THE BAY OP BISCAY. 209 



preserved the language, manners, and institutions of 

 their ancestors better than the other Basque pro- 

 vinces, and there is certainly something very singular 

 in finding in the nineteenth century, and at a few 

 paces only from France, a society which belongs 

 essentially to the middle ages.* 



The franchises of the Basque country, which have 

 become celebrated under the name of fueros, regu- 

 lated both their relations with the crown of Spain 

 and the internal organisation of each province. In 

 respect to the first point, there was but little differ- 

 ence between Biscay and Guipuzcoa. The king of 

 Castille was the Lord Suzerain to whom they owed 

 fealty and homage, and who raised a slight tax on 

 certain houses and on the products of the mines. 

 In case of any invasion of the country, the popula- 

 tion was bound to rise en masse. On these condi- 

 tions the provinces were exempt from all duties, 

 taxes and imposts, their commerce was entirely free, 



* It is well known what extraordinary precautions were taken 

 by the Basques to maintain their privileges against all encroach- 

 ments on the part of the crown. In Biscay, the lord of Biscay, the 

 only title which was granted in the province to the king of Castille, 

 was obliged to come in person to swear that he would maintain their 

 fueros. He was bound to take four solemn oaths ; the first at the 

 gates of Bilbao before the General Assembly ; the second at San - 

 Meterio Celedon de Larravezua before the clergy in their eccle- 

 siastical robes, and bearing the holy Sacrament; the third under the 

 famous oak of Guernica, where the junta of Biscay assembled; and the 

 fourth on the altar of Saint Euphemia, in the town of Bermeo. In 

 case these formalities were not complied with within a year after the 

 summons had been issued, the king of Castille lost all right to the 

 revenues of the province, while the inhabitants were no longer 

 bound to obey his orders. 



VOL. II. P 



