Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/207

CHAPTER III. REIGN OF HENRY IV., OF CASTILE. — CIVIL WAR. — MARRIAGE OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. 1454—1469. Henry IV. disappoints Expectations. — Oppression of the People. — League of the Nobles. — Extraordinary Scene at Avila. — Early Education of Isabella. — Death of her Brother Alfonso. — Intestine Anarchy. — The Crown offered to Isabella. — She declines it. — Her Suitors. — She accepts Ferdinand of Aragon. — Marriage Arti- cles. — Critical Situation of Isabella. — Ferdinand enters Castile. — Their Marriage. While these stormy events were occurring in chapter Aragon, the Infanta Isabella, whose birth was men- tioned at the close of the first chapter, was passing her youth amidst scenes scarcely less tumultuous. At the date of her birth, her prospect of succeeding to the throne of her ancestors was even more re- mote than Ferdinand's prospect of inheriting that of his; and it is interesting to observe through what trials, and by what a series of remarkable events, Providence was pleased to bring about this result, and through it the union, so long deferred, of the great Spanish monarchies. The accession of her elder brother, Henry the Popularity Fourth, was welcomed with an enthusiasm, propor- ^v- tioned to the disgust which had been excited by the long-protracted and imbecile reign of his pre-