Francisco Núñez Muley (1490–1568) was a Morisco nobleman who here writes to Spanish King Philip II
asking that Moriscos not be prosecuted for continuing to use traditional Moorish names, wear Moorish
dress, and follow Moorish dietary customs. Muley argues that these were cultural traditions and not
signs of any lack of Catholic faith. A few years later a Morisco rebellion triggered savage reprisals and the
forced relocation of many Moriscos into more Catholic areas of Spain. Source: Francisco Núñez Muley,
petition to King Phillip II (1567). In D. Englander et al., Culture and Belief in Europe, 1450–1600 (Oxford:
Blackwell, 1990), pp. 301–03. When the people of this kingdom were converted to the Christian faith,
there was no regulation compelling them to abandon their dress, language or customs associated with
their festivities; and indeed that conversion was forced and against the agreed surrender terms when
King Abdilehi gave up this city to the Catholic Monarchs … And now these new pragmatics, seemingly
easy to fulfil, in reality create great difficulties which I will relate to Your Lordship so that he may be filled
with pity, love and charity for this miserable people and solicit their protection with His Majesty, as
presidents have always done in the past. The dress of our women is not Moorish but merely provincial,
just as in Castile and other regions it is usual for the inhabitants to have distinctive headdress, skirts and
hose. Who can deny that our dress is very different from the apparel of Moors and Turks? And even that
varies: the dress of Fez differs from what is worn in Tlemcen [Barbary states]; nor is dress the same in
Tunis and Morocco; and the same variation occurs in Turkey and other kingdoms. Yet all of these would
be identical if there really was a dress peculiar to Mohammedans. We are visited by Christian clergy and
laymen from Syria and Egypt clothed like Turks in their caftans and headdress; they speak Arabic and
Turkish, know neither Latin nor Castilian, yet they are nonetheless Christians … Our women inherit bridal
and other dresses from three or four generations and keep them until they are needed. What advantage
can anyone derive from prohibiting our dress, which we have paid for with many ducats? Why should
they want us to forfeit over three millions in gold which we have invested in it [the manufacture of
clothes], thereby ruining traders, merchants, silversmiths and other craftsmen who make a living
through the manufacture of garments, hose and jewellery for Morisco women? If the 200,000 women of
this kingdom are to change their dress from head to foot where will they find the money? And how
much will also be lost in the Moriscos’ jewellery and clothes which have to be destroyed? … And Crown
income from Moriscos’ [taxes] will also fall. We are persecuted by ecclesiastical and secular courts; yet
we are all loyal vassals, obedient to His Majesty and ready to serve him with our wealth. Never could it
be said that we have committed treason from the day we surrendered … Our wedding feasts, dances
and celebrations are no obstacle to becoming Christian … Our music is not found in Africa or Turkey, but
is a provincial custom; whereas if it were the ceremony of a sect it would be found elsewhere … There is
even less reason for regarding the women’s use of henna as a Moorish rite; it is only a tradition for
cleansing the head and is therefore healthy … This is not against the faith but beneficial to the body …
And what good would come from forcing us to keep the doors of our houses open? It would allow
thieves to rob us and the lustful to have access to women … If anyone wanted to be a Moor and follow
their ceremonies couldn’t they do so at night? Of course they could! Mohammedanism requires
solitude and retreat. Therefore it matters little whether doors are open or closed if the intention is
there; there is punishment for him who does what he should not, for nothing is concealed from God. But
what of our baths, are they for rituals? Certainly not! Many people come to them and they are mostly
Christians. The baths are dens of filth; by contrast Moorish ritual requires cleanliness and solitude …
There have always been baths throughout the world, and if they were once prohibited in Castile it was
because they sapped the strength and courage of warriors. The natives of this kingdom do not have to
fight, nor do the women need strength, but only to be clean: if they do not wash there, or in rivers and
streams … where are they to wash? … LIVES UNCOVERED 216 To require our women to unveil their faces
is only to provide opportunity for men to sin after beholding the beauty of those they are attracted to;
while the ugly will find no one willing to marry them. They cover themselves because they do not want
to be known, just like Christian women: it is an act of modesty to avoid molestation … Our ancient
surnames serve to identify people and preserve lineage. What could be gained by losing these records?
… But the greatest inconvenience of all would be the loss of our Arabic language. How can a language be
taken away from a people, the natural language in which they are reared? The Egyptians, Syrians,
Maltese and other Christian peoples speak, read and write Arabic, yet are Christian like us … Our people
are born and grow up in small communities where Castilian has never been spoken or understood—
except by the priest, curate or sacristan, and even they speak always in Arabic. It will be difficult and
practically impossible for the old to learn Castilian in the years remaining to them, and all the more so in
the [stipulated] brief period of three years, even if they did nothing else but go to school. This is clearly a
measure designed to weaken us … and those who could not sustain such hardship would leave the land
or become brigands … What people in the world are more vile and despicable than the negroes of
Guinea? Yet they are allowed to speak their language, play their instruments and dance, in order to keep
them content. What I have written here is without malice; my intentions are good. I have always served
the Lord our God, the Crown, and the naturals of this kingdom … and for over sixty years I have
negotiated on these matters. May Your Lordship have mercy on us and not desert those who are
powerless. May he undeceive His Majesty, remedy these ills and do what is required of a Christian
gentleman; that God and His Majesty may be served and this kingdom be forever in your debt