Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/238

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218

Letters of Cortes

make it known to Your Majesty, so that Your Highness might order whatever seems required for Your Royal service.

I have also explained to Your Cæsarian Majesty the need for plants of all kinds; for every species of agriculture may flourish here; but nothing has been so far provided, and I again pray Your Majesty to order a provision from the Casa de la Contratacion at Seville, so that no ship be allowed to sail without bringing a certain number of plants which would favour the population and prosperity of the country.

I seek by every possible means to increase the population of these countries, that the Spanish settlers and natives of them should preserve themselves and propogate, and that our Holy Faith be built up in every respect. As Your Majesty has done me the favour to charge me with its government, and God, our Lord, has pleased to make me the medium of bringing it under the imperial yoke of Your Highness, therefore I order certain ordinances to be published, of which I send a copy to Your Majesty, and hence need not explain, except to say that in my judgment, it is necessary that these ordinances should be obeyed. ^[1] The Spaniards here are

↑ Some of the enactments of Cortes were as strict as any Puritan could prescribe. Married colonists were obliged to bring their wives to their plantations within eighteen months, under pain of forfeiting their grant: those who were unmarried were given the same period within which to,find wives (Gomara, Hist. Mex. Ordenanzas Municipales apud Pacheco and Cardenas).

Sumptuary laws regulated the wearing of velvets, silks, and brocades, or their use for saddles, shoes, and sword-belts, as well as jewels, gold ornaments, and embroideries (Herrera, Hist. General, Dec, III lib. 5; Puya, Cedulario).

Sunday observance was very rigid, and all shops were closed; trades of every kind were suspended during the hours of religious services, while attendance at mass was compulsory on Sundays and great feast days (Pacheco and Cardeñas). The incident of Cortes submitting to a public whipping for failing to attend, is related in the Biographical Note.

[1] Some of the enactments of Cortes were as strict as any Puritan could prescribe. Married colonists were obliged to bring their wives to their plantations within eighteen months, under pain of forfeiting their grant: those who were unmarried were given the same period within which to,find wives (Gomara, Hist. Mex. Ordenanzas Municipales apud Pacheco and Cardenas).

Sumptuary laws regulated the wearing of velvets, silks, and brocades, or their use for saddles, shoes, and sword-belts, as well as jewels, gold ornaments, and embroideries (Herrera, Hist. General, Dec, III lib. 5; Puya, Cedulario).

Sunday observance was very rigid, and all shops were closed; trades of every kind were suspended during the hours of religious services, while attendance at mass was compulsory on Sundays and great feast days (Pacheco and Cardeñas). The incident of Cortes submitting to a public whipping for failing to attend, is related in the Biographical Note.

[1]