Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/438

410 410 REGENCY OF XIMENES. PART the trials before that tribunal to be conducted in '- — the same manner as in other courts, where the accuser and the evidence were confronted openly with the defendant. To this reasonable petition Ximenes objected, on the wretched plea, that, in that event, none would be found willing to under- take the odious business of informer. He backed his remonstrance with such a liberal donative from his own funds, as supplied the king's immediate exigency, and effectually closed his heart against the petitioners. The application was renewed in 1516, by the unfortunate Israelites, who offered a liberal supply in like manner to Charles, on similar terms. But the proposal, to w^hich his Flemish counsellors, who may be excused, at least, from the reproach of bigotry, would have inclined the young monarch, was finally rejected through the interposi- tion of Ximenes. ^^ Assumes the The hiffh-handed measures of the minister, while sole power, " 15 17. they disgusted the aristocracy, gave great umbrage to the dean of Louvain, who saw himself reduced to a mere cipher in the administration. In conse- quence of his representations a second, and after- wards a third minister was sent to Castile, with authority to divide the government with the car- dinal. But all this was of little avail. On one occasion, the co-regents ventured to rebuke their haughty partner, and assert their own dignity, by subscribing their names first to the despatches, and 13 Paramo, De Origine Inqiiisi- chap. 11, art. 1. — Gomez, De Re- tionis, Eb. 2, tit. 2, cap. 5. — LIo- bus Gestis, fol. 184, 185. rente. Hist, de I'lnquisition, torn. i.