Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/469

441 REVIEW OF THEIR ADMINISTRATION. 441 In one remarkable particular, which niaj be chapter thought to form a material exception to the last ^^''^' observations, the conduct of the crown deserves to nanMs?""'' be noticed. This was, the promulgation of prag- mdticas, or royal ordinances, and that to a greater extent, probably, than under any other reign, be- fore or since. This important prerogative was claimed and exercised, more or less freely, by most European sovereigns in ancient times. Nothing could be more natural, than that the prince should assume such authority, or that the people, blind to the ultimate consequences, and impatient of long or frequent sessions of the legislature, should ac- quiesce in the temperate use of it. As far as these ordinances were of an executive character, or de- signed as supplementary to parliamentary enact- ments, or in obedience to previous suggestions of cortes, they appear to lie open to no constitutional objections in Castile.^'' But it was not likely that representation, " que acostumbran continuamente embiar procuradores a. cortes," according to Pulg-ar, was seventeen. (Reyes Catolicos, cap. 95.) This was before Granada was added. Martyr, writing some years after that event, enumerates only sixteen, as enjoying the privilege. (Opus Epist.,epist. 460.) Pulgar's estimate, however, is corroborated by the petition of the cortes of Val- ladolid, whioh, with more than usual effrontery, would limit the repre- sentation to eighteen cities, as pre- scribed " por algunas leyes e inme- morial uso." Marina, Teoria, torn, i. p. 161. ^7 Many of these pragmaticas purport, in their preambles, to be made at the demand of cortes ; ma- ny more at the petition of corpora- VOL. III. 56 tions or individuals ; and many from the good pleasure of the sovereigns, bound to " remedy all grievances, and provide for the exigencies of the state." These ordinances very frequently are stated to have been made with the advice of the royal council. They were proclaimed in the public squares of the city, in which they were executed, and afterwards in those of the principal towns in the kingdom. The doc- tors Asso and Manuel divide prag- maticas into two classes ; those made at the instance of cortes, and those emanating from the " sove- reign, as supreme legislator of the kingdom, moved by his anxiety for the common weal." " Muchas de este genero," they add, " contiene el libro raro miiiuXSido Pras:maticas