278
THE MESTA
those persistent special inquisitors who were so effective against
local tax collectors.1
The Mesta dared not intrust its interests to the Chancillerias
or high courts at Valladolid and Granada, the decisions of which
became more and more hostile just at the time when the servicio
collectors were most persistent.2 The Cortes secured the nom-
ination of various investigating commissions during the period
of financial distress in 1570 and after; but so far as the ser-
vicio y montazgo was concerned, the only measures taken by
these bodies were intended to protect the local estantes or non-
migratory flocks. Upon that point the Cortes, as the true
champions of local privileges and the traditions of Spanish separa-
tism, stood firm.3 Even the Contaduria Mayor, the council in
charge of the royal exchequer, gave little of that encouragement
which the Mesta had in times past been led to expect from crown
officials. In fact, the Contaduria was itself held responsible by
the monarch for ample returns from the various incomes, and
was therefore by no means inclined to be liberal in its judgments
of any accusation against the avidity of its subordinates and
lessees.4
It is not surprising, therefore, that the royal accounts showed
rapidly increasing returns from the servicio y montazgo. The
ɪ See above, pp. 213 ff. The only instances found of action taken by one of the
Pesquisidores against servicio lessees were in Arch. Mesta, U-ι, Uclés, 1530, and
B-2, Barca de Oreja, 1530.
2 The only service rendered in this connection to the sheep owners by the chan-
Cillerfas was in 1554, when the court at Valladolid ordered all servicio y montazgo
collections to cease pending the decision of a case regarding excessive charges. But
even this decree was intended principally to protect certain non-migratory flocks.
On the other hand, whenever the various towns protested, on behalf of their seden-
tary flocks, against the servicio, the chancillerfa immediately came to their rescue;
cf. Arch. Mesta, Prov. i, 91 (1585), and M-6, Murcia, 1540; Arch. Ayunt. Burgos,
Mss. nos. 745, 748, 4640.
• Brit. Mus., Ms. Eg. 356, p. 119.
4 What might be called the judicial committee of the exchequer was usually
designated as the audiencia de contadores; Arch. Mesta, Cuentas, Feb., 1536; Prov.
i, 91 (1584). A favorite device of this ‘ court ’ in disposing of Mesta complaints was
to conduct endless investigations, to prorogue its sessions, and thus to exhaust the
resources and patience of the complainants. Arch. Mesta, Prov. i, 57, 59, and
T-2, Toledo, 1555 ff∙> contain cases against Servicio lessees, which were on the table
for sixteen years or more. Other hearings and decisions of the Contaduria or its
ROYAL SHEEP TAXES OF THE AUTOCRACY 279
yield in 1563 was over three times what it has been when the
first Hapsburg came to Castile:l
Year Maravedis
ɪsɪʒ.................... 5,718,277
1517.................... 6,311,640
1520.................... 7,213,373
1526.................... 8,079,250
1535.................... 8,500,000
Year Maravedis
1539.................. 9>37oj∞o
1543.................. i°,39i,73<5
1552.................. 16,205,000
1563.................. 19,610,000
This increase was due entirely to the energetic exploitation of the
tax by the royal agents and lessees and not to any growth in the
pastoral industry. In fact, the number of transhumantes in
г514 was 2,895,471, according to the account books of the Mesta,
and in 1563, 2,303,027, with the accounts for the intervening
years sometimes rising above these figures, but showing, on the
whole, a declining tendency.2
These older royal revenues being far too uncertain and meagre,
newer and bolder expedients were soon suggested by the Em-
peror’s incessant needs for funds and by his shrewd appreciation
of the possibilities of the pastoral industry. The imperialistic
designs of the youthful ruler had not yet been formally launched,
in fact, he had been in the country only a few months when he
induced the royal councillors to dispatch an audacious message
to their senior colleague, the venerable and distinguished legist,
Dr. Palacios Rubios,3 then President of the Mesta. In the name
of their new monarch they demanded a ‘ loan ’ of 3,500,000
maravedis from the sheep owners, offering as security certain
pasturage privileges of the maeslrazgos (grandmasterships of the
Military Orders).4
subordinates are found in Prov. i, 88 (1596); V-6, Villazgo, 1563; Brit. Mus.,
Ms. Eg. 356, pp. 117-118 (1584 ff.); and Arch. Ayunt. Cuenca, leg. 9, no. 9
(1582).
1 Compiled from Paris Bib. Nat., Mss. Esp. 359; Brit. Mus., Harl. Mss. 3315,
p. 39; Laiglesia, Estudios Hist6ricos, p. 242. At this time 375 maravedis equalled
ɪr reales or ɪ ducat. On the international comparisons of these coins, cf. W. Lexis,
Beitrdgen zur Statistik der Edelmetalle, pp. 376-380, and Haebler, op. cit., p. 160.
2 See above, p. 27.
• He was the author of the Mesta code of 15n, as well as of several digests of
colonial laws. See above, p. 49.
4 Arch. Mesta, Cuentas, January, 1518. This use of the maestrazgos was some-
what presumptuous in view of the fact that they had been voted to Ferdinand only