Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/296

270 270 FERDINANDS RETURN AND REGENCY. PART These mad pranks, savouring of absolute idiocy, '- — were occasionally chequered by other acts of more her mini °- intelligence, but not less startling. She had early shown a disgust to her father's old counsellors, and especially to Ximenes, who, she thought, interfered too authoritatively in her domestic concerns. Be- fore leaving Burgos, however, she electrified her husband's adherents, by revoking all grants made by the crown since Isabella's death. This, almost the only act she was ever known to sign, was a severe blow to the courtly tribe of sycophants, on whom the golden favors of the late reign had been so prodigally showered. At the same time she re- formed her privy council, by dismissing the present members, and reinstating those appointed by her royal mother, sarcastically telling one of the ejected counsellors, that " he might go and complete his studies at Salamanca." The remark had a biting edge to it, as the worthy Jurist was reputed some- what low in his scholarship.^ These partial gleams of intelligence, directed in this peculiar way too, led many to discern the secret influence of her father. She still, however, perti- been dead fourteen years. As were compelled fo make on the Philip was disembowelled, he was occasion. It is impossible to read hardly in a condition for such an his Jeremiads on the subject with- auspicious event. Thcqueen, bow- out a smile. See, in particular, ever, seems to have been caught his whimsical epistle to his old with the idea. (Opus Epist., epist. friend, the archbishop of Granada. 328.) Martyr loses all patience at Opus Epist., epist. 333. the inventions of this " blactero '' Mariana, Hist, de Espana, cucullatus," as iio calls liim in bis tom. ii. lib. 2i), cap. 3. — Zurita, abominal)le Latin, as W(>11 as at tiie Anales, tom. vi. lib. 7. cap. 26, mad pranks of tiic (iiiccii, and the 38, 54. — Gomez, De Rebus Ges- ridiculous figure wbicli he and the tis, fol. 72. — Sandoval, Hist, del other grave personages of the court Emp. Carlos V., tom. i. p. 11 i