Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/195

General re- volt in Cata- lonia. MINORITY OF FERDINAND. 5 J would baffle every attempt on the part of the chapter French to occupy it permanently. ^^ '. — In pursuance of these arrangements, seven hun- dred French lances v^^ith a considerable body of archers and artillery ^^ crossed the mountains, and, rapidly advancing on Gerona, compelled the insur- gent army to raise the siege, and to decamp with such precipitation as to leave their cannon in the hands of the royalists. The Catalans now threw aside the thin veil, with which they had hitherto covered their proceedings. The authorities of the principality, established in Barcelona, publicly re- nounced their allegiance to King John and his son Ferdinand, and proclaimed them enemies of the republic. Writings at the same time were circu- lated, denouncing from Scriptural authority, as well as natural reason, the doctrine of legitimacy in the broadest terms, and insisting that the Aragonese monarchs, far from being absolute, might be law- fully deposed for an infringement of the liberties of the nation. " The good of the commonwealth," it was said, " must always be considered paramount 36 Zurita, Anales, torn. iv. fol. I'Histoire de France, (Paris, 1836,) 111. — Another 100,000 crowns torn. xi. Introd. p. 245. were to be paid in case further 37 A French lance, it may be assistance should be required from stated, of that day, according to L. the French monarch after the re- Marineo, was accompanied by two duction of Barcelona. This treaty horsemen ; so that the whole con- has been incorrectly reported by tingent of cavalry to be furnished most of the French and all the on this occasion amounted to 2100. Spanish historians whom I have (Cosas Memorables, fol. 117.) consulted, save the accurate Zuri- Nothing could be more indetermi- ta. An abstract from the original nate than the complement of a documents, compiled by the Abbe lance in the Middle Ages. It is Legrand, has been given by M. not unusual to find it reckoned at Fetitot in liis recent edition of the five or six horsemen. Collection des Memoires relatifs k