Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/368

224 224 ADMINISTRATION OF CASTILE. PART mints openly licensed by the crown, in addition to '. many others erected by individuals without any legal authority. The abuse came to such a height, that people at length refused to receive in payment of their debts the debased coin, whose value depre- ciated more and more every day ; and the little trade, which remained in Castile, was carried on by barter, as in the primitive stages of society. ^° Salutary Thc magnitude of the evil was such as to claim enactments " 01 cones, tjjg earliest attention of the cortes under the new monarchs. Acts were passed fixing the standard and legal value of the different denominations of coin. A new coinage was subsequently made. Five royal mints were alone authorized, afterwards aug- mented to seven, and severe penalties denounced against the fabrication of money elsewhere. The reform of the currency gradually infused new life into commerce, as the return of the circulations, which have been interrupted for a while, quickens the animal body. This was furthered by salutary laws for the encouragement of domestic industry. Internal communication was facilitated by the con- struction of roads and bridges. Absurd restrictions on change of residence, as well as the onerous du- ties which had been imposed on commercial inter- course between Castile and Aragon, were repealed. Several judicious laws were enacted for the protec- tion of foreign trade ; and the flourishing condition 50 Bcrnaldez, Reyes Cat61icos, 3. — Also the coarse satire (com- MS., cap. 44. — See a letter from posed in Henry's reign) of Min^jo one of Henry's subjects, cited by Revulgo, especially coplas 24 -27. Saez, Moncdas de Enrique IV., p.