Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/484

456 456 FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. PART nently fatal to Spain, since the produce of its native '- mines before the discovery of America,^* and of those in that quarter afterwards, formed its great staple. As such, these metals should have enjoyed every facility for transportation to other countries, where their higher value would afford a correspond- ing profit to the exporter. Erroneous Xhe sumotuarv laws of Ferdinand and Isabella principles of l J legislation, ^j.^ Qpgj^^ f^^ thc most part, to the same objections with those just noticed. Such laws, prompted in a great degree, no doubt, by the declamations of the clergy against the pomp and vanities of the world, were familiar, in early times, to most European states. There was ample scope for them in Spain, where the example of their Moslem neighbours had done much to infect all classes with a fondness for sumptuous apparel, and a showy magnificence of living. Ferdinand and Isabella fell nothing short of the most zealous of their predecessors, in their efforts to restrain this improvident luxury. They did, however, what few princes on the like occa- sions have done, — enforced the precept by their own example. Some idea of their habitual econo- my, or rather frugality, may be formed from a re- monstrance presented by the commons to Charles the Fifth, soon after his accession, which repre- sents his daily household expenses as amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand maravedies ; while 68 " Bnlucia malleator HispansB," him from the capital, (lib. 12, ep- says Martial, noticing the noise 57.) See also the precise state, made by the gold-beaters, hammer- ment of Pliny, cited rart I., Chap- ing out the Spanish ore, as one of ter 8, of this History, the chief annoyances which drove