Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/514

488 488 SPANISH COLONIAL POLICY. PART II. License for private voyages. gather the residents into towns, which were endow- ed with the privileges appertaining to similar cor- porations in the mother country ; and a number of married men, with their families were encouraged to establish themselves in them, with the view of giving greater solidity and permanence to the settlement.^ With these wise provisions were mingled others savouring too strongly of the illiberal spirit of the age. Such were those prohibiting Jews, Moors, or indeed any but Castilians, for whom the discovery was considered exclusively to have been made, from inhabiting, or even visiting, the New World. The government kept a most jealous eye upon what it regarded as its own peculiar perquisites, reserving to itself the exclusive possession of all minerals, dyewoods, and precious stones, that should be dis- covered; and, although private persons were allowed to search for gold, they were subjected to the exor- bitant tax of two thirds, subsequently reduced to one fifth, of all they should obtain, for the crown. ^ The measure which contributed more effectually than any other, at this period, to the progress of discovery and colonization, was the license granted, under certain regulations, in 1495, for voyages un- dertaken by private individuals. No use was made of this permission until some years later, in 1499. 3 Navarrete, Coleccion de Viapes, torn, ii., Doc. Dipl., no. 86, April 10th, 1495. — Nos. 103, 105-108, April 23d, 1497.— No. 110, May 6th, 1497. — No. 121, July 22d, 1497. — Henera, Indias Occiden- talcs, dec. 1, lib. 4, caj). 12. 4 Navarrete, Coleccion de Viages, torn, ii., Doc. Dipl., nos. 86, 121.— Herrera, Indias Occidentales, lib. 3, cap. 2. — Munoz, Hist, del Nuevo-Mundo, lib. 5, sec. 34. The exclusion of foreigners, at least all but " Catholic Christians," is particularly recommended by Co- lumbus in his first communication to the crown. Primer Viage de Colon.