Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/390

246 246 THE INQUISITION. TART discouragement of all free inquiry in its disciples, '- — whom it instructed to rely implicitly in matters of conscience on their spiritual advisers. The artful institution of the tribunal of confession, established with this view, brought, as it were, the whole Christian world at the feet of the clergy, who, far from being always animated by the meek spirit of the Gospel, almost justified the reproach of Vol- taire, that confessors have been the source of most of the violent measures pursued by princes of the Catholic faith. 23 i'^^ influence Isabella's serious temper, as well as early educa- tion, naturally disposed her to religious influences. Notwithstanding the independence exhibited by her in all secular affairs, in her own spiritual concerns she uniformly testified the deepest humility, and de- ferred too implicitly to what she deemed the supe- rior sagacity, or sanctity, of her ghostly counsellors. An instance of this humility may be worth record- ing. When Fray Fernando de Talavera, afterwards archbishop of Granada, who had been appointed con- fessor to the queen, attended her for the first time in that capacity, he continued seated, after she had knelt down to make her confession, which drew from her the remark, " that it was usual for both parties to kneel." " No," replied the priest, " this is God's tribunal ; I act here as his minister, and it is fitting that I should keep my seat, while your Highness kneels before me." Isabella, far from taking umbrage at the ecclesiastic's arrogant de- ^ Essai sur les Moeurs et I'Esprit des Nations, chap. 176.