372 DEATH OF GONSALVO. PART 11. Gonsalvo goes into retirement. The king's desire for children. of enjojing one's property, like giving it away.'* He then wrote a letter to the king, in which he gave free vent to his indignation, bitterly complain- ing of the ungenerous requital of his services, and asking leave to retire to his duchy of Terranova in Naples, since he could be no longer useful in Spain. This request was not calculated to lull Ferdinand's suspicions. He answered, however, " in the soft and pleasant style, which he knew so well how to assume," says Zurita ; and, after specifying his mo- tives for relinquishing, however reluctantly, the expedition, he recommended Gonsalvo's return to Loja, at least until some more definite arrangement could be made respecting the affairs of Italy. Thus condemned to his former seclusion, the Great Captain resumed his late habits of life, freely opening his mansion to persons of merit, interesting himself in plans for ameliorating the condition of his tenantry and neighbours, and in this quiet way winning a more unquestionable title to human grati- tude than when piling up the blood-stained trophies of victory. Alas for humanity, that it should have deemed otherwise ! ^ Another circumstance, which disquieted the Cath- olic king, was the failure of issue by his present wife. The natural desire of offspring was further stimulated by hatred of the house of Austria, which made him eager to abridge the ample inheritance 6 Mariana, Hist, de Espana, torn. vi. lib. 10, cap. 28. — Quintana, ii. lib. 30, cap. 14. — Giovio, Vitae Espafioles C^lebres, torn. i. pp. Illust. Virorum, pp. 200, 291.— 328 - 332. — Abarca, Reyes de Chr6nica del Gran Capitan, lib. 3, Aragon, torn. ii. rey 30, cap. 20.— cap. 7, 8, 9. — Zurita, Anales, torn. Pulgar, Sumario, pp. 201-208.
