Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/459

431 REVIEW OF THEIR ADMINISTRATION. 431 Steadily pursued during the remainder of their chapter reign ; less indeed by open assault than by in- _ direct means. ^ Among these, one of the most effectual was the Depression " _ _ of the nobles omission to summon the privileged orders to cortes, in several of the most important sessions of that body. This, so far from being a new stretch of prerogative, was only an exercise of the anomalous powers already familiar to the crown, as elsewhere noticed.^ Nor does it seem to have been viewed as a grievance by the other party, who regarded these meetings with the more indifference, since their aristocratic immunities exempted them from the taxation, which was generally the prominent object of them. But, from whatever cause proceed- ing, by this impolitic acquiescence they surrendered, undoubtedly, the most valuable of their rights, — one which has enabled the British aristocracy to maintain its political consideration unimpaired, while that of the Castilian has faded away into an empty pageant.^ Another practice steadily pursued by the sove- 2 Among the minor means for policy of the sovereigns occurred diminishing the consequence of the in the cortes of Madrigal, 1476; nobility, may be mentioned the where, notwithstanding the impor- regulation respecting the " privile- tant subjects of legislation, none but gios rodados "; instruments former- the third estate were present. (Ful- ly requiring to be countersigned by gar, Reyes Catolicos, p. 94.) An the great lords and prelates, but equally apposite illustration is af- which, from the time of Ferdinand forded by the care to summon the and Isabella, were submitted for great vassals to the cortes of Tole- signature only to officers especially do, in 1480, when matters nearly appointed for the purpose. Salazar touching them, as the revocation de Mendoza, Dignidades, lib. 2, of their honors and estates, were cap. 12. under discussion, but not till then. 3 Ante, Introd. Sect. 1. Ibid., p. 165. 4 A pertinent example of this