Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/67

CASTILE. xlix to the fifteenth century, this does not seem to have section proceeded from any design of infringing on the ' — - liberties of the people. The nomination of these was originally vested in the householders at large, but was afterwards confined to the municipalities ; a most mischievous alteration, which subjected their election eventually to the corrupt influence of the crown. ^^ They assembled in the same chamber with the higher orders of the nobility and clergy ; but, on questions of moment, retired to deliberate by themselves. °° After the transaction of other business, their own petitions were presented to the sove<*eign, and his assent gave them the validity of laws. The Castilian commons, by neglecting to make their money grants depend on correspon- dent concessions from the crown, relinquished that powerful check on its operations so beneficially exerted in the British parliament, but in vain con- tended for even there, till a much later period than that now under consideration. Whatever may have been the right of the nobility and clergy to attend in cortes, their sanction was not deemed essential the smaller and poorer places, some obscurity. (Teoria, torn. i. which, from the charges it involv- cap. 28.) Indeed, there seems to ed, felt it often, no doubt, less of a have been some irreg-ularity in the boon than a burden. This, we parliamentary usages themselves, know, was the case in England. From minutes of a meeting of 29 It was an evil of scarcely less cortes at Toledo, in 1538, too soon magnitude, that contested elections for any material innovation on the were settled by the crown. (Cap- ancient practice, we find the three many, Practica y Estilo, p. 231.) estates sitting in separate cham- The latter of these practices, and, hers, from the very commencement indeed, the former to a certain ex- to the close of the session. See tent, are to be met with in English the account drawn up by the count history. of Corufia, apud Capmany, Prac- 30 Marina leaves this point in tica y Estilo, pp. 240 et seq. VOL. I. g