FERDINAND VISITS NAPLES. 261 Flemish musicians; for in her abject state she found cuArxER some consolation in music, of which she had been _^ ! passionately fond from childhood. The few re- marks which she uttered were discreet and sensi- ble, forming a singular contrast with the general extravagance of her actions. On the whole, how- ever, her pertinacity in refusing to sign any thing was attended with as much good as evil, since it prevented her name from being used, as it would undoubtedly have often been, in the existing state of things, for pernicious and party purposes. ^^ Finding it impossible to obtain the queen's co- convocatio.i ^ ^ of tones. operation, the council at length resolved to issue the writs of summons in their own name, as a measure justified by necessity. The place of meeting was fixed at Burgos in the ensuing month of November; and great pains were taken, that the different cities should instruct their representatives in their views respecting the ultimate disposition of the govern- ment. ^^ Long before this, indeed immediately after Phil- ip's death, letters had been despatched by Ximenes and his friends to the Catholic king, acquainting him with the state of affairs, and urging his imme- diate return to Castile. He received them at Por- tofino. He determined, however, to continue his voyage, in which he had already advanced so far, to Naples. The wary monarch perhaps thought, that the Castilians, whose attachment to his own 27 Peter Martyr, Opus Epist., mez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 71-73. epist. 318. — Mariana, Hist. deEs- ^ Zurita, Anales, lib. 7, cap.22. pafia, torn. ii. lib. 29, cap. 2. — Go-
