PART II. Disputes respecting CHAPTER XXV. ADMINISTRATION, DEATH, AND CHARACTER, OF CARDINAL XIMENES. 1516, 1517. Ximenes Governor of Castile. Charles proclaimed King.-Ximenes's - THE personal history of Ferdinand the Catholic, terminates, of course, with the preceding chapter. In order to bring the history of his reign, however, to a suitable close, it is necessary to continue the narrative through the brief regency of Ximenes, to the period when the government was delivered into the hands of Ferdinand's grandson and successor, Charles the Fifth. By the testament of the deceased monarch, as the regency. we have seen, Cardinal Ximenez de Cisneros was appointed sole regent of Castile. He met with opposition, however, from Adrian, the dean of Louvain, who produced powers of similar purport from Prince Charles. Neither party could boast a sufficient warrant for exercising this important trust; the one claiming it by the appointment of an individual, who, acting merely as regent himself, had XXV. certainly no right to name his successor; while the CHAPTER other had only the sanction of a prince, who, at the time of giving it, had no jurisdiction whatever in Castile. The misunderstanding which ensued, was finally settled by an agreement of the parties to share the authority in common, till further instructions should be received from Charles.1 It was not long before they arrived. They confirmed the cardinal's authority in the fullest manner; while they spoke of Adrian only as an ambassador. They intimated, however, the most entire confidence in the latter; and the two prelates continued as before to administer the government jointly. Ximenes sacrificed nothing by this arrangement; for the tame and quiet temper of Adrian was too much overawed by the bold genius of his partner, to raise any opposition to his measures.* The first requisition of prince Charles, was one that taxed severely the power and popularity of the new regent. This was to have himself proclaimed king; a measure extremely distasteful to the Castilians, who regarded it not only as contrary to established usage, during the lifetime of his mother, but as an indignity to her. It was in vain that Ximenes and the council remonstrated on the impropriety and impolicy of the measure. Charles, fortified 3 Principe." He did not venture on 3 The letter of the council is 1516. Feb. 14. Charles pro claimed king. PART II. by his Flemish advisers, sturdily persisted in his XXV. Anecdote of The Castilian aristocracy, it may be believed, CHAPTER did not much relish the new yoke imposed on them by their priestly regent. On one occasion, it is Ximenes. said, they went in a body and demanded of Ximenes by what powers he held the government so absolutely. He referred them for answer to Ferdinand's testament and Charles's letter. As they objected to these, he led them to a window of the apartment, and showed them a park of artillery below, exclaiming, at the same time, "There are my credentials, then!" The story is characteristic; but, though often repeated, must be admitted to stand on slender authority." ordinance. One of the regent's first acts was the famous His military ordinance, encouraging the burgesses, by liberal rewards, to enroll themselves into companies, and submit to regular military training, at stated seasons. The nobles saw the operation of this measure too well, not to use all their efforts to counteract it. In this they succeeded for a time, as the cardinal, with his usual boldness, had ventured on it without waiting for Charles's sanction, and in opposition to most of the council. The resolute spirit of the minister, however, eventually triumphed PART II. His domestic policy. His foreign policy. 1516. March 25. over all resistance, and a national corps was organized, competent, under proper guidance, to protect the liberties of the people, but which unfortunately was ultimately destined to be turned against them.8 Armed with this strong physical force, the cardinal now projected the boldest schemes of reform, especially in the finances, which had fallen into some disorder in the latter days of Ferdinand. He made a strict inquisition into the funds of the military orders, in which there had been much waste and misappropriation; he suppressed all superfluous offices in the state, retrenched excessive salaries, and cut short the pensions granted by Ferdinand and Isabella, which he contended should determine with their lives. Unfortunately, the state was not materially benefited by these economical arrangements, since the greater part of what was thus saved was drawn off to supply the waste and cupidity of the Flemish court, who dealt with Spain with all the merciless rapacity that could be shown to a conquered province.9 The foreign administration of the regent displayed the same courage and vigor. Arsenals were established in the southern maritime towns, and a numerous fleet was equipped in the Mediterranean, against the Barbary corsairs. A large force was sent into Navarre, which defeated an invading army 8 Carbajal, Anales, MS., año 1516, cap. 13.-Quintanilla, Arche typo, lib. 4, cap. 5. Sempere, Hist. des Cortès, chap. 25. Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 159. Oviedo, Quincuagenas, MS. 9 Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 174 et seq. Robles, Vida de Ximenez, cap. 18.-Carbajal, Anales, MS., año 1516, cap. 13. |