Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/270

126 126 TROUBLES IN CASTILE AND ARAGON. PART reach under the rapacious and profligate ministers '. — who directed the councils of Henry, and most probably would continue to direct those of his daughter. Among the persons whose opinions experienced a decided revolution from these considerations, was Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza, archbishop of Seville and cardinal of Spain ; a prelate, whose lofty sta- tion in the church was supported by talents of the highest order ; and whose restless ambition led him, like many of the churchmen of the time, to take an active interest in politics, for which he was admirably adapted by his knowledge of affairs and discernment of character. Without deserting his former master, he privately entered into a corre- spondence with Isabella ; and a service, which Ferdinand, on his return from Aragon, had an op- portunity of rendering the duke of Infantado, the head of the Mendozas,'^ secured the attachment of the other members of this powerful famil3^° Interview A circumstance occurred at this time, which seem- "rri"7»ailiiu cd to promise an accommodation between the ad- '^'""* verse factions, or at least between Henry and his sister. The government of Segovia, whose impreg- nable citadel had been made the depository of the W Oviedo assigns another reason cap. 163. The influence of for this change ; the disgust occa- these new allies, especially of the sioned by Henry IV. 's transferring cardinal, over Isabella's councils, the custody of his daughter from was an additional ground of um- the family of Mendoza to the brage to the archbishop of Tole- Pachecos. Quincuagcnas, MS., do, who, in a communication with bat. 1, quinc. i, dial. 8. the king of Aragon, declared him- 20 Salazar do Mendoza, Cr6n. del self, though friendly to their cause, Gran Cardenal,p. 133.— Alonso de to be released from all further ob- Palencia, Corouica, MS., part. 2, ligations to serve it. See Zuriia, cap. -16, 92. — Castillo, Cr6nica, Analos, torn. iv. lib. 40, cap. I'J