Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/202

176 176 ILLNESS AND DEATH OF ISABELLA. PART crown, which she settles on the infanta Joanna, as " queen projjrietor," and the archduke Philip as her husband. She gives them much good counsel re- specting their future administration; enjoining them, as thej would secure the love and obedience of their subjects, to conform in all respects to the laws and usages of the realm, to appoint no foreigner to office, — an error, into which Philip's connexions, she saw, would be very likely to betray them, — and to make no laws or ordinances, " which neces- sarily require the consent of cortes," during their absence from the kingdom.^ She recommends to them the same conjugal harmony which had ever subsisted between her and her husband ; she be- seeches them to show the latter all the deference and filial affection " due to him beyond every other parent, for his eminent virtues " ; and finally incul- cates on them the most tender regard for the lib- erties and welfare of their subjects. Ferdinand Shc Hcxt comcs to the great question proposed r.amedre-. s''«- by the cortes of 1503, respecting the government of the realm in the absence or incapacity of Joanna. She declares that, after mature deliberation, and with the advice of many of the prelates and nobles of the kingdom, she appoints King Ferdinand her husband to be the sole regent of Castile, in that ex- igency, until the majority of her grandson Charles ; ^ " Ni fagan fuera de los diclios 343.) an lionoraWc tostimony to mis Rcyiios o ycfiovios, Lcycs e the Icpislative riplits nf the cortes, Premdticas, ni las otras cosas que which contrasts strongly with the en Cortes se devcn hazer sefjiind despotic assumption of preceding las Leyes de ellos ;" (Tostamonto, and succeeding princes, apud Dormer, Discursos ^^arios, p