Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/273

247 FERDINAND VISITS NAPLES. 247 of Toledo, and some of the principal nobilitj. But chapter the thing was distasteful to the commons, who ! could not brook such an indignity to their own " natural sovereign " ; and they were so stanchly supported by the admiral Enriquez, a grandee of the highest authority from his connexion with the crown, that Philip was at length induced to aban- don his purpose, and to content himself with an act of recognition similar to that made at Toro.^ No notice whatever was taken of the Catholic king, or of his recent arrangement transferring the regency 150 6. to Philip. The usual oaths of allegiance were ten- ■'"'y*^. dered to Joanna as queen and lady proprietor of the kingdom, and to Philip as her husband, and finally to their eldest son, prince Charles, as heir apparent and lawful successor on the demise of his mother.^ By the tenor of these acts the royal authori- riinip's ar- •^ •' bitrary gov- ty would seem to be virtually vested in Joanna. "'™«"'- From this moment, however, Philip assumed the government into his own hands. The effects were soon visible in the thorough revolution introduced into every department. Old incumbents in office were ejected without ceremony, to make way for new favorites. The Flemings, in particular, were placed in every considerable post, and the principal 1 Marina tells an anecdote too ii. lib. 28, cap. 22. — Zurita, Ana- lonsr for insertion here, in relation les, torn. vi. lib. 7, cap. II. — to this cortes, showing the sturdy Abarca, Reyes de Aragon, torn. ii. stuff of which a Castilian common- rey 30, cap. 15. er in that day was made. (Teoria, Joanna on this occasion was care- part. 2, cap. 7.) It will scarcely ful to inspect the pow?rs of the gain credit without a belter vouch- deputies herself, to see they were er than the anonymous scribbler all regularly authenticated. Sin- from whom he has borrowed it. gular astuteness for a mad womari.' 2 Mariana, Hist, de EspaHa, torn.