Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/415

391 MONASTIC REFORMS. 391 were bound. His attempts at reform, however, chapter excited such a lively dissatisfaction in this reverend body, that they determined to send one of their own number to Rome, to prefer their complaints against the archbishop at the papal court. ^^ The person selected for this delicate mission was Example or A las seventy. a shrewd and intelligent canon by the name of Albornoz. It could not be conducted so privately as to escape the knowledge of Ximenes. He was no sooner acquainted with it, than he despatched an officer to the coast, with orders to arrest the emissary. In case he had already embarked, the officer was authorized to fit out a fast sailing vessel, so as to reach Italy, if possible, before him. He was at the same time fortified with despatches from the sovereigns, to the Spanish minister Gar- cilasso de la Vega, to be delivered immediately on his arrival. The affair turned out as had been foreseen. On arriving at the port, the officer found the bird had flown. He followed, however, without delay, and had the good fortune to reach Ostia several days before him. He forwarded his instructions at once to the Spanish minister, who in pursuance of them caused Albornoz to be arrested the moment he set foot on shore, and sent him back as a prisoner of state to Spain ; where a close confinement for two 32 Gomez de Rebus Gestis, fol. city, being especial favorites with 16. the ladies, dwelling- in stately man- The Venetian minister Navagie- sions, passing, in short, the most ro, noticing the condition of the agreeable lives in the world, with- canons of Toledo, some few years out any one to trouble them." later, celebrates them, as " lording Viaggio, fol. 9. it above all others in their own