Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/299

WAR OF THE SUCCESSION. 156 a more efficient footing. To accomplish this object, chapter an additional supply of funds became necessary, '. — since the treasure of King Henry, delivered into their hands by Andres de Cabrera, at Segovia, had been exhausted by the preceding operations. ^^ The old king of Aragon advised them to imitate their ancestor Henry the Second, of glorious memory, by making liberal grants and alienations in favor of their subjects, which they might, when more firmly seated on the throne, resume at pleasure. Isabel- la, however, chose rather to trust to the patriotism of her people, than have recourse to so unworthy a stratagem. She accordingly convened an assembly 1475 of the states, in the month of August, at Medina del Campo. As the nation had been too far im- poverished under the late reign to admit of fresh exactions, a most extraordinary expedient was de- vised for meeting the stipulated requisitions. It was proposed to deliver into the royal treasury half ^ppropna-^ the amount of plate belonging to the churches p^^te*! throughout the kingdom, to be redeemed in the term of three years, for the sum of thirty cuentos, or millions, of maravedies. The clergy, who were very generally attached to Isabella's interests, far from discouraging this startling proposal, endeav- oured to vanquish the queen's repugnance to it, by 19 The royal cofFcrs were found govia. She subsequently gave a to contain about 10,000 marks of more solid testimony of her grati- silver. (Pulgar, ReyesCatol. p. 54.) tude, by raising hira to the rank Isabella presented Cabrera with of marquis of Moya, with the a golden goblet from her table, grant of an estate suitable to his engaging that a similar present new dignity. — Oviedo, Quincua- should be regularly made to him genas, MS., bat. 1, quinc. 1, dial, and his successors on the anni- 23. versary of his surrender of Se-