Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/417

393 MONASTIC REFORMS. 393 and inexorable hand. He was naturally of an au- chapter stere and arbitrary temper, and the severe training ■ '- — which he had undergone, made him less charitable for the lapses of others ; especially of those, who, like himself, had voluntarily incurred the obligations of monastic rule. He was conscious of the rec- titude of his intentions ; and, as he identified his own interests with those of the church, he regard- ed all opposition to himself as an offence against religion, warranting the most peremptory exertion of power. The clamor raised against his proceedings became visuof me ^ *• ~ Franciscan at length so alarming, that the general of the Fran- s'^""'*'- ciscans, who resided at Rome, determined to anti- ^*^^- cipate the regular period of his visit to Castile for inspecting the affairs of the order. As he was him- self a conventual, his prejudices were of course all enlisted against the measures of reform ; and he came over fully resolved to compel Ximenes to abandon it altogether, or to undermine, if possible, his credit and influence at court. But this func- tionary had neither the talent nor temper requisite for so arduous an undertaking. He had not been long in Castile before he was insuusth. queen. convinced that all his own power, as head of the order, would be incompetent to protect it against the bold innovations of his provincial, while sup- ported by royal authority. He demanded, there- fore, an audience of the queen, in which he de- clared his sentiments with very little reserve. He expressed his astonishment that she should have selected an individual for the highest dignity in the VOL. II. 50