Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/421

397 MONASTIC REFORMS. 397 The beneficial changes wrought in this latter chapter particular, which Isabella had far more at heart than anj exterior forms of discipline, are the theme of unqualified panegyric with her contemporaries.^^ The Spanish clergy, as I have before had occasion to remark, were early noted for their dissolute way of life, which, to a certain extent, seemed to be countenanced by the law itself. ^° This laxity of morals was carried to a most lamentable extent under the last reign, when all orders of ecclesias- tics, whether regular or secular, infected probably by the corrupt example of the court, are repre- sented (we may hope it is an exaggeration) as wallowing in all the excesses of sloth and sensual- ity. So deplorable a pollution of the very sanctu- aries of religion could not fail to occasion sincere regret to a pure and virtuous mind like Isabella's. The stain had sunk too deep, however, to be read- ily purged away. Her personal example, indeed, and the scrupulous integrity with which she re- served all ecclesiastical preferment for persons of unblemished piety, contributed greatly to bring about an amelioration in the morals of the secular clergy. But the secluded inmates of the cloister ^^ L. Marineo, Cosas Memora- nas, as they were called, was at bles, fol. 165. — Bernaldez, Reyes length so intolerable as to call for Catolicos, MS., cap. 201. — et al. repeated laws, regfulating- their ap- 40 The practice of concubinage parel, and prescribing a badge for by the clergy was fully recognised, distinguishing them from honest and the ancient fueros of Castile women. (Sempere, Hist, del Lu- permitted their issue to inherit the xo, tom. i. pp. 165-169.) Spain estates of such parents as died is probably the only country in intestate. (See Marina, Ensayo Christendom, where concubinage Historico-Critico sobre la Antigua was ever sanctioned by law ; a cir- Legislacion de Castilla, (Madrid, cumstance doubtless imputable, in 1808,) p. 184.) The effrontery of some measure, to the influence of these legalized strumpets, barraga- the Mahometans.