Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/88

Ixx INTRODUCTION. iNTROD. and populous towns, besides a great number of in- ferior places. ^° These princely funds, when intrusted to pious prelates, were munificently dispensed in useful pub- lic works, and especially in the foundation of elee- mosynary institutions, with which every great city in Castile was liberally supplied. ^^ But, in the hands of worldly men, they were perverted from these noble uses to the gratification of personal vanity, or the disorganizing schemes of faction. The moral perceptions of the people, in the mean time, were confused by the visible demeanor of a hierarchy, so repugnant to the natural conceptions of religious duty. They learned to attach an ex- clusive value to external rites, to the forms rather than the spirit of Christianity ; estimating the piety of men by their speculative opinions, rather than their practical conduct. — The ancient Spaniards, notwithstanding their prevalent superstition, were untinctured with the fiercer religious bigotry of later times ; and the uncharitable temper of their priests, occasionally disclosed in the heats of reli- 80 Navagiero, Viaggio, fol. 9. — clergy of the diocese, at one third L. Marineo, Cosas Memorables, of the above sum, only ; (p. 217, fol. 12.— Laborde reckons the rev- Boston ed. 1829;) an estimate con- enues of this prelate, in his tables, firmed by Mr. Inglis, w ho com- at 12,000,000 reals, or 600,000 dol- putes ihem at jC40,000. Spain in lars. (Itineraire, torn. vi. p. 9.) 1830, vol. i. cli. 11. The estimate is grossly exagger- ^i Modern travellers, who con- ated for the present day. The demn without reserve the corrup- rents of this see, like those of eve- tion of the inferior clergy, bear ry other in the kingdom, have been uniform testimony to the cxempla- grievously clipjied in the latepoliti- ry piety and munificent charities cal troubles. They are stated by of the higher dignitaries of the the intelligent author of " A Year church, in Spain," on the authority of the