General ledger of Simón Ruiz

Since the first quarter of the 16th century there has been an obligation in Spain to keep and record the accounts in books, writing down the operations in double entry: the 'must' and the 'has to be'.

Alonso de Betolaza and Lucas de Zárate, neighbours from Seville, appear as debtors of Simón Ruiz under the account of Pedro de Tamayo, also a neighbour in Seville, who at that time had interests in the sugar business in the West Indies and a partner on the island of Hispaniola. The maravedís paid by Betolaza on account in May 1559 correspond to a ‘loan’ or compensation on account that Simón Ruiz made by means of payment of the previous Bill of Exchange.