Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/300

156 ACCESSION OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. I'ART arguments and pertinent illustrations drawn from '■ Scripture. This transaction certainly exhibits a degree of disinterestedness, on the part of this body, most unusual in that age and country, as well as a generous confidence in the good faith of Isabella, of which she proved herself worthy by the punctuality with which she redeemed it. ^° Reorganiza- Thus orovidcd with the necessary funds, the lion of the a j ' army. sovcrcigns set about enforcing new levies and bringing them under better discipline, as well as providing for their equipment in a manner more suitable to the exigencies of the service, than was done for the preceding army. The remainder of the summer and the ensuing autumn were con- sumed in these preparations, as well as in placing their fortified towns in a proper posture of defence, and in the reduction of such places as held out against them. The king of Portugal, all this while, lay with his diminished forces in Toro, making a sally on one occasion only, for the relief of his friends, which was frustrated by the sleepless vigilance of Isabella. Early in December, Ferdinand passed from the siege of Burgos, in Old Castile, to Zamora, whose inhabitants expressed a desire to return to their 20 The indignation of Dr. Sala- ii. p. 400. — Rades y Andrada, zar de Mendoza is roused by this Las Tres Ordenes, part. 1, fol. misapplication of the church's 67. — Zurita, Anales, torn. iv. money, which he avers "no neces- fol. 213. — Bernaldez, Reyes Ca- sity whatever could justify." This tolicos, MS., cap. 18, 20.) Zufiiga worthy canon flourished in the gives some additional particulars seventeenth century. (Cron. del respecting the grant of the cortes, Gran Cardenal, ]). 147. — Pulgar, which I do not find verified by any ReycsC'ati)]. |)p. ()0,-(i2. — Faria y contemporary author. Annales de Sousa, Europa Porlugucsa, torn. Sevilla, p. 372.