Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/236

210 210 THE REGENCY OF FERDINAND. PART II. Philip's pre- tensions. of Maximilian. This nobleman, descended from one of the most illustrious houses in Castile, was a person of uncommon parts ; restless and intriguing, plausible in his address, bold in his plans, but ex- ceedingly cautious, and even cunning, in the execu- tion of them. He had formerly insinuated him- self into Philip's confidence, during his visit to Spain, and, on receiving news of the queen's death, hastened without delay to join him in the Nelh- erlands. Through his means, an extensive correspondence was soon opened with the discontented Castilian lords ; and Philip was persuaded, not only to assert his pretensions to undivided supremacy in Castile, but to send a letter to his royal father-in-law, re- quiring him to resign the government at once, and retire into Aragon.'° The demand was treated with some contempt by Ferdinand, who adrnon- 10 "Nor was it sufficient," says Dr. Robertson, in alUision to Pliil- ip's pretensions to the fjovernment, " to oppose to these just rigiits, and to the inclination of the people of Castile, the authority of a testa- ment, the gemiincncss of xchich u-as perJwps (lovbtful, and its contents to him appeared certainly to he iniqui- tous." (History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V., (London, 1700,) vol. ii. p. 7.) But who ever intimated a doubt of its genuine- ness, before Dr. Robertson ? Cer- tainly no one living at that time ; for the will was produced before cortes, by tiic royal secretary, in the session immediately following the queen's death ; and Zuiita has pre- served the address of that body, commenting on the part of its con- tents relating to the succession. (Anales, torn. vi. cap. 4.) Dr. Carbaja], a member of the royal council, and who was present, as he expressly declares, at the approval of the testament, " a cuyo otorga- miento y aun ordcnacion me ha- lle," has transcribed the whole of the document in his Annals, with the signatures of the notary and the seven distinguished jicrsons who witnessed its execution. Dor- mer, the national liistoriographer of Aragon, has published the in- strument, with the same minuteness in his " Discursos Varios," " from authentic MSS. in his possession," " cscrituras autenticas en mi po- der." Where the original is now to be found, or whether it be in ex- istence, I have no knowledge. The codicil, as we have seen, with the queen's signature, is still extant ia the Royal Library at Madrid.