Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/465

437 REVIEW OF THEIR ADMINISTRATION. 1.37 morals of the clergy, inculcating on the higher ciuptkr XXVI prelates to hold frequent pastoral communication with their suffragans, and to report to her such as were delinquent.^^ By these vigilant measures, she succeeded in restoring the ancient discipline of the church, and weeding out the sensuality and in- dolence, which had so long defiled it ; while she had the inexpressible satisfaction to see the princi- pal places, long before her death, occupied by prel- ates, whose learning and religious principle gave the best assurance of the stability of the reforma- tion.^^ Few of the Castilian monarchs have been brought more frequently into collision, or pursued a bolder policy, with the court of Rome. Still fewer have extorted from it such important graces and concessions ; a circumstance, which can only be imputed, says a Castilian writer, " to singular good fortune and consummate prudence ";^° to that deep conviction of the queen's integrity, we may also add, which disarmed resistance, even in her en- emies. The condition of the commons under this reign state of ti.o c commons. was probably, on the whole, more prosperous than 18 Riol, Informe, apud Semana- se puede alcanzar, en la Iglesia de tio Erudito, torn. iii. p. 94. — L. Dios." Quincuag-enas, MS., dial. Marineo, Cosas Memorables, fol. de Talavera. — Col. de Cedulas, 182. torn. i. p. 440. 19 Oviedo bears emphatic testi- 20 " Lo que debe admirar es, que mony to this. " En nuestros tiem- en el tiempo mismo que se conten- pos ha habido en Espafia de nues- dia con tanto ardor, obtuvieron los tra Nacion grandes varones Letra- Reyes de la santa Sede mas gracias dos, exc-elentes Perlados y Religi- y privilegios que ninguno de sus osos y personas que por sus habili- sucesores ; prueba de su felicidad, dades y sciencias ban subido a las y de su prudentisima conducta." mas altas dignidades de Capelos 6 Riol, Informe, apud Semanario de Arzobispados y todo lo que mas Erudito, torn. iii. p. 95.