usually resided. An interview took place that resulted in a good understanding; and, to give public proof of it, the king led her palfrey through the streets of the city. Grand fêtes were given to express the universal joy at the event. While these rejoicings were in progress, Ferdinand returned to Castile and hastened to Saragossa, where he was warmly welcomed by his sovereign.

This happy reconciliation did not suit the designs of the plotting favorite, who took the first occasion to crush these germs of peace. After a splendid entertainment given by Cabrera, Henry was taken violently ill. Ever ready to listen to his crafty minister's suggestions, he attributed to poison the result of his own excesses, and immediately issued secret orders for Isabella's arrest. The vigilance of her friends saved. her, and she returned to Dueñas in disgust.

Ferdinand was again called to his father's succor. In the meantime events thickened towards the consummation of his consort's power. The death of the Duke of Guienne, in France, dampened the hopes of the opposing party for Joanna, more especially since the alliance had been declined by several princes, owing to her alleged illegitimacy. Shortly after, Henry was deprived of his supporter and adviser, by the death of the grand-master of St. James; this was an occasion of more joy than grief to the Castilians, who were now delivered from the cause of nearly all the evils that for years had banished peace from the kingdom. To the monarch it was an irreparable loss, occasioning an anxiety and melancholy that hastened the progress of a

disease which for some time had threatened his life. Undecided in matters of moment, to the last, he died December 11th, 1474, unlamented, without a will, and without naming his successor.

The following morning, Isabella, who was at Segovia, desired the inhabitants of that city to proclaim her sovereignty, resting her claims to the crown upon the fact that the cortes had never revoked the act which appointed her Henry's successor, although twice summoned by him to give allegiance to Joanna. An assemblage of the chief grandees, nobles and dignitaries, in robes of office, gathered at the castle, and, receiving Isabella under a canopy of rich brocade, conducted her to the public square; two of the chief citizens led the Spanish jennet she rode, preceded by an officer on horseback who upheld a naked sword, the symbol of sovereignty. A platform had been erected and a throne placed upon it, which Isabella occupied with graceful dignity, while a herald proclaimed, "Castile, Castile for the King Don Ferdinand and his consort Doña Isabella, queen proprietor of these kingdoms !"

The royal standard was then unfurled, and the peal of bells and sound of cannon announced the recognizance of the new queen. The procession then moved to the principal cathedral, where, after the solemn chanting of the Te Deum, Isabella devoutly prostrated herself before the altar and invoked the protection and guidance of the Almighty. Immediately after the coronation, deputies from various cities tendered their allegiance and raised the new standard upon their walls. Ferdinand was still absent, but on his return he ex

hibited great dissatisfaction with the investment of supreme authority in his consort. With unyielding firmness and winning gentleness, she maintained her right, convincing, and at the same time, with womanly tact, soothing her offended husband, by mild, just reasoning; assuring him their interests were indivisible; that the division of power was but nominal; and that the interest of their only child, a daughter, demanded it, as she could not inherit the crown if females were excluded from the succession;-this was one of his grounds of contention, since he himself was a distant heir of the Castilian crown.

It was satisfactorily decided, however, "that all appointments were to be made in the name of both, with the advice and consent of the queen. The commanders of fortified places were to render homage to her alone. Justice was to be administered by both conjointly when residing in the same place, and independently when separate. Proclamations and letters patent were to be subscribed with the signatures of both; their images were to be stamped on the public coin, and the united arms of Castile and Arragon emblazoned on a common seal."

The succession was not yet peacefully established. Joanna's party still contended for the crown. Among her prominent supporters was the young Marquis of Villena, who inherited his father's titles and estates, but not his crafty, intriguing character. The Archbishop of Toledo, offended with the proclaimed queen because he was not solely consulted by her, and jealous of the rising importance of Cardinal Mendoza, sudden

ly withdrew from court. He shortly after openly espoused the cause of the unfortunate princess whom he had so long and successfully opposed. He would not be conciliated by any advances from Ferdinand and Isabella, who, as far as possible, without compromising their dignity, sought to regain his friendship.

Propositions were now made by the rebellious party to Alfonso V. of Portugal, to espouse Joanna and assist in asserting her claims. To this he readily agreed. He assembled an army which comprised the flower of the Portuguese nobility, eager to engage in an expedi tion that promised them glory in the chivalrous defence of an injured princess. Advancing into Castile, they were met by the Duke of Arevalo and the Marquis of Villena, who presented the king to his future bride. They were publicly affianced and proclaimed King and Queen of Castile. A week of festivities followed, after which the army quietly awaited reinforcements from the Castilians. During this delay, Ferdinand and Isabella, who, on the first arrival of the invaders, possessed but a scanty army, put forth indefatigable exertions to strengthen their forces. Isabella frequently sat up the whole night dictating despatches; she visited in person, on horseback, the several cities that had delayed allegiance, thus succeeding in rallying an army of forty-two thousand men, well equipped. On one of her journeys, she sent a message to the archbishop, notifying him of an intended visit in hope of reconciliation, to which he impudently replied, that "if the queen entered by one door he would go out at the other."

As soon as such preparations as could be rapidly

made, were completed, the army set out for the city of Toro, of which Alfonso had taken possession. Unable to engage the Portuguese in battle, Ferdinand laid siege to the city; but owing to a want of proper battering artillery, and the cutting off of supplies by the enemy, who occupied the neighboring fortresses, he was obliged to withdraw his forces. An inglorious and confused retreat followed. The army was disbanded; scattering to their homes or strengthening the gar risons of friendly cities. The Archbishop of Toledo exulted at this ominous opening of the war on the part of the king, and no longer hesitated to join the enemy with all the forces under his command, haughtily boasting that "he had raised Isabella from the distaff, and would soon send her back to it again."

Tidings from Portugal of an invasion, caused the detachment of so large a portion of Alfonso's army as to cripple his operations, obliging him to remain in Toro without any aggressive movements. The king and queen in the meantime gathered a new army and proceeded to besiege Zamora. That being an important post to the enemy, Alfonso abandoned Toro, and with reinforcements from Portugal, headed by his son Prince John, went to its relief. A battle ensued, in which the Portuguese were completely routed and would have been nearly all put to the sword but for the friendly darkness that enabled many in extremity to give the Castilian war-cry of "St. James and St. Lazarus," and thus escape their confused pursuers. Many of the troops were massacred in attempting to fly to the frontiers of their own country. This cruelty was rebuked by Fer