Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/201

MINORITY OF FERDINAND. 57 himself master of all the rich district of Ampurdan, chapter II. northeast of Barcelona. In the capital itself, his . ^.- truly princely qualities and his popular address secured him the most unbounded influence. Such was the enthusiasm for his person, that, when he rode abroad, the people thronged around him em- bracing his knees, the trappings of his steed, and even the animal himself, in their extravagance ; while the ladies, it is said, pawned their rings, necklaces, and other ornaments of their attire, in order to defray the expenses of the war.^^ Kins: John, in the mean while, was draining- the ceauiof the O ' ' o queen of cup of bitterness to the dregs. In the winter of ^"^"g""- 1468, his queen, Joan Henriquez, fell a victim to a painful disorder, which had been secretly corrod- ing her constitution for a number of years. In many respects, she was the most remarkable woman of her time. She took an active part in the politics of her husband, and may be even said to have given them a direction. She conducted several important diplomatic negotiations to a happy issue, and, what was more uncommon in her sex, displayed con- siderable capacity for military affairs. Her perse- cution of her step-son, Carlos, has left a deep stain on her memory. It was the cause of all her hus- band's subsequent misfortunes. Her invincible spirit, however, and the resources of her genius, supplied him with the best means of surmounting many of the difficulties in which she had involved 47 Villeneuve Bargemont, Hist. Anales, torn. iv. fol. 153-164. — de Rene, torn. ii. pp. 182, 183. Abarca, Reyes de Aragon, torn. L. Marineo, fol. 140. — Zurita, ii. rey 29, cap. 7. VOL. I. 8