Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/244

10.0 CASTILE UNDER HENRY IV. PAur Henrjj or rather the marquis of Villena, piqued at — '. this opposition to his wishes, resolved to intimidate her into compliance ; and menaced her with im- prisonment in the royal fortress at Madrid. Neither her tears nor entreaties would have availed against this tyrannical proceeding ; and the marquis was only deterred from putting it in execution by his fear of the inhabitants of Ocana, who openly es- poused the cause of Isabella. Indeed, the common people of Castile very generally supported her in her preference of the Aragonese match. Boys paraded the streets, bearing banners emblazoned with the arms of Aragon, and singing verses pro- phetic of the glories of the auspicious union. They even assembled round the palace gates, and insult- ed the ears of Henry and his minister by the repe- tition of satirical stanzas, which contrasted Alfon- so's years with the youthful graces of Ferdinand.^® Notwithstanding this popular expression of opin- ion, however, the constancy of Isabella might at length have yielded to the importunity of her persecutors, had she not been encouraged by hei friend, the archbishop of Toledo, who had warm ly entered into the interests of Aragon, and who promised, should matters come to extremity, to march in person to her relief at the head of a suffi- cient force to insure it. Rif ncrepts Isabella, indijrnant at the oppressive treatment, which she experienced from her brother, as well as at his notorious infraction of almost every article in ^ Bernaldez, Reyes Cat61icos, MS., cap. 7. — Alonso de Palencia, Cor6nica, MS., part. 2, cap. 7.