1478—Seville, Spain

Ferdinand and Isabella sign a contract to place a 5-member wind band on salary at their court. The ensemble includes trombones (sacabuches): “Don Fernando and Doña Isabel, by the grace of God King and Queen of Castille, Leon [etc.]…For the benefit and welfare of you, Ferran Desbardala, Tornelis de Alemaña, Sancho Vaquero, Arnao, and Beltran, minstrels and sacabuches and cherimyas, natives of the very noble and loyal city of Seville, for the good services that you have done for us and will do every day, we wish and it is our pleasure and desire that from this time forward for all your lives to be free, open, clear, and exempt from paying taxes and tributes in any amounts….The maravedis requested by the procurators of the courts of our realms, we have agreed, in order to pay the silver that we order to be taken and we agree to take from the churches and monasteries of our realms, for the prosecution of the war of our adversary of Portugal, the said maravedis they can pay to the said minstrels and sacabuches and to each one of them….Given in the very noble and very loyal city of Seville, the twenty-second day of the month of June, in the year of our Savior Jesus Christ, 1478. I the King. I the Queen. I Alfonso Davila, secretary to the King and Queen our Lords, written on your request” (Carter, Trombone in the Renaissance 91).