Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/436

408 408 REGENCY OF XIMENES. PART II. His domes- tic policy. His foreign policy. 1516. Marcli 25. over all resistance, and a national corps was organ- ized, competent, under proper guidance, to protect the liberties of the people, but which unfortunately was ultimately destined to be turned against them.^ Armed with this strong physical force, the cardi- nal now projected the boldest schemes of reform, especially in the finances, which had fallen into some disorder in the latter days of Ferdinand. He made a strict inquisition into the funds of the mili- tary orders, in which there had been much waste and misappropriation ; he suppressed all superfluous offices in the state, retrenched excessive salaries, and cut short the pensions granted by Ferdinand and Isabella, which he contended should determine with their lives. Unfortunately, the state was not materially benefited by these economical arrange- ments, since the greater part of what was thus saved was drawn off to supply the waste and cu- pidity of the Flemish court, who dealt with Spain with all the merciless rapacity that could be shown to a conquered province.^ The foreign administration of the regent dis- played the same courage and vigor. Arsenals were established in the southern maritime towns, and a numerous fleet was equipped in the Mediterranean, against the Barbary corsairs. A large force was sent into Navarre, which defeated an invading army 8 Carbajal, Anales, MS., aHo 9 Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 1516, cap. 13.— Quiiitanilla, Arche- 174 et seq. — Robles, Yida de Xi- typo, lib. 4, cap. 5.— Sempere, menez, cap. 18. — Carbajal, Anales, Hist, des Cortes, cbap. 25. — Go- MS., afio 1516, cap. 13. mez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 159. — Oviedo, Quincuagenas, MS.