Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/220

76 CASTILE UNDER HENRY IV. PART into their hands, to be publicly acknowledged ^ , as his successor ; they enumerated the manifold abuses, which pervaded every department of gov- ernment, which they freely imputed to the un- wholesome influence exercised by the favorite, Bel- tran de la Cueva, over the royal counsels, doubtless the true key to much of their patriotic sensibility ; and they entered into a covenant, sanctioned by all the solemnities of religion usual on these occasions, not to reenter the service of their sovereign, or accept any favor from him until he had redressed their wrongs. ^^ The king, who by an efficient policy might per- haps have crushed these revolutionary movements in their birth, was naturally averse to violent, or even vigorous measures. He replied to the bishop of Cuen9a, his ancient preceptor, who recommend- ed these measures ; " You priests, who are not called to engage in the fight, are very liberal of the blood of others." To which the prelate rejoined, with more warmth than breeding, " Since you are not true to your own honor, at a time like this, I shall live to see you the most degraded monarch in Spain ; when you will repent too late this unsea- sonable pusillanimity." '^ Henry, unmoved either by the entreaties or re- monstrances of his adherents, resorted to the milder 14 See the memorial presented Gestarnm Decades, (apud Grana- to the king, cited at length in tam, 1545,) lib. l,cap. 1, 2.— Alon- Marina, Teorla, torn. iii. Apend.no. so dePalencia, Cor6nica, MS., part. 7. — Castillo, Cr6nica, cap. 58, 64. 1, cap. 6.— Bernaldez, Reyes Cat6- — Zurita, Anales, lib. 17, cap. 56. licos, MS., cap. 9. — Lebrija,HispanariimRerumrer- is Castillo, Cronica, cap. 65. dinando Rege et Elisabe Rcgini