Handbook for translators of Spanish historical ... - University Library

HANDBOOK FOR TRANSLATORS OF SPANISH HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
4, — Weights and Measures.
Uniformity in weights and measures throughout the
Spanish empire was not achieved until the metric system
was officially adopted in 1871. Prior to that date, the
detrimental practice of giving varying values to the same
unit of weight or measure in different provinces or
districts was recognized by the authorities, in spite of
the fact that numerous efforts were made to establish uniform
weights and measures by royal decree. The chief
difficulty in establishing a uniform system in Spain was
that Spain was divided into separate kingdoms; and, even
after the political unity was effected, local customs
were not readily changed by general decrees. In 125'5,
in the Fuero Seal, Law I, Title X, it was ordered:
We hereby order all weights and measures by which
purchases and sales are made to be correct and uniform
for everyone, both for strangers and residents
of the city; they shall not be changed, and the Officers
of the Council shall be held responsible for
inspecting weights and measures.
No standard was mentioned in this law by which the
inspectors could examine weights and measures. The laws
of the Partida , however, later gave two definitions relative
to linear measures:
...one league has three thousand paces ^pasos]...
Because many people are in doubt as to the manner
of measuring the pace jpassoj in setting landmarks
in the cemetery, the holy church has explained it
in this manner: let there be five feet to one pace
and fifteen dedos to a foot...
, passada
In the Cortes of Alcala de Henares, in 1349, Alfonso
XI, wishing to reestablish the Roman system, had two
half-pound standards taken to Spain, one from Cologne,
in Germany, and the other from Troyes, in France.
'•Title X, Law I, quoted in Juan Alvarez, Temas de Historia
Econ^mica Argentina, p. 136.
^Partida 2, Title 26, Law 25; and Partida 1, Title 13,
Law 4, quoted in Juan Alvarez: op. cit , p. 137.
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