Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/281

137 DEATH OF HENRY IV. 137 The character of Henry the Fourth has been ciurTER sufficiently delineated in that of his reign. He '- — •^ _ _ _ _ _ ° Influence of was not without certain amiable qualities, and may his reign. be considered as a weak, rather than a wicked prince. In persons, however, intrusted with the degree of power exercised by sovereigns of even the most limited monarchies of this period, a weak man may be deemed more mischievous to the state over which he presides than a wicked one. The latter, feeling himself responsible in the eyes of the nation for his actions, is more likely to consult ap- pearances, and, where his own passions or interests are not immediately involved, to legislate with ref- erence to the general interests of his subjects. The former, on the contrary, is too often a mere tool writings, are his " Chronicle of Henry IV.," and his Latin "De- cades," continuing the reign of Is- abella down to the capture of Ba- za, in 1489. His historical style, far from scholastic pedantry, exhibits the business-like manner of a man of the world. His Chronicle, which, being composed in the Castilian, was probably intended for popular use, is conducted with little arti- fice, and indeed with a prolixity and minuteness of detail, arising no doubt from the deep interest which as an actor he took in the scenes he describes. His senti- ments are expressed with boldness, and sometimes with the acerbity of party feeling. He has been much commended by the best Spanish writers, such as Zurita, Zufiiga, Marina, Clemencin, for his veracity. The internal evi- dence of this is sufficiently strong in his delineation of those scenes in which he was personally en- gaged ; in his account of others, it will not be difficult to find exam- VOL. I 18 pies of negligence and inaccuracy. His Latin " Decades" were prob- ably composed with more care, as addressed to a learned class of readers ; and they are lauded by Nic. Antonio as an elegant com- mentary, wortliy to be assiduously studied by all who would acquaint themselves with the history of their country. The art of printing has done less perhaps for Spain than for any other country in Eu- rope ; and these two valuable histo- ries are still permitted to swell the rich treasure of manuscripts with which her libraries are overloaded. Enriquez del Castillo, a native Notice of of Segovia, was the chaplain and Enriquez deJ historiographer of King Henry IV., ^*""""- and a member of his privy coun- cil. His situation not only made him acquainted with the policy and intrigues of the court, but with the personal feelings of the mon- arch, who reposed entire confidence in him, which Castillo repaid with uniform loyalty. He appears very early to have commenced his