404 XIMENES. II PART vague and mysterious in the Romish faith, as his inflexible temper did for its bold and arrogant dog- mas. At any rate, it was to this cause he devoted the whole strength of his talents and commanding energies. We have seen in the preceding chapter, with what promptness he entered on the reform of reli- gious discipline, as soon as he came into office, and with what pertinacity he pursued it, in contempt of all personal interest and popularity. We are now to see him with similar zeal devoting himself to the extirpation of heresy ; with contempt not merely of personal consequences, but also of the most obvi- ous principles of good faith and national honor. s^a'te'^of ' Nearly eight years had elapsed since the conquest of Granada, and the subjugated kingdom continued to repose in peaceful security under the shadow of the treaty, which guarantied the unmolested enjoy- ment of its ancient laws and religion. This unbro- ken continuance of public tranquillity, especially difficult to be maintained among the jarring ele- ments of the capital, whose motley population of Moors, renegades, and Christians, suggested per- petual points of collision, must be chiefly referred to the discreet and temperate conduct of the two individuals, whom Isabella had charged with the civil and ecclesiastical government. These were Mendoza, count of Tendilla, and Talavera, arch- bishop of Granada. Tendilla. Thc formcr, the brightest ornament of his illus- trious house, has been before made known to the reader by his various important services, both mili- state of GranaJa 14 99,
