A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Vol. 2 of 4 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from A History of the Inquisition of Spain, Vol. 2 of 4

The ayuda do costa, of which we hear so much, was either a more or less definite increase of salary, or a special gift for cause, or else a simple mood or benevolence. While the salary was a matter fixed and due, the ayuda was always to a certain extent arbitrary and was used as an incentive to compel the performance of duties regarded as onerous. We see the germ of it in Torquemada's instructions of 1485, prohibiting fees and bribes, for the king pro vides a reasonable support for all and in time will give them mercedes.' An advance is marked in the Instructions of 1498 where, after specifying salaries, it is added that the inquisitors general, when they see that there is much labor or necesdty, can grant such ayudas de costs as they deem proper.' Accord ingly about this time, while we find no regular ayudas given, there are constant examples of special ones, sometimes of large amounts, granted for the most varied reasons, of which two or three instances will sufiice. Thus Ferdinand, April 30, 1499, in ordering the payment of the salaries in Seville, includes maravedis of ayudas de costs for one of the inquisitors, but none for any one else. August 10, 1502, Juan Royz, receiver of Sara gossa, is given an ayuda de costs of sueldos to meet expenses incurred in illness and, on September 27th, an official of Seville is gratified with maravedis to help him in his marriage.'

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