[92]. A copy of their urgent remonstrance from Toledo is in MS. in the Royal Academy of History, Madrid.
[93]. ‘Calendar of Spanish State Papers,’ Supplement to vols. i and ii.
[94]. Sandoval, in his ‘Historia de Carlos V.,’ gives a glowing account of the festivities that followed, and especially of a ridiculously fulsome sermon preached by the Bishop of Malaga on the occasion, laying quite a malicious emphasis upon poor Joan’s devotion to what was called in Spain ‘Christianity,’ or rather the strict Catholic ritual.
[95]. These interesting letters are in MS. in the Royal Academy of History, Madrid, A 11. Some of them are quoted by Rodriguez Villa in his ‘Dona Juana la Loca.’
[96]. Royal Academy of History, Madrid, A 9, and Rodriguez Villa.
[97]. He even had a letter written, as if by his child Charles of three years old, to King Ferdinand praying that his mamma might be allowed to come home to them.
[98]. When the will was signed Isabel called her husband to her bedside, and with tears made him swear that, neither by a second marriage nor otherwise, would he try to deprive Joan of the crown. She fell back then prostrate and was thought to be dead, but afterwards revived.
[99]. Zurita, ‘Anales de Aragon.’
[100]. A full account of the progress of events from day to day at the time is given in Documents Ineditos, vol 18.
[101]. Ferdinand, after the Cortes had taken the oath of allegiance, addressed to them a document (quoted in full by Zurita) saying that when Queen Isabel provided in her will for the case of Joan’s incapacity to rule, she had not gone further into particulars out of consideration for her daughter; although the latter had, whilst she was in Spain, shown signs of mental disturbance. The time had now come, said Ferdinand, to inform the Cortes in strict secrecy of the real state of affairs. Since Joan’s return to Flanders reports from Ferdinand’s agents, and from Philip himself, which were exhibited to the Cortes, said that her malady had increased, and that her state was such that the case foreseen by Queen Isabel in her will had now arrived. The Cortes, after much deliberation and against the nobles, led by the Duke of Najera, thereupon decided to acknowledge Ferdinand as ruler owing to the incapacity of Joan.