequent
resurgence of separatism during the second half of the fourteenth
century had undone much of the work of Alfonso XI in the build-
ing up of the servicio y montazgo.
The extravagance and luxury of the feeble reigns of John II
(1406-54) and Henry ΓV (1454-74) laid many heavy burdens
upon an already exhausted treasury. Uniform incompetence and
dissolute living had cost the crown the few sources of revenue
ɪ See above, p. 79. 2 Quad. 1731, pt. ι, p. 54.
s Cortes, Valladolid, 1351, pets. 57, 60; Burgos, 1379, pet. 21.
4 Arch. Ayuπt. Cuenca, leg. 3, no. 6 (1353).
, Acad. Hist., CoriaMss., 25-ι-C 8, p. 202 (1380); Cordova Mss. 25-ι-C 14,
pp. 98-101 (1386).
MEDIAEVAL ROYAL SHEEP TAXES 263
which had survived the turmoils of previous generations. In the
course of the civil disorders of the fourteenth century the greater
part of the royal sheep tax had been granted by the crown to the
powerful grand master of the Order of Santiago, to whom the
royal family had been indebted for sorely needed support against
the restive baronage. The only part of the servicio y montazgo
retained by the crown was that collected from shepherds migrat-
ing to Murcia; in fact, this fraction of the tax was never released
by the crown in spite of the troubled reigns that followed.
The all too brief regime of the ‘ good regent ’ Ferdinand (1406-
12) was memorable as the only respite from maladministration
and profligacy that Castile was to enjoy for two generations.
During this regency the grand mastership of Santiago, and with
it the Castilian servicio y montazgo, had fallen to Ferdinand’s
bold young son Henry, who promptly capitalized his newly ac-
quired prestige with characteristic vigor. Henry shrewdly ap-
preciated the possibilities of the tax, which to his thinking had
been far too loosely administered during the uncertainties of
royal power in preceding reigns. The next few years, therefore,
saw a revival of the old policy of Alfonso XI. Local sheep dues
within the domains of the Order of Santiago were quietly com-
bined with the royal servicio y montazgo. New rules governing
the collection of the latter were carefully drawn up 1 and special
judges designated to see to their enforcement. Henry’s agents
were soon collecting extra payments from the shepherds on va-
rious pretexts. There were, for example, the derechos de albala
(fees for issuing receipts), the Iasas de rebujal (tax on odd numbers
in flocks above even hundreds), and certain fees for recounting
the animals ‘ if there was reason for doubting the number de-
clared by the shepherd.’ In other words, the royal sheep tax was
extended, strictly administered, and carefully guarded by the
Infante Henry, even after he had gone to Aragon when his father
l Arch. Mesta1 F-2, Fuentiduena, 1416; U-ι, Ucles, 1417. Theserulesrequired,
among other things, the collection of the tax upon the flocks as they arrived, with-
out delaying the assessment of a given owner until all of his animals had come in.
Other details were included regarding the public posting of rates, the location of
toll offices on the canadas and not at a distance, and the collection from southward
bound flocks only.