Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/320

294 294 FERDINAND'S RETURN AND REGENCY. I'ART south, chieflj at Loja, with an occasional residence in Granada, where he enjoyed the society of his Splendor of. ... /» rri his retire- old friend and military instructer, the count of Ten- dilla. He found abundant occupation in schemes for improving the condition of his tenantry, and of the neighbouring districts. He took great interest in the fate of the unfortunate Moriscoes, numerous in this quarter, whom he shielded as far as possible from the merciless grasp of the Inquisition, while he supplied teachers and other enlightened means for converting them, or confirming them in a pure faith. He displayed the same magnificence and profuse hospitality in his living that he had al- ways done. His house was visited by such in- telligent foreigners as came to Spain, and by the most distinguished of his countrymen, especially the younger nobility and cavaliers, who resorted to it, as the best school of high-bred and knightly courtesy. He showed a lively curiosity in all that was going on abroad, keeping up his information by an extensive correspondence with agents, whom he regularly employed for the purpose in the prin- cipal European courts. When the league of Cam- bray was adjusted, the king of France and the pope were desirous of giving him the command of the allied armies. But Ferdinand had injured him too sensibly, to care to see him again at the head of a military force in Italy. He was as little de- sirous of employing him in public affairs at home, and suffered the remainder of his days to pass away in distant seclusion ; a seclusion, however, not unpleasing to himself, nor unprofitable to oth-