Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/433

405 DEATH AND CHARACTER OF XIMENES. 405 certainly no right to name his successor ; while the chapter . . XXV. other had only the sanction of a prince, who, at '— the time of giving it, had no jurisdiction whatever in Castile. The misunderstanding which ensued, was finally settled by an agreement of the parties to share the authority in common, till further in- structions should be received from Charles.^ It was not long before they arrived. They con- isie. firmed the cardinal's authority in the fullest man- *" ' / ner ; while they spoke of Adrian only as an ambas- sador. They intimated, however, the most entire confidence in the latter ; and the two prelates con- tinued as before to administer the government joint- ly. Ximenes sacrificed nothing by this arrange- ment ; for the tame and quiet temper of Adrian was too much overawed by the bold genius of his part- ner, to raise any opposition to his measures.^ The first requisition of prince Charles, was one chanes pro- '■ ^ claimed that taj^ed severely the power and popularity of the ^"s- new regent. This was to have himself proclaimed king ; a measure extremely distasteful to the Cas- tilians, who regarded it not only as contrary to estab- lished usage, during the lifetime of his mother, but as an indignity to her. It was in vain that Ximenes and the council remonstrated on the impropriety and impolicy of the measure. ^ Charles, fortified 1 Carbajal, Anales, MS., aHo Principe." He did not venture on 1516, cap. 8. — Robles, Vida de the title of king in his correspon- Ximenez, cap. 18. — Gomez, De dence with the Castilians, though Rebus Gestis, fol. 150. — Quinta- he affected it abroad. Anales, nilla, Archetypo, lib. 4, cap. 5. — RIS., aiio 1516, cap. 10. Oviedo, Quincuagenas, MS., dial. ^ The letter of the council is de Ximeni. dated March 14th, 1516. It is re- 2 Carbajal has given us Charles's corded by Carbajal, Anales, MS., epistle, which is subscribed " El ailo 1516, cap. 10.