Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/277

251 FERDINAND VISITS NAPLES. 251 ly pressed by the Neapolitans to visit liis new do- chapter minions, soon after the conquest.^ He now went, — 1— 1_. less, however, in compliance with that request, than to relieve his own mind, by assuring himself of the fidelity of his viceroy, Gonsalvo de Cordova. That illustrious man had not escaped the usual lot of hu- manity ; his brilliant successes had brought on him a full measure of the envy, which seems to wait on merit like its shadow. Even men like Rojas, the Castilian ambassador at Rome, and Prospero Co- lonna, the distinguished Italian commander, con- descended to employ their influence at court to depreciate the Great Captain's services, and raise suspicions of his loyalty. His courteous manners, bountiful largesses, and magnificent style of living were represented as politic arts, to seduce the affec- tions of the soldiery and the people. His services were in the market for the highest bidder. He had received the most splendid offers from the king of France and the pope. He had carried on a cor- respondence with Maximilian and Philip, who would purchase his adhesion, if possible, to the latter, at any price ; and, if he had not hitherto committed himself by any overt act, it seemed probable he was only waiting to be determined in his future course by the result of King Ferdinand's struggle with his son-in-law.^ 8 Summonte, Hist, di Napoli, 5, 11, 17, 27, 31 ; lib. 7, cap. 14. torn. iv. lib. 6, cap. 5. — Buonaccorsi, Diario, p. 123. — 9 Giovio, Vitffl Illust. Virorum, Gonsalvo, in a letter to the king p. 276. — Abarca, Reyes de Ara- dated July 2, 1506, alludes bitterly ffoii, torn. ii. rey 30, cap. 16. — to these unfounded imputations on Zurita, Anales, torn. vi. lib. 6, cap. his honor. Cartas, MS.