I MONASTIC REFORMS. 385 into these ancient institutions, and had employed chapter commissioners for investigating and reforming them, '- — but ineffectually. Isabella now gladly availed her- self of the assistance of her confessor, in bringing them into a better state of discipline. In the course of the same year, 1494, she obtained a bull with full authority for this purpose from Alexander the Sixth, the execution of which she intrusted to Xim- enes. The work of reform required all the energies of his powerful mind, backed by the royal authority. For, in addition to the obvious difficulty of per- suading men to resign the good things of this world for a life of penance and mortification, there were other impediments, arising from the circumstance, that the conventuals had been countenanced in their lax interpretation of the rules of their order by many of their own superiors, and even the popes themselves. They were besides sustained in their opposition by many of the great lords, who were apprehensive that the rich chapels and masses, which they or their ancestors had founded in the various monasteries, vt^ould be neglected by the ob- servantines, whose scrupulous adherence to the vow of poverty excluded them from what, in church as well as state, is too often found the most cogent incentive to the performance of duty. ^^ From these various causes, the work of reform Attempts a reform. went on slowly; but the untiring exertions of Xim- enes gradually effected its adoption in many estab- 22 Flechier, Hist, de Ximen^s, bus Gestis, fol. 6, 7. — Robles, pp. 25, 26. — Quintanilla, Archety- Vida de Ximenez, cap. 12. po, pp. 21j 22. — Gomez, De Re-
