Los Escribanos del Concejo de Madrid (1561-1598)

this paper deals with the notaries of madrid's city government during philip ii's reign. their office was a key element in civic government since they were familiar with the intricacies of local institutions to a higher degree than their functions alone implied. the article explores how possessing a profession at that time did not involve an obligation to work at it. it also examines the tensions, interests, and strategies associated with the profession, such as the availability of new posts, bequeathing the post itself to children or simply transmitting the office when a notary had died. francisco martínez's biography will serve as an example. finally, we describe the requirements applicants had to meet to become a notary, the attempt of the civic government to create a central archive for their documents, the salaries these officials were paid and the etiquette and ceremonial which expressed the notarial hierarchy.