Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/395

371 MONASTIC REFORMS. 371 amours with two ladies of rank, from whom some chapter of the best houses in the kingdom are descended. ^ '- — A characteristic anecdote is recorded of him in 1 elation to this matter. An ecclesiastic, who one day delivered a discourse in his presence, took oc- casion to advert to the laxity of the age, in general terms, indeed, but bearing too pertinent an applica- tion to the cardinal to be mistaken. The attend- ants of the latter boiled with indignation at the preacher's freedom, whom they determined to chas- tise for his presumption. They prudently, howev- er, postponed this until they should see what effect the discourse had on their master. The cardinal, far from betraying any resentment, took no other notice of the preacher than to send him a dish of choice game, which had been served up at his own table, where he was entertaining a party of friends that day, accompanying it at the same time, by way of sauce, with a substantial donative of gold doblas ; an act of Christian charity not at all to the taste of his own servants. It wrought its effects on the worthy divine, who at once saw the error of his ways, and, the next time he mounted the pulpit, took care to frame his discourse in such a manner as to counteract the former unfavorable impressions, to the entire satisfaction, if not edification of his audience. " Now-a-days," says the honest biog- rapher who reports the incident, himself a lineal descendant of the cardinal, " the preacher would 4 "Gran varon, y muy experi- vida, tavo tres hijos varones," &c. mentado y prudente en negocios," Then follows a full notice of this saysOviedo of the cardinal, ^' pero graceless progeny. Quincuagenas, (i vueltas de las negociaciones desta MS., bat. 1, quinc. 1, dial. 8.