284 FERDINAND'S RETURN AND REGENCY. PART from whose windows she could behold his sep- - — - — ulchre. From this period, although she survived forty-seven years, she never quitted the walls of her habitation. And, although her name appeared jointly with that of her son, Charles the Fifth, in all public acts, she never afterwards could be in- duced to sign a paper, or take part in any transac- tions of a public nature. She lingered out a half century of dreary existence, as completely dead to the world, as the remains which slept in the mon- astery of Santa Clara beside her. ^^ Irregularity From thls timc the Catholic king exercised an of Ferui- ~ ceedlngs'"" authority nearly as undisputed, and far less limited and defined than in the days of Isabella. So firm did he feel in his seat, indeed, that he omitted to obtain the constitutional warrant of cortes. He had greatly desired this at the late irregular meet- ing of that body. But it broke up, as we have seen, without effecting any thing ; and, indeed, the disaffection of Burgos and some other principal cities at that time, must have made the success of such an application very doubtful. But the gen- eral cordiality, with which Ferdinand was greeted, gave no ground for apprehending such a result at present. Many, indeed, of his partisans objected to any 24 Gomez, De Rebus Geslis, fol. ited, together with those of his 75. — Peter Martyr, Opus Epist., wife Joanna, in a magnificent sep- epist. 303. — Zurila, Anales, lib. ulchre erected by Charles V., near 8, cap. 49. — Sandoval, Hist, del that of Ferdinand and Isabella. Emp. Carlos V., torn. i. p. 13. Pedraza, Antigucdad de Granada, Philip's remains were afterwards lib. 3, cap. 7. — Colmenar, D^- removed to the catliedral church of lices de rEspapne et du Portugal, Granada ; where they were depos- (Leide, 1715,) tom. iii. p. 490.
