Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/155

BIRTH OF ISABELLA. 1 J included within its geographical limits. ^" The priv- chapter ilege of a voice in cortes, as it was called, came at ' — length to be prized so highly by the favored cities, that when, in 1506, some of those which were excluded solicited the restitution of their ancient rights, their petition was opposed by the former on the impudent pretence, that " the right of depu- tation had been reserved by ancient law and usage to only eighteen cities of the realm." " In this short-sighted and most unhappy policy, we see the operation of those local jealousies and estrange- ments, to which we have alluded in the Introduction. But, although the cortes, thus reduced in numbers, necessarily lost much of its weight, it still main- tained a bold front against the usurpations of the crown. It does not appear, indeed, that any attempt was made under John the Second, or his successor, to corrupt its members, or to control the freedom of debate ; although such a proceeding is not improbable, as altogether conformable to their ordinary policy, and as the natural result of their preliminary measures. But, however true the dep- itsconse- uties continued to themselves and to those who sent them, it is evident that so limited and partial a selection no longer afforded a representation of the interests of the whole country. Their neces- sarily imperfect acquaintance with the principles or even wishes of their widely scattered constituents, in an age when knowledge was not circulated on the thousand wings of the press, as in our day, 10 Capmany, Practica y Esti- des Cortes d'Espagne, chap. 19. lo p. 230. — Sempere, Histoire l^ Marina, Teoria, torn. i. p 161. quences.