Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/169

BIRTH OF ISABELLA. 25 spark of latent afifection for his ancient favorite chapter lurked within his breast. John, yet fearing the — — — overgrown power of the constable too much to encounter him openly, condescended to adopt the dastardly policy of Tiberius on a similar occasion, by caressing the man whom he designed to ruin ; and he eventually obtained possession of his person, only by a violation of the royal safe-conduct. The constable's trial was referred to a commission of jurists and privy counsellors, who, after a summary and informal investigation, pronounced on him the sentence of death on a specification of charges either general and indeterminate, or of the most trivial import. " If the king," says Garibay, " had dispensed similar justice to all his nobles, who equally deserved it in those turbulent times, he would have had but few to reign over."^^ The constable had supported his disgrace, from His death-. the first, with an equanimity not to have been expected from his elation in prosperity ; and he now received the tidings of his fate with a similar fortitude. As he rode along the streets to the place of execution, clad in the sable livery of an ordinary criminal, and deserted by those who had been reared by his bounty, the populace, who before called so loudly for his disgrace, struck with this astonishing reverse of his brilliant fortunes, were melted into tears. ^^ They called to mind the 38 Cronica de Alvaro de Luna, las Chronicas de EspaHa, (Barce- tit. 128. — Cronica de JuanIL, pp. lona, 1628,) torn. ii. p. 493. 457,460,572. — Abarca, Reyes de 39 Cronica de Alvaro de Luna, Arao-on, torn. ii. fol. 227,228. — tit. 128. — Wiiat a contrast to all Garibay, Compendio Historial de this is afforded by the vivid txor- VOL. I. 4