ADMINISTRATION OF CASTILE. 187 these unhappy provinces ; which, from their prox- chapter imity to the stormy frontier of Portugal, as well as '. — from the feuds between the great houses of Guz- man and Ponce de Leon, were plunged in the most frightful anarchy. Cardinal Mendoza and her other ministers remonstrated against this imprudent ex- posure of her person, where it was so little likely to be respected. But she replied, " it was true there were dangers and inconveniences to be en- countered ; but her fate was in God's hands, and she felt a confidence that he would guide to a pros- perous issue such designs as were righteous in themselves and resolutely conducted." Isabella experienced the most loyal and magni- Her splendid /. . ^ I'll- rci'ii reception ficent reception from the inhabitants of Seville, there. where she established her head-quarters. The first days of her residence there were consumed in fetes, tourneys, tilts of reeds, and other exercises of the Castilian chivalry. After this she devoted her whole time to the great purpose of her visit, the reformation of abuses. She held her court in the saloon of the alcazar, or royal castle, where she revived the ancient practice of the Castilian sove- reigns, of presiding in person over the administra- tion of justice. Every Friday, she took her seat in her chair of state, on an elevated platform covered with cloth of gold, and surrounded by her council, together with the subordinate functionaries, and the insignia of a court of justice. The members of her privy council, and of the high court of criminal law, sat in their official capacity every day in the week; and the queen herself received such suits as
